Trump attacks reports of U.S. munitions shortages as Iran war enters seventh month
President Donald Trump has again rejected media reports that the United States is running low on offensive and defensive munitions as the war with Iran enters its seventh month. In a post on his Truth Social account, he said the military is producing munitions at "levels never seen before" and has "far more than we could ever use." He also described outlets reporting on the shortages as "treasonous scum" and accused them of failing to report accurately on the conflict. The latest comments follow similar remarks Trump made in August after reports that he had grown frustrated with Defence Secretary... [Continue Reading]
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G20 finance talks end in North Carolina amid dispute over Russia's presence
G20 finance leaders have ended a two-day meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, with most members backing the chair's statement despite disagreement over Russia's attendance. The United States said the presence of Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov did not affect the talks, while European allies voiced frustration at the optics of welcoming him at a US-hosted gathering. The meeting also took place against the backdrop of the war in the Middle East and US President Donald Trump's tariffs.US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the fact that nearly all participants agreed to the chair's statement showed there had been no impact from... [Continue Reading]
US presses G20 to curb trade imbalances and Chinese import pressure
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has urged fellow G20 finance chiefs to take stronger steps to protect their economies from Chinese imports. His remarks came during a two-day meeting in Asheville, North Carolina, where officials were also discussing wider concerns about debt and inflation. The comments placed trade imbalances and industrial policy at the centre of the gathering.Bessent said he had warned trading partners last year that higher US tariffs could push more Chinese goods into other markets. He told the meeting that some economies now needed to take a harder look at how to protect jobs and domestic industries.... [Continue Reading]
SCO leaders in Bishkek condemn strikes on Iran and Western sanctions
Leaders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation have signed a declaration in Bishkek condemning military strikes on Iran and Western sanctions, adding a sharp diplomatic note to the two-day summit in Kyrgyzstan's capital. The joint statement, known as the Bishkek Declaration, was endorsed by leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. It also backed Iran's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and called for disputes to be resolved through political and diplomatic means.The declaration said the strikes on Iranian territory had caused civilian casualties and damage to the country's... [Continue Reading]
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The Glass Elevator to Nowhere: A World Trapped in a Chocolate Factory
As a journalist in my mid-fifties, I thought my skin had thickened to the point of being impenetrable. I have covered the rise and fall of regimes, the grinding gears of the Cold War's leftovers, and the digital revolutions that promised to unite us. I thought I had seen every trick in the political playbook. Then came Donald Trump’s 2026 foreign policy, and I realized I was not watching a statesman; I was watching a child play with a chemistry set he does not understand. The Willy Wonka of the West: Rule by Whim Walking into a press briefing lately... [Continue Reading]


