All posts tagged: Breaking News: Politics

U.S. proposes lighter sanctions on Russia as part of peace plan with Ukraine: Bloomberg

U.S. proposes lighter sanctions on Russia as part of peace plan with Ukraine: Bloomberg

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Ukrainian servicemen operate a tank on a road near the border with Russia, in the Sumy region of Ukraine, on August 14, 2024. The Ukrainian army entered Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, capturing dozens of settlements in the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.  Roman Pilipey | Afp | Getty Images The U.S. has presented allies with potential plans for peace between Russia and Ukraine that include an end to fighting and rolled-back sanctions on Moscow, according to Bloomberg News. The U.S.’ proposals were shared in Paris on Thursday, European Union officials familiar with the situation told Bloomberg. French President Emmanuel Macron talked with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff as part of the Paris talks, according to the news outlet. Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and other national security advisors talked with foreign negotiators. As part of the U.S. plan, the yearslong war would be considered frozen, the EU sources told Bloomberg. Ukrainian areas currently occupied by Russia would stay under the Vladimir Putin-led country’s leadership, they said. Ukraine …

Why Trump’s nuclear talks with Iran could be far more successful than Biden’s

Why Trump’s nuclear talks with Iran could be far more successful than Biden’s

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This combination of pictures created on April 09, 2025 shows US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff after a meeting with Russian officials at Diriyah Palace, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on February 18, 2025 (L); and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi speaking to AFP during an interview at the Iranian consulate in Jeddah on March 7, 2025. Evelyn Hockstein | Amer Hilabi | AFP | Getty Images DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Talks between U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration and Iran’s government on a potential renewed nuclear agreement began on a positive note over the weekend, representatives of both countries said, despite enduring sticking points and a lack of clarity on the specific conditions held by each side. Notably, there was more optimism toward a deal and overall communication between the longtime adversaries. Delegates from the U.S. and Iran agreed to hold more talks next week in Rome, while Iran’s Foreign Affairs Ministry described the negotiations of Saturday as having taken place in a “constructive atmosphere and based on mutual respect.” This highlights the gaping difference …

China slaps 84% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to Trump

China slaps 84% retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response to Trump

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Chinese President Xi Jinping attend the closing of the Third Session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People on March 11, 2025 in Beijing, China. Lintao Zhang | Getty Images China has pushed back again on U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff policies by hiking its levies on U.S. imports to more than 80%. Tariffs on U.S. goods entering China will rise to 84% from 34% starting April 10, according to a translation of a Office of the Tariff Commission of the State Council announcement. The hike comes in response to the latest U.S. tariff increase on Chinese goods to more than 100% that began at midnight. The tit-for-tat escalation of tariffs threatens to crush trade between the world’s two largest economies. According to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. exported $143.5 billion of goods to China in 2024, while importing products worth $438.9 billion. The Trump administration announced a sweeping new tariff policy last week, warning other countries not to retaliate. Some nations, including Japan, …

Congress has power, but question of will

Congress has power, but question of will

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President Donald J Trump addresses a joint session of Congress as Vice President JD Vance and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) listen in the Capitol building’s House chamber on Tuesday, March 04, 2025 in Washington, DC.  Jabin Botsford | The Washington Post | Getty Images President Donald Trump is on a tariff spree — and it’s unclear if Congress will try to stop him even as it has the potential power to do so. Trump unveiled a nearly global tariff regime on Wednesday, slapping a blanket 10% duty on almost every country on the planet and saddling dozens of them with significantly higher tariff rates. The sweeping policy pronouncement promptly torpedoed stocks in the U.S. and around the world, ratcheting up recession fears and triggering aggressive retaliation by China. The new U.S. import duties follow other protectionist policies that Trump, who champions tariffs as an economic cure-all, has rolled out since taking office in January. Trump’s tariff powers Trump’s executive order implementing his so-called reciprocal tariffs says that he derives his authority for …

Layoffs begin at U.S. health agencies

Layoffs begin at U.S. health agencies

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Employees of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) stand outside the Mary E. Switzer Memorial Building, after it was reported that the Trump administration fired staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and at the Food and Drug Administration, as it embarked on its plan to cut 10,000 jobs at HHS, in Washington, D.C., U.S., April 1, 2025.  Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Employees across the massive U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began receiving notices of dismissal on Tuesday in a major overhaul expected to ultimately lay off up to 10,000 people. The notices come just days after President Donald Trump moved to strip workers of their collective bargaining rights at HHS and other agencies throughout the government. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s announced a plan last week to remake HHS, which, through its agencies, is responsible for tracking health trends and disease outbreaks, conducting and funding medical research, monitoring the safety of food and medicine, and administering health insurance programs for nearly half of the country. The plan …

Turkey faces protests, investor flight after opposition leader’s arrest

Turkey faces protests, investor flight after opposition leader’s arrest

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Turkish MPs, mayors, party members, members of different political parties, representatives of non-governmental organizations and citizens protest against the detention warrant of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IBB) Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, Beylikduzu Mayor Murat Calik and Sisli Mayor Resul Emrah Sahan, at the CHP Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey on March 19, 2025. Evrim Aydin | Anadolu | Getty Images Turkey’s embattled economy is set to endure more turbulence and investor flight as protests erupted against a slew of highly controversial arrests carried out by the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.  The demonstrations are in response to the arrest of Istanbul mayor Ekrem Imamoglu, a leading opponent of Erdogan, just days before he was expected to be nominated as his party’s candidate for the presidency.  Turkish markets sank the most in the world on Wednesday after news of Imamoglu’s detainment broke, with the lira hitting a record low against the dollar. That led Turkey’s central bank to reportedly sell a record amount of foreign currency – nearly $10 billion, according to bankers’ calculations cited by Reuters – …

Trump nominates Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as US FAA head

Trump nominates Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford as US FAA head

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FILE PHOTO: Republic CEO Bryan Bedford speaks during a news conference, Tuesday, April 13, 2010, in Milwaukee. Morry Gash | AP President Donald Trump is nominating Republic Airways CEO Bryan Bedford to head the Federal Aviation Administration in the face of growing scrutiny following a series of crashes. Bedford, a pilot and industry veteran of more than 30 years, previously headed two other carriers and oversaw a significant expansion of Republic Airways. “Bryan brings over three decades of experience in Aviation and Executive Leadership to this critical position,” Trump said. Indiana-based Republic is one of the biggest regional airlines in North America, operating a fleet of more than 200 Embraer aircraft with 900 daily flights in the United States and Canada. The flights operate under airline partner brands American Eagle, Delta Connectionn and United Express. Bedford’s nomination won praise from airlines. The FAA position has been vacant since January 20, when FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker stepped down a little more than one year into a five-year term when Trump took office. The FAA has been run on an interim basis by …

Trump doubles down on tariffs as stocks sink: ‘not going to bend’

Trump doubles down on tariffs as stocks sink: ‘not going to bend’

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US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, on March 13, 2025. Mandel Ngan | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump on Thursday doubled down on his escalating tariff plans, even as his economic agenda continued to rattle investors and contribute to a weekslong stock market sell-off. “I’m not going to bend at all,” Trump said when asked about his tariff plans during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “We’ve been ripped off for years, and we’re not going to be ripped off anymore,” he said. Trump specifically said he would not change his mind about enacting sweeping “reciprocal tariffs” on other countries that put up trade barriers to U.S. goods. The White House has said those tariffs are set to take effect April 2. He then singled out Canada, criticizing the top trading partner at length and declaring, “We don’t need anything they have,” while repeating his calls to …

China to slap retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian products

China to slap retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian products

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Containers at the Port of Vancouver in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, Feb. 28, 2025. Ethan Cairns/Bloomberg via Getty Images China on Saturday announced retaliatory tariffs on some Canadian agricultural goods, hitting back after Ottawa slapped import duties on Chinese-made electric vehicles and steel and aluminum products. Beijing said a 100% tariff would be imposed on Canadian rapeseed oil, oil cakes and peas, while a 25% levy would be placed on aquatic products and pork originating in Canada. The tariffs are scheduled to come into force from March 20, according to a statement from China’s Customs Tariff Commission of the State Council. The measures come amid a brewing global trade war, following several tariff announcements by the U.S., China, Canada and Mexico in recent months. Canada imposed 100% import tariffs on Chinese-made EVs from Oct. 1 last year, following in the footsteps of the U.S. and the European Union over concerns related to unfair competition. Ottawa also applied a 25% tariff on imports of steel and aluminum products from China, which came into effect from Oct. …

The levies push limits of presidential authority

The levies push limits of presidential authority

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U.S. President Donald Trump reacts as he speaks with members of the media on the South Lawn before boarding Marine One at the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., Feb. 28, 2025.  Nathan Howard | Reuters U.S. importers and their customers are about to experience the full force of President Donald Trump’s unprecedented use of emergency economic powers. At midnight Tuesday, 25% tariffs on imports from America’s top two trading partners, Canada and Mexico, went into effect, as did an additional 10% tariff on Chinese imports. Tariffs on Canadian energy, at a rate of 10%, also began at midnight Tuesday. It’s difficult to overstate how far-reaching the impact of these tariffs will be, or how quickly they will be felt. U.S. trade with Mexico, Canada and China in 2024 accounted for around 40% of America’s total commerce in goods around the world. And unlike traditional trade policy, these tariffs are designed to deliver a financial sting right away, trade experts told CNBC. “From a technical standpoint, the imposition of the tariffs is basically a light …