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Senior US administration officials will meet with a Chinese delegation on Monday in London for the next round of trade negotiations between Washington and Beijing, President Donald Trump said Friday. The meeting comes after a phone call between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, which the US president described as a “very positive” conversation as the two countries attempt to break an impasse over tariffs and global supplies of rare earth minerals, reports AP. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will represent the US side in the trade talks. “The meeting should go very well,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Friday afternoon. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One Friday, Trump said Xi had agreed to restart exports of rare earth minerals and magnets to the US which China had slowed, threatening a range of US manufacturers that relied on the critical materials. There was no immediate confirmation from China. China's market remains a magnet for foreign investment: FM spokesperson The Thursday conversation between Trump and Xi, who lead the world's two biggest economies, lasted about an hour and a half, according to the US president. The Chinese foreign ministry has said Trump initiated the call. The ministry said Xi asked Trump to “remove the negative measures” that the US has taken against China. It also said that Trump said “the US loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America,” although his administration has vowed to revoke some of their visas.

President Donald Trump has nominated Vice Adm. Brad Cooper as the next commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), making him only the second Navy admiral to be selected for the role, the Pentagon announced Wednesday. Trump also put forward Air Force Lt. Gen. Dagvin Anderson to lead U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM), which would make him the first Air Force officer to head the command since its formation in 2007, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Currently serving as deputy commander of CENTCOM, Cooper brings extensive experience in the region. He previously led the Navy’s 5th Fleet in Bahrain for nearly three years before becoming CENTCOM’s second-in-command in February 2024. He would replace Army Gen. Erik Kurilla, who is set to retire after more than three years at the helm. CENTCOM oversees military operations in 21 countries across Central and South Asia and Northeast Africa. The command plays a critical role as the region remains volatile due to conflicts such as the ongoing war in Gaza and ongoing nuclear negotiations with Iran. Historically, the position has been held primarily by Army and Marine generals. Notably, former Army Gen. Lloyd Austin and former Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, both past CENTCOM commanders, later served as defense secretaries. The only previous Navy officer in the role, Adm. William Fallon, served briefly before resigning amid speculation about his stance on U.S. policy toward Iran. Cooper, a 1989 graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and son of a career Army officer, has served on a range of vessels including cruisers, destroyers, carriers, and amphibious ships. He previously commanded a destroyer and a cruiser. During his tenure with the 5th Fleet, he launched the Navy’s first task force focused on unmanned systems and artificial intelligence, oversaw naval operations against Houthi rebels in Yemen, and led U.S. efforts in Operation Prosperity Guardian, a coalition aimed at stopping Houthi attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea. Cooper has also led U.S. Naval Forces Korea and commanded Naval Surface Force Atlantic. He holds a master’s degree in strategic intelligence from the National Intelligence University. Trump announces ban on travel to US from 19 countries Anderson, Trump’s nominee for AFRICOM, is an experienced pilot with over 3,400 flight hours, including 738 in combat. He has flown aircraft such as the KC-135 tanker, C-130 transport, and U-28A surveillance plane, frequently used in special operations. Anderson currently serves as director of joint force development on the Joint Staff. His leadership background includes commanding special operations and expeditionary squadrons, as well as a special operations wing and task forces. He led Special Operations Command Africa from 2019 to 2021 and was responsible for coordinating the U.S. troop repositioning from Somalia. If confirmed, he will become the seventh leader of AFRICOM, following four Army generals and two Marines. Anderson hails from Ypsilanti, Michigan, and is a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis via the ROTC program. AFRICOM, the Pentagon’s newest geographic command, is focused on combating extremist threats and supporting local military training efforts across much of the African continent.

The United States on Wednesday vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza, citing the resolution’s failure to tie a truce to the release of hostages held by Hamas. Fourteen of the council’s 15 members supported the resolution, which described the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as "catastrophic" and urged Israel to lift restrictions on aid for the 2.1 million Palestinians in the enclave. The proposed resolution did not meet several U.S. conditions, including explicit condemnation of Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, and calls for the group to disarm and exit Gaza. Speaking ahead of the vote, Acting U.S. Ambassador Dorothy Shea said the resolution would jeopardize Israel’s security and ongoing diplomatic efforts toward a ceasefire “grounded in the realities on the ground.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed that sentiment, arguing the resolution would have emboldened Hamas. “Hamas could end this brutal conflict today by surrendering its weapons and releasing all hostages,” he said. Israel’s U.N. envoy Danny Danon expressed gratitude for the U.S. veto, stating the resolution would have shifted pressure onto Israel without demanding hostage releases, giving Hamas “time, leverage and political cover.” Widespread Criticism of U.S. Veto The veto—Washington’s fifth since the war began—drew strong condemnation from other Security Council members. Critics accused the U.S. of shielding Israel from accountability. China’s U.N. Ambassador Fu Cong said Israel had violated international humanitarian law, and those violations continued due to protection from “one country.” Britain, typically a U.S. ally, also distanced itself. Ambassador Barbara Woodward criticized Israel’s expanding operations in Gaza and aid restrictions, calling them “unjustifiable, disproportionate and counterproductive.” Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad described the veto as a “green light” for further devastation. “The world was expecting action, but one member again blocked this council from fulfilling its duty,” he said. Slovenia’s Ambassador Samuel Žbogar, representing the council’s elected members, said the resolution was focused on humanitarian needs, not political friction. “Inflicting widespread suffering on civilians cannot be justified by any war aim,” he added. Palestinian Ambassador Riyad Mansour called for international action, warning of what he described as an Israeli plan “to destroy our people.” He said Palestinians will now take a similar resolution to the U.N. General Assembly, where no country has veto power—though resolutions there are non-binding. The Biden administration previously vetoed a similar ceasefire resolution in November for the same reason: the absence of a direct link to hostage releases. The current proposal also demanded hostages be freed but did not make that a precondition for a ceasefire. Aid Distribution and Ongoing Crisis The vote came amid further delays in food deliveries to Gaza. A U.S.- and Israeli-backed group suspended aid shipments after reports of deadly shootings this week. Israel and the U.S. argued that the new system was necessary to prevent aid from being seized by Hamas. However, the U.N. criticized the change, insisting its original aid system had worked well during a previous ceasefire and was properly monitored. Gaza remains heavily dependent on outside assistance, as most of its food infrastructure has been destroyed. A blockade imposed on March 2 halted aid deliveries, though limited relief began trickling in again late last month under international pressure. The conflict erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing about 1,200 people and kidnapping 251. Some 58 hostages remain in captivity; about a third are believed to be alive. Israel’s military response has resulted in the deaths of over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. The ministry, overseen by the Hamas-run government, does not distinguish between civilians and fighters in its figures, but the data is generally considered credible by U.N. agencies and independent observers, despite Israeli skepticism.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced a new travel ban that will block entry to the U.S. for citizens from 12 countries and impose restrictions on visitors from seven others. The measure, set to take effect at 12:01 a.m. Monday, marks a revival of one of Trump’s most controversial first-term policies — this time with advance notice to avoid the airport disruptions seen during the 2017 rollout. Among the 12 nations facing a full travel ban are: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. Meanwhile, travelers from Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, and Venezuela will be subject to additional restrictions. In a social media video, Trump linked the decision to a recent terrorist attack in Boulder, Colorado, highlighting visa overstays as a national security concern. The suspect in that incident is from Egypt, which is not among the countries listed in the new policy. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the individual had overstayed a tourist visa. Trump had hinted at reintroducing the ban after returning to office in January, and with backing from a prior Supreme Court ruling, he is seen to have a stronger legal footing this time.

Six people were injured Sunday in what the FBI immediately described as a “targeted terror attack” at an outdoor mall in Boulder, Colorado, where a group had gathered to raise attention to Israeli hostages held in Gaza. The suspect, identified as 45-year-old Mohamed Sabry Soliman, yelled “Free Palestine” and used a makeshift flamethrower in the attack, said Mark Michalek, the special agent in charge of the Denver field office. Soliman was taken into custody. No charges were immediately announced but officials said they expect to hold him “fully accountable.” Soliman was also injured and was taken to the hospital to be treated, but authorities didn’t elaborate on the nature of his injuries. Video from the scene showed a witness shouting, “He’s right there. He’s throwing Molotov cocktails," as a police officer with his gun drawn advanced on a bare-chested suspect with containers in each hand. The attack took place at the popular Pearl Street pedestrian mall, a four-block area in downtown Boulder, where demonstrators with a volunteer group called Run For Their Lives had gathered to raise visibility for the hostages who remain in Gaza as a war between Israel and Hamas continues to inflame global tensions and has contributed to a spike in antisemitic violence in the United States. It occurred more than a week after the fatal shooting of two Israeli embassy staffers in Washington by a Chicago man who yelled "I did it for Palestine, I did it for Gaza” as he was being led away by police. FBI leaders in Washington said they were treating the Boulder attack as an act of terrorism, and the Justice Department — which leads investigations into acts of violence driven by religious, racial or ethnic motivations — decried the attack as a "needless act of violence, which follows recent attacks against Jewish Americans." US defence secy warns Indo-Pacific allies of 'imminent' threat from China “This act of terror is being investigated as an act of ideologically motivated violence based on the early information, the evidence, and witness accounts. We will speak clearly on these incidents when the facts warrant it,” FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino said in a post on X. Israel's war in Gaza began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting about 250 others. They are still holding 58 hostages, around a third believed to be alive, after most of the rest were released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Israel’s military campaign has killed over 54,000 people in Hamas-run Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were civilians or combatants. The offensive has destroyed vast areas, displaced around 90% of the population and left people almost completely reliant on international aid. Police in Boulder were more circumspect about a motive. Police Chief Steve Redfearn said it “would be irresponsible for me to speculate” while witnesses were still being interviewed but noted that the group that had gathered in support of the hostages had assembled peacefully and that injuries of the victims — ranging from serious to minor — were consistent with them having been set on fire. The violence comes four years after a shooting rampage at a grocery store in Boulder, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) northwest of Denver, that killed four people. The gunman was sentenced to life in prison for murder after a jury rejected his attempt to avoid prison time by pleading not guilty by reason of insanity. 2 Israeli Embassy staff shot dead near Jewish Museum in Washington Multiple blocks of the pedestrian mall area were evacuated by police. The scene shortly after the attack was tense, as law enforcement agents with a police dog walked through the streets looking for threats and instructed the public to stay clear of the pedestrian mall. Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said in a statement that he was “closely monitoring” the situation, adding that “hate-filled acts of any kind are unacceptable.”

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth reassured allies in the Indo-Pacific on Saturday that they will not be left alone to face increasing military and economic pressure from China, while insisting that they also contribute more to their own defence. He said Washington will bolster its defences overseas to counter what the Pentagon sees as rapidly developing threats by Beijing, particularly in its aggressive stance toward Taiwan. China has conducted numerous exercises to test what a blockade would look like of the self-governing island, which Beijing claims as its own and the US has pledged to defend, reports AP. China's army “is rehearsing for the real deal,” Hegseth said in a keynote speech at a security conference in Singapore. “We are not going to sugarcoat it — the threat China poses is real. And it could be imminent.” China has a stated goal of having its military have the capability to take Taiwan by force if necessary by 2027, a deadline that is seen by experts as more of an aspirational goal than a hard war deadline. Hamas still weighing US ceasefire proposal as Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza But China also has built sophisticated man-made islands in the South China Sea to support new military outposts and developed highly advanced hypersonic and space capabilities, which are driving the United States to create its own space-based “Golden Dome” missile defenses. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a global security conference hosted by the International Institute for Security Studies, Hegseth said China is no longer just building up its military forces to take Taiwan, it's “actively training for it, every day.” Hegseth also called out China for its ambitions in Latin America, particularly its efforts to increase its influence over the Panama Canal. He urged countries in the region to increase defense spending to levels similar to the 5% of their gross domestic product European nations are now pressed to contribute. “We must all do our part,” Hegseth said.

Billionaire Elon Musk drew widespread attention when he appeared at the White House with a black eye during his farewell with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday. The tech billionaire offered a light-hearted explanation for the bruise, attributing it to a playful moment with his son. "I was just horsing around with lil' X, and I said, 'go ahead punch me in the face,'" Musk, 53, told reporters. "And he did. Turns out even a five-year-old punching you in the face actually is..." he continued, before pausing. "I didn't really feel much at the time but I guess it bruises up." The event marked Musk's final day leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), a role he previously said had grown frustrating. Despite stepping down, Musk stated he would continue to serve as a "friend and advisor." The farewell was partly overshadowed by a New York Times report alleging Musk used drugs heavily while campaigning alongside Trump in 2024. Trump, however, appeared unconcerned. "I didn't notice" the bruise, he said, adding, "X could do it, if you knew X." Musk’s son, X Æ A-Xii, was a familiar figure in the White House during Musk’s tenure at DOGE, even sitting on his father’s shoulders during an Oval Office appearance in February and once being seen picking his nose near the Resolute Desk. During the press conference, Musk also joked about French President Emmanuel Macron after a video emerged of Macron’s wife seemingly pushing the French leader’s face."I've got a little shiner here," Musk quipped with a laugh. Wearing a DOGE baseball cap and a T-shirt reading "The Dogefather," Musk repeated the story behind the injury with humor when asked again about the bruise. Source: NDTV  

Elon Musk is leaving his government role as a top adviser to President Donald Trump after spearheading efforts to reduce and overhaul the federal bureaucracy. His departure, announced Wednesday evening, marks the end of a turbulent chapter that included thousands of layoffs, the evisceration of government agencies and reams of litigation, reports AP. Despite the upheaval, the billionaire entrepreneur struggled in the unfamiliar environment of Washington, and he accomplished far less than he hoped. He dramatically reduced his target for cutting spending — from $2 trillion to $1 trillion to $150 billion — and increasingly expressed frustration about resistance to his goals. Sometimes he clashed with other top members of Trump's administration, who chafed at the newcomer's efforts to reshape their departments, and he faced fierce political blowback for his efforts. Musk's role working for Trump was always intended to be temporary, and he had recently signalled that he would be shifting his attention back to running his businesses, such as the electric automaker Tesla and the rocket company SpaceX. But administration officials were often vague about when Musk would step back from his position spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE, and he abruptly revealed that he was leaving in a post on X, his social media website. “As my scheduled time as a Special Government Employee comes to an end, I would like to thank President @realDonaldTrump for the opportunity to reduce wasteful spending,” he wrote. “The @DOGE mission will only strengthen over time as it becomes a way of life throughout the government.” A White House official, who requested anonymity to talk about the change, confirmed Musk's departure. Trump admin cancels $766m Moderna contract to fight pandemic flu Musk announced his decision one day after CBS released part of an interview in which he criticised the centerpiece of Trump’s legislative agenda by saying he was “disappointed” by what the president calls his “big beautiful bill.” The legislation includes a mix of tax cuts and enhanced immigration enforcement. Musk described it as a “massive spending bill” that increases the federal deficit and “undermines the work” of his Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE. “I think a bill can be big or it could be beautiful,” Musk said. “But I don’t know if it could be both.” Trump, speaking in the Oval Office on Wednesday, defended his agenda by talking about the delicate politics involved with negotiating the legislation. “I’m not happy about certain aspects of it, but I’m thrilled by other aspects of it,” he said. Trump also suggested that more changes could be made. “We’re going to see what happens,” he said. “It’s got a way to go.” Republicans recently pushed the measure through the House and are debating it in the Senate. Musk's concerns are shared by some Republican lawmakers. “I sympathize with Elon being discouraged,” said Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson. Speaking at a Milwaukee Press Club event on Wednesday, Johnson added that he was “pretty confident” there was enough opposition “to slow this process down until the president, our leadership, gets serious” about reducing spending. He said there was no amount of pressure Trump could put on him to change his position. Speaker Mike Johnson has asked senators to make as few changes to the legislation as possible, saying that House Republicans reached a “very delicate balance” that could be upended with major changes. The narrowly divided House will have to vote again on final passage once the Senate alters the bill. On Wednesday, Johnson thanked Musk for his work and promised to pursue more spending cuts in the future, saying “the House is eager and ready to act on DOGE’s findings.”

In a major blow to a key part of President Donald Trump’s economic policy, a US federal court has blocked a sweeping set of tariffs he imposed, ruling that he exceeded his legal authority. The decision by the Court of International Trade strikes down key trade measures that were central to Trump’s "America First" agenda, reports BBC.  Trump admin to cut $100 million in federal contracts for Harvard The court, based in Manhattan, found that the emergency law cited by Trump — the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) of 1977 — does not authorise the president to unilaterally impose broad tariffs on nearly every country. The ruling emphasised that the US Constitution grants Congress exclusive powers to regulate international commerce, which cannot be overridden by the executive branch under the pretext of economic safeguarding. Within minutes of the decision, the Trump administration filed an appeal. The ruling also blocks a separate set of levies targeting China, Mexico, and Canada, which the administration reintroduced after returning to the White House, citing concerns over drug trafficking and illegal immigration. "It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency," White House deputy press secretary Kush Desai said in response. "President Trump pledged to put America First, and the Administration is committed to using every lever of executive power to address this crisis and restore American Greatness," he added. The lawsuit, spearheaded by the Liberty Justice Center on behalf of five small businesses that import goods from countries affected by the tariffs, marks the first major legal challenge to what the administration called "Liberation Day" tariffs. Twelve US states, including New York, supported the legal challenge. "The law is clear: no president has the power to single-handedly raise taxes whenever they like," said New York Attorney General Letitia James. "These tariffs are a massive tax hike on working families and American businesses that would have led to more inflation, economic damage to businesses of all sizes, and job losses across the country if allowed to continue," she added. Trump pardoning a Virginia sheriff convicted on bribery charges In its decision, the three-judge panel stated that Trump’s tariff orders exceeded the authority granted by the IEEPA. "The Worldwide and Retaliatory Tariff Orders exceed any authority granted to the President by IEEPA to regulate importation by means of tariffs. The Trafficking Tariffs fail because they do not deal with the threats set forth in those orders," the panel wrote. The ruling is one of seven ongoing legal challenges against the Trump administration’s trade policies, including actions brought by 13 US states and various small business groups.

The Trump administration has cancelled $766 million awarded to drugmaker Moderna Inc to develop a vaccine against potential pandemic influenza viruses, including the H5N1 bird flu. The company said it was notified Wednesday that the Health and Human Services Department had withdrawn funds awarded in July 2024 and in January to pay for development and purchase of its investigational vaccine. The funds were awarded through the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority, or BARDA, a program that focuses on medical treatments for potential pandemics. The new vaccine, called mRNA-1018, used the same technology that allowed development and rollout of vaccines to fight Covid-19 in record time. Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has expressed deep skepticism regarding mRNA vaccines, despite real-world evidence that the vaccines are safe and saved millions of lives. The cancelation came as Moderna announced positive interim results from an early-stage trial of the vaccine that targeted H5 bird flu virus, tested in 300 healthy adults. Donald Trump halts all new student visa interviews “While the termination of funding from HHS adds uncertainty, we are pleased by the robust immune response and safety profile observed in this interim analysis," the company said in a statement. H5N1 bird flu viruses spilled from wild bird into cattle in the US last year, infecting hundreds of animals in several states. At least 70 people in the US have been sickened by bird flu infections, mostly mild. One person died. Scientists fear that continued mutation of the virus could allow it to become more virulent or more easily spread in people, with the possibility that it could trigger a pandemic. Moderna received $176 million in July 2024 and $590 million in January. The January award would have supported a late-stage clinical trial that could have determined the vaccine's efficacy against pandemic viruses, including bird flu, a company spokesman said.