It is no exaggeration to say that a bizarre new phase in human history began on January 20 as Donald J. Trump becomes the world’s most powerful man. All bets, to put it mildly, are off. Those entrusted to report on and analyze the contemporary world are especially befuddled. One can condemn Trump’s open loathing for the mainstream media. …

  DUBAI / Reuters Share prices in Kuwait jumped in very heavy trade on Sunday, the top performing market in a strong Gulf region, while tax fears continued to weigh on prices in Egypt. The Kuwaiti market index surged 3.2 percent, its biggest rise in more than two years, to a 23-month high, while trading volume was the biggest since …

  Bloomberg US stocks rose as an increase in crude oil spurred gains in energy companies. The benchmark index pared earlier gains as President Donald Trump delivered his inauguration address. Consumer staples shares climbed as Procter & Gamble Co. reported quarterly earnings that topped estimates. The S&P 500 Index added 0.3 percent to 2,271.29 at 4 p.m. in New York …