Natalie Harp, the 35-year-old White House aide, is the talk of the town.
In our weekly roundup, we talk about Melania’s rumoured grudge with Harp and moreWe are 72 days from the US midterms.
After White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s surprise exit, Trump’s main liaison to Congress, James Braid, is stepping down.
It’s Natalie Harp.
Let’s talk about Natalie Harp.
She is part of Donald Trump’s inner circle and is always by his side. Natalie Harp, the 35-year-old White House aide, is the talk of the town. In our weekly roundup, we talk about Melania’s rumoured grudge with Harp and more
We are 72 days from the US midterms. Donald Trump’s team is seeing a churn. After White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s surprise exit, Trump’s main liaison to Congress, James Braid, is stepping down. However, there is one person who does not leave the US President’s side… not even on Sundays, if reports are to be believed. No, it is not Melania Trump. It’s Natalie Harp. The 35-year-old has suddenly grabbed headlines after working behind the scenes. We’ll tell you more about her.
In big news from West Asia, the Iran-US deal has expired, and no further negotiations have been successful. Now, Trump has vowed an “economic D-Day” against the Islamic Republic that goes beyond the sanctions. Under this, any country that does business with Iran would face “tremendous” economic consequences.
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Meanwhile, the UAE has suspended all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran. The move comes after two ballistic missiles were fired toward the Gulf state allegedly by Tehran.
In Pakistan, speculation about Imran Khan’s health is rife once again. The former prime minister was moved back to Adiala Jail after undergoing a detailed medical examination at a hospital in Islamabad. The 73-year-old PTI founder was taken to the facility under heightened security around midnight on Thursday (April 20). We bring you more details.
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While Pakistan’s Nato-like defence alliance with Saudi Arabia and Turkey has created a lot of interest, Islamabad also entered an agreement with Somalia recently. It covers counter-terrorism, military training, exchanges, and capability building. We explain why it is significant.
Beyond geopolitics, royal drama is expected to return to the UK, with Prince Harry and Meghan. The couple are relocating back from the US after six years, along with their two children.
In our weekly roundup of world news, we bring you the latest explainers and analyses.
1. Let’s talk about Natalie Harp. She has been part of Donald Trump’s inner circle for years. She is often spotted next to the US president. Trusted with the US president’s Truth Social posts, the 35-year-old has been working behind the scenes.
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Harp was thrust into the spotlight after Georgia Senator Jon Ossoff, a Democrat and Trump critic, named her in a now-viral speech. He was talking about the US president’s “travel with Natalie on their apparently defenceless flying palace gifted by the Emir of Qatar”, referring to the new Air Force One plane. As more details emerge about Harp’s close ties with the president, rumours have also surfaced that Melania Trump is not too pleased with the aide. This story brings you all the details.
2. Moving on to more serious matters. Economic D-Day is the buzzword this week. The US administration has touted a crushing financial campaign against Iran. Without divulging too many details, Trump announced that the US would be imposing an “unprecedented” level of economic warfare and isolation on Iran, aiming to force its leadership to cave to demands to end its nuclear programme and fully reopen the crucial Strait of Hormuz to oil and natural gas tankers. What is the plan, and will it hurt the Islamic Republic? We analyse.
Vehicles drive past a banner reading in Farsi, "We will kill Trump," and banners showing portraits of the late Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, the successor to him, at a square in Tehran, Iran. AP
3. The West Asia war poses several big challenges. One of them is misinformation. One such unverified claim entered the discourse. It was traced by The New York Times to an X handle from India. The fake news about Iran’s nuclear programme spread quickly and was reported by prominent Israeli and US media outlets. In fact, it was even cited by Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu and shared online by US ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz. But how did the fake information reach so far?
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4. There was panic in Pakistan last week after rumours about Imran Khan’s death spread once again. Around midnight Thursday (Aug 20), following a directive from the Supreme Court, the former prime minister was transferred to Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad and then back to Adiala Jail, where he is lodged. It was all kept hush-hush, and here is how the high-security arrangements were organised.
Police officers remove media in front of the Shifa International Hospital, where imprisoned former PM Imran Khan was transferred for a medical examination following Pakistan's Supreme Court order, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Thursday, Aug 20. AP
5. The defence alliance between Pakistan, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia has caught the world’s attention. Dubbed the “Islamic Nato”, its members have indicated that they want to expand it. Egypt is one of the potential contenders to join this bloc. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has called Egypt a “natural partner”. But will Cairo become part of his defence pact? Or will its ties with New Delhi discourage it? Here’s an analysis.
6. Days before signing the Mecca Joint Agreement with Saudi Arabia and Turkey, Pakistan entered a pact with Somalia that covers counter-terrorism, military training, exchanges, and capability building.
Pakistan brings an experienced military establishment, with counter-insurgency experience, professional military training and a defence industry capable of supplying relatively affordable equipment. For a Somali military still being rebuilt, these are attractive assets. There is also a Saudi connection. Somalia concluded a military-cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia earlier this year. Here is why this pact is significant.
7. They are calling it the “reverse Megxit”. Prince Harry and Meghan are returning to the UK after six years. The couple will live in a private residence outside London with their two children, who will start school in September. However, the homecoming of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex poses a number of questions. Will the royal family rift end? And will the brothers, William and Harry, make up?
Prince William, Princess Catherine, Prince Harry and Meghan wave to members of the public at Windsor Castle, following the passing of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, in Windsor, Britain, September 10, 2022. Reuters/File photo
8. Our last story is about a “Chinese spy”, Christine Fang, also known as “Fang Fang”. Newly declassified FBI records show the woman who is suspected to have links with Chinese intelligence cultivated relationships with American politicians, including former US Congressman Eric Swalwell.
The investigation ran from 2014 to 2017 and examined allegations involving campaign contributions, internship placements and Fang’s political contacts. Swalwell politician told the FBI in 2015 that he had “physical relations” with Fang but described it as casual. Here’s more about the probe called “Operation Freshman Fifteen”.
That’s all from us this week. You can find all our latest explainers here.
