6 h. ago Why Trump’s ‘best for business’ diplomacy will fail with Russia or China

“All I’ve done all my life is deals,” US President Donald Trump told the Gaza peace summit, going on to say “maybe this is going to be the greatest deal of them all”. Trump has cultivated his image on being the greatest deal-maker, a legacy central to his identity as a business tycoon and now fundamental to his reputation as a world leader. The ceasefire in Gaza has been framed as a crowning achievement in this repertoire. “Together we’ve achieved what everyone said was impossible, but at long...

Politics

16 h. ago What Trump told Albanese about Taiwan matters more than AUKUS

What Trump told Albanese about Taiwan matters more than AUKUS  Lowy Institute

Politics

24 h. ago Trump downplays Beijing threat to Taiwan as Australia touts rare earths deal

After nearly a year waiting to meet US President Donald Trump, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sought to argue his country’s strategic value Monday – only for the “America first” leader to dominate the encounter by opining that Beijing had no plans to invade Taiwan and posed no real threat in the Indo-Pacific. “China doesn’t want to do that,” he insisted on Taiwan, during a press gaggle alongside Albanese, but later stated that the island will be one of the topics of discussion when...

Politics

40 h. ago End Russian oil imports or ‘massive’ tariffs will remain, Trump warns India

US President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told him India would stop buying Russian oil, while warning that New Delhi would continue paying “massive” tariffs if it did not do so. “I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he’s not going to be doing the Russian oil thing,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Asked about India’s assertion that it was not aware of any conversation between Modi and Trump, Trump replied: “But if they...

Events

5 d. ago After India, US tells Japan to stop importing Russian energy

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday that he told Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato that the Trump administration expects Japan to stop importing Russian energy. “Minister Kato and I also discussed important issues pertaining to the US-Japan economic relationship and the Administration’s expectation that Japan stop importing Russian energy,” Bessent said on social media after the two met on Wednesday. Bessent and Kato met on the sidelines of the annual International...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump sets off for the Middle East to mark Gaza ceasefire deal

US President Donald Trump headed off on a high-stakes trip to Israel and Egypt on Sunday, saying “the war is over” in Gaza. Air Force One took off from Joint Base Andrews near Washington in light rain, Agence France-Presse reporters said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA chief John Ratcliffe were also aboard the plane, the White House said. “This is going to be a very special time,” Trump told reporters. “Everybody’s very excited about this moment in...

Politics

8 d. ago Trump says ‘war is over’ as he heads to Middle East to mark Gaza ceasefire deal

US President Donald Trump headed off on a high-stakes trip to Israel and Egypt on Sunday, saying “the war is over” in Gaza. Air Force One took off from Joint Base Andrews near Washington in light rain, Agence France-Presse reporters said. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and CIA chief John Ratcliffe were also aboard the plane, the White House said. “This is going to be a very special time,” Trump told reporters. “Everybody’s very excited about this moment in...

Events

8 d. ago Trump says Gaza ‘war is over’ as he heads to Middle East on high

The war in Gaza has ended and the Middle East is going to “normalise”, US President Donald Trump said on Sunday as he flew to Israel, which was waiting for Hamas to release Israeli hostages as world leaders were gathering to discuss the next steps toward peace. “The war is over, you understand that,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One as he began a flight from Washington to Israel. Asked about prospects for the region, Trump said: “I think it’s going to normalise”. A ceasefire between...

Politics

9 d. ago Coming home? Israel expects last hostages to be released early Monday

Israel expects all hostages held in Gaza to be freed early on Monday, a spokeswoman for the prime minister’s office said, adding that all surviving captives are to be released simultaneously. “The release of our hostages will begin early Monday morning. We are expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time to the Red Cross and transported among six to eight vehicles,” Shosh Bedrosian told journalists on Sunday. Also on Monday, US President Donald Trump is due to...

Politics

1 week ago Hong Kong firms urged to find alternatives amid US tariffs, software export controls

Hong Kong businesses have braced themselves for additional US tariffs, but experts urged companies to develop alternative strategies due to proposed export controls on American-made critical software, warning of a “painful” adjustment. Industry figures told the Post on Saturday that United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on mainland China from November 1 would not significantly impact Hong Kong businesses, which are used to uncertainties from...

Economics

1 week ago Hong Kong firms urged to find alternatives due to US tariffs, software controls

Hong Kong businesses have braced themselves for additional US tariffs, but experts are urging companies to develop alternative strategies due to proposed export controls on American-made critical software, warning of a “painful” adjustment. Industry figures told the Post on Saturday that US President Donald Trump’s threat to impose an additional 100 per cent tariff on mainland China from November 1 would not significantly impact Hong Kong businesses, which were used to uncertainties from his...

Economics

1 week ago Trump keeps door open to Xi meeting, even after new 100% China tariff bomb

US President Donald Trump on Friday signalled he may still meet Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping later this month on the sidelines of a multilateral forum in South Korea, even as he announced an additional tariff of 100 per cent on all Chinese imports, on top of levies already in place – doubling down on his tough trade stance. “I haven’t cancelled, but I don’t know that we’re going to have it, but I’m going to be there regardless. So I would assume we might have it,” Trump told reporters in the...

Politics

1 week ago Trump says he may go to Middle East, with Gaza deal ‘very close’

US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he may travel to the Middle East later this week, as negotiators in Egypt reported “encouraging” progress toward a deal to end the Gaza war. Trump, whose 20-point peace proposal forms the basis of the talks in the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh, said a peace deal between Israel and Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas is “very close”. “Negotiations are going along very well,” Trump told reporters at the White House. “I may go there sometime toward...

Politics

1 week ago Trump calls off talks with Venezuela as US considers cartel targets on land

US President Donald Trump has called off US diplomatic engagement with Venezuela, people familiar with the move have said, a decision that favours Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s more hardline approach and may lead to further military escalation. Trump told Richard Grenell, a long-time aide who had been leading diplomacy with Venezuela, that he should stop pursuing a deal with Nicolas Maduro’s administration, according to the people, who asked not to be identified because they were not...

Events

2 w. ago Trump salutes US Navy at 250th anniversary, turns event into ‘rally’

US President Donald Trump did not let the government shutdown interfere with a stop in Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday to salute the US Navy as it celebrates its 250th anniversary, using his speech to praise both the US Navy and himself. Trump delivered remarks that by his own recognition bordered on making it more like a campaign event, generating some cheers from the crowd before closing with a recording of his theme song, “YMCA” by Village People. “Let’s face it, this is a rally,” Trump told the...

Politics

2 w. ago Hamas ready for peace as Israel prepares ‘immediate implementation’ of Trump plan

US President Donald Trump told Israel on Friday to immediately stop bombing Gaza after Hamas agreed to release hostages and accept some other terms in a US plan to end the war, but vexing issues like disarmament appeared unresolved. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel was preparing for an “immediate implementation” of the first stage of Trump’s Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages, following Hamas’ response. Shortly after, Israeli media reported that the...

Politics

2 w. ago Europe, US continue to seek common ground on China, despite other policy differences

European Union leaders still want to collaborate with the United States on China policy – even as Washington’s envoys continue to slam the bloc’s digital laws. The dynamic played out at a forum in Brussels on Tuesday, where American diplomats bashed Europe’s green, digital and economic policies, insisting that the EU would need to change if it wanted to stay in US President Donald Trump’s good graces. “I’ve been told I can’t say deregulation because it makes everybody upset, but simplification....

Events

2 w. ago Europe, US still seek common ground on China, despite other policy differences

European Union leaders still want to collaborate with the United States on China policy – even as Washington’s envoys continue to slam the bloc’s digital laws. The dynamic played out at a forum in Brussels on Tuesday, where American diplomats bashed Europe’s green, digital and economic policies, insisting that the EU would need to change if it wanted to stay in US President Donald Trump’s good graces. “I’ve been told I can’t say deregulation because it makes everybody upset, but simplification....

Events

2 w. ago Trump says Harvard to pay US$500 million in deal with administration

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that his administration had reached a deal with Harvard University after months of negotiations and that the school will pay US$500 million. “Linda is finishing up the final details,” Trump told reporters at an event in the Oval Office, referring to Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “And they’ll be paying about US$500 million and they’ll be operating trade schools. They’re going to be teaching people how to do AI and lots of other things, engines, lots...

Economics

3 w. ago What World Leaders Told Us About Trump, China and Climate Change

What World Leaders Told Us About Trump, China and Climate Change  The New York Times

Politics