United States Of America News - Page 18

'Roses are red, violets are blue:' White House's Valentine's Day post receives flak from netizens

The White House's Valentine's Day meme featured the faces of the president and the Trump administration's border czar Tom Homan. The meme was using the format of the ubiquitous 'Roses are red, violets are blue' rhyme

Trump’s USAID crackdown faces legal roadblock as judge lifts freeze on foreign aid programs

The new court order also stops the government from 'issuing, implementing, enforcing, or otherwise giving effect to terminations, suspensions, or stop-work orders' in relation to existing contracts as of January 19, 2025

Is Musk's Doge unconstitutional? What a big lawsuit claims

Fourteen US states have sued Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), arguing that his unchecked authority to cut government spending violates the US Constitution. The lawsuit, led by New Mexico, claims Musk wields sweeping executive power without Senate confirmation, posing a significant threat to democratic governance. The case could redefine the limits of presidential appointments

RFK Jr is the new US Health Secretary: Will he ban vaccines or reform healthcare?

Robert F Kennedy Jr was confirmed as US Secretary of Health and Human Services in a 52-48 Senate vote. The vaccine skeptic will oversee agencies like the FDA, CDC, and NIH. His 'Make America Healthy Again' agenda prioritises reducing chronic disease, reforming pharmaceutical regulations and addressing environmental toxins while downplaying infectious disease control

Modi calls for crackdown on human trafficking amid Trump’s campaign against illegal immigrants

Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the urgent need for India and the United States to work together in dismantling human trafficking networks, as rising deportations highlight the plight of victims trapped by false promises

‘Our Journey Together’: What is the book that Donald Trump gifted PM Modi?

US President Donald Trump gifted PM Narendra Modi a signed copy of his book ‘Our Journey Together’ during a joint press interaction. The book, published in 2021, features pictures from ‘Howdy Modi’ and ‘Namaste Trump’ rallies when the two leaders showed support for each other

Tahawwur Rana extradition, F-35 sale and more: 15 key takeaways from Modi-Trump talks

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump engaged in a wide-ranging discussion at the White House, covering defence, trade, security, and global affairs, with major takeaways including the F-35 deal, India's stance on Ukraine, and extradition of Tahawwur Rana

F-35 sale to India: Trade for Trump, defence strategy for PM Modi as Pakistan swivels to China

With the US approving F-35 sales and Russia proposing Su-57 production in India, New Delhi faces a tricky choice in its fighter jet modernisation

From Maga to Viksit Bharat: How Trump and Modi frame national interest

With Maga prioritising American interests and Viksit Bharat shaping India's future, both leaders reinforce their commitment to nationalism and economic growth

Why Trump chose Saudi Arabia as venue for peace talks with Putin

Saudi Arabia hosting the Trump-Putin talks is no coincidence—it highlights Riyadh’s rising influence, strategic neutrality and role as a global mediator

75,000 federal workers accept Trump-Musk buyout offer across US govt: Report

The officials noted that the figure represents 3.75 per cent of the nation's 2 million federal employees – falls short of the projected 5 per cent to 10 per cent of federal employees the White House expected to take the deal

Tulsi Gabbard made US intelligence chief: A peep into America’s spy network

Tulsi Gabbard, as the newly appointed Director of National Intelligence, will oversee and coordinate the operations of all 18 intelligence agencies that collectively safeguard the United States against threats ranging from espionage to cyber warfare

Linda McMahon faces confirmation hearing tonight for department Trump wants to shut down

McMahon's confirmation hearing is scheduled for Thursday at 10 am (local time) where she will try to defend her job in a department that Trump is eyeing to kill

Remove gender pronouns, says Deloitte US. How big companies are abandoning DEI initiatives

Major corporations including Google, Amazon, McDonald's, Boeing and IBM have significantly scaled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, with Deloitte instructing staff working on contracts for the US government to remove pronouns. The shift comes amid increasing legal challenges, including lawsuits over race-based hiring and promotions, and heightened scrutiny from the Trump administration

Head-on | How Modi-Trump 2.0 can reset India-US ties

The Modi-Trump delegation-level talks, scheduled for February 13, will be brisk and business-like

Is Kash Patel’s FBI confirmation in jeopardy?

Kash Patel, US President Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, is accused of secretly directing the removal of senior FBI officials before his confirmation. US Senator Dick Durbin has requested an Inspector General investigation, alleging Patel may have perjured himself. Reports suggest Patel relayed FBI information to White House officials, with staff pressured to accelerate firings linked to January 6 cases

Who is Marc Fogel, the US teacher freed by Russia? Why is Trump making a big deal about it?

Marc Fogel, a 63-year-old American teacher, was arrested in August 2021 at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport for carrying 17 grammes of medically prescribed marijuana. Sentenced to 14 years for drug smuggling, his case drew international attention. After three and a half years in Russian detention, he was released in a deal brokered under US President Donald Trump’s administration

Meet Steve Davis, Elon Musk’s cost-cutting crusader at Doge

Steve Davis, Elon Musk’s longtime lieutenant, is now leading cost-cutting efforts at the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge). Known for his relentless frugality at SpaceX, Boring Co, and X (formerly Twitter), Davis has a history of slashing budgets and negotiating hard bargains

Is the US going 'penniless'? Why Trump wants to halt production of the coins

Donald Trump has ordered the US Treasury to stop minting new pennies, citing that each one-cent coin costs 3.69 cents to produce — leading to an $85.3 million loss in 2024 alone. The move follows a push by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and mirrors similar decisions in Canada and Europe. However, opponents argue eliminating the penny could drive up costs for consumers

Who is Nikhil Rajpal, the Indian-origin engineer who is part of Elon Musk’s controversial Doge?

Nikhil Rajpal, a 30-year-old engineer with ties to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), has sparked controversy over his appointment at NOAA. Despite no prior experience in climate science, he was granted high-level access, raising concerns about Doge's expanding influence across US government agencies

Who is Aravind Srinivas, the Indian-origin AI CEO challenging Elon Musk over USAID funding?

Amid the USAID shutdown controversy, Indian-origin Perplexity AI CEO Aravind Srinivas took a bold jab at billionaire Elon Musk, by challenging him to ‘stop’ him if he can from raising $500 billion (~Rs 44 lakh crore) from the federal agency. Interestingly, in December, the Doge head spoke in favour of Srinivas getting a green card

Why FBI is warning Android, iPhone users to delete texts immediately

As reports of a toll payment scam emerge in the US, the FBI has again asked Android and iPhone users to remove any text that seems suspicious. It said scammers are pretending to be ‘tolling agencies from coast to coast and sending texts demanding money’

Trump administration cuts billions in medical research, experts warn of dire consequences

In a statement on Saturday NIH said that it was reducing the amount of “indirect” medical research funding going to institutions, which will cut spending by $4bn a year. This marks a  15 per cent reduction in grants awarded to the institutions

Alaska plane crash: Bodies of all 10 victims have been recovered as recovery crew fights the winter storm

The authorities noted that the crews are still working in the region to recover the remains of the aircraft

Time Magazine cover features Elon Musk behind Trump's Resolute Desk, president shrugs it off

The simple cover with the magazine's signature red backdrop shows Musk, a cup of coffee in hand, sandwiched between the presidential desk and the American and presidential flags. The piece is from Simon Schuster and Brian Bennett

Setback for Musk's DOGE as US Federal Judge blocks it from getting its hands on sensitive Treasury Department data

US District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer upheld the lawsuit alleging that Musk’s team's access to the Treasury Department’s central payment system in violation of federal law

How Elon Musk is losing his grip on Republican support already

Elon Musk’s influence in the Trump administration is rapidly declining among Republicans, with new polls showing a significant drop in support. Once seen as a key figure in government efficiency efforts, the billionaire now faces growing backlash over his unchecked authority, access to sensitive federal data, and controversial cost-cutting measures

'To err is human': Elon Musk reinstates Doge staffer who resigned over racist posts, VP Vance comes in support

Elez came to the limelight after he was at the centre of a court battle over Doge's access to the US government’s payment system. He has also worked for Musk's SpaceX in the past

'Joe you're fired': Trump revokes Biden's security clearance in a tit-for-tat move

Interestingly, the precedent to cut off his predecessor from intelligence briefing was set up by Biden himself. Four years earlier, he instructed US intelligence officials to halt any briefings with Trump, citing the then-former president’s “erratic behaviour” after his 2020 election loss

From multimillion-dollar lawsuits to regulatory threats, Trump unleashes war with US media

Trump now appears to be doubling down on his anti-media rhetoric in his first month in office, focusing on cutting government agencies' news subscriptions in what observers call a case of manufactured outrage