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Trump Convenes First Peace Board Meeting Amid Lingering Gaza Uncertainties

  The U.S. Institute of Peace building prepares to host U.S. President Donald Trump's first Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., U.S., February 18, 2026. As President Donald Trump prepares to chair the inaugural meeting of the newly formed Board of Peace, the gathering is already drawing global attention due to unresolved questions surrounding the ongoing humanitarian and political crisis in Gaza. The board, created to advise on conflict resolution and long‑term stability initiatives, is expected to face immediate scrutiny over how it will address the region’s fragile cease-fire and the stalled negotiations between Israeli and Palestinian representatives. Officials close to the administration have signaled that the meeting will focus on establishing the board’s priorities, though observers note that the situation in Gaza looms large over any discussion of regional peace. Humanitarian groups continue to raise alarms about access to aid, reconstruction challenges, and the un...
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US holiday retail sales grow 3.1%, down from prior year -Mastercard



US retail sales rose 3.1% between Nov. 1 and Dec. 24, rounding up a majority of the holiday sales for retailers, as shoppers looked for last-minute Christmas deals amid big promotions, a Mastercard report showed on Tuesday.

The increase is lower than the 3.7% growth Mastercard forecast in September, and has slumped from last year’s 7.6% as higher interest rates and inflation pressured consumer spending. Sales in the apparel and restaurant categories rose 2.4% and 7.8%, respectively, during the holiday shopping period, according to the Mastercard Spending Pulse report, while sales of electronics fell 0.4%.

Ecommerce sales grew at a slower pace of 6.3% from last year’s 10.6% as the popularity of online shopping came off pandemic highs, the report showed.

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