Potential Closure of USAID: A Controversial Move Under the Trump Administration Washington — The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) stands on the edge of potential closure, following recent developments involving the Trump administration and influential figures like billionaire Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla. Musk has been vocal about his intention to wrest control of the agency, culminating in discussions with President Trump.

U.S. President Donald Trump looks on as he signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S., Jan. 31, 2025. Carlos Barria | Reuters U.S. President Donald Trump is taking a bold step forward with long-anticipated import tariffs targeting goods from Canada, Mexico, and China. On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order that imposes a hefty…

Trump Threatens Funding Cut to South Africa Over Land Reform Controversies US President Donald Trump has announced plans to suspend all future funding to South Africa, citing allegations of land confiscation and mistreatment of specific demographics within the country. This declaration follows a recent law signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, which permits land seizures without compensation under certain conditions.

Relations between Canada and the United States are increasingly strained, prompting some commentators to suggest an unexpected, albeit intriguing, possibility: **What if Canada joined the European Union?** Even prior to U.S. President Donald Trump's notorious comments about Canada possibly becoming a "51st state," Stanley Pignal, a columnist for The Economist, had already proposed this thought-provoking notion. "As it turns out," he observed, "both Europe and Canada may be in the market for upgraded alliances."

USAID Under Scrutiny: Leadership Shakeup Amid Controversial Reforms In a significant shakeup at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), two senior security officials have been placed on administrative leave, marking the latest development in a wave of changes at the primary agency responsible for American humanitarian aid. Leadership Suspensions Spark Controversy Confirmed by sources to CBS News, John Vorhees, the USAID Director for Security, and Brian McGill, the Deputy Director for Security, were suspended late Saturday evening.

Canadian, Mexican and Chinese flags. Nurphoto | Nurphoto | Getty Images U.S. President Donald Trump has recently implemented long-anticipated tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, triggering immediate reactions from these nations. On Saturday, Trump officially signed an executive order imposing a 25% tariff on goods from Mexico and Canada, alongside a 10% duty on imports from China, effective Tuesday.

Torrential Rainfall Triggers Catastrophic Flooding in Northern Queensland A shocking weather event has claimed the life of a woman in northern Queensland, Australia, as relentless rainfall leads to devastating flooding that has forced thousands to evacuate their homes. A Rising Tide of Danger Local authorities have issued warnings of continuing rising waters, characterizing the situation as both “dangerous and life-threatening.” Premier David Crisafulli reported that particular regions have experienced over…

China Responds to U.S. Tariffs: A Diplomatic Standoff or a Path to Resolution? In a significant development this weekend, the Chinese government vehemently condemned the Trump administration's decision to implement a long-anticipated 10% tariff on Chinese imports. However, Beijing has also indicated a willingness to engage in negotiations with the United States to prevent further escalation of the conflict. China's finance and commerce ministries announced that they would challenge President Donald Trump's tariff at the World Trade Organization (WTO), a move that serves as a symbolic gesture rather than an immediate threat.

A Glimpse into the Past: The Enigmatic Burial of a Pregnant Woman in Coastal Ecuador In an extraordinary archaeological find, a pregnant woman believed to have lived over a thousand years ago has emerged from the depths of Ecuador's coastal history. Excavated in 2022, this remarkable discovery raises profound questions about ritual practices and societal beliefs of the time. Archaeologists are piecing together the story of this young woman, dubbed Burial 10, who is thought to have perished between AD 771 and AD 953.

Aerial view of trucks queueing next to the border wall before crossing to the United States at Otay commercial port in Tijuana, Baja California state, Mexico, on Jan. 22, 2025. Guillermo Arias | AFP | Getty Images Industry and corporate leaders are closely evaluating the ramifications following U.S. President Donald Trump's recent decision to impose tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.

Getty Images US musician Chris Brown, along with Nigerian artists, are up for Best African Music Performance this year The Grammy Awards has carved a space for African music, but the introduction of the Best African Music Performance category has already stirred debate just a year after its inception. Last year, South Africa's Tyla emerged victorious with her hit song…

U.S. Military Strikes Target Islamic State Operatives in Somalia On Saturday, President Donald Trump announced decisive military action against the Islamic State (ISIS) with airstrikes aimed at a senior attack planner and other operatives in Somalia. This mission underscores the ongoing commitment of the United States to combat terrorism on a global scale. President Trump's Statement In a post on Truth Social, Trump remarked, …

A Tragic Assault in Omdurman: An Escalating Crisis in Sudan In a harrowing incident on Saturday, a devastating attack by a paramilitary group in the bustling Sabrein Market of Omdurman, Sudan, has claimed the lives of 54 individuals and injured at least 158 others, according to health authorities. The violence, attributed to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), underscores the deteriorating situation in a nation grappling with civil war.

Singapore's Stance on U.S. Export Controls Amid AI Developments In a recent statement, Singapore's Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) underscored the expectation that U.S. companies will adhere to U.S. export controls and local laws. This declaration comes in light of emerging concerns regarding the chips utilized by China's DeepSeek to develop its groundbreaking AI model. DeepSeek's AI Claims Spark Global Controversy…

Venezuela Releases Six US Detainees Amid Diplomatic Engagement In a significant development in US-Venezuela relations, six American detainees have been released following diplomatic discussions in Caracas between President Nicolás Maduro and a senior official from the Trump administration. Announcement of Release The liberation of these individuals was publicly confirmed via social media by former President Donald Trump, alongside his special envoy, Richard Grenell.

Tragic Crash of Medical Transport Jet in Philadelphia On a somber Friday evening, a medical transport jet carrying a child patient, her mother, and four crew members tragically crashed into a residential neighborhood in Philadelphia shortly after takeoff. The catastrophic incident resulted in a massive explosion that engulfed several homes, sending shockwaves through the community. All six individuals aboard the flight were from Mexico.

Mexico's Strategic Crackdown on Fentanyl Amid Tariff Threats The government of Mexico, responding to escalating pressures from President Trump to address drug trafficking, announced on Friday a significant seizure of 18 kilograms of fentanyl concealed within a bus. This move underscores Mexico's commitment to combating the illegal flow of this lethal opioid. U.S. Tariff Plans and Their Implications President Trump has identified the illegal influx of fentanyl and the migration crisis as pivotal reasons behind a proposed…

Mike Cannon-Brookes, co-founder of software company Atlassian Corp., in Sydney, Australia, Dec. 6, 2023. Lisa Maree Williams | Bloomberg | Getty Images Atlassian shares surged by an impressive 15% following the software company’s remarkable fiscal second-quarter earnings, far exceeding Wall Street’s expectations. The stock is trading near a fresh 52-week high and is poised for its best day since November.

Rwanda's Controversial Role in the Democratic Republic of Congo The ongoing crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has drawn significant international attention, particularly regarding Rwanda's alleged involvement in the region. During a recent interview with the BBC, **Thérèse Kayikwamba Wagner**, the Congolese Foreign Minister, accused Rwanda of illegally occupying the DRC and attempted orchestration of regime change. Decades of Impunity…

Farewell to an Icon: Marianne Faithfull Passes Away at 78 Marianne Faithfull, the legendary British pop star whose influence shaped some of the Rolling Stones' greatest songs, has tragically passed away at the age of 78. Her passing was confirmed by her music promotion company, Republic Media, in a heartfelt statement to CBS News on Thursday. "It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of singer, songwriter, and actress Marianne Faithfull," her spokesperson disclosed.

This report is from this week's CNBC's "Inside India" newsletter, which offers timely insights into the emerging powerhouse and the significant businesses driving its unprecedented growth. If you enjoy this content, you can subscribe here. The Big Story Recently, whilst navigating my trusty three-year-old CNBC-issued laptop, I had the opportunity to explore an innovative artificial intelligence model known as DeepSeek-R1.

LISTEN: Audio of air traffic controllers seemingly directing the helicopter to avoid the plane Rachel Looker BBC News, Washington The aviation industry is grappling with a harrowing question: how did a tragic mid-air collision occur between a passenger plane and a military helicopter in one of the world's most carefully controlled airspaces? In a dire incident, a US Army Black Hawk helicopter, carrying three crew members, collided with an American Airlines jet with 64 passengers onboard just seconds before landing at Washington National Airport.

Executive Action Against Antisemitism: A Controversial Directive by President Trump In a bold move to address growing concerns around antisemitism, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at combatting this pervasive issue. The directive specifically targets non-citizen college students and others who have participated in pro-Palestinian protests, pledging deportations for those involved. The accompanying fact sheet highlights the administration’s commitment to “immediate action,” emphasizing the role of the U.S.

Three More Israeli Hostages Released Amid Ongoing Ceasefire Negotiations Tel Aviv — In a significant development, three Israeli hostages—two female soldiers and an 80-year-old man—were released in Gaza on Thursday as part of a renewed hostages-for-prisoners exchange agreement between Israel and Hamas. However, the tumultuous nature of the handover process sparked outrage from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, prompting him to delay Israel's portion of the exchange until later in the day.

Chinese artificial intelligence firm DeepSeek has sent ripples through global markets this week with bold assertions that its latest AI model outperforms those developed by OpenAI, all while management claims the cost of development was a mere fraction of the hefty investments made by its competitors. DeepSeek's announcement that it trained its large language model for $5.6 million has raised eyebrows, calling into question the astronomical expenditures tech giants have been making on the necessary computing power for advanced AI systems.