World

Iran, US Raise Stakes Ahead of Key Talks in Oman
Iran, US Raise Stakes Ahead of Key Talks in Oman

Washington and Tehran waged a war of words Thursday ahead of key talks in Oman after US President Donald Trump said military action was "absolutely" possible if the talks fail. A senior adviser to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Iran could expel UN nuclear watchdog inspectors over "threats" ahead of Saturday's talks. Rear ...

Syria Establishes Diplomatic Relations With South Korea
Syria Establishes Diplomatic Relations With South Korea

Syria and South Korea have established diplomatic relations for the first time, with embassies to be set up in their respective capitals, Damascus said on Thursday. A Syrian foreign ministry statement said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on Thursday received a South Korean delegation headed by Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul. Cho was also ...

Trump Claims Victory Over Europe but Acknowledges Cost of Trade War
Trump Claims Victory Over Europe but Acknowledges Cost of Trade War

US President Donald Trump claimed victory over Europe in the US tariffs war but acknowledged a "cost" to his surging trade offensive against superpower rival China as markets plunged again Thursday. Trump sought a victory lap at a White House cabinet meeting, saying the European Union had backed off from imposing retaliatory tariffs because of ...

Donald Trump Strikes Again
Donald Trump Strikes Again

After 15 hours of market instability, US President Donald Trump put the brakes on his tariff measures. But China remains firmly in the crosshairs of the US president, now facing increased tariffs. Why such a rapid backpedal? Here’s a breakdown of this "pause on tariffs that lasted barely the blink of an eye." On Wednesday morning, global ...

Kurdish Authorities and Syrian Government Reach Deal on Tishrin Dam
Kurdish Authorities and Syrian Government Reach Deal on Tishrin Dam

The Kurdish authorities in northeastern Syria have struck a deal with the central government on running a key dam they captured from jihadists with US support, a Kurdish source said Thursday. "An agreement has been reached between the autonomous administration and the Syrian government for the management of the Tishrin Dam" on the Euphrates ...

US Congress Approves Budget, Unlocking Trillions for Trump's Agenda
US Congress Approves Budget, Unlocking Trillions for Trump's Agenda

The Republican-led US Congress adopted a budget Thursday that unlocks trillions of dollars for President Donald Trump's agenda, jump-starting what Democrats say is a plan to dismantle social welfare in favor of tax cuts for the rich. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the blueprint would deliver on promises Trump made in his election campaign, ...

Sudan Paramilitaries Capture Key Darfur Town
Sudan Paramilitaries Capture Key Darfur Town

Sudan's paramilitary Rapid Support Forces said Thursday they had overrun Um Kadadah, a key town on the road to El-Fasher, the last city in Darfur still in the hands of their regular army foes. "Our forces took full control of the strategic town of Um Kadadah," an RSF spokesman said in a statement, adding that hundreds of members of its garrison ...

EU Pauses Tariffs as Trump Eases Trade Pressure, China Left in the Crosshairs
EU Pauses Tariffs as Trump Eases Trade Pressure, China Left in the Crosshairs

The EU paused plans for retaliatory tariffs on US goods Thursday after President Donald Trump abruptly suspended higher US duties on the bloc and other countries, leaving China in the crosshairs of his trade war. Trump's about-face on Wednesday triggered a massive market rebound, but Wall Street's rally fizzled on Thursday, and the dollar slumped ...

Trump's 10% Baseline Tariffs Likely to Stay, Says Top Advisor
Trump's 10% Baseline Tariffs Likely to Stay, Says Top Advisor

US President Donald Trump's 10 percent tariff for almost all countries except China will likely remain in place going forward, his top economic advisor Kevin Hassett said onThursday. A day earlier, Trump announced a 90-day pause on higher tariffs against all countries except China, reversing a policy that had roiled global stock markets and ...

Turkey and Israel Hold Talks to Ease Syria Tensions Amid Ongoing Gaza Rift
Turkey and Israel Hold Talks to Ease Syria Tensions Amid Ongoing Gaza Rift

Turkey and Israel have started talks aimed at easing tensions over Syria, officials from both sides said Thursday. Israel has launched air strikes and ground incursions to keep Syrian forces away from its border. Turkey is a key backer of the Islamist-led coalition in Syria that toppled Bashar al-Assad in December. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan ...

Russia, US Swap Prisoners in Push for Closer Ties 
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 ...