The United States was rocked by another political tragedy after Charlie Kirk, a conservative figure and close supporter of Donald Trump, was shot dead while attending an event at Utah Valley University. This incident immediately sparked national outrage, given that Kirk was known as an influential young figure in the conservative movement and a frequent mobilizer of Trump's voter base. The shooting is feared to deepen political polarization in the US, with Republicans viewing it as an attack on free speech, while the issue of gun control has resurfaced. This political uncertainty has the...
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday said he hopes China will "quickly quadruple" its soybean orders from American farmers, framing the move as a way to cut Beijing's trade deficit with Washington. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, "China is worried about its shortage of soybeans. Our great farmers produce the most robust soybeans. I hope China will quickly quadruple its soybean orders." "This is also a way of substantially reducing China's Trade Deficit with the USA. Rapid service will be provided," he added. Soybeans are a key U.S. agricultural export to China and...
Whatever happens at September's Federal Reserve meeting will pale in comparison to a wholesale rethinking of the U.S. central bank's design, a possibility stirred by Donald Trump's latest appointment. The president nominated White House advisor Stephen Miran to temporarily fill Adriana Kugler's vacant Fed board seat, reheating a debate about whether the Fed structure, its independence, and even its central role in the monetary economy should now become live questions. That may sound like a giant leap in a discussion that has so far centered largely on how quickly the Fed should lower...
The US expects to largely complete negotiations with countries that have yet to secure a trade deal by the end of October, Nikkei Asia reported, citing an interview with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. The comments, made to Nikkei on Thursday, come after President Donald Trump's sweeping new tariffs took effect. Some key trading partners, including Canada, Mexico and Switzerland, are still seeking to secure more favorable terms with the US. Bessent also reaffirmed the importance of the Federal Reserve's independence but said the next central bank head should be...
The U.S. and Russia are aiming to reach a deal to halt the war in Ukraine that would lock in Moscow's occupation of territory seized during its military invasion, Bloomberg News reported on Friday. U.S. and Russian officials are working towards an agreement on territories for a planned summit meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin as early as next week, the report said, citing unnamed people familiar with the matter. A White House official said the Bloomberg story was speculation. A Kremlin spokesperson did not respond to a request for...
Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke to the leaders of China, India and three ex-Soviet states on Friday in a flurry of calls to brief them on his contacts with the United States about the war in Ukraine. Putin met U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, after which the Kremlin said a summit between Putin and Trump could take place as early as next week. No venue, date or agenda have been announced. Trump, pressing for an end to the 3-1/2-year war, had set a deadline that expires on Friday for Russia to agree to peace or face new sanctions on Moscow and...
China's official NBS Manufacturing PMI increased to 49.7 in June 2025 from May's 49.5, matching market expectations while marking the third consecutive month of contraction in factory activity.
It...
Both the STOXX 50 and STOXX 600 hovered around the flatline on Friday, as investors adopted a cautious stance ahead of further developments in trade talks between US President Trump and Chinese...
Less than four months ago, President Donald Trump met with Qatar's leader, praised his magnificent palace, and signed a comprehensive defense agreement with the Gulf monarchy, a key ally that hosts...