Trump ally who donated $130 million to pay troops amid shutdown revealed as reclusive billionaire heir: report
The anonymous donor who gave $130 million to the Pentagon to pay troops during the government shutdown has been identified as Timothy Mellon, a reclusive billionaire and a major financial backer of President Donald Trump, according to a report. Trump announced the donation on Thursday, but declined to reveal the donor’s identity, only describing him as a “patriot” and a friend. The president again refused to name the person on Friday while talking to reporters aboard Air Force One shortly after departing Washington for Asia, calling the donor “a great American citizen” and a “substantial man.” “He doesn’t want publicity,” Trump said on Friday. “He prefer that his name not be mentioned, which is pretty unusual in the world I come from, and in the world of politics, you want your name mentioned.” But the two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times that the man is Mellon, a wealthy banking heir and railroad magnate. MYSTERY TRUMP ALLY DONATES $130M TO COVER TROOPS’ PAYCHECKS AMID SHUTDOWN CHAOS It remains unclear how long the donation will cover the troops’ salaries. The Trump administration’s 2025 budget asked for about $600 billion in total military compensation, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The $130 million donation would equal about $100 a service member, according to The New York Times. Mellon, a grandson of former Treasury Secretary Andrew W. Mellon, is a backer of Trump who gave tens of millions of dollars to groups supporting the president’s 2024 campaign. Last year, he gave $50 million to a super PAC supporting Trump, making it one of the largest single contributions ever disclosed, the newspaper noted. The billionaire was not a prominent Republican donor until Trump was first elected but has given hundreds of millions of dollars in recent years into supporting the president and the GOP. He is also a significant supporter of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who also ran for president in 2024, first as a Democrat and later as an independent before dropping out to endorse Trump. Mellon donated millions to Kennedy’s presidential campaign and has also given money to the secretary’s anti-vaccine nonprofit, Children’s Health Defense, according to The New York Times. Despite his political contributions, Mellon has sought to keep a low profile. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FREEZES $11 BILLION IN BLUE-STATE INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, BLAMES DEMOCRATS FOR SHUTDOWN In an autobiography published in 2015, Mellon described himself as a former liberal who moved from Connecticut to Wyoming for lower taxes and fewer people. The Pentagon said it accepted the donation under the “general gift acceptance authority.” “The donation was made on the condition that it be used to offset the cost of service members’ salaries and benefits,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement to The New York Times. But the donation may be a potential violation of the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits federal agencies from spending money in excess of congressional appropriations or from accepting voluntary services.
Trump gives Hamas 48 hours to return all deceased Gaza hostages, or ‘other countries will take action’
President Donald Trump on Saturday said Hamas needs to start returning the bodies of deceased hostages held captive by the terror group during the war in Gaza “quickly, or the other countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action.” While all the living hostages have been returned from Gaza, the remains of 13 deceased hostages have not been handed over by Hamas. “Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not,” Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. “Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, ‘Both sides would be treated fairly,’ that only applies if they comply with their obligations. Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely.” Hours before Trump’s post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee met with the families of Itay Chen and Omer Neutra, two U.S. citizens who were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks. TRUMP THANKS GROUP REPRESENTING FAMILIES OF HOSTAGES FOR NOBEL PEACE PRIZE APPEAL Their bodies are among those still being held by Hamas. “We will not forget the lives of the hostages who died in the captivity of Hamas,” Rubio wrote in an X post. “We will not rest until their—and all—remains are returned.” Authorities believed Chen, a 19-year-old dual U.S.-Israeli citizen, was kidnapped by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, but was later declared dead by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). TRUMP SAYS HAMAS MAY RELEASE 20 HOSTAGES ‘A LITTLE BIT EARLY’ AS HE HEADS TO MIDDLE EAST Neutra, 21, an American-Israeli from New York, was killed in battle on Oct. 7, 2023. Huckabee noted Rubio’s visit to Israel was “very productive in moving forward” the U.S.-brokered Gaza peace plan, adding the plan cannot work until all hostages, living and deceased, are released. While traveling to Asia Saturday, Trump met with Qatari leaders aboard Air Force One while refueling at Al-Udeid Air Base. TRUMP ON WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO BRING ISRAELI HOSTAGES HOME: HAMAS MUST BE ‘CONFRONTED AND DESTROYED’ Qatar has played a significant role in efforts to negotiate peace and ceasefires in Gaza. After a meeting with Qatar Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, Trump said “The Emir is one of the great rulers of the world … and the Prime Minister has been my friend.” Referencing the peace deal, the president said, “What we’ve done is incredible — peace in the Middle East.” Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf contributed to this report.
What is Trump’s strategy to tackle the US’s illegal drug problem?
US military strikes abroad win local support but critics say the issue is more complex. The United States has carried out strikes near Venezuela that President Donald Trump says are targeting drug gangs. That is disputed, but the major military mobilisation has brought the issue of narcotics front and centre. How bad is the problem in the country, and what’s Trump’s strategy? Presenter: Adrian Finighan Guests: Sanho Tree – Fellow at the Institute for Policy Studies and director of the Drug Policy Project Carrie Sheffield – Senior policy analyst at the Independent Women’s Forum Ernesto Castaneda – Director of the Center for Latin American and Latino Studies at American University Published On 25 Oct 202525 Oct 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Adblock test (Why?)
Trump announces additional 10 percent Canada tariff over Reagan ad brouhaha
US president says Ontario government’s anti-tariff ad featuring Ronald Reagan needed to be taken down ‘immediately’. Published On 25 Oct 202525 Oct 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Donald Trump has announced an additional 10 percent tariff on Canada as the United States president continues to slam his country’s northern neighbour over a contentious anti-tariff advertisement featuring former US President Ronald Reagan. In a social media post on Saturday, Trump said the advertisement “was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but [Canada] let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD”. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now,” he said. The advertisement, produced by the Canadian province of Ontario, features a 1980s speech by Reagan in which the former Republican leader had warned against the ramifications that high tariffs on foreign imports could have on the US economy. Al Jazeera reviewed the text of the original speech and found that it contained all the statements used in the Ontario commercial. However, they appeared to be in a different order. Washington suspended trade talks with Ottawa this week over the advertisement, accusing the Ontario provincial government of misrepresenting Reagan’s position and seeking to influence a looming US Supreme Court ruling on Trump’s tariff policy. On Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced that, after consulting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the province would “pause its US advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume”. “Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses. We’ve achieved our goal, having reached US audiences at the highest levels,” Ford wrote on X. Advertisement “I’ve directed my team to keep putting our message in front of Americans over the weekend so that we can air our commercial during the first two World Series games.” The Canadian government did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement of additional tariffs on Saturday. It is unclear whether the advertisement will run again as planned during the second World Series game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, set to begin at 8pm local time in Toronto on Saturday (00:00 GMT on Sunday). Since taking office in January, Trump has unveiled sweeping tariffs against several countries, including Canada, straining relations with the US’s longtime ally. Carney said this week that his government aims to double non-US exports over the next decade in response to Trump’s trade policies. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports currently go to the US. Adblock test (Why?)
Brentford condemn Liverpool to fourth straight Premier League loss
Premier League holders Liverpool’s title defence continues to stutter as Brentford’s recovery persists. Published On 25 Oct 202525 Oct 2025 Click here to share on social media share2 Share Champions Liverpool suffered a fourth successive Premier League defeat as they lost 3-2 at Brentford to continue their miserable run of form in London. Arne Slot’s stumbling side fell behind after five minutes on Saturday when Dango Ouattara volleyed in following a long throw, and Kevin Schade went through to make it 2-0 in the 45th. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Milos Kerkez replied for the visitors in first-half stoppage time with his first Liverpool goal from Conor Bradley’s cross. Liverpool’s expected second-half siege never really materialised, however, and Igor Thiago restored Brentford’s two-goal advantage from the penalty spot on the hour mark. Mohamed Salah gave Liverpool hope with a clinical finish in the 89th minute, but they had left it too late. It is the first time since 2021 that Liverpool have lost four successive league games, with three of those matches being in London after defeats at Crystal Palace and Chelsea. They are now sixth in the table on 15 points, four points behind leaders Arsenal, who could extend that margin on Sunday when they host Crystal Palace. Brentford’s second win in a row moved them up to 10th place, two points behind Liverpool. Brentford fans taunt Liverpool manager Slot The home fans took delight in taunting Liverpool manager Arne Slot with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning”, and while the Dutchman need not worry about that, the sense of his side’s title defence wilting was palpable. They looked fragile at the back and were often out-muscled by Brentford. Doubts about Salah’s lack of impact will also continue, despite him slamming home a fine late goal to end a more than a month-long scoreless run in the Premier League. Advertisement Brentford’s threat from long throws could not have escaped Slot’s attention, but his side were caught cold by the tactic on a chilly night in southwest London. Michael Kayode wound up a long delivery into the box, and when Kristoffer Ajer flicked it on, Ouattara reacted superbly to hook his volley past Giorgi Mamardashvili. Liverpool responded with chances for Florian Wirtz and Cody Gakpo, but they were not convincing and were undone again as halftime loomed. Mikkel Damsgaard’s superb long pass sent Schade away, and he kept his composure to beat Mamardashvili. Kerkez fired home from close range in the fifth minute of stoppage time, despite fierce Brentford protests about an infringement. Brentford earned a penalty when Virgil van Dijk clipped Ouattara’s foot on the edge of the area, and after a long VAR check, referee Tim Robinson awarded a spot-kick, and Thiago coolly slotted his shot down the middle. Salah’s instant control and finish set up a chaotic period of stoppage time that took the game into its 100th minute, but Brentford held on for a thoroughly deserved three points. Adblock test (Why?)
Bihar elections 2025: INDIA bloc to announce Muslim Deputy CM face ahead of polls? Tejashwi Yadav drops BIG hint, ‘not ruling out…’
The Grand Alliance has announced Tejashwi Yadav as the CM face. However, after the announcement, NDA leaders have targeted RJD-Congress led Mahgathbandhan of ‘ignoring’ Muslims which constituents 17 percent of population in Bihar, by not announcing a Muslim face for the deputy CM position.
Who is Lakhvinder Kumar? Fugitive gangster of Lawrence Bishnoi gang deported from US, arrested at Delhi airport
Fugitive gangster Lakhvinder Kumar, who was deported from the United States, has been taken into custody at Delhi Airport by Police. Lakhvinder Kumar is an associate to Lawrence Bishnoi gang.
Day after Kurnool tragedy, private bus overturns in Telangana; several people injured
According to a traffic police official, a total of 17 passengers were traveling in the bus. The seven injured people were shifted to the hospital for further treatment. Read on for more details.
Maharashtra doctor suicide case: CM Fadnavis assures strict action, says, ‘No one will…’
Satara Police have arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the two accused in the case. Speaking to reporters, Satara Superintendent of Police Tushar Doshi said: “Police arrested Prashant Bankar, one of the two accused in the suicide case of a woman doctor in Phaltan taluka. He will be produced in court.”
Bihar Election 2025: HM Amit Shah slams Mahagathbandhan, says, ‘I pray to Chhath Maiya that…’
Shah also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi for Operation Sindoor and slammed the Congress and RJD for remaining “silent” for the “greed of vote bank” during the UPA government when he said “Pakistan attacked every day.” Read more here.