United States

Caracas Says It Foiled Bomb Plot against US Embassy

Venezuela said Monday it had detected a plan by "extremists" to place explosives in the US embassy in Caracas at a time of spiraling tension between the two countries. Caracas has warned the United States of what it described as a "false flag operation" by right-wing extremists, Jorge Rodriguez, president of the National ...

US-Japanese Trio Win Medicine Nobel for Immune System Research

Mary E. Brunkow and Fred Ramsdell of the United States and Japan's Shimon Sakaguchi won the Nobel Prize in Medicine on Monday for research into how the immune system is kept in check, the Nobel jury said. Their discoveries have been decisive for understanding how the immune system functions and why we do not all develop serious autoimmune ...

Diplomacy, Political Brinkmanship and the Murderous Dystopias 

The peace plan submitted by President Trump is a major breakthrough after two years of open-ended cycles of violence in Gaza. Welcomed by Europeans, the Palestinian authority, Arab states, Russia, and China, it can definitely serve as a platform for a negotiated end of war. It could be a major diplomatic feat to end the unspeakable humanitarian ...

Trump Envoys Head to Egypt as Hamas Agrees to Free Gaza Hostages

Two envoys of US President Donald Trump headed to Egypt on Saturday to discuss the release of hostages in Gaza, after Hamas agreed to his ceasefire proposal, while Israeli forces launched deadly strikes across the territory. Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and envoy Steve Witkoff were expected to finalize details on the release of hostages and ...

Israeli Army Still Operating in Gaza Despite Calls for Ceasefire

Israel said Saturday its troops were still operating in Gaza and warned residents not to return, despite calls from the families of Israeli hostages and US President Donald Trump for an immediate halt to the fighting. Trump issued the appeal to the key US ally after Palestinian militant group Hamas said it was ready to release all hostages and ...

Hamas Says Ready for Peace Talks, Trump Urges Israel to Halt Bombing

Hamas said on Friday it was ready to start immediate talks on freeing the Israeli hostages it holds and the end of the Gaza war, welcoming US President Donald Trump's call for Israel to stop bombing the Palestinian territory. Trump's peace proposal, backed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, calls for a halt to hostilities in ...

US Treasury Department Mulls Minting $1 Coin with Trump's Image

The US Treasury Department is considering making a one-dollar coin that features President Donald Trump in order to commemorate the country's 250th independence anniversary, officials said Friday. In a social media post retweeted by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, US Treasurer Brandon Beach shared early drafts of the coin. Beach posted "first ...

Are Things Looking Brighter for the Middle East?

A year after Israel defanged Hezbollah, and in the wake of the annual opening of the UN General Assembly and several developments related to the Middle East, it may be a good time to take stock. In my 38-year career of diplomacy in the Middle East, anytime someone expressed optimism, I would suggest a head examination might be in order. However, ...

FIFA Unveils Trionda, the Official Ball of the 2026 World Cup

FIFA has unveiled the official match ball for the 2026 World Cup, combining high-tech refinements and design details celebrating the three co-host countries -- the United States, Mexico and Canada. The ball, called Trionda, was again designed by German manufacturer Adidas, provider of the official World Cup balls since the 1970 tournament. "I am ...

Munich Airport Closure 'Wake-up Call' Over Drone Danger

German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt said Friday that the temporary closure of Munich airport after drone sightings was a "wake-up call" about the threat from drones, which have caused a string of similar aviation disruptions across Europe. Airports in Denmark, Norway and Poland have recently suspended flights due to unidentified ...

Washington Allocates $230 Million for Lebanese Army and ISF Ahead of Shutdown

Just hours before a government shutdown, the United States confirmed a new security aid package for Lebanon. The Lebanese Army and the Internal Security Forces (ISF) will receive $230 million in funding, a strong political signal of support for state institutions. According to Reuters, the US administration approved the funding on September 30, ...

Trump Piles Pain on Democrats Over Us Government Shutdown

Donald Trump signaled Thursday that he plans to follow through on his threat for mass layoffs of US federal workers as he ratcheted pressure on Democrats to back moves to end the government shutdown. The Republican president announced he would meet budget chief Russell Vought "to determine which of the many Democrat Agencies, most of which ...