Tuesday, 18 February 2025

President Trump threatens 25% tariffs on foreign cars and semiconductor chips as part of a strategy to bolster the US economy, despite warnings that trade wars could derail economic growth.

Trump nominates Ed Martin, a January 6 activist who served as a lawyer for Capitol attack defendants and dismissed charges in his role as interim US attorney, to be the top prosecutor in Washington, D.C.

Trump signs an executive order directing the domestic policy council to suggest ways to aggressively reduce the cost of accessing in vitro fertilization (IVF).

The Trump administration is firing Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) staff, including safety workers, despite recent aviation crashes, raising concerns from critics about potential threats to public safety.

US and Russian officials meet in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia to discuss potential peace arrangements for Ukraine without Ukrainian representatives present, with discussions marking a significant shift in US-Russia relations.

Trump Justice Department moves to drop corruption charges against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, causing alarm among legal experts over potential threats to the rule of law.

Jim Jones, head of food safety at the FDA, resigns citing Trump administration's mass staff cuts, stating that layoffs would make it fruitless to continue in the role.

Top US prosecutor Denise Cheung resigns after Trump appointees pressure her to open a grand jury investigation into EPA grants for Biden-era climate spending.

Trump administration detains immigrants at mandatory check-ins and court hearings as part of enforcement operations, with critics warning the tactics of allegedly tricking people could be counterproductive.

President Zelenskyy rejects peace negotiations occurring between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, demanding Ukraine's involvement and refusing to accept Russian ultimatums regarding the war.