Author: Steven Sahiounie

NEW YORK – The dollar was lower on Friday and on track for its first monthly decline in 2024 after data showed U.S. inflation rose in line with expectations in April, offering little clarity on how soon the U.S. Federal Reserve will be able to cut interest rates.

Most Latin American currencies rose on Friday as the dollar weakened after a U.S. inflation reading supported expectations of interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve, while Mexico’s peso edged higher in the lead-up to presidential elections.

The Palestinian leadership has once again emphasized the urgent need for a complete and permanent cessation of the Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip and all of the Palestinian territory, including East Jerusalem, the capital of the State of Palestine. “This includes an immediate halt to attacks by Israeli occupation forces and settler violence against Palestinians and their sacred sites in the West Bank and Jerusalem,” said the leadership in a press statement. The Palestinian leadership stressed the necessity for the withdrawal of Israeli occupation forces from Gaza, calling for opening and handover of all border crossings of Gaza to…

Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah issued a decree on Saturday appointing Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah as crown prince, the state news agency KUNA said.The Emiri order was issued after reviewing the constitution, taking into account Law No. 4 of 1964 regarding the inheritance of the emirate, the Emiri order issued on May 15, 2024 appointing the prime minister, the Emiri order issued on May 10, 2024, and Decree No. 73 issued on May 12, 2024 forming the ministry.“We ordered the following: Article (1): Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah shall be approved as Crown Prince,” KUNA said,…

Japanese crypto exchange DMM Bitcoin said it had lost bitcoin worth around $300 million in what it described as “an unauthorized leak” from its digital wallet. “We are still investigating details of the damages,” it said in a statement after detecting the “unauthorized leak” at around 13:26 (0426 GMT) Friday. “We have already taken measures to prevent the unauthorized leak, but we have also implemented restrictions on the use of some services to ensure additional safety,” the exchange said. DMM Bitcoin did not give details on the “leak” but global cryptocurrency analysis firm Chainalysis said it was one of the…

The bloc could target imports of food, nuclear energy, and medicines that have thus far not been in the crosshairs

New restrictions could be applied to financial institutions that use the Bank of Russia’s financial messaging system

Indonesia’s president-elect, Prabowo Subianto, said on Saturday that his country was willing to send peacekeeping troops to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza if required.Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security conference, Prabowo said US President Joe Biden’s three-phase proposal for a ceasefire in Gaza was a step in the right direction.“When needed and when requested by the UN, we are prepared to contribute significant peacekeeping forces to maintain and monitor this prospective ceasefire as well as providing protection and security to all parties and to all sides,” Prabowo said.The 72-year-old former special forces general and current Indonesian defense minister…

US bipartisan leaders have officially invited Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress within the next eight weeks or shortly after the August recess. In the United States, leaders from both the Republican and Democratic parties have formally invited Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to speak before Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson extended the official invitation to Netanyahu on Friday to address a joint session of Congress. The invitation bears the signatures of all four Congressional leaders: Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and House Minority Leader Hakeem…

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid vowed on Saturday to back Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he proceeds with a ceasefire and exchange deal, despite opposition from Netanyahu’s extremist coalition partners. “I remind Netanyahu that he has our safety net for a hostage deal if Ben Gvir and Smotrich leave the government. The Israeli government cannot ignore President Biden’s important speech,” Lapid said on X. “There is a deal on the table and it should take it.” On Friday, US President Joe Biden announced that “Israel” had proposed a new plan for achieving a complete ceasefire, which includes the release of captives…