Pentagon chief seeks to boost US ties with flurry of talks in Asia

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31: U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held talks on Friday with counterparts from China and India, among a series of face-to-face meetings at an ASEAN defence summit in Malaysia as Washington seeks to boost its influence and regional security ties.

Hegseth said on X he told China's Dong Jun the United States would "stoutly defend its interests" and maintain the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, while voicing concern about Chinese activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan.

He also hailed as "a cornerstone for regional stability and deterrence" a new 10-year defence cooperation framework signed with Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

"It's a significant step for our two militaries, a roadmap for deeper and even more meaningful collaboration ahead," Hegseth told reporters after the signing.

Hegseth and Singh met for the first time since the United States imposed tariffs of 50% on Indian goods in August as punishment for New Delhi's purchases of Russian oil, which led to India pausing purchases of U.S. defence equipment.

Hegseth's visit to Southeast Asia came soon after Trump shocked the world by announcing on social media that he had asked the U.S. military to "start testing our Nuclear Weapons", saying the United States could not fall behind Russia and China.

The U.S. has sought to shore up its presence in Southeast Asia to counter an increasingly assertive China, with Trump on Sunday telling ASEAN leaders Washington is "with you 100% and we intend to be a strong partner for many generations".

The United States has a defence pact with the Philippines that involves dozens of annual military drills and use of some of its bases, in addition to similar exercises with Thailand and Indonesia and security exchanges with Malaysia.

In a succession of X posts carrying images of his Kuala Lumpur meetings on Friday, Hegseth said he discussed a longstanding alliance with Thailand's defence minister, described Indonesia as "an anchor of regional stability" and said he discussed advancing Washington's strong defence partnership with the Philippines.

"We will work relentlessly to reestablish deterrence in the South China Sea and advance our alliance," he said of the meeting with the Philippine defence secretary Gilberto Teodoro.

Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea via a line on its maps that overlaps with parts of the exclusive economic zones of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam.

China has deployed a coast guard armada to enforce those claims, has clashed repeatedly with Philippine vessels and has been accused of disrupting the energy activities of Malaysia and Vietnam.

Beijing says its coast guard has operated professionally in defending Chinese territory from incursions.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong told ASEAN counterparts that Beijing would work with its neighbours to "make the shield of common security even more solid".

"With Eastern wisdom, we shall pool Eastern strength, and through practical actions, safeguard lasting peace and stability in the South China Sea," he said, according to China's defence ministry.

Trump seals rare earths deal in 'amazing' meet with Xi, to cut China tariffs 10%

BUSAN, Oct 30: Calling it an “amazing” meeting that marked a “fantastic new beginning” in US China relations, US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a sweeping set of economic and trade understandings with Chinese President Xi Jinping, including a 10% reduction in tariffs, a resumption of soybean purchases, and a breakthrough on the contentious issue of rare earth exports.

Speaking after more than two hours of closed-door talks with Xi in Busan, Trump declared that “a lot of decisions were made” and that “conclusions on very important things” would be released soon.

“I wouldn’t say everything was discussed,” Trump told reporters with his trademark flourish. “But it was an amazing meeting. We agreed that President Xi will work very hard to stop fentanyl, soybean purchases will start immediately, and tariffs on China will be lowered from 57% to 47%.”

Perhaps the most consequential breakthrough came on rare earths, critical minerals essential to high-tech manufacturing, electric vehicles, and defence equipment.

“All the rare earth issue has been settled,” Trump said, adding that “no more roadblocks” would impede the flow of Chinese exports to the United States.

A US official travelling with Trump confirmed that Beijing has agreed to keep exports of rare earths flowing under a one-year arrangement that both sides expect to extend.

The deal could ease supply chain concerns that had rattled American tech and defence firms in recent months.

In another key announcement, Trump said he would roll back tariffs on Chinese goods by 10%, from 57% to 47%, calling it a “gesture of good faith” following what he described as a “very constructive” dialogue with Xi.

“Many very important points were agreed upon,” Trump said. “We’re in agreement on so many elements and I think we’ll be providing conclusions on very important things shortly.”

The tariff cut is part of what officials described as a renewed framework for cooperation following months of tariff threats and retaliatory measures between the two nations.

Trump also said, “China will immediately start buying soybeans again. That’s a big win for our farmers.” He added, “the trade relationship is going to look very different now.”

Trump also said Xi had pledged to intensify efforts to curb fentanyl production, a recurring flashpoint between Washington and Beijing, which US officials blame for fueling America’s opioid crisis.

“As you know, I put a 20% tariff on China because of the fentanyl coming in, which is a big tariff,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One after leaving South Korea. “I reduced it by 10% so it’s 10% instead of 20% effective immediately.”

Trump added that he believes Xi is “going to work very hard to stop the death that’s coming in.”

Trump tells Pentagon to immediately resume testing US nuclear weapons

BUSAN, Oct 30: President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. military on Thursday to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons after a gap of 33 years, in what appeared to be a message to rival nuclear powers China and Russia.

Trump made the surprise announcement on Truth Social while aboard his Marine One helicopter, flying to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping for a trade-negotiating session in Busan, South Korea. He said he was instructing the Pentagon to test the U.S. nuclear arsenal on an "equal basis" with other nuclear powers.

"Because of other countries testing programs, I have instructed the Department of War to start testing our Nuclear Weapons on an equal basis. That process will begin immediately," Trump posted.

"Russia is second, and China is a distant third, but will be even within 5 years."
Xi has more than doubled China's nuclear warhead arsenal over the past five years, while Russian President Vladimir Putin has tested two new nuclear-powered weapons in recent days.

It was not immediately clear whether Trump was referring to nuclear-explosive testing, which would be carried out by the National Nuclear Security Administration, or flight testing of nuclear-capable missiles.

Russia - which tested a new nuclear-powered cruise missile on October 21, held nuclear readiness drills on October 22 and tested a new nuclear-powered autonomous torpedo on October 28 - said it hoped Trump had been properly informed that Moscow had not tested an actual nuclear weapon itself.

"President Trump mentioned in his statement that other countries are engaged in testing nuclear weapons. Until now, we didn't know that anyone was testing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

Putin, who commands the world's biggest arsenal of nuclear warheads, has repeatedly said that if any country tests a nuclear weapon then Russia will do so too.

No nuclear power - other than North Korea most recently in 2017 - has carried out explosive nuclear testing in over 25 years. Post-Soviet Russia has never tested. The Soviet Union last tested in 1990, the U.S. last tested in 1992 and China in 1996.

China's Foreign Ministry called for the U.S. to abide by its commitment to a moratorium on nuclear testing and uphold the global strategic balance and stability.

"Any explosive nuclear weapon test by any state would be harmful and destabilising for global non-proliferation efforts and for international peace and security," said Robert Floyd, head of the Vienna-based Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has repeatedly said current nuclear risks are already alarmingly high and urged countries to avoid all actions that could lead to miscalculation or escalation with "catastrophic" consequences, said deputy U.N. spokesperson Farhan Haq.

"As he has said, we must never forget the disastrous legacy of over 2,000 nuclear weapons tests carried out over the last 80 years, and that nuclear testing can never be permitted under any circumstances," said Haq.

Later, on his way back to Washington, Trump said testing was needed to ensure the U.S. keeps up with rival nuclear powers.

"With others doing testing, I think it's appropriate that we do also," Trump said on board Air Force One, adding that nuclear test sites would be determined later.

Asked whether the world was entering a more risky phase around nuclear weapons, Trump dismissed the threat, saying U.S. stocks were "well locked up" before adding that he would welcome denuclearization.

"I'd like to see a denuclearization because we have so many and Russia's second and China's third and China will catch up within four or five years," he said.

"We are actually talking to Russia about that and China would be added to that if we do something.".

'I Am Going For A Trade Deal With India': Trump At APEC Meeting

SEOUL, Oct 29: US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he is ready for a trade deal with India. "I am going to do a trade deal with India and I have great respect for PM Modi," he said at the APEC CEOs luncheon in South Korea.

Trump emphasised his "great respect" for Modi while affirming his interest in a stronger economic relationship.

The US imposed a tariff of 50% on most Indian goods in August, half of which is a penalty for purchases of Russian oil. Trump asserted his administration’s success in foreign policy, claiming, "We stopped a lot of wars, made our country strong," and noted that "around the world, we are signing one trade deal after another."

‘Won’t let you down': Trump's big promise to business leaders as he seeks Japanese investment in US

TOKYO, Oct 28: US President Donald Trump had dinner with business leaders, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Salesforce’s Marc Benioff, and Rakuten Group’s Hiroshi Mikitani, in a move aimed at boosting Japanese investment in the United States.

Assuring the leaders that the US “won’t let you down”, Trump said, “You have great companies, you’re phenomenal business people,” at the dinner hosted by US Ambassador to Japan George Glass.

OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman, Toshiba's Taro Shimada, SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, Honda Motor President Toshihiro Mibe, and Anduril Industries founder Palmer Luckey were also among those invited to the dinner.

Notably, guests at the dinner were served a menu including vegetable spring rolls, salad, stuffed pasta, and apple crumble tart, Bloomberg reported.

The dinner began with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who announced several new potential Japanese investments in US projects. Under a trade agreement reached earlier this year, Trump reduced and capped tariffs on Japanese goods in return for Japan’s commitment to fund $550 billion worth of US projects.

Lutnick reportedly said that the deals announced on Tuesday could total around $490 billion in investments, though many remain preliminary and represent the higher end of potential costs.

Trump had earlier described the $550 billion as funds his administration could “invest as we like”, with 90% of the profits going to the US. Japan, however, has described the pledge as a mix of investments, loans, and guarantees intended to support Japanese firms’ projects in the US.

Sanae Takaichi, who became Japan’s first female prime minister only a few days ago, strengthened her ties with Trump during their meeting on Tuesday. “That’s a very strong handshake,” Trump told Takaichi as soon as they met.

Trump told her it was a “big deal” that she is Japan’s first woman prime minister and said that the US is committed to Japan. Known for his blunt tone with foreign leaders, Trump appeared to have only positive words for Takaichi.

“Anything I can do to help Japan, we will be there,” he said. “We are an ally at the strongest level.”

Both leaders also signed black “Japan is Back” baseball caps, resembling Trump’s red “Make America Great Again” caps.

Trump says Putin should end the Ukraine war, not test missiles

AIR FORCE ONE, Oct 27: U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday Russian President Vladimir Putin should end the war in Ukraine instead of testing a nuclear-powered missile, and that the United States had a nuclear submarine positioned off Russia's coast.

Putin said on Sunday Russia had successfully tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, a nuclear-capable weapon Moscow says can pierce any defence shield, and will move towards deploying the weapon.

Moscow said the 9M730 Burevestnik (Storm Petrel) had flown for 14,000 km (8,700 miles). Asked on Air Force One about the test of the missile, dubbed the SSC-X-9 Skyfall by NATO, Trump said the United States did not need to fly so far as it had a nuclear submarine off the coast of Russia.

"They know we have a nuclear submarine, the greatest in the world, right off their shores, so I mean, it doesn't have to go 8,000 miles," Trump told reporters.

"I don't think it's an appropriate thing for Putin to be saying, either, by the way: You ought to get the war ended, the war that should have taken one week is now in ... its fourth year, that's what you ought to do instead of testing missiles."

Since first announcing the 9M730 Burevestnik in 2018, Putin has cast the weapon as a response to U.S. moves to build a missile defence shield after Washington in 2001 unilaterally withdrew from the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and to enlarge the NATO military alliance.

Asked about Trump's remarks, the Kremlin said Russia would be guided by its own national interests but saw no reason for the missile test to strain relations with the White House.

"Despite all our openness to establishing a dialogue with the United States, Russia, first of all, and the president of Russia, is guided by our own national interests," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "That's how it was, that's how it is, and that's how it's going to be."

The Kremlin said Russia was ensuring its own security by developing new weapons.

"There is nothing here that can and should strain relations between Moscow and Washington," Peskov said.

US Navy Chopper, Jet Crash Into South China Sea Within 30 Minutes, None Hurt

WASHINGTON, Oct 27: A fighter jet and a helicopter based off the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz both crashed into the South China Sea within 30 minutes of each other on Sunday afternoon, the Navy's Pacific Fleet said.

The three crew members of the MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter were rescued, and the two aviators in the F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet ejected and were recovered safely, and all five “are safe and in stable condition,” the fleet said in a statement.

The causes of the two crashes were under investigation, the statement said.

The USS Nimitz is returning to its home port in Naval Base Kitsap in Washington state after having been deployed to the Middle East for most of the summer as part of the U.S. response to attacks by Yemen's Houthi rebels on commercial shipping. The carrier is on its final deployment before decommissioning.

Another aircraft carrier, the USS Harry S. Truman, suffered a series of mishaps in recent months while deployed to the Middle East.

In December, the guided-missile cruiser USS Gettysburg mistakenly shot down an F/A-18 jet from the Truman.

Then, in April, another F/A-18 fighter jet slipped off the Truman's hangar deck and fell into the Red Sea.

And in May, an F/A fighter jet landing on the carrier in the Red Sea went overboard after apparently failing to catch the steel cables used to stop landing planes and forcing its two pilots to eject.

No sailors were killed in any of those mishaps. The results of investigations into those incidents have yet to be released.

Top US Official Signals Last-Minute Deal With China Ahead Of Trump-Xi Meet

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 26: US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Sunday signalled a deal with China to avoid escalating a tariff-fueled trade war, just days before a summit between Presidents Donald Trump and Xi Jinping.

In an interview with ABC's "This Week," Bessent said the US threat of a 100 per cent tariff hike on Chinese goods had effectively been taken off the table in exchange for Beijing deferring curbs on its global rare earth exports.

"The tariffs will be averted," Bessent said after wrapping up talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

On the export controls, China will "delay that for a year while they reexamine it," Bessent said.

The secretary's remarks came as Trump kicked off an Asia tour in Kuala Lumpur that will culminate in a sit-down with Xi in South Korea.

Bessent said he expected the two leaders to formally announce the deal at their summit.

The secretary said Beijing had also agreed on "substantial" purchases from US farmers, who are a key source of domestic political support for Trump and have been massively impacted by the tariff row between the two countries.

China, once the biggest buyer of US soybean exports, simply halted all orders as the trade dispute took hold.

"I believe, when the announcement of the deal with China is made public, that our soybean farmers will feel very good," Bessent said.

'Hamas Could Be Put Out In 2 Minutes': Trump Warns Against Ceasefire Violation

WASHINGTON, Oct 22: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described Hamas as "violent people" and stated they "could be put out in two minutes," while noting that the group was being given an opportunity to uphold the ceasefire agreement.

Speaking at a Diwali celebration at the White House, Trump highlighted the broader context of his peace efforts, saying, "We are forging peace all over the world... We're getting everybody to get along. I just got a call from the Middle East. We're doing very well there. We have many countries signed on to peace in the Middle East, and nobody thought they'd ever see that happening."

Turning specifically to the situation with Hamas, Trump reiterated the group's violent nature and the US's approach, stating, "The Hamas situation, they're pretty violent people. We could put that out in two minutes. We're giving them a chance. They agreed that they'd be very good and straight. They wouldn't be killing people."

He emphasised that swift action would follow if the ceasefire was violated: "If they don't honour the deal, they'll be taken care of very quickly. It is total peace in the Middle East; we have levels of friendship with everybody. Every country that hated each other now loves each other. Nobody ever saw anything like it..."

This firm stance echoed his warning from October 21, when Trump had cautioned Hamas not to breach the Gaza peace plan, expressing hope that the group would act responsibly and adding that "if they do not, an end to Hamas will be fast, furious and brutal." The President made the statement in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, outlining the support of US allies in the region.

In his post, Trump wrote, "Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and 'straighten our Hamas' if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us. The love and spirit for the Middle East has not been seen like this in a thousand years! It is a beautiful thing to behold! I told these countries, and Israel, 'NOT YET!' There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right."

He further added, "If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL! I would like to thank all of those countries that called to help. Also, I would like to thank the great and powerful country of Indonesia, and its wonderful leader, for all of the help they have shown and given to the Middle East, and to the U.S.A. TO EVERYONE, thank you for your attention to this matter."

Plans for Trump-Putin meeting shelved days after Budapest talks proposed

WASHINGTON, Oct 21: There are "no plans" for US President Donald Trump to meet Russia's Vladimir Putin "in the immediate future", a White House official has stated.

Last Thursday Trump said he and the Russian president would hold talks in Budapest within two weeks to discuss the war in Ukraine.

A preparatory meeting between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov was due to be held this week - but the White House said the two had had a "productive" call and that a meeting was no longer "necessary".

The White House did not share any more details on why the talks had been put on hold.

But key differences between US proposals and Russia's preconditions for peace became increasingly clear this week, and appear to have dashed chances of a summit between the two presidents.

Trump had discussed a Budapest summit over the phone with Putin, a day before meeting Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky in the White House.

Some reports suggested his talks with Zelensky had been a "shouting match", with sources suggesting Trump had pushed him to give up large areas of territory in eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, known as the Donbas, as part of a deal with Russia.

However, Zelensky has always said Ukraine cannot relinquish the parts of the Donbas it still holds, on the grounds that Russia could later use the area as a springboard for further attacks.

On Monday, Trump embraced a ceasefire proposal backed by Kyiv and European leaders to freeze the conflict on the current front line.

"Let it be cut the way it is," he said. "I said: cut and stop at the battle line. Go home. Stop fighting, stop killing people."

Russia has repeatedly pushed back against freezing the current line of contact.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the idea had been put to the Russians repeatedly but that "the consistency of Russia's position doesn't change" – referring to Moscow's insistence on the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the embattled eastern regions.

Moscow was only interested in "long-term, sustainable peace", Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday, implying that freezing the front line would only amount to a temporary ceasefire.

The "root causes of the conflict" needed to be addressed, Lavrov said, using Kremlin shorthand for a series of maximalist demands that include the recognition of full Russian sovereignty over the Donbas as well as the demilitarisation of Ukraine – a non-starter for Kyiv and its European partners.

Earlier on Tuesday, European leaders put out a statement with Zelensky saying that any talks on ending the war in Ukraine should start with freezing the current front line and accused Russia of not being "serious" about peace.

Trump and Putin last met in Alaska in August during a hastily organised summit which yielded no concrete results.

The White House decision to shelve plans for a second Trump-Putin meeting may have been an attempt to avoid another similar scenario.

"I guess the Russians wanted too much and it became evident for the Americans that there will be no deal for Trump in Budapest," a senior European diplomat told Reuters.

Zelensky said discussions about the front line were the "beginning of diplomacy" which Russia was doing everything to avoid.

The only topic that could make Moscow "pay attention" was the supply of long-range weapons to Ukraine, he added.

Putin's unscheduled call with Trump last Thursday came following speculation that the US was preparing to send long-range Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv that could potentially strike deep into Russia.

Zelensky said it was the Tomahawks issue that had forced Russia to engage in discussion. The talk about the missiles had turned out to be a "strong investment in diplomacy", he added.

Trump warns Hamas of ‘fast, furious & brutal’ strike amid push on next Gaza truce steps

WASHINGTON, Oct 21: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Hamas of a “FAST, FURIOUS & BRUTAL” response if it fails to “do what is right,” as Washington pushes for the next, more complex stage of a Gaza ceasefire that has already been repeatedly strained.

Stepping up pressure on Hamas, Trump said in a social media post that several US allies had expressed readiness to enter Gaza and strike Hamas, but he told them and Israel “not yet.”

Trump wrote, “Numerous of our NOW GREAT ALLIES in the Middle East, and areas surrounding the Middle East, have explicitly and strongly, with great enthusiasm, informed me that they would welcome the opportunity, at my request, to go into GAZA with a heavy force and “straighten our Hamas” if Hamas continues to act badly, in violation of their agreement with us.”

However, Trump said he warned "these countries, and Israel, “NOT YET!” There is still hope that Hamas will do what is right. If they do not, an end to Hamas will be FAST, FURIOUS, & BRUTAL!..."

Both Israel and Hamas have accused each other of breaching the truce, signed eight days ago, with tensions and clashes over the return of hostage bodies, delivery of aid, and border access.

On Monday, Trump warned Hamas that it would be "eradicated" if it fails to honour the Gaza peace deal with Israel.

US Vice President JD Vance, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday, is set to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday for discussions that Israel said would focus on “security challenges and political opportunities.”

The talks are expected to center on Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan, one that moves beyond the current fragile truce toward far tougher measures such as Hamas’ disarmament and steps toward a Palestinian state.

Vance’s visit follows Monday’s meeting between Netanyahu and US envoys Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and coincides with Hamas’ talks with mediators in Cairo.

India Will Continue Paying Massive Tariffs Over 'Russian Oil': Trump

WASHINGTON, Oct 20: US President Donald Trump has doubled down on his claim that India has agreed to restrict its Russian oil purchases. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, the US leader threatened to impose "massive tariffs" on Indian goods unless New Delhi agreed to his terms and halted its purchases.

"I spoke with Prime Minister Modi of India, and he said he's not going to be doing the Russian oil thing," he said, reiterating what he said in the past week.

India last week rejected Trump's claim that he had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over New Delhi's Russian oil imports. When asked about India's assertion, he replied, "But if they want to say that, then they'll just continue to pay massive tariffs, and they don't want to do that."

The remarks came amid growing US pressure on Russia's trade partners, particularly in the energy sector, which Washington argues indirectly funds Moscow's war effort in Ukraine.

India has become the biggest buyer of seaborne Russian oil sold at a discount after Western nations shunned purchases and imposed sanctions on Moscow for its 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Washington has already imposed a sweeping 50 per cent tariff on a large basket of Indian exports. The US tariffs - among the highest in the world - include a 25 per cent penalty for transactions with Russia that are a key source of funds for its war in Ukraine.

Trump has repeatedly said that those duties would remain on India or even increase if New Delhi does not halt its crude trade with Moscow.

Hope War Will End Without Ukraine Needing Tomahawks: Trump During Meet With Zelensky

WASHINGTON, Oct 17: US President Donald Trump suggested Friday it would be premature to give Ukraine Tomahawk missiles, saying as he hosted Volodymyr Zelensky that he hoped to secure peace with Russia first.

"Hopefully they won't need it. Hopefully we'll be able to get the war over with without thinking about Tomahawks," Trump told reporters as he said opposite Zelensky in the Cabinet Room of the White House.

Trump shook hands with Zelensky, who was wearing a dark suit and shirt, outside the West Wing and briefly raised a fist but neither leader answered shouted questions.

The meeting comes a day after Trump announced a fresh summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin -- and cast doubt on giving Kyiv the powerful cruise missiles.

Ukraine has been lobbying Washington for Tomahawks for weeks, arguing that they could help put pressure on Russia to end its brutal three-and-a-half year invasion.

But on the eve of Zelensky's visit, Putin warned Trump in a call against delivering the weapons, saying it could escalate the war and jeopardize peace talks.

Trump also questioned whether he would grant Ukraine's wish, saying Washington could not "deplete" its own supplies of Tomahawks.

Trump and Putin agreed to a new summit in the Hungarian capital Budapest, which would be their first since an August meeting in Alaska that failed to produce any kind of peace deal.

Diplomatic talks on ending Russia's invasion have stalled since the Alaska summit.

Ukraine had hoped Zelensky's trip would add more pressure on Putin, especially by getting Tomahawks, which have a range of over 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles).

But Trump, who once said he could end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, appears set on pursuing a new diplomatic breakthrough to follow the Gaza ceasefire deal that he brokered last week.

The Kremlin said Friday that "many questions" needed resolving before Putin and Trump could meet, including who would be on each negotiating team.

But it appeared to brush off suggestions Putin would have difficulty flying over European airspace.

Hungary said Friday it would ensure Putin could enter and "hold successful talks" with the US despite an International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant against him for alleged war crimes.

"Budapest is the only suitable place in Europe for a USA-Russia peace summit," Hungarian President Viktor Orban said on X on Friday.

Zelensky's visit to Washington, Ukraine's main military backer, will be his third since Trump returned to office.

During this time, Trump's position on the Ukraine war has shifted dramatically back and forth.

At the start of his term, Trump and Putin reached out to each other as the US leader derided Zelensky as a "dictator without elections".

Tensions came to a head in February, when Trump accused his Ukrainian counterpart of "not having the cards" in a bombshell televised meeting at the Oval Office.

Relations between the two have since warmed as Trump has expressed growing frustration with Putin.

But Trump has kept a channel of dialogue open with Putin, saying that they "get along." The US leader has repeatedly changed his position on sanctions and other steps against Russia following calls with the Russian president.

'Great Progress': After Call, Trump Says He Will Meet Putin In Budapest

WASHINGTON, Oct 16: President Donald Trump said Thursday he will meet again with Russia's Vladimir Putin in an effort to end the war in Ukraine. A date has not been set, but Trump wrote on social media that the meeting would take place in Budapest, Hungary.

"I believe great progress was made with today's telephone conversation," Trump wrote after talking to Putin. They previously met in Alaska in August, which did not produce a diplomatic breakthrough.

Before Trump and Putin meet, US officials led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio will sit down with Russian representatives next week. It's unclear where that meeting will take place.

The call came ahead of Trump's meeting on Friday at the White House with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has been pressing Trump to sell Kyiv Tomahawk missiles that would allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory. Zelensky has argued that such strikes would help compel Putin to take Trump's calls for direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine to end the war more seriously.

Trump had told reporters travelling with him to Israel on Sunday that he had planned to discuss the Tomahawks with Putin as a way to pressure him to end Russia's war in Ukraine.

"Do they want to have Tomahawks going in that direction? I don't think so," Trump said on Sunday. "I think I might speak to Russia about that."

With a fragile Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage deal holding, Trump has said he's now turning his attention to bringing the war in Ukraine to an end and is weighing providing Kyiv long-range weaponry as he looks to prod Moscow to the negotiating table.

Ending the wars in Ukraine and Gaza was central to Trump's 2024 reelection pitch, in which he persistently pilloried President Joe Biden for his handling of the conflicts. Yet, like his predecessor, Trump also has been stymied by Putin as he's unsuccessfully pressed the Russian leader to hold direct talks with Zelensky to end the war, which is nearing its fourth year.

But fresh off the Gaza ceasefire, Trump is showing new confidence that he can finally make headway on ending the Russian invasion. He's also signalling that he's ready to step up pressure on Putin if he doesn't come to the table soon.

"Interestingly, we made progress today, because of what's happened in the Middle East," Trump said of the Russia-Ukraine war on Wednesday evening as he welcomed supporters of his White House ballroom project to a glitzy dinner.

'If they don't disarm...': Trump's warning to Hamas after announcing start of Phase 2 of Gaza plan

WASHINGTON, Oct 15: United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned Hamas, urging the Palestinian group to “disarm”.

“If they don't disarm, we will disarm them. And it will happen quickly and perhaps violently,” Trump said during a meeting at the White House with Argentine President Javier Milei.

“I spoke to Hamas and I said 'you're gonna disarm and they said 'yes sir, we're going to disarm',” Trump said, while adding that he conveyed his message to the group “through my people.”

The US President further urged Hamas to release the bodies of the hostages held in Gaza. “ALL TWENTY HOSTAGES ARE BACK AND FEELING AS GOOD AS CAN BE EXPECTED. A big burden has been lifted, but the job IS NOT DONE,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

This comes a day after Trump swung by Middle East to celebrate the agreement of a ceasefire plan by Israel and Hamas.

Hours after completing visits to Israel and Egypt, Trump also announced the start of Phase 2 of his Gaza plan. “THE DEAD HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED, AS PROMISED! Phase Two begins right NOW!!!” the US President said on Truth Social.

Trump, however, did not elaborate on how Hamas would be disarmed and who would be involved in doing so, and did not address whether this would include US forces.

While the disarming of Hamas was a key part of the next phase of Trump's 20-point Gaza plan, the Palestinian group has refused to disarm.

Meanwhile, Hamas has still not returned the bodies of more than 20 dead hostages. The group had returned four bodies on Monday.

Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir earlier on Tuesday threatened to cut off aid supplies to Gaza if Hamas failed to return the remains of soldiers who had been held in the territory.

4 Dead, 20 Injured In Mass Shooting At Restaurant In US' South Carolina

United States, Oct 12: Four people were killed and at least 20 injured in a shooting at a restaurant in a South Carolina island town on Sunday, the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office said.

Deputies were called to Willie's Bar and Grill on St. Helena Island just before 1 am and found several people suffering from gunshot wounds, the sheriff's office said in a statement.

Of those injured, four are in critical condition, authorities said.

The sheriff's office said it was investigating the incident but declined to provide further details. The office declined to release the names of those killed pending notification of family members.

Hundreds of people were there at the time of the shooting, the sheriff's office said.

"This is a tragic and difficult incident for everyone," the sheriff's office said.

St. Helena Island is known as an epicenter of a culture of people descended from African slaves known as Gullah Geechee. The bar and grill where the shooting occurred describes itself as serving authentic Gullah cuisine.

Mass shootings, which the Gun Violence Archive defines as incidents where four or more people are shot, have become more common in the US in the past decade.

Americans are largely divided along political lines regarding possible policy solutions, with Democrats favoring more gun restrictions and Republicans backing gun rights and better enforcement of laws against violent crime.

U.S. Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor in Delhi, meets Modi, Jaishankar, Doval, and Misri

NEW DELHI, Oct 11: In an effort to repair ties and fast-track the India-U.S. trade agreement, U.S. Ambassador-designate to India and President Donald Trump’s special envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs Sergio Gor arrived in Delhi on Saturday and met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Gor, who is in New Delhi for a few days, will only take charge “in the new year,” the U.S. Embassy said, raising speculation that he is here to firm up details for a meeting between Trump and Modi on the sidelines of the upcoming ASEAN-related summits in Kuala Lumpur on October 26 and 27.

“I’m confident that his tenure will further strengthen the India–U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership,” Modi said on X. In a post, Gor said he was confident the U.S.-India relationship will “only strengthen over the months ahead”.

Gor told reporters that he discussed bilateral issues with Modi, including defence, trade, and technology. “We also discussed the importance of critical minerals and the importance of that to both of our nations,” he added.

In a series of back-to-back meetings on Saturday, Gor met with PM Modi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The intensity of the meetings with India’s foreign policy leadership is an indicator of the U.S. government’s eagerness to get India-U.S. relations back on the rails again after months of strain over the 50% tariffs on Indian goods, visa crackdowns, U.S. pressure over ending India’s Russian oil imports and differences over the narrative on Operation Sindoor.

However, Modi and Trump have had two telephone calls in the past month, which have raised hopes they can repair the rupture in ties.

In particular, any move by India to reduce its intake of Russian oil will be watched closely, with the import level having dipped already despite larger discounts being offered in recent weeks.

Modi’s praise of Trump’s Gaza peace proposal and tweets in seven different languages are believed to be aimed at addressing Trump’s obvious annoyance that India did not join other countries in endorsing him for the Nobel Peace Prize and has denied that the U.S. had any role in ending the Operation Sindoor conflict with Pakistan.

The latest China-U.S. spat, which has led to the U.S. imposing 100% tariffs on Chinese goods in retaliation for China’s restrictions on critical mineral trade, is also expected to make the India-U.S. trade deal appear more attractive for both sides.

“Discussed the India-U.S. relationship and its global significance,” Jaishankar posted on social media after the meeting with Gor, wishing him for his new responsibility in Delhi.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson, Gor and Misri had a “productive exchange on the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and its shared priorities”.

Gor is accompanied by Deputy Secretary for Management and Resources Michael J. Rigas, arriving days after the U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment as the U.S. Ambassador to India. His visit is unusual, as according to normal protocol, he would arrive in Delhi, and conduct meetings only after he has presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu.

However, the timing of the meeting, just weeks before the ASEAN summit, as well as the unorthodox manner of U.S. diplomacy are seen as reasons for the sudden visit. In particular, Gor is believed to have conveyed the urgency of finalising the India-U.S. trade agreement at the earliest, before the leaders meet.

According to a U.S. State Department release, Gor was to be in India from October 9 to 14. However, he attended the Indian Embassy Deepavali party in Washington on October 10 before arriving in Delhi on Saturday (October 11, 2025) for the meetings.

“We look forward to his permanent move in the new year but we are hitting the ground running,” the U.S. Embassy in Delhi said in a statement, referring to it as his “First official visit”.

Trump calls China’s rare earth move ‘hostile,’ threatens massive tariff hike on imports

WASHINGTON, Oct 10: US President Donald Trump on Friday accused China of launching a “hostile” trade offensive by sending letters to countries around the world announcing plans to impose export controls on rare earth elements and other key materials.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, Trump said Beijing’s actions could “clog the markets” and disrupt global trade, calling it “a rather sinister and hostile move.”

“They are becoming very hostile, and sending letters to countries throughout the world, that they want to impose Export Controls on each and every element of production having to do with Rare Earths, and virtually anything else they can think of, even if it’s not manufactured in China,” Trump wrote.

The US President said he had not spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping following the move, adding that their meeting at the upcoming APEC Summit “now seems to be no reason to do so.”

Trump warned that the United States was preparing a strong financial response to counter Beijing’s restrictions.

“One of the Policies that we are calculating at this moment is a massive increase of Tariffs on Chinese products coming into the United States of America,” he said, adding that other countermeasures were also “under serious consideration.”

He further called China’s move “especially inappropriate,” noting it came on the same day he announced “peace in the Middle East,” and suggested the timing was meant to undermine global stability.

China has asked India to provide assurances that heavy rare earth magnets imported from Beijing will not be re-exported to the United States and will be used exclusively for domestic purposes.

The report said Indian companies have already submitted end-user certificates confirming the materials won’t be used for manufacturing weapons, but China is seeking additional export control commitments similar to those under the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral pact aimed at promoting transparency in dual-use technologies.

While India is a member of the arrangement, China is not.

Modi Congratulates Trump On Gaza Peace Plan, Discusses India-US Trade

NEW DELHI, Oct 9: Prime Minister Narendra Modi today congratulated his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump on the success of the Gaza peace plan that the American leader had proposed in a major step to end a war that has killed tens of thousands of people.

In a post on X, PM Modi also announced he discussed India-US trade negotiations with Trump, and indicated more activity in the coming weeks.

"Spoke to my friend, President Trump and congratulated him on the success of the historic Gaza peace plan. Also reviewed the good progress achieved in trade negotiations. Agreed to stay in close touch over the coming weeks." the prime minister said.

In another post, Modi said terrorism in any form or manifestation is unacceptable anywhere in the world.

"Called my friend, Prime Minister Netanyahu, to congratulate him on the progress made under President Trump's Gaza peace plan. We welcome the agreement on the release of hostages and enhanced humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. Reaffirmed that terrorism in any form or manifestation is unacceptable anywhere in the world," he said.

'Transformative President': Canadian PM Praises Trump Over India-Pak Peace

WASHINGTON, Oct 8: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has called Donald Trump a "transformative president" and credited him for bringing "peace" between India and Pakistan.

Speaking during bilateral talks at the White House, the Canadian leader credited Trump for influencing global affairs and economic stability.

"You (Donald Trump) hosted me and some of my colleagues a few months ago, and I said at the time, 'You are a transformative president,'" Carney said in the Oval Office, as Trump nodded.

"And since then, the transformation in the economy, unprecedented commitments of NATO partners to defend spending, peace from India-Pakistan, through to Azerbaijan-Armenia, disabling Iran as a force of terror, these were important."

This was Carney's second visit to the Oval Office since taking over the top office in Canada in March. The visit came ahead of next year's review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, as one of the world's most durable and amicable alliances has been fractured by Trump's trade war and annexation threats.

Carney's praise for Trump on Tuesday signalled a notable shift in Ottawa's stance after months of diplomatic unease over Trump's tariff threats and the controversial remarks he made earlier this year claiming that Canada should be "annexed" into the United States.

During the exchange, Trump jested with Carney, joking about a Canadian "merger" in a reference to his previous calls for Canada to become the 51st US state. Carney laughed along and said, "That wasn't where I was going," before continuing with his remarks.

Reaffirming his country's stance on Middle East diplomacy, Carney expressed support for Trump's efforts to bring peace to the region. "We'll do whatever we can to support that," he said.

Trump later praised Carney as a "world-class leader", adding that the former central banker was a "nice man" who can also be "very nasty".

Despite the jovial tone, Trump and Carney studiously avoided giving any precise details on how they might ease US tariffs on lumber, aluminium, steel and automobiles.

Trump announces 25% US tariff on truck imports from November 1

WASHINGTON, Oct 8: The US will impose a 25% tariff on imports of all medium and heavy-duty trucks, President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social on Monday.

“Beginning November 1st, 2025, all medium and heavy duty trucks coming in the United States from other countries will be tariffed at the rate of 25%,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Thank you for your attention to this matter.”

The US president had last month aid heavy truck imports would face new duties as soon as 1 October 2025.

In 2024, the US imported 2,45,764 medium and heavy-duty trucks, primarily from Canada ($4.5 billion) and Mexico ($15.6 billion), valued at roughly $20.1 billion, according to data from the US Department of Commerce.

To be sure, medium- and heavy-duty trucks account for 5% of the US's overall automotive market but the country accounts for 80% demand for such vehicles in North America, according to S&P Global.

'You're So F***ing Negative', Trump Tells Netanyahu During Gaza Talks

WASHINGTON, Oct 6: US President Donald Trump reportedly asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop being "so negative" as Hamas and Tel Aviv appeared on the brink of a peace deal, two years into the bloody war in Gaza. The US leader dialled his Israeli premier to give the 'good news' after Hamas agreed to Trump's Gaza peace proposal.

But Netanyahu felt differently and told Trump there was "nothing to celebrate" about the development and that "it doesn't mean anything," according to a report by Axios.

Trump fired back, "I don't know why you're always so f***ing negative. This is a win. Take it," the report quoted a US official privy to the development as saying.

Officials further told the publication that on Friday's private call, the Israeli leader told Trump he viewed Hamas' response to Washington's plan as a rejection. Quoting an Israeli official, Axios reported that Netanyahu wanted Washington and Tel Aviv to put out a response to avoid the narrative that Hamas had answered positively to Trump's proposal.

But Trump was in a different mood. He was reportedly concerned that Hamas would reject his plan outright and saw the actual response as an opening for a deal. And, therefore, Israeli Prime Minister's tepid reaction earned Trump's fiery response.

The exchange reflects how determined Trump is to push through Netanyahu's reservations and convince him to end the war if Hamas makes a deal.

Shortly after the private call with Netanyahu, Trump issued a statement asking Israel to halt its air strikes in Gaza. Three hours later, Netanyahu gave the order.

Later, Trump himself told Axios in an interview that "we are close" to a peace deal in Gaza, which he said he'll push to finalise in the next few days. He said that he'd told Netanyahu this was his "chance for victory" and that eventually the Israeli leader had gotten on board.

"I said, 'Bibi, this is your chance for victory.' He was fine with it... He's got to be fine with it. He has no choice. With me, you got to be fine," Trump reportedly said.

'It Will Last A Couple Of Days': Trump On Gaza Deal Talks

WASHINGTON, Oct 5: President Donald Trump on Sunday said talks on implementing a truce for Gaza will take days, while his foreign policy chief Marco Rubio warned that Israel needs to stop bombing for a hostage release to happen.

"They're in negotiations right now as we speak. They've started the negotiations. It'll last a couple of days," Trump told reporters at the White House.

"We'll see how it turns out. But I'm hearing it's going very well," he added.

In a text exchange with CNN released Sunday, Trump said "yes" when asked if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was on board with ending the military campaign in Gaza.

Negotiators from Israel and Hamas were set to hold talks in the Egyptian resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh, with Netanyahu expressing hope that hostages held in Gaza could be released within days.

But Rubio called for a halt to Israeli bombing on Gaza.

"I think the Israelis and everyone acknowledge you can't release hostages in the middle of strikes, so the strikes will have to stop," the secretary of state told CBS News talk show "Face the Nation."

"There can't be a war going on in the middle of it."

The diplomatic push follows the positive response by Hamas to Trump's roadmap for an end to the fighting and the release of captives in Gaza in exchange for Palestinians held in Israeli jails.

Rubio told NBC's "Meet the Press" that there were "logistical challenges" to address to pave the way for the hostage release.

He also predicted that the longer-term goals would be "even harder" to attain, in terms of how the war-ravaged territory would be governed and disarming militants.

"You can't set up a government structure in Gaza that's not Hamas in three days. I mean, it takes some time," Rubio told NBC.

Trump told CNN he expected clarity "soon" on whether the Palestinian militant group -- which carried out the deadly October 7, 2023, attack on Israel that triggered the conflict -- was committed to peace.

The US president added that if Hamas were to refuse to cede power, they would face "Complete Obliteration!"

Move quickly or else...: Trump's fresh warning to Hamas to accept Gaza peace plan

WASHINGTON, Oct 4: US President Donald Trump on Saturday urged Palestinian terror group Hamas to "move quickly" to accept his peace plan for war-torn Gaza and thanked Israel for "temporarily stopping the bombing" that killed 10 people in Gaza City.

Asserting that he wouldn't tolerate "any delay", he warned Hamas to cease fighting and lay down its arms or else "all bets will be off". He also assured again that Israel and Hamas will be kept on board with the fragile agreement.

"I appreciate that Israel has temporarily stopped the bombing in order to give the hostage release and peace deal a chance to be completed. Hamas must move quickly, or else all bets will be off. I will not tolerate delay, which many think will happen, or any outcome where Gaza poses a threat again. Let's get this done, fast. Everyone will be treated fairly!" he wrote on Truth Social.

On Friday, Trump asked Hamas to reach a peace deal with Israel by 6 pm on Sunday, warning that "otherwise all hell will break out". Trump also said that Hamas was being given one last chance to accept his peace plan, release the Israeli hostages and call it a day of hostilities, saying "there will be peace one way or the other".

Trump's warning to Hamas came hours after 10 people were killed in a fresh Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, according to Palestinian media. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) did not comment on the air assault.

Quoting The Times of Israel, military sources said the IDF was still conducting defensive operations even though it paused its offensive in the Gaza Strip.

Al-Shifa Hospital director Mohamed Abu Selmiyah said that Israeli strikes had "significantly subsided". His statement assumed significance as Gaza City had been placed under evacuation orders for weeks amid Israel's ground offensive against Hamas in the region.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will issue a statement shortly on the progress to a deal to end the war and release of hostages held by Hamas in Gaza.

WHAT IS THE GAZA PEACE PLAN?

The 20-point peace plan calls for an immediate end to fighting in Gaza if both Israel and Hamas accept its terms. Israeli forces would begin pulling back as hostages are released, with Hamas required to free all captives within 72 hours of Israel's acceptance.

In exchange, Israel would release Palestinian prisoners and detainees, including women and children held since October 7, 2023, when Hamas attacked Israel and the Jewish nation's subsequent military operation in Gaza.

Trump, who has been pushing both Israel and Hamas to agree on a peace deal to end the two-year-long Gaza war, outlined the proposal, which lays out a framework for the Palestinian enclave's postwar governance. The White House released the plan, describing it as a roadmap for both ending the conflict and shaping the territory's future administration.

According to the plan, a temporary governing board would be established, chaired by Trump and joined by figures, including former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. The framework makes clear that no one in Gaza would be forced to leave, and stipulates that the fighting would cease immediately if both Israel and Hamas accept the terms.

Hamas had drawn a welcoming response from Trump on Friday by saying it accepted certain key parts of his 20-point peace proposal, including ending the war, Israel's withdrawal and the release of Israeli hostages and Palestinian captives.

Another possible boost to peace hopes came with a supportive statement from the Iran-backed Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which is smaller than Hamas but seen as more hardline.

The group, which also holds hostages, on Saturday endorsed Hamas's response - a move that could help pave the way for the release of Israelis still held by both parties.

Hamas's response to the plan drew a chorus of optimistic statements by world leaders, who urged an end to the deadliest conflict involving Israel since its creation in 1948 and called for the release of Israelis still held in the enclave.

In Washington, a White House official said on Saturday that Trump was sending his envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Egypt to finalise the technical details of the hostage release and discuss a lasting peace deal.

Netanyahu's office said Israel was preparing for "immediate implementation" of the first stage of Trump's Gaza plan for the release of Israeli hostages following Hamas's response.

Trump Sets Sunday Deadline For Hamas or Face 'All Hell'

WASHINGTON, Oct 3: US President Donald Trump on Friday issued an ultimatum to Hamas to accept his Gaza peace plan by Sunday 6 pm Washington DC time or face "all hell".

"An Agreement must be reached with Hamas by Sunday Evening at SIX (6) P.M., Washington, D.C. time," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "Every Country has signed on! If this LAST CHANCE agreement is not reached, all HELL, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas. THERE WILL BE PEACE IN THE MIDDLE EAST ONE WAY OR THE OTHER."

Earlier this week, Trump had unveiled the plan along with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. His peace deal for the Israel and Gaza comes after nearly two years of conflict and has still not been accepted by the Palestinian group.

On Tuesday, Hamas had said they would study the proposal and Trump told reporters that Hamas would have "three or four days" to respond.

He threatened Hamas and said most of them "are surrounded and MILITARILY TRAPPED, just waiting for me to give the word, 'GO,' for their lives to be quickly extinguished. As for the rest, we know where and who you are, and you will be hunted down, and killed".

The deal calls for a ceasefire, the release of hostages within 72 hours, the disarmament of Hamas and Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza. This would be followed by Trump heading the post-war authority

Mohammad Nazzal, a member of Hamas's political bureau, said in a statement Friday that the "plan has points of concern, and we will announce our position on it soon".

Hamas had maintained that they would only release the remaining hostages for a ceasefire that lasts and Israel's withdrawal. Meanwhile Netanyahu had rejected their terms, saying Hamas should disarm and surrender.

US Government Shuts Down, 1st Since 2018

WASHINGTON, Oct 1: The US government has officially shut down after Democrats blocked a Republican stopgap funding package that didn't address their demands. As part of the measure, the government funding expired as the clock struck midnight, and no one inside the Capitol knows what will happen next.

This is the first government shutdown in over six years, when in 2018-2019 funding for the government lapsed for five weeks, including over New Year's Day, during Trump's first term.

A shutdown would see nonessential operations grind to a halt, leaving hundreds of thousands of civil servants temporarily without pay, and payment of many social safety net benefits potentially disrupted.

Essential workers, including military personnel, will have to work without pay, while non-essential federal employees will be sent on furlough. Per nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates, as many as 750,000 federal workers could be temporarily furloughed, even if Trump doesn't proceed with permanent dismissals.

The president raised the stakes in the fight, telling reporters Tuesday his administration may permanently fire "a lot" of federal workers in the event of a shutdown. The federal government typically temporarily furloughs non-essential workers during a funding lapse and later gives them back pay when the shutdown ends.

When a lapse in funding occurs, the law requires federal agencies to cease activity and furlough their "non-excepted" employees. "Excepted employees" include those who perform work to protect life and property. They stay on the job but don't get paid until after the shutdown has ended.

Therefore, in-hospital medical care, border protection, law enforcement and air-traffic control are likely to continue during the stoppage. Social security and Medicare cheques will also be sent out, but benefit verification and card issuance could stop.

Government functions, like NASA's space missions, President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown and certain public health work at the Food and Drug Administration and the United States Department of Agriculture, would also continue during a shutdown.

But there could be travel delays if the congressional standoff drags on and unpaid workers stop showing up.

Generally, during shutdowns, essential workers continue their work normally, some even without regular pay cheques – but federal employees deemed non-essential are sent on temporary unpaid leave. In the past, these workers have then been paid retrospectively.

That means that services like the federally funded food assistance programme, food inspections, government pre-schools, the issuing of student loans, immigration hearings, and operations at national parks may be curtailed or closed.

While the larger economy may not feel the impacts right away, a prolonged closure could slow economic growth, disrupt markets, and erode public confidence.

According to a report, this shutdown is likely to be bigger than the one in late 2018 during Trump's first term as president, when Congress had passed some funding bills.

Analysts have estimated this shutdown could shave around 0.1 to 0.2 percentage points off economic growth for each week that it lasts.

US budget stand-offs have become routine as the nation's politics have grown more dysfunctional. This time around, Democrats have insisted that any spending bill must include additional healthcare subsidies, while Republicans have insisted that the two issues should be dealt with separately.

Trump has added fuel to the fire. Ahead of Tuesday's vote, he threatened to cancel programs favoured by Democrats and fire more federal workers if the government shuts down.

"We'll be laying off a lot of people," he told reporters. "They're going to be Democrats."

Such layoffs would lead to further brain drain for the government. More than 150,000 workers are due to leave federal payrolls this week after taking a buyout, the biggest exodus in 80 years. Tens of thousands more have already been fired this year. Trump has also refused to spend billions of dollars approved by Congress, prompting some Democrats to question why they should vote for any spending bills at all.

With no sign of compromise on Capitol Hill, it was unclear how long a shutdown would play out. Congress has shut down the government 15 times since 1981, with most lasting a day or two. The most recent, during Trump's first term, was also the longest.

This time, health care is the sticking point. Democrats say any spending bill must also make permanent Affordable Care Act subsidies that are due to expire at the end of the year. Without a fix, healthcare costs for 24 million Americans will rise sharply, with a disproportionate impact in Republican-controlled states like Florida and Texas that have refused to enact other aspects of the law that provide coverage to low-income people. Democrats have also sought to ensure that Trump will not be able to undo those changes if they are signed into law.

Republicans say they are open to a fix but accuse Democrats of holding the budget hostage to satisfy the demands of their base voters ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress will be at stake.

Trump Gives Hamas 3-4 Days To Reply To Peace Plan, Warns Of 'Sad End'

WASHINGTON, Sept 30: US President Donald Trump has said that Hamas has three to four days to respond to his 20-point peace proposal. The plan calls for a ceasefire, release of hostages by Hamas within 72 hours, disarmament of Hamas and Israel's gradual withdrawal from Gaza. It also proposes a post-war transitional authority headed by Trump himself.

Trump, while answering questions at the White House, said that he will give Hamas about 3-4 days to respond to his peace plan. He said that the rest of the parties involved are all signed up, and they are just waiting for Hamas.

Trump issued a harsh warning, "All of the Arab countries are signed up. The Muslim countries are all signed up. Israel is all signed up. We're just waiting for Hamas, and Hamas is either going to be doing it or not, and if it's not, it's going to be a very sad end."

The Republican leader's comments come a day after he unveiled the 20-point peace plan.

"Hamas has begun a series of consultations within its political and military leaderships, both inside Palestine and abroad," said a Palestinian source. "The discussions could take several days due to the complexities."

On Monday, Trump described the announcement of the plan as a "beautiful day -- potentially one of the greatest days ever in civilisation".

While holding a press conference with Trump, Netanyahu warned, "I support your plan to end the war in Gaza, which achieves our war aims," adding, "If Hamas rejects your plan, President, or if they supposedly accept it and then basically do everything to counter it, then Israel will finish the job by itself."

The war in Gaza was triggered by an attack by Hamas on October 7, 2023. The attack killed 1,219 people in Israel.

The offensive by Israel has reduced much of Gaza to rubble and killed 66,055 Palestinians, according to figures by the health ministry.