عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
World

Global Reaction to Trump’s Election Victory

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to his wife former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to his wife former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
TT
TT

Global Reaction to Trump’s Election Victory

Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to his wife former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. (AFP)
Former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump points to his wife former US First Lady Melania Trump during an election night event at the West Palm Beach Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, early on November 6, 2024. (AFP)

World leaders rushed to congratulate Republican Donald Trump on Wednesday after Fox News projected he had defeated Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris in the US presidential election, which would cap a stunning political comeback four years after he left the White House.

Here are views from financial market participants.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKIY, PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE

"I appreciate President Trump’s commitment to the 'peace through strength' approach in global affairs. This is exactly the principle that can practically bring just peace in Ukraine closer," Zelenskiy said on X.

BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, PRIME MINISTER OF ISRAEL

"Congratulations on history's greatest comeback! Your historic return to the White House offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America. This is a huge victory! In true friendship," Netanyahu wrote on X.

EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE

"Congratulations, President Donald Trump. Ready to work together just as we knew how to do during four years. With your convictions and with mine. With respect and ambition. For more peace and prosperity.," Macron wrote on X.

KEIR STARMER, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER

"Congratulations President-elect Trump on your historic election victory. I look forward to working with you in the years ahead. As the closest of allies, we stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of our shared values of freedom, democracy and enterprise."

MARK RUTTE, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF NATO

"I just congratulated Donald Trump on his election as President of the United States. His leadership will again be key to keeping our Alliance strong. I look forward to working with him again to advance peace through strength through NATO", he said in a post on X.

GIORGIA MELONI, PRIME MINISTER OF ITALY

In a post on X Meloni offered her "most sincere congratulations" to Trump, and said Italy and the United States had an "unshakeable alliance". "It is a strategic bond, which I am certain we will now strengthen even further," she said.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV, FORMER RUSSIAN PRESIDENT

"Trump has one useful quality for us: as a businessman to the core, he mortally dislikes spending money on various hangers–on and stupid hanger-on allies, on bad charity projects and on voracious international organizations," Medvedev, now a senior security official, posted on his official Telegram account.

DICK SCHOOF, DUTCH PRIME MINISTER

"Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on winning the presidential election. The United States is an important ally for the Netherlands, both bilaterally and in international contexts such as NATO. I look forward to our close cooperation on the shared interests between the USA and the Netherlands," he posted on X.

KARL NEHAMMER, AUSTRIAN CHANCELLOR

"Congratulations to @realDonaldTrump on the election victory. The United States is an important strategic partner for Austria. We look forward to further expanding and strengthening our transatlantic relations to successfully address global challenges together."

VIKTOR ORBAN, HUNGARIAN PRIME MINISTER

"The biggest comeback in US political history! Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on his enormous win. A much needed victory for the World!" Orban posted on X.

PETR FIALA, CZECH PRIME MINISTER

"Congratulations to Donald Trump on winning the presidential election. Our shared goal is to ensure that the relations between our countries remain at the highest level, despite changes in administration, and that we continue to develop them for the benefit of our citizens," Fiala said on X.

MARCEL CIOLAC, PRIME MINISTER OF ROMANIA

"Congratulations to President @realDonaldTrump on this historic victory! Romania stands ready to work together to enhance our Strategic Partnership. Under your new leadership we hope for peace and prosperity for all our citizens! Looking forward to a fruitful collaboration!" he posted on X.

ULF KRISTERSSON, PRIME MINISTER OF SWEDEN

"I congratulate Donald Trump on being elected the next president of the United States. I look forward to working together and continuing the excellent US-Sweden relations as friends and allies."

JONAS GAHR STOERE, PRIME MINISTER OF NORWAY

"I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory in the US presidential election. The US is Norway's most important ally and we work closely together in many areas. I look forward to continuing our cooperation with the US under Mr. Trump's leadership."

METTE FREDERIKSEN, PRIME MINISTER OF DENMARK

"Congratulations to Donald Trump on the election. The United States is our most important ally. We must maintain the close cooperation between the United States and Denmark and continue to strengthen the transatlantic bond that has endured through generations."

NAYIB BUKELE, PRESIDENT OF EL SALVADOR

"Congratulations to the President-Elect of the United States of America, @realDonaldTrump. May God bless and guide you," Bukele posted on X.

Most Viewed

 
 
World

Ex-Philippine President to Face Trial on Crimes Against Humanity Charges

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2016 file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2016 file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
TT
TT

Ex-Philippine President to Face Trial on Crimes Against Humanity Charges

FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2016 file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)
FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2016 file photo, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte delivers a speech at the Philippine Economic Forum in Tokyo. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko, File)

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Thursday confirmed crimes against humanity charges against former Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte for deadly anti-drugs crackdowns he allegedly oversaw while in office.

A three-judge panel found unanimously there were “substantial grounds” to believe the ex-leader was responsible for dozens of murders, first as mayor of the southern Philippine city of Davao and later as president.

Duterte, 80, was arrested in the Philippines last year and denies the charges against him.

In their 50-page decision, judges found that the evidence shows that Duterte “developed, disseminated and implemented” a policy “to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals,” The Associated Press reported.

According to prosecutors, police and hit squad members carried out dozens of murders at Duterte’s behest, motivated by the promise of money or to avoid becoming targets themselves.

“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court in pretrial hearings in February.

A date for the start of the trial has not yet been set.

Duterte's lead defense lawyer Nick Kaufman told judges during the February hearings that he “stands behind his legacy resolutely, and he maintains his innocence absolutely."

Kaufman argued that the prosecution “cherry-picked” examples of Duterte's “bombastic rhetoric,” and his client’s words were never intended to incite violence.

Estimates of the death toll during Duterte’s presidential term vary, from the more than 6,000 that the national police have reported to up to 30,000 claimed by human rights groups.

Duterte has not been present in the courtroom for any hearings, having waived his right to appear. Last month judges found he was fit to stand trial, after postponing an earlier hearing over concerns about his health.

ICC prosecutors said in 2018 that they would open a preliminary investigation into the violent drug crackdowns. In a move that human rights activists say was aimed at avoiding accountability, Duterte, who was president at the time, announced a month later that the Philippines would leave the court.

On Wednesday, appeals judges rejected a request from Duterte’s legal team to throw out the case on the grounds that the court did not have jurisdiction because of the Philippine withdrawal.

World

Denmark: Train Collision Leaves 17 Injured, 5 Are in Critical Condition

Damages at the accident scene after two trains collided between Hillerod and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Denmark, 23 April 2026. EPA/STEVEN KNAP
Damages at the accident scene after two trains collided between Hillerod and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Denmark, 23 April 2026. EPA/STEVEN KNAP
TT
TT

Denmark: Train Collision Leaves 17 Injured, 5 Are in Critical Condition

Damages at the accident scene after two trains collided between Hillerod and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Denmark, 23 April 2026. EPA/STEVEN KNAP
Damages at the accident scene after two trains collided between Hillerod and Kagerup at Isteroedvejen, Denmark, 23 April 2026. EPA/STEVEN KNAP

Two commuter trains collided head-on near the Danish capital on Thursday injuring 17, of whom five were in critical condition, emergency services said.

"We can't provide any details for now about the cause of the accident," police official Morten Kaare Pedersen told reporters.

He said police were alerted to the accident at 6:29 am (0429 GMT), which occurred about 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Copenhagen between the towns of Hillerod and Kagerup.

Officials originally said four people were critically injured but revised that figure hours after the crash. It was not immediately clear whether the train's drivers were among the victims.

Investigators are looking into what caused the collision. Photos from the scene show the front ends of the trains smashed, though both remained upright on the tracks.

The mayor of the nearby town of Gribskov, Trine Egetved, in a post on Facebook, said some of the injured were flown to the hospital.

She said the crash occurred on a local rail line that's used by many Gribskov residents, employees and schoolchildren.

World

Report: Clearing Hormuz Strait Mines Could Take 6 Months

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
TT
TT

Report: Clearing Hormuz Strait Mines Could Take 6 Months

Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer
Ships and boats in the Strait of Hormuz, Musandam, Oman, April 22, 2026. REUTERS/Stringer

A Pentagon assessment said it could take six months to completely clear the Strait of Hormuz of Iranian-laid mines, which could keep oil prices high, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

Iran has all but blocked the vital waterway since the start of a war with the United States and Israel, sharply driving up oil and gas prices and disrupting the global economy.

The strait -- through which one-fifth of the world's oil and gas passes in peacetime -- has remained largely closed during a shaky ceasefire, with the US imposing its own blockade.

Even if hostilities end and the blockade lifts, it could take months to clear the waterway of mines, according to a Pentagon assessment, the Washington Post reported citing officials close to the discussion.

The assessment added that it was unlikely such an operation would begin before the end of the war.

The six-month estimate was shared with members of the House Armed Services Committee during a classified briefing, the Post reported.

Lawmakers were told that Iran may have placed 20 or more mines in and around the strait, some floated remotely using GPS technology which makes them harder to detect, according to the report.

AFP has contacted the Department of Defense for comment.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the Washington Post that its information was "inaccurate."

Iran's Revolutionary Guards have warned of a "danger zone" covering 1,400 square kilometers -- 14 times the size of Paris -- where mines may be present.

Iran's parliament speaker said his country would not reopen the strait as long as the US naval blockade remained.

A spokesman for German transportation giant Hapag-Lloyd cautioned last week that shippers needed details on viable routes as they remain fearful of mines.

When the Hormuz strait briefly reopened at the start of the ceasefire this month, only a few ships trickled through amid fears of attacks or mines.

Earlier in April, the US Navy said its ships transited the waterway to begin removing the mines, but that claim was denied by Iran's Revolutionary Guard, which threatened any military vessels attempting to cross the channel.

London hosted talks with military planners from over 30 countries starting Wednesday on a UK and France-led multinational mission to protect navigation in the Strait of Hormuz once hostilities end.

The "defensive" coalition is set to discuss plans to reopen the strait and conduct mine clearance operations.