A coalition of leading EV manufacturers and battery producers has mounted a strong defence of existing tax incentives, warning President-elect Donald Trump that eliminating these credits could undermine American competitiveness and job growth in crucial swing states.

The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), representing industry giants including Rivian, LG, Tesla, Uber, Lucid, and Panasonic, has emphasised the substantial economic benefits these incentives have brought to states that proved pivotal in recent elections. The association points to significant job creation in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia as direct results of the current tax credit system.

ZETA Executive Director Albert Gore emphasised the strategic importance of these incentives, stating they are essential for America to "actually compete to win against China." This stance comes at a critical time as sources close to the Trump transition team have revealed plans to eliminate the USD 7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, a report that has already triggered declines in EV and battery manufacturer stocks.

The industry's response reflects growing concern about the future of electric vehicle incentives, with manufacturers caught between stringent environmental regulations and the potential loss of crucial financial support. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in an October 15 letter to Congress, stressed that maintaining these tax credits is "critical to cementing the U.S. as a global leader" in future automotive manufacturing.

However, the industry appears divided on this issue. Tesla, the largest EV manufacturer, has reportedly expressed support for ending the subsidy in discussions with the Trump transition committee, marking a notable departure from the broader industry position.

Trump's stance on EV incentives aligns with his broader scepticism of environmental regulations. He has already announced plans to reverse the Biden administration's emissions regulations, which mandate a 50% reduction in tailpipe emissions from 2026 levels by 2032. In August, Trump explicitly questioned the value of EV incentives, stating, "Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing."

The president-elect's potential options for dismantling the incentive program include modifying Treasury Department rules that currently facilitate automaker access to the USD 7,500 credit or pursuing a complete congressional repeal. This wouldn't be Trump's first attempt to eliminate these incentives; during his previous term, he sought to repeal the EV tax credit, which was subsequently expanded under President Biden's administration in 2022.

The current debate highlights the broader tension between environmental policy goals and economic considerations in the automotive sector. While supporters argue that tax credits are crucial for maintaining American competitiveness in the global EV market and supporting domestic manufacturing jobs, critics, including Trump, question their economic efficiency and necessity.

A coalition of leading EV manufacturers and battery producers has mounted a strong defence of existing tax incentives, warning President-elect Donald Trump that eliminating these credits could undermine American competitiveness and job growth in crucial swing states.

A coalition of leading EV manufacturers and battery producers has mounted a strong defence of existing tax incentives, warning President-elect Donald Trump that eliminating these credits could undermine American competitiveness and job growth in crucial swing states. The Zero Emission Transportation Association (ZETA), representing industry giants including Rivian, LG, Tesla, Uber, Lucid, and Panasonic, has emphasised the substantial economic benefits these incentives have brought to states that proved pivotal in recent elections. The association points to significant job creation in Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, and Georgia as direct results of the current tax credit system. ZETA Executive Director Albert Gore emphasised the strategic importance of these incentives, stating they are essential for America to "actually compete to win against China." This stance comes at a critical time as sources close to the Trump transition team have revealed plans to eliminate the USD 7,500 consumer tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, a report that has already triggered declines in EV and battery manufacturer stocks. The industry's response reflects growing concern about the future of electric vehicle incentives, with manufacturers caught between stringent environmental regulations and the potential loss of crucial financial support. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, in an October 15 letter to Congress, stressed that maintaining these tax credits is "critical to cementing the U.S. as a global leader" in future automotive manufacturing. However, the industry appears divided on this issue. Tesla, the largest EV manufacturer, has reportedly expressed support for ending the subsidy in discussions with the Trump transition committee, marking a notable departure from the broader industry position. Trump's stance on EV incentives aligns with his broader scepticism of environmental regulations. He has already announced plans to reverse the Biden administration's emissions regulations, which mandate a 50% reduction in tailpipe emissions from 2026 levels by 2032. In August, Trump explicitly questioned the value of EV incentives, stating, "Tax credits and tax incentives are not generally a very good thing." The president-elect's potential options for dismantling the incentive program include modifying Treasury Department rules that currently facilitate automaker access to the USD 7,500 credit or pursuing a complete congressional repeal. This wouldn't be Trump's first attempt to eliminate these incentives; during his previous term, he sought to repeal the EV tax credit, which was subsequently expanded under President Biden's administration in 2022. The current debate highlights the broader tension between environmental policy goals and economic considerations in the automotive sector. While supporters argue that tax credits are crucial for maintaining American competitiveness in the global EV market and supporting domestic manufacturing jobs, critics, including Trump, question their economic efficiency and necessity.

EV industry leaders warn Trump against dismantling vehicle tax credit program

In a historic shift that signals both corporate evolution and strategic preparation for potential political challenges, Hyundai Motor has appointed Jose Munoz, its U.S. chief and global chief operating officer, as co-CEO. This landmark decision marks the first time a major South Korean conglomerate has elevated a foreign national to such a senior leadership position.

The appointment comes as Hyundai, the world's third-largest automaker together with affiliate Kia, positions itself to navigate potential challenges that could arise from a second Trump administration. The strategic leadership restructuring includes not only Munoz's elevation but also the appointment of former U.S. diplomat Sung Kim to oversee global external affairs.

Munoz, a Spanish native and U.S. citizen holding a PhD in nuclear engineering, will join Hyundai's existing leadership structure while maintaining a position below executive chair Euisun Chung, the founder's grandson, and newly appointed group vice chair Chang Jae-hoon. The leadership team also includes co-CEO Lee Dong-seok, bringing the total number of co-CEOs to three.

The timing of these appointments appears particularly strategic given Trump's stated policy intentions that could significantly impact Hyundai's operations. Trump has proposed potentially damaging policies, including increased import tariffs and the elimination of EV subsidies. These policies could particularly affect Hyundai and Kia, which currently rank second in U.S. electric vehicle sales behind Tesla, with approximately 60% of their U.S. sales coming from imports, according to Hanwha Investment &amp; Securities analyst Kim Sung-rae.

Adding to the concerns is Trump's suggestion of imposing 200% tariffs on Mexican car imports, which could directly affect Kia's Mexican production facilities. These potential challenges come at a crucial time for Hyundai, which recently began EV production at its Georgia facility and has announced plans for two North American battery factories in partnership with LG Energy Solution and SK On.

Munoz's appointment builds on his impressive track record with Hyundai since joining in 2019. His tenure has been marked by record sales, market share growth, and strong financial performance for both Hyundai and Genesis brands in North America. Prior to joining Hyundai, Munoz spent 15 years at Nissan Motor, where he was once considered a potential CEO candidate following Carlos Ghosn's departure.

Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm Leaders Index, notes that while the promotion partly prepares for a potential Trump presidency, it also recognizes Munoz's achievements: "The promotion is not only a preparation for Trump presidency but also recognition of Munoz's role in Hyundai's solid U.S. performance despite its EVs being not eligible for U.S. consumer tax credits."

The appointment reflects a broader transformation under Chung's leadership, who has actively recruited foreign executives to diversify the traditionally South Korean-dominated management ranks. Additionally, Hyundai has strengthened its Global Policy Office by hiring several former South Korean diplomats, anticipating potential policy shifts in the U.S. administration.

The market response to these changes has been mixed, with Hyundai's shares rising 2.2% while Kia's shares declined 1% following the announcement. The company has yet to announce who will assume Munoz's current roles as U.S. chief and global chief operating officer when his new position becomes effective in January.

In a historic shift that signals both corporate evolution and strategic preparation for potential political challenges, Hyundai Motor has appointed Jose Munoz, its U.

In a historic shift that signals both corporate evolution and strategic preparation for potential political challenges, Hyundai Motor has appointed Jose Munoz, its U.S. chief and global chief operating officer, as co-CEO. This landmark decision marks the first time a major South Korean conglomerate has elevated a foreign national to such a senior leadership position. The appointment comes as Hyundai, the world's third-largest automaker together with affiliate Kia, positions itself to navigate potential challenges that could arise from a second Trump administration. The strategic leadership restructuring includes not only Munoz's elevation but also the appointment of former U.S. diplomat Sung Kim to oversee global external affairs. Munoz, a Spanish native and U.S. citizen holding a PhD in nuclear engineering, will join Hyundai's existing leadership structure while maintaining a position below executive chair Euisun Chung, the founder's grandson, and newly appointed group vice chair Chang Jae-hoon. The leadership team also includes co-CEO Lee Dong-seok, bringing the total number of co-CEOs to three. The timing of these appointments appears particularly strategic given Trump's stated policy intentions that could significantly impact Hyundai's operations. Trump has proposed potentially damaging policies, including increased import tariffs and the elimination of EV subsidies. These policies could particularly affect Hyundai and Kia, which currently rank second in U.S. electric vehicle sales behind Tesla, with approximately 60% of their U.S. sales coming from imports, according to Hanwha Investment & Securities analyst Kim Sung-rae. Adding to the concerns is Trump's suggestion of imposing 200% tariffs on Mexican car imports, which could directly affect Kia's Mexican production facilities. These potential challenges come at a crucial time for Hyundai, which recently began EV production at its Georgia facility and has announced plans for two North American battery factories in partnership with LG Energy Solution and SK On. Munoz's appointment builds on his impressive track record with Hyundai since joining in 2019. His tenure has been marked by record sales, market share growth, and strong financial performance for both Hyundai and Genesis brands in North America. Prior to joining Hyundai, Munoz spent 15 years at Nissan Motor, where he was once considered a potential CEO candidate following Carlos Ghosn's departure. Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm Leaders Index, notes that while the promotion partly prepares for a potential Trump presidency, it also recognizes Munoz's achievements: "The promotion is not only a preparation for Trump presidency but also recognition of Munoz's role in Hyundai's solid U.S. performance despite its EVs being not eligible for U.S. consumer tax credits." The appointment reflects a broader transformation under Chung's leadership, who has actively recruited foreign executives to diversify the traditionally South Korean-dominated management ranks. Additionally, Hyundai has strengthened its Global Policy Office by hiring several former South Korean diplomats, anticipating potential policy shifts in the U.S. administration. The market response to these changes has been mixed, with Hyundai's shares rising 2.2% while Kia's shares declined 1% following the announcement. The company has yet to announce who will assume Munoz's current roles as U.S. chief and global chief operating officer when his new position becomes effective in January.

Hyundai names first foreign co-CEO amid Trump policy concerns

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr (Junior) said on Sunday (Nov 17) that any pushback from Washington around his father's unconventional choices for Cabinet proved they were just the kind of disruptors that voters had been demanding.

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump's son Donald Trump Jr (Junior) said on Sunday (Nov 17) that any pushback from Washington around his father's unconventional choices for Cabinet proved they were just the kind of disruptors that voters had been demanding. Speaking to Fox News, Trump Jr said, "The reality this time is, we actually know what we’re doing. We actually know who the good guys and the bad guys are." “And it’s about surrounding my father with people who are both competent and loyal. They will deliver on his promises. They will deliver on his message. They are not people who think they know better, as unelected bureaucrats,” he added. A look at Donald Trump's cabinet 2.0 Since emerging victorious in the November 5 presidential election, Donald Trump has been naming Republicans who will be a part of his second cabinet. When he was first elected (as president) in 2016, Trump stocked his early administration with choices from traditional Republican and business circles. Also read | Trump 2.0 cabinet: Brendan Carr to be chairperson of Federal Communications Commission However, for his second cabinet which will rule the US for another four years, Trump is valuing personal allegiance above political experience. A report by the news agency Associated Press said that this personal allegiance translated into selections such as former Florida Matt Gaetz, who faced a House ethics investigation, as attorney general, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services and Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic lawmaker who has in the past publicly expressed sympathy to Russian causes, as director of intelligence services. On Sunday, Trump announced that Brendan Carr will be the chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). 'Actual disrupters' Some of Trump's picks might face difficulties getting confirmed by the Senate, even with Republicans holding a majority in January. Trump Jr suggested that was precisely the idea. The younger Trump told Fox News, “A lot of them (Donald Trump's cabinet picks) are going to face pushback” but ”they are going to be actual disrupters.” Also watch | Trump's Health Chief RFK Jr poses with McDonald's burger × “That’s what the American people want,” he added. Trump Jr also said there were “backup plans” if Senate confirmation was problematic in some cases, but “we’re obviously going with the strongest candidates first.” (With inputs from agencies)

Any pushback against my father's cabinet picks proves...: Trump Jr

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday insisted that the chamber's ethics committee should not release a report on alleged sexual improprieties by Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, even as Democrats castigated Gaetz as unqualified and "a troll."

"It should not come out," Johnson told CNN. "And why? Because Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress. He is no longer a member. There's a very important protocol and tradition and rule."

Gaetz is a deeply polarizing Florida Republican who has been accused of -- and adamantly denied -- having years earlier paid for sex with a then 17-year-old girl.

He was also being probed for alleged illicit drug use, converting campaign funds for personal use, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, and other alleged misconduct.&nbsp;

Almost immediately after President-elect Trump's stunning nomination of Gaetz to head the powerful Justice Department -- a move Democrats saw as brazenly provocative -- the Floridian resigned his House seat. This effectively ended the ethics probe against him.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/trumps-health-chief-rfk-jr-poses-with-mcdonalds-burger-gets-trolled-for-maha-hypocrisy-776907">Trump's Health Chief RFK Jr poses with McDonald's burger, gets trolled for MAHA hypocrisy</a>

But lawmakers of both parties have called for the report's release, with even some Republican senators saying their constitutional role in reviewing nominations means they need access to all relevant information.

Senator-elect Adam Schiff, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic who is a regular target of the former president's wrath, made the case against Gaetz on CNN.

"I think he's not only unqualified, he is really disqualified," he said.&nbsp;

"Are we really going to have an attorney general who, there's credible allegations (that) he was involved in child sex trafficking, potential illicit drug use, obstruction of an investigation? Who has no experience serving in the Justice Department -- only being investigated by it?"

Trump has frequently jousted with the Justice Department, and critics say that as attorney general Gaetz would likely drop several criminal cases against the former president and try to file bogus charges against perceived Trump opponents.

Gaetz was known as a disruptor who earned the enmity of some House colleagues, including by engineering the ouster of Johnson's predecessor and fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy.&nbsp;

Earlier this year, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told an interviewer, referring to Gaetz: "There's a reason why no one in the conference came and defended him, because we had all seen the videos he was showing on the House floor...of the girls he had slept with."

On Sunday, Mullin told NBC that the report "absolutely" should be released to the Senate at least, although he stopped short of saying the public should see it.

"I believe the Senate should have access to that now," he said, adding that Gaetz would &nbsp;be given "the same chances we'll give all President Trump's appointees."

One Democratic senator, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, said Sunday that while he would be "excited" to confirm some Trump appointees, "There's others that are just absolute trolls, just like Gaetz."

Johnson said days ago that as House speaker he should not "put his thumb on the scale" of the ethics committee's decision. But his message Sunday was different.

Senators, he said, would "have a rigorous review and vetting process... But they don't need to rely upon a report or a draft report or a rough draft report that was prepared by the ethics committee for its very limited purposes."

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.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday insisted that the chamber's ethics committee should not release a report on alleged sexual improprieties by Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, even as Democrats castigated Gaetz as unqualified and "a troll.

US House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday insisted that the chamber's ethics committee should not release a report on alleged sexual improprieties by Donald Trump's nominee for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, even as Democrats castigated Gaetz as unqualified and "a troll." "It should not come out," Johnson told CNN. "And why? Because Matt Gaetz resigned from Congress. He is no longer a member. There's a very important protocol and tradition and rule." Gaetz is a deeply polarizing Florida Republican who has been accused of -- and adamantly denied -- having years earlier paid for sex with a then 17-year-old girl. He was also being probed for alleged illicit drug use, converting campaign funds for personal use, sharing inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, and other alleged misconduct. Almost immediately after President-elect Trump's stunning nomination of Gaetz to head the powerful Justice Department -- a move Democrats saw as brazenly provocative -- the Floridian resigned his House seat. This effectively ended the ethics probe against him. Also read: Trump's Health Chief RFK Jr poses with McDonald's burger, gets trolled for MAHA hypocrisy But lawmakers of both parties have called for the report's release, with even some Republican senators saying their constitutional role in reviewing nominations means they need access to all relevant information. Senator-elect Adam Schiff, a Democrat and frequent Trump critic who is a regular target of the former president's wrath, made the case against Gaetz on CNN. "I think he's not only unqualified, he is really disqualified," he said. "Are we really going to have an attorney general who, there's credible allegations (that) he was involved in child sex trafficking, potential illicit drug use, obstruction of an investigation? Who has no experience serving in the Justice Department -- only being investigated by it?" Trump has frequently jousted with the Justice Department, and critics say that as attorney general Gaetz would likely drop several criminal cases against the former president and try to file bogus charges against perceived Trump opponents. Gaetz was known as a disruptor who earned the enmity of some House colleagues, including by engineering the ouster of Johnson's predecessor and fellow Republican Kevin McCarthy. Earlier this year, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma told an interviewer, referring to Gaetz: "There's a reason why no one in the conference came and defended him, because we had all seen the videos he was showing on the House floor...of the girls he had slept with." On Sunday, Mullin told NBC that the report "absolutely" should be released to the Senate at least, although he stopped short of saying the public should see it. "I believe the Senate should have access to that now," he said, adding that Gaetz would be given "the same chances we'll give all President Trump's appointees." One Democratic senator, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, said Sunday that while he would be "excited" to confirm some Trump appointees, "There's others that are just absolute trolls, just like Gaetz." Johnson said days ago that as House speaker he should not "put his thumb on the scale" of the ethics committee's decision. But his message Sunday was different. Senators, he said, would "have a rigorous review and vetting process... But they don't need to rely upon a report or a draft report or a rough draft report that was prepared by the ethics committee for its very limited purposes." 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.

'Breach of protocol,' Mike Johnson shields Trump's attorney general pick, Matt Gaetz from ethics report

As the US has registered strong economic and inflation data. This development&nbsp;continues to shape the debate among Federal Reserve policymakers over the pace and extent of interest rate cuts. Further, investors on November 15, reduced their expectations for a rate reduction at the central bank's upcoming FOMC meeting, according to a detailed report by Reuters.

In the most recent rounds of discussions on the US monetary policy, US central bankers continued to put their faith, that inflation was slowly but surely coming under control and would allow the central bank to lower its benchmark rate over time from the current 4.5 per cent-4.75 per cent range, a level felt to discourage spending and investment, to a more neutral setting, the Reuters report explained further.

Still, how fast the central banks does that, and what level represents "neutral," remain a topic of debate, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell on November 14 stating&nbsp;that the economy's continued strength indicates that the Fed could take its time with the discussion.

The signs of increasing doubts over what a month ago was a normal expectation,&nbsp;for a quick run of cuts into next year. This comes as a major political shift is underway in the US, following Donald Trump's victory in last week's election, with Wall Street trying to capture what it sees as further inflationary pressures rising in the year ahead as the incoming Republican president pushes for tax cuts, higher tariffs and a crackdown on immigration.

Fed officials have been reluctant to say they are taking that into account, but investors already are and market bets on how quickly and how much the Fed will cut rates have ratcheted down over the last week the Reuters report added further. Boston Fed President Susan Collins said she did not see a big urgency to lower rates but did not rule out another rate cut at the Fed's next meeting on Dec. 17-18.

US stocks tanked on November 15, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, clearly signalled a slower pace of interest-rate cuts. And while several Fed policymakers appear to be on the fence over another rate cut in December, they have also signalled that skipping a meeting would mean they are going slower on rate cuts rather than stopping altogether.

The policy rate is expected to fall to 2.9 per cent in 2026

These projections also reflected an expectation that the policy rate would fall to 2.9 per cent sometime in 2026. Investors in contracts tied to that rate now see rates staying as much as a percentage point higher than that. The Fed will release fresh forecasts in December when it makes its next rate-setting decision.

Market participants and investors will carefully follow the next decision of the Federal Reserve to make informed investment decisions and to gain clues on the overall strength of the US economy.

As the US has registered strong economic and inflation data. This development continues to shape the debate among Federal Reserve policymakers over the pace and extent of interest rate cuts.

As the US has registered strong economic and inflation data. This development continues to shape the debate among Federal Reserve policymakers over the pace and extent of interest rate cuts. Further, investors on November 15, reduced their expectations for a rate reduction at the central bank's upcoming FOMC meeting, according to a detailed report by Reuters. In the most recent rounds of discussions on the US monetary policy, US central bankers continued to put their faith, that inflation was slowly but surely coming under control and would allow the central bank to lower its benchmark rate over time from the current 4.5 per cent-4.75 per cent range, a level felt to discourage spending and investment, to a more neutral setting, the Reuters report explained further. Still, how fast the central banks does that, and what level represents "neutral," remain a topic of debate, with Fed Chair Jerome Powell on November 14 stating that the economy's continued strength indicates that the Fed could take its time with the discussion. The signs of increasing doubts over what a month ago was a normal expectation, for a quick run of cuts into next year. This comes as a major political shift is underway in the US, following Donald Trump's victory in last week's election, with Wall Street trying to capture what it sees as further inflationary pressures rising in the year ahead as the incoming Republican president pushes for tax cuts, higher tariffs and a crackdown on immigration. Fed officials have been reluctant to say they are taking that into account, but investors already are and market bets on how quickly and how much the Fed will cut rates have ratcheted down over the last week the Reuters report added further. Boston Fed President Susan Collins said she did not see a big urgency to lower rates but did not rule out another rate cut at the Fed's next meeting on Dec. 17-18. US stocks tanked on November 15, after Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, clearly signalled a slower pace of interest-rate cuts. And while several Fed policymakers appear to be on the fence over another rate cut in December, they have also signalled that skipping a meeting would mean they are going slower on rate cuts rather than stopping altogether. The policy rate is expected to fall to 2.9 per cent in 2026 These projections also reflected an expectation that the policy rate would fall to 2.9 per cent sometime in 2026. Investors in contracts tied to that rate now see rates staying as much as a percentage point higher than that. The Fed will release fresh forecasts in December when it makes its next rate-setting decision. Market participants and investors will carefully follow the next decision of the Federal Reserve to make informed investment decisions and to gain clues on the overall strength of the US economy.

Strong US data weakens case for December Fed rate cut

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr, who has aimed to 'Make America Healthy Again', was seen posing with McDonald's fast food along with Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.&nbsp;

The caption of the viral photo shared by Trump Jr was "Make America Healthy Again starts tomorrow". The photo showed the leaders indulging in fast food.

Speaker Mike Johnson and Musk were seen in a photo clicked on Trump Force One en route to New York City.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Make America Healthy Again starts TOMORROW. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 <a href="https://t.co/LLzr5S9ugf">pic.twitter.com/LLzr5S9ugf</a>
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) <a href="https://twitter.com/DonaldJTrumpJr/status/1858136498530374074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The four leaders had a McD platter kept in front of them which consisted of fries, burgers, soft drinks and other condiments.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/public-health-catastrophe-critics-react-as-trump-picks-rfk-jr-for-top-health-post-776524">'Public health catastrophe,' critics react as Trump picks RFK Jr for top health post</a>

<h2>Here's how social media reacted to the image</h2>

The fast food, which was the favourite of president-elect Trump, does&nbsp;not align with RFK Jr's 'MAHA' philosophy which he had been advocating for years.

"How on earth did they get RFK Jr to eat McDonald's?," wrote one person jokingly on X.

"RFK Jr. won’t be lasting very long in this administration if he’s forced to eat McDonald’s. He doesn’t look happy," wrote another user.

"RFKs like ‘they caught me’," said a third user.

Watch:&nbsp;Healthcare Stocks Drop After Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pick As&nbsp;Health Secretary

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/healthcare-stocks-drop-after-robert-f-kennedy-jr-pick-in-health-secretary-776641/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

"This is not a good look. McDonald's is literally poison and here y'all are promoting it. Could have had a photo op with salads or a nice steak and potato dish but y'all went this route. Do better," commented a fourth user.

"Make McDonald’s Healthy Again too!" wrote a fifth user.

Last week, while speaking about former presidential nominee RFK Jr, podcaster Joe Polish said, “Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that aeroplane is, like, just poison. You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice, you’re either given KFC or Big Macs.”

Kennedy has protested against industrial chemicals and preservatives which are put into US food.

He protested against restrictions on peptides, psychedelics, raw milk and more.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr, who has aimed to 'Make America Healthy Again', was seen posing with McDonald's fast food along with Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr, who has aimed to 'Make America Healthy Again', was seen posing with McDonald's fast food along with Trump, Donald Trump Jr, and Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The caption of the viral photo shared by Trump Jr was "Make America Healthy Again starts tomorrow". The photo showed the leaders indulging in fast food. Speaker Mike Johnson and Musk were seen in a photo clicked on Trump Force One en route to New York City. Make America Healthy Again starts TOMORROW. 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/LLzr5S9ugf — Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) November 17, 2024 × The four leaders had a McD platter kept in front of them which consisted of fries, burgers, soft drinks and other condiments. Also Read: 'Public health catastrophe,' critics react as Trump picks RFK Jr for top health post Here's how social media reacted to the image The fast food, which was the favourite of president-elect Trump, does not align with RFK Jr's 'MAHA' philosophy which he had been advocating for years. "How on earth did they get RFK Jr to eat McDonald's?," wrote one person jokingly on X. "RFK Jr. won’t be lasting very long in this administration if he’s forced to eat McDonald’s. He doesn’t look happy," wrote another user. "RFKs like ‘they caught me’," said a third user. Watch: Healthcare Stocks Drop After Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Pick As Health Secretary "This is not a good look. McDonald's is literally poison and here y'all are promoting it. Could have had a photo op with salads or a nice steak and potato dish but y'all went this route. Do better," commented a fourth user. "Make McDonald’s Healthy Again too!" wrote a fifth user. Last week, while speaking about former presidential nominee RFK Jr, podcaster Joe Polish said, “Campaign food is always bad, but the food that goes onto that aeroplane is, like, just poison. You have a choice between — you don’t have the choice, you’re either given KFC or Big Macs.” Kennedy has protested against industrial chemicals and preservatives which are put into US food. He protested against restrictions on peptides, psychedelics, raw milk and more. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump's Health Chief RFK Jr poses with McDonald's burger, gets trolled for MAHA hypocrisy

China's dream to have a "strong currency" one which is stable and increasing its influence in global trade is facing new challenges with former US President Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House, restarting trade tensions and adding pressure on the yuan. According to a detailed report published in Bloomberg, analysts predict greater risks for the yuan under Trump's policies.

Years of downward pressure awaits the yuan<o:p></o:p>

Further, as Trump prepares for a possible second term, analysts say years of downward pressure are ahead for the yuan. Investors are already betting against it for fear that another trade war between China and the US is soon to come, the Bloomberg report explained further.

In fact, some believe that by 2025, the yuan may break its 17-year low versus the dollar, with bearish forecasts suggesting a decline of up to 10 per cent. The yuan's flaws today far outweigh those seen in the previous trading war. Yields for Chinese government bonds are now much lower than those of the United States, foreign investments have shrunk, and China's economic growth is still up in the air, making it an even tougher currency to handle, the Bloomberg report explained further.

"We don't expect a renewed contest of wills between the PBOC and the US Treasury anytime soon," says emerging markets economist Adam Wolfe. But if it escalated to a full-blown trade war, the PBOC would allow the currency to erode further for exports to improve and to create a stronger position in bargaining with America. Already this is causing traders to place bets against the yuan. The onshore yuan touched its lowest in three months on Nov. 14 as major financial institutions forecasted the currency was likely to drop to its low point against the dollar at 7.351.

Analysts predict the yuan will stabilize at 7.5 against the dollar if Trump goes with his plan to impose 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, as he has previously suggested. Others, for example, UBS and Societe Generale, predict further depreciation by year's end. Possible exchange rates hit as high as 7.60-7.70 in 2025. The worst-case sees yuan value at 8 per dollar-a level that was last, uh, written for in 2006.

Weaker yuan is expected to boost exports<o:p></o:p>

Another key question is how the PBOC will react. So, a weaker yuan will boost exports, but letting the currency fall too far might hamper economic stability, trigger capital flight, and invite international criticism. Large devaluation may reignite accusations that it is using monetary policy for competitive devaluation after all when it let the daily fixing rate of the yuan drop 1.9 per cent in 2015, leading to a huge outflow of capital and depletion of foreign reserves.

While outright devaluation is still unlikely and comes with a number of risks, it has been fine-tuning its foreign exchange policy. These have included stronger daily fixing rates, adjustments in bank reserve requirements, and the encouragement of state-owned banks to better manage offshore market liquidity. These policies might perhaps mitigate some of the damage from US tariffs.

Interestingly, Trump's own desire for a weak dollar may ironically aid China. Weakening of the greenback would enable it to purchase more goods made in the United States, thereby potentially diminishing somewhat the effect of the levied tariffs on Chinese exportation. Still, analysts on Wall Street aren't convinced that Trump's policies will undo sufficiently enough as to really weaken the dollar.

Xi Jinping's hope of turning the yuan into a global currency will be tested. Faster depreciation of the yuan may risk this dream, forcing attention away from much-needed long-term financial soundness toward more short-term economic relief. China is adrift during these trying times, and its currency, along with its ambitions on the global map, remain shrouded in uncertainty, added the Bloomberg report.

Market participants and global investors will closely follow the US-China relationship going ahead. This will help them in taking informed investment decisions, because a possibility of a long-drawn trade war will result in global investors turning defensive.

China's dream to have a "strong currency" one which is stable and increasing its influence in global trade is facing new challenges with former US President Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House, restarting trade tensions and adding pressure on the yuan.

China's dream to have a "strong currency" one which is stable and increasing its influence in global trade is facing new challenges with former US President Donald Trump potentially returning to the White House, restarting trade tensions and adding pressure on the yuan. According to a detailed report published in Bloomberg, analysts predict greater risks for the yuan under Trump's policies. Years of downward pressure awaits the yuan Further, as Trump prepares for a possible second term, analysts say years of downward pressure are ahead for the yuan. Investors are already betting against it for fear that another trade war between China and the US is soon to come, the Bloomberg report explained further. In fact, some believe that by 2025, the yuan may break its 17-year low versus the dollar, with bearish forecasts suggesting a decline of up to 10 per cent. The yuan's flaws today far outweigh those seen in the previous trading war. Yields for Chinese government bonds are now much lower than those of the United States, foreign investments have shrunk, and China's economic growth is still up in the air, making it an even tougher currency to handle, the Bloomberg report explained further. "We don't expect a renewed contest of wills between the PBOC and the US Treasury anytime soon," says emerging markets economist Adam Wolfe. But if it escalated to a full-blown trade war, the PBOC would allow the currency to erode further for exports to improve and to create a stronger position in bargaining with America. Already this is causing traders to place bets against the yuan. The onshore yuan touched its lowest in three months on Nov. 14 as major financial institutions forecasted the currency was likely to drop to its low point against the dollar at 7.351. Analysts predict the yuan will stabilize at 7.5 against the dollar if Trump goes with his plan to impose 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese goods, as he has previously suggested. Others, for example, UBS and Societe Generale, predict further depreciation by year's end. Possible exchange rates hit as high as 7.60-7.70 in 2025. The worst-case sees yuan value at 8 per dollar-a level that was last, uh, written for in 2006. Weaker yuan is expected to boost exports Another key question is how the PBOC will react. So, a weaker yuan will boost exports, but letting the currency fall too far might hamper economic stability, trigger capital flight, and invite international criticism. Large devaluation may reignite accusations that it is using monetary policy for competitive devaluation after all when it let the daily fixing rate of the yuan drop 1.9 per cent in 2015, leading to a huge outflow of capital and depletion of foreign reserves. While outright devaluation is still unlikely and comes with a number of risks, it has been fine-tuning its foreign exchange policy. These have included stronger daily fixing rates, adjustments in bank reserve requirements, and the encouragement of state-owned banks to better manage offshore market liquidity. These policies might perhaps mitigate some of the damage from US tariffs. Interestingly, Trump's own desire for a weak dollar may ironically aid China. Weakening of the greenback would enable it to purchase more goods made in the United States, thereby potentially diminishing somewhat the effect of the levied tariffs on Chinese exportation. Still, analysts on Wall Street aren't convinced that Trump's policies will undo sufficiently enough as to really weaken the dollar. Xi Jinping's hope of turning the yuan into a global currency will be tested. Faster depreciation of the yuan may risk this dream, forcing attention away from much-needed long-term financial soundness toward more short-term economic relief. China is adrift during these trying times, and its currency, along with its ambitions on the global map, remain shrouded in uncertainty, added the Bloomberg report. Market participants and global investors will closely follow the US-China relationship going ahead. This will help them in taking informed investment decisions, because a possibility of a long-drawn trade war will result in global investors turning defensive.

Trump's return threatens Xi's ambition of 'Powerful Currency’

This particular year of 2024, was already a historical year for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Still, as of November 15, the ETF universe can add another crucial feather to its cap and that is the biggest annual inflows on record, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg.

US ETF's net inflows past $913 billion

The never-ending desire for an investor-friendly environment, an all-time high number of product launches, and a historic bull market fueled by Donald Trump’s presidential victory have all cumulatively helped push the total net inflows into US ETFs past $913 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. That beats 2021’s record registered in that year with still the December 2024 month to go, the Bloomberg report added.

More signs of stock market optimism can be seen as the total US ETF assets touched the $10 trillion mark for the first time in the month of&nbsp;September 2024. Further, more than 600 new products have been introduced since the start of the year and nearly all ETFs in the US have registered positive 12-month returns, up from 8 per cent just two years ago, according to Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) data.&nbsp;

These achievements are evidence of the appeal of easy-to-trade and low-cost vehicles to traders of all levels. Investors are leaving more staid mutual funds in favour of ETFs to make the most of their more liquid, tax-friendly structures.

“In a year where stocks, bonds and commodities are all up, ETFs have record inflows while mutual funds are in net outflows,” said Matt Bartolini, head of Americas ETF Research at State Street Global Advisors. “Some investors are fine-tuning their asset allocations with low-cost building blocks while others are making more tactical portfolio changes, evidenced by the sizeable post-election flows" the Bloomberg report explained further.&nbsp;

Escalation of ETF inflows was more pronounced in the second half of 2024

The escalation of inflows was more pronounced in the second half of the year when Trump’s decisive White House win unleashed investor euphoria. ETFs took in a record $53 billion in the three days after the election, outpacing the $16 billion of inflows that followed President Joe Biden’s victory four years ago, BI compiled data show. This might have happened as markets like clarity and dislike uncertainty.

“It seems that more people than not believe that what Trump will do for the economy is better than what the Democrats would have done,” Joe Ferrara, investment strategist at Gateway Investment Advisers, said in an interview. “That’s where the exuberance comes from.”

The rush into ETFs started well before Trump’s win though, with issuers offering up ever-more complex strategies in the wrapper. This year, actively managed funds and those that use derivatives or leverage to juice returns accounted for over 80 per cent&nbsp;of the new launches as issuers seek to capture market share in a highly saturated space. Adding to the frenzy of new products were the first cryptocurrency ETFs holding Bitcoin directly, which saw record-breaking demand, added the Bloomberg report further.

“Everybody and anybody is now in the ETF space,” said Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. And while the main appeal of ETFs is rock-bottom fees and liquidity, he said it’s the new breed of products that have changed the industry.

Further, for now, active funds comprise nearly half of the 3,800 ETFs. Now they only make up roughly 10 per cent of the assets, projections by BI show that their share and count will increase beyond passive or indexed ETFs. “ETFs continue to be the preferred vehicle providing investors a way to express views in nearly every asset class,” said Jillian DelSignore, global head of investor distribution strategy at Nasdaq Global Index Group. “ETFs have democratized access to markets.”

Market participants and global investors will closely follow these developments on Wall Street and then make informed investment decisions based on the same.

<o:p>&nbsp;</o:p>

This particular year of 2024, was already a historical year for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Still, as of November 15, the ETF universe can add another crucial feather to its cap and that is the biggest annual inflows on record, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg.

This particular year of 2024, was already a historical year for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Still, as of November 15, the ETF universe can add another crucial feather to its cap and that is the biggest annual inflows on record, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg. US ETF's net inflows past $913 billion The never-ending desire for an investor-friendly environment, an all-time high number of product launches, and a historic bull market fueled by Donald Trump’s presidential victory have all cumulatively helped push the total net inflows into US ETFs past $913 billion, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence. That beats 2021’s record registered in that year with still the December 2024 month to go, the Bloomberg report added. More signs of stock market optimism can be seen as the total US ETF assets touched the $10 trillion mark for the first time in the month of September 2024. Further, more than 600 new products have been introduced since the start of the year and nearly all ETFs in the US have registered positive 12-month returns, up from 8 per cent just two years ago, according to Bloomberg Intelligence (BI) data. These achievements are evidence of the appeal of easy-to-trade and low-cost vehicles to traders of all levels. Investors are leaving more staid mutual funds in favour of ETFs to make the most of their more liquid, tax-friendly structures. “In a year where stocks, bonds and commodities are all up, ETFs have record inflows while mutual funds are in net outflows,” said Matt Bartolini, head of Americas ETF Research at State Street Global Advisors. “Some investors are fine-tuning their asset allocations with low-cost building blocks while others are making more tactical portfolio changes, evidenced by the sizeable post-election flows" the Bloomberg report explained further. Escalation of ETF inflows was more pronounced in the second half of 2024 The escalation of inflows was more pronounced in the second half of the year when Trump’s decisive White House win unleashed investor euphoria. ETFs took in a record $53 billion in the three days after the election, outpacing the $16 billion of inflows that followed President Joe Biden’s victory four years ago, BI compiled data show. This might have happened as markets like clarity and dislike uncertainty. “It seems that more people than not believe that what Trump will do for the economy is better than what the Democrats would have done,” Joe Ferrara, investment strategist at Gateway Investment Advisers, said in an interview. “That’s where the exuberance comes from.” The rush into ETFs started well before Trump’s win though, with issuers offering up ever-more complex strategies in the wrapper. This year, actively managed funds and those that use derivatives or leverage to juice returns accounted for over 80 per cent of the new launches as issuers seek to capture market share in a highly saturated space. Adding to the frenzy of new products were the first cryptocurrency ETFs holding Bitcoin directly, which saw record-breaking demand, added the Bloomberg report further. “Everybody and anybody is now in the ETF space,” said Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. And while the main appeal of ETFs is rock-bottom fees and liquidity, he said it’s the new breed of products that have changed the industry. Further, for now, active funds comprise nearly half of the 3,800 ETFs. Now they only make up roughly 10 per cent of the assets, projections by BI show that their share and count will increase beyond passive or indexed ETFs. “ETFs continue to be the preferred vehicle providing investors a way to express views in nearly every asset class,” said Jillian DelSignore, global head of investor distribution strategy at Nasdaq Global Index Group. “ETFs have democratized access to markets.” Market participants and global investors will closely follow these developments on Wall Street and then make informed investment decisions based on the same.

Wall Street sets new records with nearly $1 trillion ETF surge this year

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Saturday (Nov 16), warned the United States to refrain from crossing the "red line" in support of Taiwan while assuring his counterpart, US President Joe Biden, that China was willing to work with his successor, president-elect Donald Trump.

Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, amid concerns of trade wars and diplomatic upheaval with the changing US administration.

<h2>Xi's warning</h2>

As per Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, speaking to Biden, Xi outlined four critical "red lines": Taiwan's status, democracy and human rights issues, China's development interests, and pathways to growth. He asserted these were "the most important guardrails and safety net for China-U.S. relations," and "must not be challenged".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-jokes-his-wife-wishes-to-send-him-to-space-shows-concern-for-stranded-astronauts-776707">Biden jokes his wife wishes to send him to space, shows concern for stranded astronauts</a>

"The separatist actions of 'Taiwan independence' are incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," added the Chinese premier.

He also warned that the US "should not intervene in bilateral disputes... and not condone or support provocative impulses," in the South China Sea.

<h2>China's 'Red Line'</h2>

Beijing claims that the independently governed Taiwan is its territory and consistently refuses to rule out the use of force to seize it. Meanwhile, Taiwan maintains that it is a self-ruled territory, a claim backed by the United States — the US is Taiwan's main security backer. However, the US does not recognize Taipei diplomatically.

This year, China as per AFP stepped up its activities in the contested waterway of the South China Sea, reinforcing sweeping territorial claims that have been repeatedly rejected under international law.

<h2>On Ukraine War</h2>

Defending China's position on Ukraine as "open and aboveboard," Xi said that Beijing would not allow tensions on the Korean peninsula to "descend into conflict".

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ukraine-war-zelensky-says-conflict-will-end-sooner-once-trump-becomes-us-president-776658">Ukraine war: Zelensky says conflict will 'end sooner' once Trump becomes US president</a>

<h2>Toward 'smooth transition' with Trump</h2>

Despite these warnings, Xi extended an olive branch to the incoming Trump administration. He said his nation would "strive for a smooth transition" in relations with the new United States administration.

"China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a smooth transition of the China-US relationship," Xi told Biden.

Xi's remarks come after years of tense relations between Washington and Beijing, particularly during Donald Trump’s first term, which saw a bruising trade war and tariffs on billions of dollars in Chinese goods. Xi acknowledged the need for the two nations to find a better way to coexist, cautioning against framing the relationship in terms of rivalry or conflict.&nbsp;

"Major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times," he said, urging against isolating strategies like "small yards with high fences."

"A stable China-US relationship is critical," to both parties and the world, he added.

(With inputs from agencies)

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Saturday (Nov 16), warned the United States to refrain from crossing the "red line" in support of Taiwan while assuring his counterpart, US President Joe Biden, that China was willing to work with his successor, president-elect Donald Trump.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, on Saturday (Nov 16), warned the United States to refrain from crossing the "red line" in support of Taiwan while assuring his counterpart, US President Joe Biden, that China was willing to work with his successor, president-elect Donald Trump. Biden and Xi met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Peru, amid concerns of trade wars and diplomatic upheaval with the changing US administration. Xi's warning As per Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, speaking to Biden, Xi outlined four critical "red lines": Taiwan's status, democracy and human rights issues, China's development interests, and pathways to growth. He asserted these were "the most important guardrails and safety net for China-U.S. relations," and "must not be challenged". Also read | Biden jokes his wife wishes to send him to space, shows concern for stranded astronauts "The separatist actions of 'Taiwan independence' are incompatible with peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," added the Chinese premier. He also warned that the US "should not intervene in bilateral disputes... and not condone or support provocative impulses," in the South China Sea. China's 'Red Line' Beijing claims that the independently governed Taiwan is its territory and consistently refuses to rule out the use of force to seize it. Meanwhile, Taiwan maintains that it is a self-ruled territory, a claim backed by the United States — the US is Taiwan's main security backer. However, the US does not recognize Taipei diplomatically. This year, China as per AFP stepped up its activities in the contested waterway of the South China Sea, reinforcing sweeping territorial claims that have been repeatedly rejected under international law. On Ukraine War Defending China's position on Ukraine as "open and aboveboard," Xi said that Beijing would not allow tensions on the Korean peninsula to "descend into conflict". Also read | Ukraine war: Zelensky says conflict will 'end sooner' once Trump becomes US president Toward 'smooth transition' with Trump Despite these warnings, Xi extended an olive branch to the incoming Trump administration. He said his nation would "strive for a smooth transition" in relations with the new United States administration. "China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a smooth transition of the China-US relationship," Xi told Biden. Xi's remarks come after years of tense relations between Washington and Beijing, particularly during Donald Trump’s first term, which saw a bruising trade war and tariffs on billions of dollars in Chinese goods. Xi acknowledged the need for the two nations to find a better way to coexist, cautioning against framing the relationship in terms of rivalry or conflict. "Major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times," he said, urging against isolating strategies like "small yards with high fences." "A stable China-US relationship is critical," to both parties and the world, he added. (With inputs from agencies)

China warns US against crossing 'red line' in supporting Taiwan, says 'ready to work' with Trump

US President-elect, Donald Trump has threatened&nbsp;to impose tariffs on the entire world. On the other hand, Xi Jinping is once again wasting no time in positioning himself as the main defender of the international trading system, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg.

Views of Chinese President Xi Jinping

China’s leader warned on November 15, that the global economy was fracturing as protectionism spreads, leading to “severe challenges.” The world, according to him has&nbsp;“entered a new period of turbulence and change”, the Bloomberg report explained further.

“Dividing an interdependent world is going back in history,” Xi said in a speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Peru read on stage by one of his ministers. He repeated that theme in a speech on November 16 to leaders of APEC’s 21 member economies, including the outgoing US President Joe Biden.

“We should tear down the walls impeding the flow of trade, investment, technology and services, uphold stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and promote economic circulation in the region and the world,” Xi said.

Xi Jinping playing the same role like 2017

For Xi, it’s a role he played when Trump first rose to power in 2017. During that time, China’s head of state urged global business elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to reject trade wars and protectionism, saying it would cause “injury and loss to both sides.”

In the eight years since, Trump imposed punitive tariffs on China that were largely kept in place by the Biden administration, which also stepped up efforts to deny Beijing advanced technology. As he prepares to take office again in January, Trump is now threatening to impose 60 per cent&nbsp;tariffs on China, and, just as crucially, 10 per cent&nbsp;to 20 per cent&nbsp;on the rest of the world, added the Bloomberg report.

That universal tariff threat is giving Xi a fresh opening to improve ties with a range of governments bracing for tough negotiations with Trump. On Friday, Xi met one-on-one with the leaders of Thailand, Singapore, Chile, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand, all important US allies and security partners in the Asia-Pacific.

New Zealand bats for a rule-based system of trade

“We’re very invested in making sure we have a rules-based system, not a power-based system,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at the APEC CEO Summit. “There has been a shift from rules to power, and that’s something we advocate very strongly for: That irrespective of your size, we want countries to be able to navigate their way in the world through the international rules-based order.”

Further, Xi was busy with meetings, and focuses on interacting with Biden one final time, the US president kept an easy schedule. In addition to a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, he also met Peruvian leader Dina Boluarte, who inaugurated a $1.3 billion port with Xi the night before that could transform South American trade with Asia.

A global trade war is detrimental to everyone

Shou Chew, the chief executive officer of TikTok, called the app an “industry leader when it comes to online safety and data security.” Although the US passed a law this year that would ban the app if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell to an American buyer, Trump has spoken favourably about the company. What he’ll eventually do is unclear. A former Chinese Commerce Ministry official, Ren Hongbin, called on participants to “stand up to protectionism and unilateralism" added the Bloomberg report further.

“There is the rhetoric of the decoupling and derisking,” said Ren, now chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. “The artificial severance of the global supply chain is detrimental for everyone" again highlighting the importance of discussions and negotiations between the US and China moving ahead so as to ensure smooth global growth and cumulative peace all across the world.

Some bold views about dealing with Trump came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who spoke about how his government “rolled up our sleeves and did the hard work” to ensure a trade deal between Canada, Mexico and the US was updated to benefit everyone. He further added according to the Bloomberg report&nbsp;that political leaders needed to do a better job ensuring that trade benefits average citizens.

Market participants and global investors will closely follow these developments. All eyes are now firmly placed on the upcoming Trump administration and the steps the President-elect will take in his second term. Global trade, currencies, moves of the Federal Reserve along with other significant economic developments globally now solely depend on the future trajectory of the US-China relations.

&nbsp;

US President-elect, Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on the entire world. On the other hand, Xi Jinping is once again wasting no time in positioning himself as the main defender of the international trading system, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg.

US President-elect, Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on the entire world. On the other hand, Xi Jinping is once again wasting no time in positioning himself as the main defender of the international trading system, according to a detailed report by Bloomberg. Views of Chinese President Xi Jinping China’s leader warned on November 15, that the global economy was fracturing as protectionism spreads, leading to “severe challenges.” The world, according to him has “entered a new period of turbulence and change”, the Bloomberg report explained further. “Dividing an interdependent world is going back in history,” Xi said in a speech at the APEC CEO Summit in Peru read on stage by one of his ministers. He repeated that theme in a speech on November 16 to leaders of APEC’s 21 member economies, including the outgoing US President Joe Biden. “We should tear down the walls impeding the flow of trade, investment, technology and services, uphold stable and smooth industrial and supply chains, and promote economic circulation in the region and the world,” Xi said. Xi Jinping playing the same role like 2017 For Xi, it’s a role he played when Trump first rose to power in 2017. During that time, China’s head of state urged global business elites at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to reject trade wars and protectionism, saying it would cause “injury and loss to both sides.” In the eight years since, Trump imposed punitive tariffs on China that were largely kept in place by the Biden administration, which also stepped up efforts to deny Beijing advanced technology. As he prepares to take office again in January, Trump is now threatening to impose 60 per cent tariffs on China, and, just as crucially, 10 per cent to 20 per cent on the rest of the world, added the Bloomberg report. That universal tariff threat is giving Xi a fresh opening to improve ties with a range of governments bracing for tough negotiations with Trump. On Friday, Xi met one-on-one with the leaders of Thailand, Singapore, Chile, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand, all important US allies and security partners in the Asia-Pacific. New Zealand bats for a rule-based system of trade “We’re very invested in making sure we have a rules-based system, not a power-based system,” New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said at the APEC CEO Summit. “There has been a shift from rules to power, and that’s something we advocate very strongly for: That irrespective of your size, we want countries to be able to navigate their way in the world through the international rules-based order.” Further, Xi was busy with meetings, and focuses on interacting with Biden one final time, the US president kept an easy schedule. In addition to a trilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, he also met Peruvian leader Dina Boluarte, who inaugurated a $1.3 billion port with Xi the night before that could transform South American trade with Asia. A global trade war is detrimental to everyone Shou Chew, the chief executive officer of TikTok, called the app an “industry leader when it comes to online safety and data security.” Although the US passed a law this year that would ban the app if its Chinese owner doesn’t sell to an American buyer, Trump has spoken favourably about the company. What he’ll eventually do is unclear. A former Chinese Commerce Ministry official, Ren Hongbin, called on participants to “stand up to protectionism and unilateralism" added the Bloomberg report further. “There is the rhetoric of the decoupling and derisking,” said Ren, now chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. “The artificial severance of the global supply chain is detrimental for everyone" again highlighting the importance of discussions and negotiations between the US and China moving ahead so as to ensure smooth global growth and cumulative peace all across the world. Some bold views about dealing with Trump came from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who spoke about how his government “rolled up our sleeves and did the hard work” to ensure a trade deal between Canada, Mexico and the US was updated to benefit everyone. He further added according to the Bloomberg report that political leaders needed to do a better job ensuring that trade benefits average citizens. Market participants and global investors will closely follow these developments. All eyes are now firmly placed on the upcoming Trump administration and the steps the President-elect will take in his second term. Global trade, currencies, moves of the Federal Reserve along with other significant economic developments globally now solely depend on the future trajectory of the US-China relations.

Xi emerges as global advocate for free trade, countering Trump

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth is in headlines and a topic of discussion on social media because of his chest tattoo, a Jerusalem cross.&nbsp;

The former Fox News host has many tattoos on his body. Still, this particular one became the talk of the town once again after 2021, when Hegseth was denied working on the security team for President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. Many high-ranking military officials thought the tattoo was an extremist symbol.&nbsp;

A few months ago, Hegseth himself claimed this on a podcast show. "I was deemed an extremist because of a tattoo by my National Guard unit in Washington," Hegseth said in the podcast "The Shawn Ryan Show."

"Jerusalem cross tattoo, it's just a Christian symbol," he added.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-names-karoline-leavitt-as-white-house-press-secretary-she-becomes-youngest-ever-to-take-charge-of-post-776568">Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, she becomes youngest-ever to take charge of post</a>

<h2>What's The Tattoo?</h2>

The tattoo on Hegseth's chest is an image of the Jerusalem cross with four small crosses on each corner of the cross. He has another tattoo on his bicep that says "Deus Vult," which means God wills it.&nbsp;

An X user, also a Democrat supporter, shared the image of Hegseth with the tattoo and wrote, "Trump secretary of defence...are we supposed to pretend that isn't a Swastika?"&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Trumps secretary of defense.... are we supposed to pretend that isn't a SWASTIKA ???? <a href="https://t.co/6hPugvNCtr">pic.twitter.com/6hPugvNCtr</a>
— Claire (@ClaireFosterPHD) <a href="https://twitter.com/ClaireFosterPHD/status/1857102825903227262?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Countering the post, another X user (And a Republican supporter) wrote, "Democrats think this is a Swastika."&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Democrats think this is a Swastika 🤣🤣🤣 <a href="https://t.co/tnDQIKLWzk">pic.twitter.com/tnDQIKLWzk</a>
— The Gay Republican 🇺🇲✝️🇮🇱 (@GayRepublicSwag) <a href="https://twitter.com/GayRepublicSwag/status/1857173697116660012?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

&nbsp;

<h2>An Appreciator of Jews&nbsp;</h2>

Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran and according to his website has served in Afghanistan, Iraq Guantanamo Bay and Cuba.&nbsp;

Before joining Fox News, he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hawaii-flight-climbs-up-at-dramatic-speed-to-avoid-colliding-with-mountain-range-776570">Hawaii flight climbs up at dramatic speed to avoid colliding with mountain range</a>

In his coverage on the news channel, Hegseth has been an advocate of Israel.

In 2016, during an interview with the Jewish Press, Hegseth said, "This is not some mystical land that can be dismissed." He was referring to biblical and historical sites in Israel.&nbsp;

<h2>Hegseth's Controversial Remarks&nbsp;</h2>

Hegseth recently shared various controversial remarks such as firing "woke generals" in the military and also spoke against the combat role of women in the military, The Times of India reported.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth is in headlines and a topic of discussion on social media because of his chest tattoo, a Jerusalem cross.

US President-elect Donald Trump's pick for Secretary of Defence, Pete Hegseth is in headlines and a topic of discussion on social media because of his chest tattoo, a Jerusalem cross. The former Fox News host has many tattoos on his body. Still, this particular one became the talk of the town once again after 2021, when Hegseth was denied working on the security team for President Joe Biden's 2021 inauguration. Many high-ranking military officials thought the tattoo was an extremist symbol. A few months ago, Hegseth himself claimed this on a podcast show. "I was deemed an extremist because of a tattoo by my National Guard unit in Washington," Hegseth said in the podcast "The Shawn Ryan Show." "Jerusalem cross tattoo, it's just a Christian symbol," he added. Also read | Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, she becomes youngest-ever to take charge of post What's The Tattoo? The tattoo on Hegseth's chest is an image of the Jerusalem cross with four small crosses on each corner of the cross. He has another tattoo on his bicep that says "Deus Vult," which means God wills it. An X user, also a Democrat supporter, shared the image of Hegseth with the tattoo and wrote, "Trump secretary of defence...are we supposed to pretend that isn't a Swastika?" Trumps secretary of defense.... are we supposed to pretend that isn't a SWASTIKA ???? pic.twitter.com/6hPugvNCtr — Claire (@ClaireFosterPHD) November 14, 2024 × Countering the post, another X user (And a Republican supporter) wrote, "Democrats think this is a Swastika." Democrats think this is a Swastika 🤣🤣🤣 pic.twitter.com/tnDQIKLWzk — The Gay Republican 🇺🇲✝️🇮🇱 (@GayRepublicSwag) November 14, 2024 × An Appreciator of Jews Hegseth is an Army National Guard veteran and according to his website has served in Afghanistan, Iraq Guantanamo Bay and Cuba. Before joining Fox News, he unsuccessfully ran for Senate in Minnesota in 2012. Also read | Hawaii flight climbs up at dramatic speed to avoid colliding with mountain range In his coverage on the news channel, Hegseth has been an advocate of Israel. In 2016, during an interview with the Jewish Press, Hegseth said, "This is not some mystical land that can be dismissed." He was referring to biblical and historical sites in Israel. Hegseth's Controversial Remarks Hegseth recently shared various controversial remarks such as firing "woke generals" in the military and also spoke against the combat role of women in the military, The Times of India reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Online uproar over Trump's Defence Secretary pick Pete Hegseth's tattoo

Canada’s foreign minister Friday (Nov 15) claimed Donald Trump’s election in the United States has boosted Canada’s influence on the world stage, with more and more nations now seeking Ottawa’s advice on how to deal with the GOP leader. Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs of Canada made this statement while speaking to reporters at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Peru. Trump will assume office in January but his administration’s policies are expected to loom large in talks at the summit.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj-uZDf-t6JAxWtnK8BHTwBC7gQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamys-doge-seeks-super-high-iq-candidates-776485" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/elon-musk-and-vivek-ramaswamys-doge-seeks-super-high-iq-candidates-776485&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-uZDf-t6JAxWtnK8BHTwBC7gQxfQBKAB6BAgREAE">Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE seeks ‘super-high IQ’ candidates</a>

Trump on his campaign trail had promised to impose a minimum tariff of 10 per cent on all imports entering the United States. Leah Scarpelli, a partner at the Washington law firm ArentFox Schiff, was quoted as saying by CBC News that while he was not expecting any specific tariff targeting Canada, “I think the risk for Canada is that you just get swept in with tariffs on everywhere.”

Ottawa itself is worried over looming uncertainties; however, Joly claimed no country was better equipped than Canada to deal with Trump.

“If there’s a country in the world that understands the United States, it’s Canada,” Joly said. “That’s why there are so many delegations, so many countries, coming to see us to ask about how we, they, can adapt.”

“I think Canada’s influence is actually increasing because of the impacts that the world is now facing with the new administration,” she added.

Also Read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwj-uZDf-t6JAxWtnK8BHTwBC7gQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-ready-for-ceasefire-top-official-requests-trump-to-press-israel-for-peace-776514" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/hamas-ready-for-ceasefire-top-official-requests-trump-to-press-israel-for-peace-776514&amp;ved=2ahUKEwj-uZDf-t6JAxWtnK8BHTwBC7gQxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Hamas ‘ready for ceasefire’; top official requests Trump to press Israel for peace</a>

She added that Canada was hoping to host Trump next year when the G7 leaders’ summit is held in Kananaskis, Alberta.

Earlier on Thursday, Joly held a meeting with outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The foreign minister also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed cooperation on air transport and combatting fentanyl.

Joly claimed she sent “clear messages to China that we will never accept any foreign interference.” She added, “We need to have a predictable relationship”.&nbsp;

It was not clear whether Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is also in Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping or not.

(With inputs from agencies)

Canada’s foreign minister Friday (Nov 15) claimed Donald Trump’s election in the United States has boosted Canada’s influence on the world stage, with more and more nations now seeking Ottawa’s advice on how to deal with the GOP leader.

Canada’s foreign minister Friday (Nov 15) claimed Donald Trump’s election in the United States has boosted Canada’s influence on the world stage, with more and more nations now seeking Ottawa’s advice on how to deal with the GOP leader. Mélanie Joly, minister of foreign affairs of Canada made this statement while speaking to reporters at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Peru. Trump will assume office in January but his administration’s policies are expected to loom large in talks at the summit. Also read: Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy’s DOGE seeks ‘super-high IQ’ candidates Trump on his campaign trail had promised to impose a minimum tariff of 10 per cent on all imports entering the United States. Leah Scarpelli, a partner at the Washington law firm ArentFox Schiff, was quoted as saying by CBC News that while he was not expecting any specific tariff targeting Canada, “I think the risk for Canada is that you just get swept in with tariffs on everywhere.” Ottawa itself is worried over looming uncertainties; however, Joly claimed no country was better equipped than Canada to deal with Trump. “If there’s a country in the world that understands the United States, it’s Canada,” Joly said. “That’s why there are so many delegations, so many countries, coming to see us to ask about how we, they, can adapt.” “I think Canada’s influence is actually increasing because of the impacts that the world is now facing with the new administration,” she added. Also Read: Hamas ‘ready for ceasefire’; top official requests Trump to press Israel for peace She added that Canada was hoping to host Trump next year when the G7 leaders’ summit is held in Kananaskis, Alberta. Earlier on Thursday, Joly held a meeting with outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The foreign minister also met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and discussed cooperation on air transport and combatting fentanyl. Joly claimed she sent “clear messages to China that we will never accept any foreign interference.” She added, “We need to have a predictable relationship”. It was not clear whether Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who is also in Peru for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, will meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping or not. (With inputs from agencies)

Nations lining up to seek Ottawa’s advice on dealing with Trump, claims Canada's FM Joly

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN.&nbsp;

These background checks have been a longstanding tradition for incoming presidential nominations and date back to the early Cold War days.

However, Trump has outsourced it to private investigators instead of the FBI.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-what-will-his-revenge-cabinet-do-to-the-us-and-world-who-can-stop-him-776402">Also read:&nbsp;Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?</a>

According to Trump and his allies, the FBI system is plagued with issues that could hinder the President-elect's plan to quickly begin the work of implementing his agenda, people briefed on the plans reportedly said.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, the critics of this move have said that the intrusive background checks sometimes bring up embarrassing information used to inflict political damage.&nbsp;

The move to keep the FBI out of it lines up with a pre-election memo drafted by Trump's legal advisors and also fits with his enduring suspicion that the agency is part of what, without evidence, he believes to be a "deep state" machine within the federal government bent on undermining him.&nbsp;

Trump appointed Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, who has faced a two-year Department of Justice investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, which were eventually dropped without charges being lodged.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;The Return Of 'Dealmaker' Donald Trump | WION Wideangle

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This led to a further investigation by the House of Representatives ethics committee that had been due to culminate in a report this week before Gaetz effectively suspended its publication by resigning.

However, it was not immediately known which of Trump's picks will be&nbsp;spared by the routine FBI check.&nbsp;

Ultimately, the president holds the final authority on who he nominates to share intelligence with, regardless of the established protocol set in the wake of World War II, to ensure these selections don't have unknown foreign ties.&nbsp;

Dan Meyer, a national security attorney in Washington DC, said the incoming Trump administration “doesn’t want harmony.” They “don’t want the FBI to coordinate a norm; they want to hammer the norm,” he said.

Moreover, some of Trump’s advisers also circulated a memo ahead of the election, urging him to bypass the traditional background check process for some of his appointees, a source briefed on the memo told CNN.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN.

United States President-elect Donald Trump has bypassed standard background checks by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) for some of his controversial cabinet appointees, to minimise the chances of them being rejected during the Senate confirmation for any conflict of interest, reported CNN. These background checks have been a longstanding tradition for incoming presidential nominations and date back to the early Cold War days. However, Trump has outsourced it to private investigators instead of the FBI. Also read: Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him? According to Trump and his allies, the FBI system is plagued with issues that could hinder the President-elect's plan to quickly begin the work of implementing his agenda, people briefed on the plans reportedly said. Meanwhile, the critics of this move have said that the intrusive background checks sometimes bring up embarrassing information used to inflict political damage. The move to keep the FBI out of it lines up with a pre-election memo drafted by Trump's legal advisors and also fits with his enduring suspicion that the agency is part of what, without evidence, he believes to be a "deep state" machine within the federal government bent on undermining him. Trump appointed Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, who has faced a two-year Department of Justice investigation into sex-trafficking allegations, which were eventually dropped without charges being lodged. Watch | The Return Of 'Dealmaker' Donald Trump | WION Wideangle × This led to a further investigation by the House of Representatives ethics committee that had been due to culminate in a report this week before Gaetz effectively suspended its publication by resigning. However, it was not immediately known which of Trump's picks will be spared by the routine FBI check. Ultimately, the president holds the final authority on who he nominates to share intelligence with, regardless of the established protocol set in the wake of World War II, to ensure these selections don't have unknown foreign ties. Dan Meyer, a national security attorney in Washington DC, said the incoming Trump administration “doesn’t want harmony.” They “don’t want the FBI to coordinate a norm; they want to hammer the norm,” he said. Moreover, some of Trump’s advisers also circulated a memo ahead of the election, urging him to bypass the traditional background check process for some of his appointees, a source briefed on the memo told CNN. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump skips FBI standard background checks for some of his Cabinet appointees

Sylvester Stallone declared Donald Trump “the second George Washington” while introducing the President-elect at an event at the Mar-A-Lago Club. Watch this report for more details!

Sylvester Stallone Praises Donald Trump As ‘Second George Washington’

Ahead of his inauguration, US President-Elect Donald Trump sets the stage for his upcoming term, outlining key priorities and preparing for the transition of power. With a focus on economic reform, immigration, and national security, Trump's team works to finalize plans and key appointments before the official oath of office.

US President-Elect Donald Trump Lays Ground Before Oath

US President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general Matt Gaetz has landed in hot water after a woman told the House Ethics Committee she saw him having sex with a minor.&nbsp;

According to CNN, the committee had been probing allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favours to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct."

But soon after Trump's nomination, Gaetz resigned from his post as a congressman to nullify the investigation on Friday (Nov 15).&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sex-in-michelles-bathroom-us-secret-service-agent-fired-for-taking-girlfriend-to-barack-obamas-house-776584">'Sex in Michelle's bathroom': US Secret Service agent fired for taking girlfriend to Barack Obama's house</a>

The congressional investigation has jurisdiction over a member only when they are serving in Congress.

The testimony was first reported by ABC News and a spokesperson told CNN that “Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him.”

<h2>Gaetz's Response&nbsp;</h2>

Another report by ABC said that a woman who was at the centre of the investigation into sex trafficking allegations on Gaetz revealed that the former congressman had sex with her when she was just 17.&nbsp;

Gaetz has long denied all the allegations against him during the investigation.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trumps-defence-secretary-pick-pete-hegseth-has-swastika-tattoo-heres-what-we-know-776574">Trump's Defence Secretary pick Pete Hegseth has Swastika tattoo? Here's what we know</a>

"Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether I have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer to this question is unequivocally NO. You can apply this response to every version of this question, in every forum," Gaetz said in a statement posted to his social media account.

<h2>'Creepy, Paedophile'&nbsp;</h2>

Gaetz's sister-in-law, Roxanne Luckey called him "weird and creepy" and labelled him as a "paedophile" in a TikTok video long before he married Ginger Luckey.&nbsp;

Roxanne said she was not surprised when she found Gaetz was undergoing an investigation regarding alleged sex crimes.&nbsp;

"I saw the character and the type of person he is," Roxanne said, reported The Times of India.&nbsp;

Roxanne's sister (Gaetz's wife) hit back at her saying Roxanne had a history of destructive behaviour.

<h2>'Most Important Member of Trump's Administration'</h2>

Trump on November 13 announced that he had selected Gaetz, a US representative, to be his nominee for attorney general. “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump said in a statement announcing the selection of the Florida lawmaker.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-names-karoline-leavitt-as-white-house-press-secretary-she-becomes-youngest-ever-to-take-charge-of-post-776568">Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, she becomes youngest-ever to take charge of post</a>

Trump's inner circle has described the attorney general as the most important member of the administration after Trump himself, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardoned January 6 rioters and sought&nbsp;retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years.

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general Matt Gaetz has landed in hot water after a woman told the House Ethics Committee she saw him having sex with a minor.

US President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general Matt Gaetz has landed in hot water after a woman told the House Ethics Committee she saw him having sex with a minor. According to CNN, the committee had been probing allegations that Gaetz may have “engaged in sexual misconduct and illicit drug use, accepted improper gifts, dispensed special privileges and favours to individuals with whom he had a personal relationship, and sought to obstruct government investigations of his conduct." But soon after Trump's nomination, Gaetz resigned from his post as a congressman to nullify the investigation on Friday (Nov 15). Also read | 'Sex in Michelle's bathroom': US Secret Service agent fired for taking girlfriend to Barack Obama's house The congressional investigation has jurisdiction over a member only when they are serving in Congress. The testimony was first reported by ABC News and a spokesperson told CNN that “Merrick Garland’s DOJ cleared Matt Gaetz and didn’t charge him.” Gaetz's Response Another report by ABC said that a woman who was at the centre of the investigation into sex trafficking allegations on Gaetz revealed that the former congressman had sex with her when she was just 17. Gaetz has long denied all the allegations against him during the investigation. Also read | Trump's Defence Secretary pick Pete Hegseth has Swastika tattoo? Here's what we know "Your correspondence of September 4 asks whether I have engaged in sexual activity with any individual under 18. The answer to this question is unequivocally NO. You can apply this response to every version of this question, in every forum," Gaetz said in a statement posted to his social media account. 'Creepy, Paedophile' Gaetz's sister-in-law, Roxanne Luckey called him "weird and creepy" and labelled him as a "paedophile" in a TikTok video long before he married Ginger Luckey. Roxanne said she was not surprised when she found Gaetz was undergoing an investigation regarding alleged sex crimes. "I saw the character and the type of person he is," Roxanne said, reported The Times of India. Roxanne's sister (Gaetz's wife) hit back at her saying Roxanne had a history of destructive behaviour. 'Most Important Member of Trump's Administration' Trump on November 13 announced that he had selected Gaetz, a US representative, to be his nominee for attorney general. “Few issues in America are more important than ending the partisan Weaponization of our Justice System,” Trump said in a statement announcing the selection of the Florida lawmaker. Also read | Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, she becomes youngest-ever to take charge of post Trump's inner circle has described the attorney general as the most important member of the administration after Trump himself, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardoned January 6 rioters and sought retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years. (With inputs from agencies)

Donald Trump's attorney general pick Matt Gaetz had sex with minor: Report

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump on Friday (Nov 15) named Karoline Leavitt as the White House secretary. Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest person ever to take charge of this post.

United States (US) President-elect Donald Trump on Friday (Nov 15) named Karoline Leavitt as the White House secretary. Leavitt, 27, will be the youngest person ever to take charge of this post. Previously that distinction went to Ronald Ziegler, who was 29 when he took the position in 1969 in Richard Nixon’s administration. Earlier, Leavitt had served as Trump's campaign press secretary. In a statement, Trump said, "Karoline Leavitt did a phenomenal job as the National Press Secretary on my Historic Campaign, and I am pleased to announce she will serve as White House Press Secretary.” “Karoline is smart, tough, and has proven to be a highly effective communicator. I have the utmost confidence she will excel at the podium, and help deliver our message to the American People as we Make America Great Again (MAGA),” he added. Who is Karoline Leavitt? Leavitt was born in Atkinson on August 24, 1997. She pursued her college education at Saint Anselm College, graduating with a bachelor's in communications and political science. A report by the news agency Associated Press said that Leavitt is seen as a staunch and camera-ready advocate for Trump who is quick on her feet and delivers aggressive defences of the Republican in television interviews. The 27-year-old worked as a spokesperson for MAGA Inc, a super PAC supporting Trump before joining his 2024 presidential election campaign. The Associated Press report said that in 2022, Leavitt ran for Congress in New Hampshire, winning a 10-way Republican primary before losing to incumbent Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. During Trump’s first term in office from 2017 to 2021, Leavitt worked in the White House press office. She then became communications director for New York Republican Rep. Elise Stefanik. (With inputs from agencies)

Trump names Karoline Leavitt as White House press secretary, she becomes youngest-ever to take charge of post

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. &nbsp;

The NYT reported that the meeting took place Monday (Nov 11) at a secret location in New York and lasted more than an hour. According to the report, the two men discussed how to diffuse tensions between Washington and Tehran when the incoming Donald Trump administration takes over.

A report by the Associated Press earlier hinted that Iranian envoy Amir Saeid Iravani had sought a meeting with Musk and their discussion hovered around Iran’s nuclear programme and Iranian proxies around West Asia. According to the report, the meeting didn’t culminate in concrete decisions by either side but set the stage for easing tensions.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/science/delhi-to-san-francisco-aboard-a-starship-in-under-an-hour-musk-has-plans-reports-suggest-776460" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/science/delhi-to-san-francisco-aboard-a-starship-in-under-an-hour-musk-has-plans-reports-suggest-776460&amp;ved=2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgQEAE">Delhi to San Francisco aboard a Starship in under an hour? Musk has plans, reports suggest</a>

The Trump team had not confirmed the meeting.

These reports have led to speculations about Musk’s role in the incoming US government, the X owner has emerged as a key Trump ally. Musk has already been asked to lead the much-anticipated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to cut down the government budget by a whopping $2 trillion.

The news of Musk meeting the Iranian envoy came after it was reported that the Tesla boss joined Trump in a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to media reports, Trump put the phone on speaker and then Zelensky thanked Musk for Starlink's support in the ongoing war with Russia.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/congress-and-constitution-experts-claim-musks-doge-plan-may-face-real-obstacles-776310" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/congress-and-constitution-experts-claim-musks-doge-plan-may-face-real-obstacles-776310&amp;ved=2ahUKEwisw967_-CJAxWQSmwGHQphDhgQxfQBKAB6BAgSEAE">Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles</a>

Trump’s picks for key foreign policy posts — including Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser—are expected to be tough on Iran. Earlier, the US intel community said Iran looked askance upon a second Trump administration and preferred Democrats in the White House. During the previous term, Trump unilaterally walked out of the Iranian nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Shi’ite regime.

(With inputs from agencies)

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials.

No meeting took place between the Iranian envoy to the United Nations and US billionaire Elon Musk, earlier this week, as claimed by a New York Times report, Iranian media reported Saturday (Nov 16) citing two government officials. The Iranian foreign ministry “categorically denied” the meeting and a spokesperson said he was “surprised” by the American media coverage. The NYT reported that the meeting took place Monday (Nov 11) at a secret location in New York and lasted more than an hour. According to the report, the two men discussed how to diffuse tensions between Washington and Tehran when the incoming Donald Trump administration takes over. A report by the Associated Press earlier hinted that Iranian envoy Amir Saeid Iravani had sought a meeting with Musk and their discussion hovered around Iran’s nuclear programme and Iranian proxies around West Asia. According to the report, the meeting didn’t culminate in concrete decisions by either side but set the stage for easing tensions. Also read: Delhi to San Francisco aboard a Starship in under an hour? Musk has plans, reports suggest The Trump team had not confirmed the meeting. These reports have led to speculations about Musk’s role in the incoming US government, the X owner has emerged as a key Trump ally. Musk has already been asked to lead the much-anticipated Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), along with American entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, which aims to cut down the government budget by a whopping $2 trillion. The news of Musk meeting the Iranian envoy came after it was reported that the Tesla boss joined Trump in a phone call with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to media reports, Trump put the phone on speaker and then Zelensky thanked Musk for Starlink's support in the ongoing war with Russia. Also read: Congress and Constitution: Experts claim Musk’s DOGE plan may face real obstacles Trump’s picks for key foreign policy posts — including Senator Marco Rubio for secretary of state and Representative Mike Waltz for national security adviser—are expected to be tough on Iran. Earlier, the US intel community said Iran looked askance upon a second Trump administration and preferred Democrats in the White House. During the previous term, Trump unilaterally walked out of the Iranian nuclear deal and imposed crippling sanctions on the Shi’ite regime. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran ‘categorically’ rejects reports of meeting between UN envoy and Elon Musk

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday (Nov 15) that Russia's war against his country will "end sooner" once Donald Trump assumes office as the president of the United States (US).

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday (Nov 15) that Russia's war against his country will "end sooner" once Donald Trump assumes office as the president of the United States (US). Speaking to Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne, President Zelensky said, "It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House. This is their approach, their promise to their citizens." Also read | 'Ok, let him try,' Russia open to Ukraine peace talks if US President-elect Trump takes initiative "The war will end, but we don't know the exact date," Zelensky added. Trump's take on the Russia-Ukraine war The war between Russia and Ukraine has been going on since late February 2022. Throughout his US presidential election campaign, Donald Trump criticised tens of billions of dollars in aid (that the current US administration) provided to Ukraine since the war began. Trump said repeatedly that he would resolve the conflict within 24 hours if he became the American president. However, he never explained how this would be done. Also watch | WION Fineprint: Ukraine battles manpower shortage × Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on Friday, Trump said "We're going to work very hard on Russia and Ukraine. It's got to stop." The Zelensky-Trump interactions In late September, Zelensky met Trump at the Trump Tower in Manhattan. The Ukrainian president also held a phone call with Trump, congratulating the Republican leader for winning the US presidential election. Zelensky told Suspilne that he had a "constructive exchange" with Trump during their telephone conversation "I didn't hear anything that goes against our position," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Ukraine war: Zelensky says conflict will 'end sooner' once Trump becomes US president

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).&nbsp;

As the news sparked discussion on social media, some people were seen supporting Trump's decision while others shared their criticism.&nbsp;

Replying to a few of those posts on X, Musk claimed that he and Ramaswamy would not get paid for their role in the department.&nbsp;

Reacting to Trump's decision to the new department, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sarcastically questioned&nbsp;the need for two people to run a single department.&nbsp;

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Unlike you, neither of us are being paid, so it is very efficient indeed.<a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DOGE</a> will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1856925863725412706?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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“The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great start with split leadership: two people to do the work of one person. Yeah, this seems efficient,” she wrote on X.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rfk-jr-todd-blanche-doug-burgum-donald-trumps-top-picks-spark-debate-776331">RFK Jr, Todd Blanche, Doug Burgum: Donald Trump's top picks spark debate</a>

Musk reshared the post and replied, "Unlike you, neither of us is being paid, so it is very efficient indeed. DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.”

On Tuesday (Nov 14), an X user shared his views on the department saying, "I get the unbridled enthusiasm of wanting to be part of something of profound historical significance like the @DOGE but I think people don't quite realize that the task at hand will require a monumental amount of tedious super-high quality work."

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Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero. 
 
What a great deal! 😂 <a href="https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i">https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i</a>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1857112441529700671?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Musk replied to that post with a laughing emoji saying, "Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies &amp; compensation is zero. What a great deal!"

<h2>What's The Role Of DOGE?</h2>

While announcing the roles on November 13, Trump said the 'DOGE' department "will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government," a move that could allow Musk to avoid disclosing his financial holdings.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-names-vaccine-sceptic-rfk-jr-as-health-and-human-services-secretary-776318">Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary</a>

In a post on X, Musk said the department's actions will be published online "for maximum transparency" and will include a "leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars."

"This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining," Musk further wrote.

<h2>DOGE Is Hiring</h2>

The department shared a post on X on November 14 saying it is hiring "high-IQ" people who are willing to work for 80+ hours on "unglamorous cost-cutting."&nbsp;

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We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s…
— Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) <a href="https://twitter.com/DOGE/status/1857076831104434289?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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The post read, "We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon &amp; Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants."

(With inputs from agencies)

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

US President-elect Donald Trump picked billionaire Elon Musk and former Republican Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to jointly lead the newly formed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). As the news sparked discussion on social media, some people were seen supporting Trump's decision while others shared their criticism. Replying to a few of those posts on X, Musk claimed that he and Ramaswamy would not get paid for their role in the department. Reacting to Trump's decision to the new department, US Senator Elizabeth Warren sarcastically questioned the need for two people to run a single department. Unlike you, neither of us are being paid, so it is very efficient indeed.@DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge. — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024 × “The Office of Government Efficiency is off to a great start with split leadership: two people to do the work of one person. Yeah, this seems efficient,” she wrote on X. Also read | RFK Jr, Todd Blanche, Doug Burgum: Donald Trump's top picks spark debate Musk reshared the post and replied, "Unlike you, neither of us is being paid, so it is very efficient indeed. DOGE will do great things for the American people. Let history be the judge.” On Tuesday (Nov 14), an X user shared his views on the department saying, "I get the unbridled enthusiasm of wanting to be part of something of profound historical significance like the @DOGE but I think people don't quite realize that the task at hand will require a monumental amount of tedious super-high quality work." Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal! 😂 https://t.co/16e7EKRS6i — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 14, 2024 × Musk replied to that post with a laughing emoji saying, "Indeed, this will be tedious work, make lots of enemies & compensation is zero. What a great deal!" What's The Role Of DOGE? While announcing the roles on November 13, Trump said the 'DOGE' department "will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government," a move that could allow Musk to avoid disclosing his financial holdings. Also read | Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary In a post on X, Musk said the department's actions will be published online "for maximum transparency" and will include a "leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars." "This will be both extremely tragic and extremely entertaining," Musk further wrote. DOGE Is Hiring The department shared a post on X on November 14 saying it is hiring "high-IQ" people who are willing to work for 80+ hours on "unglamorous cost-cutting." We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s… — Department of Government Efficiency (@DOGE) November 14, 2024 × The post read, "We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants." (With inputs from agencies)

Elon Musk, Vivek Ramaswamy won't get paid for leading DOGE? Here's what Tesla CEO said

President-elect Donald Trump’s selection of Tulsi Gabbard as the chief of U.S. intelligence has caused a stir within the national security community, raising fears that the extensive intelligence apparatus may become more politicized. Trump’s appointment of Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman with limited intelligence expertise who is perceived as lenient toward Russia and Syria, is one of several key choices that indicate he might be valuing loyalty over qualifications as he puts together his team for a second term.

Russian Mole? Spy Agencies Worried by Trump's Selection of Tulsi Gabbard as Intel Tsar | GRAVITAS

A senior Hamas official said Friday (Nov 15) the Palestinian militant group was “ready for a ceasefire” in besieged Gaza. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told news agency AFP that he wanted US President-elect Donald Trump to press Israel to “end the aggression”.

“Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected” by Israel, said the Hamas official. “We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he added.

Naim added that he was in favour of a proposal that would achieve two things:

<ol>
	<li>A definitive ceasefire in the Gaza</li>
	<li>Withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Palestinian territory</li>
</ol>

Naim’s statement comes after the latest round of negotiations collapsed in mid-October. Israel has long maintained it will not agree to longer truces, with more disagreements revolving around the future role of Hamas and Israel’s military presence in Gaza.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjSh8LKzt6JAxW3SmwGHTCaEq8QxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-confirms-suspension-of-gaza-mediation-cites-lack-of-seriousness-from-israel-and-hamas-774896" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/qatar-confirms-suspension-of-gaza-mediation-cites-lack-of-seriousness-from-israel-and-hamas-774896&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSh8LKzt6JAxW3SmwGHTCaEq8QxfQBKAB6BAgKEAE">Qatar confirms suspension of Gaza mediation, says will only resume talks when...</a>

Although Trump has said he is in favour of ending conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu may now take even bolder steps that could lead to further intensification of the war.

<h2>Hamas ally releases new hostage video</h2>

Meanwhile, Hamas ally Islamic Jihad on Friday shared another clip showing a Russian-Israeli citizen Sasha Trupanov, following the first clip shared earlier this week.

Also read:&nbsp;<a data-ved="2ahUKEwjSh8LKzt6JAxW3SmwGHTCaEq8QxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE" href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-hostage-calls-for-pressure-on-netanyahu-govt-video-shared-by-hamas-ally-shows-775845" jsname="YKoRaf" ping="/url?sa=t&amp;source=web&amp;rct=j&amp;opi=89978449&amp;url=https://www.wionews.com/world/israeli-hostage-calls-for-pressure-on-netanyahu-govt-video-shared-by-hamas-ally-shows-775845&amp;ved=2ahUKEwjSh8LKzt6JAxW3SmwGHTCaEq8QxfQBKAB6BAgHEAE">Israeli hostage calls for pressure on Netanyahu government in video shared by Hamas ally</a>

Trupanov, 29, was detained by Hamas along with his girlfriend Sapir Cohen. Russia has called on Hamas to release Trupanov as well as another hostage named Maxim Herkin, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 2023 terror attack on Israel.

<h2>Gaza aid access ‘at low point’</h2>

The UN office for humanitarian affairs earlier said that aid access in Gaza was at a low point, as making deliveries to the northern parts of the territory had become nearly impossible.

“From our perspective, on all indicators you can possibly think of in a humanitarian response, all of them are going in the wrong direction,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN office.

Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos.

(With inputs from agencies)

A senior Hamas official said Friday (Nov 15) the Palestinian militant group was “ready for a ceasefire” in besieged Gaza. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told news agency AFP that he wanted US President-elect Donald Trump to press Israel to “end the aggression”.

A senior Hamas official said Friday (Nov 15) the Palestinian militant group was “ready for a ceasefire” in besieged Gaza. Hamas political bureau member Bassem Naim told news agency AFP that he wanted US President-elect Donald Trump to press Israel to “end the aggression”. “Hamas is ready to reach a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip if a ceasefire proposal is presented and on the condition that it is respected” by Israel, said the Hamas official. “We call on the US administration and Trump to pressure the Israeli government to end the aggression,” he added. Naim added that he was in favour of a proposal that would achieve two things: A definitive ceasefire in the Gaza Withdrawal of the Israeli military from the Palestinian territory Naim’s statement comes after the latest round of negotiations collapsed in mid-October. Israel has long maintained it will not agree to longer truces, with more disagreements revolving around the future role of Hamas and Israel’s military presence in Gaza. Also read: Qatar confirms suspension of Gaza mediation, says will only resume talks when... Although Trump has said he is in favour of ending conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu may now take even bolder steps that could lead to further intensification of the war. Hamas ally releases new hostage video Meanwhile, Hamas ally Islamic Jihad on Friday shared another clip showing a Russian-Israeli citizen Sasha Trupanov, following the first clip shared earlier this week. Also read: Israeli hostage calls for pressure on Netanyahu government in video shared by Hamas ally Trupanov, 29, was detained by Hamas along with his girlfriend Sapir Cohen. Russia has called on Hamas to release Trupanov as well as another hostage named Maxim Herkin, who was kidnapped by Hamas during the October 2023 terror attack on Israel. Gaza aid access ‘at low point’ The UN office for humanitarian affairs earlier said that aid access in Gaza was at a low point, as making deliveries to the northern parts of the territory had become nearly impossible. “From our perspective, on all indicators you can possibly think of in a humanitarian response, all of them are going in the wrong direction,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN office. Disclaimer: WION takes the utmost care to accurately and responsibly report conflicts in West Asia involving Israel, Iran, Syria, Iraq, and non-state actors like the Islamic State, among others. In this context, claims and counterclaims are being made online and offline. WION cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, social media posts, photos, and videos. (With inputs from agencies)

Hamas ‘ready for ceasefire’; top official requests Trump to press Israel for peace

Iran gave a written letter to United States President Joe Biden's administration last month, saying that it would not seek to assassinate the then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported.&nbsp;

Iran reportedly sent the letter on October 14, aiming at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington ahead of the US presidential elections.&nbsp;

They provided this message in response to a written warning that the US sent Iran in September that Washington would consider an attempt on Trump's life as an act of war.&nbsp;

Last week, US prosecutors announced charges in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist, The Times of Israel reported.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-trump-assassination-claim-by-fbi-totally-unfounded-774761">Also read:&nbsp;Iran says Trump assassination claim by FBI 'totally unfounded'</a>

Trump faced two assassination attempts this year, months ahead of the presidential election in November, including a shooting at a campaign rally when a bullet grazed his ear.

Last week, the US justice department made charges public in a case regarding a thwarted attempt by Iran to kill Trump, winner of the 2024 US presidential elections, back in September.

According to an official complaint filed at Manhattan federal court, an agent in the US was allegedly instructed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard official to hatch a plan to kill the Republican leader, earlier this year.

Watch |&nbsp;Trump Assassination Bid: FBI probing apparent assassination attempt

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The man has been identified as Farjad Shakeri. He was allegedly ordered by the Iranian official that if he failed to formulate a plan to kill Trump by September, they would have to delay it until the elections happen.

The details of the&nbsp;plot were made public after the US justice department&nbsp;unsealed court documents related to the case days after Trump defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in an election marred by foreign interference, especially by nations like Russia, Iran, and China.

(With inputs from agencies)

Iran gave a written letter to United States President Joe Biden's administration last month, saying that it would not seek to assassinate the then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Iran gave a written letter to United States President Joe Biden's administration last month, saying that it would not seek to assassinate the then-Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, the Wall Street Journal reported. Iran reportedly sent the letter on October 14, aiming at easing tensions between Tehran and Washington ahead of the US presidential elections. They provided this message in response to a written warning that the US sent Iran in September that Washington would consider an attempt on Trump's life as an act of war. Last week, US prosecutors announced charges in an alleged Iranian plot to assassinate Trump and a prominent dissident Iranian-American journalist, The Times of Israel reported. Also read: Iran says Trump assassination claim by FBI 'totally unfounded' Trump faced two assassination attempts this year, months ahead of the presidential election in November, including a shooting at a campaign rally when a bullet grazed his ear. Last week, the US justice department made charges public in a case regarding a thwarted attempt by Iran to kill Trump, winner of the 2024 US presidential elections, back in September. According to an official complaint filed at Manhattan federal court, an agent in the US was allegedly instructed by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard official to hatch a plan to kill the Republican leader, earlier this year. Watch | Trump Assassination Bid: FBI probing apparent assassination attempt × The man has been identified as Farjad Shakeri. He was allegedly ordered by the Iranian official that if he failed to formulate a plan to kill Trump by September, they would have to delay it until the elections happen. The details of the plot were made public after the US justice department unsealed court documents related to the case days after Trump defeated his Democratic rival Kamala Harris in an election marred by foreign interference, especially by nations like Russia, Iran, and China. (With inputs from agencies)

Iran gives written assurance to US, saying it would not assassinate Trump

Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, has made headlines with yet another controversial appointment to his administration, naming Robert F Kennedy Jr as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Donald Trump, the President-elect of the United States, has made headlines with yet another controversial appointment to his administration, naming Robert F Kennedy Jr as the next Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Trump said, “The Safety and Health of all Americans is the most important role of any Administration, and HHS will play a big role in helping ensure that everybody will be protected from harmful chemicals, pollutants, pesticides, pharmaceutical products, and food additives that have contributed to the overwhelming Health Crisis in this Country.” “Mr. Kennedy will restore these Agencies to the traditions of Gold Standard Scientific Research, and beacons of Transparency, to end the Chronic Disease epidemic, and to Make America Great and Healthy Again!” he added. Divisive appointment Robert F Kennedy Jr is a polarising figure, known for his vocal stance against vaccines and his promotion of baseless health claims. He has spread conspiracy theories about vaccine safety and has made controversial statements about fluoride, claiming it is linked to health problems like bone fractures, cancer, and thyroid disorders. However, organisations like the American Dental Association continue to advocate for adding fluoride to tap water as a safe and effective public health measure. Also read: 'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador: Report In his acceptance statement, Kennedy Jr pledged to prioritise the health of Americans. “I look forward to working with the more than 80,000 employees at HHS to free the agencies from the smothering cloud of corporate capture so they can pursue their mission to make Americans once again the healthiest people on Earth,” he said. Strong reactions The appointment sparked mixed reactions. Critics argue that Kennedy Jr’s controversial views are not good for public health. Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, said, “Robert F Kennedy Jr is a clear and present danger to the nation’s health. He shouldn’t be allowed in the building at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), let alone be placed in charge of the nation’s public health agency.” The group added, “Donald Trump’s bungling of public health policy during the Covid pandemic cost hundreds of thousands of lives. By appointing Kennedy as his secretary of HHS, Trump is courting another, policy-driven public health catastrophe.” This could not be more dangerous. There's no telling how far an anti-vaxxer & fringe conspiracy theorist like RFK Jr. could set America back in terms of public health, reproductive rights, research, & more. And the consequences are not theoretical—they're life or death issues. https://t.co/nE3Lw2oJRE — Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) November 14, 2024 × California Representative Robert Garcia called the nomination “f***ing insane” and said Kennedy’s leadership would undermine the country’s vaccine distribution systems, potentially costing lives. Senator Patty Murray echoed similar concerns, calling Kennedy an “anti-vaxxer and fringe conspiracy theorist” and labelling the decision a “life or death issues.” I’m excited by the news that the President-Elect will appoint @RobertKennedyJr to @HHSGov. He helped us defeat vaccine mandates in Colorado in 2019 and will help make America healthy again by shaking up HHS and FDA. I hope he leans into personal choice on vaccines rather than… pic.twitter.com/cILtTYplcn — Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) November 14, 2024 × However, not everyone has criticised the move. Colorado Governor Jared Polis said he shared Kennedy Jr’s concerns about reforming institutions like HHS and the FDA. Polis later said that his support for Kennedy Jr did not diminish his support for vaccines and medical science. “If as a country we follow the science we would also be far more concerned about the impact of pesticides on public health, ag policy on nutrition, and the lack of access to prescription drugs due to drug high prices. This is why I am for a major shake-up in institutions like the FDA that have been barriers to lowering drug costs and promoting healthy food choices,” Polis said. (With inputs from agencies)

'Public health catastrophe,' critics react as Trump picks RFK Jr for top health post

Donald Trump returns to the White House shielded with presidential immunity by the&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court&nbsp;and with the prospect of cementing a conservative majority on the bench for at least a generation.

The Republican President-elect appointed three right-wing justices to the top&nbsp;court&nbsp;during his first term and may have the opportunity to name more during his second stint in the Oval Office.

Archconservatives Clarence Thomas, 76, and Samuel Alito, 74, who wrote the opinion overturning the nationwide right to abortion, are the two oldest justices on the&nbsp;court&nbsp;and they could choose to step down knowing their replacements would be nominated by Trump.

"It certainly presents the opportunity for them to retire with some assurance that their successor would continue their philosophy," said Christopher Peters, a law professor at the University of Akron. "And I certainly wouldn't be surprised if that happened."

Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said if Thomas or Alito have any inclination to quit he expects it to happen "fairly quickly" -- before the 2026 midterm elections, when Republicans could potentially lose control of the Senate.

Supreme&nbsp;Court&nbsp;justices are appointed by the president for life but are subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Trump, the only former US president to be convicted of a crime -- falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star -- will take office in January emboldened by the top&nbsp;court's ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from criminal prosecution, Schwinn said.

Trump was charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election but a trial was delayed by appeals that eventually landed in the&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court, where conservatives enjoy a 6-3 majority.

In an opinion penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, the&nbsp;court&nbsp;ruled that a former president has broad immunity from prosecution for official acts taken while in office, but can be pursued for unofficial acts.

Smith, the special counsel, is winding down the election interference case against Trump in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy that a sitting US president cannot be indicted or criminally prosecuted.

<h2>'King above the law'</h2>

Schwinn said the immunity ruling "not only allows, but affirmatively invites, a president to engage in illegal behavior and provides a kind of roadmap for doing that while also immunizing themselves.

"And then the question is, 'Is a particular president willing to abuse that power or not?'" he said. "And you know, for my money, I guess a President Trump seems more likely to do that."

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the three liberals on the&nbsp;court, warned in her blistering dissent to the immunity ruling that it makes the president a "king above the law."

Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, noted that the&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court&nbsp;did check Trump on a number of occasions during his first term in the White House.

The&nbsp;court&nbsp;initially blocked his Muslim travel ban, protected the young undocumented immigrants known as "Dreamers," and declined to be dragged into lawsuits filed by Trump surrogates falsely claiming he had won the 2020 election.

With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress this time, the&nbsp;Supreme&nbsp;Court&nbsp;will be "the last institution standing between Mr Trump and whatever he wants to do," Vladeck said in a New York Times essay.

But the&nbsp;court, Vladeck noted, has its own problems with approval ratings at near record lows and perceived ethics questions surrounding luxury vacations taken by Thomas and Alito that were paid for by powerful Republican billionaires.

"Without that public support, what would happen if Mr Trump simply ignored a decision by the nation's highest&nbsp;court&nbsp;that he doesn't like?" Vladeck asked.

"If the&nbsp;court&nbsp;rules against Mr Trump and he tells the justices to pound sand, what will happen then?"

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&nbsp;audience. 
&nbsp;

Donald Trump returns to the White House shielded with presidential immunity by the Supreme Court and with the prospect of cementing a conservative majority on the bench for at least a generation.

Donald Trump returns to the White House shielded with presidential immunity by the Supreme Court and with the prospect of cementing a conservative majority on the bench for at least a generation. The Republican President-elect appointed three right-wing justices to the top court during his first term and may have the opportunity to name more during his second stint in the Oval Office. Archconservatives Clarence Thomas, 76, and Samuel Alito, 74, who wrote the opinion overturning the nationwide right to abortion, are the two oldest justices on the court and they could choose to step down knowing their replacements would be nominated by Trump. "It certainly presents the opportunity for them to retire with some assurance that their successor would continue their philosophy," said Christopher Peters, a law professor at the University of Akron. "And I certainly wouldn't be surprised if that happened." Steven Schwinn, a law professor at the University of Illinois Chicago, said if Thomas or Alito have any inclination to quit he expects it to happen "fairly quickly" -- before the 2026 midterm elections, when Republicans could potentially lose control of the Senate. Supreme Court justices are appointed by the president for life but are subject to confirmation by the Senate. Trump, the only former US president to be convicted of a crime -- falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star -- will take office in January emboldened by the top court's ruling in July that an ex-president has broad immunity from criminal prosecution, Schwinn said. Trump was charged by Special Counsel Jack Smith with conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 election but a trial was delayed by appeals that eventually landed in the Supreme Court, where conservatives enjoy a 6-3 majority. In an opinion penned by Chief Justice John Roberts, the court ruled that a former president has broad immunity from prosecution for official acts taken while in office, but can be pursued for unofficial acts. Smith, the special counsel, is winding down the election interference case against Trump in light of the long-standing Justice Department policy that a sitting US president cannot be indicted or criminally prosecuted. 'King above the law' Schwinn said the immunity ruling "not only allows, but affirmatively invites, a president to engage in illegal behavior and provides a kind of roadmap for doing that while also immunizing themselves. "And then the question is, 'Is a particular president willing to abuse that power or not?'" he said. "And you know, for my money, I guess a President Trump seems more likely to do that." Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of the three liberals on the court, warned in her blistering dissent to the immunity ruling that it makes the president a "king above the law." Steve Vladeck, a law professor at Georgetown University, noted that the Supreme Court did check Trump on a number of occasions during his first term in the White House. The court initially blocked his Muslim travel ban, protected the young undocumented immigrants known as "Dreamers," and declined to be dragged into lawsuits filed by Trump surrogates falsely claiming he had won the 2020 election. With Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress this time, the Supreme Court will be "the last institution standing between Mr Trump and whatever he wants to do," Vladeck said in a New York Times essay. But the court, Vladeck noted, has its own problems with approval ratings at near record lows and perceived ethics questions surrounding luxury vacations taken by Thomas and Alito that were paid for by powerful Republican billionaires. "Without that public support, what would happen if Mr Trump simply ignored a decision by the nation's highest court that he doesn't like?" Vladeck asked. "If the court rules against Mr Trump and he tells the justices to pound sand, what will happen then?" 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.

Trump returns to White House shielded with presidential immunity by US Supreme Court

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Nov 14) North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his nominee to be the secretary of the Department of the Interior.&nbsp;

Speaking at Mar-a-Lago for an America First Policy Institute event in Florida, Trump said, "We have a big announcement, and I won’t tell you. I won’t tell you the name of his, the exact name. I think he’s an incredible person. He has an unbelievably wonderful wife named Kathryn. So, I won’t tell you, his name might be something like 'Burgum.' Burgum."

"He’s from North Dakota. He’s going to be announced tomorrow for a huge position," he added by pointing at Burgum.&nbsp;

Speaking at the same event, Trump also announced Doug Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.&nbsp;

“We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," the president-elect said.&nbsp;

Todd Blanche, the attorney who led the team of lawyers who defended Trump at his hush money trial, has been selected to serve as the second-highest-ranking Justice Department official.&nbsp;

While announcing the name, Trump said, "Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long."&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/donald-trump-names-vaccine-sceptic-rfk-jr-as-health-and-human-services-secretary-776318">Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary</a>

In yet another controversial appointment, Trump announced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Calling it the "most important role of any Administration", Trump said that Kennedy would help "Make America Great and Healthy Again!”

Notably, Kennedy is one of the most prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists in the country. He has often made unverified statements and spread false conspiracy theories about the safety and efficacy of vaccines.&nbsp;

<h2>Trump's Other Picks That Sparked Discussion</h2>

'Government Efficiency': Elon Musk&nbsp;

Musk, the world's richest man, was tapped to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy Trump ally, Vivek Ramaswamy.

Musk says he is targeting $2 trillion in cuts from the federal government's $7 trillion budget, without explaining how.

There has been no explanation of how the Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink boss would navigate conflicts of interest as a major US government contractor.

Secretary of State: Marco Rubio&nbsp;

Trump tapped the Florida senator to be a top diplomat, to intensify the US power struggle with China.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sylvester-stallone-calls-trump-2nd-george-washington-at-mar-a-lago-gala-776326">Sylvester Stallone calls Trump '2nd George Washington' at Mar-a-Lago gala</a>

Rubio, a relatively traditional conservative hawk, has said China seeks "to reorient the world."

The son of Cuban immigrants is a fervent supporter of Israel and a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth&nbsp;

Fox News host and National Guard veteran Hegseth was nominated to lead the world's most powerful military, despite a slim CV.

Hegseth joined Fox News (Trump's favourite network in 2014) and hosts a weekend program.&nbsp;

Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee&nbsp;

Trump says the former Arkansas governor, a Christian pastor-turned-politician, "loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him."

<h2>Trump's 'Biased' Picks&nbsp;</h2>

In 2016, Donald Trump's picks for the White House were termed as "conventional". The cabinet was accused of being in line with that of a traditional Republican.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/i-know-the-game-he-was-playing-nikki-haley-reacts-to-trumps-post-election-snub-776302">‘I know the game he was playing,’ Nikki Haley reacts to Trump’s post-election snub</a>

In 2024, Trump's 'No Time Wasted' approach to selecting the top picks for his second term in the White House has somewhat sparked the discussion that Trump is, again, choosing people who are hardline Republicans and somewhat "biased."&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Nov 14) North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his nominee to be the secretary of the Department of the Interior.

US President-elect Donald Trump announced on Thursday (Nov 14) North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum as his nominee to be the secretary of the Department of the Interior. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago for an America First Policy Institute event in Florida, Trump said, "We have a big announcement, and I won’t tell you. I won’t tell you the name of his, the exact name. I think he’s an incredible person. He has an unbelievably wonderful wife named Kathryn. So, I won’t tell you, his name might be something like 'Burgum.' Burgum." "He’s from North Dakota. He’s going to be announced tomorrow for a huge position," he added by pointing at Burgum. Speaking at the same event, Trump also announced Doug Collins to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs. “We must take care of our brave men and women in uniform, and Doug will be a great advocate for our Active Duty Servicemembers, Veterans, and Military Families to ensure they have the support they need," the president-elect said. Todd Blanche, the attorney who led the team of lawyers who defended Trump at his hush money trial, has been selected to serve as the second-highest-ranking Justice Department official. While announcing the name, Trump said, "Todd is an excellent attorney who will be a crucial leader in the Justice Department, fixing what has been a broken System of Justice for far too long." Also read | Donald Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr as Health and Human Services secretary In yet another controversial appointment, Trump announced Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be his next secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. Calling it the "most important role of any Administration", Trump said that Kennedy would help "Make America Great and Healthy Again!” Notably, Kennedy is one of the most prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorists in the country. He has often made unverified statements and spread false conspiracy theories about the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Trump's Other Picks That Sparked Discussion 'Government Efficiency': Elon Musk Musk, the world's richest man, was tapped to lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, along with another wealthy Trump ally, Vivek Ramaswamy. Musk says he is targeting $2 trillion in cuts from the federal government's $7 trillion budget, without explaining how. There has been no explanation of how the Tesla, SpaceX and Starlink boss would navigate conflicts of interest as a major US government contractor. Secretary of State: Marco Rubio Trump tapped the Florida senator to be a top diplomat, to intensify the US power struggle with China. Also read | Sylvester Stallone calls Trump '2nd George Washington' at Mar-a-Lago gala Rubio, a relatively traditional conservative hawk, has said China seeks "to reorient the world." The son of Cuban immigrants is a fervent supporter of Israel and a longtime critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Defense Secretary: Pete Hegseth Fox News host and National Guard veteran Hegseth was nominated to lead the world's most powerful military, despite a slim CV. Hegseth joined Fox News (Trump's favourite network in 2014) and hosts a weekend program. Ambassador to Israel: Mike Huckabee Trump says the former Arkansas governor, a Christian pastor-turned-politician, "loves Israel, and the people of Israel, and likewise, the people of Israel love him." Trump's 'Biased' Picks In 2016, Donald Trump's picks for the White House were termed as "conventional". The cabinet was accused of being in line with that of a traditional Republican. Also read | ‘I know the game he was playing,’ Nikki Haley reacts to Trump’s post-election snub In 2024, Trump's 'No Time Wasted' approach to selecting the top picks for his second term in the White House has somewhat sparked the discussion that Trump is, again, choosing people who are hardline Republicans and somewhat "biased." (With inputs from agencies)

RFK Jr, Todd Blanche, Doug Burgum: Donald Trump's top picks spark debate

Last week we asked how the U.S. President-elect Donald Trump will stop the wars in West Asia. We now focus on Donald Trump's appointments. In our top story we ask how Trump's cabinet will approach the ongoing wars in Gaza and Lebanon.

How Will Trump's Cabinet Reflect on Gaza & Lebanon War?

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.&nbsp;

Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security.

Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final.

WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General

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&nbsp;

<h2>ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA</h2>

Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver.&nbsp;

He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation.&nbsp;

Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/tulsi-gabbard-newly-elected-trumps-spy-chief-served-in-us-military-for-over-two-decades-776235">Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades</a>

But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East.

The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden).&nbsp;

The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik.

Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance.&nbsp;

<h2>TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE&nbsp;</h2>

Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them.&nbsp;

The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment.&nbsp;

Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office.

Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents.&nbsp;

More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases.

Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department.

<h2>THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY</h2>

Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this.

Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office.&nbsp;

For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. 
Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration.

<h2>SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT</h2>

Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-20-tulsi-gabbard-nominated-to-head-us-intelligence-matt-gaetz-to-lead-justice-department-775994">Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department</a> 
&nbsp;

Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency.&nbsp;

There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him.

<h2>FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS</h2>

Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs.&nbsp;

Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office.&nbsp;

He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing.

This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts.&nbsp;

Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East.

Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations.

Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab.

<h2>GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS?</h2>

The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut.

<h2>ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES?</h2>

Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes.&nbsp;

For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'.

Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors.&nbsp;

<h2>HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC?</h2>

At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines.

<h2>BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP?</h2>

Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda.

This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation.

Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases.

US President-elect Donald Trump has started his transition ahead of taking the oath of office in January 2025. From the names he suggested for cabinet and other key positions in the White House, it is clear that his second non-consecutive term will try to settle political scores while ensuring protection from court cases. Based on the profiles of Team Trump, here is an analysis of how different aspects of government will be impacted, from global wars to domestic security. Note: This time, most of Trump's nominees will eventually get the jobs, as the Senate and House of Represenatives are also Republican-controlled after the November 5 general election. Only the most controversial nominations might get stuck at committee level in House and Senate. But this article assumes all the names would be final. WATCH- Trump's Cabinet: Congressman Matt Gaetz Named As Attorney General × ENDING WARS IN UKRAINE AND WEST ASIA Trump had often claimed during the re-election campaign that he is the only one who can end the conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, and prevent World War 3. The time has come for him to deliver. He has picked Marco Rubio to lead the State Department. As secretary of state, the Florida Senator will lead efforts to de-escalate the situation. Trump also chose Mike Huckabee, a staunch defender of Israel, as the US ambassador to the Jewish nation, which is engaged in a multi-front war with terror groups Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is also fighting Iran and its proxies like Houthi rebels in Yemen, and other militants in Iraq and Syria. The choice of Huckabee is a clear indication that ultimately, the US will favour Israel's views on ending the conflict. Also read: Tulsi Gabbard, newly-appointed Trump's spy chief, served in US military for over two decades But can he really end the war? Trump is averse to the US being dragged into foreign wars, and particularly opposed to paying for them. Also remember that he was the architect of the Abram Accords, the agreements of peace and cooperation between Israel and several of its enemy Arab states. It is quite possible that Trump and his team would be able to start negotiations that could end the war in the Middle East. The US efforts to end Russia-Ukraine war are going to be skewed in favour of Russia, with Trump having a direct line with Russian President Vladimir Putin for a long time. Trump had been dismissive and critical about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, calling him the 'greatest salesman'. Don't forget that Trump's first impeachment in 2019 came as a result of his blocking of aid to Ukraine (to force it to investigate the current President Joe Biden). The efforts at the United Nations to end the Ukraine war will be led by Trump nominee for US envoy, Elise Stefanik. Any move by Trump to end the war in a way that could favour Russia would again put him at odds with NATO, which has been helping Ukraine with funds and arms to fight Russia, along with the Biden administration. Trump, in his first term, had wanted the US to cut its contributions to NATO, and pressured its other members from Europe to pay up and level the field on financial contributions to the western military alliance. TRUMP'S LEGAL CASES: SHAKING UP THE JUDICIARY AND DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Trump wants to protect himself from conviction and sentencing in the ongoing legal battles, and will try to wind up all of them. The cases deal with the 2020 election interference and the 2021 Capitol Hill riot, tax evasion, handling of classified documents, and the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Trump will ensure that presidential immunity is intact, and take more efforts to protect himself from future prosecution once he leaves office. Trump's picks for key posts in the Justice Department are a clear indication of his intentions. He named Matt Gaetz as the attorney general, thus giving the country's top prosecutor role to a staunch ally. One of the things Trump said Gaetz would do is 'end weaponised government', code for what his surrogates call 'lawfare' against political opponents. More interesting is his pick of Todd Blanche as deputy attorney general. Blanche was a defence lawyer for several of Trump's court cases. Many of Trump's cases are being heard in New York courts. Keeping that in mind, he has appointed Jay Clayton, a loyalist, as the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, a very powerful post within the justice department. THE BORDER, IMMIGRATION AND HOMELAND SECURITY Trump made no secret of his hatred for immigrants trying to enter the US from the southern border. He started building a wall in his first term and will continue to strengthen efforts to prevent individuals and caravans from entering or getting asylum in the US. His homeland security secretary pick, Kristi Noem, is going to play a key role in implementing this. Trump has once said that he would be a dictator 'may be on the first day', and ordering the deportation of illegal migrants could be one of the things he would do on day one or first week in office. For this, he has appointed Tom Homan as the border czar who once promised to carry out the largest mass deportation ever by the US. Homan comes with significant experience, having led the immigration and customs enforcement in the first Trump administration. SHAKING UP THE INTELLIGENCE ESTABLISHMENT Trump has been a target of several investigations led by the intelligence establishment, or what he calls the deep state, particularly the classified documents investigation led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There is even talk that he will clip the wings of FBI with funding cuts. In broader terms, Trump has promised to dismantle the deep state, a reference mainly to the government-intelligence cooperation that led to what he calls a 'witchhunt' during and after his first term in office. Also read: Trump 2.0: Tulsi Gabbard nominated to head US Intelligence, Matt Gaetz to lead Justice Department Leading the charge would be Tulsi Gabbard, who Trump named as director of national intelligence. Trump also brought back his former DNI John Ratcliffe as the director of Central Intelligence Agency. There is speculation that Trump would shake up FBI, with a leadership change and reorganisation of its structure. In his view, the agency was used by Biden administration as a tool to prosecute him. FUTURE OF AMERICA AT WAR: DEFENCE AND SOLDIERS Trump has exhibited strong support for American soldiers and veterans, who in turn backed him in large numbers. His opposition to foreign wars is part economic rationale and part isolationalist approach to global security affairs. Trump does not want to send American boots to the ground, and had started the process of US troop withrdrawals from Iraq and Afghanistan when he left office. He might find an ally in his new defence secretary nominee Peter Hegseth, who has seen wars first hand. Hegseth was deployed to Iraq in 2005 and Afghanistan in 2011. Having had no strategic or decision making role in military or national securty affairs, his approach is likely to be more grassroots, with an ear for the concerns of the American soldier than the larger goal of global policing. This might erode the traditional role of America as the pre-eminent global power the international community looks up to intervene in and resolve conflicts. Will the US want to give strategic space to Russia and rising China in this regard? That's an open question for now. Remember, however, that Trump had cooperated with Russia in helping eliminate the Islamic State terror group in the Middle East. Trump has nominated the controversial Flordia Congressman Mike Waltz as the national security advisor. The former Army Green Beret is a war veteran of Afghanistan and worked as policy advisor to Republican administrations. Waltz' appointment is also significant in the context of China, a country Trump might want to keep in check. Waltz has been critical of China on various issues like the mistreatment of the Uighur Muslims. He was also an advocate of the theory that the Covid pandemic originated in a Chinese lab. GOVERNMENT SPENDING AND WASTE: WILL ELON MUSK CHANGE THINGS? The appointment of the world's richest man Elon Musk, and Trump challenger-turned ally Vivek Ramaswamy to run a new agency of government efficiency is signficant. Trump wants to protect the upper middle class and the rich from taxes, while reducing government spending, and soverign debt. Musk has promised a trillion-dollar cut in government waste. Trump's Repubican base advocates least amount of goverment invervention in their lives. It would be interesting to see how much waste he is able to cut. ENVIRONMENT: BACK TO FOSSIL FUELS AND POLLUTING VEHICLES? Trump has been an ally of the fossil fuel lobby, having taken the US out of the Paris Accord to tackle climate change during his first term. Trump said he would 'drill baby, drill' to bring back America's very old dominance as the top oil producer. This will practically end the commitments to environmental causes. For this he has roped in Lee Zeldin, who has no practical experience in the field, to run the environmental protection agency. Zeldin promised to 'restore US energy dominance', meaning back to drilling untapped reserves of petroleum in US and its territorial waters. He also promised, as did Trump, to 'revitalise the auto industry'. Both these policies appeal to the rust belt America, which is looking forward to a windfall of jobs in the auto and oil sectors. HEALTHCARE: WILL BIG PHARMA FACE THE MUSIC? At the fag end of his first term, Trump and his allies amplified Covid conspiracy theories as the pandemic hit the US. It might even be argued that Covid was a cause of Trump's defeat in the 2020 election. Now, he has appointed as health secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former Democrat who had openly opposed the Covid vaccination mandate. Will he reopen the Covid files and investigate America's response to it is one question. The other is whether he will take on Big Pharma, which made billions of dollars of profit during the Covid pandemic, particularly through their Covid vaccines. BUT WHO CAN BLOCK TRUMP? Roughly half of Senate and the full House of Representatives went into election along with the presidential election on November 5. Senate term is for six years and the House of Representatives' term is two years. This means there will be mid-term elections, and the Congress composition could change in next couple of years in favour of Democrats who can then block Trump's legislative agenda. This acts as a check and balance system offering legislature's oversight on presidential actions, as much of it (except perhaps presidential orders) will need Congressional approval. Democrat-chaired committees in the Senate and House could also put a spanner in the works on Trump policies. The other major check mechanism is the Supreme Court, whose nine judges these days have clear political leanings. Currently, the bench has a Conservative tilt, and Trump will get the opportunity to name more judges. Remember that Supreme Court judges can serve till death, and their rulings can impact a generation. Then there is the media, the fourth pillar of democracy. Besides the Democrats, much of US media is likely to serve as the Opposition. We can expect dirt to be digged up on all his nominees before, during or after they assume office.

Trump 2.0: What will his 'revenge cabinet' do to the US and world? Who can stop him?

United States President-elect Donald Trump's close ally Elon Musk allegedly held a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, just one day before the Republican appointed him as the head of the new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

According to a report by The New York Times, two Iranian officials familiar with the matter said that Musk met with Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on November 11. During the meeting, which lasted over an hour, the two leaders discussed ways to ease tensions between Iran and the US.

One of the officials said Musk had requested the meeting, while the ambassador selected the location. The Iranians called the meeting “positive” and “good news,” according to The New York Times.&nbsp;

When asked if this meeting happened, Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump, told NYT, “We do not comment on reports of private meetings that did or did not occur.”

Relations between the US and Iran during the previous Trump presidency were tense, to say the least. Trump, who previously served as the US president from 2017 to 2021, imposed new sanctions on Iran in 2018 after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear deal that had eased economic restrictions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear programme.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/so-humanity-can-grow-elon-musk-allegedly-offered-his-sperm-to-a-very-famous-politician-776412">'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician</a>

In another blow to Iran, Trump also ordered the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian military official, in January 2020 in Iraq. In a speech in New York last September, Trump indicated openness to new nuclear negotiations. “We have to make a deal because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” the Republican had said.

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Important &amp; straightforward talks with DG <a href="https://twitter.com/rafaelmgrossi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@rafaelmgrossi</a> this morning. 
 
As a committed member of NPT we continue our full cooperation with the IAEA. Differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue. We agreed to proceed with courage and good will. 
 
Iran has never… <a href="https://t.co/bwLLzrKzwE">pic.twitter.com/bwLLzrKzwE</a>
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) <a href="https://twitter.com/araghchi/status/1856968838711067009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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On Thursday, (Nov 14)&nbsp;Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, shared a post on X, stating, “As a committed member of NPT we continue our full cooperation with the IAEA. Differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue. We agreed to proceed with courage and goodwill. &nbsp;Iran has never left the negotiation table on its peaceful nuclear program. The ball is in the EU/E3 court. Willing to negotiate based on our national interest &amp; our inalienable rights, but NOT ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation.”

Araghchi’s post followed a meeting he held with Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

(With inputs from agencies)

United States President-elect Donald Trump's close ally Elon Musk allegedly held a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, just one day before the Republican appointed him as the head of the new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

United States President-elect Donald Trump's close ally Elon Musk allegedly held a meeting with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations, just one day before the Republican appointed him as the head of the new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). According to a report by The New York Times, two Iranian officials familiar with the matter said that Musk met with Iranian Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani on November 11. During the meeting, which lasted over an hour, the two leaders discussed ways to ease tensions between Iran and the US. One of the officials said Musk had requested the meeting, while the ambassador selected the location. The Iranians called the meeting “positive” and “good news,” according to The New York Times. When asked if this meeting happened, Steven Cheung, communications director for Trump, told NYT, “We do not comment on reports of private meetings that did or did not occur.” Relations between the US and Iran during the previous Trump presidency were tense, to say the least. Trump, who previously served as the US president from 2017 to 2021, imposed new sanctions on Iran in 2018 after pulling out of a 2015 nuclear deal that had eased economic restrictions on Tehran in return for limits on its nuclear programme. Also read: 'So humanity can grow,' Elon Musk allegedly offered his sperm to a very famous politician In another blow to Iran, Trump also ordered the drone strike that killed Qassem Soleimani, a high-ranking Iranian military official, in January 2020 in Iraq. In a speech in New York last September, Trump indicated openness to new nuclear negotiations. “We have to make a deal because the consequences are impossible. We have to make a deal,” the Republican had said. Important & straightforward talks with DG @rafaelmgrossi this morning. As a committed member of NPT we continue our full cooperation with the IAEA. Differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue. We agreed to proceed with courage and good will. Iran has never… pic.twitter.com/bwLLzrKzwE — Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) November 14, 2024 × On Thursday, (Nov 14) Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, shared a post on X, stating, “As a committed member of NPT we continue our full cooperation with the IAEA. Differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue. We agreed to proceed with courage and goodwill. Iran has never left the negotiation table on its peaceful nuclear program. The ball is in the EU/E3 court. Willing to negotiate based on our national interest & our inalienable rights, but NOT ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation.” Araghchi’s post followed a meeting he held with Rafael Mariano Grossi, director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). (With inputs from agencies)

'Good news,' Trump ally Elon Musk met with Iran’s UN ambassador, discussed ways to defuse tensions: Report

A federal judge on Friday granted a request by Special Counsel&nbsp;Jack&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;to pause the case against Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

In a filing with District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case,&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;noted that Trump won the White House race this week and is to be inaugurated as president on January 20, 2025.

He asked Chutkan to vacate the filing deadlines in the case "to afford the government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy."

Chutkan granted&nbsp;Smith's request without comment.

The Justice Department has a long-standing policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

Smith&nbsp;said he would file a status report with the court by December 2.

Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Joe Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021, by a mob of the former president's supporters.

Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election.

Smith&nbsp;charged Trump with mishandling top secret documents after leaving the White House, but that case was tossed out by a federal judge in Florida, a Trump appointee, on the grounds that&nbsp;Smith&nbsp;was unlawfully appointed.

Smith&nbsp;had appealed the dismissal but is now expected to drop the appeal.&nbsp;

Trump also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia.

He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter.

Trump was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but his lawyers asked that his conviction be tossed in light of the Supreme Court immunity ruling.

Judge Juan Merchan is to rule on the dismissal motion on November 12 and has set sentencing -- should it still be necessary -- for November 26.

Trump, the first former president convicted of a crime, faces up to four years in prison on each count. As a first-time offender, however, he was considered far more likely to receive a fine and probation -- but that was before his White House win.

In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office under the policy of not prosecuting a sitting president.

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.

A federal judge on Friday granted a request by Special Counsel Jack Smith to pause the case against Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

A federal judge on Friday granted a request by Special Counsel Jack Smith to pause the case against Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. In a filing with District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who is presiding over the case, Smith noted that Trump won the White House race this week and is to be inaugurated as president on January 20, 2025. He asked Chutkan to vacate the filing deadlines in the case "to afford the government time to assess this unprecedented circumstance and determine the appropriate course going forward consistent with Department of Justice policy." Chutkan granted Smith's request without comment. The Justice Department has a long-standing policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. Smith said he would file a status report with the court by December 2. Trump is accused of conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding -- the session of Congress called to certify Joe Biden's win, which was violently attacked on January 6, 2021, by a mob of the former president's supporters. Trump is also accused of seeking to disenfranchise US voters with his false claims that he won the 2020 election. Smith charged Trump with mishandling top secret documents after leaving the White House, but that case was tossed out by a federal judge in Florida, a Trump appointee, on the grounds that Smith was unlawfully appointed. Smith had appealed the dismissal but is now expected to drop the appeal. Trump also faces two state cases -- in New York and Georgia. He was convicted in New York in May of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 election to stop her from revealing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Trump was scheduled to be sentenced in July, but his lawyers asked that his conviction be tossed in light of the Supreme Court immunity ruling. Judge Juan Merchan is to rule on the dismissal motion on November 12 and has set sentencing -- should it still be necessary -- for November 26. Trump, the first former president convicted of a crime, faces up to four years in prison on each count. As a first-time offender, however, he was considered far more likely to receive a fine and probation -- but that was before his White House win. In Georgia, Trump faces racketeering charges over his efforts to subvert the 2020 results in the southern state, but that case will likely be frozen while he is in office under the policy of not prosecuting a sitting president. 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.

Trump election interference case: US judge grants request by special counsel to pause case

Donald Trump has announced his new pick for the intelligence team. John Ratcliffe has now been named the CIA Director in Trump 2.0. Tulsi Gabbard has been named the new director of National Intelligence.

Trump Appoints China Hawk Ratcliffe and Gabbard to Intelligence Unit | GRAVITAS

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