Sources
US USS Washington arrived in Arabian Sea https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/8/20/uss-washington-arrives-in-middle-east-after-aircraft-carrier-outcry
Yemen rebels attacked Saudi Arabia https://aje.news/oabe7u?update=4869601
Yemen carried out strikes against rebels https://aje.news/oabe7u?update=4869629
US navy aided passage of 1,300 vessels in strait according to CENTCOM https://aje.news/oabe7u?update=4869774
US says sanctions on Iran will be toughest in long time https://aje.news/oabe7u?update=4869888
US ICE worked with Iran to deport Iranians in 2025 https://apnews.com/article/iran-immigration-deportation-flights-emails-97554a7ab9d1f33ca00700434dcae3df
Brazil, everyone turning to them for rare earth minerals https://apnews.com/article/brazil-energy-rare-earth-mining-amazon-rainforest-d247150492581197cfa9614c9437c4c2
Cuba hit by more US sanctions https://apnews.com/article/us-cuba-sanctions-rubio-castro-f60f12386ac528c3511d929cc3e1431c
Togo detained French filmmakers over allegations of violating immigration laws https://apnews.com/article/togo-french-filmmakers-detained-documentary-6dde0fd1a29bb2bb0c3d1555513acc45
Somalia dealing with a food shortage due to droughts and conflict https://apnews.com/article/hunger-food-aid-somalia-africa-wfp-bdc6a4432a2e9d40c5eb4b63b61d0090
Taiwan proposed increased defense budget for next year https://apnews.com/article/taiwan-defense-budget-highest-level-1d1cd68d5c2996a9d6f76baba5a2e068
Sudan rebel group regained control of territory in South Kordofan after internal conflict https://sudantribune.com/article/317666
Japan released draft rules on the use of generative AI by companies urging them to avoid IP infringement https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20260819/p2g/00m/0na/010000c
Japan, someone is dumping large quantities of bread (88lbs/40kg) in a national forest, and that could attract bears and other wild animals https://topics.smt.docomo.ne.jp/article/tbs/nation/tbs-2886228?fm=topics&fm_topics_id=7aee15ca5b02734c16633afb74e9edf8
