Trump to meet NATO secretary general as plan takes shape for Ukraine weapons sales
NATO in a statement said Rutte will be in Washington on Monday and Tuesday and would meet with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio , and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as Congress . The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the visit.
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Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Thousands gather to protest as Zelenskyy signs bill weakening anti-corruption agencies
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday to urge the president to veto a controversial bill that threatens anti-corruption infrastructure. It marked the first major rally against the government in more than three years of war. Ukraine 's parliament passed legislation that will tighten oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies, which critics say could significantly weaken their independence and give President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's circle greater sway over investigations. Zelenskyy signed the bill into law, according to the parliament's website late Tuesday. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's bid to join the European Union and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid. The legislation's passage has triggered public outrage in Ukraine, with some saying it appeared to be a greater moral blow than the routine Russian drone and missile attacks. The changes would grant the prosecutor general new authority over investigations and cases handled by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO). 'In effect, if this bill becomes law, the head of SAPO will become a nominal figure, while NABU will lose its independence and turn into a subdivision of the prosecutor general's office,' the agencies said in a joint statement on Telegram. In a post on X, the EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos expressed concern over the vote in the parliament, called the Rada, calling it 'a serious step back.' Kos added: 'Independent bodies like NABU & SAPO are essential for Ukraine's EU path. Rule of Law remains in the very center of EU accession negotiations." While rallies have taken place during the war in Ukraine, they have largely focused on the return of prisoners of war or missing people. Protests, however, remain a traditional form of public pressure in Ukraine, where two previous revolutions were victorious for the public. 'Corruption is a problem in any country, and it must always be fought,' said Ihor Lachenkov, a blogger and activist who urged people to join the protest through his social media platforms, which reach more than 1.5 million followers. 'Ukraine has far fewer resources than Russia in this war," he said. "If we misuse them, or worse, allow them to end up in the pockets of thieves, our chances of victory diminish. All our resources must go toward the fight.' The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticized parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014 and damages trust with international partners. The group urged Zelenskyy to veto the law, warning that otherwise he would share responsibility with the Rada for "dismantling Ukraine's anti-corruption infrastructure.' Many protesters carried signs reading 'Veto the law,' 'Protect the anti-corruption system, protect Ukraine's future,' or simply 'We are against it.' The mood of anger and frustration among the war-weary Ukrainians prevailed in the crowd. Some protesters accused Ukraine's leadership of prioritizing loyalty and personal connections over the fight against corruption. 'Those who swore to protect the laws and the Constitution have instead chosen to shield their inner circle, even at the expense of Ukrainian democracy,' said veteran Oleh Symoroz, sitting in a wheelchair because both his legs were amputated after he was wounded in 2022. 'Instead of setting an example of zero tolerance for corruption, the president is using his power to take control of criminal cases involving his allies,' he said. On Monday, Ukraine's domestic security agency detained two NABU officials on suspicion of links to Russia and searched other agency employees on unrelated allegations. Zelenskyy's office didn't respond to a request for comment. Last week, the president carried out a reshuffle of his wartime Cabinet, a move widely viewed as further consolidating power within his inner circle. Hanna Arhirova And Vasilisa Stepanenko, The Associated Press 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
Bloomberg
16 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
BOJ's Deputy Chief Signals No Rush to Hike Rate After Trade Deal
Bank of Japan Deputy Governor Shinichi Uchida indicated there's little immediate need to raise the benchmark interest rate in a speech delivered shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with Japan. 'Under the premise that the outlook for economic activity and prices comes with uncertainty, the bank needs to adjust monetary policy to best balance the upside and downside risks from the perspective of maintaining stability in economic activity and prices,' Uchida said Wednesday in remarks to local business leaders in Kochi, southwestern Japan.
UPI
18 minutes ago
- UPI
Trump sets 15% tariff on Japanese imports as part of investment agreement
1 of 3 | President Donald Trump speaks to reporters Tuesday following a White House meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Trump earlier announced trade deals with Japan and the Philippines that will prevent steep tariffs from taking hold. Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo July 22 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that his administration has reached a trade deal with Japan that will impose a 15% tariff rate on the large U.S.-trading partner, instead of the higher levy Trump threatened earlier. The announcement came in a Truth Social post a week before an Aug. 1 deadline imposed by Trump on 14 countries to reach trade agreements with the United States in order to avoid tariffs of at least 25% on most imported goods. Suggesting it was "the largest Deal ever made," Trump claimed that Japan will invest $550 billion in the United States under the president's direction that will create hundreds of thousands of jobs. Additionally, Trump said Japan agreed to "open their Country to Trade including Cars and Trucks, Rice and certain other Agricultural Products, and other things." "This is a very exciting time for the United States of America, and especially for the fact that we will continue to always have a great relationship with the Country of Japan," Trump said. The Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs had not issued a statement on the deal as of Tuesday evening. While Japan avoided the higher tariffs with the deal, the new 15% levy is a steep increase from its previous single-digit rates on imports to the United States. The prospects of 25% tariffs on imports to the United States rankled Japanese officials, and U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick previously warned that the Aug. 1 deadline was firm. Trump announced earlier on Tuesday that the Philippines had reached a deal for 19% tariffs after a White House meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. A week earlier, Trump announced a similar deal with Indonesia.
