Hegseth narrowly wins confirmation to become US defense secretary
Washington DC, US Reuters Pete Hegseth narrowly secured enough votes on Friday to become the next US defense secretary, a major victory for President Donald Trump after fierce opposition from Democrats and even some Republicans to his controversial nominee. Hegseth was confirmed after a 50-50 vote in the Senate, when Vice President JD Vance came […]
Trump administration says ‘Gulf of America’ name change now official
Reuters The Trump administration’s Interior Department said on Friday it had officially changed the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, and the Alaskan peak Denali to Mount McKinley. A statue of Pope John Paul II is seen at a jetty as waves crash on the shore of the Gulf of […]
Trump and Vance join March for Life anti-abortion activists in celebrating the movement’s gains
Washington DC, US AP President Donald Trump vowed to support anti-abortion-rights protesters in his second term as tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Washington on Friday for the annual March for Life. “We will again stand proudly for families and for life,” Trump declared in a prerecorded video address. People participating in the annual […]
Putin says he and Trump should meet to discuss Ukraine and energy prices
Moscow, Russia Reuters Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that he and Donald Trump should meet to talk about the Ukraine war and energy prices, issues that the US President has highlighted in the first five days of his new administration. Putin said, however, that there could be no serious peace talks with Ukraine […]
US to leave World Health Organization on 22nd January, 2026, says UN
United Nations Reuters The United States will leave the World Health Organization on 22nd January, 2026, the United Nations said on Thursday, after being formally notified of the decision by President Donald Trump, who has accused the agency of mishandling the pandemic and other international health crises. Trump announced the move on Monday, hours after […]
Massive new Los Angeles-area fire balloons as winds pick up
Castaic, California, US Reuters Powerful winds and bone-dry conditions could pose a challenge to firefighters battling new wildfires in southern California on Thursday, including a blaze that swelled over the past day and forced tens of thousands of evacuations north of Los Angeles. The Hughes fire, about 80 kilometres north of Los Angeles, grew to […]
Essay: Welcome to America’s new Gilded Age
Rev PAUL BRANDEIS RAUSHENBUSH, president and CEO of Interfaith Alliance, says, in an article first published on Religion News Service, that Trump’s praise for a 19th-century President answers the question so many have been asking: When does Trump believe America was great? It’s the Gilded Age…
Ukraine seeks recovery investment in Davos as Trump urges peace
Davos, Switzerland Reuters As Ukraine’s President discussed peacekeeping forces needed to enforce any ceasefire and US President Donald Trump urged an end to three years of war, Ukrainian officials were courting private investors this week to help rebuild the country. Oleksiy Sobolev, first deputy economy minister, described a $US500 billion reconstruction effort that would pay […]
Trump tells Davos he will demand lower interest rates, oil prices
Davos, Switzerland, Switzerland Reuters US President Donald Trump demanded OPEC lower oil prices and the world drop interest rates in a speech to global business and political leaders and warned them they will face tariffs if they make their products anywhere but the US. “I’ll demand that interest rates drop immediately. And likewise, they should […]
US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s order restricting birthright citizenship
Seattle, US Reuters A federal judge in Seattle on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing an executive order curtailing the right to automatic birthright citizenship in the United States, calling it “blatantly unconstitutional”. Seattle-based US District Judge John Coughenour issued a temporary restraining order at the urging of four Democratic-led states – Washington, […]