Washington: President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that new talks were working in Gaza with the aim of releasing more hostages from Hamas captivity. Netanyahu told reporters at the Oval Office, “We are now working on another deal, we hope we will succeed, and we are committed to take … Read more
Washington: Oil prices fell to negative territory after rising by a dollar in post-settlement trade on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, stoking concerns that a global trade war may dampen demand for crude. Brent futures settled 46 cents higher, or 0.6%, at $74.95 a barrel, while U.S. West … Read more
Whoever said history repeats itself was not talking about Trump 2.0 and Iran. In 2018, during his previous term, Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) meant to restrain Iran from developing atomic weapons, calling it “the worst possible deal”. He further imposed a “maximum pressure” policy that led to … Read more
Despite loud whispers of a slowdown—or even a potential recession—and despite President Donald Trump’s now-chaotic tariff tantrums, the US is gaining big in one key area that isn’t being talked about much: attracting capital. A staggering $1.7 trillion in foreign and domestic investment commitments, made in less than three months, underlines long-term confidence in the … Read more
The release of the first combined intelligence assessment of the United States is no small thing, given that there is a new administration under an ebullient President, Donald Trump. Add to that the fact that it comes under the leadership of Tulsi Gabbard, only the second woman to be the Director of National Intelligence. And … Read more
Ottawa: US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Canada could trigger an unexpected crisis in America, leading to panic-buying seen at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic. The Trump administration’s plan to almost double duties on Canadian softwood lumber could disrupt the supply chain for something nobody wants to be caught without– toilet paper. Trump … Read more
Tehran would strike US bases in the region if Washington follows through on its warning of military consequences for Iran in the absence of a new nuclear deal, the speaker of the Iranian parliament said on Friday. US President Donald Trump said earlier this month that he had sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader … Read more
When the Trump administration decided that Europe had no place at the table in peace talks with Russia over Ukraine, the continent was left gasping. For decades, Europe had been the junior partner in transatlantic affairs, but never had Washington so bluntly slammed the door in its face. The initial reaction was a mix of … Read more
Paris: When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky interrupted a press conference he was holding to answer a telephone call from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, he opened a window into a new world of geopolitical diplomacy. “Can I call you back in 15 to 20 minutes,” Zelensky asked Macron before returning to reporters’ questions. He then … Read more
London: The president of Signal defended the messaging app’s security on Wednesday after top Trump administration officials mistakenly included a journalist in an encrypted chatroom they used to discuss a looming US attack on Yemen’s Houthis. Signal’s Meredith Whittaker did not directly address the blunder, which Democratic lawmakers have said was a breach of US national … Read more
While major powers of the world are either engaged in or worried about the two ongoing wars between Russia and Ukraine and Israel and Hamas, there are other theatres in the equally important geographies of Central Asia and the Caucasus that deserve attention and even kudos for progressing with peace. These regions have been facing … Read more
The number of people killed in Gaza in the Israel-Hamas war reached a new milestone over the weekend. More than 50,000 people have now died, including 15,613 children, according to figures released by Gaza’s health ministry on Sunday. Nearly 700 Palestinians have lost their lives since last Tuesday, when Israel restarted lethal air strikes in … Read more