Turkey headed towards ‘Russian-Chinese axis’ after ejection from F-35 program
The Trump administration’s decision to eject Turkey from the F-35 fighter-jet program in July has significant implications for NATO, Israel and the Middle East.
Trump
Trump names counterterrorism chief as acting director of national intelligence
President Donald Trump said on Thursday that Joseph Maguire, the current chief of the National Counterterrorism Center, will become the acting director of national intelligence.
White House drafting executive order to tackle Silicon Valley’s alleged anti-conservative bias
The White House is circulating drafts of a proposed executive order that would address allegations of anti-conservative bias by social media companies, according to a White House official and two other people familiar with the matter — a month after President Donald Trump pledged to explore ‘all regulatory and legislative solutions’ on the issue.
Trump administration to seek Britain trade deal after Brexit
The Trump administration will pursue a free-trade agreement with Britain as soon as possible after it leaves the European Union, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Wednesday as the country’s new foreign secretary made his first official visit to the United States.
Iranian President Warns of ‘Mother of All Wars’ If US, Britain Continue to Trifle with Iranian Oil
Iran on Tuesday declared its intention to further disrupt oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, announcing a naval drill to take place with Russia later this year in the disputed waterway.
Trump explores executive action on guns
President Donald Trump is exploring ways to use regulatory power and executive action to curb gun violence after a pair of deadly shootings over the weekend — a move driven by his aides’ belief that Congress is incapable of coalescing around consensus legislation in a heated 2020 election cycle.
U.S. designates China a currency manipulator, escalating trade war
A yearlong U.S.-China trade war boiled over on Monday as Washington accused Beijing of manipulating its currency after China let the yuan drop to its lowest point in more than a decade.
North Korea Fires Two More Projectiles: South Korea
North Korea continued to ramp up its weapons demonstrations by firing two presumed short-range ballistic missiles into the sea Tuesday while lashing out at the United States and South Korea for continuing military exercises that the North says could derail fragile nuclear diplomacy.
Trump freezes all Venezuelan government assets in bid to pressure Maduro
U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a freeze on all Venezuelan government assets in the United States on Monday, sharply escalating an economic and diplomatic pressure campaign aimed at removing socialist President Nicolas Maduro from power.
Trump promises action on gun violence after two mass shootings
President Trump said Sunday he will announce steps to stop gun violence, as top Democrats raced to blame him for fomenting two mass shootings this weekend in Texas and Ohio with a toxic stew of violence and white nationalism, and pressed him for quick action on gun control.
Trump Wants All Troops Out Of Afghanistan By 2020 U.S. Election: Reports
U.S. President Donald Trump has told aides that he wants to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan before the presidential election in November 2020, U.S. news agencies are reporting, citing unnamed current and former administration officials.
Egypt: Sinai will never be part of Trump administration’s peace plan
The Sinai Peninsula will never be part of the ‘opportunity of the century’ peace proposal drawn by the Trump administration, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi told White House envoy Jared Kushner in talks on Thursday, Arab media reported.
Iran says will take ‘third step’ to reduce nuclear deal commitments
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Saturday announced that the Islamic Republic intends to take a ‘third step’ to reduce its commitments under the 2015 nuclear agreement, according to parliamentary news agency ICANA cited by Reuters.
Trump budget deal passes with 22 Senate GOP defections
Congress sent a two-year budget and debt ceiling deal to President Trump over the objection of 22 Senate Republicans.
Trump hits China with more tariffs, sharply escalating trade dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump vowed to impose a 10% tariff on $300 billion of Chinese imports from Sept. 1, sharply escalating a bruising trade war between the world’s largest economies and jolting financial markets.
Syrian Christians in US fear deportation as their protected status is in ‘jeopardy’
Thousands of Syrian immigrants in the U.S., including Christians, could be at risk of deportation back to their dangerous and deadly home country. A decision by the Trump administration to extend their longstanding temporary protected status has yet to be made as a crucial deadline looms, advocates say.
Jared Kushner arrives in Morocco, meets MBZ and foreign minister of Oman
Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s senior advisor, arrived in Morocco Thursday and met with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (MBZ) of the United Arab Emirates, an administration official told The Jerusalem Post.
Jared Kushner meets with Netanyahu in Israel as U.S. doubles down on peace plan
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met Wednesday evening with senior White House adviser Jared Kushner, who is on a tour of five Middle East countries before Washington decides on the next step following June’s economic workshop in Bahrain.
U.S., China to keep talking on trade after little progress in Shanghai
U.S. and Chinese negotiators ended a brief round of trade talks on Wednesday with little sign of progress and agreed to meet again in September, prolonging an uneasy truce in a year-long trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
Major non-NATO ally: Trump clears path for military partnership with Brazil
President Trump designated Brazil Wednesday night as a major non-NATO ally, paving the way for sharing military intelligence and privileged acquisition of military equipment.