United States

UK Hails US Finance Firms' Investments ahead of Trump Visit

Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed Sunday plans by US finance firms, including PayPal and Citigroup to invest £1.25 billion ($1.7 billion) in the UK, announced days ahead of President Donald Trump's state visit. The investments by leading US companies, which also include Bank of America and S&P Global, will create 1,800 jobs in London, ...

Trump Demands NATO Halts Russia Oil Purchases Before US Sanctions

US President Donald Trump said Saturday he was ready to sanction Moscow, but on the condition that all NATO allies agree to completely halt purchases of Russian oil and implement their own sanctions. He also suggested members of the transatlantic alliance consider slapping tariffs of 50 percent to 100 percent on China as a way to help end ...

US, Saudi, UAE, Egypt Call for Sudan Truce, Transition to Civilian Rule

The United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt called on Friday for a three-month humanitarian truce in Sudan, to be followed by a permanent ceasefire and a nine-month transition towards civilian rule. In a joint statement issued by the US State Department, the four countries said the transition should "meet the ...

Trump Will Host Qatar’s Leader as Rubio Heads to Israel

US President Donald Trump will meet Qatar's prime minister on Friday after an Israeli strike on Hamas in the key US partner, the White House said. Trump and his special envoy Steve Witkoff "will be having dinner" with Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, it said in a brief statement. The announcement came as US Secretary of State Marco Rubio ...

UNGA 2025 and the Middle East

This month brings world leaders together to mark the annual opening of the United Nations General Assembly.  Their formal speeches in front of the assembly vary in interest, as many contain more pious platitudes than meaty information. The real work of interest often happens behind-the-scenes, as world leaders meet bilaterally or in small groups ...

A Historic Opportunity for Lebanon: Senator Lindsey Graham’s Vision for Defense and Diversity

During a recent visit to Beirut, Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized Lebanon’s unique role as a beacon of coexistence and resilience, driven by its diverse religious and ethnic communities. He proposed a robust defense agreement between the United States and Lebanon, positioning it as a strategic avenue for enhancing regional stability and ...

Trump Urges Peaceful Response to Charlie Kirk Killing

President Donald Trump urged supporters Thursday to respond peacefully to the killing of right-wing campaigner Charlie Kirk, as the murderer continued to evade a manhunt more than 24 hours after a shooting that put an already divided United States on edge. Trump, who soon after the killing angrily pledged a wide-ranging response against the ...

Why Qatar and Turkey Are Seen as 'Next in Line' for Conflict with Israel

The Israeli airstrike on September 9, 2025, against Hamas leaders in Doha shocked the Middle East, not only for its audacity but also for its symbolism: Israel was willing to strike inside the territory of a US ally, Qatar, long considered a safe haven for Hamas’ political leadership. The strike has since fueled speculation that Qatar, and by ...

Informing Parents not Enough to Fight Childhood Obesity

Government-led programs attempting to curb childhood obesity by educating parents do not work, an international study published Thursday concluded, and researchers are calling for policies that prioritize society-wide solutions. Obesity is a major health crisis with more than one in eight people globally now obese, according to the World Health ...

What we Know About the Killing of Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk, a right-wing activist and close ally of President Donald Trump, was fatally shot during an event in the western US state of Utah. This is what we know. At a university  Kirk, the head of the largest conservative youth movement in the United States, which he co-founded in 2012 at the age of 18, was speaking around noon on the ...

Trump Blasts ‘Radical Left’ After Killing of Influencer Charlie Kirk

Donald Trump lashed out at the "radical left" on Wednesday after the apparent assassination of his right-wing ally Charlie Kirk, vowing a crackdown after a killing that has sparked fears of worsening political violence in the United States. Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative politics at just 31 years old, had been dead only a few ...

Qassem Signals Defiance as Lebanon Faces Political and Security Challenges

Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem used his Wednesday speech to reiterate the group’s role in Lebanon, framing its organization as an indispensable “shield” against Israel while sidestepping calls for disarmament. In complete denial of ground reality, Qassem described Hezbollah as an “impenetrable barrier” against Israel, claiming ...