Trump targets Elon Musk subsidies amid tax bill feud
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested reviewing subsidies granted to Elon Musk’s companies to save federal funds, reigniting a public feud after Mus...
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly rejected claims that the Trump administration is considering lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
“This is unequivocally false,” Rubio posted on X. “Neither [special envoy] Steve Witkoff nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine.”
Rubio went further, accusing Politico — which first published the story — of “journalistic malpractice” and called for a full retraction.
The Politico article, citing anonymous sources said to be familiar with internal discussions, claimed the Trump administration was internally debating the idea of lifting sanctions on Russian energy infrastructure — specifically the Nord Stream 2 pipeline — as part of broader talks about ending the Ukraine war.
According to the report, Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine negotiations, had allegedly been a leading voice in raising the option and had requested a full list of current energy-related sanctions on Russia. However, one of the unnamed sources admitted the idea “has not found much traction in the White House” and that Rubio had actively opposed it.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, completed in 2021, was sanctioned under the Trump administration in 2019 and later shelved due to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite being physically complete, the pipeline has never become operational.
Rubio’s swift denial comes amid heightened scrutiny over potential shifts in U.S. policy toward Russia. As peace negotiations continue behind closed doors, the Trump administration has emphasized that no concessions will be made that undermine Ukraine or reward Russian aggression.
While the Politico report raised questions about whether sanctions relief could be used as a bargaining chip, Rubio’s response suggests the administration remains committed to maintaining pressure on Moscow until significant concessions are made.
The State Department and the White House have not yet issued formal statements beyond Rubio’s post.
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Severe rain in Venezuela has caused rivers to overflow and triggered landslides, sweeping away homes and collapsing a highway bridge, with five states affected and no casualties reported so far.
A malfunction in the radar transmission system at the Area Control Center in Milan suspended more than 300 flights at the weekend, across northwest Italy since Saturday evening according to Italy's air traffic controller Enav (National Agency for Flight Assistance).
Thousands of protesters rallied in Bangkok on Saturday, demanding Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra resign as political and economic tensions mount.
U.S. President Donald Trump suggested reviewing subsidies granted to Elon Musk’s companies to save federal funds, reigniting a public feud after Musk’s sharp criticism of the government’s latest tax and spending bill.
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British Foreign Secretary David Lammy praised Türkiye’s strategic role in regional peace and stability during his visit to Ankara, highlighting its efforts in addressing the Ukraine war, the Gaza crisis, and broader UK-Türkiye relations.
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Factory activity across much of Asia weakened in June due to ongoing uncertainty over U.S. tariffs, though slight improvements in China, Japan, and South Korea offered cautious optimism ahead of key trade talks.
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