Trump Says US Doesn't Plan To Extend Tariff Pause

WASHINGTON, June 30: US President Donald Trump has indicated that he is not planning to extend a 90-day pause on tariffs on most nations beyond the July 9 deadline, when the negotiating period he previously set would expire.

The Republican said that instead of extending the deadline, his administration would rather send countries a letter, laying out the trade penalties they face, unless they make deals with the United States.

The US President had previously talked about sending similar letters in May and earlier this month, though negotiations continued.

"I don't think I'll need to because, I could - there's no big deal," Trump said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday when asked if the pause would not be extended.

He further clarified his stance on the July 9 deadline, saying, "I'm gonna send letters. That's the end of the trade deal."

"I'd rather just send them a letter, a very fair letter, saying 'Congratulations, we're going to allow you to trade in the United States of America. You're gonna pay a 25 per cent tariff, or 20 per cent or 40 or 50 per cent. I would rather do that," he said.

Trump further stated that the letters sent out by his administration would explain tariff rates set by the US -- citing the trade deficits with each country and how they treat America -- suggesting that negotiations won't be required in some cases.

"Some countries, we don't care. We'll, you know, we'll just send a high number out. But we're going to be sending letters out starting pretty soon. No, we don't have to meet. We understand. We have all the numbers," he said.

He also singled out Japan to give a hypothetical example of a letter, saying, “I could send one to Japan. ‘Dear Mr. Japan, here's the story: you're going to pay a 25 per cent tariff on your cars.'”

Earlier on Friday, Trump played down the deadline at a White House news conference, saying it would be difficult to work out separate deals with each nation.

The Trump administration had set a goal of reaching 90 trade deals in 90 days. Negotiations continue, but "there are 200 countries, you can't talk to all of them," Trump said in the interview.

India's trade team has extended its stay in Washington to iron out differences as the two sides look to clinch a deal before a July 9 deadline when higher US tariffs are set to kick in, according to a report.

US President Donald Trump last week said "a very big" deal with India was likely soon amid a hardening stance of both nations.

Indian Negotiators Extend US Stay As Trade Talks Gather Pace: Report

WASHINGTON, June 29: India's trade team has extended its stay in Washington to iron out differences as the two sides look to clinch a deal before a July 9 deadline when higher US tariffs are set to kick in, people familiar with the matter said.

The in-person negotiations were initially supposed to run through June 27 but were extended by a day, raising hopes of an interim trade deal, said the people, who asked not to be identified as the discussions are private.

US President Donald Trump last week said "a very big" deal with India was likely soon amid hardening stance of both the nations.

Both sides have dug in their heels over a few key issues including Washington's demand that India open its market to genetically modified crops - an ask New Delhi has rejected, citing risks to its farmers.

India meanwhile is unwilling to sign a deal that doesn't address both sectoral access and reciprocal tariffs on its exports.

An email sent to India's commerce ministry outside business hours wasn't immediately answered.

Eric Trump hints at possible White House run after father's term

WASHINGTON, June 29: US President Donald Trump's son, Eric Trump, has hinted that he or another Trump family member could seek the presidency once his father's second term ends. In a recent interview with the Financial Times, the 41-year-old Trump Organization executive said a political path would be “an easy one” for him, though he remains undecided about entering public life.

“The real question is: ‘Do you want to drag other members of your family into it? Would I want my kids to live the same experience over the last decade that I’ve lived? Eric said, citing the toll of nearly a decade of public scrutiny and legal battles.

“If the answer was yes, I think I could do it. And I think other members of our family could do it too.”

Unlike his siblings, Donald Jr and Ivanka Trump, both of whom have taken on prominent political roles. Eric has largely stayed behind the scenes, focusing on the Trump family’s business empire. Yet, his recent comments suggest that he has been quietly observing the political landscape and weighing the future.

Eric also voiced frustration with the current political class, claiming he could “do the job very effectively,” and expressed disdain for many elected officials.

However, he remains cautious about the personal cost: “Do you want to subject the people you love to the brutality of this system?”

With rising Republican figures like Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio gaining momentum, speculation continues about what a post-Trump GOP might look like.

When asked if 2024 would be the final election with Trump on the ballot, Eric simply replied: “Time will tell. But there’s more people than just me.”

Addressing allegations that the Trump family enriched itself through politics, Eric pushed back, claiming the presidency came at a high cost. “If there’s one family that hasn’t profited off politics, it’s the Trump family,” he said, arguing the opportunity costs and legal expenses have been “astronomical.” He estimated the family has spent nearly USD 500 million defending itself against various investigations.

Despite this, Donald Trump’s wealth has surged, at least on paper. His stake in Trump Media & Technology Group is reportedly worth about USD 2 billion, and he earned USD 630 million last year from ventures including crypto, real estate branding, and merchandise.

Eric Trump values the Trump Organization between USD 8 billion and USD 12 billion, but says the price of political life goes beyond business: “The toll it’s taken on our family has been immense.”

While Eric stopped short of announcing any political ambitions, his remarks reignited speculation that the Trump dynasty is far from finished with American politics. Whether it’s him, Donald Jr, Ivanka, or someone else, the family remains a powerful force in the GOP, and the next chapter may just be beginning.

What Trump Said After Report Claims Strikes Didn't Destroy Iran Nuke Sites

WASHINGTON, June 25: Israel and Iran agreed to a ceasefire on Tuesday, ending 12 days of tit-for-tat strikes. However, a new intel report claimed US strikes on the Islamic republic did not destroy Tehran's nuclear program, as claimed by US President Donald Trump.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday slammed media organisations for reporting the Pentagon's early assessment of the American attack on Iran that cast doubt on his administration's claims that Tehran's nuclear programme was "obliterated". He said the reports are an attempt to "demean one of the most successful military strikes in history", as he insisted Tehran's nuclear program was "completely destroyed."

"FAKE NEWS CNN, TOGETHER WITH THE FAILING NEW YORK TIMES, HAVE TEAMED UP IN AN ATTEMPT TO DEMEAN ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MILITARY STRIKES IN HISTORY. THE NUCLEAR SITES IN IRAN ARE COMPLETELY DESTROYED! BOTH THE TIMES AND CNN ARE GETTING SLAMMED BY THE PUBLIC," the US leader said in a post on his Truth Social platform.

United States inserted itself on Saturday into Israel's war on by attacking three Iranian nuclear sites-- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- with "bunker buster" bombs capable of penetrating 18m (60ft) of concrete or 61m (200ft) of earth before exploding, in an operation that raised urgent questions about what remained of Tehran's nuclear program.

A classified preliminary US intelligence report has concluded that US strikes on Iran only set back Tehran's nuclear program by just a few months, rather than destroying it as claimed by Trump.

Citing people familiar with the Defence Intelligence Agency findings, US media on Tuesday reported that weekend strikes did not fully eliminate Iran's centrifuges or stockpile of enriched uranium and only sealed off entrances to some facilities without destroying underground buildings.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed the authenticity of the assessment but said it was "flat-out wrong and was classified as 'top secret' but was still leaked."

"The leaking of this alleged assessment is a clear attempt to demean President Trump, and discredit the brave fighter pilots who conducted a perfectly executed mission to obliterate Iran's nuclear program...Everyone knows what happens when you drop fourteen 30,000 pound bombs perfectly on their targets: total obliteration," Leavitt posted on X.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also hailed a "historic victory" in his country's 12-day war against Iran and vowed to prevent Tehran from rebuilding its nuclear facilities.

"We have achieved a historic victory...Iran will never have a nuclear weapon. We have thwarted Iran's nuclear project. And if anyone in Iran tries to rebuild it, we will act with the same determination, with the same intensity, to foil any attempt," Netanyahu said in a televised address to the nation after the start of a ceasefire agreed to by both countries.

Iran, meanwhile, said it was ready to return to nuclear negotiations with the United States as the ceasefire took hold. But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said his country would continue to "assert its legitimate rights" to the peaceful use of atomic power.

While Iran and Israel have been locked in a shadow war for decades, their 12-day conflict was by far the most destructive confrontation between them. Israeli strikes hit nuclear and military targets -- killing scientists and senior military figures -- as well as residential areas, prompting waves of Iranian missile fire on Israel. The war culminated in US strikes on underground Iranian nuclear sites, followed by an Iranian reprisal targeting the largest US military facility in the Middle East.

Indian Origin Democrat Zohran Mamdani Wins New York Mayoral Primary

NEW YORK, June 25: Zohran Mamdani, a 33-year-old Indian-origin Muslim and a left-leaning socialist, has won New York City's Democratic mayoral primary, defeating former governor Andrew Cuomo. Mamdani secured 43.5 per cent votes, while Mr Cuomo trailed behind with 36.3 per cent, according to the latest trends.

Mamdani-- who is the son of acclaimed Indian American filmmaker Mira Nair and an Indian-born Ugandan Marxist scholar Mahmood Mamdani--thanked his supporters for his stunning victory in the Democratic mayoral primary polls.

"In the words of Nelson Mandela: it always seems impossible until it's done. My friends, it is done. And you are the ones who did it. I am honoured to be your Democratic nominee for the Mayor of New York City," he wrote on X.

The Democratic party's primary contest featured almost a dozen candidates seeking to become mayor of the biggest US city, where registered Democrats outnumber Republicans three to one. Voters cast ballots during a smothering heatwave before polls closed at 9:00 pm (0100 GMT Wednesday), but final results may take time to finalise.

With the Democrats reeling nationally from Trump's presidential election last year, the high-profile city race has done little to calm party nerves. But Mamdani's upbeat campaign, built with youthful social media savvy and campaign promises to improve the city's affordability, appears to have resonated with voters.

Cuomo stepped down as New York governor four years ago after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment. He was also accused of mismanaging the state's response to the COVID pandemic.

Staunchly pro-Israel Cuomo led in polls for most of the race, with massive name recognition as the son of another New York governor, as well as support from powerful centrist figures, including former president Bill Clinton.

Mamdani, meanwhile, is backed by the Democratic Socialists of America -- the kind of niche, leftist affiliation that might work in the Big Apple but many analysts warn against.

Report Flags 'Unusual Activity' In Satellite Pics Of Iran Nuclear Site

WASHINGTON, June 23: Commercial satellite imagery indicates the US attack on Iran's Fordow nuclear plant severely damaged - and possibly destroyed - the deeply-buried site and the uranium-enriching centrifuges it housed, but there was no confirmation, experts said on Sunday.

“They just punched through with these MOPs,” said David Albright, a former UN nuclear inspector who heads the Institute for Science and International Security, referring to the Massive Ordnance Penetrator bunker-busting bombs that the US said it dropped. “I would expect that the facility is probably toast.”

But confirmation of the below-ground destruction could not be determined, noted Decker Eveleth, an associate researcher with the CNA Corporation who specializes in satellite imagery. The hall containing hundreds of centrifuges is "too deeply buried for us to evaluate the level of damage based on satellite imagery," he said.

To defend against attacks such as the one conducted by US forces early on Sunday, Iran buried much of its nuclear program in fortified sites deep underground, including into the side of a mountain at Fordow.

Satellite images show six holes where the bunker-busting bombs appear to have penetrated the mountain, and then ground that looks disturbed and covered in dust.

The United States and Israel have said they intend to halt Tehran's nuclear program. But a failure to completely destroy its facilities and equipment could mean Iran could more easily restart the weapons program that U.S. intelligence and the U.N. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) say it shuttered in 2003.

Several experts also cautioned that Iran likely moved a stockpile of near weapons-grade highly enriched uranium out of Fordow before the strike early Sunday morning and could be hiding it and other nuclear components in locations unknown to Israel, the U.S. and U.N. nuclear inspectors.

They noted satellite imagery from Maxar Technologies showing "unusual activity" at Fordow on Thursday and Friday, with a long line of vehicles waiting outside an entrance of the facility. A senior Iranian source said on Sunday most of the near weapons-grade 60% highly enriched uranium had been moved to an undisclosed location before the U.S. attack.

US Bombs 3 Nuclear Sites In Iran, Tehran And Israel Launch Strikes Against Each Other

WASHINGTON, June 22: The US on Sunday bombed three nuclear sites in Iran, officially joining Israel's war against the country and sparking fear of dramatic escalations in the region. Hours after American warplanes and submarines attacked the Iranian nuclear sites, Iran and Israel launched missiles at each other.

US President Donald Trump, who on Friday said he would take two weeks to decide whether the US should enter the conflict on Israel's side, addressed the nation after the strike. He said the American planes "completed a very successful attack" on Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan. This is the first time the US has attacked facilities inside Iran since the Iranian Revolution in 1979.

"Iran's key nuclear enrichment facilities have been completely and totally obliterated. The strikes were a spectacular military success," he said in a televised Oval Office address.

The US President said that Iran, the "bully of the Middle East", must now make peace.

"If they do not, future attacks will be far greater and a lot easier," he said.

"There will be either peace or there will be tragedy for Iran far greater than we have witnessed over the last eight days," Trump said and warned Iran that "there are many targets left".

"But if peace does not come quickly, we will go after those other targets with precision, speed and skill. Most of them can be taken out in a matter of minutes," he said.

Iran launched a new missile attack on Israel, reportedly injuring 11 people, hours after the US strikes. The Iranian armed forces reportedly fired more than 20 missiles at Haifa and Tel Aviv, injuring at least 11 people.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said they also targeted Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv.

"Sirens sounding across Israel due to another Iranian missile launch," the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a post on X.

The Israeli military also said it has begun a “series of strikes toward military targets in western Iran”.

“Additionally, this morning, the IAF (Israeli Air Force) struck missile launchers ready to launch toward Israeli territory, soldiers in the Iranian Armed Forces, and swiftly neutralised the launchers that launched missiles toward Israeli territory a short while ago,” the IDF said.

The Israel-Iran war began when the Israeli military launched "Operation Rising Lion" last Friday and attacked Iran's nuclear and military sites, top generals and nuclear scientists. Israel said it had concluded Tehran was on the verge of developing a nuclear weapon.

More than 600 people have been killed in Iran, according to a Washington-based Iranian human rights group. Israel has said that Iran has retaliated by firing 450 missiles and 1,000 drones, killing at least 24 people.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Donald Trump after the US forces struck Iranian nuclear sites.

"Congratulations, President Trump. Your bold decision to target Iran's nuclear facilities with the awesome and righteous might of the United States will change history," the Israeli PM said in a video address after the US joined Israel's military campaign against Iran.

"President Trump and I often say: ‘Peace through strength.' First comes strength, then comes peace. And tonight, Donald Trump and the United States acted with a lot of strength," he said.

"In Operation Rising Line, Israel has done truly amazing things, but in tonight's action against Iran's nuclear facilities, America has been unsurpassed - it has done what no other country on Earth could do. History will record that President Trump acted to deny the world's most dangerous regime - the world's most dangerous weapons," he said.

Netanyahu said that Trump's leadership has created a "pivot of history that can help lead the Middle East and beyond to a future of prosperity and peace".

"God bless America. God bless Israel. May God bless our unshakeable alliance, our unbreakable faith," he said.

Netanyahu has said Israeli military operations in Iran would continue "for as long as it takes" to eliminate the "existential threats" of Iran's nuclear program and arsenal of ballistic missiles.

The US used B-2 bombers in strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

The B-2 can be equipped to carry the US's 30,000-pound (about 13,600 kg) GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator, designed to destroy targets deep underground.

Experts had said that it is the weapon that could be used to strike Iran's nuclear program, including Fordow.

US bombers flew undetected for 18 hours: How America launched airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites

WASHINGTON, June 22: A formation of American B-2 stealth bombers flew undetected for 18 hours from Missouri to Iranian airspace, carrying out one of the most extensive strikes ever conducted by the United States on Iranian nuclear infrastructure, the Pentagon said on Sunday.

Operation “Midnight Hammer” began on Saturday with a diversion. One group of B-2 bombers flew toward Guam, which analysts thought signalled a possible strike. But the real mission involved seven B-2 bombers flying east quietly, refuelling in the air, and avoiding Iran’s air defences.

Iran’s main nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan were hit in a coordinated US assault that involved cruise missile launches from a submarine and decoy flights by American fighter jets.

As the B-2 bombers neared Iranian airspace, more than two dozen Tomahawk missiles were launched, while jets flew ahead to guard against any potential Iranian response.

The Pentagon said the strike was the largest-ever combat deployment of B-2 bombers and the second-longest mission after those flown following the 9/11 attacks.

Trump To Make Iran Decision 'Within 2 Weeks', Says White House

WASHINGTON, June 19: The White House said on Thursday that US President Donald Trump will decide whether to get involved in the Israel-Iran conflict in the next two weeks.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks."

The Iran Military has confirmed in a statement on Telegram that it has begun a "new round of combined missile and drone attacks" on military sites in Haifa and Tel Aviv.

"An escalatory and impact-focused trajectory of missile operations targeting military and military-industrial sites remains on the agenda," the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said.

The Israeli military has said Iran used at least one missile with multiple warheads, posing a new challenge to its defences. While descending, the missile warhead splits, posing a threat to a much wider area than other ballistic missile warheads. A submunition was found in central Israel, according to the IDF.

On Thursday, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, said that Iran had launched more than 450 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones at Israel. He also added that Israel had destroyed about two-thirds of Iran's missile launchers.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that "all of Israel is paying a price" for the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, as he visited the Soroka Medical Center in Beer Sheva which was attacked by Iran with a ballistic missile.

Meanwhile, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said that they had targeted an Israeli intelligence and command centre "near a hospital".

Russia warned Israel against striking Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant, saying "it will be a catastrophe comparable to Chernobyl..." Russia has helped build Iran's only operating nuclear power plant and some of the workers there are Russian.

Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian foreign ministry said that the Kremlin is "particularly concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which employs Russian specialists."

On Friday, Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi will meet European representatives from three countries for talks in Geneva, Switzerland, Iran's state-run news agency IRNA reported. According to CNN, the foreign office said that the meeting will allow "continued engagement with our greatest ally".

Soroka Medical Centre, a major hospital in the southern Israeli city of Beer Sheva was extensively damaged in Iranian strikes. After the attack, Israel's Defence Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu instructed the military to "intensify strikes against strategic targets" in Iran, in order to "destabilise the Ayatollahs' regime", apart from removing other threats.

The Atomic Energy Organisation of Iran has confirmed the attack in Arak, per Al Jazeera. "In continued violation of international laws that explicitly prohibit attacks on nuclear facilities, the Zionist enemy launched an assault this morning targeting the Shahid Khondab heavy water complex and its research reactor," the organisation stated. The organisation futher clarified that since the facility was not operational, there would be "no radiological effects".

During a visit to the Soroka Medical Centre in Beer Sheva, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said today that the US is "already helping a lot" in its conflict against Iran. He told CNN, "They're participating in the protection of the skies over Israel and its cities. I think it's a remarkable cooperation."

US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi have spoken several times to find a diplomatic end to the conflict since the commencement of the attacks last week. Aragchi said that Iran will not return to negotiations till Israel stops attacking. A diplomat close to Tehran also said that the foreign minister told Witkoff that they "could show flexibility in the nuclear issue" if the US pressures Israel to end the war.

Trump On Striking Iran: 'I May Do It, I May Not Do It'

WASHINGTON, June 18: Hours after Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned the US and its President for interfering in the Iran-Israel conflict, saying US will "suffer irreparable harm", Donald Trump has responded, saying he might strike Iran or he might not.

Addressing a press conference from the White House's south lawn, Trump spoke about whether the United States will join Israel in its military offensive against Iran to ensure Tehran does not develop a nuclear weapon.

Keeping both options open, the US President said, "I may do it, I may not do it - nobody knows what I'm going to do."

Just a few hours earlier, Iran's Supreme Leader had said that Iran "will never surrender". He was responding to Donald Trump's call for an "unconditional surrender" from Tehran's regime.

"The US President threatens us. With his absurd rhetoric, he demands that the Iranian people surrender to him. They should make threats against those who are afraid of being threatened. The Iranian nation isn't frightened by such threats," he said.

Meanwhile, the Israel Defence Forces or IDF has said that Iran has fired a barrage of missiles at Israeli cities, "targeting civilians for the sixth consecutive day". Sirens were heard across most of Israel on Wednesday evening alerting residents to rush into bunkers till futher notice.

On Tuesday, Donald Trump had said, "We know where he is hiding. He (Khamenei) is an easy target, but is safe there - We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now. But we don't want missiles shot at civilians, or American soldiers." But Trump cautioned that his "patience is wearing thin".

Israel has said that it is in constant touch with the United States over the developments in the conflict. Both allies agree, as do the G7 nations, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon under any circumstance. While Israel has already targeted and destroyed several of Iran's nuclear facilities where Tehran was enriching uranium at an advanced stage, there are some facilities which are deep underground or deep inside caves in the mountains. For this Israel needs a special type of weapon that only the United States has.

The weapon in question is the Massive Ordnance Penetrator or MOP, which is officially known as GBU-57A/B and sometimes even referred to as the 'Bunker Buster'. This is the US military's most powerful non-nuclear bomb. Weighing around close to 14,000 kg, it was specifically developed to destroy hardened and deeply buried targets, such as underground bunkers and nuclear facilities.

Designed by Boeing, the MOP is built with a high-strength steel alloy casing that can survive deep penetration through rock and reinforced concrete. It carries a powerful explosive payload of about 2,400 kg, allowing it to destroy deeply buried targets with a delayed-action detonation system. This means it explodes only after it has tunnelled deep into a structure, maximising internal damage.

There is only one issue which Israel and the US face in using this bomb to target Iran's nuclear facilites deep underground or inside mountains - that is, that this bomb can only be deployed or dropped from a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. This is the only aircraft in the world that is capable of carrying this payload. Each B-2 bomber can carry two MOPs. The upcoming B-21 Raider, still under development, is expected to support the MOP in future missions.

This means that the United States must become an active party to the conflict in order to put an end to Iran's nuclear weapons ambition, which both Tel Aviv and Washington has accused Tehran of, keeping in mind the levels of uranium enrichment that the Gulf nation has achieved.

But moment the MOP or 'Bunker Buster' is used, it will become evident that B-2 Stealth Bombers have been used in the military operation, making it clear that the US has indeed joined Israel in the conflict. This goes against Donald Trump's aim to be seen as a "peace-maker" and a "deal-broker" - a leader who is seen to choose diplomacy and talks, instead of war to resolve issues.

That said, Trump has repeatedly threatened to use force if Iran does not agree to the terms and conditions being set by Washington. Trump has even moved two aircraft carriers - the USS Carl Vinson and USS Harry S Truman - near the Arabian Sea and deployed six B-2 bombers in its Indian Ocean base at Diego Garcia.

Steve Witkoff, United States Special Envoy to the Middle East has said that for civilian purposes, 3.67 per cent uranium enrichment is enough. Tehran has already gone far beyond that. Enrichment levels of uranium in Iran are already up to 60 per cent - a short, technical step away from reaching weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent. "This cannot be allowed," Mr Witkoff had said in April.
Donald Trump had fully backed him at the time, saying, "Iran has to get rid of the concept of a nuclear weapon. These are radicalised people, and they cannot have a nuclear weapon."

Trump's Latest Statement On India-Pak Ceasefire, Hours After Modi Call

WASHINGTON, June 18: Sticking to his position despite Prime Minister Narendra Modi making it clear that India had agreed to a ceasefire based on Pakistan's request, US President Donald Trump has, once again, claimed credit for "stopping the war" between the two countries and even complained that "not one story" had been written about it.

Modi and Trump spoke over the phone for 35 minutes on Wednesday after the US president had to leave the G7 Summit in Canada early and their planned meeting could not happen.

Briefing reporters, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the PM had told Trump that Pakistan was compelled to request a ceasefire on Operation Sindoor, which was a response to the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam.

Modi informed Trump that India's response had been measured and non-escalatory and India had only targeted terrorist camps and hideouts in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

"Prime Minister Modi clearly conveyed to President Trump that at no point during this entire sequence of events was there any discussion, at any level, on an India-US Trade Deal, or any proposal for a mediation by the US between India and Pakistan. The discussion to cease military action took place directly between India and Pakistan through the existing channels of communication between the two armed forces, and it was initiated at Pakistan's request," Misri said.

"Prime Minister Modi firmly stated that India does not and will never accept mediation. There is complete political consensus in India on this matter," he added.

Speaking to reporters later in the day, hours before his meeting with Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir at the White House, Trump, however, continued to claim that he had stopped the war and, at the same time, stated that Modi had been "very influential".

"Well, I stopped the war between Pakistan - I love Pakistan - I think Modi is a fantastic man, I spoke to him last night. We are going to make a trade deal with Modi of India... And I stopped the war between Pakistan and India. This man (possibly referring to Asim Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it from the Pakistani side, Modi from the India side, and others. And they were going at it, they are both nuclear countries. I got it stopped," Trump claimed.

Complaining that the press had not taken note of this, he continued, "I don't think I had one story written, did I have one story written? I stopped a war between two major nations, major nuclear nations. I did not have a story written about it, but that's okay. You know why, the people know."

Trump Hosts Pak Army Chief For Lunch

WASHINGTON, June 18: US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for a special luncheon at the White House on Wednesday.

The meeting comes at a time when Israel is intensifying its military strikes on Iran, with whom Pakistan shares a nearly 1,000-kilometre border. The United States, which backs Israel's actions may also join them in ensuring they put an end to Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

History and geography have once again led Washington to Islamabad, and more importantly, Rawalpindi's doorstep. Two US aircraft carriers - the USS Carl Vinson and the USS Harry S Truman - are stationed in the Arabian Sea, and a fleet of B-2 Stealth bombers are lined-up at the US' Indian Ocean air force base in Diego Garcia - all awaiting orders from their Commander-in-Chief - President Trump.

Speaking about the US making a military move on Iran hours before meeting Pakistan's army chief, President Trump said at a White House press briefing that "I may do it, I may not do it - nobody knows what I'm going to do."

But any prolonged efforts against Iran, would mean the United States would need a land access to the enemy country - something Pakistan can provide.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by the White House Deputy Press Secretary, Anna Kelly, mentioned that the reason President Trump is meeting Pakistan's army chief is because the latter has called for a Nobel Prize to be given to the US President for averting a "nuclear war between India and Pakistan" last month.

"President Trump will host Field Marshal Munir after he called for the President to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan," Ms Kelly said in her statement. Shortly thereafter, Donald Trump said that he "loves Pakistan", but was quick to balance it by saying he thinks "Modi is fantastic" too.

Minnesota Lawmaker, wife shot dead

SAINT PAUL, June 14: A 57-year-old man posing as a police officer shot and killed a Minnesota lawmaker and her husband in a brazen attack at their home early Saturday, and a second lawmaker and his wife were wounded in a separate shooting in what Gov. Tim Walz described as “targeted political violence.”

Police were searching for the gunman responsible for the attacks on the Democratic legislators. Writings found inside a fake police car recovered at one of the shooting scenes mentioned the names of multiple lawmakers and other officials, Brooklyn Park Police Chief Mark Bruley said.

Melissa Hortman, a former Minnesota House Speaker, and her spouse were shot and killed early Saturday in their Brooklyn Park home. A second state lawmaker, Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, were shot multiple times in Champlin. Officials say both Hortman and Hoffman were mentioned in the suspect's writings.

“When we did a search of the vehicle, there was a manifesto that identified many lawmakers and other officials. We immediately made alerts to the state. We took action on alerting them and providing security where necessary,” said Bruley.

State Patrol Col. Christina Bogojevic asked people “out of an abundance of caution” not to attend any of the “No Kings” protests that were scheduled for across the state on Saturday.

Bogojevic said authorities didn't have any direct evidence that the protests would be targeted, but said the suspect had some “No Kings” flyers in their car. Organisers announced that all of the protests across the state were cancelled.

Hours after the shootings, hundreds of police and sheriff deputies from departments in the region, some in tactical gear with assault style weapons were scattered through the town. Occasional police roadblocks where cars are stopped and checked.

Walz said Hortman and Hoffman were deliberately targeted.

“We must all, in Minnesota and across the country, stand against all forms of political violence," Walz said at a press conference Saturday. “Those responsible for this will be held accountable.”

Hoffman, a Democrat, was first elected in 2012. He previously served as vice chair of the Anoka Hennepin School Board, which manages the largest school district in Minnesota. Hoffman and his wife have one daughter. He represents a district north of Minneapolis.

At the time of her death, Hortman was the top Democratic leader in the state Legislature. She was also a former House speaker. She was first elected in 2004. She and her husband had two children.

Drew Evans, superintendent of the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, said that authorities were actively searching for a suspect.

President Donald Trump said in a White House statement that the FBI would join in the investigation.

“Our Attorney General, Pam Bondi, and the FBI, are investigating the situation, and they will be prosecuting anyone involved to the fullest extent of the law. Such horrific violence will not be tolerated in the United States of America. God Bless the great people of Minnesota, a truly great place!”

Minnesota House Speaker Lisa Demuth, a Republican from Cold Spring, called the attack “evil” and said she was “heartbroken beyond words” by the killings of Hortman and her husband, Mark.

The shootings happened at a time when political leaders nationwide have been attacked, harassed and intimidated during a time of deep political divisions.

Trump says deal with China done; To lower tariffs to 55 pc

WASHINGTON, June 11: US President Donald Trump has announced that the tariffs on Chinese goods will be reduced to 55 per cent. With this decision, the US and China have called a truce in their ongoing trade row.

The US president announced that Washington will get magnets and rare earth minerals from China. In exchange for this, the tariff rate will be slashed.

Taking to Truth Social, the US president shared that the deal with China is "done." This deal would include the lowering of tariffs, supply of rare earth minerals and magnets, and allowing Chinese students to study in US universities and colleges.

"OUR DEAL WITH CHINA IS DONE, SUBJECT TO FINAL APPROVAL WITH PRESIDENT XI AND ME. FULL MAGNETS, AND ANY NECESSARY RARE EARTHS, WILL BE SUPPLIED, UP FRONT, BY CHINA. LIKEWISE, WE WILL PROVIDE TO CHINA WHAT WAS AGREED TO, INCLUDING CHINESE STUDENTS USING OUR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES (WHICH HAS ALWAYS BEEN GOOD WITH ME!). WE ARE GETTING A TOTAL OF 55% TARIFFS, CHINA IS GETTING 10%. RELATIONSHIP IS EXCELLENT!" said Trump.

While Trump has claimed that China will be reducing the tariffs to 10 per cent, official confirmation from Xi Jinping and the CCP government is awaited.

Last week, Chinese president Xi Jinping and Donald Trump held a phone call regarding their ongoing tariff dispute. The phone call, as per Chinese state media, was held at the request of the US President.

Wednesday's announcement from Trump also comes after a series of marathon negotiations were held between the US and China in London.

As per reports, during this meeting, both countries agreed to revive the flow of sensitive goods and implement the terms of the May deal in Geneva, which reduced tariffs for both sides.

In Geneva, US tariffs on goods from China were lowered from 145 per cent to 30 per cent. Whereas, China dropped its tariffs on US goods from 125 per cent to 10 per cent.

Trump says relationship with Musk is over

WASHINGTON, June 7: US President Donald Trump has said his relationship with Elon Musk is over.

"I would assume so, yeah," Trump told NBC News on Saturday, when asked if he thought the pair's close relationship had ended. He replied "No" when asked if he wished to mend the damaged ties.

The comments were Trump's latest since the epic fallout between him and Musk unravelled on social media.

It came after the tech billionaire - who donated millions to Trump's election campaign and became a White House aide - publicly criticised the president's tax and spending bill, a key domestic policy.

A majority of Republicans have fallen in line behind the president. Vice-President JD Vance said that Musk had "gone so nuclear" and may never be welcomed back into the fold.

Vance told podcaster Theo Von that it was a "big mistake" for the Tesla and SpaceX CEO to attack the president.

For weeks, Musk had been criticising Trump's signature legislation - dubbed the "Big Beautiful Bill" - as it made its way through Congress.

He said that, if passed, the bill would add trillions of dollars to the national deficit and "undermine" the work he did as the head of Doge, the Department of Government Efficiency, and its efforts to cut government spending.

Shortly after leaving Doge after 129 days in the job, Musk posted on his social media site X that the bill was a "disgusting abomination" - but did not criticise Trump directly.

On Thursday, however, Trump told reporters he was "disappointed" with Musk's behaviour.

Musk responded with a flurry of posts on X, saying that Trump would have lost the election without him and accusing Trump of being implicated in files of Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced financier who died in jail awaiting sex trafficking charges.

He has since deleted the post and Epstein's lawyer has come out denying the accusations.

Trump responded on his social media platform Truth Social, saying that Musk had gone "crazy". In one post, he threatened to cut Musk's contracts with the federal government.

In his interview with NBC News on Saturday, Trump said Musk had been "disrespectful to the office of the president".

"I think it's a very bad thing, because he's very disrespectful. You could not disrespect the office of the president," Trump said.

Musk, the world's richest man, who donated roughly $250m to Trump's presidential campaign, suggested during the social media feud that he might back some of Trump's opponents during next year's midterm elections, throwing his support behind challengers to the lawmakers who supported Trump's tax bill.

When asked about the prospect of Musk backing Democratic candidates that run against Republicans, Trump said he would face "serious consequences".

Trump reveals ‘very good’ call with Xi Jinping, accepts invitation to visit China with Melania

WASHINGTON, June 5: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he had a “very good phone call” with Chinese President Xi Jinping to discuss ongoing developments in a US-China trade agreement. The call, which reportedly lasted around 90 minutes, focused on trade, and the issue of rare earth minerals.

“The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

Trump suggested the conversation helped clarify the often contentious issue of rare earth materials — vital components in technology manufacturing — which have long been at the heart of US-China trade tensions.

“There should no longer be any questions respecting the complexity of Rare Earth products,” Trump wrote.

He did not elaborate on specific resolutions but said the agreement reflected the intricacies of the newly formalised trade pact.

Trump also announced that high-level follow-up discussions are forthcoming. Though a location is yet to be determined, he named several officials who will lead the US delegation.

“We will be represented by Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, and United States Trade Representative, Ambassador Jamieson Greer,” Trump stated.

In a nod to diplomatic continuity, Trump shared that President Xi extended a formal invitation to visit China — an offer he accepted.

“President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated,” he said. “As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing.”

Trump said the call avoided any discussion of sensitive geopolitical flashpoints. “Nothing was discussed concerning Russia/Ukraine, or Iran,” Trump emphasised, noting that the conversation “was focused almost entirely on TRADE.”

Trump concluded his announcement by assuring the media that further information about the upcoming in-person trade meetings will be shared soon. “We will inform the Media as to scheduling and location of the soon to be meeting,” he wrote.

The call was first reported by China’s state-run news agency, Xinhua.

The call comes amid rising tensions after Trump accused Beijing of breaching last month’s tariff rollback agreement, reached in Geneva, and Beijing asserting that Washington “has made bogus charges and unreasonably accused China of violating the consensus".

Trump Puts US Travel Ban On 12 Countries

WASHINGTON, June 5: US President Donald Trump signed a new travel ban Wednesday targeting 12 countries including Afghanistan, Iran and Yemen, reviving one of the most controversial measures from his first term.

Trump said the measure was spurred by a makeshift flamethrower attack on a Jewish protest in Colorado that US authorities blamed on a man they said was in the country illegally.

The ban targets nationals of Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.

Trump also imposed a partial ban on travelers from seven countries: Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.

Both go into effect on Monday, the White House said.

"The recent terror attack in Boulder, Colorado has underscored the extreme dangers posed to our country by the entry of foreign nationals who are not properly vetted," Trump said in a video message from the Oval Office posted on X.

"We don't want them."

Trump compared the new measures to the "powerful" ban he imposed on a number of mainly Muslim countries in his first term, which caused huge travel disruption across the world.

The US leader said that 2017 ban had stopped the United States suffering terror attacks that happened in Europe.

"We will not let what happened in Europe happen in America," Trump said.

"We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen. That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others."

"Being in the United States is a great risk for anyone, not just for Venezuelans," Venezuela's Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello said after the announcement, warning citizens against travel there.

Trump's new travel ban could however face legal challenges, as have many of the drastic measures he has taken in his whirlwind return to office.