China’s trade surplus with US grows
China’s surplus with the United States widened in April, underlining an imbalance between the economic titans as they struggle to reach an agreement on averting a potentially damaging trade war.
Washington
April Sets Gun Sales Record
April 2018 saw the most gun-related checks run through the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s background check system.
Turkish Court Rules US Pastor to Remain in Jail, Stoking US-Turkish Tensions
A Turkish court ruled for the continued detention of an American pastor in the face of growing U.S. pressure for his release. Andrew Brunson faces 35 years behind bars on terrorism and espionage charges, in a case condemned by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Russia Starts Advanced Construction on New Iranian Nuke Plant
Russia has begun advanced construction on a new Iranian nuclear plant that could provide Tehran with a second, plutonium-based pathway to a nuclear weapon, according to regional reports that have rattled U.S. officials in the wake of a major disclosure showing Iran lied about its past efforts to construct nuclear warheads.
Pentagon: ‘NYT Story Is False,’ Trump Has Not Asked for Plan to Reduce Troop Numbers in South Korea
The Pentagon released a statement on Friday that called a New York Times story, which reported President Donald Trump is considering reducing the number of U.S. forces in South Korea, false.
Russia eyes closer Iran ties, more trade if Trump nixes nuclear deal
A top Russian official said bilateral relations and trade with Iran could actually be enhanced if President Trump follows through on a threat to take the United States out of the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran next week.
Turkey ‘will absolutely retaliate’ if US weapons sales are threatened
A move by House lawmakers to try to block the sales of U.S. arms to Turkey could lead to retaliation by the country, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu warned on Sunday.
Sources: Trump to ask Israel to withdraw from 4 east J’lem neighborhoods
The Trump administration will ask Israel to withdraw from four Arab neighborhoods in east Jerusalem, which will likely become the capital of a future Palestinian state, US officials told Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman during his visit to Washington last week.
Mike Pompeo brings his reset button to the State Department
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is moving immediately to fill vacant senior positions at the State Department, a task so large it has the feel of a ‘presidential transition’ as opposed to a hand-off from one member of President Trump’s Cabinet to another, according to Republican foreign policy experts.
Giuliani’s ‘spectacularly bad’ media tour leaves attorneys baffled, White House aides fuming
President Trump’s newest legal adviser, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, shocked White House allies on Wednesday when he admitted in a televised appearance that President Trump reimbursed his personal attorney for the $130,000 payment he made to porn actress Stormy Daniels.
‘Tradecraft failings’: CIA’s conclusion that Putin interfered in election to help Trump was flawed
U.S. intelligence agencies’ far-reaching conclusion that Vladimir Putin interfered in the 2016 presidential election to specifically help Donald Trump was flawed by ‘tradecraft failings,’ says a House report.
Rudy Giuliani blasts Mueller probe, says ‘disgraceful’ Comey should be indicted
President Trump’s top legal adviser called former FBI director James B. Comey a liar who should be indicted.
Iowa Legislature Passes Legislation Banning Abortion When Fetal Heartbeat Is Detected
The Iowa State Legislature passed legislation on Wednesday aimed at banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
Congress Seeks Showdown On Ending U.S. Aid to Palestinians
A delegation of leading Republican members of Congress are urging newly installed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cut all U.S. taxpayer funding to the Palestinian government over its continued use of American dollars to pay the salaries of terrorists and their families, according to communications between these lawmakers and the State Department.
Mueller told Trump legal team a presidential subpoena could be possible, ex-attorney says
Special counsel Robert Mueller told President Trump’s legal team that he could subpoena the president to appear before a grand jury if Trump refuses an interview with Mueller’s team, Trump’s former lead attorney told The Associated Press Tuesday night.
White House ‘frustrated’ with direction of Mueller questions
The White House on Tuesday said it’s ‘frustrated’ with the direction of the Russia probe, claiming the leaked questions special counsel Robert Mueller reportedly prepared for President Trump prove the federal investigation has veered off its intended course.
Top judge: Backlog of illegal immigration court cases over 1 million, delayed deportations 684,000
The backlog of court cases addressing the status of illegal immigrant’s has reached over one million, prompting Justice and immigration courts to step up efforts to hire more judges, digitize old paper systems and speed up court proceedings.
U.S. Breaks Record, Borrows $488 Billion in the First Quarter
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he’s unconcerned about the bond market’s ability to absorb rising government debt after his department said it borrowed a record amount for the first quarter.
Border standoff: Caravan organizers vow to outlast U.S. government
The illegal immigrant caravan has turned into a real standoff in Mexico.
Israel ready to bomb Iran if necessary: Report
Israeli defense officials have told their American and Russian counterparts that if Iranian-backed forces attack Israel from inside Syria, Jerusalem will not hold back from retaliating with direct strikes against Tehran or other targets in Iran.