Donald Trump

US President Joe Biden and President-elect Donald Trump both claimed credit for the Gaza ceasefire deal, which aims to end the 15-month conflict between Israel and Hamas. Biden dismissed questions about credit, stating the deal was developed by his team and will largely be implemented by the incoming administration. Trump, however, attributed the deal's success to his election victory. The ceasefire agreement, brokered with Qatar’s help, includes a six-week ceasefire phase, the gradual withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. The deal follows months of negotiations and aims to alleviate ongoing violence and casualties.

President-elect Donald Trump warned Hamas that if all hostages, including American citizens, are not released by his Inauguration Day on January 20, "all hell will break out" in the Middle East. Trump did not specify the actions he would take but emphasized that the situation would be detrimental to Hamas and others. Around 100 hostages remain in Gaza, captured since the October 7, 2023 attack, many of whom are feared to be dead. Trump criticized the initial attack and its devastating toll on lives. The Biden administration has been working on securing their release, but efforts have stalled due to Hamas's rejections and Israeli objections. Experts, including former US Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer, expressed doubts about the substance of Trump’s threats. Trump's Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, acknowledged ongoing talks with the Biden team and plans to return to Doha for further negotiations, with both administrations focused on pressuring Hamas.

A New York judge, Juan Merchan, rejected Donald Trump's request to delay his sentencing in the hush money case, which is scheduled for January 10, 2025. Trump's attorneys had argued for a postponement, citing his election victory and the pending appeal of his conviction. Merchan dismissed these claims, stating that they were repetitive and noted that the prosecution opposed any delay. Trump had been convicted in May of falsifying business records to cover up a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. The payment aimed to prevent Daniels from disclosing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Although Trump's legal team attempted to have the case dismissed, Merchan ruled that Trump would be immune from prosecution once sworn in as president, but the conviction remains in place. Legal experts did not expect Trump to face jail time, with Merchan leaning toward an unconditional discharge, meaning no jail or conditions would be imposed.

During his annual press conference on December 19, 2024, Vladimir Putin addressed a variety of topics, including Syria, Ukraine, and a potential meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump. He denied claims that Russia was failing in Syria, stating that relations with regional powers and groups in the country were strong. Putin also mentioned that many countries expressed interest in Russia maintaining its military bases in Syria. Regarding Ukraine, he claimed Russian forces were making daily progress and taking significant territory, while also assuring that Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk region would be removed. Putin expressed readiness for compromise in negotiations over Ukraine and dismissed the idea that Russia was in a weak position. He also noted that he had not met Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad yet but planned to, and would inquire about the fate of missing U.S. journalist Austin Tice. Putin also discussed the Oreshnik missile and potential U.S.-Russia missile experiments.

On December 19, a spending bill backed by President-elect Donald Trump failed in the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite Trump’s efforts to pressure lawmakers to resolve funding issues before his January 20 inauguration, the bill was rejected by 38 Republicans who opposed its increased spending and impact on national debt. The failure to pass the bill leaves the U.S. government facing a shutdown starting at midnight on December 20, which would disrupt services and halt paychecks for over 2 million federal workers, affecting the holiday season. The bill, which resembled a prior bipartisan deal, was criticized by Trump and Elon Musk as a wasteful giveaway to Democrats. Key elements of the bill, including a pay raise for lawmakers, were dropped. At Trump’s urging, the bill also aimed to suspend debt limits for two years to ease the passage of future tax cuts, further increasing the federal government’s $36 trillion debt.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on December 14, discussing developments in Syria and efforts to secure the release of Israeli and foreign hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel has no interest in conflict with Syria but seeks to prevent threats from terrorist elements near its border. On the same day, Netanyahu announced plans to double the Israeli population in the Golan Heights, a region captured from Syria in 1967. Israel's government approved an $11 million plan to encourage demographic growth in the area. Amid ongoing instability in Syria, Israel sent troops into a long-standing buffer zone and conducted airstrikes on hundreds of military sites. The Israeli incursion was condemned by neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Jordan. Syria's leader, Ahmad al-Sharaa, rejected Israeli claims and focused on rebuilding his country after the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad.

Donald Trump plans to end birthright citizenship as he takes office on January 20. In this video, join @payal1303 as we break down birthright citizenship, the constitutional challenges involved, and how this controversial move could impact Indians living in the US. Experts weigh in on the legal hurdles, historical context, and broader implications for immigration policy. Will this proposal reshape America’s immigration system? Watch the full video to find out and share your thoughts in the comments!

Donald Trump will ring the New York Stock Exchange opening bell on December 12, coinciding with his selection as Time magazine’s 2024 "Person of the Year." The bell-ringing, a prestigious tradition marking the trading day's start, has featured notable figures like Ronald Reagan and Nelson Mandela. Trump, who earned the title in 2016, joins a lineup that previously included Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, and Taylor Swift. Known for leveraging stock market performance to tout his presidency's success, Trump returns to his roots as a New York real estate mogul while embracing his political resurgence with this symbolic and high-profile moment.

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to his January 20 inauguration in Washington, CBS News reports. While Trump praised his rapport with Xi, tensions remain high over proposed tariffs and China's handling of fentanyl trafficking. China's state media has warned against escalating a tariff war.

Donald Trump once again mocked Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, referring to him as “Governor Justin Trudeau of the Great State of Canada” on his social media platform, Truth Social. This comment follows Trump's earlier remark about making Canada the 51st US state. The jibe came after a dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, where they discussed potential tariffs. Trudeau had previously warned that Trump's 25% tariff threat would raise prices for Americans and stated Canada would retaliate. Speaking at a Halifax event, Trudeau acknowledged that dealing with Trump would be more challenging this time, given Trump’s clearer agenda.

On December 5, 2024, former U.S. President Barack Obama urged a new generation of leaders to engage with people they disagree with, emphasizing the importance of pluralism for the survival of democracy. Speaking at a "Democracy Forum" sponsored by his foundation, Obama addressed the deep political divisions in the U.S., particularly as Republican Donald Trump returns to the White House. Obama's comments came amid frustration within the Democratic Party following Vice President Kamala Harris' loss in the 2024 election. Harris lost every battleground state and the popular vote, leading to a loss of Democratic control over both the House and Senate. The disappointing results sparked infighting and calls for younger leadership. Despite his popularity, Obama was unable to help secure Harris' victory, and his advisers from the 2024 campaign are facing criticism for not taking responsibility for their campaign’s failures.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the critical need for continued Western support for Ukraine to ensure the country is in the strongest position for potential peace talks. Speaking in London, Starmer acknowledged that while the situation in Ukraine is dire, a negotiated end to the war remains a possibility. He warned that a Russian victory would pose a severe threat to Europe’s security, stability, and prosperity, potentially emboldening Russia’s allies. Starmer reaffirmed the UK's commitment to backing Ukraine's self-defense for as long as necessary, emphasizing the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia. His comments come at a crucial moment, with Russian forces advancing quickly, and amid skepticism from U.S. President-elect Donald Trump about continued support for Ukraine. The UK has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest allies, being the first to provide sophisticated weapons. Starmer also called on European nations to protect freedom and security across the continent.

The world could see a second wave of tariff war as Donald Trump takes office this January. The US President-elect has threatened a 100% tariff on the BRICS countries, including India, if they undercut the US dollar or replace it with another currency for international transactions. His remarks follow a BRICS meeting in October that discussed boosting non-dollar transactions. The BRICS grouping comprises Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and other countries.

US President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday (November 30) that he will nominate his former aide and “‘America First’ fighter” Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But who is this Indian-Origin Kash Patel? Watch the video to know more

US President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday (November 30) that he will nominate his former aide and “‘America First’ fighter” Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But who is this Indian-Origin Kash Patel? Watch the video to know more

Russian President Vladimir Putin praised U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, calling him an experienced and intelligent politician but expressed concern over his safety following two assassination attempts. Putin was shocked by the methods used against Trump during the U.S. election, including attacks on his family, which he deemed "revolting." He also speculated that the Biden administration's decision to escalate the war in Ukraine could either assist Trump or complicate his relationship with Russia. Despite this, Putin expressed confidence that Trump would find a solution and reaffirmed that Moscow was ready for dialogue with the incoming U.S. president.

President-elect Donald Trump's pick for secretary of defense Pete Hegseth denied sexual assault allegations contained in a California complaint filed by a woman in 2017. The woman filed the sexual assault complaint in California in 2017 against Hegseth, a former Fox News host, who has denied the assault allegations and told police at the time that "there was 'always' conversation and 'always' consensual contact," between him and the woman, according to the report.

Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration for U.S. Attorney General after facing opposition from Senate Republicans and amid an ongoing House Ethics Committee probe over allegations involving sex with an underage girl and drug use, which he denied. Gaetz’s lack of experience in traditional law enforcement roles, including the Justice Department or prosecution, further fueled concerns about his qualifications. President-elect Donald Trump then nominated Pam Bondi, the former Florida Attorney General, as his new pick. Bondi, with eight years of experience in Florida’s top law enforcement role and involvement in Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission, contrasted sharply with Gaetz's background. Trump also faced questions about his other nominees, including Pete Hegseth, who had been cleared of sexual assault allegations. Gaetz, who had resigned from Congress, withdrew to avoid becoming a distraction for the administration, giving Trump the opportunity to nominate a candidate with fewer hurdles in the Senate.

Bitcoin surged to a record high of $94,982.37, nearing $95,000, as reports of Donald Trump's social media company, TMTG, negotiating an all-stock acquisition of crypto firm Bakkt fuelled optimism. The cryptocurrency, which has more than doubled in 2024, gained over 40% since Trump's election victory amid expectations of a crypto-friendly regulatory regime. Trump’s private meetings with Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong and the successful launch of BlackRock's spot bitcoin ETF, trading $1.9 billion in contracts, further boosted sentiment. Analyst Nikhil Bhatia described Bitcoin as "digital gold," suggesting a potential $800,000 valuation per BTC if its market grows to gold’s $17 trillion.

Live of the sixth flight test of SpaceX’s Starship. This flight test aims to expand the envelope on ship and booster capabilities and get closer to bringing reuse of the entire system online. U.S. President-elect Donald Trump is expected to attend the launch.