Nuclear talks between Iran and US show signs of progress, mediator says
Iran and the United States ended their fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome with some progress but no resolution, according to the mediator from Oman.
U.S. President Donald Trump will personally attend a key meeting with Japanese trade officials on Wednesday, signaling his direct involvement in negotiations stemming from his recent wave of tariffs on global imports.
The move highlights Trump's hands-on approach to trade talks with Japan, one of the first countries to engage in face-to-face discussions since his administration imposed sweeping duties on dozens of nations.
Tokyo's economic revitalization minister, Ryosei Akazawa, had been sent to Washington to initiate discussions with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. Initially, the focus of the talks was expected to remain on trade and investment matters. However, Trump surprised officials by announcing that he would also join the session to address broader issues, including the financial burden Japan bears in hosting U.S. military forces, which is the largest overseas military deployment by the United States.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated: “Japan is coming in today to negotiate tariffs, the cost of military support, and ‘trade fairness.’ I will attend the meeting, along with Treasury & Commerce Secretaries. Hopefully, something can be worked out which is good (GREAT!) for Japan and the USA!”
Japan, which has faced 24% levies on its exports to the U.S. under Trump's tariffs—though those duties have been paused for 90 days—continues to contend with a 10% universal rate and a 25% tariff on cars, a major sector of its export economy. Bessent also intends to address concerns over exchange rates, an issue that has long been contentious between the two countries.
Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, speaking ahead of the meeting, emphasized that Japan would not rush to make concessions and has ruled out countermeasures to U.S. tariffs. He noted the challenging position Japan finds itself in, as the U.S. has leveraged significant power through its tariff policies.
“The difficulty for the Japanese team is that the United States has created a huge amount of leverage for itself, unilaterally,” said Kurt Tong, managing partner at The Asia Group, a Washington-based consultancy. “The U.S. is offering to not hit Japan with sticks, and Japan is stuck in a position of offering a whole lot of carrots. And from their perspective, it feels like economic coercion.”
The Trump administration has long criticized Japan’s trade practices and alleged currency manipulation to gain an unfair advantage, though Tokyo denies these claims.
Beyond tariffs and trade barriers, Japan is also expected to discuss potential investment opportunities, including its involvement in a multi-billion dollar gas project in Alaska, which could play a significant role in strengthening U.S.-Japan economic ties.
As the tariff talks unfold, Japan hopes that commitments to increased investment in the U.S. will persuade the Trump administration that both countries can reach a “win-win” outcome without the need for punitive tariffs. Akazawa expressed optimism before departing for Washington, signaling that Japan is eager to find a balanced solution that benefits both sides.
Tensions flare in the India-France Rafale deal as France refuses to share the fighter jet’s source code, limiting India’s ability to integrate indigenous weapons and reducing its combat autonomy.
France has rejected India’s request to share source codes needed to integrate indigenous weapons into Rafale fighter jets. Despite repeated appeals, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation has refused to compromise on the issue
Anton Kobyakov, adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, claimed at the St. Petersburg International Legal Forum that the USSR’s dissolution was legally invalid and that the Soviet Union still exists under constitutional law, framing the Ukraine war as an “internal process.”
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Two staff members from the Israeli embassy in Washington, D.C.- Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim were shot and killed on Wednesday night by a lone gunman as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum, close to the White House.
The Trump administration has granted Syria a temporary waiver from key U.S. sanctions and loosened business restrictions, marking the first formal step in a broader plan to dismantle decades-old penalties.
U.S. federal authorities have charged the alleged leader of an Eastern European neo-Nazi group with plotting acts of domestic terrorism, following an investigation that uncovered plans targeting Jewish and minority communities.
Iran and the United States ended their fifth round of nuclear talks in Rome with some progress but no resolution, according to the mediator from Oman.
Russia is preparing to present Ukraine with a draft peace proposal once a recent prisoner swap concludes, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov announced Friday, signaling a potential step forward in peace efforts.
Boeing has struck a deal with the U.S. Justice Department to avoid criminal charges over the 737 Max tragedies, agreeing to pay over $1.1 billion in penalties, victim support, and safety reforms.
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