President-elect Donald Trump vowed to take back control of the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging too much in fees. He warned that if Panama didn’t follow moral and legal standards, the US would demand the canal’s return “quickly and without question.” Trump made these statements at the AmericaFest event, following a similar post on Truth Social. Panamanian President Jose Mulino said Panama’s sovereignty over the canal is non-negotiable. The US built and ran the canal until 1999, when it was fully handed over to Panama under agreements made in 1977. Trump also expressed concerns about the canal falling into the hands of countries like China. It’s unclear how he would try to regain control.
23 December,2024 01:30 PM IST
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced a major setback ahead of the elections when Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland resigned on December 16. Freeland disagreed with Trudeau on key issues, especially how to handle potential US tariffs. In her resignation letter, she criticized Trudeau’s push for more spending, calling it a political stunt that could harm Canada's ability to deal with the 25% tariffs threatened by US President-elect Donald Trump. This resignation is a blow to an already unpopular government. After Freeland’s resignation, Trump mocked Trudeau again, making fun of him during a dinner on December 10 and suggesting Canada could become the 51st US state. Dominic LeBlanc was quickly appointed as the new Finance Minister.
17 December,2024 05:25 PM IST
Donald Trump's plan to use tariffs to strengthen the US economy has sparked debate. He proposed imposing tariffs on all imports, with higher rates for countries like China and India. As President-elect, Trump warned China, India, and other BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) of a potential 100% tariff if they undermine the US dollar or try to replace it with another currency in international trade. His comments came after a BRICS meeting in October, where members discussed reducing reliance on the US dollar. This could trigger a second wave of trade wars once Trump takes office in January.
17 December,2024 12:13 PM IST
The Syrian civil war has led to significant changes in the Middle East, including the fall of the al-Assad regime after 50 years. Meanwhile, Israel continues to focus on rescuing hostages held by Hamas since the October 7, 2023 attacks. On December 15, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with US President-elect Donald Trump about the ongoing Syria crisis and efforts to secure the hostages’ release. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel would set its Syria policy based on the evolving situation. This conversation follows previous discussions between Netanyahu and Trump since the latter's election win. The United States, under both President Biden and President-elect Trump, has been a strong supporter of Israel, particularly in its conflict with Iran and its allies.
16 December,2024 12:54 PM IST
Tesla CEO Elon Musk slammed PM Trudeau’s “proud feminist” remark and called him an “insufferable tool”. Musk launched a scathing attack on Trudeau, further predicting that his tenure as Canadian PM won’t last long. Meanwhile the US, Canada relationship soured as President-Elect Donald Trump threatened to impose a 25% tariff. Donald Trump mocked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the "governor" of the “Great State of Canada”. He reportedly told Canadian PM Justin Trudeau his country should become the 51st state if it can't fix trade and border issues. President Elect Trump mocked Trudeau about Canada becoming the 51st state if the country can't handle his promised tariff. The Musk-Trudeau conflict may act as a catalyst for the soured relations between the United States and Canada. Meanwhile, Elon Musk will lead the 'Department of Government Efficiency' along with Vivek Ramaswamy
13 December,2024 04:54 PM IST
President-elect Donald Trump is set to become the 47th U.S. President on January 20, 2025, after winning with 312 electoral votes, defeating Democratic VP Kamala Harris. Trump invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his inauguration in early November, although it’s unclear if Xi has accepted the invitation. While Xi congratulated Trump on his victory, the Chinese embassy has not yet commented on the response. Trump has said he gets along well with Xi and they have communicated. Trump has appointed several China critics to important roles, including Marco Rubio as Secretary of State. He also threatened new tariffs on Chinese goods, warning of a possible trade war if China doesn’t act on drug trafficking.
12 December,2024 12:46 PM IST
On December 10, President Joe Biden urged President-elect Donald Trump to abandon Project 2025, a controversial plan to overhaul the U.S. government. The project calls for removing environmental regulations and limiting diversity programs in the workplace, claiming these policies are illegal. Speaking at the Brookings Institution, Biden shared that his administration’s economic strategy focuses on growing the economy by supporting the middle class. He acknowledged that inflation and high housing costs continue to challenge American workers. Biden pointed out the creation of 16 million jobs, the lowest unemployment in 50 years, and the smallest racial wealth gap in two decades as key accomplishments of his presidency.
11 December,2024 11:45 AM IST
Donald Trump has said he plans to pardon people involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack on his first day back in office. He mentioned in an NBC interview that he would act "very quickly" on the pardons. The Capitol riot led to over 140 police officers being injured and several deaths. More than 1,570 people have been charged in connection with the attack, making it the largest criminal investigation in U.S. history. Trump criticized the prosecution of his supporters and did not rule out pardoning those who already pleaded guilty. Some worry that granting pardons to these rioters could encourage more violence in the future. Watch the video for more.
09 December,2024 12:45 PM IST
On December 7, 2024, President-elect Donald Trump made a notable appearance at the reopening of Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral, his first international trip following his election victory on November 5. The ceremony saw a gathering of world leaders and prominent figures, including French President Emmanuel Macron, Elon Musk, Jill Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Prince William, and Salma Hayek. The event was a momentous occasion as the cathedral, severely damaged by a fire in April 2019, had been painstakingly restored. The fire destroyed Notre-Dame’s spire and roof, threatening the structure’s collapse. Now, after years of restoration, the 860-year-old symbol of French heritage was unveiled with a new spire and revitalized architecture, drawing global admiration.
08 December,2024 02:43 PM IST
On Saturday, India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar responded to President-elect Donald Trump's threat to impose 100% tariffs on BRICS nations, saying India has "no interest" in weakening the US dollar. Speaking at the Doha Forum, Jaishankar highlighted the strong relationship between India and Trump's first administration, noting that the QUAD was revived during his presidency. He also mentioned the good personal bond between Prime Minister Modi and Trump, which strengthened bilateral ties. Jaishankar emphasized that India does not support de-dollarization and there is no plan for a BRICS currency. He reiterated that the US is India's largest trade partner and they have no intention of undermining the dollar.
08 December,2024 01:02 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
