
United States has imposed sanctions on Venezuela's president, Nicolas Maduro, over what it called his illegitimate election of an assembly to rewrite the constitution. All of Maduro's assets in the United States are frozen and Americans are forbidden from doing any business with him.

The United States economy gathered speed in the second quarter of the year, growing at an annualized pace of 2.6%. The pick-up was helped by consumer spending in the quarter expanding at a pace of 2.8%, and businesses stepping up spending on equipment.

President Donald Trump has named General John Kelly, who currently heads the Department of Homeland Security, as his next chief of staff. The announcement, made on Twitter on Friday afternoon, removes Reince Priebus from the role.

Commanders from British armed forces have opposed any ban on transgender people serving in the military. It comes after Donald Trump said that transgender people would not be allowed in the US military due to “tremendous” medical costs and disruption.

The IMF on Sunday lowered its economic growth forecasts for the United States to 2.1% for this year and the next, down from the 2.3% for 2017 and 2.5% for 2018 that it had predicted in April.

The Carrier factory where a president-elect Donald J. Trump boasted of having crafted a deal to save jobs from moving to Mexico has begun laying off workers. 338 employees at the Carrier Corporation fan coil manufacturing facility in Indianapolis will be let go Friday under the previously announced plan, the company said in a statement.

United States President Donald Trump has triggered a shake-up by appointing Wall Street financier Anthony Scaramucci as his White House communications director. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer quit, reportedly in response to the move, which was announced on 21 July. He had been partially filling the communications role since the previous incumbent Michael Dubke resigned in May.

In a statement released Monday night, President Trump threatened to impose economic sanctions on Venezuela should the nation’s president, Nicolas Maduro, follow through on his pledge to create a “constituent assembly” capable of rewriting Venezuela’s constitution.

JP Morgan Chase boss Jamie Dimon condemned the state of US politics on Friday, saying political gridlock is hurting the US economy, and called Americans must get our act together or risk limiting themselves to 1.5% to 2% growth.

French President Emmanuel Macron said he “respected” Donald Trump's decision to pull out of the Paris climate accord but that France would remain committed. The US president visiting France then hinted that his administration could shift its opinion.