Trump Threatens 200% Tariffs On France

WASHINGTON, Jan 20: US President Donald Trump has threatened 200 per cent tariffs on French wine and champagne over Paris's intentions to decline his invitation to join his "Board of Peace". The US leader also shared in a Truth Social post a private message he received from French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Greenland.

Trump's all-out attack on France came after Paris derided Washington by mocking US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent's justification of why Trump is fixated on the Arctic territory, part of Denmark.

"I'll put a 200 per cent tariff on his wines and champagnes. And he'll join. But he doesn't have to join," Trump said, referring to French President Emmanuel Macron. The US-proposed board was originally conceived to oversee the rebuilding of war-torn Gaza, but the charter does not appear to limit its role to the occupied Palestinian territory.

He later posted a private message from Macron, where the French President told Trump that the two agree on the issues of Iran and Syria but told him he did not "understand" what Trump was "doing on Greenland?"

The French president offered to meet Trump and other G7 leaders on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, noting he could also invite Ukrainians, Danes, Syrians and Russians. He also offered to take Trump out to dinner on Thursday.

The development came after a news agency reported that France "does not intend to answer favourably" to Trump's 'Board of Peace' invitation.

The board's charter "goes beyond the sole framework of Gaza", the source close to the French president said.

France also mocked the US over Trump's Greenland push. In a post on X, the official account of the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs mocked Scott Bessent's justification of Trump's move, drawing parallels to deliberately causing harm to prevent a hypothetical future crisis.

"If there were a fire someday, firefighters would intervene – so better burn the house now," the post read.

Continuing with similar analogies, he added, "If a shark might attack someday, intervention would follow – so better eat the lifeguard now," and, "If there were a crash someday, damage would occur – so better ram the car now."

The French response came after Bessent defended Trump's move, saying the 79-year-old president was focused on future threats from Russia in the Arctic region.

"Down the road, this fight for the Arctic is real... We would keep our Nato guarantees. And if there were an attack on Greenland from Russia, from some other area, we would get dragged in," he said.

Trump's threats to impose 200 per cent tariffs on French wine and champagne are "unacceptable" and "ineffective," sai a source close to French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday.

"Tariff threats to influence our foreign policy are unacceptable and ineffective," the source said after Trump made the threat over France's intentions to decline his invitation to join his "Board of Peace."

US To Send Aircraft To Greenland Amid Tensions Over Trump's Takeover Bid

WASHINGTON, Jan 20: The US will deploy a North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft at the Pituffik space base, Greenland, as tensions rise over President Donald Trump's move to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory.

NORAD said that the aircraft will arrive at the base to support various long-planned activities. They also said that this action is taken in coordination with Denmark and Greenland.

"North American Aerospace Defence Command (NORAD) aircraft will soon arrive at Pituffik Space Base, Greenland. Along with aircraft operating from bases in the continental United States and Canada, they will support various long-planned NORAD activities, building on the enduring defence cooperation between the United States and Canada, as well as the Kingdom of Denmark," NORAD said in a post on X.

"This activity has been coordinated with the Kingdom of Denmark, and all supporting forces operate with the requisite diplomatic clearances. The Government of Greenland is also informed of planned activities," they added.

NORAD routinely conducts sustained, dispersed operations in the defence of North America, through one or all three NORAD regions (Alaska, Canada, and the continental U.S.).

The US move follows a multinational military exercise led by Danish forces amid the tensions with Washington over Donald Trump's threats to acquire Greenland.

Germany, Sweden, France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Finland have sent small numbers of military personnel to Greenland to join the exercise in a move to ensure the safety of the Arctic. Denmark had also invited the US to join the military exercise.

Meanwhile, strengthening his push to acquire Denmark's territory, Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Denmark and other European countries, including the UK, unless they agree to sell Greenland.

In his post, Trump claimed the move is necessary for national security, citing China's and Russia's interest in the territory.

He offered to negotiate with the European nations but warned of escalating tariffs of 10 per cent from February 1, 2026, and 25 per cent from June 1, 2026 if a deal wasn't reached, stating it was "time for Denmark to give back" after years of US support.

Trump Invites India To Be Part Of Gaza's 'Board Of Peace'

WASHINGTON, Jan 19: US President Donald Trump has invited India to be a part of what he called "Board of Peace" meant to oversee governance and reconstruction in postwar Gaza.

The White House had said there would be a main board, chaired by Trump himself, a Palestinian committee of technocrats meant to govern the war-wracked territory, and a second "executive board" that appears designed to have a more advisory role.

India is a country acceptable to both Israel and Palestine because of historic ties with both. India enjoys strategic partnership with Israel and has given regular humanitarian aid and help to Palestine.

India was among the first countries to send humanitarian aid to Gaza through Egypt after the recent conflict began.

This board, formed on January 15 as part of Trump's 20-point peace plan for Gaza, is seen as a potential broader mechanism to address other global conflicts in the future.

The White House did not detail the responsibilities of each member of the board. It said more members will be announced over the coming weeks.

The separate 11-member "Gaza Executive Board" would include Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, UN Middle East peace coordinator Sigrid Kaag, United Arab Emirates International Cooperation Minister Reem Al-Hashimy, Israeli-Cypriot billionaire Yakir Gabay and officials from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said the composition of this board had not been coordinated with Israel and contradicted its policy - possibly a reference to Fidan's presence, as Israel objects to Turkish involvement. Israel's government also has a tense relationship with Qatar.

Trump Imposes 10% Tariff On Denmark, UK, France For Opposing Greenland Plan

WASHINGTON, Jan 17: US President Donald Trump on Saturday declared that he would charge a 10 per cent tariff on European countries because of their opposition to America's Greenland takeover. Countries like Denmark, the UK, France, and other EU countries will be hit with US tariffs from February 1.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump announced that the tariffs would be raised to 25 per cent on June 1 if a deal is not reached for "the Complete and Total purchase of Greenland" by the United States.

The decision comes a day after Trump warned that he could impose tariffs on countries that do not support his Greenland plans.

European leaders have said that it's only for Denmark and Greenland to decide on matters concerning the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with allies.

The White House has said Trump's aim to take over Greenland would not be affected by the European military presence, which French Armed Forces Minister Alice Rufo said was a sign that the continent was prepared to defend sovereignty.

Trump has been insisting for quite a while now that the US needs the mineral-rich Greenland for its "national security".

Earlier this week he said that anything less than Greenland being in US hands is "unacceptable". The Republican leader has justified his calls for a takeover by saying that it is to prevent the territory from being occupied by China and Russia.

On Wednesday, after a meeting in Washington, Danish representatives said Copenhagen and Washington were in "fundamental disagreement" over Greenland's future.

Thousands of people marched through Copenhagen on Saturday to protest in support of their own self-governance amid threats of US takeover. Protesters carried signs such as "We shape our future", "Greenland is not for sale" and "Greenland is already GREAT".

Denmark's foreign minister on Thursday ruled out any US acquisition of Greenland, after the White House said a European military mission to the Arctic island had no effect on Donald Trump's territorial ambitions. Lars Lokke Rasmussen said, "This is out of the question. It's not what we want in Denmark, nor in Greenland and it runs counter to all international rules. It infringes on sovereignty."

Greenland's prime minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen, said on Tuesday that "if we have to choose between the United States and Denmark here and now, we choose Denmark. We choose NATO. We choose the Kingdom of Denmark. We choose the EU."

Trump Calls For End To Khamenei's Rule In Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 17: US President Donald Trump called for an end to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's 37-year-old rule. "It's time to look for new leadership in Iran," he told Politico on Saturday after the country in the Middle East was rocked by weeks of protests against the Islamic Republic.

"The best decision he ever made was not hanging more than 800 people two days ago," Trump told the publication.

Trump argued that Iran's leadership relies on repression and violence to run the country. He blamed Khamenei for "complete destruction of the country" and for using unprecedented levels of violence.

"In order to keep the country functioning – even though that function is a very low level – the leadership should focus on running his country properly, like I do with the United States, and not killing people by the thousands in order to keep control," Trump said.

He added, "Leadership is about respect, not fear and death."

Calling Khamenei a "sick man", Trump said that it is because of the leadership of Iran that it is the "worst place to live anywhere".

Trump's remarks come soon after Khamenei vowed to "break the back of the seditionists" involved in the protest. He also blamed Trump for "casualties" during the anti-government demonstrations in Iran.

Blair and Rubio among names on Gaza 'Board of Peace'

WASHINGTON, Jan 17: The Trump administration has named US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and former UK prime minister Sir Tony Blair as two of the founding members of its "Board of Peace" for Gaza.

Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and the president's son-in-law Jared Kushner will also sit on the "founding executive board", the White House said in a statement on Friday.

Trump will act as chairman of the board, which forms part of his 20-point plan to end the war between Israel and Hamas.

It is expected to temporarily oversee the running of Gaza and manage its reconstruction.

Also on the founding executive board are Marc Rowan, the head of a private equity firm, World Bank chief Ajay Banga and a US national security adviser, Robert Gabriel.

Each member would have a portfolio "critical to Gaza's stabilisation and long-term success", the White House statement said.

Trump had said on Thursday that the board had been formed, calling it the "Greatest and Most Prestigious Board ever assembled at any time, any place".

Further members of the board would be named in the coming weeks, the White House said.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been asked by Trump to join the board and will accept the invitation, a senior Canadian official told journalists, according to CBC News.

Argentinian President Javier Milei shared an image of an invitation to join the board on X, writing that it would be "an honour" to participate.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has also been invited, the country's foreign minister said, adding "we are studying the matter".

Sir Tony was UK prime minister from 1997 to 2007 and took the UK into the Iraq War in 2003. After leaving office, he served as Middle East envoy for the Quartet of international powers (the US, EU, Russia and the UN).

In this role, he focused on bringing economic development to Palestine and creating the conditions to move towards a two state-solution.

Sir Tony had already been a part of high-level talks about Gaza's future with the US and other parties. In August, he joined a White House meeting with Trump to discuss plans for the territory, which Witkoff described as "very comprehensive".

In a statement, the former prime minister said he was honoured to be appointed and it had been a "real privilege" to work with Witkoff and Kushner so far.

"I look forward to working with them and other colleagues in line with the president's vision to promote peace and prosperity," Sir Tony said.

He is the only founding member of the executive board who is not a US citizen.

It comes after the announcement of a separate 15-member Palestinian technocratic committee, the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), charged with managing the day-to-day governance of post-war Gaza.

Ali Shaath, a former deputy minister in the Palestinian Authority (PA) which governs parts of the occupied West Bank not under Israeli control, will head that new committee.

The statement also said that Nickolay Mladenov, a Bulgarian politician and former UN Middle East envoy, would be the board's representative on the ground in Gaza working with the NCAG.

Trump's plan says an International Stabilisation Force (ISF) will also be deployed to Gaza to train and support vetted Palestinian police forces and the White House statement said that US Major General Jasper Jeffers would head this force to "establish security, preserve peace, and establish a durable terror-free environment".

The White House said that a separate "Gaza executive board" was being formed that would help support governance and includes some of the same names as the founding executive board as well as further appointees.

Trump's 'Ended 8 Wars' Justification For Accepting Machado's Nobel Prize

WASHINGTON, Jan 17: Donald Trump has justified accepting Maria Corina Machado's Nobel Peace Prize medal with a simple "she offered it to me" and attributed it to ending eight wars. Venezuela's opposition leader, Machado, presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to US President Trump on Thursday, and he accepted it. In return, Trump heaped praise on the "wonderful woman" and called it a "wonderful gesture of mutual respect."

When asked why he would want someone else's Nobel Prize and what he intends to do with it, Trump said, "Well, she offered it to me. I thought it was very nice. She said, you know, you have ended eight wars, and nobody deserves this prize more than - in history - than you do. And I thought it was a very nice gesture."

Trump signed off with a "very fine woman" compliment for Machado.

Earlier on Thursday, after presenting the award to Trump, Machado said she did so "as a recognition for his unique commitment with our (Venezuela) freedom."

Machado had a closed-door meeting with Trump at the White House, and the two are said to have discussed the leadership in Venezuela.

"We can count on President Trump," Machado told supporters waiting outside the White House without elaborating, prompting some to briefly chant, "Thank you, Trump."

U.S. keeps 'all options' on table as Iran urges UN to oppose 'all foreign interference'

WASHINGTON, Jan 16: U.S. President Donald Trump is keeping "all options on the table," not ruling out military intervention regarding the ongoing crisis in Iran, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Thursday.

Speaking at a press briefing, Leavitt warned of "grave consequences" if the violence against protesters continues.

Trump has explicitly threatened to intervene militarily, citing the Iranian government's handling of the unrest that erupted following the sharp depreciation of the currency, the rial. "The president and his team are closely monitoring this situation," Leavitt stated.

The threats come amid weeks of volatility in Iran, where protests began in late December over economic grievances. Authorities said they are prepared to address these concerns while warning against violence, vandalism and unrest.

Initially peaceful, the protests gradually escalated into violence, resulting in casualties and damage to public property, including mosques, government buildings and banks. Iranian authorities have attributed the unrest to interference by the United States and Israel.

As tensions mount, the United States is intensifying pressure on multiple fronts. The U.S. military is reportedly evacuating troops from Middle East bases while simultaneously deploying reinforcements to the region, according to Axios.

Diplomatic Maneuvering is also underway. The New York Times reported Thursday that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke to Trump on Wednesday, asking the White House to postpone any U.S. military attack on Iran, which Trump reportedly has been weighing for days.

On the economic front, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced new sanctions on Thursday targeting 13 more entities and 11 more individuals allegedly linked to Iran.

The individuals sanctioned are all Iranian citizens, including those tied to Iran's law enforcement forces or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and at least three connected to the energy sector, the updated Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list showed. The entities targeted also include a prison in Iran's Alborz province and eight companies based in the United Arab Emirates.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi has written to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, calling for what he described as opposition to "all forms of foreign interference" in Iran.

Trump threatens tariffs over Greenland, calls it vital for security

WASHINGTON, Jan 16: US President Donald Trump says he may impose tariffs on countries that don’t back the United States’s claim to control Greenland, a message that came as a bipartisan congressional delegation sought to lower tensions in the Danish capital.

Since Trump returned to the White House in January, he has repeatedly insisted that the US control Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and said earlier this week that anything less than the Arctic island being in US hands would be “unacceptable”.

During an unrelated event at the White House about rural healthcare, he recounted on Friday how he had threatened European allies with tariffs on pharmaceuticals.

“I may do that for Greenland too,” Trump said. “I may put a tariff on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland, because we need Greenland for national security. So I may do that,” he said.

Trump has said Greenland is vital to US security because of its strategic location and large supply of minerals, and has not ruled out the use of force ⁠to take it.

He had not previously mentioned using tariffs to try to force the issue.

Earlier this week, the foreign ministers of Denmark and Greenland met in Washington with US Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

That encounter didn’t resolve the big differences, but did produce an agreement to set up a working group — on whose purpose Denmark and the White House then offered sharply diverging public views.

European leaders have insisted that only Denmark and Greenland can decide matters concerning the territory, and Denmark said this week that it was increasing its military presence in Greenland in cooperation with allies.

A bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers met the leaders of Denmark and Greenland in Copenhagen on Friday, seeking to “lower the temperature” with assurances of congressional support to recognise Greenland as an ally, not property, after Trump’s threats to seize the Arctic island.

European nations this week sent small numbers of military personnel to the island at Denmark’s request.

The 11-member US delegation, led by Democratic Senator Chris Coons, met Danish Prime ​Minister Mette Frederiksen and her Greenlandic counterpart Jens-Frederik Nielsen, as well as Danish and Greenlandic parliamentarians.

“There’s a lot of rhetoric, but there’s not a ‍lot of reality in the current discussion in Washington,” Coons told reporters following the meetings, saying the politicians would seek to “lower the temperature” on returning home.

Trump’s special envoy to Greenland also said on Friday he plans to visit the Danish territory in March and believes a deal can be made.

“I do believe that there’s a deal that should ‍and ⁠will be made once this plays out,” Jeff Landry told Fox News in an interview on Friday, as the ​US delegation met the Danish and Greenlandic leaders.

“The president is ‌serious. I think he’s laid ‌the markers down. He’s ⁠told Denmark what he’s looking for, and now it’s a matter ‌of having Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio and Vice President JD ‍Vance make a deal.”

Venezuelan Nobel Peace Prize winner presents her medal to Trump

WASHINGTON, Jan 16: Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has given her Nobel Peace Prize medal to President Donald Trump during a meeting at the White House, saying it was a recognition of his commitment to her country's freedom.

"I think today is a historic day for us Venezuelans," she said after meeting Trump in person for the first time, weeks after US forces seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas and charged him in a drug-trafficking case.

Trump said on social media that the move was "a wonderful gesture of mutual respect", but the Nobel committee has said the prize itself was not transferable.

The US president has declined to endorse Machado as Venezuela's new leader, despite her movement claiming victory in 2024's widely contested elections.

Trump has instead been dealing with the acting head of state in Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice-president.

But he said meeting Machado was a "great honor", calling her a "wonderful woman who has been through so much".

After leaving the White House, Machado spoke to supporters gathered at the gates outside, telling them in Spanish: "We can count on President Trump."

"I presented the president of the United States the medal of the Nobel Peace Prize," Machado later told journalists in English, calling it "a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom".

Machado said last week that she would share it with Trump, but the committee later clarified that it was not transferable.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor Presents Credentials to Prez Murmu

By Deepak Arora

NEW DELHI, Jan 14: United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor presented his credentials to Indian President Droupadi Murmu during an official ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on Wednesday.

At the ceremony, Ambassador Gor formally became the 27th United States Ambassador to India.

Ambassador Gor said, “It is an honor to present my credentials to Indian President Murmu and to serve in India at a time of such promise and opportunity in the U.S.-India relationship. I look forward to working closely with the Government of India and the Indian people to advance our shared priorities in defense, trade, technology, and critical minerals, and to further strengthen the partnership between our two great democracies.”

Prior to assuming his duties in New Delhi, Ambassador Gor was Assistant to the President and Director of Presidential Personnel in the White House.

US withdrawing troops from key Middle East bases amid threat from Iran

WASHINGTON, Jan 14: The United States is withdrawing its troops from key bases in the Middle East as a precaution amid heightened regional tensions and threat from Iran, multiple reports said on Wednesday.

A US official said that several personnel from a key base in Qatar were advised to evacuate by Wednesday evening.

The development comes after Iran, in the face of threats by the US, said earlier on Wednesday that it had had warned neighbors hosting American troops that it would hit US bases if Washington strikes.

A report citing officials said that personnel deployed at Qatar's Al Udeid military base were told to depart. Qatar holds the largest American military base in the Middle East.

The move at the Al Udeid Air Base has been referred to as a precautionary measure by US officials. The official, however, didn't elaborate on the details about the move, including whether the evacuation was optional or mandatory.

Reacting to the development, Qatar said that such measures were being “undertaken in response to the current regional tensions.”

“The IMO reaffirms that the State of Qatar continues to implement all necessary measures to safeguard the security and safety of its citizens and residents as a top priority, including actions related to the protection of critical infrastructure and military facilities,” Qatar’s media office said in a post on X.

Earlier in the day, Iran warned its neighbours in the Middle East hosting US troops that it would hit American bases if Washington strikes. The warning comes after US President Donald Trump told the Iranian protestors to "keep protesting", asking them to take over their institutions. The remark adds to speculations of the US interventions in Iran as the country faces one of the worst unrest in recent history.

'Keep Protesting, Help Is On Its Way': Trump's Big Message To Iranians

WASHINGTON, Jan 13: US President Donald Trump has urged Iranian protesters to continue their demonstrations, promising that "help is on its way" without providing details. The statement comes amid reports that nearly 2,000 people have been killed in a crackdown following weeks of anti-government protests in Iran.

According US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that 1,847 protesters, including 9 minors, have been killed in Iran since the demonstrations began on 28 December.

"Iranian Patriots, KEEP PROTESTING - TAKE OVER YOUR INSTITUTIONS!!! Save the names of the killers and abusers. They will pay a big price. I have cancelled all meetings with Iranian Officials until the senseless killing of protesters STOPS. HELP IS ON ITS WAY. MIGA!!! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP," the president posted on Truth Social.

Yesterday the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had said he'd been in touch with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and that communication channel remained open. But, Trump said that he has shut the lid on all prospects of meeting with Tehran until the crackdown on protestors stop.

While it remains unclear what "help is on its way" specifically means, the message marks a significant escalation in the already strained relations between Tehran and Washington. President Trump had previously stated that the US military is considering "very strong options" regarding Iran, which drew a sharp response from Iranian officials.

Trump Says Iran 'Wants To Negotiate' Amid Protests, But Warns 'US May Act Before A Meeting'

WASHINGTON, Jan 12: US President Donald Trump has said that Iran's leadership, led by Supreme Leader Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, had called him seeking "to negotiate" after his threats of military action amid mass anti-government protests in the Islamic Republic.

"The leaders of Iran called yesterday," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, adding that "a meeting is being set up... They want to negotiate."

The US leader, however, added that "we may have to act before a meeting."

"They're starting to, it looks like, and there seem to be some people killed that aren't supposed to be killed. These are violent if you call 'em leaders. I don't know if they're leaders or if they just rule through violence," said Trump, days after his administration defended the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent who killed a 37-year-old woman in her car.

The American commander-in-chief said the US military is closely monitoring the situation. "We're looking at it very seriously. The military's looking at it, and we're looking at some very strong options. We'll make a determination," he said.

Pressed on whether Iran had crossed a red line, the US President declined to outline specific military plans. "Am I going to really-are you asking me to say, what will they do? Where will we attack? When and at what angle will we attack from?" he said.

Trump said he was receiving "hourly" updates on the situation inside Iran, and "we're gonna make a determination."

Asked about reports that protesters had been killed, Trump said some deaths were linked to crowd dynamics. "Some of the protesters were killed through the stampeding. I mean, you know, there's so many of 'em, and some were shot," he said.

Responding to questions about possible retaliation by Iran or its allies, Trump issued a blunt warning. "If they do that, we will hit them at levels that they've never been hit before," he said. "They won't even believe it."

He said Iran should already understand the US resolve. "Don't you think they take your threats seriously?" Trump said, addressing a reporter. "After going through it for years with me being hit, Soleimani, al-Baghdadi, the Iran nuclear threat wiped out."

Trump did not say whether he had coordinated with US allies on a response, nor did he provide a timeline for any decision.

Iran has experienced repeated waves of unrest in recent weeks. Thousands of Iranians are protesting against the current regime in cities across the country.

Ambassador Sergio Gor says India to be invited to Pax Silica initiative

NEW DELHI, Jan 12: U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor took charge in Delhi on Monday. In a public address before taking office, Gor thanked U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his mission in India is to strengthen the ties between the oldest and the largest democracies.

He also said that Trump conveyed his best wishes to “his friend” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

He said that India and the U.S. are actively discussing a trade deal and the first call between the negotiators will be made on Tuesday.

Gor also said that India will be invited to join as a full member of Pax Silica, a new U.S.-led strategic initiative aimed at securing global silicon and high-technology supply chains.

The Ambassador’s statement, made to hundreds of U.S. Embassy staffers in Delhi and Indian media was unconventional as Gor has not yet presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu. According to diplomatic protocol, Ambassadors are expected to make public appearances only after the credentials are presented. According to sources, President Murmu will accept the credentials later this week.

Gor said that the “friendship” between Trump and Modi is “real” and the U.S. and India “are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end.”

“And while trade is very important for our relationship, we will continue to work closely together on other very important areas, such as security, counter-terrorism, energy, technology, education, and health.,” Gor added.

Trump declares himself 'Acting President of Venezuela' days after Maduro capture

WASHINGTON, Jan 12: A digitally altered image posted by President Donald Trump claims he is the “Acting President of Venezuela.” Trump made this claim amid intense international controversy following the U.S. capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Venezuela's interim leadership was established domestically through the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal of Justice and the constitutional succession process, not by a U.S. president assuming executive authority.

On Truth Social, Trump posted this engineered image with the official page of Wikipedia, where his official portrait is used. The statement “Acting President of Venezuela” is written below.

Furthermore, Trump also jokingly affirmed the idea of Marco Rubio being the President of Cuba. He shared a post where such claims are made with the caption “Sounds good to me.”

In order to maintain administrative continuity and protect national institutions, Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice ordered Vice President Delcy Rodríguez to assume the role of acting president after Maduro was removed, citing constitutional constraints.

After Maduro's capture on January 3, Trump said in a press conference that throughout the transition, the United States will "run" Venezuela in order to "get the oil flowing." On Sunday, January 4, he declared that the United States was "in charge" of Venezuela.

The U.S. will continue to impose a "oil quarantine" as part of a strategy to influence policy, however Secretary of State Marco Rubio hinted on Sunday that the US does not intend to directly administer Venezuela.

Maduro’s arraignment in a U.S. court on federal charges has heightened tensions: he continues to contest his detention and asserts that his capture violates international law and sovereign immunity.

Trump tells Cuba to 'make a deal, before it is too late'

WASHINGTON, Jan 11: Donald Trump has urged Cuba to "make a deal" or face consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money would now stop.

The US president has been turning his attention to Cuba since US forces seized Venezuela's leader Nicolás Maduro in a 3 January raid on its capital.

Venezuela, a long-standing ally of Cuba, is believed to send around 35,000 barrels of oil a day to the island, but Trump has said this will end.

"Cuba lived, for many years, on large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela. In return, Cuba provided 'Security Services' for the last two Venezuelan dictators, BUT NOT ANYMORE!" he posted on Truth Social on Sunday.

"THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE."

Trump did not specify the terms of a deal or the consequences Cuba could face.

He also referenced the raid to seize Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who are facing drug trafficking and other charges in a US court.

Cuba has for years supplied Maduro with his personal security detail. The Cuban government said 32 of its nationals were killed during the US operation in the Venezuelan capital, Caracas.

Trump said: "Most of those Cubans are DEAD from last week's USA attack, and Venezuela doesn't need protection anymore from the thugs and extortionists who held them hostage for so many years."

"Venezuela now has the United States of America, the most powerful military in the World (by far!), to protect them, and protect them we will."

The Cuban government is yet to respond to Trump's latest threats, but President Miguel Díaz-Canel previously said the 32 "brave Cuban combatants" who died in Venezuela would be honoured for "taking on the terrorists in imperial uniforms".

While the Trump administration has not stated clear plans for Cuba, the US president has previously said that a military intervention was unnecessary because the country was "ready to fall".

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated last week that Cuba's leaders should be worried, saying that he would be "concerned" if he was in the Cuban government and that "they're in a lot of trouble".

On Sunday, Trump also re-posted on social media a message suggesting that Rubio - a Cuban-American former Florida senator and the son of Cuban exiles - could become president of Cuba.

Trump shared that post with the comment: "Sounds good to me!"

The Trump administration's tactic of confiscating sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers has already begun to worsen a fuel and electricity crisis in Cuba.

US Launches Retaliatory Strikes Against Islamic State In Syria

WASHINGTON, Jan 11: The US has launched another round of retaliatory strikes against the Islamic State in Syria following last month's ambush that killed two US soldiers and one American civilian interpreter in the country.

The large-scale strikes, conducted by the US alongside partner forces, occurred around 12:30 p.m. ET, according to US Central Command. The strikes hit multiple Islamic State targets across Syria.

Saturday's strikes are part of a broader operation that is part of President Donald Trump's response to the deadly ISIS attack that killed Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, and Ayad Mansoor Sakat, the civilian interpreter, in Palmyra last month.

“Our message remains strong: if you harm our warfighters, we will find you and kill you anywhere in the world, no matter how hard you try to evade justice,” US Central Command said in a statement Saturday.

A day earlier, Syrian officials said their security forces had arrested the military leader of IS's operations in the Levant.

The US military said Saturday's strikes were carried out alongside partner forces without specifying which forces had taken part.

India, Australia Invited to G7 Talks on Critical Minerals

WASHINGTON, Jan 10: The United States has invited India and Australia to participate in a meeting of G7 finance ministers focused on securing critical minerals supply chains. The talks, hosted in Washington, come amid growing concerns among advanced economies over heavy dependence on China for minerals essential to defence, technology, and clean energy transitions.

US Treasury Secretary “Scott Bessent” said the meeting would bring together finance ministers of the “Group of Seven” along with select partner countries. He noted that he had been advocating a focused discussion on critical minerals since the G7 leaders’ summit last year, with finance ministers already holding a virtual meeting on the issue in December. The in-person talks aim to translate commitments into coordinated policy action.

India was invited to attend the meeting, though it was not immediately clear whether New Delhi had confirmed participation. Australia’s presence is considered pivotal given its resource base and recent alignment with Western efforts to diversify mineral supplies. Canberra signed an agreement with the United States in October to counter China’s dominance, outlining an $8.5 billion project pipeline and leveraging Australia’s proposed strategic reserve for rare earths and lithium. The initiative has since drawn interest from Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore.

China currently dominates the global refining of critical minerals, processing between 47 per cent and 87 per cent of copper, lithium, cobalt, graphite, and rare earths, according to the International Energy Agency. These materials are vital for semiconductors, batteries, renewable energy systems, and military technologies. Recent reports of export restrictions on rare earths and magnets to Japanese companies have heightened concerns, reinforcing Western efforts to reduce exposure to supply disruptions.

G7 includes the US, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, Canada, and the EU.

The Washington meeting follows the G7’s agreement last year on an action plan to secure mineral supply chains and strengthen economic resilience. With China imposing tighter export controls, the participation of countries like “India” and “Australia” reflects a broader coalition-building effort. The outcome of the talks is expected to shape future cooperation on investment, stockpiling, and alternative sourcing of minerals critical to the global energy transition.

Bill Threatening 500% Tariff On India For Russia Oil Trade Gets Trump's Nod

WASHINGTON, Jan 8: US President Donald Trump has "greenlit" the bipartisan Russia Sanctions Bill, which could be used to penalise Moscow's trading partners, including India, China and Brazil, over their purchase of Russian oil, said Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent defence hawk.

If passed, the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill would authorise the US President to levy up to 500 per cent tariffs on nations that knowingly purchase Russian oil or uranium and "fuel Russian President Vladimir Putin's war machine". The hard-hitting sanctions package is meant to economically cripple Moscow as the Trump administration continues to negotiate a deal to end the war that began with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Graham said he met with Trump at the White House on Wednesday, during which the President extended his support to the bill that has been in the works for months. The development was also confirmed by a White House official.

"This will be well-timed, as Ukraine is making concessions for peace and Putin is all talk, continuing to kill the innocent," Graham said in a statement.

Graham said there could be a vote as early as next week, although it's unclear how likely that will be. The Senate is poised to take up a scaled-back government funding package next week that the House is currently considering, if the House passes it. The following week is a Senate recess timed to Martin Luther King Jr Day.

The bill, chiefly written by Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, allows the administration to impose tariffs and secondary sanctions up to 500 per cent on countries that purchase Russia's oil, gas, uranium and other exports. Doing so is meant to cut off the source of financing for much of Russia's military actions.

The White House has previously insisted on some revisions and flexibility for Trump in the sanctions package, but it is not clear whether any changes were secured.

The legislation has dozens of co-sponsors in the Senate, as well as a companion bill in the House, drafted by Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick.

The Trump administration is currently trying to finalise a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, now nearly four years old, with special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, as the U.S. president's chief negotiators.

Trump pulls US out of 66 organisations and treaties, including 31 UN entities

WASHINGTON, Jan 8: President Donald Trump has withdrawn the US from 66 international organisations, including UN bodies and the India-France-led International Solar Alliance, calling the institutions “redundant” and “contrary” to America’s interests.

Trump signed the memorandum on Wednesday titled ‘Withdrawing the United States from International Organisations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States’.

This includes 31 United Nations entities, as well as 35 non-UN organisations “that operate contrary to US national interests, security, economic prosperity, or sovereignty,” according to a White House fact sheet issued Wednesday (January 7, 2026).

This sweeping exit includes a departure from the India-led International Solar Alliance, a global initiative to boost solar energy adoption, enhance energy access, and combat climate change.

Roughly half of the organisations and treaties the US exited are affiliated with the United Nations. The most notable is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which happens to be the parent treaty underpinning all major international climate agreements.

Along with UNFCCC, the memo orders US withdrawal from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the International Renewable Energy Agency, UN Oceans and UN Water.

While the US Constitution requires a two-thirds Senate majority to approve treaties, it does not clearly spell out how a president may withdraw from them, a legal grey area that could prompt court challenges.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the move, saying many international bodies were driven by "progressive ideology" and sought to constrain American sovereignty. "From DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) mandates to 'gender equity' campaigns to climate orthodoxy, many international organisations now serve a globalist project," he said.

On X, he noted that Trump has kept a “key promise” made to Americans: “We will stop subsidising globalist bureaucrats who act against our interests. The Trump Administration will always put America and Americans first.”

Full list of organisations/treaties Trump has pulled the US out:

(a) Non-United Nations Organizations:

(i) 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy Compact;

(ii) Colombo Plan Council;

(iii) Commission for Environmental Cooperation;

(iv) Education Cannot Wait;

(v) European Centre of Excellence for Countering

Hybrid Threats;

(vi) Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories;

(vii) Freedom Online Coalition;

(viii) Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund;

(ix) Global Counterterrorism Forum;

(x) Global Forum on Cyber Expertise;

(xi) Global Forum on Migration and Development;

(xii) Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research;

(xiii) Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals, and Sustainable Development;

(xiv) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;

(xv) Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services;

(xvi) International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property;

(xvii) International Cotton Advisory Committee;

(xviii) International Development Law Organization;

(xix) International Energy Forum;

(xx) International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies;

(xxi) International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance;

(xxii) International Institute for Justice and the Rule of Law;

(xxiii) International Lead and Zinc Study Group;

(xxiv) International Renewable Energy Agency;

(xxv) International Solar Alliance;

(xxvi) International Tropical Timber Organization;

(xxvii) International Union for Conservation of Nature;

(xxviii) Pan American Institute of Geography and History;

(xxix) Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation;

(xxx) Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery against Ships in Asia;

(xxxi) Regional Cooperation Council;

(xxxii) Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century;

(xxxiii) Science and Technology Center in Ukraine;

(xxxiv) Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme; and

(xxxv) Venice Commission of the Council of Europe.

(b) United Nations (UN) Organizations:

(i) Department of Economic and Social Affairs;

(ii) UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — Economic Commission for Africa;

(iii) ECOSOC — Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean;

(iv) ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific;

(v) ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia;

(vi) International Law Commission;

(vii) International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals;

(viii) International Trade Centre;

(ix) Office of the Special Adviser on Africa;

(x) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict;

(xi) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict;

(xii) Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children;

(xiii) Peacebuilding Commission;

(xiv) Peacebuilding Fund;

(xv) Permanent Forum on People of African Descent;

(xvi) UN Alliance of Civilizations;

(xvii) UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries;

(xviii) UN Conference on Trade and Development;

(xix) UN Democracy Fund;

(xx) UN Energy;

(xxi) UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women;

(xxii) UN Framework Convention on Climate Change;

(xxiii) UN Human Settlements Programme;

(xxiv) UN Institute for Training and Research;

(xxv) UN Oceans;

(xxvi) UN Population Fund;

(xxvii) UN Register of Conventional Arms;

(xxviii) UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination;

(xxix) UN System Staff College;

(xxx) UN Water; and

(xxxi) UN University.

US Says It Will Control Venezuela Oil Exports Indefinitely

WASHINGTON, Jan 8: The Trump administration plans to control future sales of Venezuelan oil and hold the proceeds in US accounts, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said, making the clearest statement yet on Washington's strategy to bring the impoverished nation's crude to market and control its most valuable resource.

Wright, who spoke at a Goldman Sachs Group Inc. conference in Miami Wednesday, said initially the barrels would come from crude Venezuela is holding in storage, which has been filling up amid the US blockade and threatening to force some production offline.

"We're just going to get that crude moving again and sell it," Wright said. "We're going to market the crude coming out of Venezuela – first this backed-up stored oil and then indefinitely going forward we will sell the production that comes out of Venezuela."

The plan comes as the Trump administration is pushing for US energy companies to rebuild Venezuela's decaying oil infrastructure and revive its flagging production. The US is also selectively rolling back sanctions on Venezuela's oil sector as part of the effort, the Energy Department said.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday evening that Venezuela would relinquish as much as 50 million barrels of its oil for the US to sell, valued at about $2.8 billion at current market prices.

The US has already begun marketing Venezuelan crude, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a briefing Wednesday.

Revenue from the sales will be held in US Treasury accounts, a move that would protect the proceeds from Venezuela's creditors, a person familiar with the matter said. The funds will benefit the American and Venezuelan people, Leavitt said.

"We're not stealing anyone's oil," Wright said during an interview with CNBC. "We're going to restart the selling of Venezuelan oil on global crude markets, put it in accounts in the name of Venezuela and bring those funds back into Venezuela for the benefit of the Venezuelan people."

Proceeds from Venezuela oil sales will not initially be used to repay Exxon Mobil Corp., ConocoPhillips and other US companies whose assets were nationalised by Maduro's predecessor, Hugo Chávez, in the mid-2000s, Wright said. He added that those companies will need to be compensated but characterised it as a "long term issue."

Venezuela's state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA, said in a statement that it's in negotiations with Washington over crude sales through a framework that would be similar to its arrangement with Chevron Corp., the only US oil major still operating in the country.

Two Indian Truck Drivers Caught In US With Cocaine 'Enough To Kill 1,13,000 People'

NEW YORK, Jan 8: Two Indian truck drivers were arrested in Indiana for transporting 309 pounds of cocaine worth $7 million. Gurpreet Singh, 25, and Jasveer Singh, 30, had entered the United States in 2017 and 2023, respectively.

When a highway inspection became a drug bust on the weekend, the sleeper berth of a semi-truck was found to contain cocaine, which, according to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was "enough to kill more than 113,000 Americans."

A sniffer dog unit alerted the officers to the presence of cocaine in the vehicle. Cops found "numerous cardboard boxes covered by a blanket in the sleeper berth of the truck," according to court records accessed by Fox59.

The two drivers were then taken to the Putnam County Jail. The Indiana State Police said that the accused face felony charges for dealing narcotics, and deportation holds have been placed on them, per a report by Fox 32 Chicago.

However, both the individuals said that they were unaware of what was inside the truck and said that their trucking company instructed them to take the truck to an Indian restaurant in Richmond and wait for a load.

Gurpreet Singh illegally entered the US on March 11, 2023, from Arizona. Meanwhile, Jasveer Singh entered the US illegally from California on March 21, 2017. Jasveer had been arrested last month for receiving stolen property in San Bernardino, California.

"Thanks to Gavin Newsom's reckless policies, these two criminal illegal aliens were granted commercial drivers' licences by the state of California and were arrested for trafficking a whopping 300 pounds of cocaine inside a semi-truck," the DHS assistant secretary Tricia McLaughlin said. She added, "Gavin Newsom and his fellow sanctuary politicians even refused to honour an arrest detainer on one of these criminal illegal aliens in December. Sanctuary policies put American lives at risk. ICE law enforcement lodged arrest detainers to ensure these drug traffickers are not allowed back into American communities."

US seizes Russian-flagged tanker in Atlantic as UK confirms it gave support to operation

WASHINGTON, Jan 7: The US has seized a Russian-flagged vessel in the North Atlantic linked to Venezuelan oil.

It also says it apprehended a second tanker in the Caribbean in the "back-to-back" boarding of two "ghost fleet" ships.

The UK military supported the US operation to seize the tanker in the Atlantic, the Marinera, with air surveillance and a navy ship, the Ministry of Defence says.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says the Marinera's crew will be brought to the US for prosecution "if necessary" - Russia's foreign ministry earlier said the US must not hamper their return.

Moscow says the tanker was only temporarily flagged to Russia, and that "no state has the right to use force against vessels properly registered in other countries' jurisdictions".

The ship is accused of breaking US sanctions and shipping Iranian oil - it's historically transported Venezuelan crude oil but reports say it's empty at the moment.

When US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the US Coast Guard had boarded two vessels, she referred to the oil tankers as the Sophia and the Bella 1.

Bella 1, now renamed Marinera, was falsely flying the flag of Guyana last month, which made it stateless. The Russian transport ministry said earlier today that it granted the Marinera "temporary permission" to sail under the Russian flag on 24 December.

The vessel is currently listed in Russia’s maritime registry, with the port of registration recorded as Sochi, but does not state the start date. MarineTraffic showed the ship's flag status - which is manually entered by the crew - changed to Russia on 4 January.

So why has the US called the tanker the Bella 1 instead of its new name?

Experts said that under UN international maritime law, a stateless vessel can be boarded by authorities. A ship also cannot change its flag during a voyage unless there is a real transfer of ownership or change of registry.

Dimitris Ampatzidis, a maritime analyst at intelligence firm Kpler said that “if the transfer [to a new flag] is unclear, rushed, or inconsistent, the vessel risks being treated as improperly flagged or effectively ‘stateless’.”

The fact that the Marinera changed mid-voyage “implies they may not have done due dilligence”, Richard Meade from shipping firm Lloyd’s List added. "It’s generally accepted as best practice that if you are changing flags you will want to do inspections and administration.”

David Tannenbaum, director of intelligence firm Blackstone Compliance, said: “Russia appears to be testing the letter of this law by claiming the vessel has a change of registry, however the boarding of the Bella 1 shows the US has taken the position that this change is not legitimate."

US, Denmark To Discuss Greenland Next Week, Says Marco Rubio

WASHINGTON, Jan 7: The United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has said that he will meet with the Denmark government to discuss Greenland next week. The meeting comes amid escalating tensions following renewed demands from US President Donald Trump to take control of the island.

"US military is always an option," Trump said on Tuesday, regarding taking control of Greenland.

In order to resolve the issue, Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said that the governments of Denmark and Greenland had requested a meeting with Rubio. Greenland's foreign minister, Vivian Motzfeldt, said in a Facebook post that the goal of the talks would be "to discuss the United States' strong statements regarding Greenland."

"When we want this, it is of course because we have the impression that part of this discussion is based on a misreading of what is what," Rasmussen told reporters, adding, "We believe it makes sense to try to arrange a meeting with our American counterparts in order to clear up some of the misunderstandings that may exist."

Earlier on Tuesday, European leaders warned Trump in a joint statement that the territorial integrity of Greenland and Denmark should be respected.

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Monday had also warned the Republican leader and said that any US attack on Greenland would mean the end of the NATO alliance and "the security that has been established since the end of the Second World War."

Trump has argued that the US needs to control the world's largest island to ensure its own security in the face of rising threats from China and Russia in the Arctic. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a select group of lawmakers that it was the administration's intention to eventually purchase Greenland – a self-governing territory of Denmark and part of NATO – rather than use military force.

Trump hints at new tariffs on India over Russian oil

WASHINGTON, Jan 5: US President Donald Trump has hinted at imposing fresh tariffs on India over its continued imports of Russian oil, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi "knew he was not happy."

Addressing reporters on board Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said, "PM Modi's a very good man. He's a good guy. He knew I was not happy. It was important to make me happy. They do trade, and we can raise tariffs on them very quickly."

Last year, Trump ramped up his tariff offensive, imposing a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff on India and another 25 per cent penalty for buying Russian oil, taking total duties in some categories to a staggering 50 per cent. This move led to a sharp deterioration of ties between New Delhi and Washington.

Man taken into custody after allegedly causing damage to Vance's Ohio home, Secret Service says

CINCINNATI, Jan 5: A man was taken into custody after allegedly causing property damage, including breaking windows, at Vice President JD Vance's home in Ohio, the U.S. Secret Service said on Monday.

Just after midnight the man was physically detained by Secret Service personnel and then taken into custody by the Cincinnati Police for property damage.

"The residence was unoccupied at the time of the incident, and the Vice President and his family were not in Ohio," the Secret Service said.

Vance and his wife, Usha, purchased the home for about $1.4 million in 2018 in Cincinnati’s East Walnut Hills neighborhood, which sits along the Ohio River and east of downtown, according to the Hamilton County Auditor's Office.

US To Run Venezuela For Now: Trump

WASHINGTON, Jan 4: US President Donald Trump made a stunning claim that the US "will run" Venezuela until a "proper and judicious" transition was in effect. The announcement came at a press conference from Trump's Florida mansion, hours after US special forces launched an unprecedented attack on the oil-rich South American nation, and captured its President Nicolas Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores.

"We're going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition," Trump said. "We don't want to be involved with having someone else get in, and we have the same situation that we had for the last long period of years. So we are going to run the country."

He offered no timeline, no detailed legal framework, and no explanation of how such an unprecedented arrangement would be governed under either US or international law.

The statement came just hours after US special forces carried out a tightly choreographed strike inside Venezuela, capturing Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and removing them from the country aboard a US naval vessel.

"We're going to be running it with a group. We're designating people," he said.

The US President categorically said that regime change and the South American nation's oil resources are key goals.

"We're going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest anywhere in the world, go in, spend billions of dollars, fix the badly broken infrastructure," he said. "We'll be selling large amounts of oil."

The US is "not afraid of boots on the ground," Trump said.

At his Florida press conference, Trump declared that the United States already had a presence on the ground capable of administering Venezuela and suggested that American companies would take the lead in rebuilding the country's oil infrastructure.

"We're going to fix the infrastructure, and start making money for the country," he said, presenting the arrangement as a "partnership" that would make Venezuelans "rich, independent and safe."

While Trump framed the plan as temporary, he also made clear that the United States alone would decide when Venezuelan control would be restored. There was no reference to elections, international supervision, or a transitional authority led by Venezuelans themselves.

He also confirmed that US forces had prepared for a second wave of military action but decided it was unnecessary because of the success of the initial strike. "We were prepared to do a second wave," he said, adding that further action remained an option if required.

U.S. attacks Venezuela, captures Maduro and his wife

WASHINGTON, Jan 3: U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife during a stunning, large-scale attack on their nation overnight. American authorities said Saturday morning that the couple had been indicted in New York on drug-trafficking charges.

The U.S. military operation was conducted in coordination with American law enforcement authorities, U.S. President Donald Trump said in an early morning post on Truth Social.

“The United States of America has successfully carried out a large scale strike against Venezuela and its leader, President Nicolas Maduro, who has been, along with his wife, captured and flown out of the Country. This operation was done in conjunction with U.S. Law Enforcement,” Trump said.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a post on X that Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, have been indicted in the Southern District of New York.

The Maduros have been charged with conspiracy to commit narco-terrorism, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of weapons and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machineguns and destructive devices against the U.S., according to Bondi’s post.

“They will soon face the full wrath of American justice on American soil in American courts,” she wrote.

CBS News reported that the U.S. Army’s elite Delta Force unit was involved in the capture of Maduro.

In an interview with “Fox and Friends Weekend” on Saturday, Trump said the U.S. suffered a few injuries but no deaths in the operation, and that U.S. forces waited four days to launch the attack due to weather conditions.

Trump also said Maduro and his wife were flown to the USS Iwo Jima following their capture and will head to New York to face the narco-terrorism charges.

“They’ll be heading to New York...They’re on a ship, and they’ll be heading into New York. The helicopter took them out,” the president said.

Trump warns US will intervene if Iran kills protesters

WASHINGTON, Jan 2: US President Donald Trump has warned Iran's authorities against killing peaceful protesters, saying Washington "will come to their rescue".

In a brief post on social media, he wrote: "We are locked and loaded and ready to go." He gave no further details.

A senior adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, responded by saying Trump should "be careful" if he intervened, warning of potential chaos across the Middle East.

At least six people are reported to have been killed in Iran on Thursday after almost a week of mass protests sparked by worsening economic conditions.

In Friday's post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: "If Iran shots [sic] and violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue."

Khamenei adviser Ali Larijani warned shortly afterwards that any US interference would destabilise the region.

"Trump should know that US interference in this internal matter would mean destabilising the entire region and destroying America's interests," he wrote.

In his post, the US president did not specify what action Washington could take against the Iranian authorities.

In June, the US carried out strikes against Iran's nuclear sites on Trump's orders.

American officials later argued that the strikes had significantly set back the prospect of Tehran building a nuclear weapon - a claim disputed by Iran.

In retaliation, Iran launched a missile attack on a major US military base in Qatar.

In Iran, six people were reported to have been killed on a fifth day of protests on Thursday.

Two people died in clashes between protesters and security forces in the south-western city of Lordegan, according to the semi-official Fars news agency and the human rights group Hengaw.

Three people were killed in Azna and another in Kouhdasht, all in the west of the country, Fars reports.

Fars did not specify whether those killed were demonstrators or members of the security forces.

Zohran Mamdani becomes New York City’s first Muslim mayor

NEW YORK, Jan 1: Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City’s mayor just after midnight in a historic ceremony at a decommissioned Manhattan subway station.

Making history as the first Muslim to lead the United States’ largest city, Mamdani took his oath with his hand placed on a Quran.

“This is truly the honour and the privilege of a lifetime,” Mamdani said in a brief speech.

The private ceremony, conducted by New York Attorney General Letitia James at the architecturally stunning old City Hall station – one of the city’s original subway stops known for its arched ceilings – marked the official transition of power.

In his inaugural remarks, Mamdani highlighted the venue as a “testament to the importance of public transit to the vitality, the health and the legacy of our city” while announcing Mike Flynn as his new Department of Transportation commissioner.

The mayor concluded his brief address saying, “Thank you all so much, now I will see you later,” before ascending the stairs with a smile.

A more elaborate public inauguration will take place at 1pm (18:00 GMT) at City Hall. A public celebration will follow on Broadway’s “Canyon of Heroes”, famous for hosting ticker-tape parades.

As he steps into one of the US’s most demanding political positions, Mamdani breaks multiple barriers. At 34, he becomes the city’s youngest mayor in generations and the first of Muslim faith, South Asian descent, and African birth.

NY mayor Zohran Mamdani pens note for Umar Khalid, hands it over to jailed student leader's parents: ‘Thinking of you’

NEW YORK, Jan 1: New York City’s Indian-origin mayor, Zohran Mamdani has sent a handwritten letter to jailed activist Umar Khalid.

In the letter addressed to Khalid, Mamdani said, “Dear Umar, I think of your words on bitterness often, and the importance of not letting it consume one’s self. It was a pleasure to meet your parents. We are all thinking of you.”

The 34-year-old, who became the city’s first Asian American and Muslim mayor last year, handed over the note to Khalid’s parents when he met them during their trip to the US in December 2025.

On Thursday, the day Mamdani was sworn in, Khalid’s partner, Bunojyotsana Lahiri, shared a photo of the note in a post on X.

Lahiri said that Umar’s parents — Sahiba Khanam and Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas — had visited the US just before the wedding of their youngest daughter to meet one of their elder daughters who lives there since she was not going to be able to attend.