Trump told Norway's finance minister he wants Nobel Peace Prize: Report
"He wanted the Nobel Prize - and to discuss tariffs."In a comment to Reuters, Stoltenberg said the call was to discuss tariffs and economic cooperation ahead of Trump's call with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Stoere. "I will not go into further detail about the content of the conversation," he added.Several White House officials, including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer were on the call, Stoltenberg added.The White House and the Norwegian Nobel Committee did not reply to requests for comment.With hundreds of candidates nominated each year, laureates are chosen by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, whose five members are appointed by Norway's parliament according to the will of Swedish 19th-century industrialist Alfred Nobel.The announcement comes in October in Oslo.The Norwegian newspaper said it was not the first time Trump had brought up the prize in conversation with Stoltenberg, a former secretary general of the NATO military alliance.The White House on July 31 announced a 15% tariff on imports from Norway, the same as the European Union.Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that Norway and the United States were still in talks regarding the tariffs.- EndsTune InMust Watch
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Business Standard
an hour ago
- Business Standard
Trump faces setbacks in Putin diplomacy as no ceasefire agreed at Alaska
Trump was the one who stood down, dropping his demand for a ceasefire in favour of pursuing a full peace accord a position that aligns with Putin's AP New York President Donald Trump walked into a summit with Russia's Vladimir Putin pressing for a ceasefire deal and threatening severe consequences and tough new sanctions if the Kremlin leader failed to agree to halt the fighting in Ukraine. Instead, Trump was the one who stood down, dropping his demand for a ceasefire in favour of pursuing a full peace accord a position that aligns with Putin's. After calls with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump wrote as he flew home from Friday's meeting in Alaska that it had been determined by all that the best way to end the horrific war between Russia and Ukraine is to go directly to a Peace Agreement, which would end the war, and not a mere Ceasefire Agreement, which often times do not hold up. It was a dramatic reversal that laid bare the challenges of dealing with Putin, a cunning adversary, as well as the complexities of a conflict that Trump had repeatedly boasted during his campaign that he could solve within 24 hours. Trump's position after the summit with Putin Few details have emerged about what the two leaders discussed or what constituted the progress they both touted. The White House did not respond to messages seeking comment Saturday. While European leaders were relieved that Trump did not agree to a deal that ceded territory or otherwise favoured Moscow, the summit allowed Putin to reclaim his place on the world stage and may have bought Russia more time to push forward with its offensive in Ukraine. We're back to where we were before without him having gone to Alaska, said Fiona Hill, who served as Trump's senior adviser on Russia at the National Security Council during his first term, including when he last met Putin in Helsinki in 2018. In an interview, Hill argued that Trump had emerged from the meeting in a weaker position on the world stage because of his reversal. Other leaders, she said, might now look at the US president and think he's not the big guy that he thinks he is and certainly not the dealmaking genius. All the way along, Trump was convinced he has incredible forces of persuasion, she said, but he came out of the meeting without a ceasefire the one thing he had been pushing for, even after he gave the Russian leader the red carpet treatment." Trump has run up against a rock in the form of Putin, who doesn't want anything from him apart from Ukraine," she said. Democrats call for consequences for Putin At home, Democrats expressed alarm at what at times seemed like a day of deference, with Trump clapping for Putin as he walked down a red carpet during an elaborate ceremony welcoming him to US soil for the first time in a decade. The two rode together in the presidential limousine and exchanged compliments. Trump seemed to revel in particular in Putin echoing his oft-repeated assertion that Russia never would have invaded Ukraine if Trump had been in office instead of Democrat Joe Biden at the time. Before news cameras, Trump did not use the opportunity to castigate Putin for launching the largest ground invasion in Europe since World War II or human rights abuses he's been accused of committing. Instead, Putin was the one who spoke first, and invited Trump to join him in Moscow next. President Trump appears to have been played yet again by Vladimir Putin," said Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The President rolled out a red carpet and warmly greeted a murderous dictator on American soil and reports indicate he got nothing concrete in return. Enough is enough," she went on. If President Trump won't act, Congress must do so decisively by passing crushing sanctions when we return in the coming weeks. Sen. Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who is the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said he supports diplomacy but peacemaking must be done responsibly. Instead of caving to Putin, the US should join our allies in levying tough, targeted new sanctions on Russia to intensify the economic pressure, he said. Republicans and Trump allies offer little response so far In Washington, the summit was met by little response from Trump's allies. Republican lawmakers who spoke out were largely reserved and generally called for continued talks and constructive actions from the Trump administration. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, an Alaska Republican, wrote on social media after the summit that while the press conference offered few details about their meeting" she was "cautiously optimistic about the signals that some level of progress was made." Murkowski said it was also encouraging to hear both presidents reference future meetings" but that Ukraine must be part of any negotiated settlement and must freely agree to its terms. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican and close Trump ally, offered that he was very proud of Trump for having had the face-to-face meeting and was cautiously optimistic that the war might end well before Christmas if a trilateral meeting between Trump, Zelenskyy and Putin transpires. I have all the confidence in the world that Donald Trump will make it clear to Putin this war will never start again. If it does, you're going to pay a heavy price, he said on Fox News. For some Trump allies, the very act of him meeting with Putin was success enough: conservative activist and podcaster Charlie Kirk called it a great thing. Some see a Putin win and a Trump loss But in Europe, the summit was seen as a major diplomatic coup for Putin, who has been eager to emerge from geopolitical isolation. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, praised the summit as a breakthrough in restoring high-level dialogue between Moscow and Washington, describing the talks as calm, without ultimatums and threats. Former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt said the summit was a distinct win for Putin. He didn't yield an inch but was also a distinct setback for Trump. No ceasefire in sight. What the world sees is a weak and wobbling America, Bildt posted on X.
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First Post
an hour ago
- First Post
This Week in Explainers: Did Putin convince Trump not to slap additional tariffs on India?
United States President Donald Trump held talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, in Alaska in a momentous summit in Alaska. After the meeting, Trump hinted that he may not impose additional secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian crude oil, which includes India. All this and more in our weekly roundup from around the globe US President Donald Trump looks on next to Russian President Vladimir Putin during a press conference following their meeting to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, in Anchorage, Alaska. Reuters The world witnessed the much-awaited summit between United States President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska on August 15. All eyes, including India's, were on the meeting as the two leaders discussed the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Pakistan has ramped up its nuclear threats against India. After the country's Army Chief Asim Munir, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto warned New Delhi over the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's announcement of additional 25 per cent tariffs on India for purchasing Russian oil stands in stark contrast to his handling of China, which is among the top buyers of crude from Russia. What explains the different treatment? Here's all this and much more in our weekly wrap from the world. 1. US President Trump hosted his Russian counterpart at the American military's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska. This was Putin's first visit to the US in a decade, as well as the first-ever visit of a Russian leader to Alaska. Ahead of the high-stakes summit, Trump had described it as a 'feel-out' meeting and threatened Moscow with 'serious consequences' if Putin did not agree to a ceasefire. The two leaders met to find common ground to ensure a lasting ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine after a three-year-long war, albeit in the absence of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. So what came out of it? This story explains. 2. The world was glued to the high-stakes summit, which held a special interest for India. On Friday, Donald Trump claimed that Russia lost India as one of its oil clients. But after meeting Putin, the US president indicated that he may not impose secondary tariffs on countries like India that procure crude oil from Russia. Here is what this could mean for New Delhi. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD US President Donald Trump walks to shake the hand of Russia's Vladimir Putin during a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, on Friday. After a three-hour meeting, Trump said 'we didn't get there' on a Ukraine deal. AP 3. Pakistan is back at its war rhetoric against India. After Pakistan Army chief Munir's nuclear threat to India on US soil, PM Sharif and politician Bilawal Bhutto also issued warnings to New Delhi. Targeting India for pausing the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), Sharif said that Pakistan will teach a 'lesson' to the 'enemy' that 'you will never forget.' Bilawal Bhutto also threatened India with war if New Delhi continues making changes to the decades-old pact with Islamabad. Do these threats hold weight, or are they hollow? Read our story to know more. 4. Trump has earlier publicly hit out at India for buying Russian crude oil even as trade talks continue between Washington and New Delhi. He has also imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Indian imports to the US, while threatening an additional 25 per cent levy (which he says he may now reconsider). The discussions to reach a bilateral trade agreement have hit a stalemate over India's reluctance to open its markets to US agriculture and dairy products. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Moreover, the US president has not attacked China, similarly, for purchasing Russian oil. Instead, this week, he granted a 90-day extension to the existing tariff pause between Washington and Beijing. What's behind Trump's starkly different approaches toward two of America's largest trading partners? We explain here. 5. Israel killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, along with four other journalists, while they were resting inside a tent for the press outside Al-Shifa Hospital's main gate in Gaza. Al Jazeera journalist Anas Al Sharif was killed by a targeted Israeli airstrike. Image Courtesy: Al Jazeera/X After the strike, the Israeli military claimed Anas was a 'terrorist' and 'served as the head of a terrorist cell in Hamas'. Al Jazeera vehemently rejected these claims, calling their reporter 'one of Gaza's bravest journalists.' So, was he a 'terrorist' or a journalist? Here's our story. 6. The young, unemployed people in China are paying to pretend to have jobs. Like any regular worker, they get up in the morning, dress up and leave for their 'offices'. However, no one is paying them, and they don't have to produce any results. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD There has been a rise in companies offering a 'pretend to work' service in China. Some say they prefer this popular trend to being stuck at home until they get a job. However, others have called it 'escapism'. Why are the young, jobless Chinese paying to pretend to be employed? We take a look here. 7. A video has gone viral on social media of a killer whale purportedly attacking and killing a marine trainer named Jessica Radcliffe during a live show. The incident sparked a flood of reactions online, with netizens expressing shock, outrage, and grief. I have jessica radcliffe video orca, jessica radcliffe orca attack video, video jessica accident orque!! 6 minutes video 👇 — Burhan Khizer (@MeerKp20450) August 11, 2025 STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD However, here's the twist: none of it was real. The video was all an elaborate hoax. Read our story to find out the truth behind the viral clip. This is all we have for you this week. If you like how we explain the news, you can bookmark this page to stay informed.
Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
'God made me protector': Pak Army chief Asim Munir denies political ambitions, says report
As rumour and denials fly over his next move — possibly to become President — Pakistan Army chief Asim Munir has reportedly said he has no political ambitions. He only wants to remain 'a servant of the state', according to report in a Pakistani media outlet. People holding pictures of Field Marshal Asim Munir during a rally in support of Pakistan Army in Karachi.(Reuters file) Suhail Warraich, senior editor for the Daily Jang newspaper, wrote in an article on Saturday that Munir told him as much in Brussels, Belgium, while on the way back home after a visit to the United States. There was no confirmation or denial yet from Munir's office, though he had indeed stopped over in Belgium, Dawn reported. Warraich said Munir spoke on stage, too, at Brussels in a small gathering: 'God has made me protector of the country. I do not desire any position other than that.' Munir was further quoted as having said: 'I am a soldier and my greatest desire is martyrdom.' He also warned India against destabilising Pakistan's peace through the use of 'proxies', and cautioned Afghanistan against 'pushing the Taliban into Pakistan', the column said. He was further quoted as having said Pakistan would maintain equilibrium between the US and China. "We will not sacrifice one friend for the other," he reportedly told the Jang columnist. Will he, won't he? Rumours rife of Zardari being replaced Pakistan's army leaders are often the subject of palace whispers and media speculation, given the history of coups, martial law impositions, and takeovers. Munir's alleged desires to replace President Asif Ali Zardari have made headlines ever since he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal claiming successes against India, which had launched Operation Sindoor in May after a terror attack in Pahalgam. He is only the second officer to hold the rank in Pakistan's history — the first being Ayub Khan, who did take over Pakistan's governance. Field Marshal Munir's recent visits to the US, including a lunch meet with President Donald Trump, also fed rumours. "The talk started with politics and especially on the rumours that work is being done to change the President of Pakistan and the Prime Minister. General Asim Munir clearly said in the Brussels meeting and in the two-hour-long meeting with me that the rumours about the change are completely false," the Saturday column by Warraich read, as per ANI. Has a 'roadmap' for Pakistan Warraich said Munir also told him that the rumours weren't started by either civil or military agencies 'He said, 'In fact, there are elements behind this who oppose both the government and the authorities and wish to create political anarchy'," Warraich wrote. The rumours were earlier denied at least twice by minister Mohsin Naqvi, as well as by a military spokesperson The columnist further said Munir spoke of an ambitious roadmap to transform Pakistan, especially with its untapped potential in the mineral sector. "Pakistan has a rare earth treasure; with this treasure, Pakistan's debt will also be reduced, and Pakistan will soon be counted among the most prosperous societies," Munir stated in the interview with the Daily Jang.
