Oil Prices Hold Above $100 Amid Strait of Hormuz Tensions and U.S.-Iran Uncertainty 
Trump Announces “Project Freedom” to Aid Stranded Ships in Strait of Hormuz 
US Moves to Secure Gulf Shipping Amid Rising Tensions with Iran 
Taiwan President Lai Ching-te Visits Eswatini Amid China Pressure and Airspace Tensions 
Merz Downplays Rift With Trump as U.S. Plans Troop Reduction in Germany 
US Gaza Coordination Overhaul Raises Concerns Over Ceasefire and Aid Efforts 
U.S. Fast-Tracks $8.6 Billion Arms Sales to Middle East Allies Amid Rising Tensions 
Trump Rejects Iran Proposal as Tensions Persist Amid Fragile Ceasefire 
Russian Forces Advance Toward Kostiantynivka as Fighting Intensifies in Eastern Ukraine 
Medicare to Cover GLP-1 Weight-Loss and Diabetes Drugs Starting July 1 
Kim Jong Un Highlights Youth Role in North Korea’s Military and Political Agenda 
US to Withdraw 5,000 Troops from Germany Amid Growing Rift with European Allies 
Judge Rules Use of Military Lawyers in Civilian Prosecutions Is Lawful 
Rising Tensions in US-Europe Relations Amid Trump Policies and Iran War 
UAE Exits OAPEC Amid Shift Toward Independent Oil Strategy and Market Uncertainty 
Taiwan President Lai Defends Global Engagement During Eswatini Visit Amid China Criticism 
Iran Proposal on Strait of Hormuz and U.S. Blockade Faces Rejection from Trump 
During this time, Donald Trump has largely been out of the public and online eye following the Capitol riots. As the hours go down in his presidency, the outgoing president is reportedly set to issue his final series of pardons and sentence commutations.
Three people knowledgeable with the matter revealed to CNN that Trump is preparing to issue 100 pardons and sentence commutations as one of his final acts as president. Among those who would be granted pardons include white-collar convicts but Trump himself is not included among those who would be granted pardons. The White House met over the weekend to finalize the list of people who would be pardoned by Trump.
The outgoing president already started granting pardons by the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. However, the announcements of pardons were temporarily postponed during the days that led to and after the insurrection at the Capitol by groups of pro-Trump rioters. At those times, Trump was said to be more focused on the electoral college count. While he was initially expected to resume granting pardons following the riots, Trump put a temporary halt when he was pinned as responsible for inciting the violence.
Two major lists of people who would be pardoned were already ready to be unveiled last week and Tuesday, the day before Joe Biden’s inauguration. However, officials now expect that the last batch of pardons to be the only one, unless Trump changes his mind and decides to pardon his more controversial allies or perhaps his family members. Trump previously granted Michael Flynn a pardon prior to Thanksgiving.
Meanwhile, Trump has remained out of sight even in his last few days in office. The outgoing president is set to leave the White House in the early hours of inauguration day on January 20. Trump will not be attending Biden’s inauguration, but his vice president Mike Pence will be in attendance. Aside from being the first president to get impeached twice, Trump is also the first president in 150 years who will not attend the inauguration of his successor.
People familiar with the planning revealed to ABC that Trump is hoping to have a military-style sendoff with a parade and crowds of his supporters. However, the Pentagon has already rejected Trump’s wishes.
