Thailand Cambodia clashes: Hope for ceasefire grows as China steps in
The foreign ministers of Cambodia and Thailand have told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that they are willing to pursue a ceasefire, as tensions fla...
The U.S. budget deficit narrowed to $316 billion in May, marking a 9% drop from last year, largely due to a surge in customs revenue driven by President Trump’s new tariffs.
The U.S. Treasury reported a $316 billion budget deficit for May, showing a 9% year-over-year decline, or $31 billion less than May 2024. The improvement was largely attributed to a sharp rise in customs duties, which nearly quadrupled to a record $23 billion, thanks to President Donald Trump’s expanded tariffs on imports. Compared to the same month last year, total receipts jumped 15% to $371 billion, while outlays increased modestly to $687 billion. Fiscal year-to-date customs revenue rose nearly 60%, reaching $86 billion.
Calendar shifts affected both years’ numbers due to June benefits being paid in May; after adjusting, the May 2025 deficit would be $219 billion — a 17% improvement from May 2024’s adjusted $263 billion. Notably, interest payments on public debt dropped 10% to $92 billion, marking the first decline since October.
European Union leaders have agreed to raise up to €90 billion through joint borrowing to support Ukraine’s defence in 2026 and 2027, opting not to use frozen Russian state assets amid legal and political concerns.
Petroleum products are being transported by rail from Azerbaijan to Armenia for the first time in decades. The move is hailed as a tangible breakthrough in efforts to normalise relations between the long-time rivals.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has warned that attempts to reach a peace agreement in Ukraine are being undermined by Russia’s continued refusal to engage meaningfully in negotiations.
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a wide-ranging address from the White House in which he sought to highlight what he described as his administration’s achievements while laying the groundwork for his plans for the year ahead and beyond, on Wednesday (18 December).
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held a phone conversation with his Venezuelan counterpart Yvan Gil at the latter’s request.
Warner Bros Discovery’s board rejected Paramount Skydance’s $108.4 billion hostile bid on Wednesday (17 December), citing insufficient financing guarantees.
Ford Motor Company said on Monday it will take a $19.5 billion writedown and scrap several electric vehicle (EV) models, marking a major retreat from its battery-powered ambitions amid declining EV demand and changes under the Trump administration.
Iran has rolled out changes to how fuel is priced at the pump. The move is aimed at managing demand without triggering public anger.
U.S. stock markets closed lower at the end of the week, as investors continued to rotate out of technology shares, putting pressure on major indices.
The U.S. Federal Reserve’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points to a range of 3.50% to 3.75% following its two-day policy meeting, according to an official statement issued on Wednesday, 10 December.
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