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Istanbul talks: Russia offers to restore direct air links with US

Russian and US diplomats met in Istanbul to discuss normalising the operation of their respective embassies that has been crippled by multiple round of diplomats' expulsions during previous years

Panama, Costa Rica turning into 'black hole' for migrants, warn observers

One Chinese deportee currently detained in the camp, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to avoid repercussions, said she wasn't given a choice

Ex-defense chiefs ask congressional hearings on Trump firing top officials

The letter - signed by William Perry, Leon Panetta, Chuck Hagel, Jim Mattis and Lloyd Austin - said there were no real justifications for the firings

Zelenskyy to seek security assurances against Russia at meeting with Trump

Zelenskyy's delegation is expected to sign a landmark economic agreement with the US aimed at financing the reconstruction of war-damaged Ukraine during his trip to Washington

Asian shares fall amid AI tech doubts, Trump tariff hikes, and Wall St dip

President Donald Trump's decision to push ahead with 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Mexico and Canada

US Judge finds mass firings of federal probationary workers to be unlawful

US District Judge William Alsup ordered the Office of Personnel Management to inform certain federal agencies that it had no authority to order the firings of probationary employees

Boris Spassky, Soviet chess champion who lost to Bobby Fischer, dies at 88

The televised 1972 match between Spassky and Fischer, at the height of the Cold War, became an international sensation and was known as the Match of the Century

Social Security Administration in US could cut up to 50% of its workforce

The layoffs are part of the Trump administration's intensified efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency

Russian, US diplomats meet in Istanbul for second round of talks

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the talks followed an understanding reached during President Donald Trump's call with Russian President Vladimir Putin

N Korea performs cruise missile tests as it vows to respond to US threats

Kim expressed satisfaction over the results of the drills and said the military must be battle-ready

USAID workers begin to leave amid Trump's final push to dismantle agency

Some staffers wept as they carried out grocery bags and suitcases with what was left from their life's work

Confident Putin will keep his word to end war in Ukraine, says Trump

Trump said going through the Russia hoax ordeal gives him confidence that he can trust Putin in talks about the war in Ukraine

Israel-Hamas talks begin for next phase of Gaza ceasefire, says Egypt

The mediators are also discussing ways to enhance the delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip

Mexico sends drug lord Quintero, 28 other prisoners to US with officials

It comes as top Mexican officials are in Washington trying to head off the Trump administration's threat of imposing 25% tariffs on all Mexican imports next week

Transgender troops being identified, to be removed under Pentagon orders

US officials said early rough numbers suggest about 600 transgender troops can be quickly identified in the Navy and between 300 and 500 in the Army

US economy expanded at 2.3% from Oct to Dec on robust consumer spending

The outlook for 2025 is cloudier as President Donald Trump pursues trade wars, cutbacks in the federal workforce and mass deportations

Trump vows tariffs on Mexico, Canada from Mar 4, China faces extra 10%

The prospect of escalating tariffs has already thrown the global economy into turmoil with consumers expressing fears about inflation worsening and the auto sector possibly suffering

Israel army admits Oct 7 failures, probe may add pressure on Netanyahu

The findings, released Thursday, could pressure Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to launch a widely demanded broader inquiry to examine the political decision-making that preceded the attack

USAID workers get 15 mins to clear out workspaces as agency gets dismantled

USAID has been one of the biggest targets so far of a broad campaign by President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency, a project of Trump adviser Elon Musk

Ready to negotiate next phase of ceasefire in Gaza strip, says Hamas

It was the final such exchange the two sides agreed to as part of a truce that's set to end this weekend