Latest news with #DonaldJTrump
The Independent
7 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Why Trump's travel ban won't work – and doesn't deserve to
To borrow a famous phrase from another American president, no-one should ever misunderestimate the capacity for idiocy of Donald J Trump. You'd think we'd be used to it by now – but today we're coming to terms with another Trump travel ban, the embarrassment of which has been amplified by his decision to announce it in a solemn national address on the television; like JFK in the Cuban missile crisis, or Nixon saying he had never been a quitter in his resignation statement. Restricting travel to the US from 19 countries with 'hostile attitudes' or a 'significant terrorist presence' is Trump effectively saying 'we don't want them here' – 'them' being, with few exceptions, people from Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, all of whom will be 'fully' restricted. Scarcely more welcome are the nationals of Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela, who will be partially restricted. Trump says these countries don't vet their people as well as they should – which may well be true, but most dedicated terrorists will always find a way to deceive their own and any other government they encounter. Just like the irrational ban on Muslim people briefly imposed in his first term in 2017, Trump chooses to demonise anyone who shares a religion or nationality with a country that's experienced terror. This is a foolish and distressingly widespread source of Islamophobia on a global scale. It scarcely needs pointing out that while there are a few who would seek to use and defile their own religion with violence and hatred; it does not mean all Muslims are terrorists. This demonisation of an entire group of people is nothing new, but it is dangerous – and there are many who have experienced similar prejudice: from the Irish in the 1970s, demonised for atrocities committed in their name by strangers; to innocent refugees caught up in last summer's Southport riots; to the continuing backlash against trans people. Not all Pakistani men or those of Pakistani heritage are grooming gang rapists. Not all Jewish people in Britain support the Israel government's war in Gaza. It is absurd. It would be like wanting to deport all Ford Galaxy drivers because of what happened at the Liverpool parade. Yet that is exactly the train of thought in certain groups – among them, sadly, the president of the United States – whenever such a violent tragedy happens. Too often, on social media, we find people imagining and willing an offence to have been committed by a Muslim or a refugee, in order to justify their own senseless reprisal against innocent people. So it is now with Trump and his latest travel ban, which was prompted by the actions of one man in Colorado now being held for a firebombing attack on peaceful demonstrators showing support for Israeli hostages. The man and his family are Egyptian nationals. Egypt is not on the list of countries targeted under Trump's order. Neither, by the way, is Saudi Arabia, nor the United Arab Emirates, nor Lebanon, whose nationals (also including an Egyptian) were responsible for the 9/11 attacks. They are still free to come and go to America. Yet on the list of nationals marked out to be shamed by Trump are Haitians and those of Haitian descent, of which there are more than 1m people living in the US. Close family members of US nationals of Haitian heritage might be able to get a visa, but (perhaps) only with a DNA test. Their friends and relatives will find it more difficult – if not impossible – to see their loved ones in America, despite, thus far, there being no evidence of any Haitian terrorist threat to the governemnt of the United States. There remains only the infamous fever dream of Donald Trump, which you may recall seized him during one of his election rallies last year: 'In Springfield, they're eating the dogs, the people that came in, they're eating the cats. They're eating the pets of the people that live there.' Baseless, obviously, but unnervingly effective. The kind of mantra that sticks, however outlandish and misleading. Perhaps the rest of us should join the growing informal boycott of the United States – or, indeed, take a holiday in Canada instead? They have fewer guns and more sense.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
India can increase imports of shale gas, LNG, crude from US: Official
India's exports to the US are rising, and it can increase imports of products like shale gas, LNG, and crude oil from America to diversify its import basket, as prices of these items are lower in the US, an official said. Teams of both countries will start next round of talks this week here on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. Though India is looking for a balanced and a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the US, "what we get as compared to other countries, will determine what we ultimately finalise in the deal," the official said. Asked if some kind of interim trade deal can be agreed upon before July 9, the official said a lot of uncertainties are there at present because of developments like the Trump administration's plan to further increase tariffs on steel and a stay on a court order against the US authorities' decisions on tariffs. But within the constraints of uncertainties, India has to find pathways which are good for the country, the official said. "Exports are increasing... there are several things we can buy from the US... For example shale gas, LNG, crude oil. The more diversified our sources, the greater the benefit for us. Prices are also low in the US," the official, who did not wish to be named, said. The official added that the US is a major trading partner of India, with a significant trade surplus in India's favour. Moreover, a large number of jobs are linked to exports to the US. India has already reserved its right to impose retaliatory tariffs against US duties on steel and aluminium. It has also sought consultations under the WTO norms on US tariffs on auto components. Asked if India is considering to take similar measures in more products, the official said India will protect its interests. "We will see what is good for India... accordingly we will take decisions," the official said, adding, "Today lot of uncertainties are there... because of that court order... we will discuss how to address these issues... lot of uncertainties are there". In February, US President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche or phase of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) of 2025. It is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current level of USD 191 billion. The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
India can increase imports of shale gas, LNG, crude from US: Official
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel India's exports to the US are rising, and it can increase imports of products like shale gas, LNG, and crude oil from America to diversify its import basket, as prices of these items are lower in the US, an official of both countries will start next round of talks this week here on the proposed bilateral trade India is looking for a balanced and a mutually beneficial trade agreement with the US, "what we get as compared to other countries, will determine what we ultimately finalise in the deal," the official if some kind of interim trade deal can be agreed upon before July 9, the official said a lot of uncertainties are there at present because of developments like the Trump administration's plan to further increase tariffs on steel and a stay on a court order against the US authorities' decisions on within the constraints of uncertainties, India has to find pathways which are good for the country, the official said."Exports are increasing... there are several things we can buy from the US... For example shale gas, LNG, crude oil. The more diversified our sources, the greater the benefit for us. Prices are also low in the US," the official, who did not wish to be named, official added that the US is a major trading partner of India, with a significant trade surplus in India's favour. Moreover, a large number of jobs are linked to exports to the has already reserved its right to impose retaliatory tariffs against US duties on steel and aluminium. It has also sought consultations under the WTO norms on US tariffs on auto if India is considering to take similar measures in more products, the official said India will protect its interests."We will see what is good for India... accordingly we will take decisions," the official said, adding, "Today lot of uncertainties are there... because of that court order... we will discuss how to address these issues... lot of uncertainties are there".In February, US President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche or phase of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) of is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current level of USD 191 US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 US accounts for about 18 per cent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country's total merchandise trade.
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
India, US desire to give preferential market access to businesses; talks on for trade pact: Goyal
In February, US President Donald J Trump and Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi announced plans to negotiate the first tranche or phase of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall (September-October) of 2025.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Trump crypto firm quiet on Shehbaz talks, CEO of partner talks of Pakistan image makeover
EVEN AS World Liberty Financial Inc (WLFI), a cryptocurrency company majority-owned by US President Donald Trump and his family, sits on a request from a Senate sub-committee to share its communications with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that led to a deal signed on April 26, CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council Bilal bin Saqib Thursday drew parallels between Pakistan and Bitcoin as 'victims of bad PR.' 'Both Pakistan and Bitcoin have suffered from bad PR. We are looked at as being dangerous, risky and unstable. But once we look beyond these headlines, we can see a lot of potential, resources and talent. So Pakistan is looking for allies,' he said at the annual gathering of the global cryptocurrency community in Las Vegas. Part of the Forbes '30 under 30' list of social entrepreneurs in 2020, Bilal Bin Saqib was appointed the first CEO of the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) by Prime Minister Sharif on March 26. Last week, he held a 'high-level meeting' with Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir to outline the future of Pakistan's digital economy. In April, WLFI's key officials visited Islamabad and Lahore to sign a Letter of Intent with the Pakistan Crypto Council, which was set up just about a month ago in March. WLFI lists Donald J Trump, Donald Jr Trump, Eric Trump and DT Marks DEFI LLC as promoters of the company in a filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in October 2024. In January this year, it made the Trump ownership public on its website, and named Donald J Trump as 'Chief Crypto Advocate.' His sons Donal (Jr) and Eric, and grandson Barron are part of the WLFI team as 'Web3 Ambassador'. Web3 wallets allow access to apps and store cryptocurrencies. The partnership with Pakistan Crypto Council, said Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff's son and WLFI co-founder Zach Witkoff, on April 27 in social media, will 'bring diversity and financial inclusion to the next generation in Pakistan and beyond.' Within two weeks, President Trump claimed he had successfully mediated a 'ceasefire' between India and Pakistan. Behind an apparent show of support, say sources, the message to Islamabad was to 'drive for an image makeover to fit the aspirations of a new financial order.' On cue, in his speech at Las Vegas today, Bilal announced that Pakistan will set up a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, claiming that Pakistan could 'become a case study' and 'help the belt from Morocco to Malaysia, and all emerging economies in the south on how they should adopt digital assets.' Soon after, the Pakistan Crypto Council posted on social media: 'With a young, crypto-savvy population and a forward-looking government, Pakistan isn't the problem. We are the protocol.' But the rhetoric cannot paper over the clear unease about the very nature of the deal Pakistan struck with WLFI. Since May 6, the day India began hitting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan, WLFI has been sitting on the request from a member of the US Senate's Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations (PSI), under the Committee on Homeland Security, to share all communications the company had with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The PSI, wrote Senator Richard Blumenthal to Zach Witcoff, 'is conducting a preliminary inquiry into potential conflicts of interest and violations of the law from President Trump's cryptocurrency ventures,' including WLFI, and financial dealings with foreign nationals and governments. In reply, a WLFI lawyer wrote: 'The Company rejects the false choice between innovation and oversight. What it opposes is the misuse of regulatory authority and uncertainty to suppress lawful innovation. The future of finance must be shaped in Washington, DC — not in Beijing, Moscow, or behind the closed doors of legacy institutions.' The Trump family owns 60% of World Liberty Financial, Inc, through DT Marks DEFI LLC, a Delaware limited liability company with the same address as Trump National Golf Club in Jupiter, Florida. Records show that DT Marks DEFI LLC is entitled to compensation for services provided to WLFI and has 'agreed to use reasonable efforts to request… (its) owners and principals…including Donald Trump, to promote the WLFI… from time to time.' For such services, DT Marks DEFI LL has the right to receive 75 per cent of the net protocol revenues of WLFI. While the details of the Pakistan-WLFI deal are expected to emerge at the ongoing Bitcoin2025 event in Las Vegas, the Letter of Intent signed last month outlined grand plans to use blockchain technology to boost financial inclusion, monetise untapped natural assets, and facilitate remittances. The Pakistan government has already allocated 2,000 MW of power for Bitcoin mining. Jay Mazoomdaar is an investigative reporter focused on offshore finance, equitable growth, natural resources management and biodiversity conservation. Over two decades, his work has been recognised by the International Press Institute, the Ramnath Goenka Foundation, the Commonwealth Press Union, the Prem Bhatia Memorial Trust, the Asian College of Journalism etc. Mazoomdaar's major investigations include the extirpation of tigers in Sariska, global offshore probes such as Panama Papers, Robert Vadra's land deals in Rajasthan, India's dubious forest cover data, Vyapam deaths in Madhya Pradesh, mega projects flouting clearance conditions, Nitin Gadkari's link to e-rickshaws, India shifting stand on ivory ban to fly in African cheetahs, the loss of indigenous cow breeds, the hydel rush in Arunachal Pradesh, land mafias inside Corbett, the JDY financial inclusion scheme, an iron ore heist in Odisha, highways expansion through the Kanha-Pench landscape etc. ... Read More
