Donald Trump goes light on China on Day One, except where the Panama Canal is concerned

China got only one mention in US President Donald Trump’s inaugural address on Monday, but the comment was threatening – especially to a country much closer to America. Suggesting that China’s operations in the Panama Canal constituted a degree of ownership of the Central American waterway, Trump asserted that Panama – the country it runs through...

Gold climbs to 11-week peak as dollar falls on signs of gradual Trump tariffs

Gold prices climbed to their highest level in nearly 11 weeks on Tuesday as the U.S. dollar slumped following President Donald Trump's inauguration and investors sought the safe-haven metal to hedge against uncertainty sparked by his tariff plans. Spot gold climbed 0.7% to $2,725.70 per ounce by 0804 GMT and hit its highest since Nov. 6,...

Singer Shawn Mendes attends Friday prayers in New York, earns the nickname ‘Brother Shawn’

While it’s common for celebs to be photographed exiting trendy clubs or upscale restaurants in New York, Canadian singer Shawn Mendes turned that narrative when he was spotted attending Friday prayers at a mosque within New York University (NYU) last week. Photos of Mendes standing in line with the congregation circulated on social media and quickly...

No devices for kids at meals and turn off the TV: Singapore issues stricter screen use guidelines

SINGAPORE: Children younger than 18 months old should not be allowed screen use or be exposed to screens in the background. Background screen use refers to having the television or other devices turned on in the background even when a child is not watching them. These are part of stricter and clearer guidelines on screen use that the...

Trump returning to power after unprecedented comeback, emboldened to reshape American institutions

WASHINGTON (AP): Donald Trump, who overcame impeachments, criminal indictments and a pair of assassination attempts to win another term in the White House, will be sworn in as the 47th president on Monday (Jan 20), taking charge as Republicans assume unified control of Washington and set out to reshape the country's institutions. Trump will act swiftly...

Biden issues pardons to protect Milley, Fauci, Cheney from Trump retaliation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden issued pre-emptive pardons on Monday for people Republican successor Donald Trump has targeted for retaliation, including former Republican lawmaker Liz Cheney, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley and former White House chief medical advisor Anthony Fauci. The pardon covers all lawmakers, including Cheney, who served on...

Circle CEO expects imminent US executive orders to widen crypto

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) - Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire expects U.S. executive orders "imminently" from incoming President Donald Trump, which he said could allow banks to trade crypto, offer crypto investments to wealthy clients and hold it in portfolios. Circle is the issuer of the USDC stablecoin, a digital token pegged to the value of the U.S....

Buddha-inspired Donald Trump sculptures by Chinese artist are hot property again

Donald Trump is not typically known for his calm or reserve, but in a craftsman’s workshop in rural China the US president-elect sits in divine contemplation. Cross-legged with his eyes half-closed in a pose evoking the Buddha, this porcelain version of America’s divisive leader-in-waiting is the work of designer and sculptor Hong Jinshi. The Zen-like figures –...

UK teenager pleads guilty to murder of Southport girls and ricin, terrorism charges

LONDON (Reuters) - A British teenager on Monday pleaded guilty to charges of murdering three young girls in a knife attack in northern England in July, a crime that horrified the nation and was followed by days of nationwide rioting. Axel Rudakubana, 18, changed his pleas from not guilty to guilty on what was due to...