Global events and international developments affecting markets.
Reporting on international affairs, geopolitical developments, and global economic trends. This category connects world events to their potential impact on financial markets, trade flows, and investor risk perception.
3,945 total articles
A United Nations assessment released Friday reports dramatic increases in global cocaine production and methamphetamine seizures, alongside a surge in newly identified synthetic opioids. The UN Office on Drugs and Crime says cocaine output reached about 4,100 metric tons of pure product in 2024, while methamphetamine indicators point to annual prod…
Senior U.S. officials have publicly voiced divergent interpretations of Israel’s conduct in Lebanon even as the administration stresses unity behind a preliminary U.S.-Iran accord. Vice President JD Vance criticized Israeli strikes on Beirut’s civilian infrastructure as counterproductive to peace efforts, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio defend…
Seattle will host a World Cup-designated 'Pride Match' on June 26 featuring Egypt and Iran, despite formal objections from both countries' football authorities. Local organizers and members of the LGBTQ community say the city will proceed with Pride events as planned and view the match as an opportunity to increase visibility and spur conversation,…
S&P Global Ratings has affirmed Brazil's long- and short-term foreign and local currency sovereign ratings at 'BB/B' and kept the transfer and convertibility assessment at 'BBB-'. The ratings outlook is stable as S&P expects the country's external position - supported by commodity exports, a freely traded real and sizable reserves - to offset persi…
Nearly a day after two powerful earthquakes struck near Caracas, residents of La Guaira and Moron are manually digging through collapsed buildings to pull out survivors as hospitals overflow and vital equipment is in short supply. Government counts put the dead at nearly 200 with 1,520 injured, while U.S. Geological Survey models suggest the toll c…
Moody's upgraded Uzbekistan's long-term issuer and senior unsecured ratings to Ba2 from Ba3 and moved the outlook to stable from positive. The credit agency cited sustained improvements in institutions and policy, solid economic expansion, a narrower fiscal deficit supported by energy subsidy reform, and a successful dual listing by the Uzbekistan …
Manhattan prosecutors on Thursday asked a court to drop a third-degree rape charge against Harvey Weinstein after his accuser said she did not wish to testify in what would have been the defendant’s fourth New York trial. The decision follows a May mistrial in which jurors could not reach a unanimous verdict. Separately, prosecutors requested a 20-…
The United States' top diplomat for East Asia confirmed that a pending notification to Congress for a $14 billion arms package for Taiwan will not be subject to negotiation with China. While the package remains under presidential review, officials reiterated that the Six Assurances continue to guide policy, and that discussions with Beijing about T…
As hotel rates and ticket prices climb during the World Cup, supporters from Argentina, Germany, England and other nations are filling an RV campground a few miles from Dallas Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Dallas/Arlington KOA Holiday reported near-capacity for several high-profile matches, with fans citing cost savings and a social atmosphere a…
In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with gun-rights challengers against a Hawaii statute that barred bringing handguns onto private property open to the public without an owner’s express authorization. The ruling reverses a lower court finding that the law likely complied with the Second Amendment and follows the court’s 2022 standard f…
A Texas Republican plans to unveil a bill that would compel developers of artificial intelligence models to notify the U.S. Commerce Department within seven days of detecting dangerous behavior, with the department required to alert Congress within 48 hours for the most serious cases. The proposal seeks to create an early-warning system for risks r…
Oil prices declined to levels seen before the conflict after U.S. officials reported that shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was nearing normal levels. U.S. diplomacy in the Gulf aims to reassure anxious regional partners about a preliminary framework deal with Iran even as Tehran signals continued control over the waterway. The accord sets 60 d…
The Kremlin expressed appreciation for U.S. efforts to mediate in the Ukraine conflict but insisted that effective mediation cannot come from a party that is supporting one side. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed a Kyiv Independent report that Ukraine believes it has secured U.S. support to act "more boldly," and said Russia expects continu…
Following a $14.7 million refurbishment requested by President Donald Trump, the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool on the National Mall has developed persistent green algae and peeling blue paint. National Guard troops, solar-powered light towers and several mobile security stations equipped with surveillance cameras now ring the roughly 2,000-foot …
Conservative candidates in Brazil are adopting a public safety agenda modeled on Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele’s hardline approach, including visits to El Salvador’s 40,000-capacity CECOT prison and proposals for new maximum-security facilities. The strategy mirrors recent electoral trends in the region where crime-focused campaigns have won po…
A U.S. State Department official said Israel has withdrawn from a portion of the southern Lebanese territory it had occupied during its campaign against Hezbollah, and urged the Lebanese Armed Forces to enter and remove weapons and infrastructure. Lebanese security authorities reported no knowledge of such a withdrawal. Washington and Beirut have b…
A proposed Israeli law to transfer management of ancient sites in the West Bank to a national heritage ministry and permit related land expropriation has drawn sharp criticism from Palestinian officials, Israeli rights groups and scientific bodies. Opponents say the move amounts to annexation that would expand settlements and harm local economies r…
Swiss President and economy minister Guy Parmelin will travel to North America from June 29 to July 9, meeting U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as Bern aims to formalise a preliminary tariff agreement with the United States. The itinerary includes a stop in Canada to attend Switzerland’s World Cup match on July 2 and talks in Mexico with Pr…
President Donald Trump said he knows little about Andy Burnham, whom he described as a "mayor of a town" and "extremely liberal," and suggested Burnham would likely oppose expanding oil drilling in the North Sea. Trump reiterated criticism of outgoing Prime Minister Keir Starmer for not opening the North Sea to more drilling, while stopping short o…
U.S. officials said on June 24 that they have been in contact with Venezuelan authorities and are mobilizing assistance after strong earthquakes struck west of Caracas, toppling buildings and prompting warnings of potentially heavy casualties and widespread destruction. The State Department has deployed a disaster assistance team and a task force t…
Australia’s national security environment is deteriorating amid overlapping threats from state actors, cyber intrusions and homegrown antisemitic violence, according to the head of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO). While the formal terrorism threat level remains at "probable," ASIO’s director-general says that label underest…
Three U.S. departments say China has been contacting state governments and private companies to discourage engagement with Taiwan and is misrepresenting U.S. policy. The departments encourage stronger links with Taiwan and instruct recipients to report any pressure from Chinese officials to the State Department. The letters, dated June 16, were rel…
President Donald Trump said investigators may never conclusively determine who was at fault for a lethal strike on a girls’ school in Minab, southern Iran, on February 28 that killed scores of children and teachers. An initial internal U.S. military inquiry reported in March indicated U.S. forces were likely responsible, and the Pentagon has since …
A notable segment of Brazil’s younger electorate is drifting away from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and other left-leaning parties. Disillusionment with economic outcomes, worries about public security and high-profile corruption scandals are driving some first-time and repeat left-leaning voters toward candidates on the right and center. Po…
The White House has submitted a supplemental funding request to Congress exceeding $1.4 billion to support the response to the expanding Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The proposal includes $800 million earmarked for humanitarian crisis response - including plans for a quarantine center in Kenya - $500 million for global health…
