5 h. ago Trump wants nations to pay US$1 billion to stay on his Board of Peace

The Trump administration is asking countries that want a permanent spot on his new Board of Peace to contribute at least US$1 billion. According to a draft charter for the proposed group seen by Bloomberg, US President Donald Trump would serve as its inaugural chairman and would decide on who is invited to be members. Decisions would be taken by a majority, with each member state present getting one vote, but all would be subject to the chairman’s approval. “Each Member State shall serve a term...

Economics

37 h. ago Iran cleric demands death for protesters, threatens Trump amid unrest

A hardline cleric leading Friday prayers in Iran’s capital demanded the death penalty for protesters detained in a nationwide crackdown and directly threatened US President Donald Trump, showing the rage gripping authorities in the Islamic Republic over demonstrations that have challenged their authority. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami’s sermon, carried by Iranian state radio, sparked chants from those gathered for prayers, including: “Armed hypocrites should be put to death!” Executions, as well as...

Events

54 h. ago Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US$500 billion chip deal draws China rebuke

Blending economic nationalism with geopolitical leverage, US President Donald Trump’s top trade official delivered a pointed message to Taiwan shortly after Washington announced an ambitious deal on Thursday to bring critical technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, back to the United States. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the massive reshoring initiative as not just a business transaction, but as a strategic imperative for Taiwan to maintain favour with the “America...

Events

54 h. ago Lutnick warns Taipei to keep Trump ‘happy’ as US chip deal draws Beijing rebuke

Blending economic nationalism with geopolitical leverage, US President Donald Trump’s top trade official delivered a pointed message to Taiwan shortly after Washington announced an ambitious deal on Thursday to bring critical technology manufacturing, including semiconductors, back to the United States. US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick framed the massive reshoring initiative as not just a business transaction, but as a strategic imperative for Taiwan to maintain favour with the “America...

Events

3 d. ago Trump praises Venezuela’s ‘terrific’ interim president after call

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he had held a “long call” with Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez, the first known contact between the two leaders since the ousting of Nicolas Maduro. “We just had a great conversation today, and she’s a terrific person,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. He later said on social media that he and Rodriguez had discussed “many topics”, including oil, minerals, trade and national security. “We are making tremendous progress,” Trump...

Politics

3 d. ago Iran signals fast trials and executions for detained protesters after Trump warning

The head of Iran’s judiciary signalled on Wednesday there would be fast trials and executions ahead for those detained in nationwide protests despite a warning from US President Donald Trump. The comments from Iran’s judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei come as activists had warned hangings of those detained could come soon. Already, a bloody security force crackdown on the demonstrations has killed at least 2,571, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported. That figure...

Events

5 d. ago Trump says countries that trade with Iran will face 25 per cent tariffs from US

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced sweeping new tariffs targeting nations maintaining commercial ties with Iran. Effective immediately, the US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services imported from any country that “does business” with Iran, Trump said in a social media post. The president characterised the order as “final and conclusive”. While the order is global, it is expected to hit major economies, specifically China and India, the hardest, given their...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says China and countries that trade with Iran will face 25 per cent tariffs from US

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced sweeping new tariffs targeting nations maintaining commercial ties with Iran. Effective immediately, the US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services imported from any country that “does business” with Iran, Trump said in a social media post. The president characterised the order as “final and conclusive”. While the order is global, it is expected to hit major economies, specifically China and India, the hardest, given their...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump says China and other countries trading with Iran to face additional 25% tariffs

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced sweeping new tariffs targeting nations maintaining commercial ties with Iran. Effective immediately, the US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services imported from any country that “does business” with Iran, Trump said in a social media post. The president characterised the order as “final and conclusive”. “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all...

Politics

5 d. ago China’s US embassy decries ‘coercion’ after Trump slaps 25% tariffs on Iran trade partners

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced sweeping new tariffs targeting nations maintaining commercial ties with Iran. Effective immediately, the US will impose a 25 per cent tariff on all goods and services imported from any country that “does business” with Iran, Trump said in a social media post. The president characterised the order as “final and conclusive”. “Effective immediately, any country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a tariff of 25% on any and all...

Politics

5 d. ago Cuba’s Diaz say ‘no conversations’ with US after Trump threats amid Venezuela tensions

Cuba’s leader said on Monday there were “no conversations” with the United States, after US President Donald Trump urged the communist-ruled island to “make a deal” or pay the price. “There are no conversations with the US government except for technical contacts in the area of migration,” Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on social media after Trump said the nations were in talks following the US military toppling of Havana’s leftist ally Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. Díaz-Canel wrote that for “relations...

Events

5 d. ago Cuba’s Diaz says ‘no conversations’ with US after Trump threats amid Venezuela tensions

Cuba’s leader said on Monday there were “no conversations” with the United States, after US President Donald Trump urged the communist-ruled island to “make a deal” or pay the price. “There are no conversations with the US government except for technical contacts in the area of migration,” Miguel Diaz-Canel wrote on social media after Trump said the nations were in talks following the US military toppling of Havana’s leftist ally Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. Díaz-Canel wrote that for “relations...

Events

6 d. ago US strips moral framing from foreign aid in ‘America first’ pivot

At a high-level conference in Washington last month, the US State Department unveiled an “America first” aid strategy that ties development dollars directly to the commercial and security goals of the world’s largest economy. This shift away from decades of framing the United States’ foreign assistance as a moral undertaking is a reflection, analysts say, of the Trump administration’s view that foreign assistance should advance America’s national interest above all else. Officials at the...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump declares US national emergency to protect Venezuela oil money

US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order protecting US-held money derived from sales of Venezuelan oil, after the ousting of Nicolas Maduro, the White House said. In an order signed on Friday, Trump – who has made clear that tapping Venezuela’s vast oil reserves was a key goal in the US ousting of Maduro – is acting “to advance US foreign policy objectives”, the White House said in a fact sheet accompanying the order. The action follows a meeting Friday in Washington where Trump...

Politics

8 d. ago Israel says Bulgarian diplomat to direct Trump’s Board of Peace for Gaza

A former UN Middle East envoy has been chosen to direct US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace to oversee the ceasefire in Gaza, Israel’s prime minister said on Thursday, as at least eight more deaths from Israeli strikes were reported there. The appointment of Bulgarian diplomat Nickolay Mladenov marks an important step forward for Trump’s Middle East peace plan, which has moved slowly since delivering an October ceasefire ending more than two years of fighting between Israel and...

Politics

1 week ago ICE agent shoots woman dead in Minneapolis crackdown, sparking outcry

A US immigration agent shot and killed a 37-year-old woman in her car in Minneapolis on Wednesday during an immigration enforcement surge, according to local and federal officials, the latest violence in US President Donald Trump’s nationwide crackdown on migrants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey adamantly rejected the Trump administration’s assertion that the agent fired in self defence, saying video of the shooting directly contradicted what he called the government’s “garbage...

Events

1 week ago Minneapolis on edge after ICE agent shoots woman dead, sparking outcry

Minneapolis was on edge on Thursday following the fatal shooting of a 37-year-old woman in her car by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, the latest violence in US President Donald Trump’s nationwide crackdown on migrants. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey adamantly rejected the Trump administration’s assertion that the agent fired in self defence, saying video of Wednesday’s shooting directly contradicted what he called the government’s “garbage narrative”. “They’re already trying to spin...

Events

2 w. ago Trump says pulling National Guard from Chicago, LA and Portland, for now

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday his administration was removing the National Guard from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland but he added in his social media post that federal forces would “come back” if crime rates go up. Local leaders in those cities and Democrats have said the deployments, which have faced legal setbacks and challenges, were unnecessary. They have accused the Trump administration of federal overreach and of exaggerating isolated episodes of violence to justify...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump administration pushes national AI standard to keep US ahead of China

Trump administration pushes national AI standard to keep US ahead of China  Fox Business

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s pivot puts Pacific Rim at heart of global power shift

While US-China relations are likely to warm in 2026 and US President Donald Trump’s National Security Strategy strikes a comparatively softer tone, the long-term trajectory of the two nations’ rivalry remains irreversible. Strategic competition will only intensify, focusing ever more on economic and security issues in the Pacific Rim. Notably, the Pentagon’s call for a major US military overhaul centred on the Pacific Rim could raise the risk of security confrontation. This dynamic will further...

Politics