Latest news with #anti-DonaldTrump
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Councillor springs to defence of Trump
If Donald Trump ever found himself on the West Coast, he could count on at least one fan to roll out the regional council welcome mat. Goldmining councillor Allan Birchfield sprang to the defence of the US President at this month's corporate services meeting, after the council's treasury adviser critiqued Mr Trump's tariff policies and their chaotic impact on financial markets. Bancorp corporate manager Miles O'Connor was presenting the firm's quarterly report on the West Coast Regional Council's (WCRC) $14-million investment fund, and the global trends likely to affect interest rates — all backed up with graphs, facts and figures. The US was moving away from acting in the world's interest towards an America-centric approach, he noted. Traditionally 60% of the world's capital had gone to the US because it was seen as a safe haven in uncertain times, Mr O'Connor said. Predicting profits and interest rates had become so difficult that some banks and major companies had given up forecasting completely, Mr O'Connor said. The US president had also challenged the independence of the Federal Reserve by calling on its governor to cut interest rates. "Now that's just not done normally by political leaders. You don't see our Reserve Bank being told by the prime minister you must drop rates. It's inherent in monetary policy that the central bank is independent of political influence." Mr Trump had since reduced the 145% tarrifs on Chinese goods to 30%, and the markets had settled down somewhat, but some tariffs would be permanent and New Zealand exports would be affected, Mr O'Connor said. "My view is (Mr Trump) probably won't go back to what he was doing; he probably didn't expect the reaction he got." Two Trump policies that did make sense were US defence spending and ending "unfettered" immigration, Mr O'Connor said. "I'm not totally opposed to what he (Mr Trump) does — some of the other policies I am slightly dubious about." Cr Birchfield — whose goldmine office sports a large photo of Mr Trump, seized his opening. "I'm pleased you're starting to give Donald a bit of credit ... you go on with the usual rhetoric, anti-Donald Trump. "You say the US only does stuff in its own interest — you need to think about the US Navy — it guarantees freedom of trade — even for China [and] it's a huge cost on the US taxpayer." Mr O'Connor agreed the US does protect world trade. "But [the tariffs] are having an effect on our exports — we know that from some of our clients who've had orders cancelled." Mr Birchfield continued, saying Trump has got huge problem of debt and a trade imbalance with China. Mr O'Connor said the reason for the trade imbalance was that the US just could not match China's manufacturing capabilities. Council chairman Peter Haddock put an end to the exchange, saying "we've had a shot across the bows by the US". "We have to recognise the volatility in the world ... the best we can get out of it is lower interest rates." ■LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
NDTV
24-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Elias Rodriguez, Who Killed Israeli Embassy Staff, Has History Of Political Activism
Elias Rodriguez, the man accused of gunning down two Israeli embassy staffers outside the Capital Jewish Museum in DC, has a history of political activism. Multiple interviews and writings linked to the suspect hinted at his stand on US military actions and police abuses. According to a testimonial on a GoFundMe page from 2017, which also featured a photograph of Rodriguez, the shooting suspect said his father was deployed to Iraq when he was just 11. This allegedly sparked his political awakening and made him prevent "another generation of Americans coming home from genocidal imperialist wars," CNN reported. The Army National Guard has confirmed the identity of the person, saying Rodriguez's father was a member from 2005 until 2012. He was deployed to Iraq from October 2006 to September 2007. Created in August 2017, the page sought donations for Rodriguez to help him attend the People's Congress of Resistance, an anti-Donald Trump protest event, the report added. After his arrest, police said that Rodriguez had no prior criminal record. The suspect was also involved with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL) and the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, according to reports. Also under investigation is a letter shared on X soon after the killings. The letter, apparently signed by Rodriguez, calls for violent retaliation over the situation in Gaza. This account, @kyotoleather, has been found to be linked to several others having Rodriguez's name and photograph. Posted on X at around 10 PM (local time) on May 21, the letter criticises the atrocities "committed by the Israelis against Palestine". It further calls for an "armed action" as a valid form of protest. As of now, it remains unclear who shared it on the social media platform or whether it was a pre-scheduled post. On Wednesday, the 31-year-old took out a gun and shot dead Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim. When detained, he yelled, "Free, free Palestine". The couple was leaving a Jewish event when the suspect approached a group of four and suddenly started firing at close range. A complaint was filed in the federal court on Thursday, May 22, charging Rodriguez with murder, besides other counts. Rodriguez told the police that he was inspired by a US airman, who set himself ablaze outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC last year to draw attention to the Benjamin Netanyahu government's war on Gaza. Rodriguez called the US airman a "martyr," according to CNN.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Bruce Springsteen release new live EP from Manchester with anti-Donald Trump speeches
Bruce Springsteen has released a new live EP 'Land of Hope and Dreams' featuring his anti-Donald Trump speeches. The 'Born To Run' legend has completed a three show run at the Co-Op Live arena in Manchester on May 14, 17 and 20, and now he's made four songs available digitally along with the introductions from the concerts. The listing on his official website reads: "On May 14, Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band opened their Land of Hope and Dreams Tour in Manchester, England. "Highlights from that first night are now available digitally as the 'Land of Hope and Dreams' EP – including the title track, 'Long Walk Home,' 'My City of Ruins' and the band's cover of Bob Dylan's 'Chimes of Freedom.' " At one point during the concert, he described Trump's administration as "corrupt, incompetent and treasonous". He told the audience: "In my home, the America I love, the America I've written about, that has been a beacon of hope and liberty for 250 years is currently in the hands of a corrupt, incompetent, and treasonous administration. "Tonight, we ask all who believe in democracy and the best of our American experiment to rise with us, raise your voices against authoritarianism and let freedom ring!' The rocker – who has been a staunch critic of Trump – made another attack on the White House chief and his political ideology as he introduced 'City of Ruin'. He said: "There's some very weird, strange and dangerous s*** going on out there right now. In America they are persecuting people for using their right to free speech and voicing their dissent. This is happening now. "In America the richest men are taking satisfaction in abandoning the world's poorest children to sickness and death. This is happening now. "In my country they're taking sadistic pleasure in the pain they inflict on loyal American workers. They're rolling back historic civil rights legislation that has led to a more just and plural society. "They are abandoning our great allies and siding with dictators against those struggling for their freedom. "They are defunding American universities that won't bow down to their ideological demands. They are removing residents off American streets and without due process of law, are deporting them to foreign detention centres and prisons. This is all happening now." Trump responded with a lengthy rant via the social media platform Truth Social. Describing The Boss as "dumb as a rock", he wrote: "This dried out 'prune' of a rocker (his skin is all atrophied!) ought to KEEP HIS MOUTH SHUT until he gets back into the Country, that's just 'standard fare'. Then we'll all see how it goes for him! He added: 'Never liked him, never liked his music, or his Radical Left Politics and, importantly, he's not a talented guy - Just a pushy, obnoxious JERK.'
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
Australia election 2025 live: housing crisis ‘never been worse' as rental affordability plunges;
Ask Me Anything podcast election special Show key events only Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature Donald Trump has confirmed he's aware that Anthony Albanese is keen to talk to him about tariffs – and says he's planning to place a call. The US president made the comments while leaving the White House today. Asked by a reporter if he would be 'speaking to the prime minister of Australia at all', Trump responded: 'They are calling and I will be talking to him.' Share In this special Ask Me Anything edition, our political reporter Krishani Dhanji and economics editor Patrick Commins give you the answers you need on everything from energy policy to where the prime minister should live and how your preferences work. Listen here: Share Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I'm Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then Krishani will take the reins. Anthony Albanese has congratulated Canada's newly elected prime minister, Mark Carney, who rode a wave of anti-Donald Trump sentiment in the country to win a comeback victory for his Liberal party. One political strategist says this morning that he will be watching the results closely to see how the Trump factor affects Australia – whether it's a drift against the kind of rightwing policies championed by Peter Dutton's Coalition or whether the trend away from the two major parties is reversed as voters 'seek security'. More coming up. Albanese will address the National Press Club in Canberra today as he continues with his campaign amid another poll – this time in the Nine newspapers – showing him comfortably ahead by 53-47 on a two-party preferred basis. Dutton, meanwhile, begins his day in Melbourne. One key issue on the campaign has been housing and the crisis in the sector is 'the worst it's ever been', a leading charity has warned as it urges governments to step up and build. Fewer than one in 100 full-time workers on the minimum wage can afford places to rent, the annual rental affordability snapshot for Anglicare Australia has found. Also today we're expecting the latest inflation data. Share
Time of India
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Window opens for a reset with Canada as new Liberal govt takes over; PM Modi seeks to unlock opportunities with Carney
Canada's Liberal Party headed by PM Mark Carney returned to power Tuesday riding a wave of strong anti-Donald Trump sentiment. PM Narendra Modi was among the first to congratulate Carney and express willingness to unlock greater opportunities in ties, while underlining that India and Canada are bound by shared democratic values, a steadfast commitment to the rule of law, and vibrant people-to-people ties. For India and Canada, there's an opportunity now to wipe the slate clean after 20 months of bitterness in ties as Carney talks of rebuilding what he sees as 'incredibly important' ties with India. Aware of the dramatic turnaround in Liberal fortunes because of Trump's policies, and given it held Carney's predecessor Justin Trudeau alone accountable for destroying the relationship, India had already been looking to rest ties with Canada under the Canadian PM since he assumed office in March but based on 'mutual respect and sensitivity'. However, unchecked activities of Khalistan separatists will continue to act as a redline in the relationship for India. Of immediate interest will also be whether Canada invites Modi for the G7 summit it will host in June. Canada has so far not announced the name of any guest country for the event. 'I look forward to working with you (Carney) to strengthen our partnership and unlock greater opportunities for our people,'' said Modi in a post on X. Modi's message followed Carney's declaration of victory even though he failed to get a majority that he had said would allow him to deal with Trump, who has unleashed a trade war on Canada and apparently even sought to annex the US' northern neighbour, from a position of strength. A record 22 Punjabis were elected to the House of Commons but, importantly for India, pro-Khalistan leader Jagmeet Singh, a thorn in India's side for years, lost from his own constituency and resigned from his position as the leader of the New Democratic Party. India's ties with Canada took a body blow last year in October when the 2 countries expelled each other's high commissioner, following the diplomatic row over the killing of Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in 2023. Even before that, with Canada accusing the Indian government of having masterminded the murder without apparently backing up the claim with evidence, India had expelled dozens of Canadian diplomats to ensure parity in diplomatic presence. As things look up, both sides are expected to negotiate the return of diplomats, particularly the high commissioners. Both sides have already identified senior diplomats for the top job, but India would want to make sure that the redlines it has drawn are adhered to by Carney's government. These include a mature and responsible handling of the Nijjar issue as the case goes to trial - avoiding Trudeau's sensationalism - foolproof security for Indian diplomats and a crackdown on extremists and secessionists indulging in anti-India activities. India continues to hold Trudeau and his indulgence towards Khalistan extremists responsible for the downturn in ties with a country where over 4 lakh Indian students are studying, and which is home to one of the largest Indian diasporas abroad - 1.8 million Indo-Canadians and another 1 million non-resident Indians. However, while India blames Trudeau, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which has investigated the Nijjar case, maintains he only acted based on the information provided by the agency. If India and Canada indeed take steps to normalise the relationship, they will have to see that the process is ring-fenced from the fallout of any damning revelations made during the trial. Carney, who has visited BAPS temple and Gurudwara as PM, has so far not explicitly spoken on the Khalistan or Nijjar issue but he was quoted as saying ahead of the elections there are strains on the relationship that 'we didn't cause to be clear, but there is a path forward to address those with mutual respect and to build out.' An economist by profession, he has identified trade as one of the areas the 2 sides can work on to rebuild the relationship. It is important for Canada to diversify its trade partnerships with other partners in the face of the Trump offensive and Carney, soon after his victory, said Canada stands ready to build a coalition of like-minded countries who share common values.
