Bloomberg News

The US has taken a major step toward easing severe sanctions on Syria imposed during the Assad dictatorship, which was overthrown by rebels last December after a nearly 14-year civil war.

President Donald Trump moved to dramatically downsize the National Security Council, part of a restructuring that could see the group responsible for coordinating and implementing foreign policy at the White House cut in half.

European officials sought to portray a unified calm after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose a 50% tariff on the bloc’s imports, a potential escalation that sent stocks tumbling on both sides of the Atlantic on concerns a trade war will disrupt the world’s largest commercial and investment relationship.

Daily revenue from US customs duties rose to a record $16.5 billion as American importers made monthly payments to the government for goods received in April.

On today’s Big Take podcast: The economic warning signs lurking inside hair salons and beauty brand earnings reports.

President Donald Trump on Friday signed orders meant to accelerate the construction of nuclear power plants, including small, untested designs that offer the promise of rapid deployment but haven’t yet been built in the US.

A big prize might be within reach for Leonid Radvinsky.

In 2001, it was lipstick. After the 2008 financial crisis, it was DIY haircuts. In times of economic turmoil, consumers tend to change the way they spend on makeup and beauty. Ben Steverman and Jeannette Neumann tell Sarah Holder on the Big Take podcast what we can learn from beauty trends about the state of the US economy. Listen to the full episode wherever you get your podcasts https://lnkd.in/dHvmiK4t

Universities in Asia and Europe are hoping Donald Trump’s latest attack on Harvard will hand them a decisive advantage as they try to reverse a decades-old brain drain of talent to the US, with Germany going so far as to suggest the school establish an outpost within its borders.

Tax cut extensions, more breaks for business owners and a bigger cap on SALT deductions are among the big changes.