Category Archives: WORLD NEWS

The United States finds itself increasingly challenged by China’s strategic position. China’s proverbial traffic lights – control over raw materials and its fast-growing edge in artificial intelligence (AI) – are squeezing the US-led semiconductor and technology ecosystem. China is not only circumventing US efforts to restrict its access to advanced technology but also redefining the rules of global competition. However, the US has built a traffic light of its own with some allies joining efforts to contain China’s technological development. The US can keep the red light on to stop the outflow of semiconductors and the inflow of Chinese products and services across various sectors from information technology to social media applications . Since the US began curtailing China’s technology development, smaller Chinese firms have exited the industry. I wrote

Peter Thiel, longtime Trump supporter and billionaire master of the universe, published an op-ed in Financial Times that perfectly replicates the experience of being cornered by a sweaty cokehead at an Austin, Texas house party. “A time for truth and reconciliation,” is the piece’s ominous title. The reference to South Africa’s post-Apartheid era policies is the most coherent line in the article. The subhed immediately takes us into drug-rant territory: “Trump’s return to the White House augurs the ‘apokálypsis’ of the ancien regime’s secrets.” To hear Thiel tell it, the incoming Trump presidency is the dawn of a new age. Thiel uses ancient, I’m sorry “ancien,” spellings of many words. Words like “apokálypsis” which he says will lead to the grand unveiling of multiple truths. Who killed Jeffrey Epstein? What’s

Dr. Shay Har-Zvi discusses what Trump’s return means for US economic and foreign policy, especially in the Middle East and the question of Iran. By PELED ARBELI JANUARY 12, 2025 09:54 US PRESIDENT Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed the Abraham Accords in 2020. (photo credit: TOM BRENNER/REUTERS) “[President-elect Donald] Trump’s return to the White House will inevitably lead to significant shifts in US policy, both internationally and regionally, due to his contrasting worldview and leadership style compared to Biden,” US policy expert and a senior researcher at the Institute for Policy and Strategy at Reichman University, Dr. Shay Har-Zvi told Maariv on Sunday. “This time, Trump seems more prepared and focused. He understands the governmental system more deeply and is aware that this may be his last

NAIROBI, Kenya Jan 11 Nairobi residents are celebrating the new free Saturday parking initiative, introduced by Governor Sakaja Johnson, which is giving drivers a break from the usual parking fees. Gone are the days when Kanjo officers patrolled the streets on Saturdays, enforcing parking payments. The new policy, which exempts motorists from parking fees on weekends, was introduced as part of efforts to ease the financial burden on Nairobians while still ensuring weekday revenue collection. “Yes, parking is now free on Saturdays. You can come to town, park your car, and not pay anything. Previously, only Sundays were free, but now we’ve expanded this to Saturdays as well,” Governor Sakaja confirmed. “This ensures we maximize revenue collection on weekdays, while allowing Nairobians to enjoy free parking over the weekend.” The

Glacial winds cut through Hannam-dong, an upscale neighbourhood in central Seoul home to the official residence of impeached President Yoon Suk-yeol , where a single invisible boundary divides thousands of demonstrators braving sub-zero temperatures. On one side are the supporters of the nationwide movement demanding Yoon’s removal from office. Their calls escalated dramatically after his shocking declaration of martial law on December 3 . On the other, Yoon’s supporters are standing firm, ready to shield him from authorities investigating charges of insurrection and abuse of power. The Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials (CIO) made its first attempt to enter the compound on January 3, but was thwarted by about 200 of the president’s bodyguards. Officials insist they will return, with a larger force of 1,000 investigators and police officers

Liverpool’s English striker #76 Jayden Danns celebrates scoring the team’s third goal during the English FA Cup third round football match between Liverpool and Accrington Stanley at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 11, 2025. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) Trent Alexander-Arnold’s stunning strike lit up Liverpool’s 4-0 win over Accrington Stanley to cruise into the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday as Chelsea thrashed Morecambe 5-0. Brentford were the only Premier League side to fall to lower league opposition as Plymouth, who sit bottom of the Championship, stunned the Bees 1-0 thanks to Morgan Whittaker’s late winner. There was never any hint of an upset at Anfield despite Arne Slot making eight changes for Liverpool. Alexander-Arnold was named captain in the absence of Virgil van Dijk

Making working people in Britain better off will be at the “forefront” of the chancellor’s mind during her visit to China, the Treasury has said, following criticism of the trip amid trouble on the financial markets at home. Rachel Reeves will meet her opposite number in Beijing this weekend to explore trade and investment opportunities in a bid to achieve the government’s main goal of growing the UK economy to raise living standards. However, her visit has been overshadowed by UK borrowing costs hitting a 16-year high and a fall in the value of the pound. The Conservatives accused Reeves of having “fled to China”, but the government has defended the trip. Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said the rise in borrowing costs was “a global trend that we’ve seen affecting

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba ’s repeated rebuffs by US president-elect Donald Trump may drive him towards Beijing, analysts say, sparking concerns that closer Sino-Japanese ties might complicate Washington’s Asia-Pacific policy. When Trump declined a request to meet Ishiba in November, it was widely seen as a snub to the Japanese leader. Additionally, when Ishiba suggested visiting Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence, this was also firmly rejected, with the president-elect’s team citing the 1799 Logan Act for avoiding contact with foreign leaders before his inauguration on January 20. Critics of that explanation highlight Trump’s recent meetings with leaders such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau , French President Emmanuel Macron , and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as a private meeting with Prince William . Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba

The world’s largest gathering of humanity begins in India on January 13 with the opening of the Kumbh Mela, a six-week Hindu festival organisers expect to attract up to 400 million pilgrims. Organisers say the scale of preparations for the Kumbh Mela is akin to setting up a temporary country from scratch – in this case, one more populous than the United States and Canada combined. “Some 350 to 400 million devotees are going to visit the mela, so you can imagine the scale of preparations,” festival spokesman Vivek Chaturvedi said. Around 150,000 toilets have been built and a network of community kitchens can each feed up to 50,000 people at the same time. Construction takes place on the banks of river Ganges in the city of Prayagraj ahead of

Jan 10 – The US has announced an increased $25m (£20.4m) reward for information leading to the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on the day he was sworn in for a third six-year term in office. The inauguration ceremony was overshadowed by recrimination from the international community and Venezuelan opposition leaders. Rewards have also been offered for information leading to the arrest and or conviction of Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello. A new reward of up to $15m for Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino has also been offered. The UK also issued sanctions on 15 top Venezuelan officials, including judges, members of the security forces and military officials. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said those sanctioned were responsible for “undermining democracy, the rule of law, and human rights violations”. Foreign

Beijing’s point man on Hong Kong and Macau affairs has called on the two cities to best unleash the benefits of the “ one country, two systems ” governing principle, lauding it as China’s wisdom and a solution for the world to promote harmony and inclusion. Xia Baolong also said on Thursday that seven expectations Chinese President Xi Jinping laid out for Macau last month served as a reference for Hong Kong, and that the business community should act as a key driving force through the testing times of economic transition. In two speeches in Macau to mark the 25th anniversary of its return to Chinese administration in December, Xi called on the city to play a bigger role on the international stage, embrace diversity and inclusiveness, and avoid complacency.