Trump 2.0 Highlights| Trump signs executive order suspending migrant entry at US southern border

US brings up India's irregular migration as Jaishankar meets counterpart Marco Rubio

At his maiden meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, newly-appointed Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed Trump administration's desire to advance economic ties with India, and address concerns related to irregular migration, a spokesperson for the top US diplomat said Tuesday.

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India set to take back 18,000 citizens from US to placate Trump

The US has identified some 18,000 illegal Indian migrants to be sent back home, for which India will verify and start the process of deportation, according to people familiar with the matter.

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Trump issues order against DEI in federal workforce, contracting and private sector

Republican US President Donald Trump issued an executive order on Tuesday that asks government agency chiefs to combat Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) policies in federal agencies, contracting and the private sector, the White House said.

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Hegseth ex-sister-in-law tells Senators he was ‘Abusive’ to second wife

An ex-sister-in-law of Pete Hegseth’s submitted a sworn statement to senators on Tuesday that accused Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, of being so “abusive” toward his second wife that she once hid in a closet from him and had a safe word to call for help if she needed to get away from him.

22 Democratic led US states sue over Donald Trump move to end birthright citizenship

After Donald Trump announced to end birthright citizenship which guaranteed citizenship to US born children regardless of their parents’ status attorney general from 22 states sued to block President Donald Trump’s move, reports AP

Panama complains to UN over Trump canal threat, starts audit, reports AFP

I like competent people coming to US: says President Trump amid H-1B visa debate

US President Donald Trump has said he likes both sides of the argument on the H-1B foreign guest workers' visa, noting that the country needs "very competent" and "great" people which is possible through this visa programme.

Trump also said that he has also used the H-1B visa programme.

The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise.

(PTI)

Indian-American lawmakers oppose executive order on birthright citizenship

Indian-American lawmakers have opposed the executive order by US President Donald Trump on changes in birthright citizenship, a move likely to hit not only illegal immigrants from around the world but also students and professionals from India.

(PTI)

Bishop tells Trump to ‘have mercy’ on immigrants and gay children

Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde was nearing the end of her sermon for the inaugural prayer service on Tuesday when she took a breath and looked directly at President Donald Trump.

“I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” said Budde, the leader of the Episcopal Diocese of Washington. “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.”

The direct appeal to Trump, at the start of the first full day of his presidency, was a remarkable moment. Twenty-four hours after he had reclaimed the highest office in the land, summoning tech billionaires as witnesses and pulling off a sweeping display of power by signing of a flurry of executive orders, he was suddenly confronted by an extraordinary act of public resistance from an unlikely source: a soft-spoken bishop.

(New York Times)

Trump Administration shuts down White House Spanish-language page, social media, reports AP

Within hours of President Donald Trump's inauguration, the new administration took down the Spanish-language version of official White House website, reports AP.

The site now gives users an “Error 404” message.

Trump says EU 'in for tariffs', warns of 10% rate on China, reports AP

Panama Canal 'not a gift' from US, president says after Trump threat, reports AFP

Panama complains to UN over Trump canal threat, starts audit

Panama has complained to the United Nations over US President Donald Trump's "worrying" threat to seize the Panama Canal, even as it launched an audit of the Hong Kong-linked operator of two ports on the interoceanic waterway.

-AFP

India and US trying to arrange Modi meeting with Trump next month: Report

Indian and U.S. diplomats are trying to arrange a meeting in February between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington, two Indian sources familiar with the discussions told Reuters.

India, a strategic partner of the United States in its efforts to counter China, is keen to enhance trade relations with the U.S. and make it easier for its citizens to get skilled worker visas, two topics that will be on the agenda if the leaders meet, the sources said.

Trump's return to the White House has raised worries among officials in New Delhi about imposition of tariffs on India, which he has listed as one of the countries that has high tariffs on U.S. products and has indicated that he favoured reciprocating them.

But the sources said New Delhi was willing to offer some concessions to Washington - although it has not been officially informed of any plans by U.S. to impose reciprocal tariffs - and was also open to offering incentives to attract more U.S. investment in India.

-Reuters

Pardons by Trump, Biden reveal distrust of each other, wobbly faith in criminal justice system

A day that began with the outgoing president's pardon of lawmakers and his own family ended with the incoming president's pardon of supporters who violently stormed the US Capitol four years ago.

The clemency grants by departing President Joe Biden and new President Donald Trump — one benefiting uncharged people not accused of wrongdoing, the other aiding rioters convicted of violent felonies — are vastly different in scope, impact and their meaning for the rule of law.

But the remarkable flex of executive authority in a 12-hour span also shows the men's deeply rooted suspicion of one another, with both signalling to their supporters that the tall pillars of the criminal justice system — facts, evidence and law — could not be trusted as foundational principles in each other's administrations.

-AP

There is always hope that Trump will choose rationality: Iran Official Zarif

He added that Iran hoped Trump will be more serious, more focused and more realistic

-Reuters

UN nuclear chief urges dialogue between Trump, Iran

The head of the UN nuclear watchdog called on the Trump administration and Iran on Wednesday to hold talks, as Tehran has accelerated its production of enriched uranium.

Rafael Grossi, the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said dialogue was "absolutely indispensable" to move forward in nuclear negotiations with Tehran.

"Without that dialogue, there's not going to be any progress," Grossi told reporters at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

-AFP

Macron says Europe must protect sovereignty in face of Trump's return

"After the inauguration of a new administration in the United States, it is necessary more than ever for Europeans and for our two countries to play their role of consolidating a united, strong and sovereign Europe," Macron said.

-Reuters

Mexico builds temporary shelters to prepare for mass deportations from US

Mexican authorities have begun constructing giant tent shelters in the city of Ciudad Juarez to prepare for a possible influx of Mexicans deported under US President Donald Trump's promised mass deportations.

The temporary shelters in Ciudad Juarez will have the capacity to house thousands of people and should be ready in a matter of days, said municipal official Enrique Licon.

Trump administration cancels travel for refugees already cleared to resettle in US

Refugees who had been approved to travel to the United States before a January 27 deadline suspending America's refugee resettlement program have had their travel plans cancelled by the Trump administration.

-AP

South Africa not concerned about their relationship US: President Ramaphosa

-Reuters

Trump tells Putin to make Ukraine deal 'now' or face tariffs, sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened Russia "and other participating countries" with taxes, tariffs and sanctions if a deal to end the war in Ukraine is not struck soon. Without a deal, Trump said in a post on Truth Social, "I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries."

Trump did not identify the countries that he considered to be participants.

-Reuters

Pope Francis will not veto Trump's Vatican ambassador pick, officials say

Pope Francis is not expected to veto President Donald Trump's choice of a high-profile critic of his papacy as the next U.S. ambassador to the Holy See, according to two senior Vatican officials, despite misgivings about his stance on many issues.

Brian Burch, who leads a right-wing advocacy group, has said the pope's pastoral agenda, such as being more welcoming of LGBTQ Catholics, was causing "massive confusion" for the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

Trump nominated Burch for the Vatican role in December. At the time, Austen Ivereigh, a papal advisor who co-authored a book with Francis in 2020, said the Vatican had "every right" to refuse to accredit Burch as ambassador.

-Reuters

White House sidelines staffers detailed to National Security Council, aligning team to Trump agenda

President Donald Trump's national security adviser is sidelining roughly 160 career government employees on temporary duty at the White House National Security Council, telling them to work from home for the time-being as the administration reviews staffing for the White House arm that provides national security and foreign policy advice to the president, Trump administration officials told The Associated Press.

US military preparing to send additional 1,000 troops to border, official says

The United States military is preparing to send about 1,000 additional active-duty troops to the border with Mexico, a U.S. official said, just two days after President Donald Trump signed an executive order on immigration.

The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, did not say when the troops would be deployed. But they would be joining thousands of active-duty National Guard troops already on the border.

Trump signs executive order to suspend physical entry of migrants through southern border

Secretary of State Rubio discusses Iran, Gaza hostages with Israeli PM Netanyahu

Trump administration readying order to stop virus research: Report

Trump nominates former CKE Restaurants CEO Puzder as US ambassador to EU

President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he is nominating Andrew Puzder, a former CEO of CKE Restaurants, as his choice for U.S. ambassador to the European Union, a day after the new U.S. leader vowed to hit the EU with tariffs.

Puzder was nominated to be labor secretary during Trump's first administration but withdrew amid concerns he could not garner enough Senate votes to be confirmed.

Trump says the EU and other countries had troubling trade surpluses with the United States.

"The European Union is very, very bad to us," he said on Tuesday, repeating comments made Monday when he took office.

"So they're going to be in for tariffs. It's the only way ... you're going to get fairness." (Reuters)