Thailand to Make Fresh Proposals to US in Bid to Avert Tariff
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Thailand's finance minister will present fresh proposals to US trade officials in talks scheduled for Wednesday, the latest effort by the nation to avoid a 36% tariff threatened by President Donald Trump.
Thai Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira will hold a video conference with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in which he will discuss revised measures, including additional tariff waivers on US goods, Commerce Minister Jatuporn Buruspat said by phone.
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Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Reported birthday card from Trump to Epstein shines new light on their friendship as fallout from files release mounts
Donald Trump reportedly helped celebrate Jeffrey Epstein's 50th birthday with a bawdy greeting accompanied by a hand-drawn image of a naked woman. A report from The Wall Street Journal on Thursday uncovers new details about the relationship between the president and disgraced financier and convicted sex offender, whose death and connections to Trump are at the center of a A letter bearing Trump's name, which was reviewed by The Journal, contains several lines of typewritten text framed by a drawing of a naked woman. His signature is a squiggly 'Donald' below her waist, mimicking pubic hair, according to the report. The letter concludes: 'Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret.' In an interview with The Journal, Trump denied writing the letter or drawing the picture: 'This is not me. This is a fake thing. It's a fake Wall Street Journal story.' Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein pictured in 1992. A new report shed new light on the friendship between the two men (NBC News) 'I never wrote a picture in my life. I don't draw pictures of women,' he told the conservative-leaning newspaper, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, who has over the years supported Trump. 'It's not my language. It's not my words,' Trump told the newspaper. A typewritten note styled as an imaginary conversation between Trump and Epstein, written in the third person, is reportedly included inside the outline of the naked woman. In the imagined conversation, Trump says 'we have certain things in common, Jeffrey,' to which Epstein replies, 'Yes, we do, come to think of it.' 'Enigmas never age, have you noticed that?' Trump writes, according to The Journal, which had reportedly reviewed pages from a leather-bound album of birthday cards examined by Department of Justice officials who investigated Epstein and his former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was found guilty of child sex trafficking and other offences in 2022. The explosive revelation follows a disastrous week for the Trump administration as the president repeatedly tries to dismiss the so-called Epstein files as a Democratic 'hoax.' Thursday's revelations illustrate a closer than previously reported relationship between the president and Epstein, who was accused of sexually abusing dozens of minors before he was found dead in his jail cell in 2019. A Department of Justice memo on July 6 had effectively closed the case, affirming that no such 'client list' exists despite demands from Trump's supporters and allies for a full accounting of Epstein's death and alleged ties to a wider child trafficking conspiracy implicating powerful figures. On the campaign trail, Trump repeatedly promised to release FBI files related to Epstein, who was found dead in his jail cell on on August 10, 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. But the president's promises fell flat. Attorney General Pam Bondi, on Trump's directive, also promised to release the files, but after months of delays, the memo from the Justice Department and FBI said agencies would not be releasing any more documents relating to the case. Bondi had claimed the files were 'sitting on her desk' in February. She invited right-wing influencers to the White House for a photo-op at the end of that month, where they held up binders containing 'Phase 1' of the Epstein files, largely made up of already publicly available information about the case. Epstein died while in prison facing sex trafficking charges. While conspiracies have swirled about his 'client list,' Trump officials have recently said that no list exists () Bondi continued to stall. In May, she claimed there were 'tens of thousands of videos of Epstein with children or child porn,' which fueled further conspiracy theories that powerful people were being protected, and that 'Phase 1' binders were allegedly buying time. The administration's failure to release any other details about the investigation has been a major blow for Trump's supporters — including those within Trump's own administration. Deputy FBI director Don Bongino, who last year amplified conspiracy theories that Epstein was murdered, almost walked over the memo, according to reports. Trump has spoken out against those questioning him about the release of the Epstein files. (AP) While the White House likely hoped MAGA's fury would blow over quickly, outrage has only intensified. Frustrated, Trump lashed out at his supporters this week and reportedly complained in private that they won't 'shut the f*** up' about the Epstein files. Trump has spent several days publicly calling the Epstein case 'boring' and 'bulls***' as he questioned the loyalty of gullible 'weaklings' who demanded more from his Justice Department. 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore!' Trump said in a Truth Social fury post. Even the White House has tried to temper the fury. On July 17, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked whether the president would appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the Epstein case. 'The president would not recommend a special prosecutor in the Epstein case,' Leavitt said. 'That's how he feels. And as for his discussions with the attorney general, I'm not sure.' Trump's friendship with Epstein spanned the late 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s, and Trump's phone number — as well as First Lady Melania Trump's — were included in Epstein's infamous leaked address books. Trump's name also appeared seven times in passenger logs for Epstein's planes. The pair reportedly fell out in 2004, when Epstein and Trump both tried to buy a Palm Beach estate. The next year, the FBI began investigating Epstein for child sex trafficking. He pleaded guilty to a state charge of soliciting sex from a minor in 2008. Trump distanced himself from his former friend after Epstein's arrest in 2019, when Trump was president. 'Well, I knew him like everybody in Palm Beach knew him,' Trump said on July 9, 2019, one day after Epstein's arrest. 'I mean, people in Palm Beach knew him. He was a fixture in Palm Beach. I had a falling out with him a long time ago. I don't think I've spoken to him for 15 years. I wasn't a fan.' Asked three days later what contributed to that 'falling out,' Trump said 'the reason doesn't make any difference, frankly.' One month later, Epstein was found dead in his cell at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York City.
Yahoo
13 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Watch These Johnson & Johnson Price Levels After Stock's Post-Earnings Pop
Key Takeaways Johnson & Johnson shares fell slightly Thursday after soaring yesterday amid investor optimism about the company's better-than-expected earnings and full-year outlook. The stock rallied above key moving averages and a symmetrical triangle in Wednesday's trading session, though it remains in a long-term trading range. Investors should watch crucial overhead areas on J&J's chart around $168 and $180, while also monitoring major support levels near $155 and $ & Johnson (JNJ) shares lost ground Thursday after soaring yesterday amid investor optimism about the company's better-than-expected earnings and full-year outlook. The healthcare giant also slashed its tariff cost forecast, saying it now expects about $200 million in import levy-related costs this year, down from its prior projection of $400 million. The outlook soothed investors' concerns about what impact Washington's trade policies would have on the company after President Donald Trump recently said that pharmaceutical tariffs could be as high as 200%. The drugmaker said its portfolio and pipeline position it for elevated growth in the second half of the year, adding that it anticipates approvals and submissions across a range of therapeutic areas. J&J shares fell 1% to close today's session at around $163, after surging 6% on Wednesday to pace Dow Jones Industrial Average advancers. The stock has risen 13% since the start of the year, outpacing the Dow's gain of less than 5%. Below, we break down the technicals on J&J's weekly chart and identify price levels worth watching out for. Close Above Key Moving Averages Although the 50-week moving average (MA) crossed below the 200-week MA in late 2023 to form an ominous death cross, J&J shares have remained mostly rangebound since that time. However, more recently, the price rallied above both of these moving averages and a symmetrical triangle in Wednesday's trading session. While the relative strength index confirms a positive shift in momentum, yesterday's jump occurred on lackluster volume, indicating that larger market participants may remain on the sidelines. Let's point out crucial overhead areas on J&J's chart to watch and also identify a couple of major support levels worth monitoring during future retracements. Overhead Areas to Watch Upon further buying, Investors should monitor how the price responds to the $168 area. This level may provide overhead resistance near prominent peaks in September last year and March this year that touch a trendline extending back to February 2021. A decisive volume-backed breakout above this area could trigger a rally toward $180. Investors who have accumulated shares at lower prices may look for exit points in this location near notable peaks that formed in the chart in August 2021 and December 2022, both of which lie just below the stock's all-time high. Support Levels Worth Monitoring During future retracements in the stock, investors should monitor the $155 level. This area, which sits just below the 50-week MA and the symmetrical triangle's top trendline, may encounter support near a horizontal line that links a range of corresponding trading activity on the chart stretching back to the April 2020 peak. Finally, a deeper pullback in J&J shares could see the price revisit lower support around $145. Investors may look for buying opportunities in this region near several troughs that developed on the chart between October 2023 and January this year, a level that marks the lower level of the stock's trading range over that period. The comments, opinions, and analyses expressed on Investopedia are for informational purposes only. Read our warranty and liability disclaimer for more info. As of the date this article was written, the author does not own any of the above securities. Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Politico
15 minutes ago
- Politico
5 immigrants deported by the US to Eswatini in Africa are held in solitary confinement
The men, who the U.S. says were convicted of serious crimes and were in the U.S. illegally, are citizens of Vietnam, Jamaica, Cuba, Yemen and Laos. Their convictions included murder and child rape, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said, describing them as 'uniquely barbaric.' Their deportations were announced by Homeland Security on Tuesday and mark the continuation of President Donald Trump's plan to send deportees to third countries they have no ties with after it was stalled by a legal challenge in the United States. Eswatini, a country of 1.2 million people bordering South Africa, is the latest nation to accept third-country deportees from the U.S. The Trump administration has sent hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama, and deported eight men earlier this month to South Sudan, also an African country. The deportees to South Sudan are citizens of Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam and South Sudan. They were held for weeks in a converted shipping container at a U.S. military base in the nearby country of Djibouti until a Supreme Court ruling cleared the way for them to be finally sent to South Sudan. The U.S. also described them as violent criminals. Eswatini's government confirmed on Wednesday that the latest five deportees were in its custody after landing on a deportation plane from the U.S. Local media reported they are being held at the Matsapha Correctional Complex, outside the country's administrative capital of Mbabane, which includes Eswatini's top maximum-security prison. The Eswatini government said the men are 'in transit' and will eventually be sent to their home countries. The U.S. and Eswatini governments would work with the U.N. migration agency to do that, it said. The U.N. agency — the International Organization for Migration or IOM — said it was not involved in the operation and has not been approached to assist in the matter but would be willing to help 'in line with its humanitarian mandate.' Eswatini's statement that the men would be sent home was in contrast to U.S. claims they were sent to Eswatini because their home countries refused to take them back. It's unclear how sending the men to Eswatini would make it easier for them to be deported home. There was also no timeframe for that as it depends on several factors, including engagements with the IOM, Mdluli said.
