Latest news with #Agencies
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First Post
4 hours ago
- Business
- First Post
Merz to meet Trump as Germany seeks to defuse trade row, back Ukraine
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will meet with US President Donald Trump on Thursday for talks at the White House, with the Ukraine and West Asia conflicts on the agenda along with rocky trade relations. read more German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (L) and US President Donald Trump are pictured here against the backdrop of the Nato flag. File Photo- Agencies German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit Washington next week for his first in-person meeting with US President Donald Trump, the government said Saturday. The two leaders are scheduled to meet at the White House on Thursday with the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising transatlantic trade tensions high on the agenda. Merz, who assumed office on May 6, is expected to discuss bilateral relations, international crises including Ukraine war and developments in the West Asia as well as economic and trade policies with Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Since taking office, Merz has stepped up diplomatic efforts to maintain Western unity on Ukraine. Earlier this week, he hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Berlin in a push to secure broader support for a ceasefire. Trump has rattled Europe with shifts in security and trade policy since returning to the White House, including an array of tariffs on European partners. Speaking at the WDR Europaforum conference last Monday, Merz said the European Union could retaliate with measures against US technology companies or other tariffs if the transatlantic trade conflict escalates. 'We shouldn't react heedlessly and hectically,' Merz said. 'But if we can't do anything else, we would need to use this tool.' But Merz's government, which last week said it would help Kyiv develop long-range missiles, wants to make sure that Washington will not walk away from Ukraine during its war with Russia. Merz and Trump have already had several telephone conversations, with the two agreeing earlier this month to visit each other, without giving dates. With regards to the conflict in Gaza, Merz has sought to heighten the pressure on Israel over its policies, balancing Berlin's support for the Israeli government with criticism of how it is fighting in the territory. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'I no longer understand what the Israeli army is now doing in the Gaza Strip,' he told public broadcaster WDR last week, warning the Israeli government to not do that which 'friends are no longer willing to accept'. The visit comes at a critical time in EU-US relations. Trump has threatened to slap 50% tariffs on imports from the European Union, though he postponed the implementation to July 9, leaving a narrow window for negotiations. Germany, as Europe's largest economy, has a significant stake in averting a full-blown trade conflict. With inputs from agencies
Saudi Gazette
5 hours ago
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
Trump doubles steel and aluminum tariffs to 50%
WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump announced Friday a sharp increase in tariffs on imported steel and aluminum, raising the rate from 25% to 50%, in a bid to bolster American manufacturing and close what he described as loopholes exploited by foreign competitors. Speaking at a rally held at a U.S. Steel facility in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Trump told supporters and industry stakeholders: 'We are going to be imposing a 25% increase. We're going to bring it from 25% to 50%... which will even further secure the steel industry in the United States. Nobody's going to get around that.' Trump argued that the previous tariff rate allowed some importers to bypass the intended protections. 'At 25%, they can sort of get over that fence. At 50%, they can no longer get over the fence,' he said, calling it 'a great deal' for American producers. Addressing investors in the domestic steel sector, the president emphasized his commitment to economic nationalism and industrial revival, adding: 'I said the tariff to me is the most beautiful word in the dictionary.' — Agencies
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Finance ministry seeks exemption in gold loan rule
Photo/Agencies NEW DELHI: The finance ministry on Friday said it has examined the draft guidelines on gold loan by RBI and suggested exclusion of small borrowers of up to Rs 2 lakh from the provisions of the proposed norms amid opposition from a section of political parties in Tamil Nadu. RBI on April 9 issued comprehensive draft guidelines on gold loans with a view to harmonise regulatory framework to enhance underwriting, improve collateral management and monitor the end-use of funds. It also proposed that all loans classified against gold will have a loan-to-value ratio of not more than 75 per cent of the value of gold. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Economic Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Economic Times
At 105, man wins gold in the 100m sprint. He started exercising at 90, but what inspires him?
Agencies Thailand's Sawang Janpram, 105, clinched gold in the 100m sprint at the World Masters Games with a time of 38.55 seconds. In a race that lasted just under 39 seconds, 105-year-old Sawang Janpram did much more than claim gold at the World Masters Games in Taipei. He captured hearts, redefined athleticism, and gave a whole new meaning to the phrase "age is just a number." Clocking in at 38.55 seconds in the 100-meter sprint, the Thai sprinter didn't face stiff competition — he had none. As the sole competitor in the 100+ age category, victory was virtually guaranteed. But the applause he earned wasn't for outrunning anyone else. It was for something far more inspiring: running at all. With aviator sunglasses perched coolly on his nose and knee braces supporting his stride, Sawang took off on the track like a man on a mission — not to win, but to show up. That's what makes his story resonate far beyond the stopwatch. Once a school principal and a durian farmer, Sawang began his fitness journey not in his youth or even middle age, but at 90. Motivated by a fear of immobility and inspired by his daughter, Siripan — a decorated Masters athlete herself — he chose movement over stillness, vitality over resignation. Now, fifteen years into this late-blooming athletic career, he's collected more than 60 medals on the masters circuit and inspired countless spectators. His latest haul in Taipei includes golds in javelin, shot put, discus, and that iconic 100-meter sprint. At the podium, it wasn't just the gold medals that glittered. Sawang's bond with his 73-year-old daughter lit up the stage. Siripan herself bagged two golds and a silver in her throwing events — but all eyes were on the duo as they stood side by side, two generations of athletes proving that passion, not age, defines capability. "I'm proud he's brought honour to our family," she said while talking to AFP, beaming with admiration for her father. In return, Sawang, who raised five children, credits her for getting him off the couch and onto the track. The two now train together on the beaches of Rayong, Thailand, several times a week. Some days it's sprints. Other days it's javelin practice. Occasionally, it's just a stroll to the market. But it's always movement — always purpose. Asked about his philosophy, Sawang doesn't deliver a long-winded lecture on fitness science. He keeps it simple: 'Exercise makes life better.' And it's hard to argue with the results. From farming durians and rubber trees in rural Thailand to training for international competitions, Sawang's life has been a testament to hard work. Yet, in these twilight years, it's not toil but joy that propels him forward. 'There are friends, there is laughter, and we do not feel lonely,' he says. 'Our lives feel livelier.' In a world obsessed with youth, Sawang Janpram offers a counter-narrative — one of endurance, evolution, and embracing each year with gusto. He may not have sprinted past competitors on that track in Taipei, but he's leapt over the hurdles of aging with unmatched grace. Whether he'll compete at the next World Masters Games in Japan in 2027 is uncertain. 'It depends on my health,' he shrugs. But given his record so far, don't be surprised if he shows up — aviators on, medal-ready.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
India-EU naval exercise in Indian Ocean on June 1-3
Photo/Agencies NEW DELHI: India and the European Union (EU) will conduct a joint naval exercise in the Indian Ocean from June 1-3. The exercise will focus on advanced counter-piracy operations, interoperability, tactical manoeuvres, and enhanced communication protocols, reflecting the growing maritime security cooperation between the two sides. This is in line with their shared commitment to a free, open, inclusive and rules-based maritime order in the Indo-Pacific region, the EU has said. "It is underpinned by the respect for territorial integrity and sovereignty, democracy, rule of law, freedom of navigation and overflight, unimpeded lawful commerce, and peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),'' it said in a statement. "The exercise will involve Indian Navy ships and two frigates of the European Union Naval Force (EUNAVFOR) Operation ATLANTA," it added.
