Iraqi president (1979–2003)
Kurdistan authorities have reported Iranian-launched drones struck the private office of KRG Prime Minister Masrour Barzani and the residence of the region's security agency chief on 17 August, with no casualties. The attacks come as Baghdad presses for a September 30 deadline to bring armed factions under state control and as cross-border strikes and US-Saudi operations have raised tensions across Iraq.
The Trump administration has mobilized a broad sanctions push to choke Iran’s economy, promising the toughest penalties in history. Officials say secondary sanctions will target countries and firms doing business with Tehran, with aims to isolate Iran and reopen the Strait of Hormuz as the war disrupts regional trade.
The U.S. has struck Iranian oil tankers, prompting retaliatory actions from Iran and attacks on a U.S.-linked base in Jordan. Tankers are waiting to transit Hormuz, raising the risk of major oil spills and wider conflict as global shipping faces disruption.
The creators of South Park have announced that the show will officially be known as SOUTH AMERICA for its 29th season, a move inspired by Apple and Google renaming Lake Ontario to Lake America. The announcement comes as Donald Trump has pushed for names changes in U.S. maps and fronts a broader political clash with Canada and tech platforms.
The Defense Secretary has faced resignations and blocked promotions amid a broader clash over modernization and culture-war priorities. Critics say leadership is being hollowed out as top brass depart and the Pentagon reshapes itself.
President Donald Trump has promised a $5,000 payment to every adult U.S. citizen if Republicans retain control of both chambers in the November midterms. The White House has released only a short fact sheet; Republicans, legal experts and budget analysts have questioned the plan’s legality, its roughly $1.2–1.4 trillion cost and how the payments would be funded or authorised without Congress.
A survey of how intelligence, counter-terrorism, and national security strategies have evolved since the 2001 attacks, reflecting on failures, reforms and shifting threats as the world marks the 25th anniversary.
The CIA has released 71 presidential daily briefs from 1998–2001, detailing Osama bin Laden’s movements, financing and networks. The documents include warnings that bin Laden may strike the US and pursue weapons, but do not reveal new details on the attacks themselves.
Protests over the killing of Sami Shekhmous Hiso in Hasakeh Province have sparked prison violence at Kobani. Inmates set dormitories ablaze as security forces wage a crackdown; authorities call for restraint while Kurdish groups demand a transparent investigation.
The United States is finalizing a drawdown in northern Iraq, with hundreds of troops set to depart by September 30. Iraq’s government links the exit to a demand for militias to disarm, but Iran-backed groups are signaling that disarmament is unlikely and favor regulation instead. Tehran seeks to keep influence in Iraq while Baghdad weighs its options amid regional tensions.
The final U.S. troops have withdrawn from Iraq, ending Operation Inherent Resolve. Tehran and its allies call the pullout a victory and push for American forces to leave the region. Iraqi leaders warn security gaps could follow, as militias and Islamic State remnants pose fresh risks.
The United States-led coalition has completed its orderly withdrawal from Erbil, handing security responsibilities to Iraqi forces and the Kurdish Peshmerga. Iraq aims to preserve sovereignty amid Iran-aligned pressure and regional volatility. Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is pushing to place weapons under state control while diversifying the economy to reduce external influence.
Jeffrey Archer has died. He was a prolific author and former Conservative politician who endured a public downfall for perjury in 2001. His life spanned politics, literature and public controversy.
US military planners have drawn up options to deploy the GBU-43/B MOAB against Iranian energy infrastructure and underground sites, according to CNN. No decision has been announced; the White House says all options remain on the table. The MOAB’s use would be a major escalation, with uncertain strategic value and significant civilian risk.
The United States has drawn up options for renewed strikes on Iran using the MOAB, though officials warn the move would be a symbolic escalation rather than a decisive shift. Reports indicate planning is under consideration and could target energy infrastructure or underground facilities, with officials stressing the weapon’s non-nuclear status.
Trump has told Newsmax the MOAB is not nuclear and that the US is considering strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites, including Pickaxe Mountain. He says ground troops are unlikely; oil and gas prices are expected to fall if the war ends soon.
Federal prosecutors have filed a criminal information accusing former FBI director James Comey of transmitting and conspiring to transmit national defence information tied to a October 2016 New York Times story. Comey has denied wrongdoing, his lawyers have moved to dismiss and he has said the action is an abuse of the Department of Justice.
Federal documents unsealed show the Trump administration has bypassed a grand jury to file a criminal information against James Comey over past leaks, part of a string of politically charged actions ahead of midterm elections. The developments include allegations tied to a 2016 Times story about a foreign-terrorism-related Yahoo data order and a looming judge's review of the information filing.
Kurdish regional rivals the KDP and PUK have intensified a power struggle that threatens a dual administration in Iraqi Kurdistan. After parliament reconvened amid controversy, the PUK has withdrawn from the regional government, while the KDP pushes for a governance framework that may redefine regional authority amid broader regional tensions.
President Trump has signed a proclamation declaring the Oval Office and adjacent West Wing rooms a national monument, ordering National Park Service management and formal review before major changes. The move comes days after Republicans lost control of Congress in midterm elections and follows a week of high-profile White House renovation events.