All posts tagged: U.S. Economy

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu CNBC exclusive interview on Iran war

Israel Benjamin Netanyahu CNBC exclusive interview on Iran war

Published by Sam Flores

Netanyahu blasts ‘fraudulent lies’ in digital information battle Israel is fighting a battle against “horrendously unfair and fraudulent lies,” Netanyahu said. Addressing global criticism of the war, Netanyahu took aim at certain Western television stations and social media outlets, adding that the country must “get better” at fighting what he called the “digital information battle.” “The question is, do you succumb to the lies? No, I protect my people,” he said. “They hate us because we do defend ourselves. What do we do? Stop defending ourselves? Of course not — we have to fight.” — Hugh Leask Israeli economy expected to outperform in 2026 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks with CNBC from Jersusalem on June 3rd, 2026. CNBC Netanyahu wasn’t wrong when he said “buy anything in Israel, because Israel is going up.” Israel’s economy is expected to outperform major developed markets in 2026. Capital markets are also outperforming, with the Tel Aviv 35 surging and the shekel rising. Despite nearly three years of constant war, the central bank still expects Israel’s economy to …

Bessent is performing IRS commissioner duties amid Trump IRS tax scrutiny

Bessent is performing IRS commissioner duties amid Trump IRS tax scrutiny

Published by Sam Flores

Scott Bessent, US treasury secretary, during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. Eric Lee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Wednesday that he is “performing the duties” of Internal Revenue Service commissioner, even as he insisted he is not the agency’s acting commissioner, during a heated Senate exchange over President Donald Trump settlement with the IRS. Bessent, who had been the acting IRS commissioner since August, took over the commissioner duties in a little-noticed move two and a half months ago, the agency said in a post on its website March 13. The IRS said Bessent’s time as acting commissioner had “expired” but that he “retains the authority and responsibility to perform the functions and duties of vacant Treasury offices that are not filled on an acting basis.” The distinction became central during questioning at a Senate Finance Commitee hearing from Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev. She pressed Bessent over his current authority at the tax agency and whether hundreds of thousands of …

U.S. regulator moves to withdraw million penalty against Winklevoss’ crypto exchange

U.S. regulator moves to withdraw $5 million penalty against Winklevoss’ crypto exchange

Published by Sam Flores

Gemini Co-founders Tyler Winklevoss and Cameron Winklevoss attend the company’s IPO at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York City, U.S., Sept. 12, 2025. Jeenah Moon | Reuters The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission asked a judge on Wednesday to vacate the agency’s $5 million penalty against a cryptocurrency exchange founded by twin brothers who donated to President Donald Trump’s election campaign in 2024. The CFTC said regulators should never have accused Tyler and Cameron Winklevoss’ Gemini Trust Company of making false statements in connection with its bitcoin futures business. Gemini settled the CFTC charges in January 2025 during the final weeks of President Joe Biden’s administration, paying a $5 million penalty and agreeing to an injunction that would prevent the company from making any false or misleading statements to the CFTC. But Gemini and the CFTC have now agreed that the settlement should be vacated, citing the CFTC’s changed policy on crypto enforcement under Trump. The Winklevoss brothers each donated $1 million in bitcoin to his election campaign in 2024. The CFTC and Gemini said in jointly filed court papers that the settlement should be rescinded and the CFTC had “resorted to inappropriate tactics” to bring a lawsuit and “extract …

Oil-rich province to vote on whether to separate from Canada

Oil-rich province to vote on whether to separate from Canada

Published by Sam Flores

A view of the Syncrude refinery at its Mildred Lake facility, which has a capacity of bitumen conversion to synthetic crude oil of 350,000 barrels per day, in the Wood Buffalo municipality of Alberta, Canada, on May 5, 2026. Daphne Lemelin | Afp | Getty Images Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced plans for the oil-rich province to hold a non-binding vote in the fall on whether its residents wish to remain a part of Canada — or move ahead with a second binding vote on separation. The move marks the first time in Canadian history that a province other than Quebec has put the question of separation to the public and comes after months of campaigning from a group of separatists. Speaking during a televised address on Thursday evening, Alberta’s Smith said she supports the province remaining in Canada and would vote as such in a provincial referendum. “However, despite my personal support for remaining in Canada, I’m deeply troubled by an erroneous court decision that interferes with the democratic rights of hundreds of …

Iran reviewing U.S. position on ending war; Trump willing to wait

Iran reviewing U.S. position on ending war; Trump willing to wait

Published by Sam Flores

Vehicles drive past a huge billboard supporting Iran’s national football team in the upcoming 2026 World Cup, installed on a building at Enghelab Square in Tehran on May 18, 2026. – | Afp | Getty Images Iran on Thursday said it is reviewing the Trump administration’s latest proposal for bringing an end to the war after the U.S. president said he was prepared to wait a few more days to “get the right answers” from Tehran. Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said the Islamic Republic had received the views of the American side “and are reviewing them,” according to the state-run agency Nour News. Baghaei said Pakistan, which hosted peace talks between the U.S. and Iran last month, continues to mediate exchanges between Tehran and Washington, adding that several rounds of communication had taken place based on Iran’s original 14-point framework. Pakistan’s Army Chief Asim Munir is expected to travel to Iran’s capital on Thursday as part of ongoing mediation talks between Washington and Tehran, according to Iran’s ISNA news agency. Talks to bring …

Cuba accuses U.S. of building a ‘fraudulent case’ for military action

Cuba accuses U.S. of building a ‘fraudulent case’ for military action

Published by Sam Flores

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel and U.S. President Donald Trump. Sergey Bobylev | Nathan Howard | Reuters Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on Tuesday condemned U.S. sanctions on the country as “immoral, illegal, and criminal,” lashing out at prolonged economic pressure on the communist-run island as tensions escalate. In a social media post on X, Díaz-Canel said the fuel-starved nation would “continue to denounce, in the firmest and most energetic way possible, the genocidal siege that seeks to strangle our people.” Cuba’s president singled out President Donald Trump’s executive order that threatens third parties from selling oil to Havana with tariffs, as well as U.S. measures that seek to penalize companies that may want to invest in the country or provide it with basic goods. His comments come after a fresh wave of U.S. sanctions and amid mounting speculation that the U.S. could carry out military strikes against Cuba. The U.S. government on Monday imposed sanctions on 11 Cuban officials and its main intelligence agency. The move forms part of a broader pressure campaign that has included …

Trump turns to midterms, affordability after China as Iran continues

Trump turns to midterms, affordability after China as Iran continues

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump (R) gestures as he poses for photos with China’s President Xi Jinping during a visit to Zhongnanhai Garden in Beijing on May 15, 2026. Evan Vucci | Afp | Getty Images President Donald Trump has returned stateside and so has his administration’s focus, even as the Iran war and the aftermath of his China trip remain front-burner issues. Trump and his top officials are fanning out across the U.S. this week for events aimed at touting his domestic achievements — a notable pivot after major foreign policy matters in Iran, China, Cuba, Venezuela and elsewhere have dominated headlines for months. Trump on Monday afternoon is set to unveil his latest effort to bring down healthcare costs, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth travels to a campaign event in Kentucky and Vice President JD Vance attends a manufacturing-focused event in Missouri. The apparent shift, days after Trump’s return from Beijing, comes ahead of the fast-approaching 2026 midterm elections, where Democrats hope to regain at least one chamber of Congress and fiercely push back …

European Commission says will ‘keep options open’ over Trump tariff threat – POLITICO

European Commission says will ‘keep options open’ over Trump tariff threat – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

The chair of the European Parliament’s trade committee, meanwhile, called Trump’s tariff threat “unacceptable” and accused the U.S. of “breaking its commitments.” There have been simmering tensions between the two sides over the implementation of the Scotland deal. The U.S. has complained at how long the EU is taking to bring tariffs down, while Europe has bristled at how many of its goods are being hit with a 26 percent U.S. tariff on aluminum and steel.  EU governments are divided over whether to pursue additional safeguards, as demanded by the European Parliament, delaying an agreement on a way forward. A majority of countries have resisted a French-led push to revisit the deal.  Manfred Weber, chair of the center-right European People’s Party, the biggest political group in the European Parliament, told POLITICO that negotiations “must be concluded swiftly so that the agreement can finally enter into force.” “Our businesses cannot afford any prolonged uncertainty,” Weber said, calling for a final vote on the deal in the Parliament as early as next month. Trump’s vow to escalate …

Trump faces 60-day Iran war deadline, Hegseth floats ceasefire loophole

Trump faces 60-day Iran war deadline, Hegseth floats ceasefire loophole

Published by Sam Flores

U.S. President Donald Trump exits Air Force One as he arrives at Miami International Airport in Florida, U.S., April 11, 2026. Kevin Lamarque | Reuters President Donald Trump is running up against a Friday legal deadline that threatens to halt U.S. military operations against Iran — but Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth suggested Thursday that the ongoing ceasefire nullifies that cutoff date. Under the 1973 War Powers Resolution, Trump is required to withdraw U.S. armed forces 60 days after reporting their deployment to Congress — unless the legislative branch authorizes the military action, which it has not done. The U.S. and Israel first struck Iran on Feb. 28, and Trump sent a letter notifying Congress of the action on March 2, starting the 60-day clock and setting up a May 1 deadline. Trump may seek a 30-day extension under the resolution, but he has not done so yet, according to lawmakers. Hegseth, however, said in Senate testimony Thursday that he believes the statutory countdown clock “pauses or stops in a ceasefire.” The U.S. and Iran are …

Trump warns of ‘big tariff’ if UK doesn’t drop digital services tax

Trump warns of ‘big tariff’ if UK doesn’t drop digital services tax

Published by Sam Flores

US President Donald Trump during a healthcare affordability event in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, April 23, 2026. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a stark warning to the U.K., threatening to impose steep tariffs on the country unless it drops its digital services tax on U.S. tech companies. The tax, which was first introduced in 2020, is a 2% levy on the revenues of search engines, social media services and online marketplaces that derive value from U.K. users. This includes several U.S. companies like Alphabet‘s Google, Meta and Apple. Speaking from the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump criticized those he said were seeking to make an “easy buck” by targeting American companies. “We have been looking at it, and we can meet that very easily by just putting a big tariff on the U.K., so they better be careful,” Trump said. “If they don’t drop the tax, we’ll probably put a big tariff on the U.K.,” he added, without providing …