Page 6 - United States

US, Europe to find way out of Greenland dispute: American Treasury chief

Bessent played down fears of escalation after Donald Trump announced tariffs on imports from European allies that oppose US control of Greenland

Luxury real estate brothers to face trial in New York sex trafficking case

Two luxury real estate brokers and their brother are scheduled to go on trial in New York City on sex trafficking charges Tuesday, just days after their lawyers renewed their request to a New York judge to toss out charges that they sexually abused dozens of women over the course of a dozen years. Jury selection was expected to last about two days, with opening statements scheduled for next Monday for a trial projected to last until early March. In papers filed in Manhattan federal court on Saturday, defence lawyers complained that prosecutors have unfairly treated their clients by rewriting the indictment as recently as last week and by recently adding charges the defence has not had time to investigate. The latest iteration of the indictment was filed Thursday, the third time in two months that prosecutors have updated an indictment that accuses Oren, Tal and Alon Alexander of showering women with free travel and luxury accommodations before drugging and raping them in vacation ..

Won't be blackmailed: Germany, France to US; G7 FMs to meet soon

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said at a news conference on Monday he did not think Trump is considering militarily forceful intervention over Greenland

Kremlin claims Putin received Trump's invite to join Gaza 'Board of Peace'

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif have also received invitations to join the Peace Board

Donald Trump may quickly replace tariffs after court action, say reports

The Supreme Court could rule on the tariffs in the coming weeks, and possibly as early as Tuesday

Piyush Goyal meets US ambassador, Senator Daines to discuss bilateral ties

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday met the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, and American Senator Steve Daines and discussed bilateral issues. The meeting is important as India and the US are engaged in negotiating a bilateral trade agreement amidst a steep 50 per cent import duty imposed by the Donald Trump administration on Indian goods since August. "Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator @SteveDaines and the US Ambassador to India @SergioGor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship," Goyal said in a social media post. Gor, known to be a key member of US President Donald Trump's inner circle, took over as the Ambassador recently. In his arrival speech on January 12, he asserted that both sides are actively engaged to firm up a trade deal. The bilateral ties are strained after Trump imposed a 50 per cent tariff on India, including a 25 per cent additional import duty for India's purchase of Russian crude oil. Republican

Trump's Greenland threat puts Europe back in US tariff crosshairs

The shock move has rattled through industry and sent shockwaves through markets amid fears of a return to the volatility of last year's trade war

US launches retaliatory strike in Syria, killing leader tied to ISIS ambush

A third round of retaliatory strikes by the US in Syria resulted in the death of an Al-Qaeda-affiliated leader, who officials say had a direct tie to the Islamic State member responsible for last month's ambush that killed two US soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country. US Central Command announced that the strike in northwest Syria on Friday killed Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, who they claim was an experienced terrorist leader who plotted attacks and was directly connected" to the December 13 attack that killed Sergeant Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard and civilian interpreter Ayad Mansoor Sakat. The death of a terrorist operative linked to the deaths of three Americans demonstrates our resolve in pursuing terrorists who attack our forces, Admiral Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, said in a statement. There is no safe place for those who conduct, plot, or inspire attacks on American citizens and our warfighters. We will find you. It was the lates

Israel objects to US-led Gaza oversight plan, cites policy differences

Israel's government is objecting to the White House announcement of leaders who will play a role in overseeing next steps in Gaza. The rare criticism from Israel of its close ally in Washington says the Gaza executive committee was not coordinated with Israel and is contrary to its policy, without details. Saturday's statement also said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told the foreign ministry to contact Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The committee announced by the White House on Friday includes no Israeli official but has an Israeli businessman, billionaire Yakir Gabay. Other members announced so far include two of US President Donald Trump's closest confidants, a former British prime minister, an American general and a collection of top officials from Middle Eastern governments. The White House has said the executive committee will carry out the vision of a Trump-led Board of Peace, whose members have not yet been named. The White House also announced the members of a new

Trump to levy 10% tariffs on European allies amid push to acquire Greenland

Trump argued that the United States had long subsidised Denmark and other European countries by not imposing tariffs and said it was now time for Denmark to "give back"

'Hands off Greenland' protests erupt in Denmark against Trump's threats

Trump has repeatedly said Greenland is vital to US national security because of its strategic Arctic location and mineral resources, and has not ruled out the use of force to acquire it

Khamenei calls Trump 'criminal' as Iran protest death toll crosses 3,000

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday branded US President Donald Trump a criminal for supporting protesters in Iran, and blamed demonstrators for causing thousands of deaths. In a speech broadcast by state television, Khamenei said the protests had left several thousand people dead the first indication from an Iranian leader of the extent of the casualties from the wave of protests that began December 28 and led to a bloody crackdown. In this revolt, the US president made remarks in person, encouraged seditious people to go ahead and said: 'We do support you, we do support you militarily'," said Khamenei, who has final say on all state matters. He reiterated an accusation that the US seeks domination over Iran's economic and political resources. We do consider the US president a criminal, because of casualties and damages, because of accusations against the Iranian nation, he said. He described the protesters as foot soldiers of the United States and said they

China cuts US debt holdings to 17-year low, shifts reserves to gold

China has reduced its US Treasury holdings to a 17-year low as part of the continued diversification of its forex reserves towards gold and overseas equity investments amid unsettling ties with Washington. China's holdings of US treasuries fell to USD 682.6 billion in November last year, down from USD 688.7 billion in October, the lowest since 2008, according to data released by the US Department of the Treasury on Thursday. Beijing's move to trim its US holdings came as the foreign ownership of the US debt hit a record high, with Japan and the UK scaling up their holdings, according to the data. Japan's holdings rose by USD 2.6 billion to USD 1.2 trillion, while the UK's pool rose by USD 10.6 billion to USD 888.5 billion. China holds the world's largest forex reserves totalling USD 3.3579 trillion at the end of December 2025, according to the official media reports here. Observers say the reduction of US holdings by China is part of its continued efforts to adjust its strategic .

ChatGPT to test ads for US users as OpenAI broadens revenue model

ChatGPT will begin testing advertisements for users in the United States in the coming weeks, as OpenAI looks to add a new revenue stream alongside its existing subscription offerings

US to close Qatar camp that housed Afghans who fled their country in 2021

The decision marks the latest move by President Donald Trump's administration targeting Afghans who migrated to the US or are seeking to do so, part of a broader immigration crackdown

European troops arrive in Greenland amid Trump's push to acquire island

Greenland and Denmark say the island is not for sale, that threats of force are reckless and security concerns should be resolved among allies

US seizes tanker linked to Venezuela ahead of US Prez's meet with Machado

The seizure marks the sixth vessel targeted in recent weeks that was either carrying Venezuelan oil or had done so in the past

Oil slides over 4% as Trump signals US response to Iran is on hold

Oil has pushed higher in the new year as turmoil in OPEC's fourth-largest producer, along with upheaval in Venezuela, added geopolitical risk to prices

Trump warns of invoking Insurrection Act as Minnesota protests grow

The 1807 law allows the president to use regular military troops on US soil for domestic law enforcement. It was last invoked during the 1992 riots in Los Angeles