The Latest: Trump offers no details about improving food distribution in Israeli-controlled Gaza
Meanwhile Trump's Environmental Protection Agency has proposed revoking the scientific 'endangerment finding' that underpins U.S. regulations to fight climate change. The administration is pressing for a deal with Harvard University that would require the Ivy League school to pay far more than the $200 million fine agreed to by Columbia University. And Senate Republicans confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge, dismissing whistleblower complaints that he encouraged Justice Department lawyers to ignore court orders.
Here's the latest:
Trump says Epstein 'stole' young women from Mar-a-Lago spa, including Virginia Giuffre
Trump said Tuesday that Jeffrey Epstein 'stole' young women who worked for the spa at Mar-a-Lago, the latest evolution in his description of how their highly scrutinized relationship ended years ago.
One of the women, he acknowledged, was Virginia Giuffre, who was among Epstein's most well-known sex trafficking accusers.
Trump's comments expanded on remarks he had made a day earlier, when he said he had banned Epstein from his private club in Florida two decades ago because his one-time friend 'stole people that worked for me.' At the time, he did not make clear who those workers were.
The Republican president has faced an outcry over his administration's refusal to release more records about Epstein after promises of transparency, a rare example of strain within Trump's tightly controlled political coalition. Trump has attempted to tamp down questions about the case, expressing annoyance that people are still talking about it six years after Epstein died by suicide while awaiting trial, even though some of his own allies have promoted conspiracy theories about it.
Senate confirms Trump lawyer Emil Bove for appeals court, pushing past whistleblower claims
The Senate confirmed former Trump lawyer Emil Bove 50-49 for a lifetime appointment as a federal appeals court judge Tuesday as Republicans dismissed whistleblower complaints about his conduct at the Justice Department.
Emil Bove, attorney for former US President Donald Trump, sits Manhattan criminal court during Trump's sentencing in the hush money case in New York, Jan. 10, 2025. (Jeenah Moon/Pool Photo via AP, file)
A former federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York, Bove was on Trump's legal team during his New York hush money trial and defended Trump in the two federal criminal cases. He will serve on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears cases from Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Democrats have vehemently opposed Bove's nomination, citing his current position as a top Justice Department official and his role in the dismissal of the corruption case against New York City Mayor Eric Adams. They have also criticized his efforts to investigate department officials who were involved in the prosecutions of hundreds of Trump supporters who were involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Bove has accused FBI officials of 'insubordination' for refusing to hand over the names of agents who investigated the attack and ordered the firing of a group of prosecutors involved in those Jan. 6 criminal cases.
Trump's latest tariff deadline is approaching
The clock is ticking closer to Trump's latest tariff deadline of Aug 1. And while several more deals — or at least frameworks for deals — have been reached since his last tariff deadline of July 9 came and went, trade talks with many countries are still in flux.
Trump unveiled sweeping import taxes on goods coming into the U.S. from nearly every country back in April. That included heightened so-called reciprocal rates for certain countries, the bulk of which have since been postponed twice.
The first 90-day pause arrived in an apparent effort to quell global market panic and facilitate country-by-country negotiations.
But three months later, only two deals emerged. And by early July, Trump began sending warning letters that higher tariffs would be imposed against dozens of countries on Aug. 1.
Since then, the U.S. has announced trade frameworks with the European Union, Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia. But, key details remain sparse — or not immediately captured in writing.
Trump says US will partner with Israel to run additional food centers in Gaza, but details are scant
Trump said Tuesday that the U.S. will partner with Israel to run new food centers in Gaza to address the worsening humanitarian crisis there, but he and U.S. officials offered few additional details about the plan or how it would differ from existing food distribution centers.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he returned from a trip to Scotland that Israel would preside over the new food centers 'to make sure the distribution is proper.'
'We're going to be dealing with Israel, and we think they can do a good job of it,' Trump said.
The opaque details come as the Trump administration is facing calls at home and abroad to do more to address the hunger crisis in Gaza. The U.S.'s close ally, Israel, is at the center of an international outcry as more images of emaciated children continue to emerge.
The White House described it as 'a new aid plan' to help people in Gaza obtain access to food and promised that details would emerge. It did not elaborate.
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Winnipeg Free Press
2 hours ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
The Latest: US trade partners around the world react to Trump's new tariffs
U.S. trade partners around the world were reacting on Friday to President Donald Trump 's executive order that would introduce new tariffs on many of them in seven days, as the global economy and alliances face a fresh test from the president's trade agenda. Trump's order was issued Thursday night and came after a flurry of tariff-related activity in recent days, as the White House announced agreements with various nations and blocs ahead of Trump's self-imposed Aug. 1 deadline. Trump also said Thursday he would be extending trade negotiations with Mexico for 90 days. But the vast majority of nations are continuing to face uncertainty ahead of the coming deadline. And while a handful of trade deals have trickled in, many details remain hazy — with businesses and manufacturers around the world bracing for heightened operating costs and potential price hikes regardless. Meanwhile, Trump's overhaul of American trade policy hasn't gone unchallenged. Appellate court judges have expressed broad skepticism around Trump's legal rationale for his most expansive round of tariffs. ___ Here's the latest: Malaysia hails 'significant achievement' in 19% tariff rate Malaysia's Trade Ministry said Friday that the U.S. tariff reduction from 25% to 19% was a 'significant achievement' as the deal was struck without compromising key national interests. 'The 19% rate roughly tracks the rate of other countries in the Southeast Asian region,' the ministry said in a statement. 'Most importantly, Malaysia had stood firm on various 'red line' items, and the 19% tariff rate was achieved without compromising the nation's sovereign right to implement key policies to support the nation's socio-economic stability and growth.' The ministry said that Malaysia's economy remains resilient despite global headwinds, citing strong domestic demand and ongoing structural reforms. The statement didn't give further details but officials previously said non-tariff barriers such as halal certification, which affects U.S. beef and poultry exports, along with digital trade and government procurement were sticky points. It's unclear what concessions Malaysia made. Cambodia will impose zero tariffs on all American goods Cambodia's Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol, who led his nation's trade talks with the U.S., thanked Trump for setting the tariff rate on Cambodian goods at 19% and said his country will impose zero tariffs on all American goods. When Washington originally posted its list of notional 'reciprocal' tariffs, the rate for goods from Cambodia was 49%, one of the highest in the world. It had estimated that Cambodian tariffs on U.S. imports averaged 97%. Sun Chanthol also said Cambodia would purchase 10 passenger aircraft from Boeing in a deal they hoped to sign later this month. Several other nations had already announced similar aircraft purchase deals as part of their trade packages. Trump had threatened to not conclude a deal with reduced tariffs if Cambodia and Thailand did not stop a recent armed conflict over border territory. The two nations agreed on a ceasefire beginning Tuesday that appears to be holding. Cambodia publicly celebrated Trump's peace initiative, suggesting he deserved a Nobel Prize for his intervention. Sun Chanthol said Friday that Cambodia would nominate him for the honor. Australia's 10% tariff rate is vindication of the country's 'cool and calm negotiations,' trade minister says Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell says gaining the minimum U.S. tariff on exports including beef, lamb, wine and wheat gave Australia a competitive advantage over some competitors. Farrell told reporters Australia did not introduce tariffs on U.S. goods at any point, and added, 'I haven't seen any case or any example where the retaliatory imposition of tariffs has resulted in a country being in a better position.' Farrell argues that no U.S. tariffs can be justified because Australia imposes no tariffs on its bilateral free trade partner. The United States has enjoyed a trade surplus with Australia for decades. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been criticized for failing to secure a face-to-face meeting with Trump to discuss trade. Japan welcomes Trump's signing of the executive order as an ease in uncertainty Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi welcomed Trump's signing of the executive order setting Japan's new reciprocal tariffs as a step that would reduce uncertainty of the U.S. trade policy and its negative impact on the global economy, including that of Japan. Hayashi, however, said Japan still needs to closely examine the measures and continue urging prompt implementation by the U.S. government to carry out the agreement, including reduction of tariffs on automobiles and auto parts. Hayashi acknowledged that Japan's new tariff rate of 15% is a 'major reduction' from the initially imposed 25%, but his government will continue to watch and mitigate its impact on Japanese exports, including by providing financial assistance for small and medium-sized businesses. New Zealand looks to lobby for lower tariff rates New Zealand officials said they would lobby the administration for a change to the 15% tariff announced for the country's exporters to the U.S. It's an increase from the original 10% baseline announced for New Zealand in April. 'We don't think this is a good thing. We don't think it's warranted,' Trade Minister Todd McClay told Radio New Zealand Friday. He said New Zealand appeared to have been targeted for a larger levy because the country records a trade deficit with the U.S. but that the gap of about half a billion dollars each year was 'not significant or meaningful.' Neighboring Australia dodged an increase to remain at 10%, but it records a trade surplus with the U.S., McClay added. The United States in January overtook Australia to become New Zealand's second-largest export partner, behind China. New Zealand exports are largely made up of meat, dairy, wine and agricultural machinery. Taiwan president says final tariff negotiations with US yet to come Taiwan President Lai Ching-te said Taiwan had yet to engage in final negotiations with the U.S. owing to scheduling difficulties and that he was hopeful the final tariff rate would be reduced even further after a final round of talks. The Trump administration hit Taiwan with 32% tariffs, and lowered it to 20% on Thursday. Taiwan was notified on Thursday by the administration of the lower rate. 'Twenty percent from the beginning has not been our goal. We hope that in further negotiations we will get a more beneficial and more reasonable tax rate,' he told reporters in Taipei on Friday. Lai also linked trade talks to security issues, as the U.S. is Taiwan's largest ally even though it does not formally recognize the island. 'We want to strengthen U.S. Taiwan cooperation in national security, tech, and multiple areas,' he said Friday. The U.S. is Taiwan's most important export market and strategic ally, Lai said in an earlier statement Friday morning. Cambodia prime minister thanks Trump for dropping tariff rate Cambodia Prime Minister Hun Manet expressed his thanks to Trump for the dropping of tariffs from 36% to 19% and he called the reduction 'good news' for Cambodia. Posted on his social media platform, Hun Manet said Trump had not only helped broker a ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand forces after nearly a weeklong clash but also helped Cambodia's economy by lowering tariffs. Monday Mornings The latest local business news and a lookahead to the coming week. 'This is good news for the people and economy of Cambodia to continue developing the country,' Hun Manet said. Thailand successfully negotiates lower tariff rates Thailand's government spokesperson Jirayu Houngsub said Thailand says the U.S. agreed to reduce the tariffs rate from 36% to 19%, a rate similar to those imposed on many other Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam and the Philippines. 'It's one of the major successes of Team Thailand in a win-win approach, to secure the country's export base and economic security in a long run,' he said in a statement. He didn't immediately say what was the latest offer Thailand made to the U.S. The agreement came days after a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia to halt the nearly weeklong clashes that killed at least 41 people. It was brokered with U.S. pressure as Trump said he would not move forward with trade agreements if the conflict continued.
Canada News.Net
2 hours ago
- Canada News.Net
U.S. bans Palestinians as Israeli settlers eye West Bank, Gaza
The Trump administration moved Thursday to deny visas to Palestinian officials, accusing them of sabotaging peace efforts, a stark show of support for Israel as its military escalates attacks in Gaza, settler violence explodes in the occupied West Bank, and senior Israeli ministers openly call for the expulsion of Palestinians from Gaza and permanent annexation of the West Bank. The State Department's sweeping restrictions target members of the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), claiming they "undermine peace" by pursuing Israel at international courts and supporting "terrorism." While no individuals were named, the decision reinforces Washington's alignment with Israel's hardline policies, even as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's far-right coalition advances plans to reshape the region by military force. The surprise U.S. move comes days after close allies France, Canada, and the UK, announced they were planning to recognize Palestinian statehood, as early as next month. Gaza Escalation, West Bank Annexation and Settler Violence Surge The visa ban coincides with an ever-widening military offensive by the IDF in Gaza, which has already killed more than 60,000 Palestinians, and resulted in the displacement of more than two million more, almost all of whom are now facing starvation due to Israel's blocking of humanitarian aid, and an air, land and sea blockade which has been in place since 2007. It also comes amid a documented surge in settler attacks across the West Bank, where armed colonists—often backed by Israeli soldiers—have torched Palestinian homes, olive groves, and vehicles with near-total impunity. In the past week alone, nine Palestinians, including 5 children, were killed in the West Bank. Seven were killed by Israeli forces, 1 by a settlement security guard and one by an armed settler, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Israel's Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who controls West Bank civil administration, declared in March 2023, seven months before the Hamas-led October 2023 attacks in Israel, that "there's no such thing as Palestinian people" and vowed to legalize dozens of wildcat settlements. He was speaking at a podium which displayed the state of Israel with expanded boundaries that included the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza and Jordan. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a convicted racist, said in early July: "We must not stop for even a moment. We need to achieve a full victory, occupy all of Gaza, stop humanitarian aid, and encourage migration, not partial deals." U.S. Shields Israel at the UN Amid Gaza Carnage The Trump administration simultaneously boycotted a UN conference this week promoting a two-state solution, dismissing it as a "publicity stunt"—a move that underscores America's role in blocking diplomatic pressure on Israel. Despite global outcry over Gaza's humanitarian catastrophe (which has resulted in the death of more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed when seeking aid ), the U.S. has repeatedly vetoed UN ceasefire resolutions and armed Israel's offensive with billions in military aid. Meanwhile, European nations—including France, together with Canada, and Britain—are considering recognizing Palestinian statehood at the UN, a move the White House called "counterproductive." Secretary of State Marco Rubio downplayed the moves, describing them as 'irrelevant.' He told Fox News on Thursday: "First of all, none of these countries has the ability to create a Palestinian state. There can be no Palestinian state unless Israel agrees to it." Israeli Ministers' Blueprint: Empty Gaza, Annex the West Bank The visa crackdown comes as senior Israeli officials escalate rhetoric endorsing permanent occupation: Agriculture Minister Avi Dichter (Likud) stated in November 2023 that Israel is executing "Gaza's Nakba 2023", referencing the 1948 ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi in February this year called for the "forceful expulsion" of the Palestinian people from Gaza. Eleven cabinet Ministers and 15 Knesset members attended a conference calling for 'voluntary migration' and Israeli settlement of the Gaza Strip. Why the Visa Bans Matter While largely symbolic (the PLO's D.C. office was shuttered in 2018), the move signals unwavering U.S. support for Israel's territorial ambitions. The State Department's accusations—targeting PA payments to families of prisoners and ICC cases against Israel—mirror Netanyahu's longtime talking points. Notably, the statement ignored Hamas, which the U.S. already blacklists, to instead punish the moderate PA, whose security forces coordinate with Israel in the West Bank. The Bigger Picture With Gaza in ruins and the West Bank under escalating settler violence, the U.S. visa restrictions reinforce a one-sided approach: isolating Palestinian leadership while Israeli officials map a future of dispossession and apartheid. As the UN warns of "genocidal acts" in Gaza, the Trump administration's actions suggest a green light for Israel's most extreme ambitions—depopulation, annexation, and permanent statelessness for Palestinians. U.S. Presidential envoy Steve Witkoff meantime was in Israel Thursday, meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Mr Witkoff , together with U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was expected to inspect the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) distribution centers in Gaza on Friday. Reports say more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking aid at the centers have been killed by Israeli forces. "Special Envoy Witkoff and Ambassador Huckabee will be traveling into Gaza on Friday to inspect the current distribution sites and secure a plan to deliver more food and meet with local Gazans to hear firsthand about this dire situation on the ground," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters Thursday.
Toronto Star
2 hours ago
- Toronto Star
Top photos this week from Latin America and the Caribbean
Colombia's former President Alvaro Uribe was convicted of witness tampering and bribery in a historic trial. Latin American nations with a Pacific coast braced for a tsunami that never materialized after one of the largest earthquakes ever recorded, off the coast of Russia. Meanwhile, Chilean investigators closed in on the notorious Venezuelan gang targeted by Trump.
