Breaking news of Thursday, 20 August 2026
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- 21:00
Kyiv, death toll from overnight attack rises to 16
The death toll from the Russian attack on Kyiv on the night of 19-20 August rose during the day: from six dead at dawn to 16 dead and nearly 50 wounded across the city and region, a figure attributed to President Volodymyr Zelensky (Current Time). Seven victims in the Solomianskyi district, where the eighth and ninth floors of a nine-story building collapsed; a pediatric hospital building, a school and energy infrastructure were damaged (Krym.Realii, RFE/RL). Ukraine’s Air Force reports 168 drones and dozens of missiles, largely shot down; Russia’s Defense Ministry claims it hit military and logistics targets. Friday, 21 August is a day of mourning, declared by Mayor Vitali Klitschko (Meduza).
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- 21:00
Iran, Tehran responds to Trump's economic crackdown; US president open to talks
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi today rejected Trump’s announcement of an unprecedented economic operation against Tehran, calling it a diversion from the US federal debt crisis: “Insisting on failed policies will only lead to further defeat” (transl. from English) (Al Jazeera). In the same update, Trump states that Washington could resume talks with Iran at some point. Wednesday’s announcement, lacking details on measures and countries involved, extends the campaign launched in April (Al Jazeera). Iran is already the second most-sanctioned country in the world, with over 6,000 measures in force.
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- 12:01
US sanctions on International Criminal Court president, UN reaction
The State Department announced on August 18 sanctions against International Criminal Court president Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye: asset freeze and blocking of access to the US financial system (NBC News). The Court speaks of a “flagrant attack against the independence of an impartial judicial institution” (transl. from English) and counts nine judges sanctioned out of eighteen (Al Jazeera). That UN Secretary-General Guterres expressed grave concern is reported by Press TV (Iranian state broadcaster): sole available source, no independent confirmation.
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- 12:01
Melanoma, Moderna and Merck announce interim Phase 3 results: Moderna stock +177%
The two companies announced on August 19 interim results from a Phase 3 study on 1,137 patients with surgically resected stage IIB-IV melanoma: according to the manufacturers, the personalized mRNA vaccine intismeran autogene, administered with the immunotherapy drug Keytruda, reduced recurrences and metastases (CNBC). The figures have not been disclosed: the announcement comes from the companies involved, complete data are expected at a medical congress and to regulatory authorities, and no independent verification currently exists. On the stock market, Moderna closed at +177%, Merck at +12.6% (Axios).
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