Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — President Donald Trump on Monday announced new agreements with nine pharmaceutical manufacturers aimed at lowering prescription drug prices for Americans, expanding his administration’s effort to tie U.S. drug prices to the lower prices paid in other developed countries.

The White House said the agreements bring the total number of pharmaceutical manufacturers participating in the administration’s Most-Favored-Nation (MFN) drug-pricing program to 26, covering about 89% of the branded-drug market.

The nine companies joining the latest agreements are Alcon, Astellas Pharma, BeOne Medicines, BridgeBio, CSL, Kyowa Kirin, Sun Pharma, Teva Pharmaceuticals and UCB.

Under the agreements, the companies will provide MFN pricing to state Medicaid programs across the United States on eligible medicines. The White House said the deals cover drugs used to treat a range of serious and chronic conditions, including hemophilia, Parkinson’s disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, liver disease, skin conditions and cancer.

The administration’s MFN strategy seeks to align prices paid in the United States with the lowest prices paid by comparable developed nations.

$19.6 Billion U.S. Manufacturing Investment

The new agreements also include commitments to strengthen pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States. According to the White House, the nine companies have collectively committed to invest at least $19.6 billion in U.S. manufacturing in the near term.

Several companies have additionally agreed to provide active pharmaceutical ingredients to the federal government’s Strategic Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients Reserve, which is intended to strengthen domestic pharmaceutical supply chains and reduce dependence on foreign sources.

UCB, for example, will contribute 163 tons of levetiracetam, a drug used to control and prevent seizures. Sun Pharma will contribute supplies of the antibiotics clindamycin and doxycycline, while Teva will provide metronidazole and amlodipine. Astellas will contribute tacrolimus, an immunosuppressant used to help prevent organ rejection following transplants.

Administration Projects Major Savings

The White House says patients have already saved more than $700 million through TrumpRx, the administration’s prescription-drug discount platform, since its launch in February.

The administration also says more than 500,000 seniors have saved a combined $216 million since July through a program offering certain GLP-1 obesity medicines for $50 a month to seniors without coverage for those drugs.

The White House’s Council of Economic Advisers estimates that the administration’s broader MFN agreements could generate approximately $600 billion in savings over the next decade. That figure is an administration estimate rather than an independently verified projection.

Part of Trump’s Broader Drug-Pricing Push

Trump ordered his administration in May 2025 to pursue Most-Favored-Nation pricing for prescription medicines, seeking to bring U.S. prices closer to those paid in other developed countries.

The administration subsequently reached agreements with major pharmaceutical manufacturers, including Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Amgen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Novartis, Sanofi and others.

Trump launched TrumpRx.gov in February 2026 as part of the administration’s effort to make lower-priced medicines available directly to American consumers through participating manufacturers and pharmacies.

Reuters reported Monday that the latest agreements include a mix of international pharmaceutical companies and smaller biotechnology firms, expanding the program beyond the large drugmakers that participated in earlier rounds.

The new agreements come as prescription-drug affordability remains a major issue for American consumers and as the Trump administration prepares for the November midterm elections.

The White House is also calling on Congress to advance what it describes as the “Great Healthcare Plan,” which the administration says would seek to lower drug prices and insurance premiums while increasing price transparency.

For Americans, the practical impact of Monday’s agreements will depend on which medicines receive the new pricing arrangements, when the lower prices take effect and how the discounts are implemented through Medicaid and participating drug programs. The White House announcement marks the latest and one of the largest expansions of Trump’s MFN drug-pricing initiative since it began in 2025.

Shibbir Ahmed, NEW YORK — The 9/11 Memorial & Museum on 31St August Monday unveiled a new exhibition highlighting the enduring legacy of service inspired by the September 11 attacks, as New York prepares to mark the 25th anniversary of the tragedy. Titled “In Their Honor: 25 Years of 9/11-Inspired Service,” the exhibition offers a look at how individuals and communities transformed the aftermath of the attacks into acts of service and public commitment.

The exhibition was previewed for members of the media during a briefing at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum in Lower Manhattan. It will open to the public on September 12, 2026, one day after the 25th anniversary of the attacks.

The afternoon program began with remarks from Beth Hillman, President and CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, followed by comments from 9/11 family member Logan Miller and Noah Rauch, Senior Vice President of Education and Public Programming.

The museum’s new exhibition comes as New York and the nation prepare for a major commemoration of the nearly 3,000 people killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The exhibition focuses on the continuing impact of September 11 beyond the immediate loss of life, emphasizing the service and civic engagement that emerged in the years following the attacks.

Museum officials said the exhibition explores the ways people responded to the attacks through service, volunteering and efforts to help others, demonstrating how the legacy of September 11 continues to shape communities a quarter-century later.

Monday’s media program also included a guided preview of the exhibition, giving journalists an early look before its public opening. The museum is also preparing for the 25th-anniversary commemoration on September 11, which will bring families of victims, survivors, first responders and government and community leaders together at the World Trade Center site.

As the anniversary approaches, the museum’s programming is placing particular emphasis not only on remembering those who were killed, but also on the long-term consequences of the attacks and the continuing acts of service inspired by their memory.

The 25th anniversary will mark a quarter-century since the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and United Airlines Flight 93. For many families and survivors, the anniversary remains both a day of remembrance and an opportunity to reflect on how the events of September 11 have shaped the lives of subsequent generations. The “In Their Honor” exhibition will open to visitors at the 9/11 Memorial & Museum on September 12.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON DC — U.S. President Donald Trump has announced what he called the “biggest oil deal in world history,” saying the United States has secured majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan oil reserves through partnerships with private businesses. The agreement places Venezuela’s vast oil resources at the center of a new U.S.-Venezuela energy relationship and could reshape the global oil market.

Trump said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth worked with Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodríguez to finalize the agreement. Trump also said the arrangement would come at no cost to American taxpayers. The agreement reportedly covers the development of 17 strategic Venezuelan oil fields with a proven potential of about 65 billion barrels. The plan also includes expansion into eight additional oil blocks.

25-Year Energy Agreement

Rodríguez said Sunday that the broader energy agreement will remain in effect for 25 years and is designed to significantly increase Venezuela’s oil production. The initial target is approximately 1.5 million barrels per day, compared with current production of around 1.25 million barrels per day. Venezuela holds the world’s largest proven oil reserves but has struggled for years with declining production, damaged infrastructure and sanctions.

Rodríguez said Venezuela would retain sovereignty over its natural resources while using the agreement to attract investment and rebuild its oil industry. She estimated that the agreement could generate approximately $209 billion in revenue for the Venezuelan government, based on an assumed oil price of $65 a barrel.

What Does the U.S. Actually Control?

Despite Trump’s description of the agreement, the 65 billion barrels should not be interpreted as the United States simply acquiring 65 billion barrels of oil. The agreement concerns control and development rights over oil reserves through public-private partnerships. Reuters reported that Trump provided few details when he first announced the agreement, saying the U.S. had secured majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven Venezuelan reserves through a partnership with private business.

Other reports indicate that the structure could give a U.S.-linked joint venture a majority share of production from the fields, while Venezuela continues to assert ownership and sovereignty over its natural resources. The precise financial and legal structure of the agreement remains an important issue as additional details emerge.

Billions of Dollars in Investment

Reviving Venezuela’s oil sector will require substantial investment. Much of the country’s energy infrastructure has deteriorated after years of underinvestment, economic turmoil and sanctions. The agreement is expected to bring major American private-sector involvement into Venezuela’s oil industry, with companies including Chevron positioned to participate in the new framework.

For Washington, the deal could provide greater access to one of the world’s largest petroleum reserves while potentially increasing global oil supplies. For Caracas, the agreement represents an opportunity to rebuild its energy industry, increase production and generate badly needed government revenue.

Global Energy Implications

The scale of the agreement makes it significant well beyond Venezuela and the United States. A sustained increase in Venezuelan production could add substantial heavy crude supplies to international markets and strengthen the country’s position as a major global energy producer. The deal could also deepen U.S. influence over Venezuela’s economy and energy sector, raising questions about sovereignty, investment, environmental concerns and the future balance of power in Latin America’s oil industry.

For now, the agreement represents one of the most consequential developments in the global oil market in years — and its ultimate impact will depend on how quickly Venezuela’s damaged infrastructure can be rebuilt and production expanded.

Shibbir Ahmed, HOUSTON, Texas — President Donald Trump awarded the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the four astronauts of NASA’s Artemis II mission Friday, honoring their historic journey around the Moon and their contribution to the future of human space exploration.

Trump presented the medals to NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover and Christina Koch, along with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, during a ceremony at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston. NASA confirmed that the four astronauts received the nation’s highest space honor for their service during the Artemis II mission.

The Artemis II crew made history earlier this year by becoming the first humans in more than five decades to travel around the Moon. During the mission, the astronauts traveled farther from Earth than any humans had previously gone, testing NASA’s Orion spacecraft and the Space Launch System ahead of future crewed lunar missions.

The crew consisted of Mission Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, Mission Specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen.

During the ceremony, Wiseman emphasized that the achievement belonged not only to the four astronauts but also to their families, NASA teams and the international community that supported the mission.

The Congressional Space Medal of Honor was authorized by Congress in 1969 to recognize astronauts whose exceptional service and achievements have made significant contributions to the welfare of the nation and humanity.

Trump Announces U.S. Space Academy

The medal ceremony was also accompanied by another major announcement about America’s future in space. Trump signed an executive order establishing a commission to develop the nation’s first U.S. Space Academy, according to NASA. The proposed institution is intended to help develop the next generation of space professionals and support the growing needs of NASA, the U.S. Space Force and the civilian space industry.

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is set to chair the commission responsible for developing the framework for the new academy. The initiative is part of the administration’s broader effort to strengthen U.S. leadership in space.

The White House described the Artemis II crew as pioneers whose mission demonstrated the United States’ continued commitment to human space exploration. The White House also released video of Trump presenting the Congressional Space Medal of Honor to the crew.

The Artemis II mission is expected to serve as a foundation for subsequent Artemis missions aimed at returning astronauts to the lunar surface and establishing a sustained human presence around and on the Moon.

Shibbir Ahmed, WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald J. Trump has signed an executive order establishing a Presidential Commission to develop plans for a proposed United States Space Academy, a NASA-led federal academy designed to train future leaders in space exploration, national security, science and technology. The order describes space as a critical domain for U.S. national security, economic growth, scientific discovery and technological innovation. It calls for greater opportunities to educate and develop the next generation of astronauts, scientists, engineers, operators, entrepreneurs, civil servants and military personnel.

The executive order does not immediately establish the academy as a fully operational federal institution. Instead, it creates a commission that will develop recommendations for its structure, curriculum, admissions, location and implementation.

NASA Administrator to Chair Commission

Under the order, the NASA Administrator will serve as chair of the Presidential Commission on the United States Space Academy. The Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy will serve as vice chairs, while the NASA Deputy Administrator will serve as executive director.

The commission will also include senior officials or their designees from the Department of War, the White House, the Office of Management and Budget, the National Security Council and the Department of the Air Force. The chair may invite additional federal employees to participate in the commission.

Commission Given 120 Days

The commission has been directed to submit a report to the President within 120 days of the executive order. The report will recommend how the proposed academy should be organized and governed, including its legal authority, accreditation and relationship with federal agencies. The commission must specifically evaluate the possibility of establishing the Space Academy within NASA.

Curriculum and Leadership Training

The proposed academy is envisioned as an institution combining rigorous technical education with leadership development, discipline and public service. The commission will recommend potential degree programs, experiential training and leadership-development programs. According to the order, the goal is to develop a professional corps of leaders capable of advancing U.S. interests across the space domain.

Military and Federal Service Could Be Required

The commission will also examine whether graduates should be subject to service obligations. Those recommendations must address potential service in the U.S. Armed Forces as well as civilian federal service. The order does not establish a specific service requirement. Instead, it directs the commission to determine how such obligations could work and under what conditions they would be fulfilled.

Admission Requirements Under Review

The commission will recommend prerequisites for applicants, including possible requirements involving U.S. citizenship, Security clearances, Government employment and Military status. The final admission requirements have not yet been established.

Location Has Not Been Selected

The permanent location of the proposed Space Academy also remains undecided. The commission will develop a process for selecting a physical location appropriate to the academy’s eventual governance structure. The commission is also directed to identify opportunities for pilot programs, partnerships and other initiatives that could advance the academy’s objectives before its permanent establishment.

Congressional Action May Be Needed

The commission must identify any legislation necessary to implement its recommendations. After the President approves the commission’s recommendations, and after any required legislative action, the NASA Administrator will coordinate with other federal agencies to implement the plan, subject to existing law and available funding.

The executive order therefore represents the beginning of a process to establish the United States Space Academy rather than the immediate creation of a fully operational academy. The administration says the initiative is intended to strengthen the U.S. space workforce and ensure that the country continues to lead in space exploration, technology and national security.

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 28, 2026: The U.S. Department of State has revoked the visa of Iraqi national Taif Sami Mohammed Al Shakarchi following her placement on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s terrorism watchlist, the department said Friday.

Al Shakarchi was previously honored by the Biden administration with the International Women of Courage Award in 2022 for her work against corruption and advocacy for gender equity.

The award was presented by then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken and former First Lady Jill Biden. The State Department said the award recognizes women around the world who demonstrate exceptional courage, strength and leadership in advancing peace, justice, human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls.

According to the State Department, Al Shakarchi’s U.S. visa was revoked after she was placed on the FBI’s terrorism watchlist. She is no longer in the United States.

Al Shakarchi served as Iraq’s finance minister from 2022 until July 2026, according to recent reports. The circumstances surrounding her placement on the FBI watchlist have not been publicly detailed by U.S. authorities.

The State Department framed the visa revocation as part of the Trump administration’s broader national security and immigration policies.

“Under President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, suspected terrorists will never be allowed to remain in the United States,” the department said.

The FBI maintains terrorism-related watchlists and publicly identifies certain individuals through its terrorism and most-wanted programs, although placement on a watchlist does not necessarily mean that an individual has been publicly charged with a crime.

The State Department did not provide further details about the information or circumstances that led to Al Shakarchi’s placement on the terrorism watchlist.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington DC: A growing number of young voters who supported President Donald Trump in the 2024 election are expressing doubts about their decision, raising questions about whether Trump’s support among younger Americans could become a factor in the 2026 midterm elections.

Recent polling cited in political analysis shows that Gen Z Trump voters are among the least confident in their 2024 vote. About 31 percent say they are very confident they made the right choice, while 10 percent say they regret their vote.

The findings suggest that some of the younger voters who helped Trump make significant gains among Gen Z, particularly young men, are becoming more skeptical of his presidency. However, the data does not indicate that Gen Z Trump voters have broadly switched to the Democratic Party.

Doubts growing among young Trump voters

According to research from More in Common, Gen Z Trump voters are more skeptical of Trump’s performance and character than older Trump supporters. About 54 percent of Gen Z Trump voters say Trump has acted more corruptly in office than recent presidents. In addition, 24 percent say they believe Trump is motivated by personal gain, while 73 percent say his decisions are influenced by political or financial interests. The survey also found that 40 percent of Gen Z Trump voters believe the MAGA movement is dying out, while 41 percent say Trump’s best days are behind him.

Midterm elections could provide an important test

The growing doubts among some young Trump voters could become politically significant as the United States approaches the 2026 midterm elections. Yet the same polling shows that dissatisfaction does not automatically translate into support for Democrats.

About 69 percent of Gen Z Trump voters say they plan to vote only for Republican candidates in the midterms. That figure is close to the broader Trump voter coalition, in which about 71 percent say they plan to vote exclusively Republican. The numbers indicate that while some young Trump supporters may be reconsidering their 2024 vote, many remain aligned with the Republican Party.

Economic concerns remain important

Economic pressures are also playing a role in the changing attitudes of younger voters. Earlier polling and political analysis have pointed to concerns about inflation, jobs, living costs and financial security among voters under 30. Some young voters who supported Trump because they believed his policies would improve their economic situation are now questioning whether those expectations have been fulfilled. The shift could be particularly important among young men, who moved significantly toward Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

A warning sign for Republicans

The emerging dissatisfaction among Gen Z Trump voters does not necessarily mean a major Democratic realignment is underway. Instead, it suggests that younger voters could become a more competitive and unpredictable voting bloc in the 2026 midterms.

For Republicans, the challenge will be maintaining the support Trump gained among younger voters while addressing concerns over the economy, political leadership and the direction of the MAGA movement.

For Democrats, the data presents an opportunity—but not a guarantee. Winning back young voters will require more than simply opposition to Trump, particularly because many Gen Z voters remain skeptical of both major political parties.

As the midterm campaign intensifies, the attitudes of young voters who supported Trump in 2024 could become an important indicator of whether his coalition remains intact or begins to fracture.

Shibbir AHmed, WASHINGTON DC: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the U.S. government to rename Lake Ontario as “Lake America,” adding another contentious geographic name change amid escalating tensions between the United States and Canada.

Trump signed the order Thursday, August 27, at the White House. The executive order, titled “Honoring the American History of the Great Lakes and Renaming Lake Ontario as Lake America,” directs the U.S. Department of the Interior to update the federal government’s official geographic records and maps to use the name “Lake America.”

The White House said the change is intended to recognize what it describes as the contributions and heritage of the American people and the historical importance of the Great Lakes.

The order applies to U.S. federal government usage. Because Lake Ontario is a binational body of water shared by the United States and Canada, the U.S. government cannot compel Canada to adopt the new name. Reuters reported that Canada is expected to continue using “Lake Ontario.”

The move comes as relations between Washington and Ottawa remain strained over trade. The Trump administration has imposed major tariffs on Canadian goods, while negotiations between the two countries have faced significant difficulties.

Trump’s decision immediately drew criticism from Canadian and American officials. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the historic name will remain in use in Canada, while several U.S. governors have also rejected the proposed change. During the signing ceremony, Trump also suggested that additional geographic name changes could be considered.

“Now all we need is an ocean,” Trump said, raising the possibility of changing the names of the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. The Lake Ontario decision follows Trump’s earlier move to change the U.S. government’s name for the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America.” That change similarly generated controversy over whether the United States could unilaterally alter the name of an internationally recognized geographic feature.

The White House has published the Lake America executive order as an official presidential action and described the change as effective for U.S. government usage. Despite the presidential order, the traditional name Lake Ontario is expected to remain widely used internationally, particularly in Canada.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: Nearly two dozen Democratic-led states have filed a new lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting. The lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The legal action seeks to block the Trump administration’s new rules governing mail-in ballots before the midterm elections scheduled for November. Under the new rules, envelopes containing mail-in ballots must meet specific design and barcode standards, while states would also be required to provide USPS with lists of eligible voters.

The states argue that the new USPS rules interfere with their constitutional authority over elections. They also warn that implementing changes so close to the midterm elections could create significant administrative and logistical challenges for voters and election officials.

In an earlier case involving the same issue, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Trump administration. However, the court did not make a final determination on whether Trump’s order itself was lawful. Instead, it lifted a lower-court injunction after finding that the earlier lawsuit had been filed prematurely.

The new lawsuit involves 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the governor of Pennsylvania. The case was filed in a federal court in Massachusetts. The Trump administration, meanwhile, says the new rules are intended to strengthen the security of mail-in voting. The states, however, are concerned that the new requirements could disrupt the mail-voting process during the November elections.

The key issue: With the 2026 midterm elections approaching, a new legal battle has emerged between the Trump administration and Democratic-led states over control of mail-in voting. The dispute could eventually return to the Supreme Court.

Shibbir Ahmed, Washington, D.C.: The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has formally submitted a civil nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia to Congress for review. However, the Trump administration remains firm that Saudi Arabia must normalize relations with Israel and join the Abraham Accords as part of the broader agreement.

Under the U.S. Atomic Energy Act, the agreement is now subject to congressional review. Congress has 90 days to review and potentially reject the agreement. If Congress does not pass a joint resolution of disapproval during that period, the agreement could take effect.

Last month, U.S. and Saudi energy officials signed the agreement in Washington. Under the deal, U.S. companies would be able to participate in the development of Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program. The proposed agreement could remain in effect for 30 years.

However, the Trump administration’s condition regarding Israel has created new uncertainty over the future of the agreement. Saudi Arabia has long maintained that it would want to see credible progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state before normalizing diplomatic relations with Israel. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, has opposed the establishment of a Palestinian state.

The agreement has also raised concerns among some members of Congress and nuclear nonproliferation experts. In particular, there are concerns that allowing Saudi Arabia to pursue uranium enrichment in the future could increase the risk of a nuclear arms race in the Middle East.

The key issue: The Trump administration wants to advance long-term civilian nuclear cooperation with Saudi Arabia while linking the agreement to its broader diplomatic goal of normalizing Saudi-Israeli relations. The agreement’s next steps will therefore depend on both Congressional review in Washington and Riyadh’s position on normalization with Israel.