AFPUS sanctions Iran minister over internet censorship
The US Treasury slapped punitive sanctions on Iran's communications minister, Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi, Friday after the Tehran regime blocked internet communications amid violent protests triggered by a petrol price hike. "We are sanctioning Iran's Minister of Information and Communications
AFPTrump: Hong Kong would be 'obliterated in 14 minutes' if not for me
US President Donald Trump said Friday he had saved Hong Kong from being destroyed by persuading Chinese President Xi Jinping to hold off on sending in troops to crush its pro-democracy movement. "If it weren't for me, Hong Kong would have been obliterated in 14 minutes," Trump said in
- The Telegraph
Mini-Merkel faces down her critics with 'back me or sack me' challenge
Angela Merkel’s chosen successor faced down her rivals with a defiant performance at her party conference on Friday. Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer appeared to head off a growing rebellion against her leadership of the Christian Democrat party (CDU) by challenging her critics to back her or sack her. “If
- Associated Press
Court: Dutch govt doesn’t have to repatriate kids from Syria
A Dutch appeals court has overturned a lower court’s order that the government must attempt to bring home children whose mothers traveled to Syria to join Islamic extremist groups. Friday’s decision upheld the government’s appeal against that ruling. Justice Minister Ferd Grapperhaus has welcomed the
- Bloomberg
China’s Xi Stresses Need for ‘Mutual Respect and Equality’ in Trade Deal
(Bloomberg) -- Terms of Trade is a daily newsletter that untangles a world embroiled in trade wars. Sign up here. Chinese President Xi Jinping said his nation wants to work toward a phase-one trade agreement with the U.S. that’s based in part on “equality,” a guiding principle that President Donald Trump
- Associated Press
Mystery grows over Lebanon aid hold-up as impeachment looms
The Trump administration is withholding more than $100 million in U.S. military assistance to Lebanon that has been approved by Congress and is favored by his national security team, an assertion of executive control of foreign aid that is similar to the delay in support for Ukraine at the center of
- The Telegraph
Putin vows to perfect mystery rocket after engine blast
Russian President Vladimir Putin has handed state awards to the widows of nuclear engineers who died in an explosion at the navy's testing range, saying they sacrificed their lives to develop a cutting-edge weapon that will protect the country "for decades ahead." Speaking in remarks televised
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-U.S. imposes sanctions on Iran's information minister
The United States imposed sanctions on Iran's communications minister on Friday for his role in "widescale internet censorship," a reference to a five-day-long nationwide shutdown meant to help stifle protests against fuel price hikes in Iran. The sanctions imposed on Mohammad Javad Azari-Jahromi
- Bloomberg
Trump’s Impeachment Defense Rests on Narrow Gap in Testimony
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump’s impeachment defense hangs by a thread after two weeks of House hearings, as a parade of witnesses described how his efforts to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden extended well beyond the two leaders’ July 25 telephone call.Lieutenant Colonel Alexander
- The Telegraph
South Korea salvages intelligence-sharing pact with Japan in last-minute call
South Korea on Friday made a last-minute decision to stick with its critical intelligence-sharing deal with Japan, a dramatic reversal after months of frigid relations complicated by painful, wartime history. The decision, announced by South Korea's presidential Blue House, is likely to be hailed
- Bloomberg
Afro-Brazilians Have Something to Celebrate
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the 131 years since slavery ended in Brazil, Brazilians of African descent haven’t had much to celebrate. Emancipation itself came late — making Brazil the last New World nation to outlaw slavery — and was hardly a gift for the 750,000 indentured laborers who overnight were
- Bloomberg
Afro-Brazilians Have Something to Celebrate
(Bloomberg Opinion) -- In the 131 years since slavery ended in Brazil, Brazilians of African descent haven’t had much to celebrate. Emancipation itself came late — making Brazil the last New World nation to outlaw slavery — and was hardly a gift for the 750,000 indentured laborers who overnight were
- The Telegraph
UK condemned for ignoring UN deadline to hand Chagos Islands back to Mauritius
The UK has been condemned for ignoring a United Nations deadline to hand the Chagos Islands back to Mauritius. A six-month deadline to return control of the overseas territory came and looked set to pass on Friday, with the UK refusing to recognise Mauritius's claim of sovereignty over the islands
Trump ‘Stands’ With City, But Wants Trade Deal: Hong Kong Update
(Bloomberg) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he stands with Hong Kong, but the unrest there is “a complicating factor” in clinching a trade deal with China.“If it weren’t for me, Hong Kong would have been obliterated in 14 minutes,” Trump told Fox News, saying the only reason Chinese President Xi
- Bloomberg
Iran Holds Pro-Government Rallies After Crackdown on Protesters
(Bloomberg) -- Thousands rallied in several Iranian cities on Friday in a state-organized show of support for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following a crackdown on anti-government protests.Television channels showed crowds chanting in support of the Islamic Republic and vowing “death to America
AFPMerkel heiress wins 'loyalty' after challenging critics
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer,the under-fire leader of Germany's ruling Christian Democrats (CDU), on Friday threatened to quit, forcing her chief critic to back down and pledge his loyalty. In a combative speech at the start of the CDU's party congress, the 57-year-old challenged her critics
- Associated Press
Trump claims he’s why China didn’t crush Hong Kong protests
President Donald Trump claims he’s the reason China hasn’t taken steps to crush pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. Trump says he asked his “friend” Chinese President Xi Jinping (shee jihn-peeng) not to send in the military. Trump told “Fox & Friends” in a telephone interview Friday that he told Xi
- Reuters
UPDATE 1-Back me or sack me, protege of Germany's Merkel tells her party
Chancellor Angela Merkel's would-be successor, Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, urged delegates from her Christian Democratic Union (CDU) to back her vision for Germany at their party congress on Friday or else "let's end it here and now". Kramp-Karrenbauer, 57, has made several gaffes
- Bloomberg
Trump Says Pence Is on 2020 Ticket: ‘He’s Our Man, 100%’
(Bloomberg) -- President Donald Trump said that he’ll stand by his man Mike Pence in the 2020 campaign.Trump said in an interview on Fox News on Friday that Vice President Pence will remain on the Republican ticket. “He’s our man, 100%,” Trump said.Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley
- Bloomberg
Merkel’s Party Leader Issues Ultimatum to Rebels Defying Her
(Bloomberg) -- The leader of Angela Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union issued an ultimatum to party members questioning her leadership, warning them to support or abandon her “here, now and today.”“If you are of the opinion that the path that I want to take with you is not the one you consider to be
- Reuters
Trump says we have a deal with China, "potentially very close"
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Friday that a trade deal with China is "potentially very close" and that he stands with both the people of Hong Kong and Chinese President Xi Jinping amid massive protests in Hong Kong. Trump, speaking on Fox News Channel's "Fox & Friends,"
AFPIran says 'world war' against it foiled
Iran's Basij militia said the unrest sparked by fuel price hikes amounted to a "world war" against Tehran that was thwarted, pointing the finger of blame at Washington, Riyadh and Israel. "A full-fledged world war against the system and the revolution was born and fortunately the
AFPChagos Islanders protest British refusal to leave
Demonstrators from the Chagos Islands protested Friday at British defiance of a United Nations deadline to end their "illegal occupation" of the Indian Ocean archipelago. The islands have been at the centre of a decades-long dispute over Britain's decision to separate them from Mauritius
- Reuters
UK's Brexit Party leader Farage promises to continue campaigning
The leader of Britain's Brexit Party, Nigel Farage said on Friday he would go on campaigning for years to come, setting out an agenda beyond securing an exit from the European Union, focused on reforming the country's political system. The Brexit Party, initially seen as a pivotal player in
- Bloomberg
Johnson Focuses on Housing, NHS Ahead of TV Grilling: U.K. Votes
(Bloomberg) -- Sign up to our Brexit Bulletin, follow us @Brexit and subscribe to our podcast.Boris Johnson’s Conservatives pledged to increase the tax paid by foreign buyers of U.K. homes to dampen demand and make it easier for first-time buyers, as the major parties focus on domestic issues ahead of
