Page 85 - Donald Trump Administration

Oil, gas prices to stay high for now, hopes for relief ahead: Gail Chairman

Chairman also expected that the Union Budget would give relief on compression charges on CNG and some steps are taken to bring natural gas under the GST coverage

China warns Rubio to act prudently in first call since his appointment

China's veteran foreign minister has issued a veiled warning to America's new secretary of state: Behave yourself. Foreign Minister Wang Yi conveyed the message in a phone call Friday, their first conversation since Marco Rubio's confirmation as President Donald Trump's top diplomat four days earlier. I hope you will act accordingly, Wang told Rubio, according to a Foreign Ministry statement, employing a Chinese phrase typically used by a teacher or a boss warning a student or employee to behave and be responsible for their actions. The short phrase seemed aimed at Rubio's vocal criticism of China and its human rights record when he was a US senator, which prompted the Chinese government to put sanctions on him twice in 2020. It can be translated in various ways in the past, the Foreign Ministry has used make the right choice and be very prudent about what they say or do rather than act accordingly. The vagueness allows the phrase to express an expectation and deliver a veiled ..

Democratic states weigh support for immigrants as Trump admin cracks down

As President Donald Trump tightens the nation's immigration policies, lawmakers in Democratic-led states are proposing new measures that could erect legal obstacles for federal immigration officials and help immigrants lacking legal status avoid deportation. The resistance efforts in California, New York and other states are a counterpoint to the many Republican-led states advancing measures to aid Trump's crackdown on illegal immigration, highlighting a national divide. In just his first week in office, Trump's administration has halted refugee arrivals; fast-tracked deportations; sent military troops to the southern border; lifted longtime rules restricting immigration enforcement near schools, churches and hospitals; attempted to end birthright citizenship; and ordered federal prosecutors to investigate state or local officials who they believe are interfering with his crackdown on illegal immigration. Hundreds of bills on immigration already have been introduced in states and mo

Marco Rubio stresses 'America First' in call with China's FM Wang Yi

Rubio emphasized to Wang that the new US administration would pursue a relationship with China that 'advances US interests and puts the American people first'

Senate heads to approve Kristi Noem as Trump's homeland security secretary

The Senate is heading towards a vote on confirming South Dakota Gov Kristi Noem as homeland security secretary, placing her at the head of a sprawling agency that will be essential to both national security and President Donald Trump's plans to squash illegal immigration. Republicans were determined to barrel through on Noem's confirmation, threatening to keep the Senate working through the weekend to install Trump's national security Cabinet officials. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth won confirmation Friday night, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe were already in place. Noem, a Trump ally who is in her second term as South Dakota governor, received some support from Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security Committee when it voted 13-2 to advance her nomination earlier this week. Republicans, who already hold the votes necessary to confirm her, have also expressed confidence in her determination to lead border security and immigration ...

Trump pumps coal as answer to AI power needs but boost may be short-lived

President Donald Trump's promise to go all in on fossil fuels includes praise for coal, a reliable but polluting energy source that's long been in decline. Trump this week suggested coal can help meet surging electricity demand from manufacturing and the massive data centres needed for artificial intelligence. Nothing can destroy coal. Not the weather, not a bomb nothing," Trump told the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, by video link Thursday. And we have more coal than anybody. Yet energy experts say any bump for coal under Trump is likely to be temporary since natural gas is cheaper and there's a durable market for renewable energy no matter who holds the White House. It's kind of been shown over the last three administrations even the president of the United States can't change markets, the trend for coal," said University of Wyoming economics professor Rob Godby. "It might lead to a reprieve." Here's a look at the outlook for coal during Trump's second term: WILL

Trump proposes 'getting rid of FEMA' while visiting North Carolina

President Donald Trump said he was considering getting rid of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during a trip to disaster zones Friday, offering the latest sign of how he is weighing sweeping changes to the nation's central organization for responding to disasters. Instead of having federal financial assistance flow through FEMA, the Republican president said Washington could provide money directly to the states. He made the comments while visiting North Carolina, which is still recovering months after Hurricane Helene, on the first trip of his second term. FEMA has been a very big disappointment," the Republican president said. It's very bureaucratic. And it's very slow." Trump said Michael Whatley, a North Carolina native and chair of the Republican National Committee, would help coordinate recovery efforts in the state, where frustrations over the federal response have lingered. Although Whatley does not hold an official government position, Trump said he would be very much

Donald Trump revives push for immunity against US Capitol attack lawsuits

Trump's lawyers argued in the latest brief that he only had to clear a 'low bar' of showing that his actions after the 2020 election could be 'reasonably' understood as official conduct

Trump asks Opec to cut oil prices, argues it will stop Russia-Ukraine war

US President Donald Trump has asked the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to cut the prices of oil, arguing that it would stop the Russia-Ukraine war. He had made a similar claim earlier, too. Addressing the annual World Economic Forum at Davos in Switzerland via video conference, Trump accused the OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries of being responsible for the nearly three-year conflict in Ukraine. "We want to see OPEC cut the price of oil. That will automatically stop the tragedy that's taking place in Ukraine. It's a butchering tragedy for both sides," the US President told reporters in North Carolina on Friday. Noting that a large number of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have died in the conflict so far, Trump said, "Right now, it's just bullets whacking and hitting men. There are over a million men killed, and they are losing thousands of people a week." "It's crazy. It's a crazy war and it never would have happened if I was president (then). This is

Hegseth gets Senate nod, becomes defence secretary in a bow to Trump

Move by the Republican-controlled Senate was a testament to Trump's ability to maneuver his narrow control of Congress, as lawmakers voted 51-50 to back Hegseth

Trump appoints Indian-American ex-scribe as White House deputy press secy

US President Donald Trump has appointed Indian-American former journalist Kush Desai as his Deputy Press Secretary, the White House has announced. Desai earlier served as Deputy Communications Director for the 2024 Republican National Convention and Communications Director for the Republican Party of Iowa. Desai was also the Deputy Battleground States and Pennsylvania Communications Director at the Republican National Committee. In this capacity, he played a key role in messaging and narrative building in the key battleground States in particular Pennsylvania. Trump won in all the seven battleground States. The White House announced his appointment on Friday. White House Office of Communications will be overseen by Deputy White House Chief of Staff and Cabinet Secretary Taylor Budowich. Trump had previously announced the appointments of Assistant to the President and White House Communications Director Steven Cheung and Assistant to the President and Press Secretary Karoline Leav

Serious consequences for entering US illegally: WH as deportations begin

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the commencement of large-scale deportation operations, stating that 538 illegal immigrant criminals have been arrested

Ukraine war could have been averted if Trump's win was not 'stolen': Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin also affirmed that Moscow has always been ready for negotiations on the Ukraine problem

Trump, Vance join anti-abortion activists, celebrate 'March for Life' gains

President Donald Trump vowed to support anti-abortion-rights protesters in his second term as tens of thousands of demonstrators rallied in Washington on Friday for the annual March for Life. We will again stand proudly for families and for life, Trump declared in a pre-recorded video address. Protesters had come to the capital for decades to call for the repeal of Roe v. Wade, which affirmed a constitutional right to an abortion. Now, with the repeal of Roe in 2022, they are now on the inside rather than the outside. With Trump's return to the White House and Republicans in control of Congress, the activists want to build on their victories. Our country faces the return of the most pro-family, most pro-life American president of our lifetimes," Vice President JD Vance told the crowd in his in-person speech. Vance hailed Trump's previous actions on abortion, saying the president delivered on his promise of ending Roe" and appointed hundreds of anti-abortion judges. Abortion was ..

Can hire his own: Donald Trump terminates Anthony Fauci's security detail

Anthony Fauci served in government for decades and was the nation's top infectious diseases expert for 38 years, Trump had also awarded him with presidential commendations

State Department halts new funding for nearly all US aid programmes

The State Department has frozen new funding for almost all US foreign assistance, making exceptions to allow humanitarian food programmes and military aid to Israel and Egypt to continue. The sweeping order threatened a quick halt to countless projects globally aiding health, education, development, job training and other efforts by the United States, the largest provide of foreign aid. It appears to begin enforcement of a pledge to eliminate aid programs that President Donald Trump judges not to be in US interests. The order sent in a cable to US embassies worldwide and obtained by The Associated Press prohibits new government spending, which appears to limit programs to running only as long as they have cash on hand. Some leading aid organizations on Friday were interpreting the directive as an immediate stop-work order for US-funded aid work globally, a senior aid organization official said. Many would likely cease operations immediately so as not to incur more costs, the ...

Donald Trump deploys military force as he launches crackdown on migrants

Defense Department said at least four military planes will also be used to help carry out deportations of about 5,000 detained migrants from El Paso and San Diego

WHO chief plans cost cuts, revised priorities after US exit, document shows

The United States is by far the WHO's biggest financial backer, contributing around 18% of its overall funding. WHO's most recent two-year budget, for 2024-2025, was $6.8 billion

Donald Trump says he plans to reach out to North Korea's Kim Jong Un

President Donald Trump said in an interview that he will reach out to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who he described as a smart guy. Trump was being interviewed on Fox News by Sean Hannity, who asked the president if he planned to talk to his North Korean counterpart. Trump said he would. I got along with him, Trump said of Kim. He's not a religious zealot. New statement from Hegseth's ex-wife continues to raise questions about his alcohol use A new statement by Pete Hegseth's ex-wife to the FBI continues to raise questions about the alcohol use of Trump's nominee for defence secretary. That statement by Samantha Hegseth, the nominee's second wife, is part of an FBI background investigation that was read to Senate Armed Services Committee leadership Mississippi Republican Roger Wicker and Rhode Island Democrat Jack Reed Jan. 16. It said Pete Hegseth had and continues to have a problem with alcohol abuse, a person familiar with the FBI briefing and its findings told The Associat

US lawmaker condemns policy for 'ageing out' children of H-1B visa holders

A powerful US lawmaker has criticised the policy affecting children of H-1B visa holders who "age out" their immigration status upon turning 21. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The technology companies depend on it to hire tens of thousands of employees each year from countries like India and China. Children of H-1B visa holders who turn 21 before their parent secures a Green Card can lose their dependent status and age out of the ability to obtain a permanent resident card. A Green Card allows a non-US citizen to live and work permanently in America. The extensive Green Card backlogs for high-skilled workers mean that H-1B visa holders must wait decades and even centuries before a Green Card is available to them, Congressman Jerrold Nadler, senior Democratic member of the House Judiciary Committee, said during a Congressional hearing on restoring ..