Washington

US Reaffirms Support for Lebanese Army

The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Lebanon’s security and stability, emphasizing that assistance to the Lebanese Army (LAF) will continue. In a statement posted on its official X account on Tuesday, the US State Department’s Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs stressed that Washington remains dedicated to backing the ...

Musk's DOGE Seeks Access to US tax System

Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has sparked alarm by seeking access to a system with the US tax office that has detailed financial data about millions of Americans, US media reported. Spearheaded by Musk, the world's richest man, US President Donald Trump has embarked on a campaign to slash public spending deemed wasteful ...

Lavrov, Rubio Pledge to Work on Settling Ukraine Conflict

Russia said Saturday Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had spoken with US Secretary Marco Rubio by phone, agreeing to show will for "cooperation" on Ukraine and to work to restore dialogue. The call came ahead of an expected summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin amid mounting concern from Ukraine and its European allies that the pair will ...

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 ...

Washington Plans to Impose Reciprocal Tariffs on Trade Partners

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday a proposal for reciprocal tariffs targeting countries that impose duties on U.S. imports, according to Reuters. This measure, which could take effect in the coming weeks, is part of his administration's protectionist policy aimed at strengthening economic and national security. "Today is a great ...

US Foreign Aid Halt to Have Major Hit on Poorest Countries: Report

A suspension of US foreign aid and possible dismantling of the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will have a major impact on some of the world's poorest countries, the Washington-based Center for Global Development (CGD) warned Tuesday. For more than 20 economies, a year-long pause on US aid could mean a loss of over one percent ...

NBA-Leading Cavaliers, Thunder Roll on With Victories

The pace-setting Cleveland Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder cruised to victories to maintain their grip on the NBA conference standings on Friday. Oklahoma City extended their lead at the top of the Western Conference table, improving to 41-9 for the season after blowing past the Toronto Raptors 121-109. The Thunder welcomed back center Chet ...

IMF to Unveil New Loan Package for Egypt

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) plans to submit a new loan agreement with Egypt for approval by its board, the global lender’s communications chief said Thursday, as the country seeks to strengthen its economy. “A policy package of reforms will be considered by the Fund’s executive board, along with the fourth review of Egypt’s ...

USAID, a Soft Power Tool That Does Not Serve Trump’s Policy

Insubordination, waste of taxpayers’ money and promotion of agendas that run counter to US national interests are some of the reasons spelled out by US President Donald Trump’s administration for freezing foreign aid and targeting the US Agency for International Development (USAID) in particular. Trump, a long-term critic of overseas ...

Musk Takes Reins of US Treasury Payments, Sparking Lawsuit

Elon Musk and his aides have taken control of the US Treasury Department's payments system, triggering a lawsuit charging he is illegally getting access to private data of millions of Americans. Musk, the world's richest person, is leading President Donald Trump's federal cost-cutting efforts under the so-called Department of Government ...

US stocks open sharply lower on Trump tariffs

Wall Street stocks opened sharply lower Monday, joining most international equity bourses in falling after US President Donald Trump launched trade wars against Canada, Mexico and China. The tariffs, if maintained, are expected to prolong or worsen inflationary pressures, hitting growth. About 25 minutes into trading, the Dow Jones industrial ...

OpenAI Announces New 'Deep Research' Tool for ChatGPT

US tech giant OpenAI on Monday unveiled a ChatGPT tool called "deep research" ahead of high-level meetings in Tokyo, as China's DeepSeek chatbot heats up competition in the AI field. Artificial intelligence newcomer DeepSeek has sent Silicon Valley into a frenzy, with its supposed low cost and high performance prompting calls for US developers to ...