American journalist handcuffed, forcibly removed from Blinken’s final press briefing
American journalist handcuffed, forcibly removed from Blinken’s final press briefing

Independent journalist Sam Husseini was forcibly removed by armed guards during US Secretary of State Antony Blinkens final press briefing after attempting to ask questions about the Gaza ceasefire. Blinken had just claimed that the past four years had seen successful diplomacy, including the...

FBI closes diversity office amid growing political debate
FBI closes diversity office amid growing political debate

The FBI has officially confirmed the closure of its Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), a move that has sparked political controversy and raised questions about the agencys direction under the incoming administration. The announcement, made public by the agency in a statement to Fox...

Oil prices rise on supply concerns, Fed rate cut expectations
Oil prices rise on supply concerns, Fed rate cut expectations

Oil prices climbed on Friday, set for a fourth consecutive weekly gain, fueled by concerns over tightening supply due to U.S. sanctions on Russian oil producers and signals from a Federal Reserve official hinting at potential interest rate cuts, reports Reuters. Brent crude futures rose by 13...

Israel delays approval of Gaza ceasefire, but US confirms deal on track
Israel delays approval of Gaza ceasefire, but US confirms deal on track

Israel has postponed approving a ceasefire deal with Palestinian militant group Hamas, which includes the release of hostages, but the United States remains confident the agreement will proceed as planned. Despite the delay, the US expects the ceasefire to take effect by Sunday, citing no...

Oligarchy of ultra-rich taking shape in US: Biden
Oligarchy of ultra-rich taking shape in US: Biden

Outgoing US President Joe Biden warned of a dangerous oligarchy taking shape in America, as he delivered his farewell address and brought a decades-long career in politics to an end. Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that really threatens our...

When the US had 2 presidents, 2 flags
When the US had 2 presidents, 2 flags

At dusk on Christmas day, 1991, the iconic hammer-and-sickle flag of the erstwhile Soviet Union lowered for the last time over the Kremlin in Moscow. USSR had dissolved into Russia and fourteen independent countries - Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan,...

FBI reveals Joy’s lavish lifestyle in US
FBI reveals Joy’s lavish lifestyle in US

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the son of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and former ICT advisor, has been leading a luxurious life in the United States. He owns eight luxury cars and has financial involvement with five companies. Additionally, he is also accused of laundering $300 million (around Tk 3,600...

US, Thailand sign civil nuclear cooperation agreement
US, Thailand sign civil nuclear cooperation agreement

On January 14, the United States and Thailand took a significant step in their bilateral relations by signing an Agreement for Cooperation Concerning Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy, also known as the 123 Agreement. The signing ceremony, held in Bangkok, saw U.S. Ambassador Robert F. Godec and...

US, Japan, South Korea issue joint warning on North Korea cryptocurrency theft
US, Japan, South Korea issue joint warning on North Korea cryptocurrency theft

The United States, Japan, and South Korea released a joint statement highlighting the threat posed by Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (DPRK) cyber actors targeting the global cryptocurrency industry. The statement underscores ongoing concerns about DPRKs use of cyber thefts to fund its...

Blinken optimistic about Gaza cease-fire amid past setbacks
Blinken optimistic about Gaza cease-fire amid past setbacks

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed optimism on Tuesday about securing a cease-fire in Gaza as negotiations reach a pivotal stage. Speaking at the Atlantic Council in Washington, Blinken confirmed progress in talks mediated by Qatar, Egypt, and the U.S., aimed at ending Israels...

Trump would have been convicted if not elected
Trump would have been convicted if not elected

US President-elect Donald Trump would have been convicted of illegally trying to overturn the result of the 2020 presidential election - which he lost - if he had not successfully been re-elected in 2024. According to the man who led US government investigations into him, the evidence against...

Strong US economy challenges Trump’s reform agenda
Strong US economy challenges Trump’s reform agenda

When Donald Trump takes office next week, he inherits a US economy in better shape than when he began his first term in 2017. While he campaigned on promises of aggressive import tariffs, stricter immigration policies, deregulation, and smaller government, the economy now faces fewer challenges...

US, Nigeria strengthen tech partnership with $2m broadband study grant
US, Nigeria strengthen tech partnership with $2m broadband study grant

The U.S. and Nigeria have taken a major step to deepen their technological collaboration with the inaugural U.S.-Nigeria Technology Dialogue, held on January 10 in Washington, D.C. Led by U.S. Deputy Secretary Kurt Campbell and Nigerian Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy...

US designates Terrorgram Collective, leaders as global terrorists
US designates Terrorgram Collective, leaders as global terrorists

The United States has announced the designation of The Terrorgram Collective and three of its leaders as Specially Designated Global Terrorists (SDGTs), underscoring the countrys commitment to addressing the growing threat of transnational racially or ethnically motivated violent extremism (REMVE)....

US announces new restrictions on AI chip exports
US announces new restrictions on AI chip exports

The United States introduced new export rules for advanced AI computing chips on Monday, aimed at boosting sales to allied nations and limiting access to countries such as China, reports AFP. The restrictions, which also include rules on weights for closed AI models, build on curbs announced in...

What Antony Blinken reflects on about America’s role in world as his term as secretary of state ends
What Antony Blinken reflects on about America’s role in world as his term as secretary of state ends

With just over a week remaining in his tenure as U.S. Secretary of State, Antony Blinken continues to focus on diplomacy and global alliances. Recently completing what is likely his final international tour, Blinken met with world leaders in Seoul, Tokyo, Paris, and Rome, emphasizing the importance...

Yemeni forces target US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman
Yemeni forces target US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman

Yemeni forces have carried out an operation against US aircraft carrier USS Harry Truman in the Red Sea which lasted nine hours. They targeted the US strike group with several cruise missiles and kamikaze drones, Brigadier General Yahya Saree said in a statement aired on Yemens al-Masirah...

Russia to continue oil and gas projects despite US sanctions
Russia to continue oil and gas projects despite US sanctions

Russia would continue with large oil and gas projects, said Russias Foreign Ministry on Saturday, as reported by Reuters. Foreign ministry claimed new U.S. sanctions against Moscows energy sector as an attempt to harm Russias economy at the risk of destabilising global markets. A statement...

Jacobson looks forward to lead US Mission Dhaka with vision: Embassy
Jacobson looks forward to lead US Mission Dhaka with vision: Embassy

Tracey Ann Jacobson, a career member of the Senior Foreign Service, joined the US Embassy Dhaka as Chargé daffaires (ad interim) on Saturday. With extensive experience in diplomacy, having served as US Ambassador to Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Kosovo, and a commitment to fostering strong...

IMF predicts steady global growth, disinflation for 2025
IMF predicts steady global growth, disinflation for 2025

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects steady global economic growth and ongoing disinflation in 2025, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva revealed ahead of the updated World Economic Outlook release on January 17, reports Reuters. Georgieva highlighted that the U.S. economy is...

US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russia's oil industry
US, UK impose sweeping sanctions on Russia's oil industry

The United States and the United Kingdom imposed further sanctions on Russias energy sector on Friday in an attempt to curb funding for Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The US Treasury Department said it was designating two of Russias largest oil companies, Gazprom Neft and...

US supports Musk argument in OpenAI lawsuit
US supports Musk argument in OpenAI lawsuit

US antitrust enforcers weighed in on Friday on Elon Musks lawsuit seeking to block OpenAIs conversion to a public company, pointing out legal doctrines that support his claim that OpenAI and Microsoft engaged in anticompetitive practices. The US Federal Trade Commission and Department of Justice...

Top Japanese diplomat to visit Seoul amid political agitation
Top Japanese diplomat to visit Seoul amid political agitation

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will visit South Korea on Monday to strengthen security ties with Seoul and their mutual ally, the United States, amid regional challenges from North Korea and Chinas growing influence. Iwaya will be the first Japanese foreign minister to visit Seoul in...

US SC rejects Trump’s bid to delay sentencing in hush money case
US SC rejects Trump’s bid to delay sentencing in hush money case

A sharply divided US Supreme Court on Thursday rejected US President-elect Donald Trumps final bid to put his New York hush-money case on hold, clearing the way for him to be sentenced for felony crimes days before he returns to the presidency. The courts 5-4 order allows Judge Juan M. Merchan...

US, UK warplanes launch fresh attacks on Yemen
US, UK warplanes launch fresh attacks on Yemen

The US and the UK have carried out fresh aerial assaults on Yemen as the Arab country continues its retaliatory operations against Israel. Yemens al-Masirah television channel reported that Thursdays strikes targeted the districts of Jarban, al-Luhayyah, and Harf Sufyan, situated in Sanaa,...

Biden cancels Italy trip to focus on LA fires response
Biden cancels Italy trip to focus on LA fires response

President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Jan 8) canceled his upcoming trip to Italy to focus on the federal response to wildfires raging across Los Angeles, which have razed hundreds of homes and forced thousands to evacuate, reports AFP. After returning this evening from Los Angeles, where earlier...

US opens investigation into Tesla's 'Smart Summon' driverless technology
US opens investigation into Tesla's 'Smart Summon' driverless technology

U.S. safety regulators have started investigating a Tesla feature that lets drivers summon their parked cars without being inside, after several accidents were reported linked to the technology. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Tesla cars using the Actual Smart Summon mode...

Greenland independence is possible but joining the US unlikely
Greenland independence is possible but joining the US unlikely

Greenland may become independent if its residents want, but is unlikely to become a U.S. state, Denmarks foreign minister said on Wednesday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out force to take control of the Arctic island. Greenlands leader met with the Danish king in...