united states

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 ...

US Fighter Jets Flew Close to Venezuela's Shores: Defense Minister

Venezuela said Thursday that it had detected five US fighter jets flying close to its shores, adding to tensions with Washington, which has ordered a major naval build-up in the region. In a TV address, Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said that Venezuela's air defenses and the tracking systems of the country's biggest airport "detected more ...

Trump Offers Security Guarantees to Qatar After Israel Strikes

US President Donald Trump has signed an order vowing to defend key ally Qatar against attacks, the White House said Wednesday, in an extraordinary move following Israeli strikes on the Gulf state last month. The Israeli strike angered Washington and spurred Trump to push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu into accepting a Gaza peace deal ...

White House Says Firings 'Imminent' as Plan to Reopen Government Collapses

Efforts to swiftly end the US government shutdown collapsed Wednesday as Democrats in Congress rejected proposals to resolve an acrimonious funding standoff with President Donald Trump, and the White House threatened public sector jobs. With the government out of money after Trump and lawmakers failed to agree on a deal to keep the lights on, ...