EU enforces tariffs on $ 3.4B in U. S. products
The European Union is enforcing tariffs on $ 3.4 billion in U. S. products in retaliation for duties the Trump administration has put on European steel and aluminum. The taxes are on American products including bourbon, peanut butter and orange juice, and the choices appear designed to create political pressure on Trump and senior U. S. politicians. On Twitter, Trump threatened to impose a 20 percent tax on cars imported from the EU if barriers to trade are not removed soon.
Cohen in photo with Tom Arnold
LOS ANGELES— President Donald Trump’s former longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen retweeted a photo of himself with comedian Tom Arnold, who is working on a TV show to hunt down recordings of the president, fueling speculation Friday that Cohen has secret tapes of Trump and is willing to share them. Last month, Vice Media announced that Arnold would be featured in a new show called “The Hunt for the Trump Tapes” and would investigate rumored recordings of the president.
Netflix executive fired for twice using N- word
SAN FRANCISCO— Netflix CEO Reed Hastings says he fired the company’s top spokesman over use of the N- word. The spokesman, Jonathan Friedland, who is white, confirmed in tweets that he was leaving the company, saying he was insensitive in speaking with his team about words that offend in comedy. In a memo to employees, Hastings said Friedland used the word twice— first in a meeting of public relations staff months ago about sensitive words. Hastings said Friedland later repeated the word with human resources staff trying to address the original incident. Hastings wrote the second incident “confirmed a deep lack of understanding.”
OPEC increasing oil pumping
VIENNA— OPEC countries agreed Friday to pump 1 million barrels more crude oil per day, a move that should help contain the recent rise in energy prices. Questions remain over the ability of some OPEC nations— Iran and Venezuela in particular— to increase production. Oil prices rose.
Monkees forced to postpone
PHILADELPHIA— The Monkees have postponed the last four dates of their tour after guitarist Mike Nesmith, 75, had “a minor health issue.” Nesmith has been performing past hits with 73- year- old bandmate Micky Dolenz.