Charlie Kirk, a close ally of former U.S. President Donald Trump, was shot dead Wednesday during a student event at the University of Utah.
The 31-year-old activist was addressing students when a sniper opened fire from a nearby rooftop. He was rushed to hospital but later died. Just seconds before the shooting, Kirk had been asked about gun violence in the U.S. A suspect was initially detained but later released. President Biden extended condolences, calling the killing a “tragedy.”

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has voiced discontent over Israel’s airstrikes targeting senior Hamas leaders in Doha, Qatar.
“I’m not happy with the situation. This is not a good situation,” Trump said, adding, “One thing is clear—we want our hostages back, but we’re not satisfied with how this has happened.”

Advisors close to Trump have also expressed anger over Israel’s decision to carry out the strikes in Qatar. According to a U.S. official, Trump was not informed directly by Israel but rather through Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Charles Q. Brown. Trump then immediately instructed envoy Steve Witkoff to deliver a statement to Qatari authorities.

However, another U.S. official revealed that by the time Witkoff attempted to reach Qatari leaders, it was already too late. Just a day earlier, Witkoff had met with a top aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, yet no mention of the imminent strike was made during their discussions.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered what he called a “last warning” to Hamas, demanding the release of Israeli hostages in Gaza.

“Israel has accepted my conditions. Now Hamas must do the same,” Trump said. “If Hamas refuses, they will face the consequences. This is my final warning.”

The statement comes after Trump previously issued a similar caution in March, following his meeting at the White House with eight hostages freed by Hamas.

Israeli military officials say at least 25 hostages have been killed in captivity and are pressing for the return of their bodies.

The United States is exploring the creation of a large demilitarized buffer zone within Ukraine if a peace deal with Russia is reached. Discussions involve deploying troops from non-NATO countries like Bangladesh and Saudi Arabia to secure the area, while the U.S. would lead monitoring using drones, satellites, and intelligence tools. No American troops would be stationed inside Ukraine. The plan avoids NATO symbols to stay acceptable to Russia. Negotiations remain ongoing amid continued conflict.

U.S. President Donald Trump and his senior advisers are quietly preparing to attend the APEC Trade Ministers’ meeting in South Korea this October. On the sidelines, a bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping could take place. The trip will focus on economic cooperation, investment, trade, defense, and nuclear discussions. It may also open the door for talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Previous tariffs between the U.S. and China are temporarily suspended until November due to ongoing negotiations.

Thousands protested in Washington, D.C., against President Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops, demanding their withdrawal. The “We Are All DC” rally included undocumented immigrants and Palestinian statehood supporters, with slogans calling for Trump’s removal and resistance to authoritarianism. Despite Trump citing crime concerns, violent crime in the city is at a 30-year low. Over 2,000 troops from six Republican states patrol the streets, with the National Guard’s mandate extended until November 30. D.C. has filed a lawsuit calling the deployment unnecessary and illegal.

U.S. President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order granting tariff exemptions to certain trading partners on products including nickel, gold, pharmaceutical ingredients, and chemicals. The move, effective Monday, targets items that cannot be produced sufficiently in the U.S. and aims to strengthen reciprocal trade agreements. Countries entering such agreements will enjoy zero tariffs on over 45 products, while some existing exemptions, like plastics and polysilicon for solar production, are revoked. The measure seeks to protect U.S. economic and national interests.

The United States has revoked Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company’s (TSMC) license that allowed it to send advanced technology to China. The move, similar to actions against Samsung and SK Hynix, may disrupt TSMC’s operations in China, though its factories there mainly produce older-generation chips. The U.S. government said the restriction will take full effect by year’s end, but it is unclear when new licenses might be approved. TSMC said it remains committed to its China operations while evaluating the situation.

US President Donald Trump claimed on Friday that India and Russia have moved toward China after a summit hosted by President Xi Jinping in Tianjin. Trump shared a photo of Xi, Vladimir Putin, and Narendra Modi, expressing frustration over New Delhi and Moscow aligning with Beijing. India and China declined to comment, while the Kremlin was unreachable. Trump, who has criticized India’s trade practices and expressed disappointment with Putin, said he plans to speak with the Russian leader soon.

Former President Donald Trump has stated that he is in deep discussions with Hamas regarding a ceasefire and the release of Israeli hostages. “I would tell Hamas to release the hostages. It will lead to positive outcomes,” Trump said, warning that failure to act could worsen the situation.

Trump highlighted the challenge posed by the small number of hostages still in Hamas’ hands, emphasizing that efforts to retrieve them must be swift and decisive. Meanwhile, protests in Israel continue, demanding both a ceasefire and the release of hostages.

White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett has described President Donald Trump and his trade team as “frustrated” over India’s crude oil imports from Russia, while expressing hope for a positive resolution soon.

When questioned about Trump’s recent social media posts concerning India, Russia, and China, Hassett said, “We certainly want this to improve.” Earlier, Trump commented that the U.S. seems to have “lost India and Russia to the deepest hand of China,” wishing them a prosperous future.

The U.S. has criticized India for profiting from Russian oil, while Indian officials argue that singling out India is unfair since the EU continues to import Russian gas. China remains the largest importer of Russian crude. The U.S. will impose a 50% tariff on certain Russian imports starting September 27.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that international recognition of Palestine would “only create more problems” and jeopardize ongoing ceasefire efforts.

Speaking after a meeting with Ecuador’s leadership, Rubio dismissed such recognition as “fake and unrealistic.” While refraining from commenting directly on Israel’s West Bank annexation plans, he called them “entirely predictable.”

Rubio accused moves to strengthen the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank of emboldening Hamas in Gaza. His remarks came just days after French President Emmanuel Macron announced at the UN that France would formally recognize a Palestinian state.

Honda is introducing the Fastport E-Quad, a four-wheeled pedal-powered vehicle with electric assistance, designed for urban delivery in congested cities like New York and Los Angeles. The lightweight quadracycle carries more cargo than bicycles or scooters, navigates traffic easily, and comes in two sizes, with the larger model carrying up to 295 kg. Developed by Honda’s U.S. startup lab, the E-Quad aims to support logistics and delivery services, with small-batch production starting in Ohio and full-scale rollout planned next summer.

U.S. President Donald Trump has reduced tariffs on Japanese car imports from 27.5 percent to 15 percent, cutting them by nearly half. The deal, reached after months of negotiation, also includes Japan committing $550 billion in U.S. investments and gradually opening its markets to American products, including cars and rice. The 15 percent tariff will apply to almost all Japanese imports, including vehicles and pharmaceuticals, easing uncertainty for major automakers like Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.

The United States has sanctioned three Palestinian human rights organizations—Al-Haq, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), and the Al-Mezan Centre for Human Rights—accusing them of assisting the International Criminal Court (ICC) in actions against Israeli citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the move protects US sovereignty, military, and allies. The groups have long documented alleged Israeli abuses in Gaza and the occupied territories. Similar sanctions were imposed under the Trump administration after ICC warrants against Israeli leaders.