US restores preferential trade privileges for Hong Kong, drawing thanks from China

HONG KONG (AP) – The United States confirmed Friday that it will not renew an executive order that revoked Hong Kong’s special trading status. The decision comes after China signaled that the city’s preferential privileges were being restored.

China's Xpeng debuts flying car in Germany

China’s Xpeng debuts flying car in Germany

US oil firms sign deals with Iraq to develop alternative shipping routes

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. companies signed roughly $60 billion in agreements and partnerships with the Iraqi government Friday, including deals intended to create alternative routes for shipping oil out of the Persian Gulf.

Editorials from The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Guardian and others

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

US to auction water around American Samoa for deep-sea mining

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – The U.S. government plans to auction off massive sections of water surrounding American Samoa for potential deep-sea mining in an unprecedented move that is expected to draw criticism from many countries.

Plans to sell high speed access to Truth Social posts

NEW YORK (AP) – President Donald Trump’s media company is planning to charge for special high-speed access to Truth Social posts, including possibly his own affecting national security and financial markets.

TSMC pledges $100 billion to expand US chipmaking capacity

HONG KONG (AP) – Major Taiwan computer chipmaker TSMC said Thursday it plans to spend another $100 billion on expanding its manufacturing capacity in the United States.

Netflix posts higher Q2 results but shares drop due to lukewarm forecast

Netflix said Thursday its second-quarter profit grew thanks to new membership signups and price increases, which “had gone well and as expected.”

FDA approves a first-of-its-kind pill to cut cholesterol in high-risk patients

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind pill that can drastically reduce cholesterol in a way that’s previously only been available with expensive, injectable drugs.