Latest news with #anti-US
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
‘Economic ruination of the US is coming if…': Trump warns courts after ruling on tariffs
US President Donald Trump has warned that if US courts strike down his tariff policy, it could lead to the 'economic ruination' of the country. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump said foreign nations could then hold America hostage using anti-US tariffs. His warning comes amid an intense legal battle over his emergency tariff powers, which a federal court temporarily blocked before an appeals court reinstated them. Trump vows to defend his trade plan at all costs. Show more 03:25 11:39 04:45 09:20 08:10 12:03 01:39 01:39 03:09 01:09 01:56 19:32 01:54 02:32 11:25 01:53 01:32 03:21 01:31 03:08 10:09 09:24 09:02 05:27 03:25 03:36 03:36 03:42
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Economic ruination of the US is coming if…': Trump warns courts after ruling on tariffs
US President Donald Trump has warned that if US courts strike down his tariff policy, it could lead to the 'economic ruination' of the country. In a fiery Truth Social post, Trump said foreign nations could then hold America hostage using anti-US tariffs. His warning comes amid an intense legal battle over his emergency tariff powers, which a federal court temporarily blocked before an appeals court reinstated them. Trump vows to defend his trade plan at all costs. Show more Show less
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Business
- Gulf Today
‘Fresh ideas' mooted to close gap in US-Iran N-deal talks
Donald Trump has said he warned Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu against attacking Iran because Washington and Tehran are close to reaching a deal on limiting that country's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. He said this would be an unprecedented agreement as US as well as UN inspectors would be included on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) teams monitoring Iran's nuclear sites. His declared objective is to make certain Iran is not preparing to make nuclear bombs. Trump's statement suggests that that US is ready to accept Iran's "red line" — the right to enrich uranium — which Iran insists cannot be violated by any agreement. Iran demands domestic enrichment to 3.67 per cent for use in civilian power plants. The US previously flip-flopped on this issue. Washington demanded total shutdown of the nuclear programme, then agreed on low enrichment. The programme was launched in the 1950s when the US provided a nuclear reactor to Iran under the Atoms for Peace Programme long before the shah was toppled by anti-US clerics in 1979. To reassure the US and regional neighbours over its retention of a low level of enrichment, Tehran has suggested creating a consortium comprising the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia and Iran. Tehran would make partners shareholders in exchange for funding and give them access to its technologies and provide them a with stake in developing an independent capacity for nuclear power generation. The UAE has already established the first civil nuclear power plant in the Arab world with four operational reactors which should produce 25 per cent of Emirati electricity. The region's oil producing states have expressed eagerness to establish such facilities for a future when customers cut oil imports for environmental reasons or oil fields are no longer productive enough to generate large revenues. Since Omani-mediated indirect talks began this spring, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi threatened to pull out if the US called for Iran to shut down its enrichment programme. Araghchi said this would amount to a violation of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to which Iran is a signatory. Trump stated on May 25th that the latest round of negotiations was 'very, very good.' He said there could be an announcement, presumably of a breakthrough, in coming days. "We've had some real progress, serious progress." Since he has threatened military action if no deal is reached, he added, "I would love to see no bombs dropped and a lot of people dead." Trump is eager for a foreign policy success while Tehran is under heavy domestic pressure for a deal as sanctions have crippled the economy and impoverished Iranians. Following the fifth round of talks round in Rome on May 23rd, the US State Department declared, "The talks continue to be constructive — we made further progress, but there is still work to do" when the sides "meet again in the near future." Araghchi contended the issues were complicated and needed further discussions. He said mediator Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi had suggested fresh ideas to close the gap between the sides. Busaidi posted on X, "We achieved some progress, although it was not conclusive" and expressed the wish that 'outstanding issues can be clarified in coming days that allows for meaningful progress toward a sustainable agreement." During his first term in office, Trump withdrew the US from the 2015 agreement limiting Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for lifting sanctions. After a year, Iran responded by breaching the 3.67 per cent enrichment limitation, produced a large stockpile of 20 and 60 per cent enriched uranium and cut inspections by the IAEA. Sixty per cent is near the 90 per cent for weaponization. Iran has dismissed Western allegations that it intends to make nuclear arms and could produce enough highly enriched uranium for several devices from the existing stocks of 60 per cent pure. Experts have said Iran could take up to 18 months to make bombs once the decision to do so was taken. While no date has been declared for a sixth round of talks, the experts from the sides are said to be holding discussions behind the scenes. To show willingness to compromise, Iran has proposed sending its stocks of highly enriched uranium to a third country, presumably Russia. Moscow had been assigned this role under the original agreement reached during the Obama administration. Al Monitor cited the International Crisis Group's Iran Project Director Ali Vaez who said negotiators are moving toward a framework agreement that would postpone the enrichment issue until a more permanent deal is reached. 'When they realized that the gaps are too wide to bridge, they decided to go for a framework agreement in order to prevent the process from collapsing. What is very likely in the next few weeks is a statement of principles — basically very broad strokes that would defer some of the most difficult issues." Unwise pressures could torpedo this tactic. Reuters reported that the US, UK, and Europe are preparing to urge the IAEA board at its meeting beginning on June 9th to declare Tehran in breach of its non-proliferation commitments, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which Tehran ratified in 1970. This prohibits the development, testing and transfer of nuclear weapons. Since Iran has not violated the NPT, this would mark the first time this step has been taken in almost 20 years and could "enrage Tehran." Such action could add further add complications to negotiations for a deal the US and Iran are striving to reach or, even, scupper the negotiations altogether. As he is prone to taking unconsidered, wrongheaded moves, this proposed move has Trump's fingerprints all over it and he could end up shooting himself in the foot. It must be recalled that when Trump pulled out of the earlier deal and slapped down 1,500 sanctions, Europe, Russia and China could not deliver on promised benefits by circumventing the US grip on international banking and multinational business. This did not happen. Tehran responded by advancing and expanding nuclear research and development far beyond the basic level and escaped tight IAEA monitoring.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Misinformation on Chinese social media platforms casts shadow on US-China trade truce
HighlightsA surge of misinformation is spreading on social media platforms, including China's Douyin and Weibo, undermining the temporary trade truce between the United States and China. False narratives, such as claims of Americans panic-buying Chinese goods and shopping for supplies in bulk, are being propagated by Chinese state media and social media users, leading to confusion and anti-American sentiment. Disinformation security firm Cyabra identified an anti-US influence campaign on social media involving thousands of fake accounts that targeted global brands, amplifying unfounded narratives about deceptive marketing practices linked to the trade war. From false claims of Americans panic-buying Chinese goods to bot-driven attacks on US brands, a tide of misinformation is casting a shadow over a temporary trade truce between Washington and Beijing. The world's two biggest economies agreed earlier this month to pause reciprocal tariffs for 90 days, a surprise de-escalation in their bitter trade war following high-level talks in Geneva. But an alternate reality is unfolding across social media platforms, including China's Douyin and Weibo, where a surge of falsehoods is fueling anti-American sentiment that could undermine the fragile truce. One online video, which garnered millions of views across those platforms and TikTok, claims to show panicked American shoppers snapping up Chinese-branded television sets in the aftermath of trade tensions. But in reality, that was old footage from 2018 showing Black Friday shopping frenzy at a US supermarket. The falsehood was further amplified by Chinese state media outlets, including China Daily , which ran headlines such as: "Americans are starting to stock up like crazy amid tariffs and snapping up Chinese-branded TVs." A news clip on its website -- more recycled footage from 2018 -- bears a "file footage" watermark in the upper left corner, apparently to shield the outlet from legal liability. Other unfounded claims emerged on Chinese platforms about Americans flying to China to shop for Chinese goods, and that US citizens -- reeling from the economic fallout of the trade war -- were queuing up to purchase supplies in bulk. "These narratives are almost certainly curated by the state, which has become increasingly fluent in harnessing social media," Andrew Mertha, director of the SAIS China Global Research Center at Johns Hopkins University, told AFP. "(They) help align Chinese public opinion with governmental strategy, in this case demonstrating -- albeit inaccurately, certainly prematurely -- that 'the US is already feeling the pain, so China must stay the course.'" Economic jitters US President Donald Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs have sent jitters through the world economy, unnerving investors and roiling financial markets. Under the May 12 truce, the United States agreed to temporarily reduce the tariff on Chinese imports to 30 percent from 145 percent, while China said it would lower its import duty on American goods to 10 percent from 125 percent. Some of the false narratives emerged before the agreement but have continued to spread online, fueling confusion and a broader wave of information chaos. "A lot of friends in China asked me: Are there no eggs in the United States? Is it very unsafe? Are people rushing to buy things? Have you stockpiled anything?" Vivian Wei, a Chicago-based content creator, told AFP. "Some people even (suggested) not to come to the United States for tourism or study." The rumors prompted Wei to tour several supermarkets across Chicago, only to find shelves stocked. While American shoppers seemed unfazed by the swirl of online misinformation, Wei observed that the "Chinese were getting very excited." 'Digital blitz' Last month, disinformation security firm Cyabra uncovered an anti-US influence campaign on the Elon Musk-owned X involving thousands of fake or bot-operated accounts. They targeted global brands such as Gucci, Chanel and Amazon, amplifying the unfounded narrative that they produced goods in China while branding them as "Made in France" or "Made in Italy." The accounts blamed Trump's trade policies for enabling such deceptive marketing practices, while urging consumers to ditch those brands and purchase products directly from China. "This was a digital blitz. A third of the accounts weren't real, but the backlash they triggered was," Dan Brahmy, chief executive of Cyabra, told AFP. "Fake profiles hijacked luxury brands, pushed anti-US narratives, and steered buyers away without raising suspicion. That's what makes it effective." Last month, AFP also uncovered viral TikTok videos by Chinese content creators promoting the spurious claim that international luxury brands were secretly manufacturing their products in China. The targeted brands did not respond to the claim, which appeared to be part of a sprawling campaign exploiting US-China trade tensions to market counterfeit luxury goods. The false narratives are unlikely to fade as trade negotiations continue, experts say. "I believe these narratives will continue and will evolve in parallel with strengthening the Chinese government's negotiating position," said Mertha from Johns Hopkins University.
The Journal
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
'US military out' graffiti spray-painted on Foreign Affairs HQ during overnight protest
GARDAÍ HAVE LAUNCHED a criminal damage investigation following the appearance of anti-US military graffiti on Iveagh House in Dublin, the Department of Foreign Affairs' headquarters. At around 4am this morning, red graffiti saying 'US Military out of Shannon', 'Search the Planes' and a signature by protest group Palestine Action Éire were sprayed around the front door of the building. A number of red stains were painted on the surrounding walls. In a post on social media, Palestine Action Éire claimed that two individuals were behind the graffiti on the Department of Foreign Affairs office last night. The group criticised the department for refusing to cut 'ties with the US-Israeli military supply chain.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gníomhaíocht don Phalaistín (@pal_action_eire) It is not the first time the building has been targeted by protesters. Last August, red paint was thrown on Iveagh House during a pro-Palestine demonstration. Similarly, the building was targeted by protestors in November 2023. Advertisement In a statement this morning, the Department of Foreign Affairs said they were aware of the 'security incident' at Iveagh House early this morning, and said that gardaí are 'actively following up on the matter'. A garda spokesperson confirmed that gardaí were dispatched to the scene shortly after the building was spray-painted. 'The alarm was raised shortly after 4am following paint damage to the building's front façade,' the spokesperson said. 'The scene has undergone forensic examination and inquiries are ongoing.' Graffiti on the Iveagh House building. Palestine Action Éire Palestine Action Éire The incident follows a claim by Palestine Action Éire that three of its members were detained after breaking into Shannon Airport earlier this month. On 1 May, the group said the activists got onto the runway and attempted to inspect a US military plane, forcing the airport to shut down operations for an hour. During the incident, a white van rammed through the perimeter fence, and several people wearing orange jumpsuits, hard hats, and face coverings entered the restricted airside area. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
