Trump threatens India, Johnson visits occupied West Bank | Hook News Brief

Hook News Brief | 05.08.25

Will “substantially” raise tariffs against India: Trump

US President Donald Trump has threatened to “substantially” raise tariffs against India over its purchase of oil from Russia.

In the post to Truth Social, Trump accused India of buying copious amounts of Russian oil and then selling it on the open market for big profits. Trump did not specify what the new tariff would be, but it comes just days after he unveiled a hefty 25% levy on India.

Randhir Jaiswal, India’s Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, in a statement decried Trump’s move as “unjustified and unreasonable”. He further added that it was the US who encouraged India to import Russian gas at the start of the conflict, “for strengthening global energy markets stability”.

Mike Johnson visits the occupied West Bank

Shifting focus, Mike Johnson became the highest ranked US official to visit the occupied West Bank on Monday.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry called the trip by the speaker of the US House of Representatives a “blatant violation of international law”. Further adding that Johnson’s visit contradicts Arab and US efforts to “end the cycle of violence” as well as Washington’s public stance against settlers’ “aggressions”.

600 retired Israeli security officials implore Trump to immediately end the war in Gaza

Meanwhile, a group of some 600 retired Israeli security officials have written to Trump to pressure Israel to immediately end the war in Gaza. The group, including former heads of intelligence agencies, said that in their professional judgement Hamas no longer poses a strategic threat to Israel.

Their appeal comes amid reports that Netanyahu is pushing to expand military operations in Gaza as indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas have stalled.

Brazil’s Supreme Court orders house arrest of former president Bolsonaro

In a move immediately condemned by the US, Brazil’s Supreme Court ordered the house arrest of former president Jair Bolsonaro. Justice Alexandre de Moraes, who was sanctioned by the US last week, said that the far-right leader breached “preventative measures” imposed ahead of his trial for an alleged coup attempt.

The US State Department condemned the order, saying Moraes was using Brazilian institutions to silence opposition and threaten democracy. Further adding that the US would “hold accountable all those aiding and abetting sanctioned conduct”.

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