Ukraine Says North Korean troops "Withdrawn" From Kursk Front Line

Ukraine believes North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russia's army on the Kursk front line have been "withdrawn" after suffering heavy losses, a military spokesman told AFP on Friday.

Western, South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence agencies say Pyongyang deployed more than 10,000 troops to support Russia's forces fighting in its western Kursk region, where Ukraine launched a shock cross-border offensive in August.

Kyiv captured dozens of border settlements in the operation -- the first time a foreign army had crossed into Russian territory since the Second World War -- in an embarrassing setback for the Kremlin.

The North Korean deployment -- never officially confirmed by Moscow or Pyongyang -- was supposed to reinforce Russia's army and help them expel Ukraine's troops.

But nearly six months on, Ukraine still holds on to swathes of Russian territory, something President Volodymyr Zelensky sees as a key bargaining chip in any future negotiations with Moscow.

"Over the past three weeks, we have not seen or detected any activity or military clashes with the North Koreans," Oleksandr Kindratenko, spokesman for the Special Operations Forces, told AFP.

"We believe that they have been withdrawn because of the heavy losses that were inflicted," he added.

Ukraine previously said it had captured or killed several North Korean soldiers deployed to the Kursk region.

Zelensky has published footage of interrogations with what he said were North Korean prisoners of war captured by his army on the Kursk front.

Ukrainian officials have said that wounded North Korean troops were blowing themselves up with grenades rather than being taken alive.

- Kremlin refuses to comment -

Asked earlier on Friday about reports the North Korean soldiers had been withdrawn, the Kremlin declined to comment.

"There are a lot of different arguments out there, both right and wrong," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

"It's not worth commenting on every time," he added.

Kyiv and the West had decried their deployment as a major escalation in the three-year conflict.

Ukraine says around 2,000 Russian civilians live in areas under its occupation, mostly cut off from contact with relatives on the other side of the new front line.

Discontent has been growing in the Russian border region at the failure of the local authorities to secure their return to Moscow-controlled territory or provide updates on their status.

Despite Ukraine's hold on part of the Kursk region, Russia has been advancing elsewhere across the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) front.

Moscow's army on Friday said it had captured another village, Novovasylivka, in eastern Ukraine, where its forces are advancing on a key logistics hub and a road that is crucial for military supplies.

Novovasylivka is close to the key hub of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region, and to the internal border with Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, which so far has been spared ground combat.

Russia in 2022 said it was annexing the Donetsk region -- despite not having it under full cont

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Trump Says Will "Absolutely" Impose Tariffs On EU

US President Donald Trump said Friday he was "absolutely" going to impose tariffs on the European Union in the future, as he prepared to slap levies on China, Mexico and Canada.

"Am I going to impose tariffs on the European Union? You want the truthful answer or shall I give you a political answer? Absolutely. The European Union has treated us so terribly," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

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Israel To Free 183 Palestinian Prisoners Today

Israel is set to release 183 prisoners on Saturday in the fourth hostage-prisoner exchange under the Gaza ceasefire deal, a Palestinian advocacy group said, more than doubling the previous reported figure.

"The updated number of prisoners to be released tomorrow is 183," said Palestinian Prisoners' Club spokeswoman Amani Sarahneh on Friday, after previously announcing that 90 prisoners would be released from Israeli jails.

The advocacy group published two separate lists of names due for release on Saturday. The first comprised 72 prisoners arrested before Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.

A second list of inmates to be freed contained 111 names of Gazans detained after the attack that sparked the war in the Palestinian territory.

Since the truce took effect on January 19, Gaza militants have released 15 hostages after holding them in captivity for over 15 months.

The three hostages to be freed Saturday are Yarden Bibas, Keith Siegel, who also holds US citizenship, and Ofer Kalderon, who also has French nationality, according to the Hostages and Missing Families Forum campaign group.

Since the ceasefire began, Israel has freed hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, many of them women and minors.

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Canada PM Trudeau Says Tariff Response Will Be "Forceful But Reasonable"

 Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that Canada's response will be "forceful but reasonable" if US decide to impose 25 per cent tariffs as threatened by President Donald Trump, The Globe and Mail reported.

President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs on its neighbour Canada and Mexico as early as Saturday.

"If the president does choose to implement any tariffs against Canada, we're ready with a response -- a purposeful, forceful but reasonable, immediate response," Trudeau told reporters before a meeting with his advisory council on Canada-US relations on Friday, The Globe and Mail reported.

Meanwhile, Trump on Thursday reiterated his threats saying that the tarrifs are coming and that he had yet to decide whether Canadian oil would be covered in those tariffs.

Trudeau mentioned that along with Canada, the tariffs would also damage US economy and undermine the collective security of two nations.

Trudeau added that Canada would keep making its case that trade with Canada is good for the long-term prosperity and security of the United States, noting Canada's steel and aluminum, critical minerals and clean energy, as well as its "stable democratic institutions, shared values and the best workers in the world.", The Globe and Mail reported.

"If the tariffs are implemented against Canada, we will respond. We won't relent until tariffs are removed and, of course, everything is on the table," Trudeau said.

According to The Hill, Trump remain resolute to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico, citing trade deficit on the US.

"We'll be announcing the tariffs on Canada and Mexico for a number of reasons. "I'll be putting the tariff of 25 percent on Canada and Mexico, and we will really have to do that because we have very big deficits with those countries," Trump said on Thursday.

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English Singer Marianne Faithfull Dies At 78: Report

English singer and actress Marianne Faithfull, best known for her 1960s hit "As Tears Go By", has died aged 78, British media reported on Thursday.

"It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of the singer, songwriter and actress Marianne Faithfull," the BBC broadcaster cited a statement from her spokesperson as saying.

"Marianne passed away peacefully in London today, in the company of her loving family. She will be dearly missed."

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Indian Astronaut To Pilot Private Spacecraft Axiom-4, Do Yoga In Space

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, set to become the second Indian to go to space after Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma's journey on board the Soyuz T-11 in April 1984, will take on the role of pilot on the Axiom Mission 4, or Ax-4.

The Ax-4 will go to the International Space Station (ISS) from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's (NASA) Kennedy Space Centre in Florida no earlier than spring 2025, Axiom told reporters on Thursday.

Group Captain Shukla, who is serving in the Indian Air Force (IAF), has also been chosen as an astronaut for India's Gaganyaan Mission by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It was ISRO that sent him to NASA for the Ax-4 mission to the ISS.

Peggy Whitson, former NASA astronaut and director of human spaceflight at Axiom Space, will command the private Ax-4 mission, while Group Captain Shukla will serve as pilot, the American space agency told reporters.

"I am really excited to go into microgravity and experience space flight on my own. The tempo for the mission has been building up each month. I think we are at a stage wherein all the pieces are kind of coming together. I'm extremely excited to see how this unfolds in the coming months and for the actual space flight as well," Group Captain Shukla said in response to a question by NDTV.

The Axiom 4 Mission team speaks to NDTV Science Editor Pallava Bagla

"We have been training for the past four-five months. We now understand the entire CONOPS, the concept of operations, and going forward from here it would mostly be repetition of the things that we have done. So we are ready and confident in our abilities to execute this mission successfully," Group Captain Shukla added.

On whether he would perform yoga as was done by Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma in space, Group Captain Shukla said, "Yes, now that you have said so, I would probably demonstrate a few poses of yoga while we are up on the station."

"But a more important aspect is that we need to practice while we are on the ground so that we have a healthy body which can house a healthy mind and allow us to execute this mission in our full spirits, truly," Group Captain Shukla said.

He added in Hindi, "I am very excited about this mission, and I think the kind of training we have done so far makes me confident in my abilities. We will be able to execute this mission very well. Thank you."

The Axiom 4 Mission team

Ms Whitson praised her team which has a diverse composition.

"These guys are very intelligent, so they absolutely listen to me," she said. "It is an interesting challenge to bring a diverse group from different countries together. I had that opportunity on the previous Axiom mission. And even on the NASA missions, we work as a very international team. But that is what I love to do. I love to bring people together and to build a team. And so that is kind of my main goal of this mission is to build that elite team. And I think I have got it here."

The first private astronaut mission to the ISS, Axiom Mission 1, lifted off in April 2022 for a 17-day mission aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The second private astronaut mission to the station, Axiom Mission 2, also was commanded by Ms Whitson and launched in May 2023 with four private astronauts who spent eight days in orbit.

The most recent private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3, launched in January 2024; the crew spent 18 days docked to the ISS.

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Harvey Weinstein Seeks Early Retrial Over "Hellhole" Prison Conditions

Disgraced Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein asked a court Wednesday to bring forward his retrial for sex offenses arguing that his "hellhole" prison conditions were unbearable, US media reported.

Weinstein, 72, looked frail as he appeared in a Manhattan courtroom for a hearing ahead of his retrial for rape and sexual assault that follows last year's overturn of his 2020 convictions on legal grounds.

The judge has set the date of his retrial for April 15 and declined to move proceedings.

The former movie mogul, who is in poor health and underwent emergency heart surgery last year, told the court he was unsure "how much longer I can hold on," People magazine reported.

Weinstein is serving a 16-year prison sentence after being convicted on separate rape charges in California.

His New York conviction in 2020 was for the rape and sexual assault of an actress and of forcibly performing oral sex on a production assistant.

He was sentenced to 23 years in prison in that case.

The New York Court of Appeals, however, overturned that conviction.

Allegations against Weinstein helped launch the #MeToo movement in 2017, a watershed moment for women fighting sexual misconduct.

More than 80 women accused him of harassment, sexual assault or rape, including prominent actors Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ashley Judd.

Weinstein claimed any sexual relations in question were consensual.

Weinstein and his brother Bob co-founded Miramax Films.

Their hits included 1994's "Pulp Fiction" and 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," for which Weinstein shared a best picture Oscar.

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White House Cancels Trumps Federal Funding Freeze Amid Chaos: Reports

The White House has withdrawn President Donald Trump's freeze on funding for federal aid programs, which caused chaos and was temporarily blocked by a judge, US media reported Wednesday.

The head of the Office of Management and Budget sent a memo to the chiefs of US government departments and agencies saying the earlier order "is rescinded," NBC News and other outlets reported.

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Elon Musk's Fitness To Lead Tesla Questioned Amid 'Nazi Salute' Controversy

Tesla's fourth-quarter earnings report is set to release, and investors are eager to know how Elon Musk's involvement in politics will impact the company's growth and profitability. With Musk's high-profile advisory role in Washington, D.C., and his endorsement of far-right candidates, shareholders are questioning whether he's providing Tesla the focus it needs.

Over 100 investor inquiries have poured in, asking about Musk's time allocation between Tesla and his political engagements. One retail investor asked, "How much time does Elon Musk devote to growing Tesla, solving product issues, and driving shareholder value vs. his public engagements with Trump, DOGE, and political activities?" Another top-voted question asked how much time Musk intends to spend "at the White House and on government activities vs time and effort dedicated to Tesla."

Musk's political involvement has been extensive, including contributing $270 million to Trump and other Republican candidates and causes. He also spent weeks on the campaign trail during the fourth quarter and later at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Additionally, Musk has involved himself in German politics, endorsing the far-right AfD party.

According to Brand Finance, Tesla's brand value fell by 26% last year, citing factors such as Musk's "antagonism" and Tesla's aging lineup of EVs. The researchers found that fewer consumers would recommend or consider buying a Tesla now than in previous years.

Musk's recent gesture, viewed by many as a Nazi salute, has also sparked controversy. Ruth Ben-Ghiat described it as "a Nazi salute and a very belligerent one," while neo-Nazis praised Musk for his antics. A shareholder asked Musk to apologise for the misunderstanding, "Will you apologise for the misunderstanding that occurred when you made the hand gesture thanking folks for their support. It would go a long way with your investors and the American public at large. Thanking you in advance Elon!", but he responded by calling the criticism a "hoax."

Musk later engaged in Nazi-themed word play on X, prompting the Anti-Defamation League to rebuke him.

Investors are now seeking answers on how Tesla plans to address the negative impacts of Musk's public views and activities. However, Tesla is under no obligation to discuss these topics during the earnings call. The company's fourth-quarter earnings report is expected to include updates on its production and delivery numbers, as well as its energy storage deployments.
 

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Trump Refuses To Pay $360,000 Legal Bill Over Failed Lawsuit, UK Court Told

US President Donald Trump has refused to pay 290,000 pounds ($360,000) in legal fees after his English lawsuit against a private investigations firm was dismissed, a London court heard on Wednesday.

Trump brought a data protection lawsuit against Orbis Business Intelligence over allegations in a dossier written by its co-founder, former British intelligence officer Christopher Steele, but his claim was thrown out in February last year. 

The so-called Steele dossier alleged ties between Trump's 2016 election campaign and Russia as well as other salacious allegations, all of which Trump denied.

Lawyers representing Orbis said on Wednesday that Trump had been ordered to make a payment of 290,000 pounds towards Orbis' legal fees, with further sums also likely to be due.

"No real reason has been given for the non-payment," said Orbis' lawyer Mark Friston. 

He said Trump was now also claiming he had "sovereign immunity" from any enforcement action as a head of state, an argument he said was "completely hopeless" as it had been a private lawsuit.

Trump's lawyer Jacqueline Perry said the court was in a "slightly unusual position, with a slightly unusual client". 

"It's difficult to get instructions when your client is president of the free world and trying to turn everything upside down," she said. "This isn't high in his area of importance."

She said the president was "an innocent party in this" and was bringing a professional negligence claim against his former legal advisers for bringing his High Court lawsuit under the wrong statute. 

"That was the only reason the case was struck out," she said, adding he wanted the action against his former advisers settled before addressing Orbis's "eye-wateringly" high costs.

Judge Jason Rowley ruled that Trump must pay the 290,000 pounds within 28 days, or his would be prevented from addressing the court in April on a future argument about Orbis' legal fees.

Trump's data protection lawsuit was dismissed, with Judge Karen Steyn ruling that "there are no compelling reasons to allow the claim to proceed".

Trump said in a witness statement for the hearing that he brought the case to prove claims in the so-called Steele dossier, published by the BuzzFeed website in 2017, that he engaged in "perverted sexual acts" in Russia, were false.

Many of the claims in the dossier were never substantiated and lawyers for Trump said that the report was "egregiously inaccurate" and contained "numerous false, phoney or made-up allegations".

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Denmark To Boost Security As Trump Ramps Up Threat To Take Over Greenland

Denmark is bolstering its military presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions, allocating an additional 14.6 billion Danish crowns ($2.05 billion) to enhance security. This move comes as Denmark resists US President Donald Trump's demands to hand over control of Greenland, a semi-autonomous territory with significant mineral resources.

The notion of the United States purchasing Greenland has been a topic of discussion for months, but recent developments suggest that President Trump's administration is more serious about the proposition than initially thought.

At the heart of Trump's interest in Greenland lies its strategic importance for national security. The island is rich in minerals crucial for technology and defense, including rare earth elements used in mobile phones, electric vehicles, and weapons. With China dominating the global rare earth market, Greenland's reserves have become increasingly vital to the US.

According to Denmark's Defence Minister Troels Lund Poulsen, "There are serious challenges regarding security and defence in the Arctic and North Atlantic." This statement underscores the importance of strengthening Denmark's military capabilities in the region.

The Danish government, in collaboration with the governments of Greenland and the Faroe Islands, has agreed to purchase three Arctic naval vessels, two long-range drones, and satellites to improve surveillance. These measures aim to enhance Denmark's defense capabilities.

Currently, Denmark's capacities have four ageing inspection vessels, a Challenger surveillance plane and 12 dog sledge patrols, already burdened to monitor an area four time the size of France.

Although Denmark is responsible for Greenland's security and defence, the latter is a security black hole because of the lack of military capabilities in the island.

Greenland, with its strategic location and natural resources, has become a critical player in the region. As Vivian Motzfeldt, a member of Greenland's government, noted, "Greenland is facing a changing security landscape." The increased military spending is intended to address these challenges and ensure the security of the region.

Additionally, the Danish government will provide training for young people in Greenland "to acquire important skills allowing them to take responsibility for preparedness".

Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen emphasised the importance of European unity in addressing the challenges facing the region. "Europe is facing a serious situation. With war on the continent and shifts in the geopolitical reality. In moments like this, unity is crucial," she stated.

The move to strengthen Denmark's military presence in the Arctic and North Atlantic regions is a significant step in addressing the evolving security landscape.
 

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"Trump Will Not Have Greenland," Says Denmark's Foreign Minister

Denmark's foreign minister on Tuesday said that Donald Trump "will not have Greenland", following the US president's expressed desire to control the Danish autonomous territory.

"Trump will not have Greenland. Greenland is Greenland. And the Greenlandic people are a people, also in the sense of international law," Lars Lokke Rasmussen told reporters, adding that "this is also why we have said time and again that it is ultimately Greenland that decides Greenland's situation."

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Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu To Meet Donald Trump Next Week In US: Report

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office is planning for his to travel to Washington DC next week to meet with US President Donald Trump, The Times of Israel reported.

The trip has not been finalised and will be dependent on Netanyahu's health, as he recovers from prostate surgery, but the plan is for him to depart on Sunday and return on Thursday, as per The Times of Israel.

If he travels, Netanyahu will be the first foreign leader to meet Trump in his second term.

Netanyahu on January 26 thanked Trump for giving them 'tools' for self-defence.

Thank you President Trump for keeping your promise to give Israel the tools it needs to defend itself, to confront our common enemies and to secure a future of peace and prosperity"@realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/O8Bgzk8j1V
    — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 26, 2025

"Thank you President Trump for keeping your promise to give Israel the tools it needs to defend itself, to confront our common enemies and to secure a future of peace and prosperity," he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile on Monday, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Netanyahu called for an end to antisemitism and called out the International Criminal Court for its antisemitism.
The remarks were made in reference to ICC issuing arrest warrants against Netanyahu.

"On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I call on all civilized nations to confront antisemitism wherever it appears--on college campuses, city streets, or international forums like the ICC. Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the ICC has disgraced itself with antisemitic attacks on Israel. Hamas are the new Nazis, and we are committed to defeating them once and for all. The Jewish state will always stand as a safe haven for Jews worldwide," his post on X read.

 On International Holocaust Remembrance Day, I call on all civilized nations to confront antisemitism wherever it appears—on college campuses, city streets, or international forums like the ICC.

 Founded in the shadow of the Holocaust, the ICC has disgraced itself with…
    — Benjamin Netanyahu - בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) January 27, 2025

As per ICC, Netanyahu's charges are, "Allegedly responsible for the war crimes of starvation as a method of warfare and of intentionally directing an attack against the civilian population; and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts from at least 8 October 2023 until at least 20 May 2024."

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From Secretary Of State To FBI Director: Trump's Top Picks For His Cabinet

More of President Donald Trump's picks for his cabinet are expected to be confirmed by the U.S. Senate in the coming days after the Republican-controlled chamber began approving them last week.

Hearings for other nominees are scheduled for this week as well, including Trump's nominees for FBI director, director of national intelligence and secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Here are Trump's choices for some of the key posts, including defense, intelligence, health, diplomacy, trade, justice, immigration and economic policymaking.

PETE HEGSETH, DEFENSE SECRETARY

Hegseth, 44, is a military veteran who has expressed disdain for the "woke" policies of Pentagon leaders, including its top military officer.

He was narrowly confirmed on Friday when Vice President JD Vance cast the deciding vote.

As secretary of defense, Hegseth could make good on Trump's campaign promise to rid the U.S. military of generals whom he accuses of pursuing progressive policies on diversity in the ranks that conservatives have railed against.

His confirmation could also set up a collision course between Hegseth and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force General C.Q. Brown, whom Hegseth accused of "pursuing the radical positions of left-wing politicians."

Hegseth, a former Fox News commentator, denied in his confirmation hearing allegations made in a police report that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017 at a conference in California. No charges were filed, and he entered into a private settlement with the alleged victim.

He has also in the past opposed women in combat roles but walked back that stance during his confirmation hearing.

PAM BONDI, ATTORNEY GENERAL

Trump picked former Florida Attorney General Bondi on the day his previous choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew from consideration in the face of opposition from Senate Republicans over allegations of sexual misconduct and illicit drug abuse.

Bondi, 59, was the top law enforcement officer of the country's third most populous state from 2011 to 2019. She served on Trump's Opioid and Drug Abuse Commission during his first administration.

Trump's inner circle has described the attorney general as the most important member of the administration after Trump himself, key to his plans to carry out mass deportations, pardon Jan. 6, 2021 rioters, and seek retribution against those who prosecuted him over the past four years.

Bondi has been a defender of Trump's false claims that he lost the 2020 election due to widespread voter fraud.

During her confirmation hearing, Bondi vowed not to use the Justice Department to target people based on their politics, but dodged direct questions about investigating people scorned by Trump.

"There will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice," Bondi told the Senate Judiciary Committee.

MARCO RUBIO, SECRETARY OF STATE

After being confirmed unanimously on Jan. 20, Rubio, a U.S. senator, became the first Latino to serve as the nation's top diplomat.

Rubio, 53, was arguably the most hawkish option on Trump's short list for the post. The Florida-born senator has advocated in the past for a muscular foreign policy with respect to U.S. geopolitical foes, including China, Iran and Cuba.

Over the last several years, he has softened some of his stances to align more closely with Trump's views. Trump has accused past presidents of leading the U.S. into costly and futile wars and has pushed for a less interventionist foreign policy.

Rubio warned during his confirmation hearing that the U.S. must change course to avoid becoming more reliant on China.

JOHN RATCLIFFE, CIA DIRECTOR

Ratcliffe, a staunch Trump ally who was director of national intelligence at the end of Trump's first term, will helm the Central Intelligence Agency in his second administration.

A former congressman and prosecutor, Ratcliffe, 59, was easily confirmed by the Senate on Jan. 23 in a 74-25 vote.

During his time as director of national intelligence, Ratcliffe often contradicted the assessments of career civil servants, drawing criticism from Democrats who said he politicized the role to curry favor with Trump.

During his confirmation hearing, Ratcliffe vowed not to fire or force out employees for their political views or their opinions about Trump, who frequently has attacked the agency and its assessments.

SEAN DUFFY, TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY

Duffy, a former U.S. congressman from Wisconsin and Fox News host, would oversee aviation, automotive, rail, transit and other transportation policies at the department with about a $110-billion budget, as well as significant funding that remains under the Biden administration's 2021 $1-trillion infrastructure law.

Trump has vowed to reverse the Biden administration's vehicle emissions rules, which have spurred automakers to build more electric vehicles.

Duffy, 53, first became known as a cast member on MTV's "The Real World" reality show in the late 1990s. In his confirmation hearing, Duffy said he would allow a government probe into Tesla's advanced driver assistance system to continue.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk is a close adviser to Trump.

CHRIS WRIGHT, ENERGY SECRETARY

Wright, a top Trump donor, is the founder and CEO of Liberty Energy, an oilfield services firm based in Denver.

The 59-year-old is a promoter of fossil fuels and has been skeptical that extreme weather events are tied to climate change.

As Trump's energy secretary, he would, among other things, oversee the nation's nuclear stockpile. Wright also would serve on the new National Energy Council.

In his confirmation hearing, Wright said his first priority is expanding domestic energy production, including liquefied natural gas and nuclear power.

RUSS VOUGHT, OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT AND BUDGET DIRECTOR

Vought, a key architect of Project 2025, a conservative plan to overhaul the government, will return as director of an agency that helps determine the president's policy priorities and how to pay for them.

Vought, 48, who was OMB chief during Trump's 2017-2021 term, will play a major role in setting budget priorities and implementing Trump's campaign promise to roll back government regulations.

In his confirmation hearing, Vought defended Trump's goal of cutting spending by refusing to spend money that Congress has already authorized.

DOUG BURGUM, INTERIOR SECRETARY AND 'ENERGY CZAR'

Burgum, 68, a wealthy former software company executive, has portrayed himself as a traditional, business-minded conservative. He ran against Trump for the Republican presidential nomination before quitting and becoming a supporter.

The Interior Department manages public lands and minerals, national parks and wildlife refuges. The department also carries out the U.S. government's trust responsibility to Native Americans.

As chair of a new National Energy Council, Burgum is expected to coordinate with several agencies to boost oil and gas output, particularly with regard to drilling on government-owned land.

Burgum told senators he will vigorously pursue Trump's goal of maximizing energy production from U.S. public lands and waters, calling it key to national security.

LEE ZELDIN, EPA ADMINISTRATOR

Zeldin, a former congressman from New York state and a staunch Trump ally, would take over as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency with a mandate to slash environmental regulations.

Zeldin, 44, served in Congress from 2015 to 2023. In 2022, he lost the New York governor's race to Democratic incumbent Kathy Hochul.

Trump has promised to overhaul U.S. energy policy, with the aim of maximizing the country's already record-high oil and gas production by rolling back regulations and speeding up permitting.

Zeldin said during his confirmation hearing he believes climate change is real and a threat.

SCOTT TURNER, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY

Turner, 52, a former Texas state legislator and National Football League player, would take over the Department of Housing and Urban Development if confirmed.

He was the first executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council during Trump's first term, a role in which he helped the country's distressed communities, Trump said in a statement.

Turner told senators the U.S. has a homelessness crisis.

SCOTT BESSENT, TREASURY SECRETARY

As Trump's Treasury secretary, Bessent would hold vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs.

A longtime hedge fund investor who taught at Yale University for several years, Bessent, 62, has a warm relationship with the president.

While Bessent has long favored free-market policies popular in the pre-Trump Republican Party, he has also spoken highly of Trump's use of tariffs as a negotiating tool. He has praised the president's economic philosophy, which rests on a skepticism of both regulation and international trade.

At his confirmation hearing, Bessent said the dollar should remain the world's reserve currency, the Federal Reserve should stay independent and that he is ready to impose tougher sanctions on Russia's oil sector.

KRISTI NOEM, HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY

As homeland security secretary, Noem will oversee a sprawling federal agency of 260,000 employees that handles everything from border protection to cybersecurity to transportation safety and disaster response.

She was confirmed by the Senate on Saturday by a 59-34 tally.

The current governor of South Dakota, Noem, 53, rose to national prominence after refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate during the pandemic.

Noem portrayed illegal immigration as an "invasion" and the U.S.-Mexico border a "war zone" during her confirmation hearing, and she pledged to back Trump's hard line on immigration.

ELISE STEFANIK, AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS

Stefanik, a U.S. representative from New York state and staunch Trump supporter, would serve as his ambassador to the United Nations and function as the United States' voice on that body.

Stefanik, 40, the former House of Representatives' Republican conference chair, took a leadership position in the House in 2021 when she was elected to replace then-Representative Liz Cheney, who was ousted for criticizing Trump's false claims of election fraud.

Stefanik will arrive at the U.N. after bold promises by Trump to end the Russia-Ukraine war and as Israel and Hamas enter a fragile ceasefire deal in Gaza.

BROOKE ROLLINS, AGRICULTURE SECRETARY

As agriculture secretary, Rollins, the 52-year-old president of the America First Policy Institute, would be in charge of a 100,000-person agency whose remit includes farm and nutrition programs, forestry, and agricultural trade.

The institute is a right-leaning think tank whose personnel have worked closely with Trump's campaign to help shape policy for his incoming administration. She was the acting director of the Domestic Policy Council during Trump's first term.

KASH PATEL, FBI DIRECTOR

Patel, who during Trump's first term advised both the director of national intelligence and the defense secretary, has been a fierce critic of the FBI. He has previously called for it to be stripped of its intelligence-gathering role and for the firing of any employee who refuses to support Trump's agenda.

A former Republican House staffer, Patel, 44, frequently appeared on the campaign trail to rally support for Trump during his presidential bid.

The FBI's current director, Christopher Wray, a Republican first appointed by Trump, announced in December that he will resign his post this month.

Patel's confirmation hearing is set for this week.

TULSI GABBARD, DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve, was appointed by Trump to serve as director of national intelligence, where she would oversee 18 agencies tasked with intelligence gathering.

Gabbard, 43, has been an outspoken critic of the Biden administration's foreign policy, particularly with regard to its support of Ukraine in the war with Russia.

Her confirmation hearing is set for this week.

HOWARD LUTNICK, COMMERCE SECRETARY

The co-chair of Trump's transition effort and the longtime chief executive of financial services firm Cantor Fitzgerald, Lutnick has been picked to head the Commerce Department, the agency that has become the U.S. weapon of choice against China's tech sector.

A bombastic New Yorker like Trump, Lutnick, 63, has uniformly praised Trump's economic policies, including his use of tariffs.

Trump said Lutnick also would be given "additional direct responsibility" for the Office of U.S. Trade Representative.

ROBERT F. KENNEDY, JR., HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY

Kennedy, 70, an environmental activist who has spread misinformation about the dangers of vaccines, is now poised to lead the top U.S. health agency.

A former independent presidential candidate, he has suggested he would gut the 18,000-employee Food and Drug Administration, which ensures the safety of food, drugs and medical devices, and replace hundreds of employees at the National Institutes of Health.

Kennedy has decried the U.S. food industry for adding ingredients that he says have made Americans less healthy.

The Department of Health and Human Services oversees the FDA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the massive Medicare and Medicaid programs, which provide health coverage for the poor, those aged 65 and older, and the disabled.

Trump said in an interview with Time in December that he will be talking to Kennedy about the future of childhood vaccination programs, citing high autism rates in children. Kennedy has asserted a debunked link between vaccines and autism.

A former family babysitter has alleged that Kennedy groped her 25 years ago. No charges were filed, and Kennedy has said he does not recall the incident.

Kennedy's confirmation hearing is set for this week.

LORI CHAVEZ-DEREMER, LABOR SECRETARY

Trump's pick of Chavez-DeRemer, a former U.S. congresswoman from Oregon, could be one of the rare selections who draws bipartisan support.

Chavez-DeRemer, 56, is considered one of the most union-friendly Republicans in Congress, and her selection was viewed as a way for Trump to reward union members who voted for him.

The pick was praised by Teamsters President Sean O'Brien, while some conservatives expressed dismay.

LINDA MCMAHON, EDUCATION SECRETARY

McMahon is a former executive CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment who served as the chief of the Small Business Administration during Trump's first term.

As education secretary, she would oversee an agency that Trump has pledged to eliminate.

It may be more likely, however, that McMahon, 76, works to further conservative education policy goals, including doing away with diversity programs in public schools and allowing tax dollars to be used for private school tuition.

MARTIN MAKARY, HEAD OF THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

Trump nominated Makary to lead the FDA, the world's most influential drug regulator with a more than $7-billion budget.

Makary, a surgeon and public policy researcher at Johns Hopkins University, raised concerns about a number of public health issues during the pandemic, touting protection from natural immunity while opposing vaccine mandates for the general public.

DAVE WELDON, DIRECTOR OF THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Weldon, a 71-year-old former congressman and medical doctor, is Trump's choice for director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sweeping agency with a $17.3-billion budget charged with protecting the nation's health.

JANETTE NESHEIWAT, U.S. SURGEON GENERAL

Nesheiwat, a director of a New York chain of urgent care clinics and Fox News contributor, would serve as U.S. surgeon general.

Nesheiwat treated patients during the pandemic, tended to victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Joplin tornado, and has worked for the Samaritan's Purse disaster relief organization providing care in Morocco, Haiti and Poland, Trump said.

TODD BLANCHE, DEPUTY ATTORNEY GENERAL

Blanche, 50, a former New York federal prosecutor who represented Trump in several of his recent legal cases, would serve as deputy attorney general if confirmed, the No. 2 job at the Justice Department which carries out many of the day-to-day managerial duties at the agency.

JAMIESON GREER, U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

As U.S. trade representative, Greer would have a key role in executing Trump's sweeping tariff agenda that promises to upend global trade.

Greer, a 44-year-old trade lawyer, served as chief of staff to Trump's former U.S. trade representative, Robert Lighthizer, the architect of Trump's original tariffs on some $370 billion worth of Chinese imports during Trump's first White House term.

MIKE WALTZ, NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER

Waltz, a Republican U.S. representative and a retired Army Green Beret, has been a leading critic of China.

A Trump loyalist who also served in the National Guard as a colonel, Waltz, 50, has criticized Chinese military activity in the Asia-Pacific and voiced the need for the U.S. to be ready for a potential conflict in the region.

The national security adviser is an influential role that does not require Senate confirmation. Waltz will be responsible for briefing Trump on key national security issues and coordinating with different agencies.

ELON MUSK, THE DEPARTMENT OF GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY

Outspoken tech billionaire Musk has been charged with leading a newly created Department of Government Efficiency, a reward for his staunch support during the campaign.

Trump said Musk, 53, will offer proposals to reduce government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut waste and restructure federal agencies, although the panel will hold no actual authority under federal law. Instead, the panel will work with the White House and the Office of Management and Budget, Trump has said.

The panel is not a government department, and Musk will not face a Senate hearing.

Failed Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy was initially named a co-chair of the effort but left to run for elected office in Ohio.

TOM HOMAN, 'BORDER CZAR'

Homan has been tasked with one of Trump's biggest campaign priorities: securing the nation's borders. Trump made cracking down on migrants in the country illegally a central element of his campaign, promising mass deportations.

As "border czar," Homan, 62, has said he would prioritize deporting immigrants illegally in the U.S. who posed safety and security threats as well as those working at job sites.

Homan served as the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during Trump's first administration. He does not need Senate confirmation.

SUSIE WILES, CHIEF OF STAFF

Wiles, one of Trump's two campaign managers, will be his White House chief of staff, likely making her one of the most powerful women in government.

The 67-year-old longtime Florida Republican political operative is credited with running an efficient campaign that helped Trump make inroads with new voters. Supporters hope she will instill a sense of order and discipline that was often lacking during Trump's first four-year term, when he cycled through a number of chiefs of staff. The chief of staff does not need Senate confirmation.

STACY DIXON, ACTING DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Dixon, 54, is set to become acting director at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

Dixon, who was appointed to her current post of principal deputy director of national intelligence by President Joe Biden and has served in that role since August 2021, will become the top-ranking official at a time when Trump has promised to make public classified documents related to the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, Senator Robert F. Kennedy and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr.

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Big Tech Faces Heat As China's DeepSeek Questions Billion-Dollar Spending

Chinese startup DeepSeek's cheaper AI is sharpening investor scrutiny of the billions U.S. tech giants are pouring to develop the technology and analysts say it will dominate this week's much-awaited results from industry bellwethers.

DeepSeek has claimed it took just two months and cost under $6 million to build an AI model using Nvidia's less-advanced H800 chips. An app powered by the V3 model became the top iPhone download in the U.S. on Monday.

The startup founded in 2023 has said its AI models either match or outperform top U.S. rivals at a fraction of the cost, challenging the view that scaling AI requires vast computing power and investment.

Such a business need has powered an increase of around $10 trillion in the market value of "Magnificent Seven" companies since ChatGPT kicked off the AI boom in November 2022.

"Did DeepSeek really build OpenAI for $5 million? Of course not," Bernstein analyst Stacy Rasgon said. "It seems like a stretch to think the innovations being deployed by DeepSeek are completely unknown by the top tier AI researchers at the world's other numerous AI labs."

DeepSeek's pricing blows away anything from the competition, he said. Shares of AI chip pioneer Nvidia sank 16%, Microsoft fell 3.8% and TSMC's U.S. stock tumbled 14%.

Rasgon and other analysts argue DeepSeek's training costs for its V3 model could be higher as the nearly $6 million cited by the startup only includes the amount spent on computing power, while little is known about the costs to build the more publicized R1 model.

Still, it is a far cry from the $250 billion analysts estimate big U.S. cloud companies will spend this year on AI infrastructure. That spending has been questioned by investors worried about slow returns in the past year.

With most of the American tech giants set to report results this week and the next, analysts and investors expect executives of the companies to offer more clarity on their strategy.

"(DeepSeek's rise) puts into question whether the current pace of capex spend/technology upgrades is necessary. Commentary from U.S. hyperscalers will be key this week to see if they remain aggressive with AI spend," CFRA analyst Angelo Zino said.

"They will likely stress the need for greater computing power as we shift toward agentic AI and physical AI," Zino added, referring to autonomous AI agents that require little human intervention for routine tasks, as well as robots and self-driving cars.

PRICING PUSH

While the price of using AI models has been falling with rising competition and the progress in the technology, Bernstein's Rasgon said DeepSeek stands out as it has priced its models at up to 40 times lower than OpenAI's comparable models.

That could, analysts said, start a price war for AI services, potentially pressuring tech companies such as OpenAI that are already losing billions of dollars each year due to the high operational costs of running services such as ChatGPT.

"If DeepSeek adoption intensifies, it could initiate price reductions from competitors who have similar open source products," said Gadjo Sevilla, senior analyst at eMarketer.

"Market leaders like OpenAI (pushing for profitability) are unlikely to lower pricing in the short term. They will likely double down on trust and safety as key differentiating features, which happen to matter to enterprise users."

Some experts also doubt that U.S. businesses would be willing to embrace Chinese AI technology, given Sino-U.S. tensions and concerns about data privacy and security.

DeepSeek has said it stores user information in servers in China, which could be a sticking point in its U.S adoption.

Some investors, however, believe American tech giants would pounce on DeepSeek's breakthroughs and that cheaper AI services are bound to increase technology adoption, which could lift demand for chips.

"Did DeepSeek seek and find a more efficient processing model for AI? Maybe, but you can count on the incumbents to adopt any new techniques found," said Mark Malek, chief investment officer at SiebertNXT.

"(This) would only make the AI opportunity bigger in the future."

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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China's AI Startup DeepSeek Hit By "Cyberattack", Limits New Registration

Chinese AI sensation DeepSeek on Monday said it was limiting the registration of new users due to large-scale cyberattacks on its services.

The company, whose chatbot took over OpenAI's ChatGPT as Apple's top downloaded app on Monday, cited "large-scale malicious attacks" for outages and its inability to take on new users.

DeepSeek, which was developed by a start-up based in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou, has shown the ability to match the capacity of AI pace-setters such as Nvidia.

Its success on the US app store sent shares in AI-linked tech giants plummeting on Monday.

The low-cost Chinese generative AI venture is thought to have matched US companies in its abilities but at a fraction of the cost.

Analysts had long thought that the United States' critical advantage over China when it comes to producing high-powered chips -- and its ability to prevent the Asian power from accessing the technology -- would give it the edge in the AI race.

Available as an app or on desktop, DeepSeek can do many of the things that its Western competitors can do -- write song lyrics, help work on a personal development plan, or even write a recipe for dinner based on what's in the fridge.

It is however subject to the censorship seen in other Chinese-made chatbots like Baidu's Ernie Bot that are very limited on how they interact on political topics.

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Tariff War Begins Under Trump. US Acts After Colombia Refuses Migrant Flights

US President Donald Trump on Sunday ordered sweeping tariffs and sanctions against Colombia in retaliation for its refusal to accept deportation flights, as Bogota responded in kind with a 25 percent levy on US goods.

Trump, back in office for less than a week and peeved after President Gustavo Petro turned away the US planes, launched the tit-for-tat by promising to impose 25 percent on Colombian products, which would rise to 50 percent in a week. His authority to do so was unclear as Colombia, historically one of Washington's closest allies in Latin America, enjoys a free-trade agreement with the United States.

Trump also said he would immediately revoke visas for Colombian government officials and Petro's "supporters" -- and subject Colombians to greater scrutiny at airports.

"These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States!" Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

Not to be outdone, Petro, a former leftist guerrilla, said that he had instructed his minister for external trade "to raise tariffs on imports from the US to 25%."

In a long diatribe on X addressed to Trump he declared: "You will never dominate us."

'I forbid entry'

Trump took office with promises to round up and swiftly deport foreigners unlawfully in the United States, but has faced resistance from Petro, elected in 2022 as the first left-wing leader of Latin America's fourth-largest economy.

"The United States cannot treat Colombian migrants as criminals. I forbid entry to our territory to US planes carrying Colombian migrants," Petro wrote earlier on X.

In a later post, he said he had "turned back US military planes." Trump said two US planes were not allowed to land.

The Colombian government said it was instead ready to send its presidential plane to the United States to transport the migrants "with dignity." Petro also said he was ready to allow civilian US flights carrying deported migrants to land, as long as those aboard were not treated "like criminals."

In a statement, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Petro had authorized the flights but then "canceled his authorization when the planes were in the air." Petro additionally urged what he said were the more than 15,600 undocumented Americans living in his country to "regularize their situation," while ruling out raids to arrest and deport them.

The episode comes days before Rubio is set to visit Latin America -- but not Colombia -- on his first trip as top US diplomat.

Petro's Colombian critics reacted furiously to what they saw as his reckless rumble with Trump.

Former right-wing president Ivan Duque accused Petro of "an act of tremendous irresponsibility" for refusing what he called Colombia's "moral duty" to take back illegal migrants and warned US sanctions would take an "enormous" toll.

'Tied hands and feet'

Trump's deportation threats have put him on a potential collision course with governments in Latin America, the original home of most of the United States' estimated 11 million undocumented migrants.

Brazil, which is also led by a left-wing president, voiced outrage over treatment by the Trump administration of dozens of Brazilian migrants deported back to their country on Friday. 

The migrants, who were deported under a bilateral agreement predating Trump's return, were handcuffed on the flight, in what Brazil called "flagrant disregard" for their basic rights.

Edgar Da Silva Moura, a 31-year-old computer technician who was among the 88 deported migrants, told AFP: "On the plane they didn't give us water, we were tied hands and feet, they wouldn't even let us go to the bathroom."

"It was very hot, some people fainted."

Several deportation flights since Trump's return to office have garnered public and media attention, although such actions were also common under previous administrations.

In a break with prior practice, however, the Trump administration has begun using military aircraft for some repatriation flights, with at least one landing in Guatemala this week.

Several Latin American countries have vowed to welcome back citizens, many of whom have been living and working in the United States for years. Mexico said it planned to open nine shelters for its citizens and three more for deported foreigners, under a scheme called "Mexico embraces you."

Honduras, a central American country that is also a large source of migrants to the United States, said it was launching a program for returnees entitled "Brother, come home," which would include a "solidarity" payment, food and access to employment opportunities.

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Padma Vibhushan Osamu Suzuki: The Man Who Gave India Maruti 800 Car

Osamu Suzuki, Suzuki Motor Corp's patriarch and long-time chairman who has been conferred Padma Vibhushan posthumously, headed the company for more than 40 years and revolutionised India's car market with the introduction of the popular Maruti 800 car.

Osamu Suzuki is among seven personalities who were conferred Padma Vibhushans, one of the highest civilian honours in the country, on Saturday.

Osamu Suzuki, who died in late December last year at the age of 94, shared a good rapport with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

According to PM Modi, Osamu Suzuki was a legendary figure in the global automotive industry.

“His visionary work reshaped global perceptions of mobility. Under his leadership, Suzuki Motor Corporation became a global powerhouse, successfully navigating challenges, driving innovation and expansion. He had a profound affection for India and his collaboration with Maruti revolutionised the Indian automobile market,” the Prime Minister had posted on X social media platform.

A former bank employee, Osamu Suzuki got his break in the automotive business after his marriage to Shoko Suzuki, granddaughter of Michio Suzuki, who founded Suzuki Motor's predecessor company in 1909. Osamu Suzuki took his wife's surname, in accordance with the Japanese custom when there are no male heirs.

His entry into India turned out to be a game-changer as the subcontinent-sized market, saddled with the mid-60s technology Ambassador and Fiat cars, drove up demand for the Maruti 800 small car. The waiting lists of customers stretched for as long as up to three years with the car selling at a premium in the second-hand market.

Suzuki Motor agreed to set up a venture with the Indian government outside New Delhi and acquired a 26 per cent stake in the state-owned carmaker Maruti Udyog in 1982. In December 1983, the venture rolled out the Maruti 800 small car which was an instant hit.

Maruti, now a unit of Suzuki Motor, quickly became the biggest car manufacturer in India and still commands more than 40 per cent share of the market.

Osamu Suzuki's more than 28 years as president made him the longest-serving head of a global automaker. After stepping down as president in 2000, he became Suzuki Motor's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. He came back as president at the age of 78 in December 2008, when Suzuki Motor was expecting its first profit decline in eight years amid the global recession to lead from the front.

Suzuki then passed on the presidency to his son in June 2015 and took over as Chairman and CEO, but then resigned as CEO over an embarrassing fuel-economy misstatement.

Suzuki was a man of spartan habits and was known to fly economy class even during his old age as part of his frugal lifestyle.

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Foreign Minister Engages US, Foreign Secretary, China: India's Balancing Act

India's diplomacy stands out globally for its ability to balance ties between adversaries. The latest example of this is happening this week. As foreign minister S Jaishankar touches down in New Delhi after a five-day visit to the US for Donald Trump's inauguration, foreign secretary Vikram Misri heads to China to foster ties with Beijing.

Just ten days ago, during a visit to Spain, foreign minister S Jaishankar had said India is one of the very few countries in the world that can engage both Russia and Ukraine, as well as Israel and Iran. "This is something very, very unique. And it is unique because if you look at the world today, it is a very polarised world," he said.

Donald Trump has threatened to impose hefty tariffs on China and even the BRICS+ countries, which India is a member of as well. China, the world's second-largest economy, has warned that it will retaliate, should Washington actually follow through. President Trump has also targeted China over its presence in the Panama Canal and said the US will take control of the waterway even if it means involving the military. China, on the other hand, has warned Washington over its involvement with Taiwan. Both nations have sanctioned each other.

ENGAGING ALL SIDES

Amid all this, India, which according to PM Modi, has "always chosen the side of peace", aims to engage all sides for positive and constructive outcomes. Earlier this week, S Jaishankar strengthened India-US bilateral ties when he met the US Secretary of State and National Security Adviser for their first foreign engagements after the Trump administration took over. As PM Modi's special envoy, Dr Jaishankar was also given the first seat at the US President's inauguration.

As he returned after concluding "a very positive" visit to Washington, India's foreign secretary heads to Beijing to build the momentum in India-China ties following a meeting between PM Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in Russia late-last year. Foreign Secretary Misri's visit was preceded by a visit by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval last month when he met Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi.

REBUILDING AFTER THE STORM

India and China, two of Asia's leading economies and the world's most populous nations, are working to boost bilateral ties after a four-and-a-half-year-long military standoff along the Line of Actual Control or LAC brought ties to a grinding halt. After dozens of rounds of talks - both diplomatically and militarily - an agreement was reached and troops on both sides pulled back from the buffer zones, returning the status quo-ante. This happened within a week of PM Modi and Xi Jinping announcing it during a meeting in Russia late last year. Following this, Chinese and Indian foreign and defence ministers also met each other on multilateral occasions.

After Ajit Doval, foreign secretary Vikram Misri's will be the second high-level visit by an Indian official to Beijing in a month.

A WELCOME FROM BEIJING

China has welcomed Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri's visit this weekend and sounded positive about its outcome. "We welcome Foreign Secretary Shri Vikram Misri's travel to China for the meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between China and India," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said.

India's Ministry of External Affairs also said that "Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri will be visiting Beijing on January 26 and 27 for a meeting of the Foreign Secretary-Vice Minister mechanism between India and China. The resumption of this bilateral mechanism flows from the agreement at the leadership level to discuss the next steps for India-China relations, including in the political, economic, and people-to-people domains."

THE AGENDA

Besides bilateral issues such as boundary talks, maintaining peace along the LAC, the building of the world's largest dam on the Brahmaputra, resumption of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, people-to-people ties, resuming direct flights between the two countries, and facilitate the issuance of visas to Chinese citizens, the two sides are also likely to touch upon issues of mutual global interest.

"All matters of mutual interest will be discussed," the foreign ministry said at a press briefing in New Delhi ahead of the foreign secretary's visit.

The BRICS+, where both countries are threatened with massive tariffs, might figure in talks as well, as would the latest sanctions threat to countries dealing with Russia and buying Russian oil - again a common threat to both countries. Regional issues such as the situation in the Middle East and in Syria are likely to be discussed too.

US backing out of the Paris Climate agreement and the WHO, as well as the much-needed reform of the United Nations and the Security Council are likely to be discussed as well.

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Trump Says He Wants To Meet Putin Soon To Ensure End Of Ukraine War

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday he wanted to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon to secure an end to the almost three-year-old war with Ukraine, lamenting what he called the huge loss of life.

In the run-up to his Nov 5 election victory, Trump declared dozens of times that he would have a deal in place between Ukraine and Russia on his first day in office, if not before. His advisers now concede the war will take months to resolve.

"I really would like to be able to meet with President Putin soon to get that war ended," Trump, who returned to the White House on Monday, told the World Economic Forum in Davos by video link.

"And that's not from the standpoint of economy or anything else. It's from the standpoint of millions of lives are being wasted ... It's a carnage. And we really have to stop that war."

Trump also said US efforts to secure a peace settlement were now hopefully underway, but gave no details.

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'Make Your Products In America Or Pay Tariffs': Trump Tells Davos

US President Donald Trump issued a blunt warning to global elites in a video message to the World Economic Forum on Thursday: Make your product in the United States or pay tariffs.
Beamed on a giant screen in the Swiss Alpine village of Davos, Trump received a loud round of applause from political and business A-listers who had eagerly awaited his appearance all week.

Speaking from the White House, Trump touted his plans to cut taxes, deregulate industries and crack down on illegal immigration.

But he also had a tough message.

"Come make your product in America and we will give you among the lowest taxes of any nation on earth," Trump said.

"But if you don't make your product in America, which is your prerogative, then very simply you will have to pay a tariff."

In his wide-ranging speech, Trump made a link between the war in Ukraine and oil prices.

Trump said he would ask Saudi Arabia and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to bring down crude prices.

"If the price came down, the Russia-Ukraine war would end immediately," he said.

The US leader then fielded question from the top executives of Bank of America, Blackstone investment firm, Spanish group Banco Santander and French oil and gas giant TotalEnergies.

Trump is always a top draw in Davos, making waves at two previous in-person appearances during his first term in 2018 and 2020.

But showing up this year was tougher as the forum happened to start on the day of his inauguration in Washington on Monday.

Scores stood in line to hear him speak. Some in the audience included European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde, Polish President Andrzej Duda and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic.

Trump fans

One of the Republican president's biggest cheerleaders on the world stage, Argentina's libertarian President Javier Milei, took the stage hours before Trump, delivering a fiery speech against "the mental virus of woke ideology".

Milei said Argentina was "re-embracing the idea of freedom" and "that is what I trust President Trump will do in this new America".

He praised like-minded leaders such as Trump, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.

"Slowly an international alliance has been formed of all those nations that want to be free and that believe in the ideas of freedom," he said.

He also defended his "dear friend" Elon Musk.

The US billionaire and Trump ally caused a stir this week by making hand gestures at an inauguration event for the US president that drew comparisons to the Nazi salute.

Milei said Musk, the head of Tesla and SpaceX, has been "unfairly vilified by wokeism in recent hours for an innocent gesture that only means... his gratitude to the people".

'Let's not hyperventilate'

Trump already gave Davos a taste of what is to come since his inauguration on Monday, which coincided with the WEF's first day.

He has threatened tariffs on China, the European Union, Mexico and Canada, pulled the United States from the Paris climate pact and renewed his claim the Panama Canal, just to name a few.

His plans to cut taxes, reduce the size of the US federal government and deregulate industries likely found a sympathetic ear amongst many businesses, though economists warn the policies could rekindle inflation.

US trade partners and rivals already had a chance to react in Davos earlier this week, as they brace for a second round of his America First policies.

Without invoking Trump's name, Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang warned: "There are no winners in a trade war."

European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said Brussels was ready to negotiate with Trump.

But she also underscored the European Union's diverging policy with him on climate, saying the bloc would stick by the Paris accord.

World Trade Organization chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala called on cooler heads to prevail during a WEF panel discussion on tariffs on Thursday, warning that tit-for-tat levies would be "catastrophic" for the world economy.

"Please let's not hyperventilate," she quipped. "I know we are here to discuss tariffs. I've been saying to everybody: could we chill, also?"

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Musk Lashes Out As Trump Backs Sam Altman For World's Largest AI Project

A new era in Artificial Intelligence has dawned in the United States with Donald Trump blessings. Three tech giants, in their pursuit for global dominance in AI, have united for the cause - setting up the world's largest AI project. It will be called 'Stargate'. The announcement was made by Donald Trump at a special press conference at the White House. Elon Musk, however, has cast his doubt over the mega project.

The team which will spearhead the ambitious project includes Sam Altman, founder of ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison, and SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son. Nvidia is also reportedly in talks over a possible partnership in the project, however, there is no confirmation from their side yet.

STARGATE LAUNCH AT WHITE HOUSE

The CEOs of the three firms joined President Donald Trump at the White House to officially launch the Stargate project. Announcing it, President Trump said this will be "the largest AI infrastructure project in history", with an investment of "at least $500 billion", of which the first installment will be $100 billion. The President further said that the project will create more than 100,000 jobs in the US.

Stargate, he said, will build "the physical and virtual infrastructure to power the next generation of AI." Adding to that, Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison said Stargate's first one-million square-feet data centre is already under construction in Texas.

ELON MUSK'S 'FOMO' MOMENT?

Interestingly, one of Donald Trump's biggest supporters and confidant, Elon Musk, has been kept out of the project. Shortly after the White House press conference got over, Elon Musk made a snide remark on his social media platform X. His post seems to suggest that he might be somewhat irked by this mega project.

Announcing The Stargate Project

The Stargate Project is a new company which intends to invest $500 billion over the next four years building new AI infrastructure for OpenAI in the United States. We will begin deploying $100 billion immediately. This infrastructure will secure…

— OpenAI (@OpenAI) January 21, 2025

Replying directly to OpenAI's post on X about Stargate, Elon Musk wrote, "They don't actually have the money ($500 billion)." In another post, he said, "SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority."

SoftBank has well under $10B secured. I have that on good authority.

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 22, 2025

He also engaged with X users who mocked the project. "OpenAI and Microsoft are done," wrote a user, suggesting a fallout between the two tech partners, to which Elon Musk replied, saying "Seems to be the case".

The Tesla, SpaceX, X Chairman, who has his own AI firm 'xAI' - directly competes with Sam Altman's OpenAI.

ELON MUSK vs SAM ALTMAN - FROM OPEN-AI CO-FOUNDERS TO AI NEMESIS

It is also interesting to note that Elon Musk was one of the co-founders of OpenAI when it started in 2015. Being a non-profit, when it required funding, Elon Musk had even funded the project. But Musk left OpenAi in 2018.

In recent times, the relationship between Elon Musk and Sam Altman / OpenAI has soured to a great degree, with the world's richest person suing the ChatGPT maker. Musk has filed multiple lawsuits against OpenAI and Sam Altman, claiming that the ChatGPT-maker violates licensing agreements and anti-trust laws.

In one of his lawsuits, Elon Musk has even claimed that OpenAI and Sam Altman have manipulated him from the very beginning - when they 'lured' him into co-founding the company.

In his latest lawsuit against tech partner-turned-arch-rival Sam Altman, Musk claims the OpenAI case is a "textbook tale of altruism versus greed". Musk further claimed that Sam Altman and his partners betrayed Musk by turning the company from a non-profit into a largely for-profit enterprise. "The perfidy and deceit is of Shakespearean proportions," Musk's lawsuit states.

OpenAI has denied these allegations, however, it is a fact that OpenAI recently declared that it will move from being a 'non-profit' to a 'for-profit' organisation - a move that faced a lot of criticism.

SAM ALTMAN'S THANKS PRESIDENT TRUMP

Sam Altman has now declared that Stargate will solidify America's position as a global leader in AI technology. Thanking President Donald Trump at the White House press conference, Mr Altman said, "I think this will be the most important project of this era, and we wouldn't be able to do this without you, Mr. President."

According to the Wall Street Journal, cloud giant Oracle, which is one of the partners in Stargate, has roughly $11 billion in cash and securities. SoftBank, the third partner in the project has roughly $30 billion. OpenAI, which is running on borrowed funds so far, is a loss-making organisation - But at the press conference the three firms committed to invest an initial $100 billion in the Stargate project, and at least $500 billion over the next four years.
 

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Trump To Send 1,500 Extra Troops To US-MexicoBborder

US President Donald Trump will send 1,500 more soldiers to the border with Mexico as part of a flurry of steps to tackle immigration, his spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

"President Trump signed an executive order for 1,500 additional troops for the United States' southern border," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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Green Hydrogen, Drone City: At Davos, Chandrababu Naidu's To-Do List For Andhra

Andhra Pradesh is working hard to become a green hydrogen hub and to take the lead in the area of artificial intelligence (AI) development, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu told NDTV at the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos.

Green hydrogen is a clean energy source that only emits water vapour and leaves no residue in the air.

Mr Naidu, who comes to Davos as part of the 'India Story', said he is keeping a keen eye on the latest global trends on investments.

"Green energy, green hydrogen, and AI are hot subjects globally. We want to promote and be leaders in them," Mr Naidu said.

He said there are two sides to the speed of doing business.

"Speed of doing business is one aspect. The other aspect is how departments can work to deliver services to citizens effectively and efficiently. We are in an inspiring time. We have access to historical data at a time when AI is becoming mature," the Chief Minister said, adding the combination of real-time data collection, update, and integration will help in creating quick solutions.

"Earlier, I used to talk about transparency. Now, it is a matter of knowledge enhancement. That is what is happening. Speed of doing business is a reality. Business always has to be done within a stipulated time and that is where we are working," Mr Naidu said. "Investors have confidence and faith in us because of a fast track record."

Green Hydrogen

While Andhra wants to be a leader in the area of producing green hydrogen, globally green hydrogen is considered expensive. On whether he is confident that the price will be something which will be viable for people across India, Mr Naidu said, "Global warming is a reality and we are crossing 1.5 [degree Celsius]. Everybody is worried and we are seeing the impacts all over the world. The issue is how to bridge the gap between countries on green energy and green hydrogen. In our state, if you can go for solar, wind and pumped energy, compared to your traditional energy, our average power procurement cost will be less as on today."

He said the area of green hydrogen is slowly maturing, citing the NTPC project for green hydrogen in Visakhapatnam that costs Rs 1.87 lakh crore.

"Greenco is going in a big way. Already, they produced a hybrid model, solar, wind, pumped energy, green energy and now they want to go for green ammonia. They will start producing within a year and are tying up with buyers. So, this is a reality that is slowly maturing," Mr Naidu said.

Drone City

Mr Naidu's government is working to develop a 'drone city' in the state. This will increase mechanisation and bring with it a lot of changes. He gave the example of how drones can take over part of police patrolling work.

"I had to deploy many personnel for police patrolling earlier. Now I can deploy two-three drones and they will patrol. The personnel will intervene and go to the site when needed," Mr Naidu said. "Many other similar applications can be developed in the area of health, education, medicine. When there is a flood, I cannot reach every home. I can send relief material using drones. India has some distance to go for drone applications, which is why I want to prepare use cases."

He said Andhra can give proof of concept, and if it is proven to work, then manufacturers can take over and scale it up.

"This is the model we are working on," Mr Naidu said.

Amaravati Project

Mr Naidu said he developed Hyderabad and created Cyberabad in undivided Andhra, and after bifurcation he has been compelled to develop one more city, Amaravati. "Naturally, it will be the grandest with new technologies and environmental sustainability. India needs new cities... After Chandigarh, cities have only expanded but no new ones have been created."

Mr Naidu said the Centre is doing its best to help the state.

"But my state was in deep trouble after five years of rule, total destruction. Amaravati was almost defunct and destroyed. Polavaram was derailed. Development was totally stopped. I had so many problems... NDA is helping us, but overnight we cannot transform things. A good thing is changes are happening very fast and Amaravati is on track. Polavaram is also going on," Mr Naidu told NDTV.

The five-day meeting at Davos that began on Monday is exploring how to relaunch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting is seeing participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

India's participation at Davos aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India sent five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.

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First Woman To Head US Military Service Fired By Trump

President Donald Trump's administration has removed Admiral Linda Fagan -- the first woman to lead a US military service -- as the head of the Coast Guard.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees the Coast Guard, did not immediately respond to a request on Tuesday for comment on Fagan's dismissal.

Fox News cited a senior official saying reasons included her failure to address border security threats, excessive focus on diversity, equity and inclusion, and an "erosion of trust" over the Coast Guard's investigation into sexual assault cases.

Trump and other Republicans have long railed against government programs aimed at fostering diversity, and border security is a key priority for the president, who declared a national emergency at the US frontier with Mexico on Monday, the first day of his new term.

"She served a long and illustrious career, and I thank her for her service to our nation," acting DHS secretary Benjamine Huffman said in a message to the Coast Guard, which is one of the five US military branches.

Fagan had led the Coast Guard since 2022, and previously held posts including vice commandant of the service.

She "served on all seven continents, from the snows of Ross Island, Antarctica to the heart of Africa, from Tokyo to Geneva, and in many ports along the way," according to an archived version of her biography, which is no longer available on the Coast Guard website.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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"Will Declare National Emergency At US-Mexico Border": Trump's 1st Address

Taking oath as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump said the "golden age" of America has begun and the country will be the envy of every nation. 

In a message filled with hope and threats, interspersed with digs at the outgoing government led by Joe Biden, the Republican, who won a historic mandate in November despite losing in 2020, referred to the assassination attempt on him in Pennsylvania in July and said he was "saved by God to make America great again".

He also received standing ovations when he declared that he would announce a "national emergency" at the southern border in Mexico and a "national energy emergency" that would allow oil extractors to "drill, baby drill" - issues that had been key campaign pitches and resonated with his 'Make America Great Again' (MAGA) supporters. 

Rattling off other key talking points of his campaign, which may have far-reaching consequences, the President said his administration would deport "millions and millions" of undocumented migrants, "tariff and tax" foreign countries, "take back" the Panama Canal and rename the Gulf of Mexico. 

Trump also positioned himself as a "peacemaker and unifier", pointing to some Israeli hostages being handed back by Hamas, and said he would lead the United States of America to new heights - including by sending astronauts to Mars - and make the country "greater than ever".

Speaking after taking oath as messages of congratulations, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, poured in, Mr Trump said, "The Golden age of America begins right now. America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success. A tide of change is sweeping the country. Sunlight is pouring over the entire world. and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before." 

"From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced... And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous, and free," he asserted.

Speaking about the assassination attempt on him, after which Elon Musk - the world's richest man - publicly declared that he was endorsing the Republican, Trump said, "Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom and indeed, to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin's bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then, and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again."

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What's Next For Fusion Power And AI? 3 Business Leaders Explain At Davos

The five-day meeting at Davos beginning Monday will explore how to re-launch growth, harness new technologies and strengthen social and economic resilience, according to the World Economic Forum. The global meeting will see participation by nearly 3,000 leaders from over 130 countries, including 350 governmental leaders.

NDTV spoke to Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO Bob Mumgaard, Abhishek Awadhiya of SimpliAI, and Avanti Fellows founder Akshay Saxena - people who have a real say about where it's all going.

It's been a year of real crisis around the world, whether it's conflict, concerns over sustainable development, and concerns over so many issues, not least of all the future of artificial intelligence (AI) and climate.

Nuclear Fusion Energy

Mr Mumgaard began by giving an overview of the future of nuclear plants in terms of fusion energy and safe operations.

"It's completely different from existing nuclear power. It's the opposite. In fusion, you're combining light elements to make heavier ones the same way the Sun works. That means that there's no meltdown, there's no connection to weapons, and there's no long-lived nuclear waste," said Mr Mumgaard, who is dealing with one of the most interesting aspects of clean energy.

"The issue right now is we still have to develop the technology and deploy it. We're building on the very first power plants right now. Right now, we're about halfway through building the first prototype outside of Boston," he told NDTV.

Mr Mumgaard said his company spun out of MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

"We started about three years ago building this machine. In about two years, we'll turn the machine on, and that'll be an important point in the world where we'll have, for the first time, industrial-scale fusion power being created by people," the Commonwealth Fusion Systems CEO said.

On matters of cost, which will be a key factor in producing clean energy, Mr Mumgaard said the goal with all new sustainable energy is to produce energy in a way that the world can enable growth, which means it has to be low cost.

"And one of the great things about technologies like fusion is you're using all these other technologies that have come before, you're adding them up. And so you're getting the cost advantages that came from new ways to manufacture, you're getting cost advantages that come from simulation and the use of AI and fusion itself. And so we think that this could lead to a low-cost energy source. We need to still build this and have the receipts. And that's what we're working on now," he added.

AI And Workplace Disruptions

Abhishek Awadhiya of SimpliAI said he strongly believes that AI will work in conjunction with humanity and workforce to elevate productivity.

"A lot of our work is - while focused on automation at SimpliAI - we firmly believe that in the near term, all of these AI tools are going to elevate the productivity of workforces across functions and across roles. It's very important for all the players to really make that argument very clear, very succinct to the people at large, so that the fear factor around AI is actually replaced with positivity and hope," Mr Awadhiya said.

On jobs disappearing due to AI in the workplace, he said, "Well, as the report of World Economic Forum itself states that while there'll be about 90 odd million jobs which will be substituted by 2030, but 170 million more would be created. So in my mind, it's like what happened in the Industrial Revolution. Jobs will get substituted, the jobs which are repetitive, low value in nature, with high-value jobs being moved up the value chain to people. And to me, that is what is going to unlock productivity for humanity at large."

Future Of Education And AI

Avanti Fellows founder Akshay Saxena cautioned against going too fast with AI in the area of education.

"I think there's a couple of things to be really careful about, especially when you look at it in the context of a country like India, where we already have massive inequity that's growing. One is, like Abhishek said, that the nature of work will change, which means you'll have to almost work with an AI copilot alongside," Mr Saxena said.

"What are our schools doing to equip kids to do that? And how many kids even have exposure to this? Because the majority of kids in India don't even have cell phones of their own, or access to the internet in any meaningful way. And what does that mean for our colleges? Because India has amongst the largest engineering workforce that we produce, but also amongst the least employable engineering workforce," he said. "So how do we quickly remodel our engineering schools, technical schools to actually make graduates AI ready? And if you don't move quickly on these fronts, this could be quite catastrophic for India's youth."

At Davos, India's participation aims to strengthen partnerships, attract investment, and position the country as a global leader in sustainable development and technological innovation. India is sending five Union ministers, three chief ministers, and ministers from several other states to the WEF this time.

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70 Killed In Nigeria As Petrol Tanker Explodes

A petrol tanker truck exploded after flipping over in central Nigeria on Saturday, killing 70 people who had gathered to take the spilt fuel, the national road safety authority said. 

"The death toll stands at 70 so far," Kumar Tsukwam, the head of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Niger State, told AFP by telephone. 

Tsukwam said a truck carrying 60,000 litres of gasoline had an accident Saturday around 10:00 am (0900 GMT) at the Dikko junction on the road linking the federal capital Abuja to the northern city of Kaduna.

"Most of the victims were burnt beyond recognition," Tsukwam said. "We are at the scene to clear things up."

The price of gasoline has increased fivefold in 18 months in Nigeria in the midst of a serious economic crisis, leading many to risk their lives to recover fuel during road accidents. 

Niger State Governor Umaru Bago said in a statement that the explosion was "worrisome, heartbreaking and unfortunate".

He said an undisclosed number of people also experienced various degrees of burns.

In October, more than 170 people died in a similar incident in Jigawa State, in the north of Africa's most populous country. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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'Mass Arrests Of Illegal Migrants Day After Trump's Oath': US 'Border Czar'

US immigration authorities will carry out mass arrests of undocumented immigrants across the country on Tuesday, a top border official in the incoming administration of Donald Trump has said.

The move would be among the first by Republican Trump, who returns to the White House on Monday, to uphold a campaign pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants from the United States.

The remarks on Friday by Trump's incoming "border czar" Tom Homan to Fox News came in response to reports in the Wall Street Journal and other US outlets that Trump's new administration planned to carry out an "immigration raid" in Chicago beginning Tuesday.

"There's going to be a big raid across the country. Chicago is just one of many places," said Homan, a former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) who oversaw a policy that separated migrant parents and children at the border under the first Trump administration.

"On Tuesday, ICE is finally going to go out and do their job. We're going to take the handcuffs off ICE and let them go arrest criminal aliens," he said in the interview.

"What we're telling ICE, you're going to enforce the immigration law without apology. You're going to concentrate on the worst first, public safety threats first, but no one is off the table. If they're in the country illegally, they got a problem," Homan added.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the "large-scale immigration raid" in Chicago was expected to start on Tuesday, a day after Trump's inauguration, would "last all week" and would involve 100 to 200 ICE officers, citing four unnamed people familiar with the operation's planning.

Don Terry, a Chicago police spokesman, told the New York Times that the department would not "intervene or interfere with any other government agencies performing their duties."

But he said the department "does not document immigration status" and "will not share information with federal immigration authorities."

Midwestern Chicago is one of several Democrat-led US cities that have declared themselves "sanctuaries" for migrants -- meaning they will not be arrested solely for not having legal immigrant status.

A Trump representative did not immediately respond to a request for comment from AFP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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From Oath To Parade: Everything You Need To Know About Trump's Inauguration

Donald Trump will be sworn in as president of the United States on Monday, ushering in his second term in office and capping one of the most astounding political comebacks in American history.

Inauguration Day is, by tradition, largely dedicated to pomp and circumstance. One president leaves the White House, and another moves in. But Trump, a Republican, also has pledged to sign a flurry of executive orders on subjects ranging from border security to oil and gas production on his first day in office.

Here is what we know about Inauguration Day so far:

WHEN IS THE INAUGURATION?

Trump will take the oath of office, administered by Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts, at 12 p.m. EST (1700 GMT). It was originally due to take place in front of the U.S. Capitol but will now take place inside the congressional complex because of bitter cold.

Trump will then deliver his inaugural address. In interviews, he has said he intends it to be uplifting and unifying. That would mark a departure from his first Inauguration Day speech in 2017, which detailed a broken country he described as "American Carnage."

The outgoing president, Democrat Joe Biden, has said he plans to attend the ceremony and witness the transfer of power, a courtesy Trump did not afford him four years earlier.

Country music star Carrie Underwood is scheduled to perform at the swearing-in ceremony, according to a copy of the official program seen by Reuters.

WHO IS INVITED?

Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the ceremony. Historically, they have not attended the inauguration due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead.

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, a strong supporter of Trump's, has said he will attend, according to reports.

Another Trump backer, Hungary's Viktor Orban, will not be attending, his spokesman said this week. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has said she hopes to attend. Chinese President Xi Jinping is not attending, despite an invitation, but is sending an envoy.

Trump adviser Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Jeff Bezos, executive chairman of Amazon and Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta Platforms, are also attending.

PARADE TO THE WHITE HOUSE

The temperatures have also forced organizers to scrap a planned parade down Pennsylvania Avenue of military regiments, school marching bands, floats and citizens' groups. The parade will now take place at the 20,000-seat Capital One Arena in downtown Washington.

GETTING TO WORK

Two sources familiar with the planning said Trump is preparing a flood of executive orders and directives that could total more than 100 starting on Day One.

He is expected to sign orders that give immigration officers more latitude to arrest migrants with no criminal records, send more troops to the U.S.-Mexico border and restart construction of a border wall.

The orders will include a drive to increase energy production and follow through on Trump's oft-stated campaign vow to "drill, baby, drill."

Trump also is likely to issue a first wave of pardons for defendants convicted for their participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

PARTIES AND A RALLY

There will be at least 18 inaugural galas held throughout Washington over the weekend and Monday, three of which are considered official and which Trump is expected to attend.

On Sunday, the eve of the inauguration, Trump is set to hold a campaign-style "Make America Great Again Victory Rally" at the Capital One Arena.

Such an event likely will help spur thousands of Trump's supporters to pack the city for the inaugural festivities. It would be Trump's first rally in the District of Columbia since the Jan. 6, 2021, incident.

On Monday, Meta's Zuckerberg will co-host a reception for billionaire Republican donors along with casino magnate Miriam Adelson and Houston Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta, Trump's pick for ambassador to Italy.

Oil and gas tycoon Harold Hamm, a top Trump donor, will host an inauguration watch party on Monday on the roof of the historic Hay-Adams hotel near the White House.

WHO COVERS THE COSTS?

The official events are financed by Trump's inauguration committee, which is chaired by longtime Trump allies Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer who is Trump's pick to be his Middle East envoy, and Kelly Loeffler, a former U.S. senator and Trump's choice to head the Small Business Administration.

The committee will be responsible for covering the costs of everything but the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol, which is borne by taxpayers.

Bezos and Zuckerberg pledged to donate $1 million each to the committee, as have Apple CEO Tim Cook and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman. Uber and its CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, have each donated $1 million to the fund.

Trump raised a record $106.7 million for his 2017 inauguration festivities. His committee has raised more than $170 million this time, according to media reports.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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