USA

The Weaponization of Ambiguity

The international political scene is marred by uncertainties, and political actors are navigating their courses amidst the imbroglios of an unraveling world order. This state of endemic instability seems to promote the politics of ambiguity and their inherent weaponization. President Trump, with his conventional insinuations and intentional ...

Far-Right Candidate Excluded From Romania Presidential Vote

Romania's electoral bureau on Sunday rejected far-right hopeful Calin Georgescu's candidacy for the re-run of last year's annulled presidential election, sparking outrage among his supporters in Bucharest. Georgescu -- a past admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin and an EU and NATO critic -- shot to prominence almost overnight to ...

Massad Boulos: Peace Is 'Close'

US President Donald Trump's Middle East advisor, Lebanese-American businessman Massad Boulos, said that peace between Lebanon and Israel was “close,” during a meeting with Israeli politician Yossi Dagan in Washington. “We are looking forward to peace, and we are aiming for peace, and by the grace of God, this will be achieved, hopefully ...

Protesters Rally on International Women’s Day, Fearing Far Right

Protesters took to the streets across the world Saturday to mark International Women's Day, demanding equal pay, political representation and an end to gender-based violence while voicing fears of rising repression. In eastern Ukraine, scores of demonstrators held a minute's silence to honour women killed defending the country from Russia's ...

Global Stocks Mixed As Trump Shifts on Tariffs Weighs on Sentiment

Global stocks were mixed Friday as President Donald Trump's unpredictable tariff tinkering weighed down sentiment even as Wall Street stocks shot higher following reassuring comments from the head of the Federal Reserve. After a down day in Europe, US stocks looked poised for another rocky round following mixed employment data. Briefing.com ...

Trump's Tariff Rollback Brings Limited Respite As New Levies Loom

US President Donald Trump imposed vast tariffs this week on key partners Canada and Mexico, roiling cross-border ties before offering temporary relief to manufacturers—but with more levies kicking in next week, the respite may be fleeting. US companies faced a series of duties starting Monday, with Trump doubling an additional levy on ...

Now a believer, Trump hosts White House crypto summit

Donald Trump on Friday hosts top cryptocurrency players at the White House, a political boost for an industry that has struggled to gain legitimacy -- and where the Republican president faces conflict of interest concerns. US crypto investors were major supporters of Trump's presidential campaign, contributing millions of dollars toward his ...

World Bank says Lebanon needs $11 bn for post-war reconstruction

The World Bank on Friday estimated Lebanon's recovery and reconstruction costs at $11 billion following the war between Israel and Hezbollah, which ended with a ceasefire last November. "Reconstruction and recovery needs following the conflict that affected Lebanon are estimated at US$11 billion," the World Bank said in a report assessing damage ...

Riyadh Welcomes US-Ukraine Meeting in Jeddah Next Week

Saudi Arabia welcomed on Friday the planned meeting between the United States and Ukraine, to be held in Jeddah next week, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Ministry underlined the Kingdom's “unrelenting efforts to achieve lasting peace and put an end to the Ukrainian crisis, which have been pursued over the ...

China's Counterattack: Punitive Tariffs in Retaliation to Trump

Shortly after taking office, US President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff increase on Chinese goods, raising the total duties on imports from China to 20%. Trump criticized China for not doing enough “to curb the flow of fentanyl, a potent opioid, into the US,” as stated by the White House on X. In retaliation, the Chinese government ...

Asian Stocks, Bitcoin Down as Trade Uncertainty Roils Markets

Asian stocks tumbled at the open Friday following a tough day on Wall Street as uncertainty over US President Donald Trump's trade policies roiled markets and traders awaited key US jobs data. Bitcoin plunged 5.7 percent after Trump signed an executive order to establish a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve" without planning any public purchases of the ...

'Hamilton' Axes Run at Prominent US Cultural Center After Trump Takeover

The smash hit musical "Hamilton" has cancelled a planned run at the Kennedy Center because President Donald Trump has destroyed the political neutrality of the US capital's premier cultural venue since taking over as its chairman, the play's producer said on Wednesday. The cancellation was a sharply worded rebuke to Trump's takeover, part of his ...