Page 6 - United States

Trump calls correspondents' dinner attack suspect 'pretty sick guy'

Trump said in TV interviews that the suspect, whom an official identified as 31-year-old Cole Tomas Allen, of Torrance, California, had posted what Trump described as an 'anti-Christian' manifesto

Trump calls for unity after another violent incident, but will it last?

President Donald Trump was somberly contemplative and unusually conciliatory after confronting what he saw as a third attempt on his life in less than two years. He suggested that his personal politics had made him a repeated target, but he also called for unity and bipartisan healing in an increasingly violent world. "It's always shocking when something like this happens. Happened to me, a little bit. And that never changes," a subdued Trump told reporters in a hastily organised news conference at the White House late Saturday. Only a short time before, a man with guns and knives tried to rush past the security perimeter inside the Washington hotel where the Republican president was about to address the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Authorities are trying to determine what happened and why. A suspect was taken into custody and identified as Cole Tomas Allen, 31, of Torrance, California. Trump said he himself was undoubtedly the target. The presidency is "a danger

West Asia conflict: India leans on US for LPG amid Gulf supply crunch

Highest LPG volumes sourced from US, as imports from key West Asian suppliers decline

'We have all the cards': Trump cancels US negotiators' Pakistan trip

The development came shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi concluded his visit to Pakistan

US says it's hunting for explosive mines in latest push to open Hormuz

President Donald Trump says the US Navy is clearing Iranian mines from the Strait of Hormuz, a vital sea route for oil shipments whose disruption is increasingly threatening the global economy. Sweeping for underwater explosives could take months despite a tenuous ceasefire between the United States and Iran in the weekslong war, experts say. Any future claims that the US cleared the waterway where 20 per cent of the world's oil typically passes might fail to convince commercial freighters and their insurers that it is finally safe. "You don't even have to have laid mines - you just have to make people believe that you've laid mines," said Emma Salisbury, a scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute's National Security Program. "And even if the US sweeps the strait and says everything's clear, all the Iranians have to do is say, Well, actually, you haven't found them all yet,'" said Salisbury, who is also a fellow at the Royal Navy Strategic Studies Centre. "There's only so mu

US does not plan to renew Iranian, Russian oil waivers, says Scott Bessent

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Friday that the US does not plan to renew a waiver allowing the purchase of Russian oil and petroleum products that are currently at sea. And, he said, a renewal of the one-time waiver for Iranian oil at sea is totally off the table. "Not the Iranians," Bessent told The Associated Press. "We have the blockade, and there's no oil coming out." "And we think in the next two, three days, they're going to have to start shuttering production, which will be very bad for their wells." Bessent's statements come as the world is on edge over the US-Israeli war in Iran, and global energy markets have been ensnarled by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The US originally issued a waiver for Russian oil sales and petroleum products in March with the intent of stabilising global energy markets after crude oil prices surged above USD 100 per barrel. The Treasury Department renewed the waiver two days after Bessent said at the White House that he had no plan

No direct talks planned with US representatives in Islamabad: Iran

Shortly after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi touched down in Pakistan, his government made it clear that there would be no direct negotiations with American government representatives during this visit. Foreign ministry spokesperson Esmael Baqaei said on X that "No meeting is planned to take place between Iran and the US." Instead, Baqaei said Pakistani officials would convey messages between the delegations. Baqaei thanked the Pakistani government for its "ongoing mediation & good offices for ending American imposed war of aggression." The White House said earlier Friday that its envoys would meet Araghchi.

Pentagon email floats suspending Spain from Nato over Iran war disagreement

The policy options are detailed in a note expressing frustration at some allies' perceived reluctance or refusal to grant the United States access, basing and overflight rights for the Iran war

US soldier charged for using classified intel to bet on Maduro capture

A US special forces soldier involved in the military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has been charged with using classified information about the mission to win more than USD 400,000 in an online betting market, federal officials announced Thursday. Gannon Ken Van Dyke was part of the operation to capture Maduro in January and used his access to classified information to make money on the prediction market site Polymarket, the federal prosecutor's office in New York said. He has been charged by the Justice Department with unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction. He could face years in prison. Van Dyke, 38, was involved in the planning and execution of capturing Maduro for about a month beginning Dec. 8, 2025, according to the federal prosecutor's office. Yet despite the fact that he signed nondisclosure agreemen

Economic growth, prosperity primary impulse for changes in India: Kwatra

He said India has experienced consumption products, technology, services and knowledge being restricted for the country's growth

US Navy Secretary ousted after infighting with top Pentagon leaders

A White House official said Trump and Hegseth agreed new leadership was needed over the Navy

'Inappropriate, in poor taste': MEA on Trump's 'hell-hole' post for India

After the post sparked outrage, Christopher Elms, spokesperson for the US Embassy in New Delhi, said Trump had spoken warmly of India and called it a great nation

Trump 'gold card' visa granted to only one person so far, says Lutnick

The president has promoted the Gold Card visa program as a critical way of attracting talent to the US. Visa recipients pay $1 million to receive US residency

'Flood US with illegal aliens': Trump targets Indian, Chinese migrants

The letter posted by Trump on Truth Social, argued that birthright citizenship allows people to "flood America with illegal aliens to change the demographics forever"

FIEO asks exporters to engage with US buyers for tariff refund share

Apex exporters' body FIEO on Wednesday said it has asked its members to engage with US buyers to seek a share of the refunded tariffs, with the United States initiating the process of refunding reciprocal tariffs from April 20. FIEO President S C Ralhan said that there is no legal right of Indian exporters on those refunds, as only the US businesses are getting the refunds. "But if an Indian exporter has a good relationship with his or her US buyer, she may get some share," he said. In its report, think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that the engagement with the US buyers will be important as the refunded payments go only to US importers, and exporters have no legal right to claim them. Indian exporters have no direct legal route to claim refunds. Another industry official from the leather sector said that the businesses will discuss the matter with the US importers. "We are talking to our buyers on this," a leather sector exporter said. The US tariffs, impose

Iran urges UN to press US to release seized commercial vessel Touska

Iran's ambassador to the United Nations, Amir Saeed Iravani raised 'urgent concern' over the 'deliberate' targeting of Iranian commercial ships

US sanctions target Iranian weapons and UAV procurement networks

The action was announced by the US Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control, which said those designated are based in Iran, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates

West Asia crisis: Trump says he does not want to extend ceasefire with Iran

With uncertainty still surrounding the possibility of last-minute diplomatic efforts, Trump indicated that military action could resume if an agreement is not reached soon

US starts tariff refunds; Indian exporters need to engage with buyers: GTRI

The US has initiated the process of refunding reciprocal tariffs from April 20, and Indian exporters should proactively engage with American buyers to seek a share of the refunded duties, think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that the engagement will be important as the refunded payments go only to US importers, and exporters have no legal right to claim them. Indian exporters will have no direct legal route to claim refunds, it said. The US tariffs, imposed from April 2, 2025, affected export of many Indian products, it said, adding that the total refund is about USD 166 billion, with roughly USD 12 billion linked to goods from India. To get refunds, US importers must file detailed claims online with shipment data, tariff lines and proof of payment. The reciprocal tariff regime began at 10 per cent on April 2, 2025 and was rapidly escalated. Rates for India rose to 25 per cent by Aug. 7, 2025 and to 50 per cent by August 28, remaining a

UK PM Starmer apologises for Mandelson's posting amid calls to resign

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday said that he would have withdrawn the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the UK's Ambassador to the US if he had known Mandelson had not passed security checks. Starmer made the remarks while addressing the House of Commons to present the timeline of his decision to appoint Mandelson as envoy to the US despite his scandalous links with American sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. An embattled Starmer, fighting for his job, was forced to defend the move after it emerged that Mandelson had been given the green light for the diplomatic post despite failing the mandatory security vetting. While the Opposition has questioned his judgment and accused him of misleading Parliament, the Prime Minister has insisted that he was never made aware of the failed UK Security Vetting (UKSV). "If I had known before he took up his post that UKSV recommendation was that developed vetting clearance should be denied, I would not have gone ahead with the appointment