Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal over ‘ridiculous fees’

Trump threatens to take back control of Panama Canal over ‘ridiculous fees’

United States President-elect Donald Trump has threatened to demand control of the Panama Canal after accusing Panama of charging excessive rates on US ships passing through one of the busiest waterways in the world. “Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are…

US says it conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital

US says it conducted strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen’s capital

The United States military says it has conducted air strikes against targets linked to the Houthi rebels in Yemen’s capital Sanaa, including a missile storage facility and a “command-and-control” site. US Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees US Army operations in the Middle East, said on Saturday that the strikes aimed “to disrupt and degrade Houthi…

‘No concern for Palestinian suffering’: Ex-official slams US’s Gaza policy

‘No concern for Palestinian suffering’: Ex-official slams US’s Gaza policy

Mike Casey says he has never seen anything like it. In fact, the former States Department official — who served as a deputy political counsellor at the United States Office of Palestinian Affairs — described his experience as a diplomat in Jerusalem as a humiliation. “It’s frankly embarrassing … to see just the way we…

Biden signs funding bill into law, averting US government shutdown

Biden signs funding bill into law, averting US government shutdown

United States President Joe Biden has signed into law a bipartisan funding bill that averts a government shutdown, days after Congress was thrown into turmoil after President-elect Donald Trump rejected an initial deal. The White House announced on Saturday that Biden had signed the legislation, which funds the government through mid-March. “This agreement represents a…

Governments and banks once mocked Bitcoin. Now they want in on it

Governments and banks once mocked Bitcoin. Now they want in on it

Bitcoin has proven to be one of the best-performing assets in modern history. The value of the cryptocurrency has increased some 1,000 times over the past decade, far outpacing US stocks and real estate. Buoyed by United States President-elect Donald Trump’s crypto-friendly stance, Bitcoin’s record rally hit a new high of $107,000 on Monday after…

Last-minute budget bill to prevent US government shutdown prevails in House

Last-minute budget bill to prevent US government shutdown prevails in House

A last-minute budget bill has passed in the United States House of Representatives to keep the federal government funded and running through mid-March, averting an impending shutdown. The continuing resolution now progresses to the Senate with only hours to spare before the shutdown is slated to take effect on Saturday at 12:01am local time (05:01…

US Congress debates last-minute spending bill to avert government shutdown

US Congress debates last-minute spending bill to avert government shutdown

The United States is bracing for a government shutdown, as members of Congress race to negotiate a last-minute budget deal that would keep federal services funded through the new year. Early on Friday, US media reported that the Office of Management and Budget, under outgoing President Joe Biden, had already signalled that federal agencies should…

US consumer watchdog sues big banks over ‘widespread’ fraud on Zelle app

US consumer watchdog sues big banks over ‘widespread’ fraud on Zelle app

The United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has filed a lawsuit against JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America and Wells Fargo for failing to protect consumers from alleged “widespread fraud” on the payments platform Zelle. The lawsuit, filed on Friday, was initiated as the watchdog moves ahead with a bold agenda in the final weeks…