Walmart directs tariff refund into price cuts as U.S. shoppers pull back

• BNP stalwart Mr. Alamgir won a local election on August 21, 2026, defeating Liberal Democratic Party chairman Colonel (retd) Oli Ahmed. • According to Election Returning Officer AMM Nasir Uddin, Mr. Alamgir secured 255 votes compared to 88 votes for his opponent.

• China increased its exports of yttrium to the United States in July, providing critical relief to U.S. aerospace firms facing supply chain pressures. • This surge occurs despite persistent trade tensions and existing export controls imposed by the Chinese government on strategic minerals.

• The US has signaled an increase in economic pressure on Iran and imposed new sanctions against Hezbollah amid stalled wartime diplomacy. • President Donald Trump has threatened "crushing economic warfare," though analysts note Iran has developed a "survival economy" to withstand long-term sanctions.

• Former President Donald Trump threatened "unprecedented" economic warfare against Iran during a recent radio interview. • In a surprising turn, Trump conducted the interview alongside Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and current political adversary.

• The Office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Karnataka has identified over 20.35 lakh voters flagged for "logical discrepancies" in their enumeration forms. • In total, more than 43.80 lakh voters are set to receive official notices regarding these discrepancies following a Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

• The Supreme Court has initiated a probe into recent student protests, while state collectors have been granted new powers regarding citizenship processes. • On August 20, 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah criticized the Congress party, alleging that their decision to sing only the first two stanzas of Vande Mataram constitutes "appeasement politics."

• Thailand is currently facing a series of overlapping crises, including a deadly school shooting near Bangkok, severe flash flooding in Nan Province, and ongoing insurgency tensions in the south. • To counter these challenges and an economic slowdown, the government is pursuing modernization through AI initiatives, energy reforms, and the implementation of new tourism fees.

• The author argues that Thailand may be entering a second consecutive "lost decade" of economic stagnation and political uncertainty. • This follows a first lost decade from May 2014 to August 2023, which the author attributes to the illegitimate nine-year rule of coup leader Gen Prayut Chan-o-cha.

• The U.S. national debt has surpassed $40 trillion, driven by deficit spending linked to President Trump’s tariffs and military engagements. • President Trump has announced the "most crushing economic operation ever" targeting Iran and its international partners to exert maximum pressure.

• A Missouri circuit court judge ruled on August 19, 2026, that the state's newly drawn congressional map is valid for use in the upcoming November elections. • The ruling rejects a legal challenge that sought to put the new map to a statewide public vote before the election.

• The U.S. national debt reached a record-breaking $40 trillion on Wednesday, August 20, 2026. • In separate developments, President Donald Trump showcased ongoing work on his personal ballroom and helipad.