A leaked audio recording is now at the center of growing uncertainty around the India-US trade negotiations. In the latest Axios report, Senator Ted Cruz is said to have named senior White House officials as the key roadblocks in the stalled India-US trade deal, describing a “battle” over the agreement during private donor calls. The report comes at a time when negotiations have gained urgency following fresh US tariffs tied to India-Russia oil trade, with total duties on India reportedly rising to 50&#37. The leak suggests deeper political resistance within the administration, even as both sides continue bilateral talks after months of negotiation. WATCH 

U.S. President Donald Trump has issued one of his strongest warnings yet to Hamas, declaring that failure to disarm under the Gaza ceasefire framework could lead to their complete disappearance. Speaking in connection with the unveiling of the Gaza “Board of Peace” at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Trump positioned the initiative as a decisive step toward ending the long-running conflict. The Gaza Board of Peace was formally introduced with a focus on global peacekeeping, post-war governance and humanitarian stability. Trump confirmed that the framework aligns with the UN and is rooted in a plan adopted by the U.N. Security Council in October. The founding charter was signed in the presence of key members, with Trump describing his role as chairman as an “enormous honour”. WATCH