Valentina Gomez, who is a far-right MAGA congressional candidate, received flak for setting the holy Islamic book Quran on fire. She also posted the video on social media, claiming to ‘end Islam’. Gomez is running for Texas’ 31st district in 2016. She has used such slurs in the past, where she targeted the Muslim community, also tried spreading hate against the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, and immigrants. Critics says it could be a stunt to accelerate her political career. Before igniting the Quran, Gomez said, “Your daughters will be raped and your sons beheaded, unless we stop Islam once and for all.”&nbsp;She added, “America is a Christian nation, so those terrorist Muslims can **** off to any of the 57 Muslim nations. There is only one true God, and that is the God of Israel.” She also claimed she is powered by Jesus Christ as the end plate of her video read. In her recent posts, she has been seen advocating Christianity and denouncing Islam. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-salwan-momika-the-man-shot-dead-in-sweden-for-burning-quran-8674357">Killing of Salwan Momika, man who burnt Quran, broadcast live on social media, suggest reports &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Gomez also defended burning the holy book, saying it was for the terrorist attack on Israelis in the October 7 attacks. On X, she wrote, “I stand by my actions &amp; I will never bend a knee to the book that is responsible for the massacre of October 7th, took the lives of 13 U.S service members at Abbey Gate, &amp; calls for our assassination. Since you love the muslims so much, why don’t you open the borders &amp; let the muslims take over Israel. Jonathan Greenblatt grow a pair, &amp; stop pandering to terrorists.”

A far-right MAGA congressional candidate has set the Islamic holy book on fire, and that has sparked outrage.

Valentina Gomez, who is a far-right MAGA congressional candidate, received flak for setting the holy Islamic book Quran on fire. She also posted the video on social media, claiming to ‘end Islam’. Gomez is running for Texas’ 31st district in 2016. She has used such slurs in the past, where she targeted the Muslim community, also tried spreading hate against the LGBTQ+ community, Black people, and immigrants. Critics says it could be a stunt to accelerate her political career. Before igniting the Quran, Gomez said, “Your daughters will be raped and your sons beheaded, unless we stop Islam once and for all.” She added, “America is a Christian nation, so those terrorist Muslims can **** off to any of the 57 Muslim nations. There is only one true God, and that is the God of Israel.” She also claimed she is powered by Jesus Christ as the end plate of her video read. In her recent posts, she has been seen advocating Christianity and denouncing Islam. Also read: Killing of Salwan Momika, man who burnt Quran, broadcast live on social media, suggest reports Gomez also defended burning the holy book, saying it was for the terrorist attack on Israelis in the October 7 attacks. On X, she wrote, “I stand by my actions & I will never bend a knee to the book that is responsible for the massacre of October 7th, took the lives of 13 U.S service members at Abbey Gate, & calls for our assassination. Since you love the muslims so much, why don’t you open the borders & let the muslims take over Israel. Jonathan Greenblatt grow a pair, & stop pandering to terrorists.”

A far-right MAGA congressional candidate has set the Islamic holy book on fire, and that has sparked outrage.

Republican claims to be 'powered by Jesus Christ'; sets Quran on fire, pledges to ‘end Islam’

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday targeted billionaire financier George Soros and his son and said they should face criminal charges and be prosecuted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, for supporting violent protests in the country and many other destructive actions to damage the country amid long-held claims that Soros secretly influences liberal groups and legal battles. &nbsp;Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, “George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America. We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to “BREATHE,” and be FREE.”&nbsp;“Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!,” Trump said.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Trump’s post on Truth Social targeting George Soros and his son

&nbsp;&nbsp;The RICO Act, short for the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law designed to combat organized crime by enabling prosecutors to charge individuals involved in a pattern of criminal activity.&nbsp;Trump is also pushing a new plan: an executive order that would stop US non-profits from sending grant money overseas. This could affect Soros’s Open Society Foundations, which funds projects in many countries.&nbsp;The White House says the step is part of a broader effort to limit foreign funding and keep closer watch on non-profit activities.&nbsp;<h2>What is RICO? Is it stringent?</h2>&nbsp;RICO or Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1970 to combat organised crime by allowing prosecution of leaders and members of criminal organisations for any crime the organisation commits.The law enables the prosecution of an entire group for a pattern of crimes and allows for the freezing of a defendant’s assets before a trial, targeting the management of a criminal enterprise even if the individual didn’t directly commit the underlying crimes.It also allows prosecutors to tie together a series of seemingly separate crimes under a single indictment, treating them as part of an overall criminal enterprise.The freezing of assets before trial can effectively cripple an organisation’s operations by cutting off its financial resources.&nbsp;<h2>Who is George Soros?&nbsp;</h2>George Soros is a Hungarian-American investor who amassed his fortune as a legendary hedge fund manager and currency speculator. He is famous for shorting the British pound in 1992, an event known as “Black Wednesday” which made him billions of dollars and earned him the nickname “the man who broke the Bank of England”. He pools investor money to make large, daring bets on currency and stock market movements globally, though not all his gambles have been successful.&nbsp;WATCH: Trump Tariff War: 50% Tariffs Kick in, Indian Textile Industry Braces for Impact&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-tariff-war-50-tariffs-kick-in-indian-textile-industry-braces-for-impact-1756303145946/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-tariff-war-50-tariffs-kick-in-indian-textile-industry-braces-for-impact-1756303145946/embed</a>&nbsp;

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1970 to combat organised crime by allowing prosecution of leaders and members of criminal organisations for any crime the organisation commits.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday targeted billionaire financier George Soros and his son and said they should face criminal charges and be prosecuted under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, for supporting violent protests in the country and many other destructive actions to damage the country amid long-held claims that Soros secretly influences liberal groups and legal battles. Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social, “George Soros, and his wonderful Radical Left son, should be charged with RICO because of their support of Violent Protests, and much more, all throughout the United States of America. We’re not going to allow these lunatics to rip apart America any more, never giving it so much as a chance to “BREATHE,” and be FREE.” “Soros, and his group of psychopaths, have caused great damage to our Country! That includes his Crazy, West Coast friends. Be careful, we’re watching you!,” Trump said.

Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, is a United States federal law that was enacted in 1970 to combat organised crime by allowing prosecution of leaders and members of criminal organisations for any crime the organisation commits.

Trump targets financier George Soros, his ‘Radical Left’ son, calls for their prosecution under RICO

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek the death penalty for murders in Washington, as part of a crackdown on what he calls out-of-control crime in the US capital."If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington DC, we're going to be seeking the death penalty," Trump said at a cabinet meeting in the White House."It's a very strong preventative and everybody that's heard it agrees with it," Trump said at a cabinet meeting.The death penalty move comes after Republican Trump deployed the National Guard to Democrat-run Washington and took federal control of the city's police department earlier this month.Washington -- formally known as the District of Columbia -- abolished the death penalty in 1981.The US capital has a unique legal status as it is not a state and operates under a relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters.Trump used this loophole to send the National Guard into Washington earlier this month to combat what he said was runaway crime and homelessness.On Monday he boasted of a days-long streak without murders in the city and said he was also taking steps to beautify the capital, which is home to the White House, the US Capitol and other key institutions.National Guard troops began carrying weapons in Washington on Sunday.Trump says he is considering similar moves for other Democrat-run cities including Chicago, New York and Baltimore.Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.&nbsp;

Following his federal takeover of Washington's police department, President Donald Trump has announced his administration will seek the death penalty for all murder cases in the US capital.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday he would seek the death penalty for murders in Washington, as part of a crackdown on what he calls out-of-control crime in the US capital. "If somebody kills somebody in the capital, Washington DC, we're going to be seeking the death penalty," Trump said at a cabinet meeting in the White House. "It's a very strong preventative and everybody that's heard it agrees with it," Trump said at a cabinet meeting. The death penalty move comes after Republican Trump deployed the National Guard to Democrat-run Washington and took federal control of the city's police department earlier this month. Washington -- formally known as the District of Columbia -- abolished the death penalty in 1981. The US capital has a unique legal status as it is not a state and operates under a relationship with the federal government that limits its autonomy and grants Congress extraordinary control over local matters. Trump used this loophole to send the National Guard into Washington earlier this month to combat what he said was runaway crime and homelessness. On Monday he boasted of a days-long streak without murders in the city and said he was also taking steps to beautify the capital, which is home to the White House, the US Capitol and other key institutions. National Guard troops began carrying weapons in Washington on Sunday. Trump says he is considering similar moves for other Democrat-run cities including Chicago, New York and Baltimore. Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for WION audience.

Following his federal takeover of Washington's police department, President Donald Trump has announced his administration will seek the death penalty for all murder cases in the US capital.

Trump vows death penalty for murders in Washington DC, reiterates crime ‘out of control’

Donald Trump's additional tariff on India took effect today. The US government imposed the tariff as a penalty on New Delhi for continually buying Russian oil and weapons. The 50 per cent higher&nbsp;duties apply&nbsp;to those Indian products that either entered the US market or are withdrawn&nbsp;from warehouses for consumption.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US administration exempted many sectors and categories from tariffs on Indian imports. The Global Trade Research Initiative said in a report that around 30.6 per cent of Indian exports will still enter the United States market duty-free.<h2>Here's how Donald Trump's tariffs affect India</h2>Experts believe&nbsp;that India's merchandise exports to the US can drop by as much as 40-45 per cent this year compared to last year. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) states that the export of these products to the United States, if tariffs continue, could decrease from $87 billion in 2024-2025 to $49.6 billion this year.&nbsp;However, products belonging to the pharmaceuticals, electronics, and petroleum categories are exempt. The think tank says that exempted products will amount to $27.6 billion in FY25. Around 4 per cent of the exports, mainly auto parts, will attract a 25 per cent tariff rate.&nbsp;Products are exported by countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and even China, and Pakistan will benefit from the tariffs on Indian products because they will get a cost advantage.&nbsp;The US accounts for 20 per cent of India's merchandise exports.&nbsp;Sectors like textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, shrimps, machinery and mechanical appliances, some metals (steel, aluminium, copper), organic chemicals, agriculture and processed foods, leather and footwear, handicrafts, furniture and carpets will be worst-hit, reported The Indian Express.&nbsp;The home textiles and carpet industries will be decimated as both are dependent on exports. Exports account for 70-75 per cent of home textiles sales and the carpet industry 65-70 per cent of total sales. The US is their main market with 60 and 50 per cent exports respectively.&nbsp;&nbsp;“While 30% of (India’s US) exports will remain duty-free and 4% will face a 25% tariff, the bulk—66% covering apparel, textiles, gems &amp; jewellery, shrimp, carpets, and furniture—will be hit with a 50% tariff, rendering them uncompetitive," GTRI said.&nbsp;There could be a 43% decline in shipments to the US, and hundreds of thousands of these jobs will be lost.&nbsp;The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said the US tariffs will disrupt supply chains and stall exports. The US is the sector's biggest market, with exports amounting to $10 billion in exports.

Donald Trump's additional tariff on India took effect today. The US government imposed the tariffs as a penalty on New Delhi for continually buying Russian oil and weapons.

Donald Trump's additional tariff on India took effect today. The US government imposed the tariff as a penalty on New Delhi for continually buying Russian oil and weapons. The 50 per cent higher duties apply to those Indian products that either entered the US market or are withdrawn from warehouses for consumption. The US administration exempted many sectors and categories from tariffs on Indian imports. The Global Trade Research Initiative said in a report that around 30.6 per cent of Indian exports will still enter the United States market duty-free. Here's how Donald Trump's tariffs affect India Experts believe that India's merchandise exports to the US can drop by as much as 40-45 per cent this year compared to last year. The Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) states that the export of these products to the United States, if tariffs continue, could decrease from $87 billion in 2024-2025 to $49.6 billion this year. However, products belonging to the pharmaceuticals, electronics, and petroleum categories are exempt. The think tank says that exempted products will amount to $27.6 billion in FY25. Around 4 per cent of the exports, mainly auto parts, will attract a 25 per cent tariff rate. Products are exported by countries like Vietnam, Bangladesh, Cambodia, and even China, and Pakistan will benefit from the tariffs on Indian products because they will get a cost advantage. The US accounts for 20 per cent of India's merchandise exports. Sectors like textiles and apparel, gems and jewellery, shrimps, machinery and mechanical appliances, some metals (steel, aluminium, copper), organic chemicals, agriculture and processed foods, leather and footwear, handicrafts, furniture and carpets will be worst-hit, reported The Indian Express. The home textiles and carpet industries will be decimated as both are dependent on exports. Exports account for 70-75 per cent of home textiles sales and the carpet industry 65-70 per cent of total sales. The US is their main market with 60 and 50 per cent exports respectively. “While 30% of (India’s US) exports will remain duty-free and 4% will face a 25% tariff, the bulk—66% covering apparel, textiles, gems & jewellery, shrimp, carpets, and furniture—will be hit with a 50% tariff, rendering them uncompetitive," GTRI said. There could be a 43% decline in shipments to the US, and hundreds of thousands of these jobs will be lost. The Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) said the US tariffs will disrupt supply chains and stall exports. The US is the sector's biggest market, with exports amounting to $10 billion in exports.

Donald Trump's tariff against India: Experts believe&nbsp;that India's merchandise exports to the US can drop by as much as 40-45 per cent. Here's how these tariffs will impact the Indian market and economy.&nbsp;

Donald Trump's tariff on India in numbers: Which sectors are hardest hit, which are exempt

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday (Aug 26) implied in a post on X that US President Donald Trump may be suffering from dementia, and that too with receipts. This comes as the feud between the two men continues to get more feral every day and as Newsom's renewed the attack on POTUS. After Trump sent federal troops to Los Angeles without the Governor's permission, a move for which Newsom sued the president. In a satirical, yet pointed post clearly targeted at Trump, Newsom even dragged in Grok to stand witness. Here's what happened.<h2>What did Newsom say about Trump and dementia?</h2>It all started with Trump and what he said about 30 minutes into the cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. Taking at Newsom or Governor "Newscum," as the POTUS likes to call him, Trump repeated claims that the federal government had to force California to "turn on the water" after the wildfires that devastated the US state earlier this year.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/taylor-swift-engaged-to-travis-kelce-and-even-trump-is-suddenly-nice-to-her-potus-finds-love-for-popstar-after-months-of-hate-says-this-1756257878135">Taylor Swift engaged to Travis Kelce; POTUS finds love for popstar after months of HATE</a>Re-posting a clip of Trump's ramblings, Newsom added a barb of his own: A screenshot of him asking Elon Musk's AI chatbot, "Do people with dementia repeat false things over and over again?". To this, Grok AI replied in the affirmative, reinforcing the point Newsom was trying to prove and said, "Yes, people with dementia can repeat false statements or beliefs, a behaviour often linked to memory impairments and cognitive changes.""This can manifest as confabulation, where they create or repeat false memories to fill gaps in recollection, or perseveration, where they fixate on a particular idea or statement," added the chatbot.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-why-trump-fired-fed-governor-lisa-cook-and-why-she-says-he-can-t-what-does-the-us-constitution-say-1756186283292">Explained | Why Trump fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook — and why she says he can't. Here's what US Constitution&nbsp;says</a>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/qZw9UXmBlf">https://t.co/qZw9UXmBlf</a> <a href="https://t.co/CSGyoDXXv7">pic.twitter.com/CSGyoDXXv7</a>&mdash; Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) <a href="https://twitter.com/GavinNewsom/status/1960387243505541553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 26, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What is the 'turn on the water' controversy?</h2>Less than two weeks before his inauguration on 20 January 2025, Trump wrongly sought to blame Newsom and the California administration for water shortages and, in turn, exacerbated the wildfires in Los Angeles. He alleged that Newsom “refused to sign the water restoration declaration put before him that would have allowed millions of gallons of water,” to protect an “essentially worthless fish called a smelt”. However, the claim was fact-checked by AFP at the time, which reported that much of Los Angeles' water supply comes from the Colorado River, with agriculture being the primary consumer.Subsequently, Trump claimed that the US military entered California and "turned on the water."Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-just-dance-vance-newsom-taunts-trump-s-vp-jd-vance-with-new-nickname-says-not-even-his-eyeliner-lines-1755506542466">'Just Dance Vance': Newsom taunts Trump's VP JD Vance with new nickname, says 'Not even his eyeliner lines…'</a>"The United States Military just entered the Great State of California and, under Emergency Powers, TURNED ON THE WATER flowing abundantly from the Pacific Northwest, and beyond. The days of putting a Fake Environmental argument, over the PEOPLE, are OVER. Enjoy the water, California!!!" said Trump on Truth social. This claim, which was fact-checked by the California Department of Water Resources which asserted that "the military did not enter California". &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped up his feud with President Donald Trump, posting on X a pointed question to Grok about dementia. The move comes after Trump repeated a false claim that he had to force California to "turn on the water" to fight wildfires. Scroll down for more.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday (Aug 26) implied in a post on X that US President Donald Trump may be suffering from dementia, and that too with receipts. This comes as the feud between the two men continues to get more feral every day and as Newsom's renewed the attack on POTUS. After Trump sent federal troops to Los Angeles without the Governor's permission, a move for which Newsom sued the president. In a satirical, yet pointed post clearly targeted at Trump, Newsom even dragged in Grok to stand witness. Here's what happened. What did Newsom say about Trump and dementia? It all started with Trump and what he said about 30 minutes into the cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. Taking at Newsom or Governor "Newscum," as the POTUS likes to call him, Trump repeated claims that the federal government had to force California to "turn on the water" after the wildfires that devastated the US state earlier this year. Also read | Taylor Swift engaged to Travis Kelce; POTUS finds love for popstar after months of HATE Re-posting a clip of Trump's ramblings, Newsom added a barb of his own: A screenshot of him asking Elon Musk's AI chatbot, "Do people with dementia repeat false things over and over again?". To this, Grok AI replied in the affirmative, reinforcing the point Newsom was trying to prove and said, "Yes, people with dementia can repeat false statements or beliefs, a behaviour often linked to memory impairments and cognitive changes." "This can manifest as confabulation, where they create or repeat false memories to fill gaps in recollection, or perseveration, where they fixate on a particular idea or statement," added the chatbot. Also read | Explained | Why Trump fired Fed Governor Lisa Cook — and why she says he can't. Here's what US Constitution says

California Governor Gavin Newsom has stepped up his feud with President Donald Trump, posting on X a pointed question to Grok about dementia. The move comes after Trump repeated a false claim that he had to force California to "turn on the water" to fight wildfires. Scroll down for more.

California Governor Newsom insinuates Trump has dementia; drags Musk's AI Grok into trolling POTUS

A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit the Trump administration filed against all 15 federal judges in Maryland and accused it of intentionally trying to “smear” the justice system while rejecting the Justice Department’s bid to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases. Judge Thomas Cullen termed the lawsuit a major constitutional standoff and said the Justice Department couldn’t pursue a “constitutional free-for-all.”Cullen, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, also wrote a scathing rebuke, saying the Trump administration is intentionally trying to smear the justice system.&nbsp;“Over the past several months, principal officers of the Executive (and their spokespersons) have described federal district judges across the country as ‘left-wing,’ ‘liberal,’ ‘activists,’ ‘radical,’ ‘politically minded,’ ‘rogue,’ ‘unhinged,’ ‘outrageous, overzealous, [and] unconstitutional,’ ‘[c]rooked,’ and worse,” Judge Cullen wrote.&nbsp;<h2>‘Concerted effort to smear and impugn individual judges’</h2>&nbsp;“Although some tension between the coordinate branches of government is a hallmark of our constitutional system, this concerted effort by the Executive to smear and impugn individual judges who rule against it is both unprecedented and unfortunate,” he added.&nbsp;Cullen, who was brought in from another district to handle the case in Maryland, said the government lacked the legal right to bring the challenge and that the judges are immune from such suits brought by the executive branch.&nbsp;<h2>‘To hold otherwise would run counter to…’</h2>&nbsp;“Any fair reading of the legal authorities cited by Defendants leads to the ineluctable conclusion that this court has no alternative but to dismiss. To hold otherwise would run counter to overwhelming precedent, depart from longstanding constitutional tradition, and offend the rule of law,” Cullen wrote in the 39-page decision.&nbsp;The Justice Department had sued all federal judges on the lower-level District Court of Maryland in late June, after the court’s chief judge established a rule that automatically and temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing an immigration detainee from the US if the removal had already been challenged in court.&nbsp;WATCH: Analysts: West, Not India, Biggest Profiteer of War<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/analysts-west-not-india-biggest-profiteer-of-war-1756225733812/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/analysts-west-not-india-biggest-profiteer-of-war-1756225733812/embed</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;On Monday, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador in mid-March eventually returned to the US as per the rule.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Dismissal of the Executive’s suit is appropriate because it has not pointed to a cause of action that permits this court to entertain a lawsuit between two coordinate branches of government, and this court will not be the first to create one,” he wrote.&nbsp;The Justice Department had claimed in the lawsuit that the orders from the Maryland court in certain immigration cases were unlawful.

Judge Thomas Cullen, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, also wrote a scathing rebuke, saying the Trump administration is intentionally trying to smear the justice system, as he rejected the Justice Department’s bid to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases.

A federal judge on Tuesday threw out a lawsuit the Trump administration filed against all 15 federal judges in Maryland and accused it of intentionally trying to “smear” the justice system while rejecting the Justice Department’s bid to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases. Judge Thomas Cullen termed the lawsuit a major constitutional standoff and said the Justice Department couldn’t pursue a “constitutional free-for-all.” Cullen, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, also wrote a scathing rebuke, saying the Trump administration is intentionally trying to smear the justice system. “Over the past several months, principal officers of the Executive (and their spokespersons) have described federal district judges across the country as ‘left-wing,’ ‘liberal,’ ‘activists,’ ‘radical,’ ‘politically minded,’ ‘rogue,’ ‘unhinged,’ ‘outrageous, overzealous, [and] unconstitutional,’ ‘[c]rooked,’ and worse,” Judge Cullen wrote. ‘Concerted effort to smear and impugn individual judges’ “Although some tension between the coordinate branches of government is a hallmark of our constitutional system, this concerted effort by the Executive to smear and impugn individual judges who rule against it is both unprecedented and unfortunate,” he added. Cullen, who was brought in from another district to handle the case in Maryland, said the government lacked the legal right to bring the challenge and that the judges are immune from such suits brought by the executive branch. ‘To hold otherwise would run counter to…’ “Any fair reading of the legal authorities cited by Defendants leads to the ineluctable conclusion that this court has no alternative but to dismiss. To hold otherwise would run counter to overwhelming precedent, depart from longstanding constitutional tradition, and offend the rule of law,” Cullen wrote in the 39-page decision. The Justice Department had sued all federal judges on the lower-level District Court of Maryland in late June, after the court’s chief judge established a rule that automatically and temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing an immigration detainee from the US if the removal had already been challenged in court. WATCH: Analysts: West, Not India, Biggest Profiteer of War https://www.wionews.com/videos/analysts-west-not-india-biggest-profiteer-of-war-1756225733812/embed On Monday, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was unlawfully deported to El Salvador in mid-March eventually returned to the US as per the rule. “Dismissal of the Executive’s suit is appropriate because it has not pointed to a cause of action that permits this court to entertain a lawsuit between two coordinate branches of government, and this court will not be the first to create one,” he wrote. The Justice Department had claimed in the lawsuit that the orders from the Maryland court in certain immigration cases were unlawful.

Judge Thomas Cullen, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, also wrote a scathing rebuke, saying the Trump administration is intentionally trying to smear the justice system, as he rejected the Justice Department’s bid to limit court power in fast-moving immigration cases.

Federal judge tosses Trump admin’s lawsuit against Maryland’s 15 judges, terms it attempt to ‘smear’ justice system

Nikki Haley urges India to work with the Trump White House, says partnership key to countering ChinaFormer US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has once again emphasised the importance of rebuilding the US-India relationship, calling it central to countering China's rise. In a post on X on Saturday (Aug 23), Haley said, "To face China, the United States must have a friend in India,", adding that New Delhi should take Trump's concerns over Russian oil "seriously" and work with the White House to find a solution.<h2>For the sake of 'decades of friendship'</h2>Posting a link to an opinion piece she co-authored with Bill Drexel of the Hudson Institute for Newsweek, Haley insisted that the two democracies should not lose sight of their "shared goals" despite "disagreements" over trade and Russian oil.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-satanic-trump-white-house-portrait-sets-internet-on-fire-netizens-call-it-his-most-honest-image-yet-compare-potus-to-hitler-1755752441076">‘Satanic’ Trump White House portrait sets internet on fire—netizens call it his most honest image yet, compare POTUS to Hitler</a>Amid rising India-US tensions, Haley said that, "India must take Trump's point over Russian oil seriously, and work with the White House to find a solution. The sooner the better." She added that the two nations must not lose sight of what matters the most - their shared goals. She noted that "Decades of friendship and good will between the world's two largest democracies provide a solid basis to move past the current turbulence".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">India must take Trump&#39;s point over Russian oil seriously, and work with the White House to find a solution. The sooner the better. Decades of friendship and good will between the world&#39;s two largest democracies provide a solid basis to move past the current turbulence.…&mdash; Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) <a href="https://twitter.com/NikkiHaley/status/1959241897194766470?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>What Haley said about the US needing India</h2>Previously, on August 22, Haley had underlined India's strategic role in helping the US confront China, pointing to ongoing border disputes between New Delhi and Beijing and the 2020 deadly clash in Ladakh. She said that the rise of a democracy like India "does not threaten the free world," and said that a US-India friendship was a "no-brainer" and that it "would serve America's interests to help India stand up to China".The authors stated that “India must be treated like the prized free and democratic partner that it is—not an adversary like China, which has thus far avoided sanctions for its Russian oil purchases, despite being one of Moscow's largest customers.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-is-sergio-gor-trump-loyalist-once-dubbed-snake-by-musk-to-be-us-envoy-to-india-all-you-need-to-know-about-him-1755913509372">Who is Sergio Gor? Trump loyalist once dubbed 'snake' by Musk, to be US envoy to India. All you need to know about him</a>In the opinion piece, Haley and Drexel noted that in the "short term" India was "essential in helping the United States move its critical supply chains away from China". Unlike other partners, Haley and Drexel argued, "India stands alone in its potential to manufacture at China-like scale for products that can't be quickly or efficiently produced here, like textiles, inexpensive phones, and solar panels".They then noted that in the longer term, India's significance was even "more profound" and said, "India's rise represents the most significant geopolitical event since China's, and is among the greatest obstacles to China's goal of reshaping the global order. Simply put, China's ambitions will have to shrink as India's power grows." &nbsp;&nbsp;

Nikki Haley urged India to work with Trump’s White House, saying partnership is vital to counter China. She warned New Delhi to take Trump’s concerns on Russian oil seriously, stressing decades of US-India friendship. Here's what she said.

Nikki Haley urges India to work with the Trump White House, says partnership key to countering China Former US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has once again emphasised the importance of rebuilding the US-India relationship, calling it central to countering China's rise. In a post on X on Saturday (Aug 23), Haley said, "To face China, the United States must have a friend in India,", adding that New Delhi should take Trump's concerns over Russian oil "seriously" and work with the White House to find a solution. For the sake of 'decades of friendship' Posting a link to an opinion piece she co-authored with Bill Drexel of the Hudson Institute for Newsweek, Haley insisted that the two democracies should not lose sight of their "shared goals" despite "disagreements" over trade and Russian oil. Also read | ‘Satanic’ Trump White House portrait sets internet on fire—netizens call it his most honest image yet, compare POTUS to Hitler Amid rising India-US tensions, Haley said that, "India must take Trump's point over Russian oil seriously, and work with the White House to find a solution. The sooner the better." She added that the two nations must not lose sight of what matters the most - their shared goals. She noted that "Decades of friendship and good will between the world's two largest democracies provide a solid basis to move past the current turbulence".

Nikki Haley urged India to work with Trump’s White House, saying partnership is vital to counter China. She warned New Delhi to take Trump’s concerns on Russian oil seriously, stressing decades of US-India friendship. Here's what she said.

Nikki Haley tells India to 'take Trump seriously,' warns against choosing Russian oil over ties with US

US President Donald Trump, a controversial figure in his own right, has been receiving a barrage of compliments online. Not for being the "peacemaker" as he would like, but rather for his new "satanic" portrait that netizens say is "pretty accurate". The newly unveiled portrait of Donald Trump is setting off a firestorm online, with critics mocking its dramatic flair. The image, painted by Arizona-based Christian artist Vanessa Horabuena, shows Trump striding through a tunnel of American flags, bathed in an orange glow.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Why is the country on fire behind him?&mdash; Project Liberal (@ProjectLiberal) <a href="https://twitter.com/ProjectLiberal/status/1957608260057592090?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 19, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Trump wants to go to heaven, but...</h2>While supporters call Trump's latest portrait patriotic, detractors say the fiery backdrop looks more like hell than heaven. "Why is the country literally on fire behind him?" one X user asked, as another responded to the comment with "Why wouldn't it be? Little he hasn't torched, tho not even 7 months." A third user quipped, “fits. America's burning and Trump just walks away.”Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trump-vs-history-potus-tells-museums-to-stop-saying-how-bad-slavery-was-slams-woke-ness-in-bizarre-truth-social-rant-1755678553258">Trump vs history: POTUS tells museums to stop saying 'how bad Slavery was,' slams 'WOKE-ness' in bizarre rant</a>Users were quick to mock Trump's recent statement, in which he said that he wanted to bring peace between Ukraine and Russia so that he could "get to heaven". X user FaunaLovesFlora commented, “Looks like he's sad because he didn't get into heaven like he thought he could”.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Looks like he&#39;s sad because he didnt get into heaven like he thought he could 🤣 terrible!&mdash; Calamity🇵🇸🕊️🇺🇦Jessica (@FaunaLovesFlora) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaunaLovesFlora/status/1958207294568841368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Pretty accurate&mdash; lolo (@Laurabelle96Lm) <a href="https://twitter.com/Laurabelle96Lm/status/1958304789017571408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Donald Trump’s new WH portrait is literally him walking away while America burns. <a href="https://t.co/IiUuIL0foY">pic.twitter.com/IiUuIL0foY</a>&mdash; Tim Hannan (@TimHannan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TimHannan/status/1958139542059561128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Online reaction was predictably divided. Fans praised the painting's "strength and symbolism," while critics mocked its execution. "Did you request to look 60 pounds lighter?" one commenter joked. Others rolled their eyes at what they see as Trump's obsession with curating his own legacy. "The man can't get enough of himself," another user wrote.Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-pushes-zelensky-putin-for-one-on-one-peace-talks-says-it-ll-be-better-but-will-he-crash-the-meeting-1755656335352">Trump says 'better' if Zelensky-Putin talks happen one-on-one, without him — but will he crash the meeting?</a>Another user commented that the portrait was “how he feels on the inside.”He feels for none of us and would be more for him if we were all eliminated. That's why I keep my eyes out for the next war he's provoking."

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">That's how he feels on the inside . He feels for none of us and would be more for him if we were all eliminated. That's why I keep my eyes out for the next war he's provoking. He's old and more insane than ever since Epstein so someone's gonna pay for that and I don't want it…— Anita (@angelsurfer50) <a href="https://twitter.com/angelsurfer50/status/1958350026276516257?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Yet another X user posted a quote attributed to Sin Tzu that read, “An evil man will burn his own nation to the ground to rule over the ashes.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <a href="https://t.co/qfBFIwwNNU">pic.twitter.com/qfBFIwwNNU</a>— Linda (@Lindademocat) <a href="https://twitter.com/Lindademocat/status/1958249427711459836?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Posting a picture of Adolf Hitler and Trump on a feiry, hellish background, one user wrote, "Always room for one more...".

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Always room for one more … <a href="https://t.co/HGuaRdwxKe">pic.twitter.com/HGuaRdwxKe</a>— PHIL (@philbutta) <a href="https://twitter.com/philbutta/status/1958166165387116721?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Meanwhile, another user posted a manipulated copy of the portrait in which a devilish Trump, supporting horns and pointed nails, walks with his teeth bared in a grimace as American flags burn in the background.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">The portrait wasn&#39;t finished then. <a href="https://t.co/0arCnoD5Lr">pic.twitter.com/0arCnoD5Lr</a>&mdash; RussiaGoHome🇺🇦🌻 (@MartinaHemming) <a href="https://twitter.com/MartinaHemming/status/1958277622179525037?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 20, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/-just-dance-vance-newsom-taunts-trump-s-vp-jd-vance-with-new-nickname-says-not-even-his-eyeliner-lines-1755506542466">'Just Dance Vance': Newsom taunts Trump's VP JD Vance with new nickname, says 'Not even his eyeliner lines…'</a><h2>Trump's self-obsession</h2>The portrait was shared by Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump aide, who teased it as just "one of the new" Trump-themed artworks now hanging in the White House. This new portrait comes as part of a broader makeover. Trump has reportedly shuffled the portraits of former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush into an obscure stairwell, replacing them with images of himself.Notably, this isn't Trump's first brush with portrait drama. He has proudly displayed artwork of his 2024 assassination attempt in Pennsylvania, where a gunman's bullet grazed his ear. In fact, during a recent meeting with European leaders, Trump gestured toward a large canvas of that bloody moment and told them, "That was not a good day. Not a great day. See the picture?" The leaders, including France's Emmanuel Macron, barely looked, reports the Mirror.Inside the Oval Office, Trump has doubled down on what he calls "patriotic portraits," mixing new gold accents and patriotic themes with his own likeness. In one photo circulated online, a Trump portrait sits between images of two first ladies, occupying the spot where Hillary Clinton's once hung.Love it or loathe it, the new artwork has done exactly what Trump thrives on: sparked headlines, triggered outrage, and kept the spotlight firmly on him.

Trump’s latest portrait, painted by Christian artist Vanessa Horabuena, shows him striding through flaming American flags. Supporters call it patriotic; critics mock it as “satanic” and self-obsessed. Here's what online users think.

US President Donald Trump, a controversial figure in his own right, has been receiving a barrage of compliments online. Not for being the "peacemaker" as he would like, but rather for his new "satanic" portrait that netizens say is "pretty accurate". The newly unveiled portrait of Donald Trump is setting off a firestorm online, with critics mocking its dramatic flair. The image, painted by Arizona-based Christian artist Vanessa Horabuena, shows Trump striding through a tunnel of American flags, bathed in an orange glow.

Trump’s latest portrait, painted by Christian artist Vanessa Horabuena, shows him striding through flaming American flags. Supporters call it patriotic; critics mock it as “satanic” and self-obsessed. Here's what online users think.

‘Satanic’ Trump White House portrait sets internet on fire—netizens call it his most honest image yet, compare POTUS to Hitler

The US dollar is one of the strongest currencies&nbsp;in the world because most of the global trade takes place by exchanging US dollars. Many other countries, including China, have been attempting to break the status quo. US President Donald Trump last month alleged that BRICS nations had been trying to challenge the supremacy of the US dollar in global trade. While the currencies of many countries can compare with the US dollar as far as their values are concerned, several&nbsp;nations' currencies are struggling with their values against the dollar impossibly low.<h2>Here's a list of countries with badly performing currencies</h2><h3>Lebanon</h3>Lebanon is in the midst of the Israel-Gaza war. The war has taken a toll on the Lebanese economy. Its currency, the Lebanese Pound, is very weak. One US dollar is equal to 89,953.94 Lebanese pounds. The country suffers from inflation, political issues, and the meltdown of the banking system. These factors have led to the downfall of the country's currency.<h3>Iran</h3>Iran is one of the biggest strategic rivals of the United States. It is also an enemy of US allies, including Israel. Iran's economy has been suffering from the US-led Western countries' sanctions. The country suffers from hyperinflation. It is one of the weakest currencies in the world. One US dollar fetches 42,050 Iranian rials.<h3>Vietnam</h3>Vietnamese Dong is another such country. The Southeast Asian nation is fast emerging as a manufacturing hub. It is also a tourism haven because of the cheaper cost of vacationing. However, its currency is very low compared to the US dollar. One US dollar equals&nbsp;26,432. It is a deliberate strategy as it wants to keep its exports competitive.<h3>Sierra Leone</h3>Sierra Leone's&nbsp;currency is valued very low. 22,500 leones equals one dollar. The African nation is afflicted with rickety infrastructure. It relies on mineral exports and is fraught with inflation. These economic issues lead to the currency's poor performance.<h3>Indonesia</h3>Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that is doing well economically. However, its currency sells at 16,500 Rupiah per US dollar.

The US dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world because most of the global trade takes place by exchanging US dollars. Many other countries, including China, have been attempting to break the status quo. 

The US dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world because most of the global trade takes place by exchanging US dollars. Many other countries, including China, have been attempting to break the status quo. US President Donald Trump last month alleged that BRICS nations had been trying to challenge the supremacy of the US dollar in global trade. While the currencies of many countries can compare with the US dollar as far as their values are concerned, several nations' currencies are struggling with their values against the dollar impossibly low. Here's a list of countries with badly performing currencies Lebanon Lebanon is in the midst of the Israel-Gaza war. The war has taken a toll on the Lebanese economy. Its currency, the Lebanese Pound, is very weak. One US dollar is equal to 89,953.94 Lebanese pounds. The country suffers from inflation, political issues, and the meltdown of the banking system. These factors have led to the downfall of the country's currency. Iran Iran is one of the biggest strategic rivals of the United States. It is also an enemy of US allies, including Israel. Iran's economy has been suffering from the US-led Western countries' sanctions. The country suffers from hyperinflation. It is one of the weakest currencies in the world. One US dollar fetches 42,050 Iranian rials. Vietnam Vietnamese Dong is another such country. The Southeast Asian nation is fast emerging as a manufacturing hub. It is also a tourism haven because of the cheaper cost of vacationing. However, its currency is very low compared to the US dollar. One US dollar equals 26,432. It is a deliberate strategy as it wants to keep its exports competitive. Sierra Leone Sierra Leone's currency is valued very low. 22,500 leones equals one dollar. The African nation is afflicted with rickety infrastructure. It relies on mineral exports and is fraught with inflation. These economic issues lead to the currency's poor performance. Indonesia Indonesia is one of the countries in Southeast Asia that is doing well economically. However, its currency sells at 16,500 Rupiah per US dollar.

US President Donald Trump recently accused the BRICS nations of attempting to diminish the role of US dollar in global trade. The US dollar is one of the strongest currencies in the world. Here's a list of the weakest currencies compared with US dollar.

Nations with the weakest currencies against the US dollar

Uganda has agreed to receive migrants who do not qualify to remain in the United States, a foreign ministry official said Thursday, in Washington's latest attempt to speed up deportations.US President Donald Trump's administration has negotiated arrangements to send people to third countries, among them El Salvador and Eswatini, which have been fiercely criticised by rights groups.At roughly 1.7 million Uganda already hosts the largest refugee population in Africa, according to the United Nations, and is the latest east African country to announce such a deal with Washington, joining Rwanda and South Sudan."The agreement is in respect of Third Country Nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States, but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin," the Ugandan foreign affairs ministry's permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire, said in a statement on X.He said it was a "temporary arrangement", which specified that "individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted".Bagiire also stated Uganda's preference that "individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda"."The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented," he added.The UN's refugee agency notes that Uganda -- led by President Museveni Yoweri, who has held power for almost four decades -- has a "progressive refugee policy, maintaining an open-door approach to asylum".However the country also saw a "significant" increase in arrivals in 2024, it said, primarily as a result of Sudan's civil war, but also unrest in South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.<h2>Fears of torture risks</h2>Kampala's announcement of the agreement comes a day after the country denied any such deal existed.It also comes after Rwanda said it would receive up to 250 migrants earlier this month.Kigali is yet to give any further details of that agreement, which Washington has not confirmed.However the Trump administration has struck a deal with South Sudan.The impoverished and increasingly fragile nation accepted a group of eight migrant criminals from the US earlier this year. Only one of them is South Sudanese.Though their extradition was fought in the American court system, South Sudan confirmed in July that its government had care of the men, without giving further details.Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken a number of actions aimed at speeding up deportations of undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own.His administration deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, where they were kept in a high-security jail with poor conditions before being returned to Venezuela.Trump's administration has defended the deportations, arguing that the home nations of some of those targeted for removal sometimes refuse to accept them.But rights experts have warned that the deportations risk breaking international law by sending people to countries where they face the risk of torture, abduction and other abuses.

Uganda has agreed to take in some migrants rejected by the US under a new deal, officials said, though only temporarily and excluding criminals or unaccompanied minors. Here's all you need to know.

Uganda has agreed to receive migrants who do not qualify to remain in the United States, a foreign ministry official said Thursday, in Washington's latest attempt to speed up deportations. US President Donald Trump's administration has negotiated arrangements to send people to third countries, among them El Salvador and Eswatini, which have been fiercely criticised by rights groups. At roughly 1.7 million Uganda already hosts the largest refugee population in Africa, according to the United Nations, and is the latest east African country to announce such a deal with Washington, joining Rwanda and South Sudan. "The agreement is in respect of Third Country Nationals who may not be granted asylum in the United States, but are reluctant to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin," the Ugandan foreign affairs ministry's permanent secretary, Vincent Bagiire, said in a statement on X. He said it was a "temporary arrangement", which specified that "individuals with criminal records and unaccompanied minors will not be accepted". Bagiire also stated Uganda's preference that "individuals from African countries shall be the ones transferred to Uganda". "The two parties are working out the detailed modalities on how the agreement shall be implemented," he added. The UN's refugee agency notes that Uganda -- led by President Museveni Yoweri, who has held power for almost four decades -- has a "progressive refugee policy, maintaining an open-door approach to asylum". However the country also saw a "significant" increase in arrivals in 2024, it said, primarily as a result of Sudan's civil war, but also unrest in South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Fears of torture risks Kampala's announcement of the agreement comes a day after the country denied any such deal existed. It also comes after Rwanda said it would receive up to 250 migrants earlier this month. Kigali is yet to give any further details of that agreement, which Washington has not confirmed. However the Trump administration has struck a deal with South Sudan. The impoverished and increasingly fragile nation accepted a group of eight migrant criminals from the US earlier this year. Only one of them is South Sudanese. Though their extradition was fought in the American court system, South Sudan confirmed in July that its government had care of the men, without giving further details. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has taken a number of actions aimed at speeding up deportations of undocumented migrants to countries that are not their own. His administration deported hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members to El Salvador, where they were kept in a high-security jail with poor conditions before being returned to Venezuela. Trump's administration has defended the deportations, arguing that the home nations of some of those targeted for removal sometimes refuse to accept them. But rights experts have warned that the deportations risk breaking international law by sending people to countries where they face the risk of torture, abduction and other abuses.

Uganda has agreed to take in some migrants rejected by the US under a new deal, officials said, though only temporarily and excluding criminals or unaccompanied minors. Here's all you need to know.

Trump strikes deal with Uganda: Kampala to accept deported migrants reject by US

US President Donald Trump wants a policymaker at the Federal Reserve to resign. The American president demanded the resignation of Lisa Cook on Wednesday (August 20), alleging that she committed mortgage fraud. In a letter dated August 15, Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte urged the Justice Department to investigate a pair of mortgages taken out in recent years by the official.&nbsp;In response, Trump posted on Truth Social, "Cook must resign, now!!!"&nbsp;Pulte, who has been a prominent Trump ally, has criticised the Fed and its leader, Chair Jerome Powell, multiple times for not lowering the mortgage rates. Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-iran-nuclear-talks-still-in-limbo-tehran-says-point-of-maturity-not-reached-with-washington-yet-1755702976855">US-Iran nuclear talks still in limbo? Tehran says 'point of maturity' not reached with Washington yet</a>&nbsp;He also called for closer scrutiny of the central bank’s costly refurbishment of its Washington headquarters. “She needs to explain herself, but it’s all there in black and white,” Pulte said in a phone interview with CNBC on Wednesday, adding, “I think she needs to resign quickly.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-s-ukraine-peace-gambit-from-nobel-dreams-to-strategic-reality-1755698513869">Trump's Ukraine peace gambit: From Nobel dreams to strategic reality</a>&nbsp;The American president is demanding that the Fed lower their rates and continues to bash Powell with the moniker “Too Late."&nbsp;In the letter, which Pulte posted on social media, he alleged that Cook, a Biden appointee, “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.”&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/1-400-year-old-plaque-upends-long-held-beliefs-about-christianity-in-the-7th-and-8th-centuries-1755687563510">1,400-year-old plaque upends long-held belief about Christianity in the 7th and 8th centuries</a>&nbsp;The Trump ally was referring to a mortgage that Cook took out in June 2021 to purchase a property in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She later allegedly took out another mortgage in Georgia two weeks later. Cook’s Georgia home was later listed as a rental, according to Pulte.

Donald Trump has demanded the resignation of a Federal Reserve official, alleging that she had committed mortgage fraud. This came after the American president demanded that the Fed lower its rates.

US President Donald Trump wants a policymaker at the Federal Reserve to resign. The American president demanded the resignation of Lisa Cook on Wednesday (August 20), alleging that she committed mortgage fraud. In a letter dated August 15, Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte urged the Justice Department to investigate a pair of mortgages taken out in recent years by the official. In response, Trump posted on Truth Social, "Cook must resign, now!!!" Pulte, who has been a prominent Trump ally, has criticised the Fed and its leader, Chair Jerome Powell, multiple times for not lowering the mortgage rates. Also read: US-Iran nuclear talks still in limbo? Tehran says 'point of maturity' not reached with Washington yet He also called for closer scrutiny of the central bank’s costly refurbishment of its Washington headquarters. “She needs to explain herself, but it’s all there in black and white,” Pulte said in a phone interview with CNBC on Wednesday, adding, “I think she needs to resign quickly.” Also read: Trump's Ukraine peace gambit: From Nobel dreams to strategic reality The American president is demanding that the Fed lower their rates and continues to bash Powell with the moniker “Too Late." In the letter, which Pulte posted on social media, he alleged that Cook, a Biden appointee, “falsified bank documents and property records to acquire more favorable loan terms, potentially committing mortgage fraud under the criminal statute.” Also read: 1,400-year-old plaque upends long-held belief about Christianity in the 7th and 8th centuries The Trump ally was referring to a mortgage that Cook took out in June 2021 to purchase a property in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She later allegedly took out another mortgage in Georgia two weeks later. Cook’s Georgia home was later listed as a rental, according to Pulte.

Donald Trump has demanded the resignation of a Federal Reserve official, alleging that she had committed mortgage fraud. This came after the American president demanded that the Fed lower its rates.

'Must resign, NOW!': Why Trump wants this federal official out? Know here

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 18) told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington would back Ukraine's security in a deal to end the war with Russia. But, the question is would Kyiv be pushed to concede territory?. The pledge came during a high-stakes White House summit with Zelensky and a group of European leaders, just days after Trump's private meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The talks carried extra weight because only months earlier, Trump and Vice President JD Vance had publicly rebuked Zelensky in the Oval Office. In recent days, Trump has insisted that Ukraine would have to agree to land concessions or a swap to achieve peace. But was this a part of the Trump-Zelensky-EU leaders' Washington meeting? All you need to know.<h2>Was a land swap discussed during the Washington meet?</h2>French President Emmanuel Macron, who was part of the Washington meeting between Trump, Zelensky and the EU leaders, told reporters that the White House did not raise the prospect of Kyiv surrendering territory to Moscow. Asked by reporters if Trump had said that concessions were necessary before any US security guarantees to Ukraine, Macron said, "No, that wasn't discussed at all. We're well away from that."Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has compared Moscow's demand that Kyiv surrender Donbass to Washington being told to hand over Florida. Insisting Ukraine should not be forced to give up land, Merz after talks at the White House, told reporters, "The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbass corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida".<h2>Trump's land-swap proposal</h2>Trump, in the past, has talked about land swaps, but neither Ukraine nor Russia has shown interest in ceding land to the other for peace. However, in recent weeks, Trump has taken to reiterating his suggestion that the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which he claimed were nearing a breakthrough, could potentially include a "swapping of territories". On Friday (Aug 8), talking to reporters, he said, "I think we're getting very close," adding that the land he suggests be swapped has "been fought over for three and a half years".Subsequently, on Monday (Aug 11), he again insisted, "There'll be some land swapping going on". "I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, to the good of Ukraine," he said, adding that Russia had occupied some "very prime territory" but that "we're going to try to get some of that territory back".&nbsp;

Of late, US President Donald Trump has been saying Ukraine must concede land for peace. Did this come up during the Washington meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and EU leaders? All you need to know.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 18) told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that Washington would back Ukraine's security in a deal to end the war with Russia. But, the question is would Kyiv be pushed to concede territory?. The pledge came during a high-stakes White House summit with Zelensky and a group of European leaders, just days after Trump's private meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska. The talks carried extra weight because only months earlier, Trump and Vice President JD Vance had publicly rebuked Zelensky in the Oval Office. In recent days, Trump has insisted that Ukraine would have to agree to land concessions or a swap to achieve peace. But was this a part of the Trump-Zelensky-EU leaders' Washington meeting? All you need to know. Was a land swap discussed during the Washington meet? French President Emmanuel Macron, who was part of the Washington meeting between Trump, Zelensky and the EU leaders, told reporters that the White House did not raise the prospect of Kyiv surrendering territory to Moscow. Asked by reporters if Trump had said that concessions were necessary before any US security guarantees to Ukraine, Macron said, "No, that wasn't discussed at all. We're well away from that." Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has compared Moscow's demand that Kyiv surrender Donbass to Washington being told to hand over Florida. Insisting Ukraine should not be forced to give up land, Merz after talks at the White House, told reporters, "The Russian demand that Kyiv give up the free parts of Donbass corresponds, to put it bluntly, to a proposal for the United States to have to give up Florida". Trump's land-swap proposal Trump, in the past, has talked about land swaps, but neither Ukraine nor Russia has shown interest in ceding land to the other for peace. However, in recent weeks, Trump has taken to reiterating his suggestion that the negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, which he claimed were nearing a breakthrough, could potentially include a "swapping of territories". On Friday (Aug 8), talking to reporters, he said, "I think we're getting very close," adding that the land he suggests be swapped has "been fought over for three and a half years". Subsequently, on Monday (Aug 11), he again insisted, "There'll be some land swapping going on". "I know that through Russia and through conversations with everybody, to the good of Ukraine," he said, adding that Russia had occupied some "very prime territory" but that "we're going to try to get some of that territory back".

Of late, US President Donald Trump has been saying Ukraine must concede land for peace. Did this come up during the Washington meeting between Trump, Zelensky, and EU leaders? All you need to know.

Trump promises Zelensky security guarantees, but will Ukraine be forced into land concessions? Here's what was said during vital Washington meet

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (Aug 18) said he would be open to holding elections once the war with Russia ends and conditions allow for a fair vote. Speaking during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Zelensky explained that elections during wartime are impossible under martial law. "We need to work in parliament because during the war you can't have elections," he said, stressing the need for people to have a democratic, open, and legal election once peace returns. For now, elections remain frozen. The question is: if they were held, could Zelensky win?<h2>Can Zelensky win if elections were held in Ukraine today?</h2>In February of this year (2025) Trump infamously gave Zelensky a harsh public dressing-down in February, which as per a March poll may actually have boosted the Ukrainian president at home.The Ipsos poll of 1,000 Ukrainians, conducted for The Economist, shows his approval rating at over 70 per cent - a number Trump would kill for. According to the latest Ipsos/Reuters poll, his approval ratings stand at 40 per cent, almost half of Zelensky's.The ratings came at a time when, for weeks, Trump's allies such as Vice President J.D. Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk accused him of acting like a dictator by suspending elections. Trump himself had dismissed him as a "comedian" with "very low ratings."But the poll shows otherwise. Roughly 72 per cent of Ukrainians approve of his leadership, compared to Trump’s 40 per cent at home. Eight in ten still saw him as Ukraine's legitimate president, and a large majority opposed holding elections while the fighting continues. Roughly the same number - seven in ten - still trusted him to lead negotiations. And if a vote were held now, Zelensky would win handily, with former top general Valery Zaluzhny trailing far behind, suggested the poll.The survey was taken just after Washington temporarily pulled both military aid and intelligence support in response to Trump's row with Zelensky—steps that have since been reversed. Despite the setback, Ukrainians remained defiant. At the time, around 74 per cent said that they want to keep fighting even without US help. Most (59 per cent) believed Ukraine can still win on the battlefield.&nbsp;

President Volodymyr Zelensky told US President Donald Trump that elections during wartime are impossible. "We need to work in parliament because during war you can't have elections," he said. For now, elections in Ukraine remain frozen. The question is: if they were held, could Zelensky win?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday (Aug 18) said he would be open to holding elections once the war with Russia ends and conditions allow for a fair vote. Speaking during a meeting with US President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, Zelensky explained that elections during wartime are impossible under martial law. "We need to work in parliament because during the war you can't have elections," he said, stressing the need for people to have a democratic, open, and legal election once peace returns. For now, elections remain frozen. The question is: if they were held, could Zelensky win? Can Zelensky win if elections were held in Ukraine today? In February of this year (2025) Trump infamously gave Zelensky a harsh public dressing-down in February, which as per a March poll may actually have boosted the Ukrainian president at home. The Ipsos poll of 1,000 Ukrainians, conducted for The Economist, shows his approval rating at over 70 per cent - a number Trump would kill for. According to the latest Ipsos/Reuters poll, his approval ratings stand at 40 per cent, almost half of Zelensky's. The ratings came at a time when, for weeks, Trump's allies such as Vice President J.D. Vance, Donald Trump Jr. and Elon Musk accused him of acting like a dictator by suspending elections. Trump himself had dismissed him as a "comedian" with "very low ratings." But the poll shows otherwise. Roughly 72 per cent of Ukrainians approve of his leadership, compared to Trump’s 40 per cent at home. Eight in ten still saw him as Ukraine's legitimate president, and a large majority opposed holding elections while the fighting continues. Roughly the same number - seven in ten - still trusted him to lead negotiations. And if a vote were held now, Zelensky would win handily, with former top general Valery Zaluzhny trailing far behind, suggested the poll. The survey was taken just after Washington temporarily pulled both military aid and intelligence support in response to Trump's row with Zelensky—steps that have since been reversed. Despite the setback, Ukrainians remained defiant. At the time, around 74 per cent said that they want to keep fighting even without US help. Most (59 per cent) believed Ukraine can still win on the battlefield.

President Volodymyr Zelensky told US President Donald Trump that elections during wartime are impossible. "We need to work in parliament because during war you can't have elections," he said. For now, elections in Ukraine remain frozen. The question is: if they were held, could Zelensky win?

Zelensky, a 'dictator' or popular war president? Ukrainian Prez tells Trump elections impossible during war — but could he win if held?

US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) again blasted fake news, calling them "stupid people, with no common sense or intelligence." Noting the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, he further said that they have made the ongoing "disaster" more difficult to fix.&nbsp;Again claiming credit for mediating six wars in six months, Trump in a post on Truth Social said, "I’ve settled 6 Wars in 6 months, one of them a possible nuclear disaster, and yet I have to read &amp; listen to the Wall Street Journal, and many other who truly don’t have a clue, tell me everything that I am doing wrong on the Russia/Ukraine MESS, that is Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine."&nbsp;The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.&nbsp;"It would have NEVER happened if I were President. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them," he wrote.&nbsp;"They are “STUPID” people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX. Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I’ll get it done — I always do," Trump said.&nbsp;He further lambasted the fake news media, saying that he is totally convinced that if Russia raised their hands and said, "We give up, we concede, we surrender, we will GIVE Ukraine and the great United States of America, the most revered, respected, and powerful of all countries, EVER, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and everything surrounding them for a thousand miles, the Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners would say that this was a bad and humiliating day for Donald J. Trump, one of the worst days in the history of our Country.”&nbsp;Trump said that's why they are the "FAKE NEWS" and the badly failing Radical Left Democrats.&nbsp;Just hours before his meeting with Zelensky and the European leaders, Trump said, "A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time", and called it a "great honor for America".&nbsp;

The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.

US President Donald Trump on Monday (August 18) again blasted fake news, calling them "stupid people, with no common sense or intelligence." Noting the coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war, he further said that they have made the ongoing "disaster" more difficult to fix. Again claiming credit for mediating six wars in six months, Trump in a post on Truth Social said, "I’ve settled 6 Wars in 6 months, one of them a possible nuclear disaster, and yet I have to read & listen to the Wall Street Journal, and many other who truly don’t have a clue, tell me everything that I am doing wrong on the Russia/Ukraine MESS, that is Sleepy Joe Biden’s war, not mine." The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things. "It would have NEVER happened if I were President. I know exactly what I’m doing, and I don’t need the advice of people who have been working on all of these conflicts for years, and were never able to do a thing to stop them," he wrote. "They are “STUPID” people, with no common sense, intelligence, or understanding, and they only make the current R/U disaster more difficult to FIX. Despite all of my lightweight and very jealous critics, I’ll get it done — I always do," Trump said. He further lambasted the fake news media, saying that he is totally convinced that if Russia raised their hands and said, "We give up, we concede, we surrender, we will GIVE Ukraine and the great United States of America, the most revered, respected, and powerful of all countries, EVER, Moscow and St. Petersburg, and everything surrounding them for a thousand miles, the Fake News Media and their Democrat Partners would say that this was a bad and humiliating day for Donald J. Trump, one of the worst days in the history of our Country.” Trump said that's why they are the "FAKE NEWS" and the badly failing Radical Left Democrats. Just hours before his meeting with Zelensky and the European leaders, Trump said, "A big day at the White House. We have never had so many European Leaders here at one time", and called it a "great honor for America".

The US president stressed that he is only trying to stop it and "not to prosecute it any further". He said that he does not need the advice of people who have not been able to stop these things.

'Big day at White House': Trump blasts fake news media ahead of Zelensky meeting, calls them 'stupid people'

In yet another jibe on his predecessor Joe Biden, US President Donald Trump said he is the reason behind Russia and China coming closer. He claimed they natural enemies and it’s Biden, who did the ‘unthinkable.’ &nbsp;His comments came after the summit with Putin in Alaska, where was attempting to make peace between warring countries Russia and Ukraine.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-trump-urges-zelensky-to-relinquish-crimea-stay-out-of-nato-1755510226809/embed">https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-trump-urges-zelensky-to-relinquish-crimea-stay-out-of-nato-1755510226809/embed</a> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Talking to news outlet Fox New, Trump,&nbsp;“He (Biden) did something that was unthinkable. He drove China and Russia together. That's not good... it's the one thing you didn't want to do. Because they are basically natural enemies.”“…because of pure stupidity, they were driven together,” Trump claimed that Russia's vast territory is what China is eyeing to accommodate its massive population. He also highlighted how Biden's foreign policy and how it put restrictions on both Russia and China. White House imposed sanctions Russia over Ukraine war. Also tightened restrictions on China’s exports such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence.&nbsp;Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/-never-had-so-many-european-leaders-trump-ahead-of-big-day-in-white-house-1755487045211">'Never had so many European leaders...' Trump ahead of 'big day' in White House just as Zelensky arrives</a>&nbsp;Trump has also blamed Biden in the past for the war in Ukraine. He said 'this is Biden's war' which 'should have never happened, would have never happened'. He was confident as he said none of this would have happened if he were the president. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;Not the first time, Trump has always been clear about his efforts in stopping wars across the world. Speaking to the media, he said, “This is Biden's war, and we're working very hard to get us out. I stopped five wars in the last five months actually, and I'd like this to be the sixth, frankly...” &nbsp;&nbsp;

In yet another jibe on his predecessor Joe Biden, US President Donald Trump said he is the reason behind Russia and China coming closer.

In yet another jibe on his predecessor Joe Biden, US President Donald Trump said he is the reason behind Russia and China coming closer. He claimed they natural enemies and it’s Biden, who did the ‘unthinkable.’ His comments came after the summit with Putin in Alaska, where was attempting to make peace between warring countries Russia and Ukraine. https://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-zelensky-meet-trump-urges-zelensky-to-relinquish-crimea-stay-out-of-nato-1755510226809/embed Talking to news outlet Fox New, Trump, “He (Biden) did something that was unthinkable. He drove China and Russia together. That's not good... it's the one thing you didn't want to do. Because they are basically natural enemies.” “…because of pure stupidity, they were driven together,” Trump claimed that Russia's vast territory is what China is eyeing to accommodate its massive population. He also highlighted how Biden's foreign policy and how it put restrictions on both Russia and China. White House imposed sanctions Russia over Ukraine war. Also tightened restrictions on China’s exports such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence. Also read: 'Never had so many European leaders...' Trump ahead of 'big day' in White House just as Zelensky arrives Trump has also blamed Biden in the past for the war in Ukraine. He said 'this is Biden's war' which 'should have never happened, would have never happened'. He was confident as he said none of this would have happened if he were the president. Not the first time, Trump has always been clear about his efforts in stopping wars across the world. Speaking to the media, he said, “This is Biden's war, and we're working very hard to get us out. I stopped five wars in the last five months actually, and I'd like this to be the sixth, frankly...”

In yet another jibe on his predecessor Joe Biden, US President Donald Trump said he is the reason behind Russia and China coming closer.

'Did the unthinkable': Trump blames Biden for bringing China and Russia close

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in the White House for the second time in 2025. But this time around, he will be joined by European leaders; French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will accompany him in the meeting with Donald Trump. Talking about the engagement, the US president said he has never hosted 'so many European leaders at one time'.&nbsp;Trump recently concluded his meeting with Russian President Putin in Alaska, where they discussed the end to the war with Ukraine. Moscow's military action in Ukraine began in February 2022. And now, this is the sixth war Trump is working to put an end to. Though Kyiv is looking for a ceasefire even before a final deal is reached, the US is concentrating on the deal.&nbsp;About the meeting, Trump took to his social media account to write, "Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!! President DJT."

Ahead of meeting with EU leaders, US President Donald Trump expresses his honour of hosting so many leaders at once in the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will be in the White House for the second time in 2025. But this time around, he will be joined by European leaders; French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb will accompany him in the meeting with Donald Trump. Talking about the engagement, the US president said he has never hosted 'so many European leaders at one time'. Trump recently concluded his meeting with Russian President Putin in Alaska, where they discussed the end to the war with Ukraine. Moscow's military action in Ukraine began in February 2022. And now, this is the sixth war Trump is working to put an end to. Though Kyiv is looking for a ceasefire even before a final deal is reached, the US is concentrating on the deal. About the meeting, Trump took to his social media account to write, "Big day at the White House tomorrow. Never had so many European Leaders at one time. My great honor to host them!!! President DJT."

Ahead of meeting with EU leaders, US President Donald Trump expresses his honour of hosting so many leaders at once in the White House.

'Never had so many European leaders...' Trump ahead of 'big day' in White House just as Zelensky arrives

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Aug 16) accused Russia of complicating peace efforts by refusing to agree to a ceasefire, more than three years into the conflict. "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation," Zelensky said in a social media post. Slamming Moscow for lacking "the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes," he noted that "it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater -- peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades." He stressed that “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Thank you for the support! All the points mentioned are important to achieve a truly sustainable and reliable peace. We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation. If they lack… <a href="https://t.co/bkTXwjMSnX">pic.twitter.com/bkTXwjMSnX</a>&mdash; Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) <a href="https://twitter.com/ZelenskyyUa/status/1956813600300958028?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h2>Nordic-Baltic Eight back Ukraine</h2>The Ukrainian president made the remarks while posting a document from the leaders of eight Nordic-Baltic nations. In the joint statement, the Nordic-Baltic eight – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden – reaffirmed their strong backing for Kyiv and US President Donald Trump's mediation efforts."We welcome President Trump's statement that the U.S. is prepared to participate in security guarantees. No limitations should be placed on Ukraine's armed forces or on its cooperation with other countries," the statement said.<h2>Trump-Zelensky to meet soon</h2>In his post late on Saturday, Zelensky confirmed that he will meet US President Donald Trump on Monday (Aug 18), calling it an important opportunity for leaders to clarify "all the details and determine which steps are necessary and will work."This comes as Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday (Aug 15). Despite the massive buildup to the Trump-Putin Alaska summit, it was all for nought, as a ceasefire was not achieved. The outcome of the much-anticipated meet can be summed up by a remark Trump made at a press conference after huddling with Putin for three hours: "No deal until there’s a deal". The high-stakes summit in Anchorage concluded without a formal agreement on ending the war. However, both leaders still termed it "very productive" at their joint press conference, at which they refused to take any questions from the press.&nbsp;

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting ceasefire calls, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was complicating peace. After the failed Trump-Putin Alaska summit, Zelensky also confirmed he’ll meet Trump on Aug 18 to discuss ending the war.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday (Aug 16) accused Russia of complicating peace efforts by refusing to agree to a ceasefire, more than three years into the conflict. "We see that Russia rebuffs numerous calls for a ceasefire and has not yet determined when it will stop the killing. This complicates the situation," Zelensky said in a social media post. Slamming Moscow for lacking "the will to carry out a simple order to stop the strikes," he noted that "it may take a lot of effort to get Russia to have the will to implement far greater -- peaceful coexistence with its neighbours for decades." He stressed that “Stopping the killing is a key element of stopping the war.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of rejecting ceasefire calls, saying Russian President Vladimir Putin was complicating peace. After the failed Trump-Putin Alaska summit, Zelensky also confirmed he’ll meet Trump on Aug 18 to discuss ending the war.

Zelensky slams Russia for rejecting ceasefire, says Putin 'complicating the situation'

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested&nbsp;on Saturday that a three-way meeting involving US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can take place in Europe. In an interview on Saturday, a day after Trump and Putin's meeting in Alaska, Merz said a place can be found on the continent for such an endeavor.&nbsp;"I think that such a three-way meeting will take place," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in an interview.&nbsp;"The date and place are still to be worked out. We have proposed that a place could be found in Europe," he added.&nbsp;Donald Trump, after his Friday summit in Alaska with Putin, said he and European leaders want to witness another summit. He said Zelensky must also be a part of the summit.&nbsp;Trump failed to secure a ceasefire promise from Putin during the meeting. He later said that he was now keen on securing a peace agreement.&nbsp;Merz also suggested that the venue where the possible summit could take place “should be a place where discussions might take place permanently.”&nbsp;Both Ukraine and Russia are European countries.&nbsp;In a separate&nbsp;interview, Friedrich Merz said today that the United States was ready to be part of security guarantees&nbsp;for Ukraine.&nbsp;"And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;His remark came a day after Trump commented that the US won't extend a NATO-like security guarantee for Ukraine.&nbsp;Putin, in the meeting with Trump, reportedly demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for ending the war. He also offered to Trump that Russia would freeze the remaining frontline.&nbsp;Luhansk is almost entirely under Russian control. Ukraine, however, holds key parts of Donetsk.&nbsp;Zelensky maintains that Ukraine isn't willing to cede territory. European leaders also say that the borders of Ukraine must not be altered through force. They also said on Saturday that Russia doesn't get to have a veto if Ukraine wants to join the European Union or NATO.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Saturday that a three-way meeting involving US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can take place in Europe.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested on Saturday that a three-way meeting involving US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky can take place in Europe. In an interview on Saturday, a day after Trump and Putin's meeting in Alaska, Merz said a place can be found on the continent for such an endeavor. "I think that such a three-way meeting will take place," German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in an interview. "The date and place are still to be worked out. We have proposed that a place could be found in Europe," he added. Donald Trump, after his Friday summit in Alaska with Putin, said he and European leaders want to witness another summit. He said Zelensky must also be a part of the summit. Trump failed to secure a ceasefire promise from Putin during the meeting. He later said that he was now keen on securing a peace agreement. Merz also suggested that the venue where the possible summit could take place “should be a place where discussions might take place permanently.” Both Ukraine and Russia are European countries. In a separate interview, Friedrich Merz said today that the United States was ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine. "And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. His remark came a day after Trump commented that the US won't extend a NATO-like security guarantee for Ukraine. Putin, in the meeting with Trump, reportedly demanded that Ukraine withdraw from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions as a condition for ending the war. He also offered to Trump that Russia would freeze the remaining frontline. Luhansk is almost entirely under Russian control. Ukraine, however, holds key parts of Donetsk. Zelensky maintains that Ukraine isn't willing to cede territory. European leaders also say that the borders of Ukraine must not be altered through force. They also said on Saturday that Russia doesn't get to have a veto if Ukraine wants to join the European Union or NATO.

Putin-Trump meeting: Friedrich Merz said that Trump-led US was ready to be part of security guarantees&nbsp;for Ukraine, along with European countries.

German Chancellor's demand: 'Hold Putin-Trump-Zelensky meeting in Europe'

A day after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that the United States is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine.&nbsp;"And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters.&nbsp;Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Monday. After this, there could be a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky as soon as possible, Merz said.&nbsp;US President Donald Trump reportedly told European leaders over the phone from his Air Force One that he is more willing than before to provide direct security guarantees to Ukraine, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the content of the conversation.&nbsp;However, he didn't specify the nature of the US involvement&nbsp;in any deal to end the war.Donald Trump met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Friday in Alaska. The reported call was made when the US President was returning from the US state after meeting with the Russian leader.&nbsp;The White House hasn't made any public statements as to security guarantees.&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a statement saying that Russia cannot "veto" Ukraine's will to join the European Union or NATO.&nbsp;The Trump-Putin summit turned out to be inconclusive. After the&nbsp;meeting, Trump said there won't be an immediate ceasefire. He, however, called the meeting successful.&nbsp;Before leaving for Alaska to meet with Putin, Trump responded to a query on whether his country would provide a security guarantee to Ukraine if Moscow agreed to a peace deal. He sounded non-committal, saying no security will be provided in the form of NATO.

A day after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that the United States is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine.

A day after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's summit, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Saturday that the United States is ready to be part of security guarantees for Ukraine. "And the good news is that America is ready to participate in such security guarantees and is not leaving it to the Europeans alone," Merz was quoted as saying by news agency Reuters. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Monday. After this, there could be a meeting between Putin, Trump, and Zelensky as soon as possible, Merz said. US President Donald Trump reportedly told European leaders over the phone from his Air Force One that he is more willing than before to provide direct security guarantees to Ukraine, WSJ reported, citing people familiar with the content of the conversation. However, he didn't specify the nature of the US involvement in any deal to end the war. Donald Trump met his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, on Friday in Alaska. The reported call was made when the US President was returning from the US state after meeting with the Russian leader. The White House hasn't made any public statements as to security guarantees. French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed a statement saying that Russia cannot "veto" Ukraine's will to join the European Union or NATO. The Trump-Putin summit turned out to be inconclusive. After the meeting, Trump said there won't be an immediate ceasefire. He, however, called the meeting successful. Before leaving for Alaska to meet with Putin, Trump responded to a query on whether his country would provide a security guarantee to Ukraine if Moscow agreed to a peace deal. He sounded non-committal, saying no security will be provided in the form of NATO.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington on Monday.&nbsp;

US ready to participate in security guarantees for Ukraine: German Chancellor

The much-hyped Alaska meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded with no ceasefire, no agreement, and no concrete pathway toward ending the Russia–Ukraine war. For all the showmanship—a warm tarmac greeting, twin handshakes, and a joint limo ride—the summit produced little more than vague assurances, cryptic references to “progress,” and a reminder that when it comes to this war, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.”<h2>Outcome: All Optics, No Substance</h2>After nearly three hours behind closed doors, Trump conceded, “We didn’t get there,” before exiting without taking questions. His earlier claim that there was only a “25% chance” of failure now looks like a self-inflicted blow to his credibility as a self-styled peacemaker and dealmaker.&nbsp;&nbsp;Putin described himself as “sincerely interested” in ending what he called a “tragedy,” but offered no specifics. He warned against “sabotage” by Ukraine and Europe and insisted that “primary causes” of the conflict must be addressed—Kremlin code for its longstanding demands on arresting NATO expansion and ensuring territorial recognition of the territory gained. Apparently, Putin did not compromise on any of his demands, handled Trump with his vast diplomatic experience, leaving a window for further talks. &nbsp;&nbsp;Trump, for his part, said “many points were agreed to” but admitted that “one significant” disagreement remained, without disclosing what it was. His pledge to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders “soon” was small consolation to Kyiv, which had been excluded from the talks. Putin’s parting words—“Next time in Moscow”—hinted at a possible sequel, but there’s no sign of a trilateral summit involving Ukraine.<h2>War Aims and Strategic Calculus</h2>Russia’s goals have been consistent since the beginning and were not compromised, namely: solidify territorial control over captured regions, prevent NATO’s eastward expansion, no NATO membership for Ukraine, no militarisation of Ukraine and secure sanctions relief. The Alaska summit was an opportunity to appear diplomatic without making binding concessions. &nbsp;Kyiv insisted on restoring territorial integrity and rejecting any “land-for-peace” swaps. Zelensky will find some consolation there as his land was not swapped, although no agreement on ceasefire will not reduce his pain.Trump sought a personal win—a headline-grabbing breakthrough he could sell at home. The optics were managed to portray warmth and progress, but in substance, he leaves Alaska with neither a deal nor increased diplomatic leverage.<h2>Pre-Negotiation Positions</h2>Russia entered willing to talk ceasefire terms, but only under conditions preserving military gains. It exhibited strategic maturity by not responding to President Trump’s rhetoric of ‘Severe Consequences if no ceasefire’ but stuck to its position. Ukraine was opposed to any talks that exclude Kyiv and refused concessions on sovereignty and territorial integrity, which made the ceasefire prospects near impossible. &nbsp;US pursued exploratory diplomacy, with Trump hinting at creative solutions—including unspecified compromises—that alarmed some allies. During pre-negotiation stage Trump’s stance was inconsistent between pragmatism, rhetoric, influence of US deep state and last day pressure from European counterparts and Ukraine. Putin thus entered the negotiations from position of strength with clarity on outcome.<h2>Implications of Failure</h2>For Ukraine, the inconclusive outcome is a mixed blessing—no dangerous unilateral deal, but also no relief from daily shelling. For Russia, the meeting offered propaganda value: Putin stood beside the US president as an equal, reinforcing his legitimacy on the world stage. For Trump, the optics of coming home empty-handed after promising a breakthrough will sting. The “25% failure” threshold he set has become a self-own, inviting criticism from both allies and adversaries. Internationally, the summit leaves the war right where it was—grinding on in the trenches—while signalling that Washington is willing to engage Moscow directly, even without Ukraine in the room. That precedent could shape future diplomacy in ways that European members of NATO and Kyiv may find troubling.&nbsp;<h2>What’s Next?</h2>The Summit outcome doesn’t stop Putin from continuing Russian aggression to improve ground position in his favour. Outcome could see intermittent back-channel talks, and another high-profile but low-yield summit. The absence of a flawed deal could keep NATO unity intact with renewed pressure on sanctions and tariffs. The risk remains that repeated summits without progress may erode US credibility and give Moscow breathing space to regroup militarily.The dissatisfied NATO and Ukraine will expect President Trump to act on secondary tariffs, sanctions and military support to Ukraine, but that might jeopardise any undeclared gains in the Alaska Summit for President Trump, if there are any. Putin’s confidence in this summit is a direct reflection of his strong position on the battlefield, which gives him more leverage than NATO. Ukraine or Europe don’t hold any card to dictate terms to Russia and their position is unlikely to change without full support of USA. &nbsp;<h2>Conclusion</h2>The Alaska summit was billed as a possible turning point in the Russia–Ukraine war; instead, it was a carefully choreographed non-event. Trump’s showmanship produced good optics but no substance, Putin pocketed the legitimacy boost without paying in concessions, and Ukraine was left to watch from the side-lines. In diplomacy, sometimes no deal is better than a bad one—but for battered Ukraine, “no deal” also means no relief. The danger now is that repeated inconclusive engagements will normalize a frozen conflict, giving Moscow an edge earned by battlefield successes. For countries affected by secondary tariffs/sanctions the risk remains!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

The Alaska summit remained a carefully choreographed non-event, produced good optics but no substance. Putin pocketed the legitimacy boost without paying in concessions, and Ukraine was left to watch from the side-lines.

The much-hyped Alaska meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin concluded with no ceasefire, no agreement, and no concrete pathway toward ending the Russia–Ukraine war. For all the showmanship—a warm tarmac greeting, twin handshakes, and a joint limo ride—the summit produced little more than vague assurances, cryptic references to “progress,” and a reminder that when it comes to this war, “there’s no deal until there’s a deal.” Outcome: All Optics, No Substance After nearly three hours behind closed doors, Trump conceded, “We didn’t get there,” before exiting without taking questions. His earlier claim that there was only a “25% chance” of failure now looks like a self-inflicted blow to his credibility as a self-styled peacemaker and dealmaker. Putin described himself as “sincerely interested” in ending what he called a “tragedy,” but offered no specifics. He warned against “sabotage” by Ukraine and Europe and insisted that “primary causes” of the conflict must be addressed—Kremlin code for its longstanding demands on arresting NATO expansion and ensuring territorial recognition of the territory gained. Apparently, Putin did not compromise on any of his demands, handled Trump with his vast diplomatic experience, leaving a window for further talks. Trump, for his part, said “many points were agreed to” but admitted that “one significant” disagreement remained, without disclosing what it was. His pledge to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European leaders “soon” was small consolation to Kyiv, which had been excluded from the talks. Putin’s parting words—“Next time in Moscow”—hinted at a possible sequel, but there’s no sign of a trilateral summit involving Ukraine. War Aims and Strategic Calculus Russia’s goals have been consistent since the beginning and were not compromised, namely: solidify territorial control over captured regions, prevent NATO’s eastward expansion, no NATO membership for Ukraine, no militarisation of Ukraine and secure sanctions relief. The Alaska summit was an opportunity to appear diplomatic without making binding concessions. Kyiv insisted on restoring territorial integrity and rejecting any “land-for-peace” swaps. Zelensky will find some consolation there as his land was not swapped, although no agreement on ceasefire will not reduce his pain. Trump sought a personal win—a headline-grabbing breakthrough he could sell at home. The optics were managed to portray warmth and progress, but in substance, he leaves Alaska with neither a deal nor increased diplomatic leverage. Pre-Negotiation Positions Russia entered willing to talk ceasefire terms, but only under conditions preserving military gains. It exhibited strategic maturity by not responding to President Trump’s rhetoric of ‘Severe Consequences if no ceasefire’ but stuck to its position. Ukraine was opposed to any talks that exclude Kyiv and refused concessions on sovereignty and territorial integrity, which made the ceasefire prospects near impossible. US pursued exploratory diplomacy, with Trump hinting at creative solutions—including unspecified compromises—that alarmed some allies. During pre-negotiation stage Trump’s stance was inconsistent between pragmatism, rhetoric, influence of US deep state and last day pressure from European counterparts and Ukraine. Putin thus entered the negotiations from position of strength with clarity on outcome. Implications of Failure For Ukraine, the inconclusive outcome is a mixed blessing—no dangerous unilateral deal, but also no relief from daily shelling. For Russia, the meeting offered propaganda value: Putin stood beside the US president as an equal, reinforcing his legitimacy on the world stage. For Trump, the optics of coming home empty-handed after promising a breakthrough will sting. The “25% failure” threshold he set has become a self-own, inviting criticism from both allies and adversaries. Internationally, the summit leaves the war right where it was—grinding on in the trenches—while signalling that Washington is willing to engage Moscow directly, even without Ukraine in the room. That precedent could shape future diplomacy in ways that European members of NATO and Kyiv may find troubling. What’s Next? The Summit outcome doesn’t stop Putin from continuing Russian aggression to improve ground position in his favour. Outcome could see intermittent back-channel talks, and another high-profile but low-yield summit. The absence of a flawed deal could keep NATO unity intact with renewed pressure on sanctions and tariffs. The risk remains that repeated summits without progress may erode US credibility and give Moscow breathing space to regroup militarily. The dissatisfied NATO and Ukraine will expect President Trump to act on secondary tariffs, sanctions and military support to Ukraine, but that might jeopardise any undeclared gains in the Alaska Summit for President Trump, if there are any. Putin’s confidence in this summit is a direct reflection of his strong position on the battlefield, which gives him more leverage than NATO. Ukraine or Europe don’t hold any card to dictate terms to Russia and their position is unlikely to change without full support of USA. Conclusion The Alaska summit was billed as a possible turning point in the Russia–Ukraine war; instead, it was a carefully choreographed non-event. Trump’s showmanship produced good optics but no substance, Putin pocketed the legitimacy boost without paying in concessions, and Ukraine was left to watch from the side-lines. In diplomacy, sometimes no deal is better than a bad one—but for battered Ukraine, “no deal” also means no relief. The danger now is that repeated inconclusive engagements will normalize a frozen conflict, giving Moscow an edge earned by battlefield successes. For countries affected by secondary tariffs/sanctions the risk remains!

The Alaska summit remained a carefully choreographed non-event, produced good optics but no substance. Putin pocketed the legitimacy boost without paying in concessions, and Ukraine was left to watch from the side-lines.

Alaska without a deal: The Trump–Putin summit and the war that won’t end

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have "largely" agreed on land swaps and some type of security guarantee from the US as part of a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News, the US president, referring to his meeting with Putin as “warm,” said that they have agreed that the Ukraine war will end with territorial concessions.<h2>Land swap</h2>Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that territorial concessions would give Russia land it did not have previously and also spoke about potential US security assurances for Ukraine. He confirmed that land swaps were part of the point of agreement. "Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on," he said, adding, "Actually, I think we agree on a lot. I can tell you, the meeting was a warm meeting."Calling Putin a “strong guy” and “tough as hell,” Trump called the meeting was positive and said, “I think we’re pretty close to the end.”&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/putin-brushes-off-question-about-civilian-killings-in-ukraine-trump-criticised-for-red-carpet-welcome-to-war-criminal-watch-1755302259384">Putin dodges question on civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch!</a>The US president, however, insisted that Ukraine has to agree to any deal. "Maybe they'll say no," he said, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “Make a deal”.Previously, on Friday (Aug 8), Trump, during a peace summit for Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, had told reporters that the land in question had "been fought over for three and a half years" and that any swap would be "to the betterment of both." Zelensky, meanwhile, has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump, who during the February meeting with Zelensky at the White House had publicly scolded the Ukrainian leader, declared he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's position and demanded land swaps. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said.&nbsp;

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had “largely” agreed on land swaps and possible US security guarantees as part of a future ceasefire deal in Ukraine.

US President Donald Trump on Friday (Aug 15) said that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have "largely" agreed on land swaps and some type of security guarantee from the US as part of a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. Speaking to Fox News, the US president, referring to his meeting with Putin as “warm,” said that they have agreed that the Ukraine war will end with territorial concessions. Land swap Trump told Fox News’ Sean Hannity that territorial concessions would give Russia land it did not have previously and also spoke about potential US security assurances for Ukraine. He confirmed that land swaps were part of the point of agreement. "Well, I think those are points that we negotiated, and those are points that we largely have agreed on," he said, adding, "Actually, I think we agree on a lot. I can tell you, the meeting was a warm meeting." Calling Putin a “strong guy” and “tough as hell,” Trump called the meeting was positive and said, “I think we’re pretty close to the end.” Also read | Putin dodges question on civilian killings in Ukraine; Trump smirks. Watch! The US president, however, insisted that Ukraine has to agree to any deal. "Maybe they'll say no," he said, urging Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to “Make a deal”. Previously, on Friday (Aug 8), Trump, during a peace summit for Armenia and Azerbaijan at the White House, had told reporters that the land in question had "been fought over for three and a half years" and that any swap would be "to the betterment of both." Zelensky, meanwhile, has ruled out ceding territory seized by force. Trump, who during the February meeting with Zelensky at the White House had publicly scolded the Ukrainian leader, declared he was "a little bothered" by Zelensky's position and demanded land swaps. "There'll be some swapping, there'll be some changes in land," he said.

US President Donald Trump, in an interview, revealed that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin had “largely” agreed on land swaps and possible US security guarantees as part of a future ceasefire deal in Ukraine.

Trump says he and Putin 'largely' agreed on Ukraine land swaps, claims war 'pretty close to the end' but Ukraine needs to 'make a deal'

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their&nbsp;chartered flight. The dish is named after the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv.&nbsp;Russia Today confirmed that Chicken Kiev was indeed served on the chartered plane. Chicken Kiev, also known as Chicken Kyiv, is made from a chicken fillet. It is rolled in butter, coated in egg and bread crumbs, and fried. The dish is very popular in post-Soviet countries and the Western world.&nbsp;Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are slated to meet today at a US military base in Alaska. This is the first time the Western world has opened its doors to Putin since the latter ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.&nbsp;Trump said on Wednesday that there could be a second meeting with Putin, involving Ukraine's Volodomyr&nbsp;Zelensky, if all goes well in the Alaska meeting. He also said that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting with Putin will not yield the desired results.&nbsp;Hours before the meeting, Donald Trump today described the meeting as high stakes. Putin's meeting on American soil is a blow to the Western countries' attempts to keep him isolated.&nbsp;Apart from Putin, the Russian delegation will include Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev.&nbsp;Days before the talks, Zelensky talked to Trump and other European leaders over the phone and demanded that more sanctions be piled up on Moscow if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire.&nbsp;He also claimed that Putin isn't interested in peace.&nbsp;Ukraine has been fighting the mighty Russian military since 2022 because of economic support from the US and Europe. Kyiv is also getting weapons and other support from these nations.

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their chartered flight.

Russian journalists, who were travelling to the United States' Alaska to cover Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's meeting, had a dish called Chicken Kiev on board their chartered flight. The dish is named after the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. Russia Today confirmed that Chicken Kiev was indeed served on the chartered plane. Chicken Kiev, also known as Chicken Kyiv, is made from a chicken fillet. It is rolled in butter, coated in egg and bread crumbs, and fried. The dish is very popular in post-Soviet countries and the Western world. Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are slated to meet today at a US military base in Alaska. This is the first time the Western world has opened its doors to Putin since the latter ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Trump said on Wednesday that there could be a second meeting with Putin, involving Ukraine's Volodomyr Zelensky, if all goes well in the Alaska meeting. He also said that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting with Putin will not yield the desired results. Hours before the meeting, Donald Trump today described the meeting as high stakes. Putin's meeting on American soil is a blow to the Western countries' attempts to keep him isolated. Apart from Putin, the Russian delegation will include Presidential aide Yuri Ushakov, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Defence Minister Andrei Belousov, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, and Russian Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev. Days before the talks, Zelensky talked to Trump and other European leaders over the phone and demanded that more sanctions be piled up on Moscow if it doesn't agree to an immediate ceasefire. He also claimed that Putin isn't interested in peace. Ukraine has been fighting the mighty Russian military since 2022 because of economic support from the US and Europe. Kyiv is also getting weapons and other support from these nations.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in Alaska today.

Trump-Putin talks: Russian journalists ate 'Chicken Kiev' on chartered plane

Tom Cruise has reportedly declined a Kennedy Center Honoree during US President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. Cruise, a Hollywood superstar, was invited to receive a Kennedy Center Honor but the actor declined it citing scheduling conflicts.&nbsp;&nbsp;A report in The Washington Post stated that the actor was offered the honors but he declined it.&nbsp;&nbsp;“Tom Cruise was offered the honors but declined because of scheduling conflicts, according to several current and former Kennedy Center employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss event plans,” the report read.&nbsp;&nbsp;The report added that a spokesperson for the actor has declined to comment on the development.<h2>About the Kennedy Center Honors</h2>On Wednesday, Trump named Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. This move comes after he took control of the Kennedy Center arts complex earlier this year.&nbsp;Disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, and British theater star Michael Crawford will also receive the honors which is considered as America’s highest arts awards.&nbsp;Trump announced he himself would host the Honors gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS.&nbsp;

Cruise, a Hollywood superstar, was invited to receive a Kennedy Center Honor but the actor declined it citing scheduling conflicts. The award was being given to the actor for his contribution to cinema.

Tom Cruise has reportedly declined a Kennedy Center Honoree during US President Donald Trump’s second term in the White House. Cruise, a Hollywood superstar, was invited to receive a Kennedy Center Honor but the actor declined it citing scheduling conflicts. A report in The Washington Post stated that the actor was offered the honors but he declined it. “Tom Cruise was offered the honors but declined because of scheduling conflicts, according to several current and former Kennedy Center employees who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss event plans,” the report read. The report added that a spokesperson for the actor has declined to comment on the development. About the Kennedy Center Honors On Wednesday, Trump named Hollywood icon Sylvester Stallone and country music great George Strait among the recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors. This move comes after he took control of the Kennedy Center arts complex earlier this year. Disco diva Gloria Gaynor, rock band KISS, and British theater star Michael Crawford will also receive the honors which is considered as America’s highest arts awards. Trump announced he himself would host the Honors gala, which usually takes place in early December and is later broadcast on CBS.

Cruise, a Hollywood superstar, was invited to receive a Kennedy Center Honor but the actor declined it citing scheduling conflicts. The award was being given to the actor for his contribution to cinema.

Tom Cruise declines Kennedy Center Honor months after Trump takes control of the arts complex

Ahead of his crucial meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting will fail. "This meeting sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting," Donald Trump told a US channel.&nbsp;Putin and Trump will meet at a military installation in the US state. This is the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine that a Western power has agreed to host the Russian President.&nbsp;Donald Trump further said that any deal on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine would come at a second, three-way meeting involving Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky.&nbsp;With this remark, Trump has assured stakeholders that any decision about Ukraine wouldn't be taken unless Zelensky is party to the talks.&nbsp;"The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that's going to be a meeting where they make a deal. And I don't want to use the word 'divvy' things up. But you know, to a certain extent, it's not a bad term, okay?" Donald Trump added.&nbsp;On Wednesday, Trump said the second meeting with Putin, involving Zelensky, could take place. However, he said, it would depend on what transpires in his meeting with the Russian leader in Alaska.&nbsp;Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that security guarantees for Ukraine needed to be part of peace talks.&nbsp;"To achieve peace, I think we all recognize that there'll have to be some conversation about security guarantees," he added.&nbsp;Putin today praised the Trump administration for making "energetic and sincere" efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He also said that a nuclear arms control agreement could emerge from broader peace talks.&nbsp;“The current American administration is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis, and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict,” Putin said, according to The Kremlin.

Ahead of his crucial meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting will fail.

Ahead of his crucial meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that there is a 25 per cent chance that the meeting will fail. "This meeting sets up the second meeting, but there is a 25 percent chance that this meeting will not be a successful meeting," Donald Trump told a US channel. Putin and Trump will meet at a military installation in the US state. This is the first time since Russia invaded Ukraine that a Western power has agreed to host the Russian President. Donald Trump further said that any deal on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine would come at a second, three-way meeting involving Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky. With this remark, Trump has assured stakeholders that any decision about Ukraine wouldn't be taken unless Zelensky is party to the talks. "The second meeting is going to be very, very important, because that's going to be a meeting where they make a deal. And I don't want to use the word 'divvy' things up. But you know, to a certain extent, it's not a bad term, okay?" Donald Trump added. On Wednesday, Trump said the second meeting with Putin, involving Zelensky, could take place. However, he said, it would depend on what transpires in his meeting with the Russian leader in Alaska. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said today that security guarantees for Ukraine needed to be part of peace talks. "To achieve peace, I think we all recognize that there'll have to be some conversation about security guarantees," he added. Putin today praised the Trump administration for making "energetic and sincere" efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He also said that a nuclear arms control agreement could emerge from broader peace talks. “The current American administration is making, in my opinion, quite energetic and sincere efforts to stop the hostilities, stop the crisis, and reach agreements that are of interest to all parties involved in this conflict,” Putin said, according to The Kremlin.

Donald Trump said that any solution of the Russia-Ukraine war would come about in a possible second meeting, in the presence of Zelensky.

How sure is Trump that the Alaska meeting with Putin will fail? US president replies