US aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariffs
New York, United States -- US airlines and aerospace manufacturers insist they have no use for tariff protections, warning that the proposed Trump administration levies could eat into the healthy trade surplus the sector has enjoyed for more than 70 years. At the request of President Donald Trump, Commerce Secretary...
US national security advisor to visit Saudi Arabia, will meet Indian, UAE NSAs there
Jake Sullivan said that the meetings will help carry forward some very tangible initiatives that will be unlike anything they have seen in the region in recent years.Russia claims Ukraine sought to attack Kremlin with drones
Terming it as a "planned terrorist act and an attempt on the life of the President of the Russian Federation," Moscow said that two unmanned vehicles were aimed at the Kremlin and the devices were "put out of action." The statement said that Russia reserves the right to take retaliatory...US pick Ajay Banga confirmed as new World Bank president
Banga was the sole nominee for the top job. He will begin his new role on June 2. President Joe Biden said in a statement that Banga "will help steer the institution as it evolves and expands to address global challenges that directly affect its core mission of poverty reduction...Sudan warring parties agree ‘in principle’ to 7-day truce: S. Sudan govt
Diplomatic efforts have intensified to end more than two weeks of war in Africa's third-largest country as warnings multiply about a "catastrophic" humanitarian crisis. Sudan's army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his deputy turned rival, Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, who commands the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), "have agreed in principle...US exhorts Lebanese parliament to elect new president
Former president Michel Aoun's term expired in October, with no successor lined up. Countries including France, the United States and Saudi Arabia hold regular consultations on Lebanon. Their representatives met in February in Paris to discuss the crisis, without achieving any tangible progress.‘Godfather of AI’ quits Google to warn of the tech’s dangers
The scientist warned about the potential spread of misinformation created by AI, telling the media that the average person will "not be able to know what is true anymore." While AI has been used to support human workers, the rapid expansion of chatbots like ChatGPT could put jobs at risk.100,000 Russian dead, wounded in 5 months in Ukraine: W.House
National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said he was not giving estimates of Ukrainian casualties because "they are the victims here. Russia is the aggressor." The White House will not put "information in the public domain that makes it any harder" for the close Western ally, whose army is being...US regulators seize First Republic Bank, sell to JPMorgan Chase
With its assets standing at $233 billion at the end of March, First Republic would be the second largest bank to fall in US history. The FDIC has said that it will enter into a purchase and assumption agreement with JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Columbus, Ohio, to assume all...US tells Beijing to stop ‘provocative and unsafe conduct’ in South China sea
Washington, United States--The US called on China Saturday to stop its "provocative and unsafe conduct" in the disputed South China Sea, after a Chinese coast guard ship recently cut off a Philippine patrol vessel there, causing a near-collision.State Department spokesman Matthew Miller, in a statement two days before President Joe Biden...Jordan’s king seeks deeper partnership with US in ‘various fields’
Amman, Jordan--Expressing his deep appreciation of the United States for its support to Jordan, King Abdullah has called for strengthening of ties with its longtime strategic partnership in a meeting with a US Congress delegation.The king, according to a royal court statement, received the delegation headed by US House Speaker...Iran’s president criticizes US presence in Middle East
Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi slammed the United States' presence in the Middle East, as he hosted his counterpart from neighboring Iraq for wide-ranging talks. Decades-old arch enemies the United States and Iran have vied for influence in Iraq since the 2003 US-led invasion toppled dictator Saddam Hussein. Both helped Iraq...Jordan-US trade soars to US$745mn in first two months of 2023
Amman, Jordan--The volume of trade exchange between Jordan and the US shot up in January and February 2023 to $745 million compared to $561 million for the same period in 2022.Foreign trade data issued by the Department of Statistics (DoS) showed that the value of Jordanian exports to the US...US Fed accepts supervision failed in Silicon Valley Bank
The US Federal Reserve called for greater banking oversight while admitting to its own failures in a report published into the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank last month. "Following Silicon Valley Bank’s failure, we must strengthen the Federal Reserve’s supervision and regulation," Federal Reserve vice chair for supervision Michael Barr...Eurozone GDP grows 0.1 percent in first quarter as high inflation looms
Germany, the EU's biggest economy, saw growth stagnate at zero percent over the previous quarter. Year-on-year, Germany was the only country in the single-currency zone to record a contraction, of 0.1 percent.US slaps fresh sanctions on Russia, Iran for ‘hostage-taking’
The US is "showing that one cannot engage in this sort of awful behavior of using human beings as pawns, as bargaining chips, without paying consequences," said a senior US official. Both agencies have already been hit with punitive measures by the US State and Treasury Departments in the past.Mercedes Q1 profit rises 12%
The German automaker said its revenues were up 8%.NATO secretary general calls Jordan king, reaffirms strategic partnership
Amman, Jordan - Jordan King Abdullah on Wednesday received a phone call from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during which they discussed “the deep-rooted cooperation and strategic partnership,” in military, training, and defence areas, as well as joint efforts in countering terrorism.They also discussed regional and international developments, including the...American Q1 profit at $10m
The airline's revenues were $12.2 billion, up 37 percent.Iran seizes US-bound oil tanker off Oman, says 2 missing in collision
The US Navy demanded the immediate release of the tanker, saying it was transiting international waters in the Gulf of Oman and slammed Iran's "continued harassment of vessels". It is one of a spate of incidents since 2018, when then US president Donald Trump pulled out of a nuke pact...Strong first-quarter Meta earnings push Wall Street stocks up
Meta reported a profit of $5.7 billion in the first quarter of this year, beating forecasts after a massive wave of cost-cutting and layoffs.US growth rate slows in Q1 as recession fears rise
US economic growth lost steam in the first quarter this year, said the Commerce Department, as the possibility of a mild recession brews while consumer spending weakens. Consumption provided a boost to the world's biggest economy, giving it a strong start to 2023, but banking sector turmoil and rising interest...‘Nightmare’: Sudan evacuees fear for those left behind
On Wednesday, after a harrowing overland journey and overnight boat trip across the Red Sea, Sudan evacuees who have fled to Saudi Arabia, grateful to have survived but wracked with guilt and worry for those the left behind. The fighting in Sudan pits forces loyal to army chief Abdel Fattah...One in five cars sold this year will be an electric vehicle: IEA
The International Energy Agency (IEA) said the rapid electrification of road transportation will have big implications for the energy industry as it will eliminate the need for five million barrels of oil per day by the end of the decade. World oil consumption averages just over 100 million barrels per day.Britain blocks $69-billion Activision takeover bid by Microsoft
The UK's Competition and Markets Authority prevented the deal "over concerns... (it) would alter the future of the fast-growing cloud gaming market, leading to reduced innovation and less choice for UK gamers over the years to come", the CMA said in a final decision on its long-running probe.Google, Microsoft rake in large Q1 profits amid escalating AI rivalry
Google found itself under pressure due to a general slowdown in advertising spending, over-hiring during a Covid-era boom and a major challenge by Microsoft on artificial intelligence. Most market attention was on Google, which became a focus of worry when Microsoft-backed ChatGPT was released and quickly went viral late last...US consumer confidence falls ahead of Federal Reserve decision
US consumer confidence fell more than many predicted in April, fueled by a deterioration in expectations among Americans over 55 and households with annual incomes over $50,000, according to survey data released. The pessimistic results may ease some of the pressure on the Federal Reserve as it prepares to consider...UAE urges UN Security Council to resolve conflicts through dialogue
NEW YORK, US - UAE Minister of State Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar urged United Nations Security Council members to peacefully resolve conflicts by promoting dialogue and cooperation between states.Al Marar said at the UNSC, "Our sustained commitment to effective multilateralism, grounded in international law and the principles of the UN...Samsung SDI unveils $3bn JV with GM
The firm will build an electric vehicle battery plant in the US.Turkey holds 110 over terror links: police sources
State media reported that police held people suspected of financing the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) or roping in new members to the group. The operation also involved suspects who transferred money to the PKK through from municipalities held by Turkey's main pro-Kurdish party, the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP), report...UBS hopes to complete Credit Suisse takeover before July
Analysts polled by the Swiss financial newswire AWP expected UBS's first quarter net profit to tick in at around $1.7 billion, down from $2.1 billion a year ago. Though it managed to rack up a $1.0 billion net profit for the first three months of 2023, UBS said it had...Netflix to invest $2.5 bn in South Korean content
Netflix, which spent more than 1 trillion won ($750 million) developing Korean content from 2015 to 2021, had previously said it would be expanding its South Korean show output, without giving details of spending plans. South Korea has cemented its status as a global cultural powerhouse in recent years, thanks in...West imposed nearly 800 sanctions on Iran since Sept 2022: Analyst
Tehran, Iran -- The West has intensified economic pressures on Iran in recent months and imposed nearly 800 sanctions on Iran since September last year alone, an Iranian expert has said.Mohsen Pakaeen, a foreign policy analyst, told the official Islamic Republic News Agency that US, Europe along with Canada and...Bed Bath & Beyond files for bankruptcy
The firm was a regular on the Fortune 500 list of biggest American companies.EU foreign policy chief asks European navies to patrol Taiwan Strait
Paris, France--EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on European navies to patrol the disputed Taiwan Strait, in a opinion piece in a French weekly published Sunday.Borrell's comments in the Journal Du Dimanche, echo comments he made last week when he stressed how crucial Taiwan is to Europe.Taiwan "concerns us economically,...Investors hope for answers in UBS, Credit Suisse quarterly results
Credit Suisse pushed forward its result release to come out the day before those of UBS, as Switzerland's largest bank prepares to swallow its long-time main domestic rival. The results, which will be presented in a statement without the usual accompanying press conference and analyst discussion, will be closely studied...US military evacuates American embassy staff from Sudan’s capital
Calling for an end to the "unconscionable" fighting in Sudan's capital, US President Joe Biden pushed for an "immediate and unconditional ceasefire". The president made the appeal while informing the country that the US military had evacuated American embassy staff from Khartoum, adding that the embassy was "temporarily suspending operations."UN chief calls for protection of biodiversity on International Mother Earth Day
NEW YORK, US - UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a statement calling for urgent action to protect the environment and combat climate change on the occasion of International Mother Earth Day.Guterres highlighted the crucial relationship between humanity and the natural world, stating that our health and survival depend on maintaining...US inflation now ‘broad-based,’ top Fed official says
Signaling its resolve to keep fighting price rises, the US central bank has said that interest rates may need to increase further, and remain high, to control inflation. The Fed has raised its benchmark lending rate nine times in a row to tackle inflation, which remains well above its long-term...US denies Iranian claims of forcing its submarine to surface
TEHRAN, IRAN- Iran said on Thursday it had "forced" a US submarine to surface as it was crossing the strategic Strait of Hormuz in the Gulf, a claim the Americans promptly denied.Admiral Shahram Irani, the commander of Iran's navy, told state TV the USS Florida nuclear submarine was "approaching and passing...SpaceX Starship, world’s biggest rocket, explodes during first flight test
Starship, the most powerful rocket ever built, exploded during its first flight, but Elon Musk congratulated his SpaceX team on an "exciting" test of the spacecraft. The uncrewed rocket disintegrated minutes after successfully blasting off at 8:33 am Central Time (1333 GMT) from Starbase, the SpaceX spaceport in Boca Chica,...US denounces ‘troubling escalation’ of opposition arrests in Tunisia
Condemning the arrests of political opponents in Tunisia, the US government on Wednesday said that respect for freedom of expression and human rights are essential "to the US-Tunisia relationship." The condemnation follows the arrest on Monday of former Speaker of Parliament Rached Ghannouchi and the closure of the Ennahdha party...HSBC calls for vetoing split proposal
HSBC's largest stakeholder Ping An says the split will improve business.Netflix reports mixed earnings as password crackdown coming
The streaming television giant reported a quarterly profit of $1.3 billion, in line with expectations, but said it had delayed a broad crackdown on sharing of account passwords "to improve the experience for members." As growth at Netflix cooled last year, the Silicon Valley based streaming company focused on creating...Goldman Sachs net income down
The bank's shares dropped 3.7% to $327 in pre-market trading.Afghans below poverty line doubled under Taliban, says UN
The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) released on Tuesday a stark new assessment of 2022 data estimating 34 million Afghans were living below the poverty line. The figure is a staggering increase of 15 million on 2020, the last full year of rule by the Western-backed government that crumbled in...US raid in Syria targets senior IS leader: Centcom
Beirut, Lebanon--A US helicopter raid on Monday targeted a senior Islamic State group leader in Syria suspected of plotting attacks in Europe and the Middle East, US Central Command said."US Central Command forces conducted a unilateral helicopter raid in northern Syria in the early morning... targeting a senior ISIS Syria leader...UAE India’s second biggest export destination, third for imports
Dubai, UAE -- The UAE continues to be the second most important export destination for India, according to annual trade figures released by India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry.The US and the UAE retained the first and second places respectively in this category during the financial year 2022-23, the Ministry’s...Thousands fill up Tel Aviv to protest against government’s judicial reforms
The 15th consecutive week of protest came after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on March 27 announced a "pause" to allow for dialogue on the reforms which were moving through parliament and split the nation. "Let's save democracy" read signs in a sea of Israeli flags waved by demonstrators. AFP journalists...US banks may become more cautious in granting loans: Yellen
Still predicting "moderate GDP growth, US treasury secretary has affirmed that the country's banks may be more cautious in granting loans after recent turmoil in the sector, she said In an interview to be aired on Sunday. The dramatic collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank shook the financial...Large US banks post higher profits despite recent industry turmoil
JPMorgan Chase reported a rise in first-quarter profits alongside banking giants Citigroup and Wells Fargo. The first look at the sector - since the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and two other banks - showed the industry is benefiting from the Federal Reserve's shift towards higher interest rates and from...