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NDTV
21 minutes ago
- NDTV
Donald Trump Thinks Countries Are In "Competition" With Each Other: Ex-German Chancellor Angela Merkel
Former Chancellor of Germany Wednesday described US President Donald Trump as an attention seeker. At an event organised by the Greek newspaper Kathimerini in Athens to promote the Greek translation of her memoir "Freedom", Merkel disclosed how Trump refused to shake hands with her in the Oval Office in March 2017, per a report by Politico. She explained how she considers it a mistake of saying, 'Donald, we should shake hands,'. He didn't. "He wanted to draw attention to himself. That's what he wants: to distract and have everyone look at him," Merkel said. "You can see this in what he is doing with the tariffs. Ultimately, he must deliver good results for the American people. He has to prove his abilities, at least to his own country." Merkel added that Europeans "must stand united and not be intimidated when Trump imposes more tariffs on the bloc, but we should retaliate with tariffs of our own." "I'm not saying we should break off relations with the US, but we must negotiate. Even the US cannot survive alone," she said, adding: "I see a problematic development. When Vice President [JD] Vance says, 'we are partners, and we will only support you if you agree with our concept of freedom,' which means no rules and no controls, that is indeed a threat to our democracy." Merkel and Trump have had a conflict-ridden relationship and in her memoir she said that for Trump, all countries were in competition with each other and that the success of one was the failure of the other. She added, "He did not believe that the prosperity of all could be increased through co-operation." She added that Trump has always judged everything from the perspective of the "property entrepreneur" he had been before politics. "Each property could only be allocated once. If he didn't get it, someone else did. That was also how he looked at the world", Merkel said. Last month, when German chancellor Friedrich Merz was in the Oval Office, Trump criticised Merkel heavily for opening up the country to refugees. Speaking about the travel restrictions he had placed on 19 countries, Trump said, "We want to keep bad people out of our country ... of course, you have a little problem too with some of the people that were allowed into your country," in reference to the attacks in Germany involving refugees. Merz replied to him saying, "Yes we do," and Trump continued, "It's not your fault ... It shouldn't have happened. I told her it shouldn't have happened, but it did. But you have your own difficulty with that, and we do." Although Trump did not name her, he was referencing to Merkel.
NDTV
21 minutes ago
- NDTV
Explained: How Farm Goods Are Holding Up US-India Trade Deal
US and India trade negotiators were pushing on Wednesday to finalise a tariff-reducing deal ahead of President Donald Trump's July 9 negotiating deadline, but disagreements over US dairy and agriculture remained unresolved. Why are farm goods imports sensitive in India? Agriculture and its allied areas contribute just 16% to India's $3.9 trillion economy, but sustain nearly half of the country's 1.4 billion population. As farmers remain the most powerful voting bloc, Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government was forced into a rare retreat four years ago when it tried to push through controversial farm laws. The prospect of cheaper imports from the United States threatens to drive down local prices, handing the opposition a fresh opportunity to attack the government. New Delhi has traditionally kept agriculture out of Free Trade Agreements with other nations. Granting market access to the US could force India to extend similar concessions to other trading partners. How do Indian and US farms compare? The average Indian farm comprises just 1.08 hectares, compared to 187 hectares in the United States. In dairy, the average herd size in India is two to three animals per farmer, compared to hundreds in the United States. This difference makes it difficult for small Indian farmers to compete with their US counterparts. Farming in India remains largely unmechanised because small, fragmented land holdings leave little room for large machinery. In many regions, farmers rely on techniques passed down through generations, a sharp contrast to US farms, where cutting-edge equipment and AI-driven technologies have raised productivity. Which products is US lobbying for? Why is India resisting? The United States is pressing India to open its markets to a wide range of American products, including dairy, poultry, corn, soybeans, rice, wheat, ethanol, citrus fruits, almonds, pecans, apples, grapes, canned peaches, chocolates, cookies, and frozen French fries. While India is willing to grant greater access to US dry fruits and apples, it is holding back on allowing imports of corn, soybeans, wheat, and dairy products. India does not allow genetically modified (GM) food crops, while most US corn and soybean production is GM-based. Dairy remains a sensitive issue in India, where cultural and dietary preferences strongly influence food choices. Indian consumers are particularly concerned that cattle in the US are often fed with animal by-products, a practice that conflicts with Indian food habits. Why does India oppose US ethanol for bleeding with gasoline? A key aim of India's Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) program is to cut dependence on energy imports by blending domestically-produced ethanol with gasoline. Significant investments by domestic companies mean that India is now close to achieving its ambitious target of blending 20% ethanol. Importing ethanol would undermine those companies. The EBP also helps manage surpluses of rice, sugarcane, and corn by diverting them to ethanol production. Allowing imports of US ethanol would be a serious setback for India's emerging distillery sector.
Time of India
43 minutes ago
- Time of India
Explained: What is 'magic minute'? Democrat's last ditch attempt to delay Trump's 'One Big, Beautiful Bill'
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries took to the House floor for what has now become a marathon speech, invoking a rarely used House procedure known as the 'magic minute' to protest President Donald Trump's massive tax and spending package. The move comes as Republicans race to pass the so-called 'One Big Beautiful Bill' before a self-imposed 4 July deadline. Jeffries began speaking at 4.53am ET and has now delivered one of the longest speeches in recent House history — clocking over five hours and counting. His speech, delivered to a mostly empty chamber but cheered on by Democratic colleagues, is not a filibuster in the technical sense but utilises the House tradition that allows leaders unlimited speaking time at the close of debate. 'I feel the obligation, Mr. Speaker, to stand on this House floor and take my sweet time to tell the stories of the American people, and that's exactly what I intend to do,' Jeffries said. What is the 'magic minute'? The 'magic minute' is an informal House rule that grants party leaders — such as the Speaker, Majority Leader, or Minority Leader — the right to speak for as long as they wish once debate has concluded. While most representatives are limited to short time allotments, the magic minute allows leaders to effectively stall proceedings without the Senate's formal filibuster tool. Jeffries has made clear he intends to use every minute of this procedural leverage. As of Thursday morning, his speech had already surpassed five hours, placing it as the third-longest 'magic minute' in House history. The current record stands at 8 hours and 32 minutes, held by former Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who spoke in opposition to Joe Biden's Build Back Better Act in 2021. This extended address is seen as the final major effort by Democrats to stall the controversial Republican bill — a sweeping legislative package that enshrines Trump's domestic agenda for his second term, including \$4.5 trillion in extended tax breaks and significant cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other social welfare programmes. 'This reckless Republican budget is an immoral document,' Jeffries declared. 'Everybody should vote no against it because of how it attacks children, seniors, and everyday Americans.' Jeffries' fierce critique of the Bill Throughout his speech, Jeffries has zeroed in on what he calls an 'extraordinary assault' on American health care, repeatedly warning that the proposed cuts would severely damage Medicaid, Medicare, the Affordable Care Act, and children's health services. 'This bill represents the largest cut to health care in American history,' Jeffries said. 'Hospitals will close, including all throughout rural America… People in America will die unnecessary deaths. That is outrageous. It's disgusting.' Citing the Congressional Budget Office, Jeffries warned that up to 11.8 million Americans could lose health insurance under the Senate-approved provisions of the bill, which would impose stricter work requirements and roll back health and food assistance. The House Minority Leader also accused Republicans of cruelty and neglect, adding: 'Leadership requires courage, conviction, compassion — and yet what we have seen from this administration and co-conspirators on the Republican side of the aisle is cruelty, chaos and corruption.' The bill, officially titled the 'One Big Beautiful Bill Act' by Republicans, would also fund mass deportation efforts and reverse green energy investments. Jeffries ridiculed the branding: 'Republicans are trying to jam this one, big, ugly bill down the throats of the American people.' What happens next Despite the delay, Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson claimed he had secured the necessary votes to pass the bill. The package, after narrowly passing a series of procedural hurdles, was expected to go to a final vote shortly after Jeffries' remarks conclude. 'We feel very good about where we are and we're moving forward,' Johnson said. 'We're going to deliver the Big, Beautiful Bill — the president's 'America First' agenda.' The bill is expected to be signed by President Trump shortly after passage, marking a defining victory for his second term. But Democrats, united in their opposition, have promised to campaign hard against it ahead of the 2026 midterms, framing it as a historic transfer of wealth from the poor to the rich. > 'This bill — this one big, ugly bill — this reckless Republican budget, this disgusting abomination — is not about improving the quality of life of the American people,' Jeffries said, closing in on the sixth hour of his address.
