Political Guyentist

1world

[UPDATE] Trump says no Iran talks are planned as Hormuz traffic falls

Iran says the strait will stay shut until Washington meets its conditions, while confirmed crossings dropped again.

President Trump said Aug. 18 that the U.S. had no talks planned with Iran. Tehran says the Strait of Hormuz will not reopen until Washington meets its conditions, even as Trump insists the waterway is operating.

ContextConfirmed crossings fell from 118 to 95 last week, including only three on Sunday, according to Kpler data cited by the AP. That compares with more than 700 crossings in a typical week before the crisis, [the AP reported earlier this month](https://apnews.com/article/0220ceb7904e16c30869c8fe4cf2a3db). All of last week's confirmed crossings used the Iranian-designated route; none used the Omani routes. An unidentified projectile also damaged a ship's engine room near Oman and caused a crew casualty, British maritime monitors said.

ASSOCIATED PRESS10 sources

2world

US sanctions ICC president and senior trial lawyer

The measures freeze assets in U.S. jurisdiction as Washington presses its campaign against the court.

The Trump administration sanctioned International Criminal Court President Tomoko Akane and senior trial lawyer Abdoulaye Seye on Aug. 18. The sanctions freeze assets they hold in U.S. jurisdictions or that touch the U.S. financial system.

ContextThe State Department says the court has overreached by pursuing American and Israeli personnel over alleged crimes in Afghanistan, Iraq and Gaza. Similar U.S. sanctions have already made routine work such as banking and email harder for the court, according to earlier AP reporting.

ASSOCIATED PRESS4 sources

3us

US and Canada make last push to stop 50% tariffs on $20 billion in goods

The duties were scheduled for 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19; they cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.

As of Tuesday evening, the U.S. and Canada were still negotiating before 50% tariffs on $20 billion in Canadian goods were scheduled to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 19.

ContextThe [White House proclamations](https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2026/07/imposing-additional-duties-to-offset-canadian-discrimination-against-the-commerce-of-the-united-states-with-respect-to-dairy/) invoked Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, which allows tariffs of up to 50% on countries the president says discriminate against U.S. businesses. The new duties would cover about 5% of Canadian exports to the U.S.; nearly $2 billion in goods crosses the border each day. Last month, Trump separately imposed 10% to 12.5% tariffs on 59 countries and the European Union over forced-labor enforcement.

ASSOCIATED PRESS3 sources

4not newsus

FBI estimates violent crime fell 9.3% in 2025

The preliminary national estimate is the bureau's largest reported one-year decline since 1937.

The FBI's preliminary national estimate shows reported violent crime fell 9.3% from 2024 to 2025. Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter fell 18.1%, robbery 18.5%, rape 7.6% and aggravated assault 7.2%.

ContextMore than 17,000 law enforcement agencies covering 96% of the U.S. population submitted data. Participation is voluntary, and the FBI says the estimates remain preliminary and subject to change before the final annual report.

FBI2 sources