Newspaper headlines from around the world - Thursday, 31 July 2025
Here are the stories that made headlines on the front pages of newspapers worldwide on Thursday, 31 July 2025. The New York Times front page reported that, with tariffs, Trump tests the global economy. The Washington Post reported that a host of failures were outlined in the crash. The Jerusalem Post's front page reported that Israel rejected Hamas's demand to exchange terrorists for bodies. China Daily's front page reported that the CPC plenum will focus on the next five-year plan. The Daily Mail's front page reported that victims of the October 7 atrocities told Keir Starmer there should be no recognition of a Palestinian state until every hostage is freed. The Guardian's front page reported that Palestine Action wins the right to challenge a ban in court.
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TimesLIVE
2 minutes ago
- TimesLIVE
Trump scores major own goal with labour official firing
US President Donald Trump's decision to fire a top labour official after weak jobs data sends ominous signals about political interference in independent institutions, but is also a major strategic own goal. Trump has spent six months attacking the Federal Reserve, and chair Jerome Powell in particular, for not cutting interest rates. The barbs culminated in Trump branding Powell a 'stubborn moron' in a social media post on Friday before the July jobs report was released. The numbers, especially the net downward revision of 258,000 for May and June payrolls growth, were much weaker than expected. This was 'the largest two-month revision since 1968 outside NBER-defined recessions (assuming the economy is not in recession)', according to Goldman Sachs. The release sparked a dramatic reaction in financial markets. Fed rate cut expectations soared, the two-year Treasury yield had its steepest fall in a year and the dollar tumbled. A quarter-point rate cut next month and another by December were suddenly nailed-on certainties, according to rate futures market pricing. This was a huge U-turn from only 48-hours before when Powell's hawkish steer in his post-FOMC meeting press conference raised the prospect of no easing at all this year. Trump's constant lambasting of 'too late' Powell suddenly appeared to have more substance behind it. The Fed chair's rate cut caution centres on the labour market, which appears nowhere near as 'solid' as he thought. Trump could have responded by saying: 'I was right and Powell was wrong.' Instead, on Friday afternoon he said he was firing the head of the bureau of labour statistics (BLS), commissioner Erika McEntarfer, for faking the jobs numbers. Trump provided no evidence of data manipulation. Rather than point out that markets were finally coming around to his way of thinking on the need for lower interest rates, Trump has united economists, analysts and investors in condemnation of what they said is brazen political interference typically associated with underdeveloped and unstable nations rather than the self-proclaimed "leader of the free world". 'A dark day in, and for, the US,' economist Phil Suttle wrote on Friday. 'This is the sort of thing only the worst populists do in the worst emerging economies and, to use the style of President Trump, it never ends well.'
The Citizen
2 minutes ago
- The Citizen
BEE left out of US trade talks
Lamola distances political issues from trade talks, saying empowerment policies are not being discussed with US officials. Ongoing negotiations on a trade deal with the US have not included any discussion about political issues, including broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) or affirmative action, says International Relations and Cooperation Minister Ronald Lamola. At a media briefing yesterday, Lamola emphasised on a number of occasions that those issues had 'not been brought to the negotiating table'. He said despite some 'speculations' by those who had visited Washington, that these matters were critical, 'those issues were not in the feedback' the US negotiators had given their South African counterparts. Nor were they in the framework being discussed. B-BBEE not brought to trade talks table He added: 'We prefer to deal with what is in front of us… 'So, we separate facts and other things that we hear.' Lamola appeared to criticise some groups within South Africa that may have hurt the country's relationship with the US. ALSO READ: US tariffs: Here's why talks over trade deal have been 'complex' 'It is unfortunate that this government's efforts in resetting the relationship with the US have been undermined by some actors within South African society.' Representatives from the DA, AfriForum, the Solidarity Movement and Freedom Front Plus travelled to the US this year to voice concerns over South African policies such as B-BBEE and the Expropriation Act. This coincided with Trump's executive order granting refugee status to Afrikaners, citing claims of persecution, while also cutting US financial aid to South Africa in response to the International Court of Justice case brought by President Cyril Ramaphosa's administration against Israel. Govt accused groups of sowing division As a result, the SA government has repeatedly accused the groups of sowing division in the country. Lamola has assured the public that support programmes will help offset the US 30% tariff on SA exports. He highlighted that the US is South Africa's third-largest trading partner, accounting for 7.5% of total exports. ALSO READ: Government must actively manage fallout from US tariffs with trade crisis committee – BLSA 'South African exports do not compete with US producers and do not pose a threat to US industry. 'On the contrary, our exports are crucial inputs that support America's own industrial base. 'Our agriculture exports are even counter-seasonal, meaning that they fill gaps in the US market, not replace domestic products.' Tariffs could reduce economic growth by 0.2% Economists estimate that the new tariffs could reduce South Africa's economic growth by 0.2%. However, Lamola pointed out that 35% of South African exports will remain exempt. These include products like copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, critical minerals, stainless steel scrap and energyrelated products. ALSO READ: SA's efforts to repair US ties undermined internally, says Lamola amid tariff fallout He also said South African companies had already adapted to steel and aluminium tariffs that were introduced under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act back in 2018. Government will roll out several key support measures. These include an export support desk that will act as a single point of contact for companies affected by the US tariff hike. Support desk The desk will provide ongoing updates, assist with exploring new international markets and connect exporters with South African embassies and high commissions abroad. An economic relief package is also being prepared to help companies cope with short-term financial pressures and develop longer-term plans to protect jobs and production.
eNCA
32 minutes ago
- eNCA
US tariffs, a calamity for SA
GERMISTON, GP - ANC President, Cyril Ramaphosa, says the 30-percent tariff on South African exports to the US, is a calamity. Ramaphosa gave the closing address at the ANC National Executive Committee meeting in Germiston on Monday. The ANC had convened a four-day NEC meeting where vital discussions on the party's future and strategic direction took centre stage. The meeting, convened by key leaders and decision-makers within the party, set the tone for the party's priorities leading up to next year local government elections and beyond.
