Donald J. Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician who served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021. Trump began his career in real estate, inheriting his father's business and expanding it into a global brand known for luxury properties, hotels, and golf courses. His flair for self-promotion and bold business ventures made him a prominent figure in the 1980s and 1990s.
Trump gained national fame as the host of the reality TV show "The Apprentice," where his catchphrase, "You're fired," became iconic. In 2015, he announced his candidacy for the presidency as a Republican, running on a platform of economic nationalism, immigration reform, and "America First" policies. His outsider status, unconventional campaign style, and appeal to disaffected voters led to a surprising victory in the 2016 election.
During his presidency, Trump implemented tax cuts, deregulation, and a hardline stance on immigration and trade. His tenure was marked by controversy, including two impeachments.
In an interview on Chakravyuh, Dr. John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist of the Gulf Research Center, analysed the escalating geopolitical and economic crisis across West Asia.
In this edition of Statecraft, anchor Geeta Mohan analyses key geopolitical developments across the globe. At the United Nations General Assembly, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended strikes on Iran and displayed a Starlink terminal alongside references to pager explosions, amid a walkout by delegates and a cancelled meeting with Elon Musk. Meanwhile in Washington, US President Donald Trump welcomed Chinese President Xi Jinping with full ceremonial honours, agreeing to extend the bilateral trade truce by two months while strategic disagreements over Taiwan, artificial intelligence, and rare earths persisted. The broadcast examines the regional implications of potential US-China rapprochement for India and the wider Indo-Pacific. Additionally, the programme covers Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif evading questions on Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed at the UN, as well as Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's new cabinet decree prohibiting face coverings in schools and capping non-Italian speakers at 30% per classroom.
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for bilateral talks lasting approximately an hour and a half, followed by a state dinner. Key business figures, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, and former Apple CEO Tim Cook, attended the dinner. Trump presented Xi with a crafted bald eagle sculpture, while both leaders addressed the gathering, emphasizing mutual respect, bilateral ties, and future trade relations. Xi emphasized that competition should remain healthy, bilateral cooperation should benefit both nations, and artificial intelligence must develop under human control. Despite discussions on trade and bilateral ties, no official joint statement was released following the bilateral talks, indicating contentious matters remain unresolved. During the visit, Trump also led Xi on a tour of the White House Presidential Walk of Fame.
A morning business bulletin covers key financial developments, policy updates, and corporate events. The central government has clarified that there is no proposal to rethink Merchant Discount Rate on the Unified Payments Interface, nor is there any proposal to exempt fuel from it, while efforts with the Indian Banks' Association are being explored to ensure costs are not passed to consumers. In corporate updates, Tata Sons has rejected Noel Tata's objections to the reappointment of N. Chandrasekaran, citing majority board validity and legal opinions from former Chief Justice of India U. U. Lalit and former Supreme Court Judge B. N. Srikrishna ahead of shareholder ratification. Meanwhile, domestic stock indices opened mildly lower with the Nifty near 23,054, amid fluctuations in IT and banking shares alongside commentary on Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India consultation proposals. Additionally, the bulletin touches upon Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's remarks on trade pact negotiations and a high-profile dinner hosted in Washington.
United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a crucial bilateral meeting lasting around one and a half hours at the White House. The two leaders emphasised mutual respect, cooperation, and the historical ties between their nations, while acknowledging the need to build a balanced trade relationship. During the visit, the two countries agreed to extend their tariff truce until 10 January, granting negotiators additional time to pursue a broader economic agreement. An artificial intelligence dialogue was also announced, with both sides noting the necessity for artificial intelligence to develop under human control. Despite positive optics, no joint press conference or joint statement was issued following the talks. Key issues including tariffs, rare earth supplies, agricultural purchases, market access, technology, and geopolitical tensions surrounding Taiwan and sanctions remain critical sticking points between Washington and Beijing.
Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping shared a lighthearted moment during a walk through a White House presidential display. Trump mocked former US President Joe Biden with an autopen joke while pointing at presidential portraits. Trump displayed his own photographs with Biden positioned in between, referring to the former president as autopen. The interaction drew notable laughter from President Xi, presenting unusual optics during a high-profile diplomatic visit.
United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping held a crucial 1.5-hour bilateral meeting in Washington on September 24. Addressing the gathering, President Trump referenced historical co-operation during World War II, stating that both nations can achieve much by focusing on common interests to forge a better future. President Xi expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown to him and his wife Madame Peng, calling for both sides to move forward together and write a new chapter in friendly ties. The meeting took place against a backdrop of continuing issues between the two nations, including differences over Taiwan, artificial intelligence, sanctions, and global conflicts. While the leadership projected positive diplomatic optics, no joint press conference was held, and no joint statements or big-ticket policy announcements were released immediately following the discussions. Protests and clashes involving media personnel were also observed outside the venue as experts and lawmakers continue to watch for concrete diplomatic outcomes from the visit.
US President Donald Trump hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping at the White House for a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office during a two-day state visit. The meeting commenced following a ceremonial military review held in the Rose Garden. Discussions between the two leaders covered a wide range of critical topics, including bilateral trade, the economy, supply chains, rare earth elements, artificial intelligence competition, and energy security. Regional and international security concerns were also on the agenda, specifically Taiwan, the Indo-Pacific, and ongoing conflicts involving Russia, Ukraine, and Iran. Following the one-and-a-half-hour discussion, President Trump gave President Xi a brief tour of the newly constructed helipad and ballroom before seeing him off. While no joint press conference took place, separate readouts and statements are expected from Washington and Beijing detailing the discussions, ahead of an official state dinner scheduled for the evening.
This news report details the political confrontation following reports that Election Commissioners Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Vivek Joshi submitted fourteen formal objections against decisions by Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar regarding the nationwide Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, centralized voter data systems, and modifications to Form 6. Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and P. Chidambaram demanded the resignation or impeachment of the Chief Election Commissioner and sought a parliamentary committee review. The Bharatiya Janata Party countered the allegations by citing Articles 324 to 326 of the Constitution and statutory appeal provisions. RTI activist Anjali Bhardwaj and former Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa analyzed the centralization of voter list modifications, with Lavasa calling for the cancellation of Phase 3 of the revision exercise. The broadcast also reports on the student suicide case at IIT Bombay involving Sahil Wakode, legal observations against media trials, and the bilateral meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping in Washington.
The INDIA bloc is set to move an impeachment motion against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar in Parliament amid reported internal rifts and objections by two Election Commissioners regarding the SIR exercise.
A war of words erupted between the United States and Iran at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following three-hour-long bilateral discussions. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended Tehran's record, asserting that Iran has not attacked another nation for two centuries and maintaining that its access to peaceful nuclear technology remains non-negotiable. He also accused the US and Israel of targeting innocent civilians and causing instability. During his address, the US delegation staged a walkout from the UNGA hall. The confrontation followed remarks by Donald Trump, who issued severe warnings regarding the failure to reach an agreement, calling Iran a sponsor of terror and insisting that Tehran must never possess a nuclear weapon. Trump urged international nations to pursue economic isolation against Iran over maritime security concerns and nuclear ambitions, while Iranian leadership affirmed that Iran seeks regional cooperation and will not surrender under foreign threats.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States for a high-profile state visit, marking a notable bilateral engagement with US President Donald Trump. In a rare diplomatic gesture not seen in over six decades, President Trump personally welcomed the Chinese leader upon arrival at the air base outside Washington. The visit sets the stage for extensive bilateral meetings at the White House and delegation-level discussions focusing on trade, artificial intelligence, critical minerals, and supply chain frictions. While contentious issues regarding technology, tariffs, and geopolitical disputes remain prominent, both nations aim to maintain strategic stability and prevent escalation into open confrontation. Pre-summit discussions between economic officials have also addressed trade truces and upcoming state dinner engagements featuring leading technology industry leaders.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States on a three-day visit for his second summit meeting with US President Donald Trump in less than six months. Accompanied by Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, Xi landed at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, where they were received at the airport by President Trump and First Lady Melania Trump. The reception marked the first time since 1962 that a sitting US president personally welcomed a foreign head of state at the airport, featuring a 100-foot red carpet, a 21-person honour cordon, and ceremonial cannon fire. Addressing reporters after the greeting, Trump noted discussions would cover various subjects, including Iran.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in the United States on a three-day official visit, marking his second summit meeting with US President Donald Trump in less than six months. In a rare diplomatic gesture not seen since 1962, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump received Xi Jinping and Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan directly at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland. The arrival featured a red carpet reception, a 21-person honour cordon, and ceremonial cannon fire. Highlighting the agenda, bilateral discussions are set to address critical areas of friction, including trade, technology, supply chains, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and geopolitical developments concerning Iran and Russia. Analysts note that while deep disagreements persist, the high-level engagement reflects an effort to establish guardrails, manage strategic competition, and stabilise diplomatic ties between the world's two largest economies.
In an interview with India Today, John Sfakianakis, Chief Economist and Head of Economic Research at the Gulf Research Center and Associate Fellow at Chatham House, analyzed the feasibility of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) and mounting Middle East tensions. Evaluating the corridor, Sfakianakis noted, "IMEC can help the Strait of Hormuz, but it cannot replace the Strait of Hormuz." He highlighted major political, diplomatic, and infrastructural hurdles facing the project, pointing out that Saudi Arabia and Israel lack diplomatic ties and that the Arabian Peninsula currently lacks cross-border rail links. Addressing regional geopolitical friction, he explained that Saudi Arabia maintains a two-state solution for Palestine as a prerequisite for normalized ties with Israel. Sfakianakis also warned of broader economic ramifications from persistent conflicts involving Iran, Russia, and the United States, stressing that rising inflation remains the primary threat confronting global economies.
The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor has gained renewed focus following support from US President Donald Trump amidst ongoing conflict in West Asia and disruptions to shipping routes at Bab el-Mandab and the Strait of Hormuz. First unveiled during India's G20 presidency in September 2023, the multimodal network combines rail, road, sea routes, pipelines, and digital cables linking India, the Gulf, and Europe. With attacks threatening critical energy flows, fertilizers, and commercial vessels, IMEC is viewed as an alternative route to diversify global supply chains away from vulnerable maritime chokepoints, though ongoing regional instability and infrastructure demands present operational delays.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly condemned the United States and Israel during his address at the United Nations General Assembly following a military escalation. Addressing accusations of sponsoring terrorism, the Iranian President asserted that Iran has been a victim of terrorism rather than a perpetrator. He highlighted US and Israeli strikes targeting civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities, a sports hall in Lamert, and the Minab school bombing that claimed the lives of 120 schoolgirls. Recalling the assassination of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, Pezeshkian accused both nations of attempting to destabilise the region and the world, maintaining that Iran acted solely in self-defence against foreign aggression.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar raised serious concerns with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio regarding a US Senate sanctions bill aimed at Russia and Iran. The proposed legislation empowers US President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on the top buyers of Russian oil and gas, directly impacting India and China. While Indian refiners imported roughly 45 percent of their crude from Russia in August, Indian officials highlight that these imports stabilise global energy markets. The tariff tensions unfold alongside preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping's official visit to the United States.
Tensions escalated at the United Nations General Assembly in New York following former US President Donald Trump's address targeting Iran. Trump labelled the country as a leading sponsor of terrorism, accusing the regime of spreading carnage and chaos across the Middle East. While reiterating that Washington had offered economic cooperation in exchange for halting nuclear ambitions, he noted that talks were rejected and maintained that Iran would never be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. Meanwhile, all eyes are on Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian's upcoming speech on American soil at the assembly, amid speculation over whether any diplomatic engagement or retaliatory rhetoric will unfold between the two sides.
External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. The meeting comes ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's planned visit to the United States in December to attend the G20 summit in Florida, where a bilateral meeting between PM Modi and President Donald Trump is scheduled. Both nations remain focused on addressing key issues, including trade negotiations. Dr Jaishankar is also expected to address the UNGA in the coming days.
