President-elect Donald Trump effectively derailed bipartisan budget negotiations on Wednesday, rejecting the proposed legislation and accusing it of favoring Democrats. Billionaire Elon Musk, a close ally, played a key role in stirring opposition through social media, rallying Republican lawmakers and constituents against the bill. In a joint statement with Vice President-elect JD Vance, Trump dismissed the measure and called for renewed negotiations. Musk, who is set to co-lead a task force on government efficiency with entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, launched a social media campaign against the bill, labeling it an example of overspending. On his platform X, Musk threatened to support primary challenges against any lawmaker backing the legislation. Trump echoed the sentiment, amplifying Musk’s rallying cry, “Stop the steal of your tax dollars!” Trump named Time Person of the Year 2024 The budget deal’s collapse highlights Musk’s growing political clout. Rep. Andy Barr of Kentucky reported an influx of calls from constituents influenced by Musk’s posts, stating, “The people who elected us are listening to Elon Musk.” Trump and Vance urged Republicans to tie the debt ceiling extension to the budget deal, arguing it was better addressed while President Joe Biden is still in office. “Let’s settle this debate now rather than during our administration,” they said. The setback created uncertainty for House Speaker Mike Johnson, who negotiated the bill and faces a re-election challenge as Speaker. The slim Republican majority in the House increases the risk of renewed leadership disputes. Lawmakers were blindsided by Trump’s opposition, with many attending year-end celebrations when the announcement was made. Senior Republican appropriator Rep. Steve Womack commented, “Nothing surprises me anymore.” The Biden administration criticized Republicans for jeopardizing the bipartisan deal, warning of the potential harm to Americans. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged Republicans to prioritize stability over politics. Biden grants clemency to over 1,500 individuals in historic single-day action While Musk’s involvement thrilled some, like Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, others expressed concern about his lack of political experience. Grover Norquist, a veteran of budget battles, praised Musk’s influence but questioned his expertise in legislative matters, saying, “He doesn’t know politics like he knows physics.” Despite Musk amplifying some false claims about the bill, such as an alleged $3 billion allocation for a football stadium, he declared victory after the budget deal’s rejection, calling it “a good day for America.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries warned Republicans of the consequences of abandoning the agreement, stating, “You break the bipartisan agreement, you own the consequences.”

Donald Trump has been named Time magazine's 2024 Person of the Year and is scheduled to ring the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) on Thursday morning at 9:30 a.m. EST. This comes just months after he became the first former U.S. president to be convicted of a crime in a Manhattan courtroom, located only blocks away from the NYSE, reports AP. FBI Chief Wray plans to resign before Trump takes office in January These developments highlight Trump's complex relationship with New York and mark his transformation from a controversial former president, who denied his election defeat four years ago, to a president-elect who secured a decisive victory in November. Time’s editor-in-chief, Sam Jacobs, announced the selection on NBC's Today show, describing Trump as the individual who “for better or worse, had the most influence on the news in 2024.” Trump is expected to appear on Wall Street for the ceremonial opening of the trading day, as confirmed by multiple anonymous sources familiar with his plans. This marks his first time participating in the NYSE tradition, which frequently features prominent figures from various industries. Trump previously received the Time Person of the Year title in 2016, following his initial presidential victory. Other finalists for this year’s recognition included Vice President Kamala Harris, tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and Kate, the Princess of Wales. This bell-ringing event will be the latest in a series of appearances Trump has made in New York this year. In addition to his court-mandated presence for legal proceedings, he has strategically held campaign events across the city, including a rally at Madison Square Garden that drew criticism for incendiary comments made by speakers. Trump also visited locations like a firehouse, a bodega, and a construction site, showcasing his appeal in diverse urban areas. Trump taps immigration hard-liner Kari Lake as head of Voice of America Trump's fascination with being featured on the cover of Time dates back to 1989. He has falsely claimed to hold the record for cover appearances, and in 2017 it was revealed that fake Time covers featuring him were displayed at several of his golf clubs. Since his re-election, Trump has emphasized his role in recent stock market gains, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and Nasdaq composite all reaching record highs following his November victory. Trump argues that his new presidential term should officially start from the day after the election to credit him for the economic surge. As Trump prepares to assume office, his administration is shaping up to include many business leaders, aligning with his campaign promises of historic economic growth. While corporate America has praised his plans to cut taxes and deregulate, concerns persist about his proposed tariffs and the potential targeting of companies based on political alignment. Historically, stock markets have risen regardless of the party in power, but Trump’s policies could lead to significant shifts in industry performance. Biden approves National Security Memo to assist Trump on key global issues In parallel, Trump’s legal team is actively working to overturn his Manhattan conviction in light of his election win.

President Joe Biden has authorized a classified national security memorandum designed to guide the incoming Trump administration in addressing mounting challenges posed by deepening cooperation among China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia, the White House announced Wednesday. Crafted over the summer, the memorandum aims to equip the Trump administration with a foundational strategy to address threats from the United States' key adversaries. Two senior administration officials, speaking anonymously due to the document's sensitivity, confirmed its contents would remain classified. The guidance outlines four key recommendations: enhancing interagency coordination within the U.S. government, accelerating intelligence sharing with allies regarding the four adversaries, optimizing the use of sanctions and economic tools, and preparing for potential simultaneous crises involving these nations. U.S. officials have long been wary of collaboration among the four countries, a concern amplified since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The conflict has spurred stronger ties between Moscow and its allies. Read: Biden still believes missing journalist Austin Tice alive Russia, increasingly isolated internationally, has turned to Iran for drones and missiles while receiving artillery and personnel support from North Korea. In return, Moscow has supplied fighter jets to Iran and assisted Tehran in strengthening its missile defense and space technology. North Korea has gained critical fuel and financial support from Russia, bolstering its manufacturing and military capabilities. Additionally, Russia has reportedly accepted North Korea’s status as a nuclear-armed state, according to officials. China, meanwhile, has deepened its partnership with Russia, benefiting from dual-use components that sustain Moscow's military-industrial complex. The two nations have also intensified military technical cooperation, including joint patrols in the Arctic. “Coordination among these four nations poses an increasingly complex challenge for U.S. national security,” one official remarked, emphasizing the urgency of the recommendations. Despite contrasting worldviews, the Biden administration and President-elect Donald Trump's team have sought collaboration during the transition. The memorandum reflects a bipartisan recognition of the need for a robust approach to counter adversaries’ growing alliances. Read more: Biden visits Africa's Angola amid growing China influence This cooperative transition effort underscores the significance of preparing for evolving geopolitical dynamics, which will demand careful navigation by the incoming administration. Source: With inputs from agencies

Donald Trump, the president-elect of the United States, is actively pursuing his policy objectives and engaging in international diplomacy even before his inauguration. With over a month left until he officially takes office, Trump has issued strong warnings, such as threatening a 25% tariff on Canadian and Mexican goods, prompting high-level discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. His bold stance extends to global crises, warning Hamas of severe consequences if hostages in Gaza are not released before his inauguration. This weekend, Trump attended the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, where he was treated as a key dignitary alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, overshadowing outgoing President Joe Biden, who was represented by First Lady Jill Biden. Read: Donald Trump wins US presidency for the second time Trump’s approach is seen as highly unconventional, blurring the lines of transition by engaging directly with foreign leaders and influencing policy. Meetings with leaders from Canada, Argentina, and Ukraine, as well as discussions about the Middle East, highlight his active involvement. While Trump’s team asserts these efforts are aligned with legal protocols, critics argue that such dual messaging can complicate U.S. foreign relations during the transitional period. Trump’s proactive measures, including credit for recent policy moves, demonstrate his readiness to reassert his leadership style, though the long-term success of these initiatives remains uncertain. Source: With inputs from agencies

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will meet with all opposition leaders on Wednesday to discuss US-Canada relations following threats by US President-elect Donald Trump to impose sweeping tariffs on all Canadian products. A source familiar with the situation said the meeting would take place early Wednesday afternoon. The individual, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the talks are aimed at addressing the escalating tensions over trade. Trudeau successfully navigated a "Team Canada" approach during Trump's first term, working to renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). However, Trudeau’s political position has weakened since then, and with an election looming in under a year, the current situation is more precarious. The latest threat came after Trump’s meeting with Trudeau at his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida on Friday. Despite calls for a more cooperative stance, Trump did not back down from his pledge to impose a 25% tariff on all imports from Canada and Mexico unless they take stronger action to address migration and drug flows. Trump says BRICS countries must commit they’ll not replace US dollar or they’ll face 100% tariffs Trump’s remarks have sparked concern in Canada, which argues that it is being unfairly lumped in with Mexico. With 77% of Canada’s exports destined for the US, the potential tariffs would have a devastating impact on the Canadian economy. The country is one of the most trade-dependent in the world, and much of its daily trade, including crucial energy supplies, flows across the border. Kirsten Hillman, Canada’s ambassador to Washington, expressed optimism over Trudeau’s efforts to explain that the situation at the Canadian-US border is vastly different from that at the US-Mexico border. While the US has faced significant migrant and drug issues on its southern border, Canada has seen far fewer encounters, particularly with drugs like fentanyl.   Source: With inputs from wires

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  

For two weeks, Donald Trump has welcomed Elon Musk into his world. On Tuesday, it was Musk’s turn to play host to the president-elect. Trump flew to South Texas to watch as Musk’s SpaceX launched a Starship rocket near the Mexican border. Trump listened intently as the world’s richest man explained how the test would work and demonstrated with a model. And then Trump squinted into the bright sky to watch liftoff. It didn’t go perfectly -– the reusable booster did not return to the launch pad as it had done on a previous test last month. Instead, the booster was directed to a splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. But Trump’s presence at the launch was a remarkable display of intimacy between the two men, one with implications for American politics, the government, foreign policy and even the possibility of humans reaching Mars. Biden slams Elon Musk over allegations of illegal work in US Musk spent around $200 million to help Trump beat Democrat Kamala Harris in the presidential race, and he's been given unparalleled access. He's counseled Trump on nominees for the new administration, joined the president-elect's phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and been tapped to co-chair an advisory panel on cutting the size of the federal bureaucracy. In addition to political influence, Musk could benefit personally as well. SpaceX, his rocket company, has billions of dollars in government contracts and the goal of eventually starting a colony on Mars. He's also CEO of Tesla, which manufactures electric vehicles, and has battled with regulators over safety concerns involving autonomous driving. “Trump has the biggest possible regard for people who break the rules and get away with it," said William Galston, a senior fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based think tank. "Musk has demonstrated extraordinary accomplishment in doing that.” To top if off, Musk owns the social media company X, formally known as Twitter, which he has harnessed as an influential perch to promote Trump and his agenda. “Stop the Swamp!” he wrote Tuesday as he shared a warning that entrenched Washington interests are trying to undermine Trump before his inauguration. Before the election, Musk rejected the idea that he was expecting any favors in return for supporting Trump in the presidential race. “There is no quid pro quo,” he posted on X in September. “With a Trump administration, we can execute major government reform, remove bureaucratic paperwork that is smothering the country and unlock a new age of prosperity.” However, Trump has hardly gone anywhere without Musk in the two weeks since beating Harris. Musk joined Trump at a meeting with House Republicans in Washington and sat next to him at an Ultimate Fighting Championship match in New York. The trip to Texas for the rocket launch was just Trump's third time outside Florida since the election. As Trump's protective motorcade left the launch site Tuesday evening to return to the airport, one of Musk's angular, shiny Tesla Cybertrucks was tucked in the middle of the formation of black SUVs. Italy's president sharply rebukes Elon Musk over comments on X about migration court rulings Much of Trump's activity is happening with little public access for the press. Unlike his predecessors, he has opted against regularly making his travel plans or events open to journalists. The relationship between Trump and Musk was not always so close. Two years ago, Trump was mocking Musk in stump speeches and Musk was saying it was time for Trump to “hang up his hat & sail into the sunset.” “Trump would be 82 at end of term, which is too old to be chief executive of anything, let alone the United States of America,” Musk wrote on social media. But Musk swiftly endorsed Trump after the former president survived an assassination attempt in July. He quickly became a central figure in Trump’s orbit, appearing at times more like his running mate than Ohio Sen. JD Vance. Trump started boasting about Musk's accomplishments at campaign rallies, such as when Starship's reusable rocket booster returned to the launch tower on a previous occasion and was caught by mechanical arms. “Those arms grab it like you grab your baby, just like you grab your little baby. And it hugged it and just put it down, and there it was,” Trump said. Musk was with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort on election night and has spent much of the two weeks since there. Trump’s granddaughter Kai Trump posted a photo of her with Musk at one of Trump’s golf resorts, writing that Musk was "achieving uncle status.” Last week, Musk appeared in a golden ballroom at Mar-a-Lago, seated in the center of the room as a guest of honor at an event. Trump, in his remarks at the black tie event, said Musk’s IQ is “about as high as they can get” and praised him as “a really good guy.” “He launched a rocket three weeks ago and then he went to Pennsylvania to campaign because he considered this more important than launching rockets that cost billions of dollars,” Trump said. He joked about Musk’s constant presence at Mar-a-Lago, saying: “He likes this place. I can’t get him out of here." He added, “And you know what, I like having him here.” Musk said of the election results, “The public has given us a mandate that could not be more clear."

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus has said he does not see any negative thing emerging suddenly because Donald Trump (President-elect) is President of the United States, stressing that he does not have any problem with Trump in a personal way. “I think foreign policy of the United States is not something that switches back and forth depending on who is the President,” he said while responding to a question during an interview with Qatar-based media Al Jazeera, adding that there is a stable part of that policy. Prof Yunus said he has no problem as far as the Republican Party or Democratic Party is concerned, or even Trump is concerned. Trump names fossil fuel executive Chris Wright as energy secretary The chief adviser said he had no interaction with President Trump in the past and he has friends in both the parties.   Donald Trump will officially become the 47th President of the United States at a ceremony called the inauguration. The inauguration day will take place on January 20, 2025 and it is the day Donald Trump moves into the White House. Until then President Joe Biden remains in the top job. It will be the second time that Trump is going to take up the role - after previously having served as president between 2017 and 2021. Before the US election, Trump condemned the "barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh.” “It would have never happened on my watch. Kamala and Joe have ignored Hindus across the world and in America. They have been a disaster from Israel to Ukraine to our own Southern Border, but we will Make America Strong Again and bring back Peace through Strength!” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. Responding to a question by an Al Jazeera journalist on this, Prof Yunus said this is mostly propaganda – totally baseless propaganda. “It’s unfortunate.” He said most of the propaganda originates from the Indian side for whatever reason it may be – to keep the tensions alive, probably.  Majority Whip Durbin expresses support for Dr. Yunus at US Senate “But in reality, it does not exist,” said Prof Yunus, adding that violence started during the period of revolution not because they are Hindus or other religions but because mostly they were Awami Leaguers. “Most of the Hindus happened to be Awami Leaguers.” In his televised speech on Sunday evening, the chief adviser said the minorities were subjected to violence in some cases but it was ‘completely exaggerated’. “When we took over the charge, Bangladesh was a completely unguarded country. At that time, there was an attempt to spread unnecessary panic among religious minorities,” he said. The chief adviser said the main reason for the few incidents of violence that occurred was political.

Donald Trump’s return to the White House has made many countries anxious and recalculating where they stand with the U.S., but India appears to be welcoming the change that may embolden nationalist leaders like Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I know today a lot of countries are nervous about the U.S., let’s be honest about that,” India’s External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said over the weekend. India was “not one of them.” A call from Modi “was among the first three calls, I think, that President (elect) Trump took," he added. A second Trump presidency is likely to play out in New Delhi’s favor, experts say, especially as Modi seeks to reset India’s relationship with the West after recent frictions over his refusal to join sanctions against Russia or condemn its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Modi has also been criticized over India's democratic backsliding. “Trump’s victory means that the Indian policies that have put New Delhi at odds with the West … will no longer be a cause of concern for Washington,” said Michael Kugelman, South Asia director at the Wilson Center. There could be ruptures on trade, immigration and climate change goals — but on balance, “the return of Trump means that India’s relations with the West – and specifically its most powerful country — will get a boost,” he added. Modi has sought to cast India as a rising global player with a fast-growing economy that can counter China. But critics say his authoritarian politics and right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party have deeply polarized the country with minorities increasingly marginalized and the right to free speech and press under attack. When President Joe Biden honored Modi with a state visit last year, he walked a tightrope as activists and groups pressured him to confront Modi over his human rights record. Still, the two leaders rolled out new business deals on defense and technology. Such concerns won't be an issue with Trump, said Uday Chandra, an expert on South Asia and foreign policy. “He is a refreshing reset from the Indian perspective … he is much more transactional.” Trump, long an open admirer of Russian President Vladimir Putin, is also likely to be more understanding of India’s strategic partnership with Moscow, which dates back to the Cold War, its record purchases of Russian crude, and its refusal to pick a side in the war in Ukraine. “This was the real sort of thorn in India-U.S. relations over the past two years … but with Trump, I don’t see this being an issue,” Chandra said. Read: Modi, Trump commit to strengthening India-US ties during phone call: MEA One hot-button issue is trade. In his first term, trade differences between the two countries came to the fore with Trump calling India the “tariff king” over disagreements on farm goods, Harley Davidson motorcycles and medical devices. In 2019, he canceled the country's special trade privileges and India responded by slapping tariffs on more than two dozen U.S. goods. This time, Trump wants to impose a “universal” tax of 10% or 20% on all imports and raise tariffs on Chinese goods to 60%. India, which counts the U.S. as its second-largest trading partner, won't be an exception. “New Delhi will have to do more than just tinkering with its policies to deal with Trump’s emphasis on fair trade,” said C Rajamohan, a professor at the Institute of South Asian Studies in Singapore. Immigration could turn into a sore point if Trump attempts to also curb skilled migration. Indians have often been the largest group applying for the H1-B work visa but Trump had called the visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. Progress on climate change and clean energy could also be hit. “India and the U.S. have done quite a lot on this front over the past four years — but this is something that could unravel because a Trump administration is more aligned with the fossil fuel industry than with green technology,” said Milan Vaishnav, South Asia Program director at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Both Trump and Modi embody strongmen tactics, count on an impassioned support base and have ramped up polarization to consolidate votes. And unlike liberal leaders in the West, Trump doesn’t view Modi’s policies at home problematic – or even relevant, said Kugelman. “They’re both ardent nationalists committed to making their nations stronger at home and abroad,” he added. Analysts also point to the personal bond between the two. When Trump visited India in 2020, Modi threw him an event in the world's largest cricket stadium. Read more: BRICS Summit: Putin hosts Xi, Modi, other Global South leaders in move to counter western influence The year before that, Trump held a massive rally for Modi in Texas and likened him to Elvis Presley for his crowd-pulling power. In his congratulatory post to Trump on X last week, Modi shared photos of the two leaders hugging, smiling and holding hands. “There’s a bromance between the two,” said Chandra. "But they're also united by a shared worldview — that we are in a post- liberal world and that liberalism as an ideology for conducting global politics is no longer viable. That’s as true in India as it is in America.”

There have been no arrests or crackdowns on the supporters of US president-elect Donald Trump in Bangladesh, said Chief Adviser's press wing on Sunday night. Some Indian newspapers have been "aggressively spreading misinformation" about the student-led mass uprising since former Prime Sheikh Hasina was ousted in a popular revolution in August, said the press wing through its fact-checking Facebook page. 'They have hugely exaggerated the violence against minorities during the post-revolution days. They just repeated the same canards over today's arrest of AL supporters," the message reads. Dozens of activists of the Awami League party, whose leadership, officials, and members have been accused of mass murders, corruption, and laundering of tens of billions of dollars, were arrested in the country on Sunday on charges of planning subversive activities in the capital, Dhaka, said the press wing. The Dhaka Metropolitan Police has issued a statement to this effect. "Some of these people were carrying Donald Trump's photos after the fugitive AL leader, Sheikh Hasina, reportedly ordered her supporters to carry his portrait and use them as a shield against arrests," said the press wing. "They told police they didn't follow US politics and only carried Trump posters at the order of Hasina," the press wing claimed. It may be mentioned that some sections of the Indian media, notably India Today, reported yesterday's events in Bangladesh in a completely wrong light. Read: INR survey: Bangladesh faces media credibility crisis amid disinformation surge and digital literacy gaps For example, they described the rally called for by Awami League at Gulistan's Zero Point on the occasion of Noor Hossain Day (Nov. 10), an annual event, as one called for by 'Trump supporters' to celebrate the Republican candidate's victory in the US presidential election last week. There is no record of any group identifying themselves as "Trump supporters" or celebrating his successes in the past in Bangladesh. There is also no mention of the US president-elect in any of the Awami League literature surrounding their programme on Noor Hossain Day, which in the end failed to materialise due to a lack of participants. There is however an instruction from ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, that the CA Press Wing's statement alluded to briefly, for the AL activists attending Sunday's programme, to carry posters of Trump alongside those of Sheikh Hasina and Bangabandhu, and specifically to use the ones of Trump to shield themselves against police action. The AL activists were to take photos of these incidents and provide them to their leadership, so that they could be passed on to Trump - all with the intention, presumably, of riling the next US president into going against the interim government led by Prof. Muhammad Yunus in Bangladesh. These potentially seditious instructions were contained in a call record that leaked last week, between Hasina and one of her party workers. Although UNB has not independently verified the authenticity of the recording, the fact that many AL activists were later arrested carrying out the same instructions verifies itself. Members of the interim government had already made clear on Saturday that no AL rally or programme would be allowed to go ahead on Sunday, and the raids and arrests that followed must be seen in that light.