Middle Eastern Politics Headlines at 4:22 a.m. GMT
Brace for turbulence: Lessons from a bumpy 'super year' of global elections
Latest Stories
South China Morning PostBeijing meeting puts spotlight on China's new face of AI, DeepSeek founder Liang Wenfeng
The founder of artificial intelligence (AI) firm DeepSeek, touted as 2025's "biggest dark horse" in the open-source large language model (LLM) arena, emerged as the industry's new face in China at a symposium hosted by Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Monday. Liang Wenfeng, 40, took part in the meeting where a select group of industry experts - in the fields of technology, education, science, culture, health and sports - offered Li their opinions and suggestions for a draft government work report,
- Fortune
Caught secretly selling car owners’ driving data, General Motors slapped with a hefty ban by Lina Khan’s FTC
The U.S. carmaker had been harvesting drivers' data that was of particular value for insurers keen on better assessing the risk posed by policyholders.
- GuruFocus.com
CrowdStrike, Fortinet Get Price Target Hikes Amid Booming Cybersecurity Market
Cybersecurity stocks gain momentum as Scotiabank boosts price targets, citing strong demand for cloud and enterprise security
- CBC
Trump targets Canada's digital services tax with America First trade policy
One of U.S. President Donald Trump's freshly signed executive orders puts the Liberal government's digital services tax into the sights of America's Commerce, Treasury and Trade departments, threatening to further irritate the trade relationship between the two countries.The America First Trade Policy, signed into force by Trump Monday evening, seeks to ensure America's trading relationships bring maximum benefit to "American workers, manufacturers, farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs and businesse
- HuffPost
This Donald Trump Move Could Doom His ‘Honeymoon Period,’ Says CNN Data Reporter
“Simply put, this is not a popular policy," said Harry Enten.
- The Daily Beast
‘No Other Choice’: Trump Issues an Ultimatum to Pal Putin
Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to his one-time ally Vladimir Putin, threatening him with retribution if he doesn’t make a deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine. In an apparent effort to make good on his already-broken vow to end the war within 24 hours of becoming president, Trump took to Truth Social on Wednesday to try and bend the strong-man leader’s arm. “I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War
- BuzzFeed
Jeff Bezos's Fiancée Lauren Sánchez Reacted To Criticism Of Her Inauguration Outfit
I want to Eternal Sunshine the clip of Mark Zuckerberg seemingly looking down her bra.
- BuzzFeed
Elon Musk Was Accused Of Doing A Nazi Salute At Trump's Inauguration, And Here's How His Ex Grimes Responded
Grimes had an on-and-off relationship with Elon between 2018–2023, and they share three children.
- The Daily Beast
Doug Emhoff Avenges Kamala’s Viral Handshake Snub
Doug Emhoff, the husband of former Vice President Kamala Harris, was out for blood at President Donald Trump’s inauguration, deliberately snubbing a man who refused his wife’s offer of a handshake earlier this month, according to CNN. On Monday, Emhoff, who served as second gentleman of the United States from 2021 to 2025, rejected a handshake from Bruce Fischer, husband of Sen. Deb Fischer of Nebraska. Emhoff brought up the moment Fischer appeared to refuse Harris’ proffered hand at the Republi
- HuffPost
Donald Trump Has Middle-Of-The-Night Meltdown Over Pastor’s ‘Nasty’ Sermon About Him
The fuming free speech-advocating president demanded an apology.
- HuffPost
Jimmy Kimmel Spots Truly Awkward Melania Moment At Trump Inauguration
The late night host joked that this must be a sign the two are "very, very much in love."
- HuffPost
Trump Revokes Workplace Discrimination Rules Enacted By LBJ In 1965
The new president just unwound a landmark anti-discrimination measure implemented amid the height of the Civil Rights Movement.
- HuffPost
George W. Bush And Barack Obama Create Another Megaviral Moment At Trump Inauguration
It centered on Bush's behavior.
- The Daily Beast
Trump Starts Purge With Midnight Truth Social Firing of Chef José Andrés and General Mark Milley
Former President Joe Biden greeted President Donald Trump at the White House in advance of Monday’s inauguration with a conciliatory gesture, telling him and first lady Melania Trump: “Welcome home.” Trump ended his first day back in that home by posting a sneering message boasting of how his team was hunting down hundreds of Biden appointees to throw out of office. “Our first day in the White House is not over yet!” Trump wrote, in a Truth Social post shortly after midnight. “My Presidential Pe
- The Hill
Fanone tells Stewart Rhodes to ‘go f‑‑‑ yourself’ live on CNN
Michael Fanone, a former Washington, D.C., police officer who was attacked during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol, cursed out Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the anti-government group the Oath Keepers, during an appearance Wednesday on CNN. As Fanone was appearing on the network to discuss President Trump’s pardon of the Jan. 6…
- CNN
Trump pardons DC officers convicted in death and cover up
President Donald Trump has issued a “full and unconditional pardon” to Washington, DC, police lieutenant Andrew Zabavsky and officer Terence Sutton for their roles in the death of 20-year-old Karon Hylton-Brown, a case that drew protests on the heels of the murder of George Floyd.
- People
Pregnant Woman Set to Give Birth Was Beheaded Weeks Before Due Date, Ex Sentenced for Murder
Liese Dodd's killer was sentenced to 60 years in prison last week
- The Canadian Press
B.C. First Nations leader reverses stance on pipeline as Trump tariff threat looms
VANCOUVER — The president of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs is reversing his previous opposition to the scrapped Northern Gateway pipeline project that would have created another route for Alberta's oil to get to the Pacific Ocean.
- The Independent
Who owns the Gulf of Mexico and can Trump rename it?
The Gulf of Mexico is a major economic center for the US, Mexico and Cuba
- CBC
This man faced a $4K bill for truck reported stolen after police sent pickup notice during postal strike
When David Miller's pickup truck went missing in Ottawa last summer, he reported it as stolen and accepted it could be on a container ship sailing to parts unknown. He'd resigned himself to never seeing it again. Then, early last week, he got an even bigger surprise in his mailbox, he says.The Ottawa Police Service (OPS) sent him a notice saying his 2018 Dodge RAM had been found and it was sitting in a towing company's south Ottawa storage yard. Miller could go to a police station, get the neces