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Friday, May 1, 2026

'Blast The Hell Out Of Them Or Make A Deal': Trump Lists Options After Dissatisfaction With Iran's Proposal

US President Donald Trump on Friday said he was dissatisfied with Iran’s latest proposal aimed at reviving talks over the ongoing conflict, indicating that diplomatic progress remains elusive despite a ceasefire last month. Trump's remarks come even as Iran's foreign minister said Tehran was ready for diplomacy if Washington changes its approach. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Cxk0i482dA?si=Y7mRHiUWYvR8qSyj" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> "They want to make a deal, but ... I'm not satisfied with it," Trump told reporters at the White House, adding that the Iranian leadership was "very disjointed" and divided internally. "They're asking for things that I can't agree to," he said, noting that discussions were continuing over phone. The remarks come amid a fragile pause in hostilities following an April 8 ceasefire between the United States and Iran, after nearly two months of confrontation. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/iran-war-terminated-trump-us-administration-says-60-day-war-powers-deadline-expires-1839736">‘Iran War Terminated’: Trump Administration Says As 60-Day War Powers Deadline Expires</a> <h3>Deadlock Persists Despite Ceasefire</h3> Although active fighting has subsided, both sides remain sharply divided over key issues, including Iran’s nuclear programme and control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy corridor. No follow-up meeting has been scheduled after a brief interaction between senior officials in Islamabad last month, and details of Tehran’s latest proposal remain unclear. Iranian authorities have also cautioned against expecting swift breakthroughs. <h3>Trump outlines stark military or diplomatic choice</h3> Later in the day, speaking in Florida, Trump framed Washington’s approach in two terms: negotiation or escalation. He told Congress leaders that their permission was not required to extend the Iran war beyond a Friday deadline because the ceasefire had "terminated" hostilities, Reuters reported. "There are options. Do we want to go and just blast the hell out of them and finish them forever? Or do we want to try and make a deal. That's the options," he said. "On a human basis, I'd prefer not," Trump added. "But that's the option: do we want to go in there heavy and just blast them away or do we want to do something?" He also stressed that the United States would not end the confrontation prematurely only to face renewed tensions later, reiterating that Iran would not be allowed to develop nuclear weapons. ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-to-raise-tariffs-on-cars-trucks-from-european-union-to-25-1839932">Donald Trump To Raise Tariffs On Cars, Trucks From EU To 25%</a> <h3>Iran Signals Openness To Talks With Conditions</h3> Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran remains open to diplomacy, but only if Washington alters what he described as its "excessive approach, threatening rhetoric and provocative actions." In a message posted on Telegram, Araqchi added that "Iran's armed forces remained ready to defend the country against any threat." The United States is also under pressure to counter Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, raising broader economic and geopolitical concerns. Separately, Trump acknowledged developments involving Pakistan’s decision to open land transit routes for trade with Iran, expressing support for Islamabad’s leadership. "Yeah. I know everything about it. Yeah," he said. "I have great respect for Pakistan and for the Field Marshal and for the Prime Minister." With both sides holding firm on core demands and no clear diplomatic roadmap in sight, the standoff appears set to continue. 

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-iran-war-trump-says-he-s-not-satisfied-with-iran-s-latest-proposal-presents-two-options-blast-them-or-make-a-deal-1839942

US sanctions China-based crude terminal operator of trading Iran oil

Washington, May 2 (PTI): The US on Friday sanctioned a China-based crude oil terminal operator for importing petroleum products from Iranian entities and warned others of facing the same consequences if they paid a toll to Tehran to cross the Strait of Hormuz. “The US is taking decisive action to disrupt Iran’s illicit oil trade, the Iranian regime’s primary revenue streams that fund terrorism and regional destabilization,” US Department of State spokesman Tommy Pigott said in a statement. Pigott said the department sanctioned multiple entities, an individual, and a vessel involved in the trade of Iranian petroleum and petroleum products. The action targets a China-based petroleum terminal operator — Qingdao Haiye Oil Terminal Co., Ltd. — that has imported tens of millions of barrels of sanctioned Iranian crude oil since February last year. The US also sanctioned Xingchun Li, a Chinese national and the president of QINGDAO HAIYE, and two vessel management companies – UK-based Thriving Times International and Hong Kong-based Onboard Ship Management Limited. The action against two vessel management companies was taken as part of measures targeting dark fleets used to transport and purchase Iranian Petroleum Products. “The vessels managed by these companies play a key role in the Iranian export supply chain. They have also regularly engaged in dark activity and other deceptive shipping practices, endangering other vessels and trade flows,” the state department said. In a separate action, the US Department of Treasury issued an alert, warning the maritime industry that paying “tolls” to the Iranian regime for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz may result in sanctions exposure. The Treasury also designated three Iranian foreign currency exchange houses and their associated front companies for facilitating billions of dollars in foreign currency transactions each year. The designated entities are Pedram Pirouzan and Associates Partnership Company or Opal Exchange, Nasser Ghasemi Rad and Associates Partnership Company or Radin Exchange, and Tahayyori and Associates Partnership Company, commonly known as Tahayyori Guarantee Society or Arz Iran Exchange, the Treasury Department said. PTI SKU VN VN(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/us-sanctions-china-based-crude-terminal-operator-of-trading-iran-oil-1839940

Pentagon Signs AI Deals With Tech Giants, Anthropic Left Out

The US Department of Defense on Friday signed agreements with seven artificial intelligence (AI) giants to deploy their powerful AI systems on its secure classified networks. The deals notably left out Anthropic, the firm behind the popular AI assistant Claude, due to a dispute over safety restrictions on military use. <h2>What do we know about the Pentagon deals?</h2> The agreements include well-known firms such as OpenAI — the company behind ChatGPT— Google, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, NVIDIA, SpaceX, and Reflection — a startup making powerful open-source AI. The goal is to expand access to advanced AI technology within the United States military for defense and security work. A statement from the US Department of Defense said it would deploy the firms' AI capabilities for "lawful operational use." The US government classifies sensitive information into three main levels: confidential, secret and top secret, with secret being the middle level. The new AI systems will be integrated into the Pentagon’s secure classified networks, known as Impact Levels 6 and 7. These networks are approved to handle information up to the secret level. This will give more defense and military personnel access to powerful AI tools while maintaining strict security controls. Unauthorized disclosure of secret information could seriously damage national security. The Pentagon's main AI platform, GenAI.mil, has been used by more than 1.3 million Defense Department personnel in the five months since it launched, the department said. The press statement added that GenAI.mil had cut "many tasks from months to days," noting that adding the other AI platforms "will give warfighters the tools they need to act with confidence and safeguard the nation against any threat." <h2>Anthropic excluded from deals</h2> The agreements notably exclude Anthropic, which was barred by the Pentagon and its contractors earlier this year after being labeled a supply-chain risk — a term the US government uses when it believes a company or product could pose a potential security threat to sensitive data. Defense Department Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael told CNBC on Friday that Anthropic remains a supply chain risk. However, he described the company’s Mythos AI model — known for its advanced cyber capabilities — as “a separate national security moment.” Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei met with senior Trump administration officials at the White House earlier this month to discuss the model, a meeting both sides described as productive. US President Donald Trump said last week that Anthropic was "shaping up" in the eyes of his administration, raising the possibility that the company could eventually have its blacklisting reversed. Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko Disclaimer:This report first appeared on Deutsche Welle, and has been republished on ABP Live as part of a special arrangement. Apart from the headline, no changes have been made in the report by ABP Live.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/pentagon-signs-ai-deals-with-tech-giants-anthropic-left-out-1839939

Donald Trump to raise tariffs on cars, trucks from EU to 25%

Edited by: Dmytro Hubenko US President Donald Trump on Friday announced he was hiking US tariffs on cars and trucks from the European Union next week to 25%. He accused the bloc of not complying with the terms of a trade agreement with the US, without citing specifics. The EU agreed to erase any tariffs on US imports in exchange for a 15% tariff on most EU products when it struck a trade agreement with the US last year, averting a bigger trade war. <h2>What Did Trump Say?</h2> "Based on the fact the European Union is not complying with our fully agreed to Trade Deal, next week I will be increasing Tariffs charged to the European Union for Cars and Trucks coming into the United States," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "The Tariff will be increased to 25%." <h2>Can Trump Raise Levies?</h2> It's not clear what authority Trump can use to raise taxes on the EU. The US Supreme Court earlier this year said Trump exceeded his authority by using federal emergency-powers law to unilaterally impose his "reciprocal" tariffs on countries across the globe. <h2>'No Way To Treat Partners,' says EU lawmaker</h2> EU Parliament's trade committee chair, Bernd Lange, said the latest tariff move "demonstrates just how unreliable the US side is." "This is no way to treat close partners. Now we can only &zwnj;respond with the utmost clarity &zwnj;and firmness, drawing on the strength of our position." Lange said that Trump's behavior is "unacceptable" and said the EU was honoring the trade agreement with the US.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/donald-trump-to-raise-tariffs-on-cars-trucks-from-european-union-to-25-1839932

Thursday, April 30, 2026

USTR retains India on priority watch list on IPR; Vietnam faces toughest scrutiny

Washington, Apr 30 (PTI): India is among six countries, including China and Russia, on the priority watch list in a special report released by the US Trade Representative on Thursday that deals with adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners’ protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights. The US Special 301 report 2026 lists Vietnam as the Priority Foreign Country (PFC), marking the first time in 13 years that any country is listed in that particular category. “The PFC identification is reserved by statute for countries with the most egregious IP-related acts, policies, and practices with the greatest adverse impact on relevant US products,” the USTR said. It said that Vietnam is not entering into good faith negotiations or making significant progress in negotiations to provide adequate and effective IP rights protection. The six countries on the priority watch list include Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela. Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IP protection, enforcement, or market access for US persons relying on IP. There are 19 countries, including the EU, Turkiye and Pakistan, on the watch list. “Using all the enforcement tools we have to address unfair trade practices is a top priority,” said Ambassador Jamieson Greer. “We have rigorously reviewed our trading partners' IP practices and expect to take action where needed to protect American innovators and creators globally," Greer said. The US first approached Vietnam in 2020 with a proposal for an IP Work Plan to address issues identified in the Special 301 Report, followed by a revised proposal in 2023, the USTR said. However, Vietnam failed to make meaningful progress on these issues in subsequent bilateral engagement, as well as in recent negotiations for an Agreement on Reciprocal, Fair, and Balanced Trade. Vietnam’s actions or inactions are causing significant damage to the industries reliant on IP in Vietnam’s market, and in other markets as well, the USTR said. Within 30 days from the date of this identification, USTR will decide whether to initiate an investigation under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 based on the grounds identified in this report as the basis for Vietnam’s identification as a PFC. If USTR initiates an investigation, USTR will request consultations with Vietnam and seek to resolve the issues that led to Vietnam’s identification as a PFC. PTI SKU SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/ustr-retains-india-on-priority-watch-list-on-ipr-vietnam-faces-toughest-scrutiny-1839727

Hindu body urges inclusion of Indian history in South African textbooks

Johannesburg, Apr 30 (PTI): A leading Hindu organisation in South Africa has urged authorities not to “airbrush” the history of Indians in the country, calling for greater representation of the community’s contributions in school textbooks currently under revision. In an open letter, South African Hindu Dharma Sabha (SAHDS) president Ram Maharaj said the history of Indians, despite the community being a minority, must be adequately reflected in curricula. “As far back as 1981, the SAHDS had adopted a unanimous resolution at its inaugural National Hindu Convention in Durban, calling for substantial inclusion of Indian history in school curricula,” he said. “The history of Indians in South Africa cannot and must not be airbrushed away in history books. We demand that the current content on the history of Indians be at least doubled across all grades, because minorities matter,” Maharaj said. The current level of representation, he alleged, is "an affront" and a "blatant erasure" of the monumental contributions Indians have made to the building of South Africa. He recalled that Indians, since arriving as indentured labourers in 1860, had contributed across economic, cultural, political and social spheres in South Africa. “To diminish this legacy in our textbooks is to diminish the truth itself," Maharaj said, adding that enhanced representation would promote interracial understanding, social cohesion and nation building. He said greater inclusion of the community’s struggles would also counter perceptions that Indians in South Africa had historically enjoyed privilege. “It must be recorded that our great indentured ancestors toiled tirelessly, and lived in slave-like conditions, incessantly suffering from torture and trauma, deprivation and discrimination. "However, down through the generations, Indians survived and thrived by prioritising educational advancement with a sense of vision and mission, turning adversity into advantage, and doing more with less," the Hindu leader said. The SAHDS has recommended that textbooks highlight the suffering and sacrifices of indentured Indians, as well as their role in the anti-apartheid struggle that led to the election of Nelson Mandela as the country’s first democratically-elected president. Maharaj noted that the struggle was initiated by the Natal Indian Congress, founded by Mahatma Gandhi in 1894, nearly two decades before the African National Congress was established. He also called for recognition of Indian figures such as the Padavatan brothers and Valliamma, as well as philanthropists, including VN Naik, ML Sultan, Narend Pattundeen, AM Moola, RK Khan, and HE Joosab, who helped establish schools and hospitals for the community. The SAHDS further sought attention to historical discrimination against Hindus during the colonial era, including the demolition of temples and forced resettlement. Maharaj said the organisation believes that a fair and accurate portrayal of Indian history would strengthen unity in diversity and foster greater harmony in South Africa. PTI FH SCY SCY(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/hindu-body-urges-inclusion-of-indian-history-in-south-african-textbooks-1839717

Bus Crashes Into Seine River In France, All Four On Board Rescued

A bus crashed into the Seine river in France on Thursday morning after ending up in the water in Juvisy-sur-Orge, south of Paris. The incident took place at around 9.30 am local time (8.30 GMT). <h2>All Occupants Rescued Safely</h2> The transport authority for the Île-de-France region said the four people on board, the driver, her tutor and two passengers, were rescued and are safe. <h2>Bus Floated Near Riverbank Before Recovery</h2> Later in the morning, the bus could still be seen floating in the Seine close to the riverbank before towing teams at the scene removed it from the water. Photos from the site showed the bus floating in the river while a dark blue car was also seen in the water nearby. <h2>Divers Searched Vehicle For Trapped Occupants</h2> Divers searched the bus before confirming that no one was trapped inside the vehicle. <h2>Mayor Says She Was ‘Stunned’ By Accident</h2> Juvisy Mayor Lamia Bensarsa Reda said she was “stunned” by the accident. “It’s the first time I’ve seen anything like this. I think I’ve just experienced the worst day of my life. Luckily, there were no casualties thanks to the quick response of the police and emergency services,” she told French newspaper Le Parisien. <h2>Internal Probe Ordered</h2> “Our municipal police officers are on site to keep the very congested traffic flowing as smoothly as possible around the Seine riverbanks,” Reda added. In a press release, she said Île-de-France Mobilités “is asking its operator to launch an internal investigation to determine the causes of this accident as quickly as possible”. <h2>Investigation Into Cause Of Crash Expected</h2> An investigation is expected to be launched to determine the exact cause of the accident.

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/bus-crashes-into-seine-river-in-france-all-four-on-board-rescued-1839709