Page 15 - Us

Fed officials caught between inflation worries, slowdown fears amid tariffs

The US economy is mostly in good shape but that isn't saving Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell from a spell of angst. As the Fed considers its next moves during a two-day meeting this week, most economic data looks solid: Inflation has been steadily fading, while the unemployment rate is still a historically low 4.2%. Yet President Donald Trump's widespread tariffs may push inflation higher in the coming months, while also possibly slowing growth. With the outlook uncertain, Fed policymakers are expected to keep their key interest rate unchanged on Wednesday at about 4.4%. Officials will also release a set of quarterly economic projections that are expected to show inflation will accelerate later this year, while unemployment my also tick up a bit. The projections may also signal that the Fed will cut its key rate twice later this year, economists say. The prospect of higher inflation would typically lead the Fed to keep rates unchanged or even raise them, while rising unemployme

Trump's Iran choice: Last-chance diplomacy or a bunker-busting bomb

Iranian officials have warned that U.S. participation in an attack on its facilities will imperil any chance of the nuclear disarmament deal the president insists he is still interested in pursuing

As Donald Trump returns to G7 summit, rift with allies is even deeper

In 2018, the president called for the group to embrace Russia and stormed out of the summit. Now he is seeking to shrink America's military role abroad and embarking on a more expansive trade war

Diplomacy with Iran remains damaged, not dead, after Israeli strikes

The push to do a deal on the country's nuclear program could be revived, even after the Israeli strikes scuppered the latest round of talks

China delays trade progress and wields rare earths to outwit Trump

Beijing has gained time to build up its own strengths by drawing out negotiations with the United States, using its chokehold over critical minerals

From 'lies & deceit' to 'phenomenal partner': How US is rethinking Pakistan

A top US general has called Pakistan a 'phenomenal partner' in counter-terrorism, years after Donald Trump accused it of 'lies & deceit' over terror support

Denmark approves US military bases amid renewed interest in Greenland

Denmark's Parliament on Wednesday approved a bill to allow the United States to have military bases on Danish soil, a move that comes as US President Donald Trump seeks to take control of the kingdom's semi-autonomous territory of Greenland. Critics say the vote ceded Danish sovereignty to the US. The legislation widens a previous military agreement, made in 2023 with the Biden administration, where US troops had broad access to Danish airbases in the Scandinavian country. The new parameters follow Trump's coveting of the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island even as the US and Denmark are NATO allies. The legislation now goes to Danish King Frederik X for his signature. Ninety-four lawmakers voted for it, while 11 voted against. Greenland's prime minister previously said US statements about the island have been disrespectful and it will never, ever be a piece of property that can be bought by just anyone.

'China is not easy,' says Trump as trade talks move to second day in London

The US and China are holding a second day of talks Tuesday in London aimed at easing their trade dispute, after President Donald Trump said China is not easy but the US was doing well at the negotiations. A Chinese delegation led by Vice Premier He Lifeng met US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer for several hours on Monday at Lancaster House, an ornate 200-year-old mansion near Buckingham Palace. Wang Wentao, China's commerce minister, and trade negotiator Li Chenggang are also in Beijing's delegation. Asked late Monday how the negotiations were going, Trump told reporters: We are doing well with China. China's not easy. The two sides are trying to build on negotiations in Geneva last month that agreed to a 90-day suspension of most of the 100%-plus tariffs they had imposed on each other in an escalating trade war that had sparked fears of recession. Since the Geneva talks, the US and China have exchanged an

Warner Bros. Discovery to split, dividing cable, streaming services

Warner Bros. Discovery will split into two public companies by next year, calving off its cable operations from its streaming service. Warner Bros. Discovery said Monday that Streaming & Studios will include Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group, DC Studios, HBO, and HBO Max, as well as their film and television libraries. The Global Networks company will include CNN, TNT Sports in the US, and Discovery, top free-to-air channels across Europe, and digital products such as the Discovery+ streaming service and Bleacher Report. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav will serve as CEO of Streaming & Studios. Gunnar Wiedenfels, chief financial officer of Warner Bros. Discovery, will serve as CEO of Global Networks. Both will continue in their current roles until the separation. The split is expected to be completed by the middle of next year.

China clears licence for rare earth suppliers for US automakers: Report

It's unclear what materials are covered by the licenses and at least some are valid for six months, says report

Droughts became 40% more severe over past 40 years, finds new study

Rising temperatures, driven by climate change, is increasing the atmosphere's 'thirst', making droughts around the world 40 per cent more severe over the past 40 years, according to a new study. Researchers, including those at the University of California-Santa Barbara, US, explained that the atmosphere is becoming warmer, thereby increasing its capacity to hold moisture -- atmospheric evaporative demand -- and making droughts more severe, even in places where rainfall has stayed the same. "Drought is based on the difference between water supply (from precipitation) and atmospheric water demand. Including the latter reveals substantial increases in drought as the atmosphere warms," Chris Funk, director of the Climate Hazards Center at the University of California-Santa Barbara, said. The findings published in the journal Nature indicate that atmospheric evaporative demand is playing an "increasingly important role in driving severe droughts", with the tendency likely to continue in

Losing a pregnancy in the US might get you in legal trouble; here's why

Legal experts warn that vague US laws on abortion are putting grieving women at risk of investigation or charges following miscarriages and pregnancy loss

Russia has lost over 1 million troops in Ukraine war, CSIS report estimates

The CSIS report calls the Russia-Ukraine war one of the slowest offensives in modern times, with staggering losses on both sides and Kyiv surviving due to vital international support

Asian shares mostly decline as uncertainty grows about Trump tariffs

Asian shares were mostly lower Friday as uncertainty grew about what will happen next after a US court blocked many of President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs. Japan's benchmark Nikkei 225 lost 1.4 per cent in morning trading to 37,892.39. Government data showed Tokyo core inflation, excluding fresh food, accelerating to a higher-than-expected 3.6 per cent in May. Some analysts say that makes it more likely the Bank of Japan will raise interest rates. Australia's S&P/ASX 200 was little changed, inching down less than 0.1 per cent to 8,404.50. South Korea's Kospi declined 0.6 per cent to 2,703.64, ahead of a presidential election set for next week. Hong Kong's Hang Seng slipped 1.4 per cent to 23,235.94, while the Shanghai Composite shed 0.3 per cent to 3,353.07. On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.4 per cent on Thursday after giving up more than half of an early gain. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 117 points, or 0.3 per cent, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.4 per ...

From US to Bahrain: Highlights of all-party delegation in various countries | Shashi Tharoor

Multi-party delegations of Indian MPs reached out to several designated countries over the weekend, with several diplomatic interactions still underway.

2,300-yr-old silk manuscripts finally return to China after 79 years in US

The silk manuscripts, containing more than 900 Chinese characters, are the earliest examples of silk text discovered to date and the oldest classical Chinese book

America loses last AAA credit rating: What happened and what it means

Moody's has downgraded the US credit rating to AA1 due to rising debt and interest payments, aligning with earlier moves by Fitch and S&P over fiscal and political concerns

US seeks greater India market access for its data centre companies

May negotiate favourable conditions under BTA

Man injects snake venom for 18 years. His blood may help create antivenom

US' Tim Friede endured 200 venomous snake bites over 18 years to build immunity-now, antibodies in his blood may help scientists develop a universal snake antivenom

Germany declares AfD 'extremist'; Marco Rubio, JD Vance condemn move

Germany's move to label AfD as an extremist group draws sharp criticism from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who calls it "tyranny in disguise" and urges reversal