The latest news headlines for Thursday, July 18 include Shell backing away from pledges to increase plastic recycling, talks to free reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia, and Ukraine’s budget committee recommending a law on suspending debt payments. There are also reports on far-right surges globally, Israeli minister visits to sensitive sites, and Iran’s moderate elevation to the presidency.
In the US, the FBI data shows a downward trend in violent crime, while special counsel Jack Smith appeals dismissal of a Trump classified documents case. J.D. Vance’s evolution into a Trump loyalist, GOP groundwork to deny 2024 election results, and Biden forgiving $1.2 billion in student loans are also featured.
Trump’s RNC Day 3 saw speakers backing Vance’s Project 2025 agenda, with concerns raised about Trump’s medical care after an assassination attempt. Biden faces pressure to withdraw from the 2024 race due to COVID diagnosis, with calls from Democrats to step aside and concerns about his campaign. Democrats stand down on DNC complaints after pressure, while Biden’s Covid diagnosis adds to campaign challenges.
Other news stories cover fundraising leaders in Virginia, Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez’s resignation reports, and controversies around pro-Palestine groups in Virginia. The fight to bring down Confederate monuments in Charlottesville has ended, while Fairfax County board delays voting on data center regulations. The D.C.-area forecast includes the end of a heat wave with possible showers for the weekend.
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