President Trump unveils new trade policy focused on reciprocity and fairness

U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a new trade policy centered on fairness and reciprocity, announcing that the U.S. would implement reciprocal tariffs. This means the US will charge other countries the same tariffs they impose on American goods.

Trump stressed that this approach would target unfair trade practices, including non-monetary barriers, subsidies, and VAT systems. He also encouraged foreign nations to either reduce or eliminate tariffs on U.S. products.

US-India Strategic Partnership Forum hails substantive outcomes of Modi-Trump meeting

The U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) has congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump for the substantive outcomes achieved during their first meeting after Trump’s inauguration on January 20. The USISPF emphasized that the meeting reinforced the strength of the partnership between the two nations.

In a statement, the USISPF noted, “The meeting reaffirmed the strength of the U.S.-India partnership, grounded in shared democratic values, deepening economic collaboration, and a commitment to regional and global security in securing a free and prosperous Indo-Pacific.”

Modi-Trump Summit: Trade Talks, Tariff Tensions, and a $500 Billion Bilateral Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first visit to Washington after Donald Trump began his second term in the White House was a subdued, business-first affair. While India and the U.S. agreed to negotiate a bilateral trade deal expected to reach $500 billion by 2030, Trump also highlighted increased defense sales to India, including F-35 jets, and oil and gas exports to narrow the trade deficit between the two nations.

India rejects Trump’s offer to mediate with China

India has swiftly turned down President Donald Trump’s offer to “help” mediate an end to border skirmishes with China, saying that New Delhi follows a bilateral approach to deal with issues.

“Whatever issues we have with any of our neighbors, we have always adopted a bilateral approach to dealing with these issues,” Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said at a news briefing to wrap up Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s two-day visit to the US to meet with President Trump after his return to the White House for a second non-consecutive second term.

Trump slams BRICS, warns of 100% tariffs if group launches rival currency

U.S. President Donald Trump has launched a harsh critique of BRICS, claiming it would be “dead” if the group ever launched a rival currency, despite the fact that India has already dismissed such a proposal.

If BRICS wants “to play games with the dollar, then they’re going to be hit with a 100 percent tariff the day they mention that they want to do it,” Trump said on Thursday, February 13, before his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship halted by court injunction

On February 10, a federal court in New Hampshire issued a preliminary injunction blocking President Trump’s executive order aimed at stripping U.S. citizenship from certain babies born in the United States.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), along with several state and national civil rights organizations, including ACLU of New Hampshire, ACLU of Maine, ACLU of Massachusetts, Asian Law Caucus, State Democracy Defenders Fund, and Legal Defense Fund.

Modi to discuss energy, defense with Trump during visit on Feb 12, 13

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will discuss cooperation and collaboration in energy and defense sectors with President Donald Trump during his U.S. visit on February 12 and 13. Modi is also scheduled to interact with senior leaders of the U.S. administration during his visit. This will be the first visit of Modi to the U.S. since the inauguration of President Donald Trump.

Trump signs executive order targeting ICC, accuses court of unfair actions

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing it of unfairly targeting the United States and Israel. The sanctions include financial and visa restrictions on individuals who help with ICC investigations into American citizens or allies.

Trump signed the order while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was visiting Washington. The ICC had previously issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu over alleged war crimes in Gaza, which Israel denies. The ICC also issued a warrant for a Hamas commander.

Second federal judge rules against Trump’s birthright citizenship executive order

A federal judge in Maryland temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at ending birthright citizenship on Wednesday, February 5, marking the second such ruling against the president as legal challenges to his directive mount across the country, reported CBS News.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman, appointed by President Joe Biden, granted a preliminary injunction sought by immigrant rights organizations following a hearing on the case.

Trump fires Biden-appointed CFPB Director Rohit Chopra

United States Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Rohit Chopra was fired on Saturday, cutting short his five-year term that was set to run through late 2026, The New York Times reported. Chopra, who had been leading the CFPB since 2021, expressed gratitude for his tenure and highlighted the agency’s efforts to hold financial institutions accountable and protect consumers.

Trump signs bill to deport undocumented immigrants

President Donald Trump has signed the Laken Riley Act into law, reinforcing his administration’s mass deportation agenda with bipartisan support from Congress. The legislation, which amends the Immigration and Nationality Act in six ways, passed with a 263-156 vote in the House, including backing from 46 Democrats, after a 64-35 Senate vote.

President Trump pledges to improve aviation safety after devastating crash

President Donald Trump expressed his deep sorrow over the tragic plane crash near Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC, calling it a “devastating moment” in the nation’s history. Acknowledging the loss of life both domestically and internationally, including Russian nationals on board, he vowed that efforts would be made to uncover the cause of the crash and prevent future disasters.

In a press briefing on the aviation tragedy, Trump said, “Sadly, there are no survivors. This was a dark and excruciating night in our nation’s capital and in our nation’s history and a tragedy of terrible proportions as we grieve for every precious soul that has been taken from us so suddenly. This is really shaking a lot of people, including people from other nations.”

Trump’s approval rating at 49% in new poll after first week of second term

Just over a week into Donald Trump’s second presidency, his approval rating stands at 49%, according to the first Emerson College Polling survey of his new administration, reported The Hill.

The poll released on Thursday shows Trump’s approval is about the same as the support he received in the November election. His disapproval rating is 41%, which is the lowest Emerson has recorded for Trump since his first term, with 10% of people expressing a neutral opinion.

Asian Law Caucus Challenges Trump’s Birthright Citizenship Order in Federal Court

“If you are born here, you are a citizen.” 

That’s the message Aarti Kohli, Executive Director of the Asian Law Caucus, emphasized as her organization joined a coalition filing lawsuits against President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

The Supreme Court resolved the issue in 1898, Kohli said, making birthright citizenship a constitutional guarantee that no executive order can undo.

Trump asks Elon Musk’s SpaceX to bring astronauts Sunita Williams and Barry Wilmore home

Elon Musk’s SpaceX will now bring back Indian-American astronaut Sunita Williams. Her return to Earth has been delayed. Elon Musk posted on X (formerly Twitter): “The President has asked SpaceX to bring home the 2 astronauts stranded on the ISS as soon as possible. We will do so. Terrible that the Biden administration left them there so long.” According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Williams and Butch Wilmore, who are stuck in space, will not return before the end of March 2025.

Judge Blasts Trump’s Citizen Birthright Order But Will It Stand?

States, legal experts, and immigration and civil rights advocates are welcoming a Seattle federal judge’s sharp rebuke of President Trump’s executive order seeking to end birthright citizenship.

U.S. District Judge John C. Coughenour called Trump’s move “blatantly unconstitutional.” The ruling, issued in response to a lawsuit brought by four states — Washington, Arizona, Illinois, and Oregon — halts the order for 14 days. Although temporary, the decision has offered a sense of hope for those challenging the measure.