News Headlines - 23 August 2019

▽Ukraine, EU oppose Trump's suggestion of readmitting Russia to G7 - Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday it would be “appropriate” to have Russia rejoin what used to be the G8. France will host a meeting of G7 leaders this weekend.
But Germany, France, Britain - all G7 members - quickly rebuffed Trump, noting that Russia was excluded after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimea and then backed an anti-Kiev rebellion in the industrial region of Donbas in eastern Ukraine.

▽G-7 summit: US, China and other allies expected not to sign joint communique

The Group of Seven (G-7) summit is set to end without a joint communique for the first time in its 44-year history, after French President Emmanuel Macron decided to abandon the tradition citing “a very deep crisis of democracy.”
It will be the first time since meetings began in 1975 that the forum has failed to end a summit without an agreed statement, laying bare the deepening rift between heads of state from seven of the world’s largest economies.

▽Fed Chair Powell gives no clear hint on interest rates | PBS NewsHour

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell signaled Friday that the Fed stands ready to cut interest rates further if the economy needs it but wasn’t clear about when or by how much.
Powell had barely finished speaking to central bankers in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, before President Donald Trump escalated his attacks on the Fed, which he has repeatedly accused of keeping rates too high.

▽Did Boris Johnson put his foot in it in talks with Macron? - BBC News

A photo of Boris Johnson sticking his foot on a table during talks in Paris with the French president triggered unflattering comments on social media.
But users on both sides of the Channel who called the UK prime minister's actions insulting might have been jumping to conclusions.
A video appears to show Mr Johnson was responding to a joke by his host.
Emmanuel Macron seems to suggest the table could also be used as a footstool before Mr Johnson lifts his right boot.

▽Dutch government considers major investment push -source - Reuters

The Dutch government is considering pouring billions of euros in a new investment fund to finance future infrastructure and education projects, a source close to the government said on Thursday.
The government would consider borrowing up to 50 billion euros ($55 billion) for the fund as it looks to profit from historically low and even negative interest rates on its loans, Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf reported earlier on Thursday, citing government sources.