Donald Trump

US and Philippines Sign Military Deal

US and Philippine defense chiefs signed an agreement Monday on sharing classified military information and technology, as the long-time treaty allies deepen cooperation in a bid to counter Chinese influence in the region. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin signed the deal with his Philippine counterpart Gilberto Teodoro at the start of a visit to ...

Brazil's G20 Summit will be a Diplomatic Test for President Lula

The G20 summit will be a diplomatic test for veteran President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva who has boosted Brazil's global standing since returning to power but drawn fire for his positions on Ukraine and Gaza. "Brazil is back!" Lula announced triumphantly two years ago after he unseated far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro, who had turned his ...

Trump taps climate skeptic as energy chief

US President-elect Donald Trump nominated fracking magnate and climate change skeptic Chris Wright as energy secretary on Saturday, tasking him with "cutting red tape" which the new administration hopes will drive investment in fossil fuels. "As Secretary of Energy, Chris will be a key leader, driving innovation, cutting red tape, and ushering in ...

Iranians Sceptical About Talks Under Trump

Many Iranians were sceptical on Saturday about the possibility of the Islamic republic opening negotiations with the United States under Donald Trump, given the fractured history he has with Tehran. On Thursday, The New York Times reported that tech billionaire and Trump ally Elon Musk had met Iran's ambassador to the United Nations in a bid to ...

Trump Seeks to "Bankrupt" Iran

According to reports from the Financial Times, the new administration under US President Donald Trump is looking to revive a "maximum pressure" policy aimed at financially crippling Iran. Trump intends to strengthen sanctions against Iran, particularly targeting its vital oil exports. However, during his campaign, he had expressed a desire to ...

Zelensky Aims for Diplomatic End to War in 2025 as Trump's Return Nears

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday that Kyiv would like to end the war with Russia next year through “diplomatic means” as both countries prepare for Donald Trump's return to the White House. February 2025 would mark the third anniversary of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, with Russia's troops gaining ...

A Shift Toward Hawkish US Foreign Policy and Its Impact on the Middle East

As President-elect Donald Trump approaches his second term, there's an increasing focus on the potential impacts of his foreign policy choices, especially following the appointments of key loyalists to his administration. With a cabinet emphasizing a penchant for disruption, Trump's strategy appears set to shift from traditional political norms. ...

Trump Picks Karoline Leavitt as New White House Press Secretary

Karoline Leavitt, President-elect Donald Trump's 27-year-old pick for White House press secretary, has had a meteoric rise since getting her break as a student assistant for Fox News during Trump’s 2016 campaign for the White House. After serving as an assistant press secretary during Trump's first stint as president, she is set to return as ...

Moon, Mars, and Musk: How Trump's Second Term Could Reshape NASA’s Space Ambitions

Should NASA return to the Moon or go straight to Mars? Maintain its focus on climate science, or pivot away? President-elect Donald Trump's second term, alongside SpaceX CEO and new consigliere Elon Musk, could mark a Big Bang for the US space program. The brash billionaire duo share a knack for disruption and a hunger for making history — ...

The JCPOA: The Iranian Nuclear Deal Dismissed Too Soon

On Wednesday evening, IAEA Chief Rafael Grossi arrived in Tehran for talks on Iran’s nuclear activities. His visit, spanning several days, is no coincidence. With Trump’s expected return to the White House in early 2025, any hope of reviving negotiations seems increasingly unrealistic. Moreover, the simultaneous appointment of Marco Rubio as ...

Hamas Official Says ‘Ready’ for Gaza Ceasefire, Urges Trump to ‘Pressure’ Israel

A senior Hamas official said Friday that the group is "ready for a ceasefire" in Gaza and urged US President-elect Donald Trump to pressure Israel to end the war. "Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected" by Israel, Hamas political bureau member Bassem ...