United States

Stock Markets Rally with Tech in Focus

Asian and European stock markets rallied Wednesday, helped by renewed positivity over the tech sector, analysts said. Hong Kong closed up more than three percent, with investors snapping up stocks following a poor start to the week sparked by fresh concerns over US President Donald Trump's tariff plans. In Europe, Paris and Frankfurt led the ...

Ukraine Agrees on US Minerals Deal

Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the United States and could sign it Friday, the two countries said, a move Kyiv hopes will lead to future security guarantees from Washington. US President Donald Trump, in part of a dramatic shift of policy that includes reaching out to Russia, has demanded that Ukraine give access to its ...

Iran Rules Out 'Direct Talks' with US on Nuclear Issue

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Tuesday dismissed the possibility of direct negotiations with the United States on his country's nuclear programme. His remarks came a day after Washington announced fresh sanctions on Tehran targeting more than 30 vessels and people, including the head of the national oil company, accused of involvement ...

Macron Warns Ukraine Peace can't Mean 'Surrender', after Trump Talks

French President Emmanuel Macron warned Monday that peace cannot mean the "surrender" of Ukraine, but said talks with US President Donald Trump had shown a path forward despite fears of a transatlantic rift. Meeting at the White House on the third anniversary of Russia's invasion, the two leaders said there was progress on the idea ...

US to Veto Any Amendments to its Ukraine Proposal at UN Security Council

The United States threatened Monday to veto any amendments, including by its European allies, to a proposed Security Council resolution that urges a "swift end" to the Ukraine war without mentioning territorial integrity. "We're going to veto a Russian amendment if it comes to us in the Security Council, we will veto the Europeans' amendments if ...

Major Overhaul in Washington: Trump Strikes on All Fronts

US President Donald Trump has initiated a major reshuffling of the federal government since his return to the White House in January 2025. Thousands of government employees have been dismissed, and several programs have been put on hold, with no sector spared. Among the high-ranking officials dismissed was General Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman ...

US Slaps Sanctions on Iranian National Oil Company Chief over Oil Shipments

The United States on Monday announced sanctions against more than 30 Iran-linked people and vessels, including the head of the national oil company, for brokering the sale and shipment of Iranian oil. "Iran continues to rely on a shadowy network of vessels, shippers, and brokers to facilitate its oil sales and fund its destabilizing activities," ...

US Federal Agencies Try to Resist Elon Musk's Pressure

Multiple US federal agencies, including some led by prominent Donald Trump loyalists, have pushed back against a move by Elon Musk to force employees to explain what they had achieved at work or risk losing their jobs. The resistance signaled a possible rift between key Trump administration figures and Musk, who has spearheaded a campaign to ...

Zelensky Offers to Resign in Exchange for Ukrainian NATO Membership

Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday -- the eve of the third anniversary of Russia's invasion -- that he was ready to quit as Ukraine's president if it meant Kyiv would be admitted to the NATO military alliance. Zelensky has faced fierce criticism from the new US administration and said he wantss to meet Donald Trump before the US president ...

Trump Envoy Says Headed to Middle East This Week to Discuss Gaza Peace Deal

US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he was headed to the Middle East this week to discuss an extension to phase one of the Israel-Hamas peace deal. "We have to get an extension of phase one, and so I'll be going into the region this week, probably Wednesday, to negotiate that," Witkoff told CNN. "And we're hopeful ...