US | DD News

July 6, 2025 11:55 AM

Musk announces forming of ‘America Party’ in further break from Trump

The dispute between Republican President Donald Trump and his main campaign financier Elon Musk took another fractious turn on Saturday when the space and automotive billionaire announced the formation of a new political party, saying Trump's "big, beautiful" tax bill would bankrupt America. A day after asking his followers on his X platform whether a new U.S. political party should be created, Musk declared in a post on Saturday that "Today, the America Party is formed to give you back your fr...

July 4, 2025 12:48 PM

Trump eyes simple tariff rates over complex talks, says letters going out Friday

President Donald Trump said Washington will start sending letters to countries on Friday specifying what tariff rates they will face on imports to the United States, a clear shift from earlier pledges to strike scores of individual deals. Acknowledging the complexity of negotiating with over 170 nations, Trump told reporters before departing for Iowa on Thursday that the letters will be sent to 10 countries at a time, laying out tariff rates such as 20% to 30%. "We have more than 170 countries...

July 3, 2025 4:01 PM

Trump visits Iowa to kick off America’s 250th anniversary, reassure farmers on trade

President Donald Trump travels to Iowa on Thursday to kick off celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary next year and to tout recent trade and legislative actions to heartland voters who helped propel his return to the White House. Trump will deliver a campaign-style speech at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines, a familiar stop for presidential candidates in the early primary state. Trump won Iowa's 2024 Republican caucuses by a historically large margin and carried the state by 1...

July 3, 2025 12:28 PM

Trump shows frustration as Republicans struggle to unite on tax-cut bill

U.S. President Donald Trump lashed out at congressional Republicans on Thursday for failing to swiftly pass his signature legislation, warning them on social media they would lose MAGA votes if the bill died. Republicans in the House of Representatives on Wednesday appeared to advance Trump's massive tax-cut and spending bill, but then progress stalled with a handful of holdouts refusing to vote for a bill that nonpartisan analysts say will add $3.4 trillion to the nation's $36.2 trillion in de...

July 3, 2025 11:46 AM

Ukraine voices concern as US halts some missile shipments

A decision by Washington to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv on Wednesday that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances. Ukraine said it had called in the acting U.S. envoy to Kyiv to underline the importance of military aid from Washington continuing, and cautioned that any cut-off would embolden Russia in its war in Ukraine. The Pentagon's decision - tied to concerns that U.S...

July 3, 2025 10:36 AM

EAM Jaishankar meets heads of US FBI and National Intelligence

External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar met with two top US intelligence officials - Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel and Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard - on Wednesday. In a post on X, Jaishankar noted that he had a “good exchange on the global situation and bilateral cooperation” with Gabbard. He also shared details of his meeting with Patel, stating, “Great to meet FBI Director Kash Patel. Appreciate our strong cooperation in counteri...

July 2, 2025 3:13 PM

Trump’s ceasefire statement raises hopes in Gaza as Israel presses on with attacks

Word from U.S. President Donald Trump that Israel has agreed to the conditions needed to finalise a 60-day ceasefire in Gaza raised hopes on Wednesday in the enclave, where health officials said at least 20 people had been killed in Israeli attacks. A "final" proposal would be delivered by the mediators, Qatar and Egypt, to Hamas, Trump said in a social media post on Tuesday, after what he described as a "long and productive" meeting between his representatives and Israeli officials. Gazans sa...

July 2, 2025 2:38 PM

Iranian President Pezeshkian Signs into Law Suspending Cooperation with UN Nuclear Monitor

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has signed into law a bill suspending cooperation with the United Nations' nuclear monitor, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iranian state media reported on Wednesday. This is one of the most drastic steps Iran has made in its standoff with international powers on its nuclear activities. State broadcaster of Iran reported that "Masoud Pezeshkian ratified the bill suspending cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," Press TV, Mehr...

July 2, 2025 3:17 PM

Iran enacts law suspending cooperation with UN nuclear watchdog

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian put into effect on Wednesday a law passed by parliament last week to suspend cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, Iranian state media reported. Iran has threatened to halt cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of siding with Western countries and providing a justification for Israel's air strikes, which began a day after the IAEA board voted to declare Iran in violation of obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. The law stip...

July 2, 2025 12:29 PM

US bombing ‘seriously damaged’ Iran’s Fordow nuclear site: Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi

The U.S. bombing of Iran's key Fordow nuclear site has "seriously and heavily damaged" the facility, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in an interview with CBS News. "No one exactly knows what has transpired in Fordow. That being said, what we know so far is that the facilities have been seriously and heavily damaged," Araqchi said in the interview broadcast on Tuesday. "The Atomic Energy Organization of the Islamic Republic of Iran... is currently undertaking evaluation and assessme...