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President-elect Donald Trump has issued a stark warning regarding the hostages held by Hamas, stating that there will be severe consequences if they are not freed before his inauguration on January 20, 2025. In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the lack of action to secure the release of those captured during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel, which left over 1,200 dead and at least 250 people abducted, including seven Americans. Trump condemned the conditions of the hostages, describing their treatment as violent and inhumane. He emphasized that their continued captivity would lead to unprecedented retaliation, warning of significant repercussions for those responsible for the abductions. Trump says BRICS countries must commit they’ll not replace US dollar or they’ll face 100% tariffs A recent video released by Hamas featured Edan Alexander, a 20-year-old Israeli-American hostage who was abducted during the October 7 attack. In the footage, Alexander, visibly distressed, appealed for his release while conveying forced messages to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump. Netanyahu has reaffirmed his commitment to securing the hostages' freedom. Despite ongoing efforts, a lasting ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas remains out of reach over a year after the initial attack. Israeli military operations in Gaza persist. Meanwhile, a ceasefire agreement with Hezbollah in Lebanon, brokered in November 2024, has already faced violations. Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office Israel accused Hezbollah of launching two projectiles on Monday, though no casualties were reported. Netanyahu vowed to enforce the ceasefire and respond to any breaches by Hezbollah.

President Joe Biden marked World AIDS Day by hosting the AIDS Memorial Quilt on the White House South Lawn for the first time on Sunday. The event brought together survivors, advocates, and families to honor those lost to the AIDS epidemic and demonstrate support for the 1.2 million Americans living with HIV, the virus that can lead to AIDS. Biden highlighted the enduring impact of the movement, saying, “This movement is fully woven into the fabric and history of America,” and commended efforts to save lives and change perceptions globally. The event featured 124 sections of the quilt, a tribute to lives lost to AIDS-related illnesses. First unveiled in 1987, the quilt symbolizes the ongoing fight against the epidemic. A red ribbon, representing HIV and AIDS awareness, adorned the South Portico of the White House. US universities urge Indian students to return before Trump takes office Globally, 40 million people are living with HIV, according to the White House. Jeanne White-Ginder, mother of Ryan White, introduced Biden at the event. Her son, who contracted AIDS from a tainted blood transfusion, became a symbol of the fight against the disease before his death in 1990. White-Ginder reflected on her son’s legacy, emphasizing the importance of combating AIDS without stigmatizing those affected. The Ryan White CARE Act, named in his honor, was passed in 1990 with Biden’s support as a senator. US economy grows at 2.8% pace in third quarter on consumer spending The event also recognized Dr. Anthony Fauci for his contributions to HIV/AIDS research and public health. Fauci, who retired from government service in 2022, attended the gathering and was acknowledged for his decades-long work on infectious diseases. The Biden administration has prioritized combating HIV/AIDS by increasing access to preventive measures like PrEP and addressing stigma. These efforts align with broader initiatives to end the epidemic and support affected communities.

President Joe Biden issued a sweeping pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, on Sunday, overturning his earlier pledges not to intervene in his son’s legal troubles. The pardon shields Hunter from federal felony convictions on gun and tax charges, sparing him potential prison time just weeks before sentencing. This controversial decision marks a significant shift for Biden, who had repeatedly vowed to uphold judicial independence and avoid using presidential powers to benefit his family. The pardon also casts a shadow over his presidency as he prepares to leave office on January 20, 2025, following Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Biden justified the move in a statement, citing what he described as "raw politics" influencing the cases against his son, leading to a "miscarriage of justice." The pardon covers all offenses Hunter may have committed between 2014 and 2024. Hunter Biden had faced felony charges for lying about drug use while purchasing a firearm and failing to pay over $1.4 million in taxes. These charges, brought by Trump-appointed special counsel David Weiss, followed years of scrutiny and political attacks targeting Hunter's past business dealings and personal struggles. Read: Biden approves long-range weapons for Ukraine: What it means for the war The decision has drawn sharp criticism from Republicans, including Rep. James Comer, who labeled the pardon a tactic to shield the Biden family from accountability. However, Hunter Biden expressed gratitude for the relief, promising to use his second chance to assist others battling addiction. As political and legal fallout continues, the controversy adds a dramatic chapter to Joe Biden’s presidency, raising questions about the balance between personal loyalty and public duty. Source: With inputs from agencies

President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern warning on Saturday, threatening 100% tariffs on nine nations if they take actions that undermine the dominance of the U.S. dollar. His statement targeted members of the BRICS alliance, which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, and the United Arab Emirates. The alliance, along with aspiring members such as Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Malaysia, and other interested nations, has expressed dissatisfaction with U.S. dominance in the global financial system. Despite the dollar's position as the world’s leading currency, representing approximately 58% of global foreign exchange reserves according to the IMF, BRICS nations are pushing for alternatives, including conducting trade in non-dollar currencies—a movement termed “de-dollarization.” US universities urge Indian students to return before Trump takes office On Truth Social, Trump demanded that these countries refrain from creating a new BRICS currency or supporting alternatives to the dollar, warning that failure to comply would result in severe tariffs and loss of access to the U.S. market. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the U.S. of using the dollar as a “weapon” at a recent BRICS summit, calling it a strategic mistake. Putin emphasized that Russia is compelled to explore alternatives to the dollar, citing Western sanctions and restrictions. Russia has also advocated for a new payment system to bypass SWIFT and enable sanction-free trade. While Trump dismissed the possibility of BRICS challenging the dollar’s dominance, research indicates the U.S. currency remains secure as the leading global reserve currency in the near and medium term, according to an Atlantic Council model. Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed COVID herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health Trump’s tariff threats follow similar measures against Mexico, Canada, and China aimed at addressing illegal immigration and drug trafficking. While Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed optimism about avoiding a tariff conflict, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau returned from recent talks with Trump without assurances that Canada would be exempted from potential tariffs.

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will nominate Kash Patel as the next FBI director, tapping a fierce ally to help overhaul the agency and remove what he views as “conspirators” within the government. This decision reflects Trump’s ongoing belief that the nation’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies require radical change, in line with his past calls for retribution against perceived adversaries. Patel, a former Justice Department prosecutor and staffer for the House Intelligence Committee, is best known for his work on the “Nunes Memo,” which criticized the FBI’s handling of surveillance during the Russia investigation. Trump praised Patel for his role in uncovering what he referred to as the “Russia Hoax” and for standing up for accountability. Patel’s nomination is expected to spark significant controversy in the Senate, particularly with Republican allies holding a slim majority. Although Trump’s picks are likely to face unified Democratic opposition, the nomination may proceed with the help of the vice president’s tie-breaking vote or through a congressional loophole allowing presidential appointments when the Senate is not in session. This pick signals that Trump is seeking to place loyalists in key positions, especially after his contentious relationship with current FBI Director Christopher Wray. Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, had previously been the subject of the president’s public ire, particularly after federal investigations and the search of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Read: US universities urge Indian students to return before Trump takes office Patel’s vision for the FBI includes reducing its scope and possibly converting the agency’s headquarters into a “museum of the deep state.” He has also made aggressive statements about prosecuting journalists and government officials involved in leaks. In addition to Patel, Trump announced Sheriff Chad Chronister of Hillsborough County, Florida, as his nominee for administrator of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Trump’s choice of Patel, a controversial figure due to his rhetoric and lack of experience in law enforcement, is poised to stir intense debate over the future direction of the FBI and its relationship with the broader intelligence community. Source: With inputs from agencies  

As the United States braces for Donald Trump to assume office as the 47th President in January, several top universities have issued advisories urging international students, particularly those from India, to return to the country before the inauguration. Concerns over potential travel bans have fuelled uncertainty amongst students and professionals studying and working in the US. President-elect Trump, who will take the oath of office on 20 January, has outlined plans to implement sweeping executive orders on his first day, targeting immigration and economic policies. These announcements have reignited fears reminiscent of his first term in 2017, when nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries faced immediate travel restrictions. The University of Massachusetts Amherst has released a detailed advisory urging its international students and staff to consider returning to the US before 20 January. “Given that a new presidential administration can enact policies on their first day in office and based on previous experience with travel bans in 2017, this advisory is made out of an abundance of caution,” the university stated. Similarly, Wesleyan University’s Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) has issued guidance, advising students to avoid being outside the country during the transition period. According to The Wesleyan Argus, the office’s email read: “The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to be physically present in the US on 19 January and the days thereafter.” At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Associate Dean David Elwell cautioned international students about the risks of travel during this period, citing potential visa processing delays and policy unpredictability. “With every election, there can be changes in policies, regulations, and legislation that impact higher education as well as immigration and visa status matters,” he wrote in a recent post. These warnings have particularly resonated with Indian students, many of whom vividly recall the disruptions caused by Trump’s 2017 executive order. That ban not only sparked protests across the US but also affected thousands of students and professionals, raising significant concerns about the inclusivity of American immigration policies. In response to these anxieties, universities are taking proactive measures to support their international students. Yale University recently hosted a webinar to address concerns about potential immigration policy changes. Other institutions have signalled their readiness to challenge any policies that may disrupt the academic ecosystem. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a formal advisory but has urged Indian nationals in the US to remain vigilant and stay updated on travel regulations. The US remains a top destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with India surpassing China in 2023-2024 to become the leading country of origin for international students. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, 331,602 Indian students were enrolled in American institutions, marking a 23 per cent increase from the previous year. This demographic now represents a vital component of the US academic and cultural landscape. As the date of the presidential inauguration approaches, the international student community continues to navigate this period of uncertainty with a mix of caution and resilience. Source: With inputs from Indian media  

The US Navy is turning a costly setback into a strategic advantage by retrofitting its first stealth destroyer, the USS Zumwalt, to house the nation’s first shipborne hypersonic weapon. At a Mississippi shipyard, workers are replacing the Zumwalt's twin turrets—originally designed for a gun system that was never activated due to its high cost—with new missile tubes. This modification will transform the Zumwalt into a platform capable of conducting fast, long-range, precision strikes, enhancing its operational utility. While the Zumwalt was initially intended for land-attack missions with its Advanced Gun System, the expensive gun system was scrapped and the ship's future became uncertain. However, experts see this new retrofit as a potential turning point. "The Navy could take victory from the jaws of defeat here and make these ships useful with the hypersonic weapon system," said Bryan Clark, a defense analyst at the Hudson Institute. Hypersonic weapons, capable of traveling at speeds greater than Mach 5 (five times the speed of sound), have become a priority for the US military, spurred on by tests from China and Russia. These weapons' high speed and maneuverability make them difficult to intercept, and the US has accelerated their development to maintain its technological edge. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine The system being integrated into the Zumwalt is the Conventional Prompt Strike (CPS), a hypersonic weapon that launches like a ballistic missile before releasing a glide vehicle that travels at speeds seven to eight times the speed of sound. The Zumwalt will carry four missile tubes, each containing three hypersonic missiles, for a total of 12 weapons per ship. Despite criticisms of the Zumwalt class as an expensive misstep, the destroyers remain the Navy's most advanced surface warships, featuring innovations such as electric propulsion and a stealthy angular design. The Zumwalt is currently undergoing retrofit work at Huntington Ingalls Industries shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi, and is expected to return to active duty in the coming months. Entrepreneur who purchased a banana artwork for $6.2 million eats the fruit in Hong Kong While the development and procurement of these hypersonic weapons will cost billions, with an estimated price tag of $18 billion for 300 missiles, experts argue that the strategic advantages outweigh the cost. “The adversary has them. We never want to be outdone,” said retired Navy Rear Admiral Ray Spicer, underscoring the urgency of the US military’s pursuit of hypersonic technology.   Source: With inputs from agencies

In his first public address since securing a landslide victory in the 2024 election, US President-elect Donald Trump took the opportunity to praise tech mogul Elon Musk at the America First Policy Institute (AFPI) Gala in Mar-a-Lago, Florida. Trump highlighted Musk’s significant contributions to American innovation, particularly his work with Tesla, SpaceX and X (formerly Twitter). The President-elect commended Musk for his bold vision, which he believes aligns with his own agenda of advancing technological progress and reshaping industries. Read: Elon Musk's wealth hits all-time high “Elon Musk is a true leader, a visionary who is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” Trump said. “His work in electric vehicles, space exploration, and social media has not only challenged established norms but has set America on a path to remain a global leader in innovation.” Trump’s praise for Musk underscores the growing influence of tech entrepreneurs in shaping the country’s future, with Musk being a key ally in Trump’s broader vision of American greatness. The close relationship between the two has been marked by shared values of disruption and progress. Source: With inputs from agencies

The American economy expanded at a healthy 2.8% annual pace from July through September on strong consumer spending and a surge in exports, the government said Wednesday, leaving unchanged its initial estimate of third-quarter growth. U.S. gross domestic product — the economy's output of goods and services — slowed from the April-July rate of 3%, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday. But the GDP report still showed that the American economy — the world's largest — is proving surprisingly durable. Growth has topped 2% for eight of the last nine quarters. Within the GDP data, a category that measures the economy’s underlying strength rose at a solid 3.2% annual rate from July through September, up from 2.7% in the April-June quarter. This category includes consumer spending and private investment but excludes volatile items like exports, inventories and government spending. Still, American voters — exasperated by high prices — were unimpressed by the steady growth and chose this month to return Donald Trump to the White House to overhaul the nation's economic policies. He will be supported by Republican majorities in the House and Senate. Consumer spending, which accounts for about 70% of U.S. economic activity, accelerated to a 3.5% annual pace last quarter, up from 2.8% in the April-June period and fastest growth since the fourth quarter of 2023. Exports also contributed to the third quarter’s growth, increasing at a 7.5% rate, most in two years. Still, the third-quarter growth in both consumer spending and exports was lower than the Commerce Department initially estimated. But growth in business investment slowed sharply on a drop in investment in housing and in nonresidential buildings such as offices and warehouses. By contrast, spending on equipment surged. When he takes office next month, President-elect Trump will inherit an economy that looks broadly healthy. Growth is steady. Unemployment is low at 4.1%. Inflation, which hit a four-decade high 9.1% in June 2022, has fallen to 2.6%. That is still above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, but the central bank felt satisfied enough with the progress against inflation to cut its benchmark interest rate in September and again this month. Most Wall Street traders expect the Fed to cut rates again in December. Trump picks Jay Bhattacharya, who backed COVID herd immunity, to lead National Institutes of Health Wednesday’s report also contained some encouraging news on inflation. The Federal Reserve’s favored inflation gauge — called the personal consumption expenditures index, or PCE — rose at just a 1.5% annual pace last quarter, down from 2.5% in the second quarter. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core PCE inflation was 2.1%, down from 2.8% in the April-June quarter. The public still feels inflation's sting: Prices are about 20% higher than they were in February 2021, just before inflation started picking up Trump has promised an economic shakeup. On Monday, for example, he vowed to slap new import taxes on goods from China, Mexico and Canada. Mainstream economists view such taxes — or tariffs — as inflationary. That is because they are paid by U.S. importers, who then seek to pass along the higher costs to their customers. Wednesday's report was the second of three looks at third-quarter GDP. The Commerce Department will issue the final report on Dec. 19.  

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen health economist Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a critic of pandemic lockdowns and vaccine mandates, to lead the National Institutes of Health, the nation's leading medical research agency. Trump, in a statement Tuesday evening, said Bhattacharya, a 56-year-old physician and professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, will work in cooperation with Robert F. Kennedy Jr., his pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services, "to direct the Nation’s Medical Research, and to make important discoveries that will improve Health, and save lives.” “Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest Health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease," he wrote. Rising price of paying national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation The decision to choose Bhattacharya for the post is yet another reminder of the ongoing impact of the COVID pandemic on the politics on public health. Bhattacharya was one of three authors of the Great Barrington Declaration, an October 2020 open letter maintaining that lockdowns were causing irreparable harm. The document — which came before the availability of COVID-19 vaccines and during the first Trump administration — promoted “herd immunity,” the idea that people at low risk should live normally while building up immunity to COVID-19 through infection. Protection should focus instead on people at higher risk, the document said. “I think the lockdowns were the single biggest public health mistake,” Bhattacharya said in March 2021 during a panel discussion convened by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. The Great Barrington Declaration was embraced by some in the first Trump administration, even as it was widely denounced by disease experts. Then- NIH director Dr. Francis Collins called it dangerous and “not mainstream science.” His nomination would need to be approved by the Senate. Trump on Tuesday also announced that Jim O’Neill, a former HHS official, will serve as deputy secretary of the sprawling agency. Trump said O’Neill “will oversee all operations and improve Management, Transparency, and Accountability to, Make America Healthy Again,” the president-elect announced. Trump threatens to impose sweeping new tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China on first day in office O’Neill is the only one of Trump’s health picks so far who brings previous experience working inside the bureaucracy to the job. Trump’s previous choices to lead public health agencies — including Kennedy, Dr. Mehmet Oz for Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator and Dr. Marty Makary for Food and Drug Administration commissioner — have all been Washington outsiders who are vowing to shake up the agencies. Bhattacharya, who faced restrictions on social media platforms because of his views, was also a plaintiff in Murthy v. Missouri, a Supreme Court case contending that federal officials improperly suppressed conservative views on social media as part of their efforts to combat misinformation. The Supreme Court sided with the Biden administration in that case. After Elon Musk acquired Twitter in 2022, he invited Bhattacharya to the company's headquarters to learn more about how his views had been restricted on the platform, which Musk renamed X. More recently, Bhattacharya has posted on X about scientists leaving the site and joining the alternative site Bluesky, mocking Bluesky as "their own little echo chamber.” Bhattacharya has argued that vaccine mandates that barred unvaccinated people from activities and workplaces undermined Americans' trust in the public health system. He is a former research fellow at the Hoover Institution and an economist at the RAND Corporation. The National Institutes of Health falls under HHS, which Trump has nominated Kennedy to oversee. The NIH's $48 billion budget funds medical research on vaccines, cancer and other diseases through competitive grants to researchers at institutions across the nation. The agency also conducts its own research with thousands of scientists working at NIH labs in Bethesda, Maryland. Among advances that were supported by NIH money are a medication for opioid addiction, a vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, many new cancer drugs and the speedy development of mRNA COVID-19 vaccines.