After 'productive' Netanyahu meeting, Trump envoy to visit Gaza for ceasefire push
Due to international pressure, Israel recently began what it calls a "tactical pause" in military operations. For 10 hours each day, in three crowded areas, Israeli forces are allowing aid trucks to enter. However, this has not been enough to meet the needs of the population.CEASEFIRE TALKS COLLAPSEIsrael has been at war with Hamas since October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack. Since then, the fighting has made it harder for aid to reach civilians in Gaza. Israel claims Hamas is taking food and supplies meant for ordinary people, which is why they are limiting the number of trucks.The Trump administration has been trying to find a solution. However, talks for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas fell apart last week. US officials blamed Hamas for not taking the talks seriously.Witkoff met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday in a final effort to restart peace discussions and tackle the worsening hunger situation in Gaza.
Trump envoy met with the Israeli Prime Minister in a final effort to restart peace discussions. (Photo: X/@netanyahu)
After Witkoff's arrival, Donald Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social: "The fastest way to end the Humanitarian Crises in Gaza is for Hamas to SURRENDER AND RELEASE THE HOSTAGES!!"US IMPOSES SANCTIONS ON PALESTINIAN OFFICIALSWhile trying to deal with the Gaza crisis, the US also announced sanctions against some officials from the Palestinian Authority (PA) and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The State Department said these officials were hurting peace efforts.advertisementThe PA and PLO are not connected to Hamas but are widely recognized as the official voices of the Palestinian people. The US State Department said those targeted by the sanctions will be banned from entering the United States, but did not name them. A spokesperson for the Palestinian Authority has not yet commented.France, Britain, and Canada have recently said they will soon recognize Palestine as an independent country.- EndsWith inputs from AgenciesMust Watch
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Hindustan Times
25 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
After 'Dog Babu', ‘Donald Trump' applies for Bihar residence certificate amid voter list revision, Opposition reacts
A bizarre string of fake applications in Bihar amid electoral roll revision drive continues, with the latest being an online request for a residence certificate in the name of US President Donald Trump. A screengrab of the fake residence certificate application submitted in the name of US President Donald Trump from Bihar's Samastipur district, now under investigation.(Screengrab from X/@ANI) The application that was filed from Samastipur comes after similar prank entries in the names of 'Dog Babu', 'Dogesh Babu', and even 'Sonalika Tractor', which carried the photo of a Bhojpuri actor. Authorities have rejected all such applications and lodged FIRs. In Trump's case, the application submitted on July 29 claimed he was a resident of Hasanpur village in Mohiuddin Nagar block, with a passport-style photo and even his actual parents' names — Frederick Christ Trump and Mary Anne MacLeod — listed, reported news agency PTI. The district administration rejected the application on August 4 and called the act a 'diabolical attempt' to disrupt the ongoing SIR drive. 'It appears there is a diabolical attempt to negatively impact the special intensive revision of electoral rolls which is underway as per the instructions of the Election Commission,' the administration said in a statement, as cited by PTI. The Samastipur district administration confirmed that a case has been registered at the Cyber Police Station for appropriate investigation. 'In view of the seriousness of the offence, a case has been lodged at the Cyber police station, Samastipur, for appropriate investigation and action,' the statement added. Opposition leaders slam electoral roll revision The incident has drawn strong reactions from the Opposition. Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala shared a news clip on social media that falsely claimed a certificate had been issued to the Trump application. 'This is the biggest proof that electoral roll revision in Bihar is a fraud, aimed at stealing votes. The Congress and Rahul Gandhi are fighting to thwart this design. Keeping quiet in such a situation is a crime. Let us all raise our voices and become watchdogs of democracy,' Surjewala said. The administration clarified, saying, 'The certificate has never been issued. Somebody has deliberately made such an application and it was rejected during scrutiny. An FIR has also been lodged. The guilty will not be spared,' the response read. Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra also criticised the Election Commission, mocking the process, she shared a video on 'X'. 'An exercise which the Election Commission has put its stamp on, which says it is comprehensive and it is accurate. Why don't you decide for yourself? We have in the district of Samastipur, an online application in the name of Donald Trump,' Moitra said. She further said the ongoing SIR was 'nothing but an exercise in mass disenfranchisement', claiming 65 lakh voters had been deleted without proper discussion. 'These forms are including mythical or animal photos and clearly made up names and addresses. The Lord Ram application lists Raja Dashrath and Maa Kaushalya as the parents... So this is the state of the SIR application,' Moitra added, referring to similar fake entries found in Khagaria district. (With PTI inputs)
Hindustan Times
26 minutes ago
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Why India singled out for extra sanctions over buying Russian oil? Trump answers
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First Post
26 minutes ago
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Trump announces 100% tariff on computer chips and semiconductors, exempts firms 'building in US'
Trump has announced a 100 per cent tariff on imported computer chips and semiconductors, aiming to push companies to manufacture them within the country. The move which exempts US-based producers. read more Trump has taken an extraordinary bet on the importance of American market in global economy and believes that he has a leverage so unique that he can do almost anything. Image: AFP US President Donald Trump on Wednesday (August 6, local time) announced plans to impose a 100 per cent tariff on computer chips and semiconductors, while exempting companies that manufacture them within the United States. The move is expected to drive up the cost of a wide range of electronics, cars, appliances, and other essential tech-driven products. 'We'll be putting a tariff on of approximately 100 per cent on chips and semiconductors,' Trump said while speaking at the Oval Office. 'But if you're building in the United States of America, there's no charge.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The announcement follows Trump's decision to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods over its continued oil trade with Russia, effectively doubling the overall tariff rate to 50 per cent. The new tariffs are scheduled to take effect in 21 days, allowing time for India and Russia to negotiate with the US administration over the proposed import duties. The global chip shortage during the Covid-19 pandemic had already led to rising car prices and contributed to broader inflation. Since then, demand for semiconductors has continued to surge, with global sales rising 19.6 per cent in the 12 months ending June, according to the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics organization. Trump's latest tariff move marks a sharp departure from current strategies aimed at boosting domestic chip production through subsidies and incentives. Instead, he's opting for a more aggressive approach, using tariffs as leverage to push companies to manufacture within the US. By making imported chips more expensive, Trump is betting that firms will be compelled to shift production domestically, even if it risks squeezing profits and raising consumer prices on products like smartphones, televisions, and appliances.
