U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo denies that Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou, detained in Vancouver pending an extradition hearing, is a bargaining chip in his country's trade spat with China. President Donald Trump said last December that he would intervene in Meng's case if it helped with trade talks. [node:read-more:link]
Twitter has taken down a network of nearly 1,000 accounts the social media company says are tied to the Chinese government. Many tweets had criticized pro-democracy demonstrations in Hong Kong. [node:read-more:link]
Bahrain has confirmed plans to join the U.S.-led effort to protect shipping lanes in the Persian Gulf. The announcement came as Gen.Frank McKenzie, was meeting with King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa in the Gulf state. [node:read-more:link]
Is it possible that U.S. President Donald Trump’s penchant for picking trade fights could undermine his re-election prospects as the spats potentially worsen the threat of a global recession? His future may be in the hands of five senior members of his administration. [node:read-more:link]
A British government study warns of medicine and food shortages if Britain exits fron The European Union without a formal agreement of terms. Michael Gove, the cabinet minister responsible for a “no deal Brexit” says the study is an outdated “worst-case scenario” but does concede there will be “bumps in the road” ahead. [node:read-more:link]
Australia is being blamed for undercutting its Pacific island neighbours by rejecting their calls for a ban on coal mining, a major Australian export. At a regional summit in Tuvalu, regional leaders called for strong climate change action. [node:read-more:link]
Despite a last-minute appeal by the U.S., Gibraltar has released an Iranian oil tanker which was seized by Royal Marines July 4. In deciding to let the vessel go, the British territory was assured by Iran that its cargo would not be discharged in Syria. [node:read-more:link]
The list of Chinese products on which the U.S. plans to impose new 10 per cent tariffs Sept. 1 is being pared in response to pressure from domestic retailers. The tariff on cellular telephones, laptop computers and other goods is delayed to Dec. 15 to accommodate an expected surge of imports of Christmas-sensitive goods. [node:read-more:link]
Winding up a two-day visit to London, U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton has confirmed President Donald Trump’s support for British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s push to quit the European Union. Bolton says the U.S. supports the Brexit movement “enthusiastically.” [node:read-more:link]
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says his country must intervene against any foreign military presence in the Persian Gulf. Calling their presence a “source of insecurity.” In his media, posted on social media, he calls the Gulf a “vital lifeline.” [node:read-more:link]
U.S. National Security Advisor and former UN ambassador John Bolton is in London for meetings with members of new Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s administration. A senior official travelling with Bolton said he would articulate policies and identify areas where the two governments can collaborate. [node:read-more:link]
Commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf have reported interference with their Global Positioning System receivers and the U.S. Department of Transportation believes Iran is at fault. Its maritime administration is warning about a range of issues, including communications from unknown entities purporting to be naval escorts. [node:read-more:link]
David MacNaughton, Canada’s ambassador to the United States “at a pivotal time in our country’s history,” is retiring at the end of August. Deputy Ambassador Kirsten Hillman will be the acting ambassador until a formal successor to MacNaughton is appointed after the Oct. 21 federal election. [node:read-more:link]
The United States administration has designated China as a currency manipulator after its central bank devalued the Yuan as the two countries' rrade dispute escalates. The announcement followed on the heels of President Donald Trump’s accusation on social media that China use currency exchange to steal U.S. business and undermine commodity prices. [node:read-more:link]
China’s central bank has permitted its Yuan to fall below the politically-sensitive level of seven to the U.S. dollar for the first time in 11 years, a possible precursor to a further escalation in the countries’ trade war. It came only a few days after President Donald Trump slapped more tariffs on imports from China. [node:read-more:link]
