President Trump said the United States would license Ukraine to produce Patriots, which can intercept ballistic missiles. But it could be months or years before those are ready.
Attacks on ships were followed by new U.S. strikes on Iran, which responded by firing at Gulf nations. The pattern of hostilities has all but collapsed a cease-fire, with little sign that either side will step back.
BAGHDAD: The United States (US) has resumed cash shipments to Iraq after a delay, signalling its support for Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi’s administration, with the premier expected in Washington later this month, a government spokesperson said Thursday.
Iraq’s revenues from oil exports are largely held at the Federal Reserve Bank in New York, under an arrangement reached after the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled former ruler Saddam Hussein.
Under the system, payments for oil are made into dollar-denominated accounts in the US which are then either used to pay for imports or flow to Iraq as cash.
Earlier this year, Washington suspended the cash transfers to Iraq as it piled pressure on Baghdad to disarm Iran-backed armed groups, which launched hundreds of attacks on US facilities in Iraq during the Middle East war.
Iraqi officials downplayed the issues, saying the dollar shipments had ceased due to the closure of airspace and the security situation.
Government spokesperson Haidar al-Aboudi told AFP that cash “shipments have resumed some time ago”.
“The resumption is a positive indicator” ahead of Zaidi’s visit to Washington, Aboudi said, adding “we look at it through the lens of cooperation, coordination, and partnership.”
Aboudi said that Zaidi’s top priority in Washington would be “the economic partnership with the United States”.
READ MORE: US military carries out fresh strikes on Iran, prompting Iran attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain
In May, a senior US State Department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the US was looking for “concrete actions” from Zaidi to distance the state from pro-Iran armed groups before resuming cash shipments and security aid to the country.
Zaidi, who only recently took office with the blessing of the United States, has vowed to ensure a state monopoly on weapons and urged armed groups to hand over their weapons to the state.
During his visit to Washington, the first since he took office in April, Zaidi hopes to attract more US investment to Iraq, which urgently needs to revive its economy, especially after revenue losses caused by the halt of oil exports during the Middle East war.
Like other Gulf oil producers, Iraq, a founding member of OPEC, was greatly affected by the war.
It is hugely dependent on oil exports, which make up about 90 percent of its budget revenues, while the vast majority of its crude travels via the Strait of Hormuz.
Toxic fumes have sickened nearby residents. Lawmakers and activists say the blaze is an indication of the country’s longstanding issues with waste management.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reached Quetta on Thursday for a day-long visit where he will chair a meeting regarding the law and order situation, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
In a post on X, the PMO said the premier was welcomed by Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti and senior civil and military officials.
“The prime minister will chair a high-level meeting regarding the law and order situation,” it said.
Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah are accompanying the premier on the visit.
PM Shehbaz’s visit comes a day after the military revealed that at least 42 people — the majority of who were security and law enforcement personnel — have lost their lives in terrorist attacks and subsequent operations in Balochistan since July 5.
Addressing a press briefing in Rawalpindi, the military’s spokesperson said that there were “three major terrorist incidents” in recent days — an armed attack on the outskirts of Quetta on July 5, an assault on a police post in Ziarat on July 6, and an ambush of an army convoy in Bela on Wednesday.
Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry warned terrorists and their facilitators to expect no “rationality and proportionality” as security forces continue to hunt down the perpetrators of the attacks.
He also pointed the finger squarely at India and Afghanistan for being behind the attacks, saying that it was the handiwork of India and “those forces with India who cannot tolerate Pakistan’s respect, prosperity and stability”.
The Trump administration said detaining Abdikerm Eidleh in Somalia was a turning point in the yearslong investigation. But nearly two weeks later, he still hasn’t been brought to the United States.
Noah Wyle to lead Emmy Awards 2026 nominations this year.
On Wednesday, July 8, the nominees for the 78th Emmy Awards were announced. The Pitt, HBO’s most-watched series, will lead this year’s drama categories with 25 nods, the most any show has received this season. Wyle received two nominations himself: Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series for the episode “12:00 pm” and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, the same award he won for season 1.
According to Deadline, “This just feels very much like a gift that keeps on giving. I feel very humbled by this and validated many times over”.
Wyle continued in his statement, “Today, I feel extremely gratified that the nominations were spread so far and wide across our casting. It really feels like it’s a testament to the collective achievement and contribution that everybody makes”.
He went on to call the show a “collective effort” before recognizing the contributions of the other cast, crew and executives. On his official Instagram handle the streamer posted a carousel of images congratulating the cast after the news was shared, “So many wonderful things are ahead”.. Wyle’s photo was front and center in the joint post.
Fans fell in love with the medical drama as it follows the frontline heroes working in the fictional Pittsburgh Trauma Medical Center. After the success of seasons 1 and 2, Wyle spoke exclusively to PEOPLE about what fans of the show can look forward to when it returns for season 3.
A Times reporter in Iran said the events “surpassed anything I’ve ever witnessed.”
Censors demanded 127 cuts to the film that explores a dark period of police brutality in Punjab state. Filmmakers say it’s the latest, chilling example of entrenched censorship.
Peshawar – Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday said investing in the skills and abilities of young people was an investment in Pakistan’s brighter future, stressing that equipping children with modern education and technical skills was the need of the time.
Addressing a certificate and toolkit distribution ceremony at the Governor House for youths who completed a mobile phone repairing course, the Governor said skilled youth could create dignified employment opportunities for themselves and contribute to the economic stability of their families.
The training programme was organised by the Society for Skill, Training and Development (SSTD) in collaboration with Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Pakistan.
Senior Director SSTD Muhammad Haseeb Khan, Country Director of Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation Pakistan Dr Arjumand Nizami, trainees and their parents attended the ceremony.
The Governor said the programme represented an effective and sustainable investment in the future of children, adding that Pakistan’s youth had been affected by various national challenges and therefore deserved special attention in education and skills development. He appreciated the role of the private sector in promoting technical education and urged both public and private organisations to expand such skill development programmes to all districts of the province.
Kundi assured that the Governor House would continue extending all possible support for initiatives aimed at promoting vocational education and appreciated the services of Helvetas and SSTD in empowering young people through technical training.
Talking to media persons later, the Governor criticised the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government over the recently approved perks-related bill, asking the party claiming transparency and justice to explain how the legislation was passed by the provincial assembly. He said the provincial government had secured benefits for itself but failed to provide relief to the people, while expressing concern over attempts to impose restrictions on the media, terming them contrary to democratic values.
The Governor said Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was facing serious security challenges and needed effective governance and public service instead of additional privileges. He alleged that the provincial government had failed to protect the lives and property of citizens and that the health, education and other essential sectors were in poor condition. Kundi also said that under the Constitution, every bill passed by the provincial assembly was sent to the Governor for consideration. He said he had raised constitutional objections to several provincial bills, but if a bill was reconsidered by the assembly and resent, it automatically became law after the expiry of the constitutional period.
