Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday thanked US President Donald Trump for his “leadership role” in finalising a “historic” trade agreement between the two countries. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a press conference.(AP file)

“I wish to convey my profound thanks to President Trump for his leadership role in finalization of the historic US-Pakistan trade agreement, successfully concluded by our two sides in Washington, last night,” Shehbaz Sharif said in a post on X.

Calling it a “landmark deal,” Sharif said it would boost bilateral cooperation and “expand the frontiers of our enduring partnership in days to come.”

Donald Trump has announced sealing a trade deal with Pakistan and said that Washington will work with Islamabad to develop what he described as the South Asian nation’s “massive oil reserves”.

It is not immediately clear what massive oil reserves in Pakistan Trump was referring to.

In a social media post, the US President also wondered if Pakistan could sell oil to India “some day”.

“We have just concluded a deal with the country of Pakistan, whereby Pakistan and the United States will work together on developing their massive oil reserves,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social on Wednesday.

“We are in the process of choosing the oil company that will lead this partnership. Who knows, maybe they’ll be selling oil to India some day!” the US president added.

There was no immediate reaction from Pakistan on the trade deal with the US.

Pakistan currently imports oil from the Middle East to meet its energy demands, but there are reports about vast offshore deposits that are largely unexplored due to a lack of technical expertise and funds. The country has been trying to lure in investments to tap into these reserves.

The announcement came hours after Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India, plus an additional penalty for purchases of Russian military equipment and energy.

In a social media post, Trump termed India’s trade policies as “most strenuous and obnoxious”.

“All things not good! India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first,” Trump said.

During the day, he spoke multiple times about the tariffs that India imposes and referred to India’s membership in the BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) grouping, which he described as “anti-US”.

Responding to a question on negotiations with India, Trump said Washington is talking to Delhi. “…We are going to see, we’re negotiating with India right now,” he said, while calling India’s tariff “one of the highest tariffs in the world”.

Trump said the White House has been “very busy” working on trade deals, and he will be meeting with the South Korean trade delegation.

“Likewise, other Countries are making offers for a Tariff reduction. All of this will help reduce our Trade Deficit in a very major way. A full report will be released at the appropriate time,” he said.

India said it has “taken note” of Trump’s statement on bilateral trade and the Government is studying its implications.

“India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective,” the statement said.

Trump has set the August 1 date for his tariffs to go into effect.

(With inputs from PTI)

Donald Trump has reacted curtly to Canada’s move to recognise statehood for Palestine at the UN. He said a trade deal will now be difficult between the neighbours. Amid the tension trade tensions between US and Canada, Trump has warned Ottawa that its recognition of Palestine will have consequences.(AFP)

“Wow! Canada has just announced that it is backing statehood for Palestine. That will make it very hard for us to make a Trade Deal with them. Oh’ Canada!!!” he wrote on Truth Social.

Trump, who at one time said Canada should become a part of the US, had last month termed it a “very difficult to deal with over the years”.

Canada stares at 35% tariffs on its exports to the US unless a deal is struck.

Trump has refused to extend a deadline he’d set for tariffs to come into effect with multiple countries, some of which have since made deals with the US to mutually lower the tariffs in return for increased market access to American companies.

Canada moves to recongise Palestine

In a move which is expected to impact the G7 countries and their stance on the Gaza war, Canada has joined hands with the UK and France and will recognise the state of Palestine in September.

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced on Wednesday that Canada will officially recongise Palestine during the United Nations General Assembly in September. As per his official statement, the Liberal leader added that “there was no room for delay.”

“The deepening suffering of civilians leaves no room for delay in co-ordinated international action to support peace, security, and the dignity of all human life. Preserving a two-state solution means standing with all people who choose peace over violence or terrorism, and honouring their innate desire for the peaceful co-existence of Israeli and Palestinian states as the only roadmap for a secure and prosperous future,” said Carney in his statement.

Tense ties between US, Canada

Canada’s declaration for Palestine comes amid turbulent ties with the United States under Donald Trump’s presidency.

With a 35 percent tariff on the line for Ottawa, Trump’s latest warning comes amid the tense trade ties and US’ support for Israel during the ongoing war in Gaza.

Since the return of Trump in the White House, the US president has taken multiple jibes towards Canada and leaders Justin Trudeau and Mark Carney.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu landed in Washington on Monday for his third meeting with US President Donald Trump this year. Both leaders are expected to tout their recent joint strikes on Iran, which they claimed were a resounding success. US President Donald Trump welcomes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the entrance of the White House in Washington, D.C.(Reuters)

However, despite the anticipated victory lap, the long-running war in Gaza is likely to dominate the private conversations behind closed doors in the White House.

The high-profile meeting comes just weeks after a 12-day military confrontation with Iran, which both Washington and Tel Aviv hailed as a strategic victory. Before leaving Israel, Netanyahu applauded the cooperation, calling it a “huge victory over our shared enemy.” He also expressed optimism over efforts to end the Gaza conflict, which has dragged on for nearly two years.

“I am working to achieve the deal under discussion, on the terms we agreed to,” Associated Press quoted Netanyahu. “I think that the discussion with President Trump can certainly help advance that result, which all of us hope for.”

Gaza ceasefire remains uncertain.

While Israel and Hamas appear to be edging toward a temporary truce, the final contours of the deal remain uncertain. The proposed agreement reportedly includes a 60-day pause in hostilities, increased humanitarian aid for Gaza, and the release of some of the approximately 50 hostages still held by Hamas.

But the core disagreement remains unresolved — whether the truce would be the beginning of the end of the war, or just a pause.

Hamas has offered to free all hostages in return for a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a formal end to the war. Netanyahu has rejected that condition, insisting the war will continue until Hamas “surrenders, disarms and goes into exile” — demands Hamas has refused.

‘Trump thinks that Netanyahu owes him’

Trump and Netanyahu are currently more aligned than ever, following joint US-Israel strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and Trump’s public call to drop Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial — a rare move into the domestic affairs of a key ally.

“Trump thinks that Netanyahu owes him,” said Eytan Gilboa, an expert on US-Israel relations at Bar-Ilan University near Tel Aviv. “And if Trump thinks that he needs to end the war in Gaza, then that is what he will need to do.”

While US President Donald Trump has expressed hope for a ceasefire in Gaza, his expectations appear to be evolving with the situation on the ground. Asked last Friday about the likelihood of a truce, AP quoted Trump as saying. “I’m very optimistic — but you know, look, it changes from day to day,” he added.

However, Netanyahu faces political headwinds back home. While he may be under pressure from Washington, he has a fragile coalition that includes far-right parties, staunchly opposed to any ceasefire with Hamas, to look at.

Trump’s Gaza peace push

Donald Trump, who has openly expressed his desire to be remembered as a global peacemaker, is expected to push for a breakthrough. A ceasefire in Gaza would add to the list of recent diplomatic wins the Trump administration has claimed to achieve, including peace agreements between Israel and Iran, African rivals Congo and Rwanda, and India and Pakistan.

Islamabad has even nominated the Republican President for a Nobel Peace Prize for his role in achieving the May 10 ceasefire with India. However, New Delhi has repeatedly quashed the claim, saying there was ‘no mediation’.

Trump’s eagerness to cap his second term with a significant Middle East peace achievement could translate into more pressure on Netanyahu to accept a deal. But whether that leads to the war’s end or simply another pause remains to be seen.

“The optics will be very positive,” Michael Oren, a former Israeli ambassador to the US, told the AP. “But behind the victory lap are going to be some very serious questions,” he added.

Steve Bannon and Elon Musk intensified their rivalry over the July 4th weekend by hurling nasty barbs at each other over their political allegiances. Elon Musk retaliates by labeling Steve Bannon a ‘fat, drunken slob’ and suggests he deserves prison time for his past crimes.

The former Trump advisor blasted Musk on his podcast War Room, asking his X followers whether they would create a new political party in the US. Bannon claimed that the Tesla CEO was being dishonest and that he must be deported.

“Only a foreigner could do this,” Bannon stated. “Think about it, he’s got up on Twitter right now a poll about starting an American Party – a non-American starting an American Party. No, brother, you’re not an American; you’re a South African.”

“If we take enough time and prove the facts of that, you should be deported,” he added.

Bannon, who served time in federal jail for defying a congressional subpoena, suspects Musk has hidden agendas for his relationship with Trump. He has repeatedly demanded a probe into Musk.

Reacting to Bannon’s remarks, one Trump supporter wrote: “Yes I once thought of Elon as a honest patriot but he is not he’s a snake 🐍 good thing to keep him far away from the President!”

“So now we’re the movement of “if you don’t agree with us 100% you should be deported”? If this is what MAGA has become it sure as hell has no resemblance to the movement of free thinkers I’ve been in since the start,” a Trump critic commented.

Also Read: Why did Trump and Melania act ‘like newlyweds’ during July 4th WH appearance? Surprising ‘Royal’ details revealed

Musk hits back at Musk, call him ‘drunken slob’

Later, Musk clapped back at Bannon and dubbed him “fat, drunken slob” who should be imprisoned for his criminal activities.

“The fat, drunken slob called Bannon will go back to prison and this time for a long time. He has a lifetime of crime to pay for,” the SpaceX CEO wrote. Notably, Musk was given citizenship of the US in 2022.

Bannon does not hold an official position in the White House, in contrast to Trump’s first government. Nevertheless, he has continued to support Trump and protect him from all criticism by using his position. Bannon has been outspoken in his criticism of Musk, calling for the termination of his government agreements and casting doubt on his citizenship.

Musk, who contributed generously to Trump’s election, was in the administration for a few months until he and the president had a sour disagreement over the 47th President’s signature legislation.

US President Donald Trump, who has been calling himself a ‘broker of peace’, said on Tuesday that he turned down Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin’s offer to help with the Israel-Iran war and instead asked for his assistance in resolving the Ukraine war. Donald Trump said that he told Vladimir Putin to help in ending the war in Ukraine instead. (AFP)

Speaking to reporters on board Air Force One, Trump asserted his belief that Putin wants to end the war with Ukraine, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

“He’d like to get out of this thing. It’s a mess for him,” Trump said, adding that, “He called the other day, and he said, ‘Can I help you with Iran?’ I said, ‘No, I don’t need help with Iran. I need help with you.'”

Listen In…

The US President has been at the centre of the conflict between Israel and Iran, claiming ‘victory’ in achieving the ceasefire between the two Middle Eastern countries.

Trump and his team had reportedly worked together to broker a peace deal between Israel and Iran, with the US President taking the duty of persuading Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and his team engaging in talks with Iran.

Trump had directed his team on Saturday night, “Let’s get on the phone…with the Iranians,” Reuters reported, citing a White House official. “Get me Bibi. We’re going to make peace,” the official quoted Trump.

As Trump spoke to Netanyahu, Vice President JD Vance and State Secretary Marco Rubio, along with special envoy Steve Witkoff, talked to Iran, persuading it to agree to the ceasefire.

Israel and Iran both agreed to the ceasefire. However, the truce was short-lived as both sides reportedly violated the ceasefire and launched strikes at one another.

An entire blame game row erupted, resulting in the US President fuming with disappointment. He had taken to his Truth Social network to post a warning for Israel, asking it to call back its pilots immediately and not to drop bombs on Iran. He had later also gotten on a phone call with Netanyahu, telling him not to attack Tehran at all.

He accused both Iran and Israel of violating a ceasefire on Tuesday, just hours after he announced it. He even lost his cool and dropped the ‘f’ word, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.”

Later, Trump assured that Israel was not going to Iran. “Nobody will be hurt, the ceasefire is in effect,” he said. And 48 hours later, the ceasefire seems to be holding intact.

Now, the US President has circled his focus back to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, a war that he swore to end during his presidential campaign last year. His promise is allegedly termed as one of the reasons behind his victory in the race to the White House.

Meanwhile, Trump also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in The Hague, on the sidelines of the NATO summit. A meeting that comes after the duo’s much-talked-about altercation at the White House earlier this year.

Zelensky said that the 50-minute meeting with Trump was “good” and “substantive”. In a post on social media, the Ukrainian leader said, “We discussed the protection of our people with the President — first and foremost, the purchase of American air-defence systems.”

After wrapping up the closed-door meeting, Trump also said, “Couldn’t have been nicer.”

The US President also indicated that he will consider providing more of the Patriot missiles to Ukraine, a weapon that Kyiv needs to defend itself against the increasing Russian strikes.

Both Trump and Zelensky described the meeting as a positive step in a conflict that the US President described as “more difficult than other wars”.

Trump also said that he would soon speak with Putin again, “Look, Vladimir Putin really has to end that war.”

(with inputs from agencies)