This is Beirut - United States

US Says Witkoff to Speak with Iran, Rejects 'Negotiation'

This is Beirut, 08/04 22:33 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Steve Witkoff Donald Trump Oman Iran nuclear

The United States confirmed Tuesday that envoy Steve Witkoff would speak with Iran this weekend and said he would issue demands on Tehran's nuclear program rather than negotiate. Witkoff, a friend who has served as President Donald Trump's envoy on both the Gaza and Ukraine wars, will take part in the talks Saturday on Oman, State ...

Iran Says Deal Can Be Reached if US Shows Goodwill

This is Beirut, 08/04 21:21 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States Iran Iran Nuclear Program

Iran said Tuesday a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the United States provided Tehran's longtime foe shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks but warned it would never accept coercion. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, meanwhile, warned that "the military option" would become "inevitable" if talks between Washington and Tehran ...

Musk Slams Trump Trade Advisor as a 'Moron'

This is Beirut, 08/04 18:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

Elon Musk Peter Navarro United States Donald Trump

Elon Musk on Tuesday described Peter Navarro, a senior White House trade advisor, as "truly a moron" and "dumber than a sack of bricks" in a growing rift over Donald Trump's tariff policy. Musk, a key aide to the president, has signaled his opposition to the tariffs, and the Tesla CEO hit out after Navarro described his electric vehicle company ...

Major Trade Wars Since the 19th Century

This is Beirut, 08/04 17:25 - Reading : 4 minute(s)

United States Trade World Trade Organization European Economic Community European Union

As the world reels from US President Donald Trump's tariff onslaught, here is a look back at some major trade wars since the 19th century: 19th century Opium Wars In the mid-19th century, two conflicts over the opium trade, which became known as the Opium Wars, pitted China against the British Empire. The first began in 1839, when Britain ...

Pentagon Chief Fires US Military Representative to NATO

This is Beirut, 08/04 16:30 - Reading : 1 minute(s)

United States Pete Hegseth Pentagon NATO

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired the US military representative to NATO, the Pentagon announced Tuesday, saying her removal was due to a loss of confidence in her ability to lead. Vice Admiral Shoshana Chatfield is the latest in a string of top officers to be dismissed by President Donald Trump's administration, part of a major ...

Trump Announces Direct Nuclear Talks With Iran, While Tehran Describes Them as "Indirect"

This is Beirut, 08/04 08:30 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

Benjamin Netanyahu Donald Trump United States Israel

President Donald Trump said the United States was starting direct, high-level talks with Iran over its nuclear program on Saturday, in a shock announcement during a White House meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Speaking Monday in the Oval Office, Trump said he was hopeful of reaching a deal with Tehran, but warned that the ...

US Supreme Court Lifts Order Barring Deportations Using Wartime Law

This is Beirut, 08/04 05:45 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

United States Justice Supreme Court Migrants

The US Supreme Court handed President Donald Trump a victory on Monday by lifting a lower court order barring the deportation of undocumented Venezuelan migrants using an obscure wartime law. But the nation's top court also said that migrants subject to deportation under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act must be given an opportunity to legally ...

Trump, Netanyahu Prepare a New Deal for Hostages in Gaza

This is Beirut, 08/04 04:40 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

United States Israel Donald Trump Benjamin Netanyahou Gaza

President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that new negotiations were in the works aimed at getting more hostages released from Hamas captivity in Gaza. "We're working now on another deal that we hope will succeed, and we're committed to getting all the hostages out," Netanyahu told reporters in the Oval ...

WTO Powerless Against Protectionist Wave

This is Beirut, 07/04 20:50 - Reading : 3 minute(s)

World Trade Organization United States Donald Trump

Often referred to as the "global trade police," the WTO is actually bound hand and foot by its members, with Washington's actions especially leaving it all but powerless against the protectionist wave washing over the globe. A number of countries have begun filing complaints with the World Trade Organization, charging that the steep ...

Trump Threatens Further 50% Tariffs on China, Stacking on Earlier Rate

This is Beirut, 07/04 20:02 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump USA United States Washington

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened huge additional tariffs on imports from China if Beijing did not withdraw its retaliation plans, adding that Washington would begin talks with other countries that want negotiations. The fresh action would stack on an already steep US rate taking effect Wednesday, the White House told AFP, bringing ...

EU Offers US Zero Tariffs for Cars and Other Industrial Goods

This is Beirut, 07/04 17:05 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

European Commission European Union United States Trade Tariffs

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday the EU had offered the United States a bilateral tariff exemption for cars and other industrial goods as it works to avert an all-out transatlantic trade war. "We stand ready to negotiate with the United States. Indeed, we have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods, as ...

China vows to stay 'safe and promising land' for foreign investment

This is Beirut, 07/04 10:45 - Reading : 2 minute(s)

Donald Trump United States USA

A top Chinese official has vowed to protect US firms and pledged his country will remain a "promising land" for foreign investment, Beijing said Monday, after it slapped 34 percent tariffs on US imports. China retaliated last week against levies at the same level announced by US President Donald Trump on what he called "liberation day". It also ...

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