The White House on Wednesday pushed back on a proposal to move the U.S.-led group coordinating weapons delivery for Ukraine under the leadership of NATO. John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, raised doubts about having the U.S. step aside from leading the Ramstein Group, a once-a-month meeting of 50-plus nations coordinating weapons deliveries … Read more
Asian markets are mixed and the US market took a breather after a rally sparked by optimism over the US Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts. The Indian stock market was closed on Monday on account of the Holi festival. The markets will also remain shut on Friday, March 29, on account of Good Friday. On … Read more
In a blow to the Biden administration’s effort to increase corporate transparency, an Alabama federal district judge has ruled that the Treasury Department cannot require small business owners to report details on their owners and others who benefit fr… By FATIMA HUSSEIN Associated Press March 4, 2024, 3:05 PM ET • 2 min read WASHINGTON … Read more
HELSINKI (AP) — Former Prime Minister Alexander Stubb won Finland’s election runoff Sunday against ex-Foreign Minister Pekka Haavisto in a close race for the presidency and the task of steering the Nordic country’s foreign and security policy now that it is a member of NATO, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. With all votes counted, center-right … Read more
WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time since Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin established the international group to support Ukraine in April 2022, the United States will host the monthly gathering of about 50 countries out of money, unable to send the ammunition and missiles that Ukraine needs to fend off Russia. While waiting for Congress … Read more
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish parliament’s foreign affairs committee gave its consent to Sweden’s bid to join NATO on Tuesday, drawing the previously nonaligned Nordic country closer to membership in the Western military alliance. Sweden’s accession protocol will now need to be approved in the Turkish parliament’s general assembly for the last stage of … Read more
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan says his country’s endorsement for Sweden’s NATO membership depends on U.S. congressional approval to sell F-16 fighter jets to Turkey. “Positive developments from the United States regarding the F-16 issue and Canada keeping its promises will accelerate our parliament’s positive view on [Sweden’s membership],” Erdoğan said in comments reported by … Read more
Vladimir Putin snubbed the new British ambassador to Moscow as he kept his distance from a gathering of foreign diplomats “for sanitary reasons”. “Unfortunately, for sanitary reasons, we cannot talk more, socialise,” he told them on Monday night from 70ft away. “I hope that better times will come, not only in politics but also in … Read more
He said the US would give Israel ammunition to replenish the Iron Dome missile defence system and warned against other hostile actors joining the conflict. “Let me say again, to any country, any organisation, anyone thinking of taking advantage of the situation, I have one word: don’t,” Mr Biden said in a press conference at … Read more
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with European leaders to press for continued support against Russia’s invasion, amid concerns about the continued flow of US aid. Zelenskyy kept fellow leaders guessing about whether he would attend until the eve of a summit in Granada, Spain, because he sought concrete results from a trip, according to people … Read more