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Political Upstart in Hungary Unnerves Orban

Political Upstart in Hungary Unnerves Orban

Bloomberg19-07-2025
Welcome to the weekend issue of Brussels Edition, Bloomberg's daily briefing on what matters most in the heart of the European Union. Join us on Saturdays for deeper dives from our bureaus across Europe.
Prime Minister Viktor Orban is confronting a new political reality – assuming the role of underdog ahead of next year's Hungarian election.
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Donald Trump Hit With Epstein Question During EU Deal Announcement
Donald Trump Hit With Epstein Question During EU Deal Announcement

Newsweek

time26 minutes ago

  • Newsweek

Donald Trump Hit With Epstein Question During EU Deal Announcement

Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. President Donald Trump hit back at a reporter who asked a question about Jeffrey Epstein during a news conference announcing a trade framework between the United States and the European Union. "Mr. President, was part of the rush to get this deal done to knock the Jeffrey Epstein story [out of the headlines]?" the reporter asked during the news conference in Turnberry, Scotland, on Sunday. "Oh, you gotta be kidding with that," Trump said. "No, had nothing to do with it. Only you would think that. That had nothing to do with it." Newsweek has contacted the White House for comment via an email sent outside regular business hours. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after agreeing on a trade deal between the two economies following their meeting in Turnberry, Scotland, on... U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint press briefing with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after agreeing on a trade deal between the two economies following their meeting in Turnberry, Scotland, on July 27. More Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images Why It Matters In recent weeks, Trump has struggled to shift the conversation from the Epstein, a wealthy financier and convicted sex offender who authorities said died by suicide behind bars in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The president has faced pressure from his supporters to release the government's files about Epstein, which they believe will reveal a cover-up in the case to protect Epstein's wealthy and powerful friends. Trump's personal relationship with Epstein has also come under fresh scrutiny. The Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi told Trump that his name was in the files during a briefing in May. Trump has never been accused of wrongdoing in connection with Epstein and the inclusion of someone's name in files from the investigation does not imply otherwise. What To Know As he departed the White House for the trip to Scotland on Friday, Trump faced numerous questions about the Epstein case and whether he would pardon Ghislaine Maxwell, the convicted sex offender's imprisoned accomplice. "People should really focus on how well the country is doing," Trump said in response to one question. He shut down another, saying, "I don't want to talk about that." He faced another round of questions as he stepped off Air Force One in Scotland. "You're making a big thing over something that's not a big thing," he told one reporter. To another, he said, "I'm focused on making deals, not on conspiracy theories that you are." Previously, the Trump administration had promised to release more documents in the case, including an alleged list of clients involved in Epstein's sex trafficking operation. However, in an unsigned memo issued on July 7, the FBI and the Justice Department said Epstein did not have a list of clients and that no additional records would be released to the public. Since then, the Trump administration has received a bipartisan backlash and has scrambled to appear transparent, including by seeking the unsealing of grand jury transcripts in the case—which a judge has rejected. What People Are Saying President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform on Thursday: "The Radical Left Democrats are doing everything in their power to distract and obfuscate from our GREAT six months of service to America, results of which many are saying is the BEST six months in Presidential history. They have gone absolutely CRAZY, and are playing another Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax but, this time, under the guise of what we will call the Jeffrey Epstein SCAM." The Democrats' X account wrote on Saturday, alongside a video detailing Trump's relationship with Epstein: "No matter how much he tries to distract from it, Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein spans decades." Democratic Representative Jason Crow of Colorado said on Fox News Sunday, discussing the Trump administration's allegations that the Obama administration manufactured intelligence about Russian interference in the 2016 election: "This is being reinvigorated and concocted because Donald Trump doesn't want to talk about the Epstein files. He doesn't want those files released. In fact, I'm sitting here right now instead of in Washington because House Republicans released the Congress. We went on recess early to avoid a vote on releasing the Epstein files." What Happens Next Trump is likely to continue receiving questions about the Epstein case. The president is set to meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday before traveling to Aberdeen, Scotland. This article contains reporting from the Associated Press.

Markets boosted after EU, US strike trade deal
Markets boosted after EU, US strike trade deal

News24

time27 minutes ago

  • News24

Markets boosted after EU, US strike trade deal

Stock markets rose in Europe and Asia on Monday after the European Union and United States hammered out a deal to avert a potentially damaging trade war. News of the deal, announced by US president Donald Trump and European Commission head Ursula von der Leyen on Sunday, followed a series of US trade agreements last week, including with Japan, and comes ahead of a new round of China-US talks. Investors were also gearing up for a busy week of data, central bank decisions and earnings from some of the world's biggest companies. Trump and von der Leyen announced at his golf resort in Scotland that a baseline tariff of 15 percent would be levied on EU exports to the United States. "We've reached a deal. It's a good deal for everybody. This is probably the biggest deal ever reached in any capacity," Trump said, adding that the levies would apply across the board, including for Europe's crucial automobile sector, pharmaceuticals and semiconductors. Brussels also agreed to purchase "$750 billion worth of energy" from the United States, as well as make $600 billion in additional investments. "It's a good deal," von der Leyen said. "It will bring stability. It will bring predictability. That's very important for our businesses on both sides of the Atlantic." Equities built on their recent rally, fanned by relief that countries were reaching deals with Washington. Paris rose one percent, with Frankfurt and London also tracking gains in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Sydney, Seoul, Wellington, Taipei and Jakarta. Tokyo fell for a second day, having soared about five percent on Wednesday and Thursday in reaction to Japan's US deal. Singapore, Manila and Mumbai were also lower. The broad gains came after another record day for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq on Wall Street. "The news flow from both the extension with China and the agreement with the EU is clearly market-friendly, and should put further upside potential into the euro... and should also put renewed upside into EU equities," said Chris Weston at Pepperstone. Traders are gearing up for a packed week, with a delegation including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent holding fresh trade talks with a Chinese team headed by Vice Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm. While in April both countries imposed tariffs that reached triple-digits, US duties this year have temporarily been lowered to 30 percent and China's countermeasures slashed to 10 percent. The 90-day truce, instituted after talks in Geneva in May, is set to expire on August 12. China said it was seeking "mutual respect and reciprocity" in the talks. Also on the agenda are earnings from tech titans Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft, as well as data on US economic growth and jobs. The Federal Reserve's latest policy meeting is expected to conclude with officials standing pat on interest rates, though investors are keen to see what their views are on the outlook for the rest of the year in light of Trump's tariffs and recent trade deals. "We think the data supports a Fed on hold in July, but absent a significant upside surprise in the upcoming inflation data, September could be a 'live' meeting for a resumption of rate cuts, especially if economic activity data and possibly overwhelming political pressure force the Fed's hand," said Michael Krautzberger at Allianz. The Bank of Japan is also forecast to hold off on any big moves on borrowing costs. By mid-morning, the JSE's All-Share index was flat, with Valterra down more than 2% after releasing its results.

Trump and Starmer to Meet in Scotland to Discuss Trade and Gaza
Trump and Starmer to Meet in Scotland to Discuss Trade and Gaza

New York Times

timean hour ago

  • New York Times

Trump and Starmer to Meet in Scotland to Discuss Trade and Gaza

President Trump will host Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain at his two golf courses in Scotland on Monday, the day after announcing a deal with the European Union designed to avoid a costly economic war with America's biggest trading bloc. Mr. Trump announced on Sunday that Europe had agreed to tariffs of 15 percent on automobiles and most other E.U. goods, after meeting with Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the E.U.'s executive branch. The tariffs are higher than the 10 percent duty on most British goods that Britain, which is not in the European Union, agreed to in a deal that Mr. Starmer and Mr. Trump struck in May. The 27-nation bloc also agreed to buy $750 billion worth of U.S. energy and invest $600 billion in the United States, Mr. Trump said. Trade is among the topics that Mr. Trump and Mr. Starmer are expected to discuss when they meet first at Mr. Trump's Turnberry golf club on the west coast of Scotland and then travel to the other side of the country for dinner at the president's other club, in Aberdeen. The two leaders are expected to resume efforts to resolve a dispute about U.S. tariffs on British steel and aluminum, which remain at 25 percent. In June, Britain and the United States signed an agreement to resolve other trade issues, with both sides saying the deal would benefit both countries. British officials said they expect the all-day agenda to also include the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the grinding war in Ukraine. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.

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