Donald Trump

Tariffs: Gold Shines and the Euro Crashes

After a year marked by record highs, gold seems poised to continue its surge in 2025, as investors seek to shield themselves from global economic uncertainties. The trade policies of US President Donald Trump, particularly the new tariffs that could provoke a trade war, dampen economic growth and fuel inflation, will likely benefit gold. Gold ...

Rubio Confirms Takeover of USAID, Vows to End 'Insubordination'

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Monday he had been put in charge of the US aid agency, saying he would stop its "insubordination" to President Donald Trump's agenda. After Trump's billionaire friend and advisor Elon Musk vowed to destroy the US Agency for International Development (USAID), whose website went dark over the weekend, Rubio ...

USAID at Risk of Shutdown: Impact on Lebanon

Elon Musk stated on Monday that President Donald Trump confirmed his intention to shut down the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). “I discussed USAID in detail with (the president), and he agreed that we should shut it down,” Musk said during a conversation on X Spaces early on Monday morning. The announcement comes ...

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 ...

Canada's Ontario Bans US Firms from Govt Contracts, Dumps Starlink Deal

Ontario, Canada's most populous province and its economic engine, announced Monday a ban on US companies bidding on tens of billions of dollars worth of government contracts, and dumped a deal with Elon Musk's Starlink in a pushback to US tariffs. "Ontario won't do business with people hellbent on destroying our economy," Ontario Premier Doug ...

The Battle for the 'Time' Factor

The (highly relative) calm preceding the storm? A worrying question is likely on everyone’s lips — especially on the eve of the crucial meeting between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, set for Tuesday, February 4, in Washington. The course of events in the coming months will largely hinge on the outcome of ...

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 ...

How China Allegedly Contributes to the Deadly Fentanyl Crisis

US President Donald Trump has slapped new tariffs on Chinese goods, partly in response to Beijing's alleged role in a deadly opioid epidemic in the United States. Washington has long accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the deadly fentanyl trade, which US authorities estimate caused tens of thousands of deaths a year. China denies ...

Elon Musk brands USAID as 'criminal organization' in growing row

Elon Musk attacked the US Agency for International Development on Sunday, calling it a "criminal organization" after Donald Trump moved to freeze the bulk of Washington's foreign assistance for three months. The Trump administration has since issued waivers for food and other humanitarian aid. But aid workers say uncertainty reigns -- and that ...

EU Slams Trump Tariffs, Says Will 'Respond Firmly' If Targeted

The European Union on Sunday blasted U.S. President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, warning that the 27-nation bloc would retaliate "firmly" if targeted. Brussels had previously hoped to avoid a trade conflict with Trump through negotiation. However, on Friday, the U.S. president doubled down, stating he ...