EU Chief Von der Leyen Wants Britain and Russia in First Union Speech
European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen has given her first State of the Union speech with angry words about Britain’s plans to renegotiate its divorce deal with the EU.
Trade
US officials plan to move forward with enforcing UN sanctions on Iran
State Department officials said Wednesday that it will push forward with U.S. sanctions against Iran, and will impose sanctions on anyone who violates the United Nations arms embargo — despite its expiration next month under the 2015 nuclear deal.
Obama alumni all wrong on Trump peace push
Dire predictions from Barack Obama alumni that moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, would ignite widespread violence have not panned out.
U.S. President Presides Over Historic’ Peace Agreement’ Between U.A.E. and Israel
Writing history, U.S. President Donald Trump presided over a signing ceremony at the White House establishing formal ties between Israel and two Arab nations, the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) and Bahrain.
Brexit drama in the UK as Boris Johnson pushes bill to override EU exit deal
More than four years since Brits voted to leave the European Union, the United Kingdom is once again engulfed in another Brexit crisis — with a dramatic move by Prime Minister Boris Johnson to potentially rewrite parts of the initial divorce deal, sparking outrage and threats of legal action from E.U. leaders.
UN: Covid-19 Fuels Humanitarian Crises Worldwide
Top U.N. officials warned Wednesday that the COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated discrimination and other human rights violations that can fuel conflict, and its indirect consequences are dwarfing the impact of the virus itself in the world’s most fragile countries.
EU, U.K. in urgent meeting on lawbreaking British Brexit plan
Top European Union and British officials were holding an emergency meeting in London on Thursday over Britain’s plan to break part of the Brexit divorce agreement, a move the EU says would demolish any goodwill to reach a trade agreement.
EU Accuses Britain Of Torpedoing Brexit Deal
European Union leaders have accused Britain of throwing political grenades across the channel by threatening to undermine its divorce deal with the EU. The so-called Brexit Withdrawal Agreement was signed last year to allow Britain’s orderly exit from the bloc.
Johnson says UK will quit Brexit talks if no deal by Oct 15
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson talked tough on Sunday ahead of a crucial round of post-Brexit trade talks with the European Union, saying Britain could walk away from the talks within weeks and insisting that a no-deal exit would be a “good outcome for the U.K.”
U.S. trade deficit surged in July to highest in 12 years
The U.S. trade deficit surged in July to $63.6 billion, the highest level in 12 years, as imports jumped by a record amount.
Netanyahu: ‘Many more’ secret talks with Arab nations after US-brokered UAE agreement
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that there are “many more unpublicized meetings with Arab and Muslim leaders to normalize relations with the state of Israel” following its historic peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates brokered by the United States earlier this month.
FBI warns corporations about Chinese theft
Chinese technology theft costs the American economy $225 billion to $600 billion annually in stolen trade secrets, pirated software and counterfeit goods, according to a new FBI report.
Israel and United Arab Emirates Launch Diplomatic Relations In ‘Historic Breakthrough’
U.S. President Donald Trump has confirmed that Israel and the United Arab Emirates have agreed to establish full diplomatic relations in a “historic diplomatic breakthrough.”
Evangelical colleges cut over 230 staff positions due to financial concerns
Citing continuing financial concerns, evangelical colleges and universities around the country have canceled over 230 faculty and staff positions as they head into the fall semester, Christianity Today reports. More than 150 positions were eliminated in the spring and dozens more were cut over the summer.
U.S. trade deficit shrinks in June
The U.S. trade deficit narrowed in June as exports rebounded following several months of decreases, suggesting an improvement in global demand after being depressed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Eurozone suffers 40.3% annualized contraction, greatest drop on record
The Eurozone suffered its greatest contraction on record, exceeding the U.S. economy’s record plunge.
Israel, Hezbollah trade fire in ‘security incident’ near Lebanese border
The Israeli military confirmed on Monday there had been a “security incident” on the country’s northern border with Lebanon and said its forces were engaged in “ongoing combat” with Hezbollah militants.
Trump and Putin talk on phone about arms control and COVID-19 economic recovery
President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke on the phone Thursday and discussed arms control and economic recovery in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, the Washington Times reports. Although this is the first time the two leaders have talked since allegations emerged that Russia had offered bounties for Afghan militants to kill US soldiers, neither the White House nor the Kremlin made mention of this issue in their statements about the call.
US-Canada border to remain closed for another month
Because of the number of COVID-19 cases in the US, American and Canadian officials have agreed to keep the border between the two nations closed to all except commercial and essential traffic for another month. Two recent surveys have shown that a large majority of Canadians support the continued closure of the border, VOA News reported Tuesday.
US, India Discuss ‘Possibility’ of Free Trade Pact
The U.S. and India discussed the “possibility” of a free trade pact, India’s Commerce and Industry Ministry said in a statement Thursday, just days after India began free trade agreement talks with the European Union.