U.S. President Donald Trump has appointed two Indian Americans, Ricky Gill and Saurabh Sharma, to key positions as special assistants in his team, focusing on national security and personnel matters. Ricky Gill will play a critical role in U.S. relations with India as the Senior Director for South and Central Asian Affairs at the National…
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has been ordered to halt its operations in Jerusalem and vacate all its premises by January 30, 2025. This directive was conveyed by Israel’s UN ambassador, Danny Danon, in a letter addressed to UN Secretary-General António Guterres. The decision follows recent Israeli legislation banning…
The European Commission is set to conduct a crucial stress test with major social media platforms next week to evaluate their preparedness in tackling disinformation ahead of next month’s German election. The test, scheduled for January 31, will involve tech giants Microsoft, TikTok, LinkedIn, Google, Snap, Meta, and X (formerly Twitter). The stress test is…
The World Health Organization (WHO) is grappling with a major financial and operational challenge following the United States’ decision to withdraw as its largest donor. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus announced on Friday that the agency is reviewing its priorities and implementing austerity measures to navigate the financial strain. In a letter sent to staff…
The Kremlin announced on Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin is open to dialogue with U.S. President Donald Trump but is waiting for clear indications of willingness from Washington. Speaking to journalists, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, “Putin is ready. We are waiting for signals from the United States.” Both leaders have expressed interest in…
Germany’s national football team is set to continue its resurgence under the leadership of Julian Nagelsmann, who has signed a contract extension to remain head coach until the end of Euro 2028. The German Football Association (DFB) announced the news on Friday during its 125th-anniversary celebrations in Leipzig. The 37-year-old tactician, who initially took the…
President Donald Trump has issued an executive order on Thursday effectively banning the creation and use of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in the United States. The order underscores Trump’s stance against the potential risks associated with CBDCs, which he argues could undermine financial stability, individual privacy, and national sovereignty. Trump’s order prohibits “the…
In a significant development for Belgian football, the Royal Belgian Football Association has appointed Frenchman Rudi Garcia as the new head coach of the national team. The decision, announced on Friday, follows the sacking of Domenico Tedesco after a string of underwhelming performances, including an early exit from Euro 2024 and struggles in the Nations…
World Trade Organization (WTO) Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala has urged nations to remain calm and avoid escalating trade tensions through retaliatory tariffs. Speaking during a panel discussion at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Okonjo-Iweala cautioned against the dangers of a tit-for-tat trade war, warning that such actions could have devastating consequences for the global…
Oil prices slipped to their lowest levels in a week on Wednesday as markets weighed the potential impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on global economic growth and energy demand. Brent crude futures fell by $0.29 (0.4%) to settle at $79.00 per barrel, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude dropped $0.39 (0.5%)…
