USA

American-Iranian Talks Spring Eternal

President Trump prides himself on his mastery of the art of the deal. On April 12, those skills will begin to be tested for the first time in the arena of the 45-year-old contest between America and Iran. All who care about stability and peace in the Middle East should wish him well and hope he and his team come to the negotiation prepared and in ...

Recovering Pope 'Happy' to Get Out and About: Vatican

Pope Francis was "happy" to get out and about this week but while his health is improving, it is too soon to confirm his participation in Easter celebrations, the Vatican said Friday. The 88-year-old Catholic leader, who is recovering from life-threatening pneumonia, has appeared at three unscheduled events in recent days -- including a ...

US Senate Approves Trump's Nominee for Top Military Officer

The US Senate approved Donald Trump's nominee to be the nation's top military officer on Friday after the president abruptly fired the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff this year. Lawmakers signed off on Dan Caine's nomination and promotion to four-star general in an early morning vote of 60 to 25 ahead of a two-week recess. Trump's ...

Panama Deal Allows US to Deploy Troops to Canal

US troops will be able to deploy to a string of bases along the Panama Canal under a joint deal seen by AFP Thursday, a major concession to President Donald Trump as he seeks to reestablish influence over the vital waterway. The agreement, signed by top security officials from both countries, allows US military personnel to deploy to ...

In Skies, as on Land, European Forces Face Gaps if US Pulls Back

Fighter jets from the United States, France, Finland and Germany roar into the skies from a Dutch base as part of NATO's biggest air exercise this year. The aim: to practice stopping -- and then defeating -- an enemy attack against the alliance as Russia's war in Ukraine fuels fears in Europe. But while NATO focuses on the menace from the east, ...

Iran Says Giving Diplomacy 'Genuine Chance' in Oman Talks with US

Iran said Friday it was giving diplomacy a "genuine" chance in surprise nuclear talks with the United States in Oman, despite mounting pressure from Washington. Longtime adversaries Iran and the United States are set to hold talks on Saturday in Muscat, aimed at reaching a potential nuclear deal. President Donald Trump on Monday made a shock ...

Conflicting Strategies Loom Over US-Iran Nuclear Talks in Oman

The United States and Iran are gearing up for crucial discussions concerning Iran's nuclear program, scheduled to take place in Oman on Saturday, April 12. However, these meetings are already complicated by differing approaches; President Trump advocates for direct negotiations, whereas Iranian officials are firm on pursuing indirect talks ...

Messi Scores Twice in Miami's Frantic Comeback Over LAFC

Lionel Messi scored twice as Inter Miami fought back from 2-0 down on aggregate to defeat Los Angeles FC 3-1 and clinch a place in the semi-finals of the CONCACAF Champions Cup on Wednesday. The Argentine World Cup winner yet again proved decisive in what was a frantic, chaotic, and entertaining encounter, sealing a 3-2 aggregate victory from the ...

Italy’s Prada Says to Buy Rival Versace for 1.25 Bn Euros

Italian fashion house Prada announced Thursday that it had reached a deal with US group Capri Holdings to buy Versace for 1.25 billion euros ($1.39 billion). The acquisition will create a luxury group with revenues of over 6 billion euros, which could better compete with industry giants such as the French conglomerates LVMH and Kering amid a ...

Russia, US Swap Prisoners in Push for Closer Ties 

A Los Angeles-based ballet dancer released by Russia as part of a prisoner swap landed safely in the United States Thursday night, the second swap under President Donald Trump as Moscow and Washington push to rebuild ties. Ksenia Karelina, a US-Russian dual national convicted in Russia of "treason" over a one-time donation worth around ...

US Dollar Slumps on Stop-Start Tariffs

The US dollar plunged against the euro and other main rivals again on Thursday after President Donald Trump abruptly paused higher tariffs on all countries except China, adding to investor uncertainty. The greenback lost over one percent against the European single currency, as markets also expected data later in the day to show US inflation ...

EU Suspends Counter-Tariffs for 90 Days After US U-Turn

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said Thursday the bloc will suspend a planned package of tariffs on US goods "to give negotiations a chance" after President Donald Trump's U-turn on massive duties. "While finalising the adoption of the EU countermeasures that saw strong support from our Member States, we will put them on hold for ...