USA

Trump's Administration Tries to Save New York Mayor, Faces Opposition

The US Justice Department filed court papers Friday to dismiss a corruption case against New York Mayor Eric Adams, despite a barrage of resignations from prosecutors who refused to drop the charges. Adams, who pleaded not guilty in September to charges of fraud and bribery, has denied allegations he asked for the case to be dropped in exchange ...

At the Lebanon-Syria Border, the New Syrian Authorities Are Hunting Down Traffickers Linked to Hezbollah

In a mountainous region between Syria and Lebanon, once controlled by smugglers linked to the Lebanese Hezbollah, a Syrian security official has a padlock broken on an abandoned building, revealing a newly discovered drug factory left to deteriorate. In the Qousseir region, located in the Homs province in eastern Syria, the new authorities ...

EU vows to respond 'firmly and immediately' to US tariffs

The EU vowed Friday to respond "firmly and immediately" to trade barriers after US President Donald Trump unveiled tariffs that could hit both allies and competitors. The European Commission said Trump's plans were "a step in the wrong direction" that heightened economic uncertainty and disrupted the efficiency of global markets. "The EU will ...

TikTok Returns to Apple and Google App Stores in the US

TikTok has returned to Apple and Google app stores nearly a month after a new security law forced its removal, AFP journalists confirmed on Thursday. The Chinese-owned social media platform faces being banned in the United States over national security concerns about the data it gathers on users. The popular video-sharing app briefly went dark ...

What Are Trump's Reciprocal Tariffs and Who May Be Hit?

President Donald Trump's plan for "reciprocal tariffs" on US trading partners is set to spark a flurry of negotiations that could reduce levies. But analysts warn that it also risks painful retaliation. "This is every country, and essentially, when they treat us fairly, we treat them fairly," Trump told reporters. What ...

"Make NATO Great Again": US Pressures Allies on Defence Spending

US defence chief Pete Hegseth issued a call Thursday to "make NATO great again" -- urging European countries to spend more on defence with a twist on Donald Trump's trademark slogan. Meeting NATO partners the day after Trump revealed plans to start peace talks with Russia's Vladimir Putin, the Pentagon head said Washington remained committed to ...

Facing Egg Shortage, Americans Bring Chickens Home to Roost

A Houston poultry supply company is selling chickens like there is no tomorrow, as sky-high prices for eggs prompt some Americans to produce their own at home. A recent US outbreak of bird flu since early 2024 is exacting a heavy toll on poultry farms. More than 21 million egg-laying hens have been "depopulated" this year so far, after 13.2 ...

Decoding Trump's Second Term

When Donald Trump first suggested buying Greenland in 2019, the world laughed. But what if it wasn’t a joke? What if Greenland was about missile defense, not real estate? What if Trump’s renewed focus on controlling the Panama Canal wasn't just about trade, but about blocking China’s expanding influence? And what if his second term proves to ...

US stocks fall as inflation unexpectedly heats up

US stock markets tumbled on Wednesday as an inflation reading came in hotter than expected, fanning fears that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates higher for longer. Following days of attention on US President Donald Trump's tariff moves, traders were focusing on the January consumer inflation data, which is set to play a role in the ...

Lebanon's New Government Ministers Take Office Amidst Calls for Reform

Several handover ceremonies took place on Wednesday between outgoing and incoming ministers, marking the second consecutive day of such events following the Cabinet meeting held in Baabda on Tuesday. Finance Minister Yassine Jaber emphasized the need for cooperation to accomplish the tasks essential for the country's recovery. During the morning ...

Reactions Against US President Donald Trump's Controversial Plan for Gaza

Arab League secretary-general Ahmed Aboul Gheit on Wednesday rejected any displacement of Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and West Bank, calling it "unacceptable" for the region. "The focus today is on Gaza today and tomorrow it will shift to the West Bank with the objective of emptying Palestine of its historical inhabitants," he said at the ...