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Trump face another trouble for Kushner’s act

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Jared Kushner

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Conflict of interests causing trouble at white House

Here is another shocker for the business tycoon-turned-President Donald Trump. At a time when relations between his campaign team and Russian establishment are being investigated, Donald Trump is now witnessing another crisis because of his son-in-law Jared Kushner.  It is revealed that recent Qatar’s crisis erupted after Kushner had failed to get investment of 500 million dollars from Qatar’s former Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al-Thani for a landmark property at Manhattan, New York.

The Intercept on Monday revealed the story which was carried by New York Times and other publications. It says that not much before a major crisis ripped through the Middle East, pitting the US and a block of gulf countries against Qatar, Jared Kushner’s real estate company unsuccessfully sought a critical half billion dollar investment from one of the richest and most influential men in the tiny nation (Qatar). Intercept confirmed the story from three different sources before putting it out.

It did not reveal the exact date as to whether it happened just days before the fake news appeared on Qatari News Agency website. It quoted Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani praising Iran and Israel and criticized President Trump.  The government of Qatar releases a statement saying QNA had been hacked, and that the statement by Al-thani was not authentic.

Qatar is currently facing worst diplomatic pressure after Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed their ties with Doha on July 5. The air and road links, business transactions and all other possible contacts were now completely closed. The report further says that Kushner has reportedly played a key behind-the-scene role in hardening the US posture toward the embattled nation.

On June 6 Donald Trump supported Saudi Arabia led group of countries’ move against Qatar. In a series of tweets he justified the move:

During my recent trip to the Middle East I stated that there can no longer be funding of Radical Ideology. Leaders pointed to Qatar – look!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

So good to see the Saudi Arabia visit with the King and 50 countries already paying off. They said they would take a hard line on funding…

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

…extremism, and all reference was pointing to Qatar. Perhaps this will be the beginning of the end to the horror of terrorism!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 6, 2017

New York Times reports that, Kushner- a real estate developer like his father- in-law purchased a tower at 666 fifth avenue in New York for 1.8 billion dollars some years ago, but the building failed to generate enough money to cover its debts. More than a quarter of the office space in the building has remained vacant for several years, causing huge losses to Kushner Companies.

In 2015, when Trump was launching his presidential campaign, Kushner and his father Charles Kushner targeted Qatari billionaire Sheikh Hamad bin Abdullah Al Thani (known as HBJ in the business circle) as a potential investor to save the property. HBJ was the Prime Minister of his country during 2007 to 2013. The Intercept says Al-Thani finally agreed to invest 500 million dollars on the condition that Kushner Companies generate the rest of the money for the project on its own.

As recent as March 2017, Kushner Companies reached out to Chinese insurance company Anbang for help. The company agreed to provide a 4-billion dollars loan to develop the property. However, weeks later the company pulled out of the deal.

Following Chinese company’s withdrawal, Qatar’s former PM Al-Thani also withdrew from its commitment as Kushner Companies could not secure the rest of the money. According to Intercept, shortly after al-Thani’s withdrawal, America’s regional allies including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Bahrain and Egypt severed ties with Qatar accusing it of supporting terrorism.

It would be interesting to know that Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner negotiated a massive weapons deal with Saudi Arabia and American weapons manufacture Lockheed Martin which was signed during President’s visit to the Kingdom.

American analysts have blamed Kushner and Donald Trump for promoting America’s armament industry by fueling conflicts in the Middle East region.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and UAE, in a joint statement issued on Tuesday, warned that Qatari siege will not end unless Doha meets all its demands.

The thirteen point demands were turned down by Qatar recently. The Saudi led block of countries demanded closure of Al-Jazeera News Network, shutting down of Turkish army base in the territory, severing ties with their arch rival Iran. They also asked Qatar to align its policies with other GCC countries and stop alleged funding and supporting Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and Hamas in Palestine.

Qatar, while turning down their demands, denied compromising their sovereignty. However, it kept doors open for diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

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India envoy Dinesh Trivedi meets PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman 

India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met PM Modi after talks with Bangladesh PM Tarique Rahman amid diplomatic tensions.

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India’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Dinesh Trivedi met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday, a day after his meeting with Bangladesh Prime Minister Tarique Rahman in Dhaka.

According to the High Commission of India in Bangladesh, Trivedi sought PM Modi’s guidance on further strengthening the bilateral relationship between India and Bangladesh through a constructive and people-centric approach.

The meeting came a day after Trivedi held discussions with Tarique Rahman on matters of mutual interest and ways to advance ties between the two neighbouring countries.

Dinesh Trivedi Meets Bangladesh PM

During his meeting with Tarique Rahman on Monday, Trivedi conveyed greetings from Prime Minister Modi and reiterated India’s commitment to working with the Bangladeshi administration and its people in a positive, constructive and forward-looking manner.

The two sides discussed issues of mutual interest and explored avenues for strengthening India-Bangladesh relations with a people-centric approach.

The engagement took place at the Prime Minister’s Office in the Cabinet Division at the Bangladesh Secretariat. Trivedi also shared his experience of serving in Dhaka over the previous two months.

Sheikh Hasina Extradition Request

The meeting assumed significance as Bangladesh has expressed hope that India will expedite the extradition process involving former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was ousted following a student-led uprising in 2024.

According to a statement issued by the Bangladesh Prime Minister’s Office, Dhaka also reiterated its request for India to return individuals it alleges were involved in the killing of Shahid Osman Hadi, a prominent figure associated with the July uprising who was shot on December 12, 2025.

Tarique Rahman stressed the need to create a suitable environment to take forward relations between Bangladesh and India.

Bangladesh Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman, Prime Minister’s Foreign Affairs Adviser Humayun Kabir and other officials attended the meeting.

India-Bangladesh Ties Amid Diplomatic Friction

The latest high-level engagements come amid diplomatic tensions between the two countries following a virtual press interaction by Sheikh Hasina in New Delhi on August 5.

The event, organised by the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia to mark the second anniversary of her ouster, prompted strong objections from Dhaka.

During the interaction, Hasina said she remained determined to return to Bangladesh in December and restore democracy, while acknowledging the possibility of imprisonment or a death sentence upon her return.

Bangladesh’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs subsequently registered a strong protest and said the development had affected public sentiment and complicated efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation.

India has said the government had no involvement in the event. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said it was organised by a private media entity and clarified that New Delhi did not endorse views expressed at the forum.

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Trump, PM Modi will resolve tariff issue over Russian oil trade, says US official

White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue over US tariff threats linked to India’s Russian oil trade.

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US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi will resolve the issue surrounding the threat of US tariffs linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil, White House Trade Adviser Peter Navarro said on Tuesday.

Navarro’s remarks came days after the US Senate passed a bill authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on the top five purchasers of Russian oil. The measure argues that such purchases directly contribute to financing Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Navarro comments on India’s Russian oil trade

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Navarro said India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia before the Ukraine war began in 2022.

He alleged that India became heavily involved in the trade after Russia’s invasion and sold refined products on behalf of Russia, which he said helped support the Russian war effort.

“Prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, India was not involved in the oil trade with Russia, but afterwards it got heavily involved,” Navarro said.

The White House adviser also claimed that the issue had since been resolved and attributed some of the shift in India’s Russian oil trade to an opinion article he recently wrote in the Financial Times.

Trump and Modi will resolve issue, Navarro says

Navarro said the relationship between Trump and Modi would help address the tariff-related issue.

“The president and your prime minister have a very good working relationship. They are going to work that out amongst themselves,” he said, adding that it was not his place to intervene.

His comments come amid US concerns over countries purchasing Russian oil and proposed measures aimed at imposing additional tariffs on major buyers.

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US Senate passes Russia sanctions bill, India-China face 100% tariff risk

The US Senate has passed a Russia sanctions bill that could allow 100% tariffs on major buyers of Russian oil and gas, including India and China.

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Donald Trump

The US Senate has approved a bipartisan Russia sanctions bill that could allow President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on major buyers of Russian oil or natural gas, including India and China.

The legislation was passed by an 86-11 vote and will now move to the US House of Representatives, which is scheduled to reconvene on August 31.

The bill is named in honour of Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a strong supporter of Ukraine who died on July 11. Graham had pushed for tougher sanctions against Russia over its war in Ukraine.

India and China among major Russian energy buyers

The legislation gives the US president the power to impose tariffs on the world’s top five purchasers of Russian oil or natural gas.

India and China are among those countries, along with Azerbaijan, Hungary and Slovakia.

The bill also contains an exception for countries importing less than 15% of their natural gas from Russia and taking steps to reduce their dependence on Russian supplies.

What does the Russia sanctions bill contain?

Apart from the proposed tariffs, the legislation includes sanctions targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin, senior Russian political and military officials, financial institutions and energy projects.

The bill would also expand US sanctions to older and reflagged oil tankers allegedly used by Moscow to bypass existing restrictions on Russian oil and energy revenues.

At the same time, the White House would have the option to waive sanctions or restrictions if the president certifies to Congress that doing so is in the national interest.

Bill also extends Iran sanctions law

The legislation also contains a provision related to Iran. It would extend the expiration date of the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 until 2031.

The law penalises companies that invest in Iran’s energy sector.

The bill’s passage in the Senate marks the next step in the US legislative process, but it still needs approval from the House of Representatives before it can move forward.

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