Iranian Oil Tanker Held for Six Weeks Now Under US Sanctions and Stranded at Sea
An Iranian oil tanker detained by the British in July and since released has been blacklisted by the US Treasury Department.
EU
Israeli Archaeologists May Have Found Emmaus, Where Jesus Appeared After Crucifixion
Archaeologists have uncovered the massive walls of a 2,200-year-old Hellenistic fortification that may have been built by the Seleucid general who defeated Judah the Maccabee, the famed Jewish leader at the center of the Hanukkah story. In an unexpected twist, the discovery could also help identify the location of the biblical town of Emmaus, where the Gospels say Jesus made his first appearance after being crucified and resurrected.
U.S. economy slowing, but consumers limiting downside
U.S. economic growth slowed in the second quarter, the government confirmed on Thursday, but the strongest consumer spending in 4-1/2 years amid a solid labor market threw cold water on financial market expectations of a recession.
Trump Says U.S. To Retain Military Presence In Afghanistan, Even With Peace Deal
President Donald Trump says the United States will continue to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan even after a peace deal with the Taliban is reached.
Signs of new U.S.-China trade discussions emerge as increased tariffs loom
The United States and China gave signs on Thursday that they will resume trade talks as the two economic superpowers discussed the next round of in-person negotiations in September ahead of a looming deadline for additional U.S. tariffs.
U.S. Sanctions Two Networks ‘Supporting Iran’s WMD Program’
The United States has imposed sanctions on two networks it says are engaged in ‘covert procurement activities’ benefiting Iranian military organizations and supporting Iran’s ‘missile proliferation programs,’ the Treasury Department has said.
Final Touches Being Put on Deal As Taliban Reviews Proposal On U.S. Withdrawal
As U.S. and Taliban officials look to apparently seal a historic deal to end the 18-year Afghan conflict, leaders of the extremist militant group are reviewing the proposed agreement at an undisclosed location along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.
EU insists Iran nuclear deal must be part of any future pact
The European Union’s top diplomat says the Iran nuclear agreement must not be sacrificed as part of any U.S. moves to build a new and broader security deal with Tehran.
Hezbollah Says ‘Calculated Strike’ Against Israel ‘Being Arranged in a Way Which Wouldn’t Lead to a War’
Hezbollah is planning retaliation against Israel for two drones that targeted its media offices and missile development program Sunday.
Russia’s Putin, Turkey’s Erdogan To Hold Talks In Moscow
Russian President Vladimir Putin is set to meet with his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in the Moscow regional town of Zhukovsky on August 27 for talks expected to focus on the situation in Syria’s northwestern province of Idlib.
Trump dangles ‘very big’ trade deal in front of Brexit Britain
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said he and President Donald Trump were ‘gung-ho’ about a post-Brexit trade deal but cautioned the United States would be tough negotiators and that he would not rush talks.
U.S. abortion rights groups fight new Missouri law in court
Opponents of a new law in Missouri restricting most abortions after eight weeks of pregnancy will ask a federal judge on Monday to stop the law from taking effect this week.
Satellite data shows Amazon rainforest burning at record rates
Brazil’s Amazon rainforest is burning at a record rate, data from international space agencies indicate.
Russia, China Call for UN Security Council Meeting On U.S. Missile Developments
Russia and China have asked the United Nations Security Council to meet on Thursday over ‘statements by U.S. officials on their plans to develop and deploy medium-range missiles,’ according to the request seen by Reuters.
China says hopes U.S. stops wrong tariff action, vows to retaliate if new levies imposed
China said on Thursday it hopes the United States will stop its wrong tariff action, adding that any new tariffs would lead to escalation.
Mexico and U.S. reach deal to end tomato tariff dispute
Mexican tomato producers struck a last-minute agreement with the Trump administration to avert an anti-dumping investigation and end a tariff dispute that has rumbled on for months, government officials said on Wednesday.
U.K., EU only harden their positions on Brexit as G-7 nears
The European Union and Britain, which are hurtling toward a costly, damaging no-deal split in a little over two months, kicked off a high-wire week of diplomacy Tuesday by entrenching themselves deeper in their irreconcilable positions.
Trump looking at possible tax cuts amid economic jitters
President Donald Trump said on Tuesday his administration was considering potential tax cuts on wages as well as profits from asset sales, and sought to play down market anxieties that the world’s top economy could be heading for a recession.
U.S. Peace Envoy Heads To Qatar, Afghanistan For New Talks
U.S. peace envoy Zalmay Khalilzad is heading to Qatar to resume talks with Taliban negotiators and to Kabul to meet with Afghan leaders, amid reports indicating a deal could be close to end the near 18-year war in Afghanistan.
US says anyone who ‘touches’ Iran tanker risks US sanctions
U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says anyone who ‘touches,’ supports or allows an Iranian tanker carrying crude oil to dock risks U.S. sanctions.