Trump's mega spending bill passes; celebrity silence on Diddy verdict
We also turn to the celebrity world where Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been convicted on two charges but cleared of the most serious allegations. Columnist Gemma White discusses the muted response from major celebrities and what the verdict could mean for survivors of abuse. She reflects on how high-profile voices like Kesha and Aubrey O'Day have spoken out, while many big names remain silent.
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Arab News
33 minutes ago
- Arab News
Trump says tariff letters to 12 countries signed, going out Monday
NEW JERSEY: US President Donald Trump said he had signed letters to 12 countries outlining the various tariff levels they would face on goods they export to the United States, with the "take it or leave it" offers to be sent out on Monday. Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One as he traveled to New Jersey, declined to name the countries involved, saying that would be made public on Monday. Trump had earlier on Thursday told reporters that he expected a first batch of letters to go out on Friday, a national holiday in the United States, though the date has now shifted. In a global trade war that has upended financial markets and set off a scramble among policymakers to guard their economies, Trump in April announced a 10% base tariff rate and additional amounts for most countries, some ranging as high as 50%. However, all but the 10% base rate were subsequently suspended for 90 days to allow more time for negotiations to secure deals. That period ends on July 9, although Trump early on Friday said the tariffs could be even higher - ranging up to 70% - with most set to go into effect August 1. "I signed some letters and they'll go out on Monday, probably twelve," Trump said, when asked about his plans on the tariff front. "Different amounts of money, different amounts of tariffs." Trump and his top aides initially said they would launch negotiations with scores of countries on tariff rates, but the US president has soured on that process after repeated setbacks with major trading partners, including Japan and the European Union. He touched on that briefly late on Friday, telling reporters: "The letters are better ... much easier to send a letter." He did not address his prediction that some broader trade agreements could be reached before the July 9 deadline. The shift in the White House's strategy reflects the challenges of completing trade agreements on everything from tariffs to non-tariff barriers such as bans on agricultural imports, and especially on an accelerated timeline. Most past trade agreements have taken years of negotiations to complete. The only trade agreements reached to date are with Britain, which reached a deal in May to keep a 10% rate and won preferential treatment for some sectors including autos and aircraft engines, and with Vietnam, cutting tariffs on many Vietnamese goods to 20% from his previously threatened 46%. Many US products would be allowed to enter Vietnam duty free. A deal expected with India has failed to materialize, and EU diplomats on Friday said they have failed to achieve a breakthrough in trade negotiations with the Trump administration, and may now seek to extend the status quo to avoid tariff hikes.
Al Arabiya
4 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump ‘very unhappy' with Putin on Ukraine, hints at sanctions
US President Donald Trump said Friday he was 'very unhappy' about his telephone call with Vladimir Putin on the war in Ukraine, saying the Russian leader just wanted to 'keep killing people.' 'It's a very tough situation. I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it's no good,' Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One. Trump also hinted that he may finally be ready to toughen sanctions against Russia, having held off for the past six months while he tried to persuade Putin to end the war. 'We talk about sanctions a lot,' Trump said. 'He understands that it may be coming.' Trump added that he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meanwhile had a 'very strategic call' on Friday, as concerns mounted in Kyiv over US military aid deliveries. Zelenskyy said earlier that the two leaders had agreed to work to 'strengthen' Ukraine's air defenses, following Russia's largest drone and missile barrage of the invasion so far. Trump said he had also discussed sending Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine in a separate call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Friday, although he had not yet agreed to do so. Merz 'feels they have to be protected,' Trump said.
Al Arabiya
5 hours ago
- Al Arabiya
Trump says US will start talks with China on TikTok deal this week
US President Donald Trump said on Friday he will start talking to China on Monday or Tuesday about a possible TikTok deal. He said the United States 'pretty much' has a deal on the sale of the TikTok short-video app. 'I think we're gonna start Monday or Tuesday… talking to China, perhaps President Xi or one of his representatives, but we pretty much have a deal,' Trump told reporters on Air Force One. Last month, Trump extended to September 17 a deadline for China-based ByteDance to divest the US assets of TikTok. A deal had been in the works this spring to spin off TikTok's US operations into a new US-based firm, majority-owned and operated by US investors, but it was put on hold after China indicated it would not approve it following Trump's announcements of steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Trump said the United States will probably have to get a deal approved by China. When asked how confident he was that China would agree to a deal, he said, 'I'm not confident, but I think so. President Xi and I have a great relationship, and I think it's good for them. I think the deal is good for China and it's good for us.'
