Trump threatens to pull US out of World Trade Organization
President Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US from the World Trade Organization (WTO) if the body fails to change the way it treats America.
World Headlines
Saudi FM seeks more sanctions on Iran
Saudi FM Adel Al-Jubeir said during a press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov that ‘we have come to an agreement with Russia regarding continued coordination concerning regional developments. We made it clear that we support additional sanctions on Iran.’
Russia says militants in Syria’s Idlib province need liquidating
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday described militants in Syria’s last big rebel-held enclave of Idlib as a ‘festering abscess’ that needed to be liquidated.
Canada’s Freeland says NAFTA trade talks with U.S. ‘very intense’
Canadian Foreign Minister Chrystia Freeland said on Wednesday that NAFTA trade negotiations with the United States were at a ‘very intense moment’ and Canada was looking for compromises that were ‘win-win’ for all sides.
China’s African Swine Fever Outbreak Could Spread to Korea, SE Asia
The Korean peninsular and Southeast Asia may be next to report outbreaks of African swine fever after the rapid onset of the deadly pig disease in China, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
US to continue backing Saudi coalition in Yemen war
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Tuesday the U.S. intends to continue backing the Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen despite civilian casualties and questions about the Saudis’ commitment to avoiding killing innocents.
NATO Confirms Russian Naval Buildup Off Syria, Calls for Restraint
NATO confirmed a large-scale Russian navy buildup in the Mediterranean Sea off Syria on Tuesday. ‘The Russian Navy has dispatched substantial naval forces to the Mediterranean, including several ships equipped with modern cruise missiles,’ NATO spokesperson Oana Lungescu confirmed to Haaretz in a statement.
Russia to hold biggest military drills since Cold War
Russia will flex its military muscles and hold the biggest war games since the Cold War era next month, including almost 300,000 troops and 1,000 aircraft, the Russian defense ministry said Tuesday, leading NATO to warn of a ‘more assertive Russia.’
Russia Deploys Fleet Off Syria While Claiming U.S. Preparing for Possible Strike
The Russian Ministry of Defence said on Monday it had noticed Washington was building up its military forces in the Middle East in preparation for what Moscow feared was a possible strike on Syrian government forces, Russian news agencies reported.
Russia’s Syria chemical weapons attack warning dubious, experts say
The Russian government is warning of a staged gas attack by Syrian rebels in Idlib. Experts doubt the validity of that information, however, and see the move as a telltale sign of desperation in Moscow.
Iran says it signed deal to rebuild Syria’s military
Iran has signed a deal to rebuild Syria’s armed forces, which have been depleted by more than seven years civil war, Iranian Defense Minister Amir Hatami said on Monday.
Turkey’s Erdogan to visit Iran on Sept. 7
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will visit Iran on Sept 7, his office said on Monday, on a trip expected to include a three-way summit with Russian and Iranian leaders.
Trump makes trade agreement with Mexico to replace NAFTA, puts pressure on Canada to deal
President Trump heralded a tentative trade deal with Mexico on Monday as a big win for his get-tough trade policies, which he said put Canada on the spot to start its own negotiations with the U.S. or face higher tariffs on autos.
Iran to open lawsuit against Washington’s sanctions at UN’s top court
Iran will argue Monday against renewed sanctions imposed by the United States, as a bitter legal battle between Tehran and Washington opens before the UN’s top court.
European Aid To Iran Sends Signal To United States
The European Union’s decision to transfer millions of dollars in aid to Iran is a symbolic move intended to undermine the United States’ strategy of pressuring Tehran into re-negotiating the nuclear deal, analysts said.
Iran and Syria sign deal for military cooperation
Iran and Syria signed a deal for military cooperation in a meeting between the defense ministers of the two countries in Damascus, the Tasnim news agency reported on Monday.
US and Mexico close to reaching NAFTA deal, sources say
The United States and Mexico look close to resolving key differences on the North American Free Trade Agreement and may have a complete deal worked out by as early as Monday, according to sources close to the talks.
U.S. strike kills ISIS leader in Afghanistan
The leader of ISIS in Afghanistan was killed in an airstrike on Saturday along with 10 other fighters, officials said.
With new special envoy, Pompeo heading to N Korea amid ‘deadlock’ over denuclearization
Amid what North Korea calls a ‘deadlock’ in denuclearization talks, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Pyongyang next week, with the new Special Representative for North Korea, Steve Biegun, in tow.
No sign of progress as U.S.-China trade talks wrap up
Trade talks between the U.S. and China failed to produce any visible sign of progress, reducing the prospects of a deal soon, people closely tracking the talks said.