July 19, 2026

Donald Trump on Friday issued pardons to 11 men – two convicted fraudsters and nine charged with having violated the federal Clean Air Act by disabling or otherwise modifying trucks’ emissions controls. Those executive pardons – coming amid US semiquincentennial celebrations blanketed in extreme heat exacerbated by greenhouse gas emissions – were among a broader wave of acts of clemency from Trump during his second presidency, chiefly for those he considers to be aligned with him. Among the pardon recipients was Adam Kidan, the president of a light industrial staffing company who had been sentenced to nearly six years in … Read more

July 19, 2026

Trump says U.S. will win Iran war “one way or the other” as Tehran holds funeral for supreme leader

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With the largely indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran entering a pause of at least a week for the funeral of Iran’s slain supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, some key questions about the talks remain unanswered.  Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding signed two weeks ago, both sides committed “to negotiating and achieving the final deal” to formally end the war in a “maximum 60 days, extendable with mutual consent.” But when exactly did the countdown begin, and how many days of actual talks can be counted?  “The Iranians seem to think the 60-day negotiating period started … Read more

July 19, 2026

U.S. concludes 6th consecutive night of Iran strikes as battle continues over Strait of Hormuz

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Iran’s government is preparing to impose environmental compensation fees on ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz, official state news agency IRNA said Thursday, citing the deputy head of the Iranian Environmental Protection Organization. Ahmadreza Lahijan-Zadeh said the proposed framework would require ships using the strategic waterway to contribute to the costs of repairing environmental damage in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. “The government has decided that the cost of compensating for environmental damage caused to the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman will be collected from services provided to ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz,” Lahijan-Zadeh said, … Read more

July 18, 2026

The US begins its first deep-sea mineral exploration program

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Authorities grant licenses Criticism from environmental organizations Washington, US – The Trump administration has launched its first formal tender for deep-sea mineral exploration and production. This unprecedented move aims to boost supplies of strategic minerals used in advanced industries, technology, and energy. Authorities grant licenses The US is offering vast offshore areas off American Samoa. Authorities intend to grant licenses to companies wishing to conduct surveys and exploration. This is a prelude to future extraction operations if studies prove the areas to be economically viable. Criticism from environmental organizations The US administration confirmed that the move is part of a … Read more

July 17, 2026

Iraq invites US firms to build energy city – Shafaq News

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2026-07-17T21:33:04+00:00 font Enable Reading Mode A- A A+ Shafaq News- Washington Iraq’s Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi on Friday called on US companies to help develop the planned energy city on the waterfront of the Al-Faw Peninsula, alongside the route of the country’s Development Road project. During a meeting with US Energy Secretary Christopher Wright at al-Zaidi’s residence in Washington, the two discussed expanding energy cooperation and ways to attract foreign investment to Iraq. The talks also covered Iraq’s plans to increase crude oil production, expand refining and petroleum processing capacity, and strengthen cooperation with US companies in strategic economic sectors. … Read more

July 17, 2026

Trump accuses China of 2020 voting interference, contradicting US intelligence findings — The Indian Panorama

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US President Donald Trump speaks about election security during an address to the nation from the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on July 16, 2026. (Photo / Reuters) Republicans facing difficult political environment as midterms approach WASHINGTON, D.C. (TIP): US President Donald Trump declassified intelligence on Thursday, July 16, that he said showed Chinese interference in US elections, reviving his long-running attacks on election security despite a US intelligence assessment that found no evidence Beijing affected the 2020 vote that he lost, says a Reuters report. The 25-minute prime-time address underscored Trump’s effort to make … Read more