Egypt says no ‘breakthrough’ with Ethiopia over Nile dam
Egypt on Sunday said negotiations over an upstream Nile dam being built by Ethiopia have not led to any ‘breakthrough.’
Negotiations
UN says West Bank annexation would violate international law
UN chief Antonio Guterres warned Wednesday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to annex the Jordan Valley and settlements in the West Bank if reelected would violate international law.
Bolton’s firing empowers Pompeo, opens door for Trump diplomacy
President Trump’s stunning dismissal of John R. Bolton clears the stage for Secretary of State Mike Pompeo — along with Vice President Mike Pence, one of the few members of Mr. Trump’s original national security inner circle still standing — to wield more influence over a raft of foreign policy challenges confronting the White House.
Muslim herdsmen in Nigeria hold pastor captive for two weeks
Muslim Fulani herdsmen in Nigeria released a pastor they had kidnapped and held for ransom for over two weeks on Saturday.
Iran slated to begin work on advanced centrifuges as damage control for nuclear deal fails
Iran will begin work on advanced centrifuges that allow for faster enrichment of uranium, AP reported Thursday.
U.S. to withdraw 5,000 troops from Afghanistan, close bases
The United States would withdraw almost 5,000 troops from Afghanistan and close five bases within 135 days under a draft peace accord agreed with the Taliban, the chief U.S. negotiator Zalmay Khalilzad said on Monday.
Trump Previews Trade Talks with China ‘At a Different Level’
US President Trump said Thursday that trade negotiations with China scheduled to occur later in the day would be ‘at a different level,’ according to Fox News Radio.
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.
Egypt said to warn Hamas: End rocket fire, avoid Iran-led fight against Israel
Egypt has warned Hamas it will stop mediating truce negotiations with Israel if the Palestinian terror group does not put a lid on rocket fire from the Gaza Strip, the Al-Arabiya news site reported Tuesday.
French, US officials strike draft compromise on French digital tax
French and US negotiators have reached a compromise agreement on France’s digital tax, a levy which prompted US President Donald Trump to threaten a separate tax on French wine imports, a source close to the negotiations said.
China announces it seeks ‘calm’ end to trade war, as markets tank and currency hits 11-year flatline
China signaled on Monday it was now seeking a ‘calm’ end to its ongoing trade war with the U.S., as Asian markets crumbled and China’s currency plummeted to an 11-year low following the latest tariffs on $550 billion in Chinese goods announced last Friday by the Trump administration.
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 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.
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.
‘The Buck Stops Here’: Boris Johnson Elected UK Prime Minister, Promises Brexit With or Without Deal
Boris Johnson became the new Prime Minister of the U.K. on Tuesday, beating Jeremy hunt in a bid to replace Theresa May for conservative party leadership.
Poll: Kingmaker Liberman surges to 10 seats, left and right mergers ineffective
Exactly two months ahead of the September 17 elections, a poll published Tuesday showed Avigdor Liberman still holding the deciding say in coalition negotiations as his Yisrael Beytenu party surged to 10 seats after winning just five in April. The survey also revealed that mergers between smaller parties on the left and right would not increase the sizes of their respective blocs.
North Korea suggests it may resume nuclear, missile tests
North Korea on Tuesday suggested it might call off its 20-month suspension of nuclear and missile tests because of summertime US-South Korean military drills that the North calls preparation for an eventual invasion.
Trump adviser: ‘Iran is very likely a significant spoiler’ to Israeli-Palestinian peace plan
Iranian officials could sabotage U.S. efforts to broker a deal between the Israelis and the Palestinians, according to one of President Trump’s top advisers on the issue.
U.S., China to relaunch talks with little changed since deal fell apart
The United States and China are set to relaunch trade talks this week after a two-month hiatus, but a year after their trade war began there is little sign their differences have narrowed.