<h4 class=
Horoscope

April 18 Birthday Horoscope: Here's what the tarot cards have in store for youIf your birthday falls on April 18, here’s what your year ahead looks like, as per Tarot. Updated on: Apr 18, 2026 11:08 AM IST By Kishori Sud Share via Copy link If you were born on April 18

A Constitution Amendment Bill for women's reservation in legislatures from 2029 and Lok Sabha seat increase was defeated. The BJP accused the Congress and
Politics

A Constitution Amendment Bill for women's reservation in legislatures from 2029 and Lok Sabha seat increase was defeated. The BJP accused the Congress and opposition of betraying women. Opposition leaders stated the 2023 quota law should be implemented immediately

United States President Donald Trump said that he may not extend the tentative ceasefire with Iran if negotiations fail to produce an agreement by Wednesday
Latest News

United States President Donald Trump said that he may not extend the tentative ceasefire with Iran if negotiations fail to produce an agreement by Wednesday, CNN reported. Trump also said that Washington would obtain Tehran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium one way or another

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed joy as the opposition successfully blocked the delimitation bill in Parliament. He credited the INDIA bloc MPs
Politics

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin expressed joy as the opposition successfully blocked the delimitation bill in Parliament. He credited the INDIA bloc MPs and women for this victory. Stalin highlighted the planned campaign and protests that built momentum

Is this the beginning of the end for the Golden State dynasty? The Golden State Warriors saw their season come crashing down after a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix
Sports

Is this the beginning of the end for the Golden State dynasty? The Golden State Warriors saw their season come crashing down after a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in, a defeat that felt heavier than just a scoreline. Jalen Green torched the Warriors for 36 points

Congress ups pressure to release boat strike video with threat to Hegseth's travel budget

Posted By: Tarun Kumar Posted On: Dec 09, 2025Share Article
Congress ups pressure to release boat strike video with threat to Hegseth's travel budget

Congress ups pressure to release boat strike video with threat to Hegseth's travel budget

US lawmakers are trying to pressure the Trump administration to release video of a controversial "double-tap" military strike by limiting Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth's travel budget.

The incident on 2 September, in which the US carried out a second deadly strike on a boat in the Caribbean, has raised fresh questions about the legality of Trump's campaign targeting alleged drug-carrying vessels.

A provision buried in a lengthy defence spending policy would restrict travel funds for Hegseth's office until the Pentagon hands over unedited footage. The bill is expected to pass with support from both parties.

US President Donald Trump says release of the video is something for Hegseth to decide.

Trump denied that he had previously said he would have "no problem" with the footage being made public - despite that comment being made on camera as recently as Wednesday.

The threat from Congress to withhold money from Hegseth's travel budget has emerged amid a clamour for information from lawmakers on both sides of the political aisle.

It is buried within a 3,000-page draft bill that is focused on approving next year's defence spending. The annual bill authorises nearly $901bn in funding (£687m).

The bill's final wording, which was first reported by Politico, states that Hegseth's office may spend no more than three-quarters of the funds made available for travel for the year 2026 until it meets certain requirements.

These include an obligation to give the House and Senate armed service committees all "unedited video of strikes conducted against designated terrorist organizations in the area of responsibility of the United States Southern Command".

The wording nods to the way Trump has characterised his strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific. He says they are a matter of targeting designated terrorist organisations.

In his comments to reporters on Monday, Trump said each of the alleged drugs boats that had been sunk had saved 25,000 American lives, and claimed that drugs trafficking to the US by sea had all but stopped.

His administration has sought to justify its actions by saying it is in a non-international armed conflict with the alleged traffickers. Dozens of people have been killed in the months-long campaign, but the administration has not publicly provided evidence for its assertions of criminality in each case.

Experts have raised questions about the legality of the strikes, prompting concern from Republicans and Democrats alike.

Regarding the "double-tap" attack on 2 September specifically, the experts point out that the so-called laws of war decree that the parties in an armed conflict are obliged to pick up wounded survivors of a strike rather than attack them again.

Nine people died in the first strike on the vessel and two survivors were left clinging to the burning wreckage when it was struck again, killing them, according to the Washington Post.

The White House has repeatedly said it is working within the laws of armed conflict.

It says the second strike was ordered by a navy admiral, and not by Hegseth, who has become a focal point for scrutiny of both the strike and the White House narrative surrounding it.

Senior members of Congress who were shown the video in a briefing last week by that admiral, Frank Bradley, emerged with differing views.

Jim Himes of Connecticut, the senior Democrat on the House intelligence committee, said he found the video of the second attack "deeply, deeply troubling".

But Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas disagreed, calling the strikes "entirely lawful and needful".

Trump has previously posted video of the first strike from 2 September, and continues to be asked whether he will release video of the second.

Last Wednesday, the president responded to an on-camera question about the video from an ABC News reporter by saying: "I don't know what they have, but whatever they have, we'd certainly release, no problem."

Five days later, he responded to a question from the same network by saying: "I didn't say that. That's - you said that, I didn't say that."

He went on to clarify: "Whatever Pete Hegseth wants to do is OK with me."

In his most recent remarks on the subject, Hegseth was noncommittal on the subject, saying: "We're reviewing the process, and we'll see."

Hegseth, along with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Dan Caine, the chairman of the Join Chiefs of Staff, is due to brief top congressional lawmakers on Tuesday afternoon, two sources told CBS.

Comment on Post

Leave a comment

If you have a News Orbit 360 user account, your address will be used to display your profile picture.


RCB vs DC Playing 11: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru aim to reclaim the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table as they face Delhi Capitals. RCB
Sports
RCB vs DC Playing 11 IPL 2026

RCB vs DC Playing 11: Defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru aim to reclaim the top spot in the IPL 2026 points table as they face Delhi Capitals. RCB, with a strong opening and middle order, will look to capitalize on their historical dominance against a Delhi side seeking to regain

1 hours ago

Oura isn’t a household name in India, and many would be hearing of the Finnish brand for the first time, with the launch of the Oura Ring 4
Latest News
An unobstrusive way to track your health and fitness metrics

Oura isn’t a household name in India, and many would be hearing of the Finnish brand for the first time, with the launch of the Oura Ring 4. As the name suggests, Oura has been at the wearable space longer than most people realize—over a decade at this point

1 hours ago

Mumbai, Apr 17 (PTI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched ‘Movitrap’, an innovative mosquito-control device developed under its
Latest News
BMC unveils new device to curb mosquito menace

Mumbai, Apr 17 (PTI) The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched ‘Movitrap’, an innovative mosquito-control device developed under its incubation initiative to combat vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, officials said on Saturday.Mumbai

1 hours ago

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO and MD K Krithivasan on Friday informed that the IT major has initiated a formal independent investigation into the sexual
Latest News
TCS forms independent panel to investigate Nashik incident

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) CEO and MD K Krithivasan on Friday informed that the IT major has initiated a formal independent investigation into the sexual harassment incident at its Nashik facility, bringing in external experts and constituting a board-level oversight mechanism to ensure the

1 hours ago

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has found herself at the centre of a storm after being charged with a doping violation. The charge
Sports
Marketa Vondrousova Faces Doping Charge After Missed Test

Marketa Vondrousova, the 2023 Wimbledon champion, has found herself at the centre of a storm after being charged with a doping violation. The charge, brought by the International Tennis Integrity Agency, relates to an out-of-competition test in December.Marketa Vondrousova

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Why are RCB wearing green jersey against Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026 match

Why are RCB wearing green jersey against Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026 match at Chinnaswamy?Royal Challengers Bengaluru will don green jerseys against Delhi Capitals, emphasising their sustainability campaign. Updated on: Apr 18, 2026 1:58 PM IST Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee Share via Copy link

1 hours ago

Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis on Saturday chaired a review meeting of the Home Department over the Nashik conversion case, saying that religious
Politics
Cases involving religious conversion wouldn't be tolerated

Maharashtra Chief Minister Fadnavis on Saturday chaired a review meeting of the Home Department over the Nashik conversion case, saying that religious conversion cases would not be tolerated under any circumstances. Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday chaired a review

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Life Style
Think heart disease starts at 50

Think heart disease starts at 50? Heart surgeon reveals shocking truth: ‘Begins as early as age 3…’Heart disease risk is built in at an early age. It does not develop abruptly in middle age, suggesting the importance of early prevention and healthy habits. Published on: Apr 18

1 hours ago

The Malayalam television industry is facing a deeply emotional moment as colleagues, friends, and viewers come to terms with the loss of actor Siddharth
Entertainment
Malayalam Actor Siddharth Venugopal Dies After Two-Year Cancer Fight

The Malayalam television industry is facing a deeply emotional moment as colleagues, friends, and viewers come to terms with the loss of actor Siddharth Venugopal. News of Siddharth’s demise was confirmed through actress Seema G Nair, who had been closely associated with his treatment journey

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Sports
Pranavi lone Indian to make cut in Joburg Ladies Open

Pranavi lone Indian to make cut in Joburg Ladies OpenPranavi lone Indian to make cut in Joburg Ladies Open Published on: Apr 18, 2026 1:46 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Johannesburg, Pranavi Urs was the sole Indian to make the cut as she scraped through into the weekend rounds on the cutline at

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Bring old bill

‘Hold Parliament on Monday, bring old bill, let's see who is anti-women’: Priyanka leads Oppn charge as govt move fails‘Old bill’ refers to 2023 law that already provides for 33% quota for women in legislatures. It was in fact notified this week. Delimitation is the caveat

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Why South Korean president’s visit to India matters

Why South Korean president’s visit to India mattersThis article is authored by Torunika Roy, research associate, Korea Chair, Council for Strategic and Defence Research (CSDR), New Delhi. Published on: Apr 18, 2026 2:01 PM IST By Torunika Roy Share via Copy link Starting today to April 21, 2026

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Entertainment
Hansika Motwani says therapy helped her heal post divorce

Hansika Motwani says therapy helped her heal post-divorce from Sohael Khaturiya: ‘I was in a dark space’Hansika Motwani opened up about her divorce, emphasising family support during a challenging time and her decision to move forward without regrets. Apr 18, 2026

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Why Pizza 4P’s became ‘Pizza for Peace’ in Kannada

Why Pizza 4P’s Bengaluru outlet became ‘Pizza for Peace’ in Kannada: Japanese owner reveals real reasonOwner and CEO of Pizza 4P’s, Masuko Yosuke, shared a tweet on why he opened a store in Bengaluru and the meaning behind the name. Published on: Apr 18

1 hours ago

Academicians and experts came together at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata to share concerns and discuss the
Science
Experts, academicians share concern and possibilities of animal and fish breeding rights at WBNUJS

Academicians and experts came together at the West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences (WBNUJS) in Kolkata to share concerns and discuss the possibilities in the area of the animal and fish breeders’ rights. The discussion titled “Animal and Fish Breeders’ Rights: An Imperative

1 hours ago

Ukrainian drones targeted industrial cities along the Volga River and a Baltic Sea port near St. Petersburg. A fire was extinguished at the Vysotsk port
World
Ukraine strikes Baltic Sea port

Ukrainian drones targeted industrial cities along the Volga River and a Baltic Sea port near St. Petersburg. A fire was extinguished at the Vysotsk port, which handles fuel exports. Attacks also hit industrial targets in Syzran and Novokuibyshevsk, cities known for their oil refineries

1 hours ago

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) A day after a united opposition defeated a Constitution amendment bill to tweak the women’s quota law and increase the number of
Latest News
Congress anti-women

New Delhi, Apr 18 (PTI) A day after a united opposition defeated a Constitution amendment bill to tweak the women’s quota law and increase the number of seats in legislatures through delimitation, Parliamentary Affairs Minsiter Kiren Rijiju on Saturday accused the Congress of being anti-women

1 hours ago

A graduate from the National Institute of Technology has gone viral after claiming that only a tiny portion of what she studied in college is actually useful
Latest News
My Job Uses Just 3% Of My Degree

A graduate from the National Institute of Technology has gone viral after claiming that only a tiny portion of what she studied in college is actually useful in her current job. The woman, identified as Manvi, shared her thoughts in a video posted on Instagram

1 hours ago

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday (April 17, 2026) ‌issued a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned ​Russian oil and petroleum
World
U.S. extends waiver allowing countries to buy Russian oil

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Friday (April 17, 2026) ‌issued a waiver allowing countries to buy sanctioned ​Russian oil and petroleum products at ⁠sea for about a month, seeking to control global energy prices that have shot higher during ‌the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.U

1 hours ago

Gold and silver prices in India on April 18, 2026 remained largely steady with minor fluctuations across major cities, even as global markets reacted to
Business
Gold, silver rates on April 18, 2026

Gold and silver prices in India on April 18, 2026 remained largely steady with minor fluctuations across major cities, even as global markets reacted to geopolitical tensions in West Asia and mixed signals from the US dollar. Precious metals, which are traditionally considered safe-haven assets

1 hours ago

While addressing the debate on linking the women’s reservation bill with delimitation, Rahul Gandhi joked about him and PM Modi not having wives
Politics
PM Modi And I Don’t Have Wife Issue

While addressing the debate on linking the women’s reservation bill with delimitation, Rahul Gandhi joked about him and PM Modi not having wives. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday led the opposition’s debate in Lok Sabha amid a row over linking the Delimitation Bill to the Women’s Quota

1 hours ago

Train Safety Tips: Even a minor lapse in judgment while traveling by train can prove costly; therefore, remaining vigilant is absolutely essential
Latest News
Phones, luggage, and seats… follow these safety rules while traveling by train

Train Safety Tips: Even a minor lapse in judgment while traveling by train can prove costly; therefore, remaining vigilant is absolutely essential. By adopting a few simple precautions, you can make your journey both safe and stress-free. Indian Railway Safety Tips: Millions of people travel by

1 hours ago

More than 300 humanoid robots participating in China's second robot half-marathon on Sunday will be facing tougher terrain designed to test their technical
Technology
China humanoid robot half-marathon to showcase technical leaps

More than 300 humanoid robots participating in China's second robot half-marathon on Sunday will be facing tougher terrain designed to test their technical advancements, as Beijing ​seeks to develop the industry into a major pillar of its ​economy.Over 70 teams

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
World
Pak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visit

Pak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visitPak Army chief Munir concludes three-day Iran visit Published on: Apr 18, 2026 1:26 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Islamabad, Pakistan's Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir has concluded his three-day visit to Iran as part of

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Entertainment
Bollywood-inspired Brazilian telenovela recreated Kajra Re

Bollywood-inspired Brazilian telenovela recreated Kajra Re, used Beedi Jalaile; internet stunned: ‘How could this exist’The 2009 telenovela Caminho das Índias has resurfaced online, captivating audiences with its Bollywood-style drama and intercaste romance. Apr 18, 2026

1 hours ago

Oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday (April 17, 2026) after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” for the rest of the ceasefire
Business
Oil plunges, stocks jump as Iran declares Hormuz open

Oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday (April 17, 2026) after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely open” for the rest of the ceasefire with the United States, and stock markets surged. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X that “passage for all commercial

1 hours ago

<h4 class=
Latest News
Delhi techie who quit ₹40 LPA Google job opens up on life after corporate

Delhi techie who quit ₹40 LPA Google job opens up on life after corporate: ‘I now own 100% of my time’A Delhi techie quit his ₹40 LPA+ Google job and chose to explore life, prioritising freedom over a predictable career. Published on: Apr 18

1 hours ago


Sing Up