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Trump pauses some Mexico, Canada tariffs: What’s exempt, and what’s next?

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 12:57
About half of Mexico's exports to the US, and a little more than a third of Canada's, will be exempt for a month.

Video: SpaceX Starship rocket explodes minutes after launch

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 12:51
Debris streaked across the skies over the Bahamas after the world’s biggest spacecraft exploded, minutes after launch.

Unexploded World War II bomb halts rail services in France, UK, Belgium

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 12:34
Eurostar services suspended, and thousands stranded as mine clearance at Gare du Nord station causes travel chaos.

At least 22 people killed as gang violence erupts in Ecuador

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 12:18
Rival factions of drug trafficking gang fight over territory in port city of Guayaquil before a presidential election.

Nigerian Senate suspends female senator who made sexual harassment claim

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 11:44
Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan is suspended for six months after she makes an accusation against Senate President Akpabio.

India vs New Zealand – Champions Trophy final: Match-ups, stream, weather

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 11:28
When and where is the final? Who are the key players and match-ups? What's the team news and prize? Al Jazeera answers.

California water wars: A century of wrangling over Los Angeles’s water

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 11:08
The battle for California’s water pitted ranchers against water barons and still echoes today.

Israel is no longer “capable of fighting this war” on Gaza

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 11:00
Ori Goldberg unpacks Israel’s failure in Gaza and its lack of a clear plan for what comes next.

Video: Hamas warns new Israeli attacks will endanger the lives of captives

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 10:13
The armed wing of Hamas has warned renewed Israeli attacks on Gaza will endanger the lives of captives.

Trump to host White House crypto summit

Technology - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 10:08
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday hosts top cryptocurrency players at the White House, a political boost for an industry that has struggled to gain legitimacy -- and where the Republican president faces conflict of interest concerns. The president's "crypto czar," Silicon Valley investor David Sacks, has invited prominent founders, CEOs and investors along with members of a Trump working group, to craft policies aimed at accelerating crypto growth, and providing legitimacy that the industry has long sought. On Thursday night, Trump signed an executive order establishing a "Strategic Bitcoin Reserve," a move that Sacks said made good on a campaign promise to an increasingly important component of his coalition. Summit guests include twins Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, founders of crypto platform Gemini, as well as Brian Armstrong of Coinbase and Michael Saylor, the boss of major bitcoin investor MicroStrategy. In a post on X, Sacks said the event would take place as a roundtable, and despite industry interest, the White House would have to "keep it small." For believers, cryptocurrencies represent a financial revolution that reduces dependence on centralized authorities while offering individuals an alternative to traditional banking systems. Bitcoin, the world's most traded cryptocurrency, is heralded by advocates as a substitute for gold or a hedge against currency devaluation and political instability. Memecoins Critics, meanwhile, maintain that these assets function primarily as speculative investments with questionable real-world utility that could leave taxpayers on the hook for cleaning up if the market crashes. The proliferation of "memecoins" -- cryptocurrencies based on celebrities, internet memes, or pop culture items rather than technical utility -- presents another challenge. Much of the crypto industry frowns upon these tokens, fearing they tarnish the sector's credibility, amid reports of quick pump-and-dump schemes that leave unwitting buyers paying for assets that end up worthless. Trump also faces conflict of interest concerns. U.S. crypto investors were major supporters of Trump's presidential campaign, contributing millions of dollars toward his victory in hopes of ending the Biden administration's deep skepticism toward digital currencies. Trump also has significant financial ties to the sector, partnering with exchange platform World Liberty Financial and launching the "Trump" memecoin in January, as did his wife, Melania. Once hostile to the crypto industry, Trump has already taken significant steps to clear regulatory hurdles. Under Thursday's executive order, the bitcoin stockpile will be composed of digital currency seized in U.S. criminal proceedings. The use of these assets "means it will not cost taxpayers a dime," Sacks said in a post Thursday night on X. Sacks has said that if previous administrations had held onto their digital holdings over the past decade, they would be worth $17 billion today. Trump also appointed crypto advocate Paul Atkins to head the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Under Atkins, the SEC has dropped legal proceedings against major platforms like Coinbase and Kraken that were initiated during Biden's term. The previous administration had implemented restrictions on banks holding cryptocurrencies -- which have since been lifted -- and allowed former SEC chairman Gary Gensler to pursue aggressive enforcement. However, meaningful change will likely require congressional action, where crypto legislation has remained stalled despite intense lobbying efforts led by investors, including Trump ally Marc Andreessen, an influential venture capitalist.

Australians told to ‘prepare for worst’ as Cyclone Alfred nears landfall

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 10:05
Violent winds prompt evacuation orders and cut off electricity to 80,000 homes across Queensland and New South Wales.

Pope, weak yet stable, thanks well-wishers for prayers in audio message

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 09:15
Pope Francis has been hospitalised with double pneumonia for three weeks, his longest absence from the papacy yet.

Trial to begin for Maradona’s medical staff accused in footballer’s death

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 09:10
Seven medical professionals are accused of providing 'reckless' and 'deficient' treatment to Maradona, who died in 2020.

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,107

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 08:52
These are the key developments on day 1,107 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.

China FM vows to fight Trump tariffs, says US is ‘meeting good with evil’

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 08:50
Foreign Minister Wang says China has been helping US fight its fentanyl crisis, which Trump blamed for imposing tariffs.

Why are young adults less happy than ever before?

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 08:04
New study finds happiness increases with age and does not peak in youth, marking a major shift from the usual trajectory.

Ukraine, US to hold talks on Russia-Ukraine war in Saudi Arabia next week

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 07:57
US President Trump says Kyiv and Moscow have no choice but to secure a peace deal to end the war.

Bollywood’s dirty secret: Paid reviews that are killing the industry

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 07:48
Bollywood's murky side of paid reviews are part of system where fake praise, rate cards, threats and extortion thrive.

South Korea court cancels impeached President Yoon’s arrest warrant

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 07:22
Decision by Seoul Central District Court paves the way for the suspended leader's release from jail.

Bitcoin plunges as Trump’s strategic reserve fails to impress markets

Around The Globe - Fri, 03/07/2025 - 06:26
Cryptocurrency falls as much as 6 percent as lack of plans for government purchases disappoints investors.

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