USA: Marco Rubio demands Panama ‘reduce China influence’ over canal

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has demanded that Panama make “immediate changes” to what he calls the “influence and control” of China over the Panama Canal. America’s top diplomat…

USA. Musk team given access to sensitive federal payment system – reports

The Trump administration has given billionaire Elon Musk’s deputies access to the federal payments system that controls the flow of trillions of dollars in government funds every year, US media…

USA: Rubio lands in Panama as Trump threatens to ‘take back’ canal

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has kicked off his first official foreign trip with a stop in Panama, a longtime US ally shaken by President Donald Trump’s extraordinary threat…

USA: Global alarm, condemnation as Trump tariffs hit Mexico, Canada and China

A barrage of condemnation has rained down on United States President Donald Trump following his decision to impose stiff tariffs on imports from neighbouring countries, Mexico and Canada, as well as its…

Canada: PM Justin Trudeau imposes 25% tariffs in trade war with US

Canada has announced retaliatory tariffs against the US, in a move that marks the beginning of a trade war between the neighbouring countries. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau set out “far-reaching”…

China: Asian markets tumble as Trump’s tariff war escalates

Investors are bracing for a turbulent period that could hit the earnings of major companies and dent global growth. Canada and Mexico have said that they will hit back with retaliatory…

UK: Lloyds Bank to close 136 branches as people shift to apps

Lloyds Banking Group is to shut another 136 branches by March next year, arguing that customers are increasingly using digital channels for their day-to-day banking. It is the latest in…

UK: Barclays says payment issues resolved after tech outage

Barclays has said the “technical issue” impacting payments and transactions for customers has been resolved following three days of disruption. The bank said delayed payments had been processed and it…

Canada: PM Justin Trudeau promises a ‘fight’ is Trump imposes tariffs

Canada will react forcefully and immediately if Donald Trump imposes tariffs, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Friday. The US president has said he could levy a 25% tariff on…

USA: Apple iPhone sales dip despite AI rollout

Sales of Apple iPhones dropped at the end of last year, as the tech firm’s roll out of new artificial intelligence (AI) features was met with a lukewarm response. Chief…