Bhinneka News Online: Thursday Morning Briefing: U.S. and Gulf allies discuss response to Saudi oil attack

Thursday 19 September 2019

Highlights

U.S. and Gulf allies discuss response to Saudi oil attack The United States was discussing with Saudi Arabia and other Gulf allies possible responses to an attack on Saudi oil facilities they blame on Iran and which Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described as an act of war on the kingdom.

U.S., Chinese trade deputies face off U.S. and Chinese deputy trade negotiators were set to resume face-to-face talks for the first time in nearly two months as they try to bridge deep policy differences and find a way out of a bitter and protracted trade war.

Powell to Trump: Now it's your turn Fed Chair Jerome Powell indicated that two rate cuts this year are likely adequate as insurance against the rising global risks posed by Trump’s whipsaw trade negotiations with China, and it was now in the President’s lap to keep the economy on track.

Trump says EPA to issue notice to San Francisco on homeless President Donald Trump said that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will issue a notice in less than a week to the city of San Francisco over its homelessness problem and attendant pollution.

World

Canada's Trudeau apologizes for dressing up in brown face Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for wearing brown face make-up in 2001 after an embarrassing picture emerged less than five weeks before an election in which he faces a tough fight.

Netanyahu urges rival Gantz to form unity government with him In a surprise move, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called on his main rival, former general Benny Gantz, to join him in a broad, governing coalition after election ended with no clear winner.

UK court to finish hearing case against PM Johnson Britain’s Supreme Court will hear a third and final day of arguments over whether Prime Minister Boris Johnson acted unlawfully when he suspended parliament in the run-up to Brexit. If Johnson loses, he may be compelled to recall parliament earlier than scheduled, giving more time to lawmakers to scrutinize and oppose his plan to leave the EU with or without a deal.

At least 30 civilians killed in air strike in Afghanistan At least 30 civilians were killed and 40 injured in an air strike conducted by the Afghan security forces, backed by U.S. air support, in eastern Afghanistan. The attack was aimed at destroying a hideout used by Islamic State militants, but it accidentally targeted farmers near a field.

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Business

Trump and California go to war over clean cars

The Trump administration is expected to revoke California’s authority to set its own greenhouse gas and vehicle fuel efficiency standards, a move with high stakes for the auto industry, consumers and the environment.

2 min read

Shares inch higher after Fed cut, BOJ keeps powder dry

A positive start in Europe nudged the main world share indexes and bond yields higher after the Federal Reserve’s second interest rate cut of the year while Japan and others kept their limited remaining powder dry.

5 min read