United States

Iran conflict disrupts fluoride supply, some US utilities face shortages

It's not just gas prices: Some US water utilities are reporting the Middle East war is disrupting their ability to maintain recommended fluoride levels in the drinking water. Over the past few weeks, a few water utilities have said their supply had been disrupted, according to the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. Fluoride is used in water systems as a public health measure to prevent tooth decay. Here's what to know. What's driving the fluoride shortage? --------------------------------------- Israel is one of the world's top exporters of fluorosilicic acid, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. EPA data also shows the US is among the world's top five importers of the product. At least one Israeli supplier has been facing workforce challenges because many employees have been called into active military service, said Dan Hartnett, chief policy officer for the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. "That has led to decreased production, and supply ..

US judge dismisses Trump's $10 bn defamation suit against WSJ, Murdoch

A federal judge dismissed President Donald Trump's $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch on Monday over a story on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. US District Judge Darrin P. Gayles in Florida wrote in the order that Trump had failed to make the argument that the article was published with the intent to be malicious, but gave the president a chance to file an amended complaint. Trump filed the lawsuit in July, following up on a promise to sue the paper almost immediately after it put a new spotlight on his well-documented relationship with Epstein by publishing an article that described a sexually suggestive letter that the newspaper said bore Trump's signature and was included in a 2003 album compiled for Epstein's 50th birthday. The letter was subsequently released publicly by Congress, which subpoenaed the records from Epstein's estate. The ruling marks yet another blow in the Trump administration's efforts to manage fallout over its rele

US aware of Iran's capabilities, says Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali

Iran is open to holding another round of peace talks with the United States, provided it does not make any "unlawful demands" and heeds to Tehran's conditions, Iranian envoy Mohammad Fathali said on Monday. His comments at a media briefing came a day after talks between Iran and the US in Islamabad ended without any breakthrough. "If they (the US) accept our conditions, it is possible," Fathali said, responding to a question. The envoy said the US side made "unlawful" demands during the talks that led to the negotiations ending without results. Fathali also asserted that the Strait of Hormuz is in Iran's territorial water. Asked about US President Donald Trump's threat to blockade Iranian ports, Fathali responded by saying that Washington is aware of Iran's capabilities. Delving into the overall situation in view of the West Asia crisis, the envoy said Iran and India have a "common fate" in the region.

Three tankers attempt Strait of Hormuz transit after US flags blockade

The New Future, which has no clear links to Iran, and the US-sanctioned Auroura, began moving northeast early Monday from waters off the United Arab Emirates

Rescued airmen from Iran are in 'good shape', we're proud of them: Trump

The two crew members of the F-15E Strike Eagle, the first lost to enemy fire in the monthlong war, had both ejected from the cockpit on April 3 after Iran's military struck their plane

Oil tankers steer clear of Strait of Hormuz as US prepares for blockade

Iran's Revolutionary Guards said any military vessels attempting to approach the Hormuz would be considered a violation of the ceasefire and be dealt with harshly and decisively

21 hours in Pakistan: How Vance tried and failed to end a war he opposed

JD Vance leaves Pakistan without a deal as US-Iran talks collapse, deepening uncertainty over ceasefire and escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz

Iran's chief negotiator Ghalibaf blames US for failure to reach deal

Iran's chief negotiator to the Islamabad talks has blamed the United States for failing to reach a deal. In a series of posts on X, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said the Iranian delegation provided "forward-looking initiatives" during the 21-hour talks, but the Americans could not gain Iran's trust. He said now is the time for the US "to decide whether it can gain our trust or not." He didn't elaborate. But Iranian state media reported earlier that major points of disagreement included Iran's nuclear program and transit through the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump warns he 'won't accept' fertiliser price hikes for US farmers

The US president posted on social media that he is monitoring fertiliser price and "will not accept" any increase in costs for farmers. Fertiliser costs have increased globally because of natural gas supplies being stranded due Iran's control of the Strait of the Hormuz. Iran has used the strait as strategic leverage in its ongoing war with the US and Israel. But Trump's post was targeted at a domestic audience. "I am watching fertiliser prices CLOSELY during our FIGHT FOR FREEDOM in Iran," he posted.

US-Iran peace talks begin in Islamabad under Pakistan's 'mediation'

The White House declined to confirm whether direct meetings between US and Iranian officials had taken place, stating only that there had been a bilateral engagement with Pakistani officials earlier

JD Vance, Witkoff, and Kushner reach Pak as Iran-US talks set to kick off

Iran's 71-member delegation will be led by Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and central bank Governor Abdolnaser Hemmati

Ten Indian nationals in US indicted for staging robberies to secure visas

Ten Indian nationals, living illegally in the US, have been indicted by a federal grand jury in Boston for conspiring to carry out staged armed robberies at convenience stores for the purpose of visa fraud. The individuals were previously charged by a criminal complaint in March. They have been indicted by a federal grand jury with one count of conspiracy to commit visa fraud in connection with a conspiracy to carry out staged armed robberies at convenience stores for the purpose of allowing store clerks to falsely claim they were crime victims on immigration applications. The defendants are Jitendrakumar Patel, 39; Maheshkumar Patel, 36; Sanjaykumar Patel, 45; Dipikaben Patel, 40, deported to India after unlawfully residing in Massachusetts; Rameshbhai Patel, 52; Amitabahen Patel, 43; Ronakkumar Patel, 28; Sangitaben Patel, 36; Minkesh Patel, 42 and Sonal Patel, 42. All 10 defendants were previously charged by criminal complaint and released on conditions. Rameshbhai Patel and ...

Man held for throwing Molotov cocktail at Altman's home in San Francisco

Altman, 40, lives in San Francisco, and OpenAI is also headquartered in the city

US federal court hears new case against Trump's latest global tariffs

The centerpiece of US President Donald Trump's economic policy sweeping taxes on global imports is under legal assault again. The US Court of International Trade, a specialised court in New York, heard oral arguments on Friday in an attempt to overturn the temporary tariffs Trump turned to after the Supreme Court in February struck down his preferred choice even bigger, even more sweeping tariffs. In his first attempt to impose global tariffs, the president last year invoked the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), using the law to declare America's longstanding trade deficit a national emergency and to impose double-digit worldwide taxes on imports to combat it. He interpreted the law broadly to justify tariffs of whatever size he wanted, whenever he wanted to impose them, on whatever country he wanted to target. The Supreme Court struck those tariffs down on February 20, saying IEEPA did not authorise the use of tariffs to counter national emergencies. Bu

Misri wraps US visit with talks to deepen nuclear ties, explore LPG exports

India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri discussed furthering energy cooperation with the US in nuclear power and new areas such as coal gasification and LPG exports in his meeting with US Energy Secretary Chris Wright. Wrapping up his three-day visit to the US, Misri's discussion with Wright focused on advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade and identifying new avenues to strengthen the India-US Energy Partnership, the Indian Embassy in the US said. "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri called on Energy Secretary Chris Wright @SecretaryWright @ENERGY. Discussions focused on advancing energy security, deepening bilateral energy trade, and identifying new avenues to strengthen the India-US Energy Partnership," the embassy said. US Ambassador to India, Sergei Gor, who was also present at the meeting on Friday, said the US was ready to cooperate with India on civil nuclear cooperation in addition to other areas, such as coal gasification and US LPG exports. "Great to spend

Vance warns Iran not to 'play' US; Iranian delegation reaches Pak for talks

US Vice President J D Vance on Friday warned Iran not to "play" the US as he headed overseas for negotiations aimed at ending the war. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the six-week-old conflict with Iran to now find a resolution and stave off the US president's astonishing threat to wipe out its "whole civilisation". Vance, who has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand," Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two to make his way to the talks in Pakistan. But he added, "If they're gonna try and play us, then they're gonna find that the negotiating team is not that receptive." Vance also said that Trump "gave us

Misri, Rubio discuss trade, Quad; US state secy set to visit India in May

Misri also met FBI Director Kash Patel and discussed cooperation in countering terrorism, organised crime and narcotics

US, Iran prepare for ceasefire negotiations as Vance heads to Pakistan

Vice President JD Vance on Friday warned Tehran not to "play" the US as he departed for Islamabad for negotiations aimed at ending the war with Iran. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who has seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the conflict with Iran to now find a resolution to the war that began six weeks ago and stave off the US president's astonishing threat to wipe out its "whole civilisation." Vance, who has long been sceptical of foreign military interventions and outspoken about the prospect of sending troops into open-ended conflicts, set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad. Boarding Air Force Two on his way to Pakistan, the vice president said, "We're looking forward to the negotiation. I think it's gonna be positive. We'll, of course, see." He cited Trump in saying, "If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we're certainly willing to extend the open hand." But he added, "If

US to automatically register eligible men for military draft by December

The US plans to auto-enrol eligible men aged 18-26 into the military draft database, ending the current self-registration process and using federal data to identify those required to register

Trump lashes out at conservative US-media figures over Iran war criticism

Trump attacked several right-wing media figures accusing them of abandoning him for 'cheap publicity' and claimed they are secretly supportive of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons