Iran condemns Trump’s renewed travel ban as “racist”
Iran has strongly criticised US President Donald Trump’s new executive order restricting travel from 19 countries, including Iran, calling the move “racist” and evidence of deep-seated hostility toward Muslims and Iranians.
The policy, announced earlier this week and set to take effect Monday, mirrors similar measures from Trump’s previous term. Trump defended the order as necessary for national security, according to Al Jazeera.
Senior Iranian Foreign Ministry official Alireza Hashemi-Raja denounced the action as discriminatory and against international standards. He cautioned that the United States might face international legal repercussions.
The ban affects countries across Africa and the Middle East, with limited restrictions applied to several others. Despite tensions, the US hosts the largest Iranian diaspora, with about 1.5m Iranians residing there, Al Jazeera reported.
Trump fires back at Musk over Epstein claim
US President Donald Trump intensified his feud with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Friday, dismissing any chances of reconciliation. Referring to Musk as his former “First Buddy,” Trump claimed the tech billionaire is “losing his mind.”
The dispute arises from Musk's recent social media post accusing Trump of being named in documents relating to Jeffrey Epstein. In response, Trump shared a statement on TruthSocial from Epstein's former defense attorney, David Schoen, who refuted the allegations, adding, "Epstein had no information to harm President Trump, Firstpost reported.
US, China set for trade talks in London
US President Donald Trump has announced a new round of trade talks with China, set for Monday in London, following a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping aimed at easing tariff tensions.
The US delegation will comprise Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, according to Reuters.
This is the second round of discussions since President Trump announced tariffs of up to 145 percent on Chinese goods, causing China to counter with 125 percent tariffs. A temporary tariff reduction deal reached last month is set to expire in August, with Trump accusing China of violating the agreement.
Key US concerns include restricted mineral exports, fentanyl trafficking, Taiwan, and China's economic practices. Despite the tensions, Trump stated the conversation with Xi as "positive," raising hopes for progress, Reuters reported.
Supreme Court backs Trump administration on records access
The US Supreme Court has ruled in favor of President Donald Trump’s administration in two key cases concerning government data access, according to CNN.
In a 6-3 decision, the conservative majority enabled the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to access Social Security data while ruling that it is not compelled to provide certain records under the Freedom of Information Act. Liberal justices dissented.
DOGE was established upon Trump's 2024 re-election to reduce bureaucracy and reform government agencies. The agency, which was initially chaired by Elon Musk, has come under fire for its transparency and aggressive changes. Musk's resignation has raised questions about DOGE's leadership, CNN reported.
