Russia's Putin says he will speak to U.S. President Donald Trump later on Thursday
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The Star
9 minutes ago
- The Star
Indonesia offers to buy US aircraft, wheat in tariff negotiations
JAKARTA: Indonesia will offer to step up purchases of aircraft by state carrier Garuda Indonesia and wheat by instant noodle giant Indofood, in tariff talks with the United States, its chief economics minister told Reuters. Airlangga Hartarto (pic), who is also the nation's lead negotiator, said the government has also offered near-zero tariffs on key American exports, including agriculture products, which he said pay tariffs of between 0% and 5%. Jakarta is facing a 32% tariff in US markets. It previously said it would sign a US$34 billion pact with US partners next week, which includes commitments to buy more US goods as well as investment by Indonesian companies in the United States. "It will be near zero (tariffs for US main exports), but it will depend as well on how much the tariffs we get from US," Airlangga said. Garuda's CEO has said it is in discussions with US Boeing to buy up to 75 units of aircraft. Garuda and Indofood group did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The US goods trade deficit with Indonesia was $17.9 billion in 2024, according to the US. Trade Representative. US exports to Indonesia include soybeans, petroleum gases and aircraft, Indonesian government data showed. When asked whether the trade talks include military deals, Airlangga said they were "not part of the negotiation". Susiwijono Moegiarso, a senior official with Indonesia's Coordinating Ministry for Economic Affairs, told Reuters that in return, Jakarta has asked the United States for preferential tariffs on its main exports, including electronics, textiles and footwear. "We want them to lower the tariffs (for those goods) as low as possible," he added. Indonesia has also offered the United States opportunities to invest in critical minerals projects, including in its abundant resources of copper, nickel and bauxite. - Reuters
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
France and UK aim to curb Channel crossings with new migrant boat plan
PARIS: Early one morning this week, a dinghy motored along a vast beach in northern France, stopping every few hundred metres to pick up migrants bound for Britain. Four French police gave chase, but failed to reach the migrants before they reached water's edge. Soon, with 70-odd people onboard, the dinghy began chugging across the sea, adding to a record-breaking number of migrants crossing the Channel this year. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer's right-wing opponents have seized on the data, reminding him he had pledged to 'smash' the trafficking gangs. France and Britain hope to unveil measures at their summit next week that will reportedly allow French police to intercept such 'taxi boats' - a new phenomenon - up to 300 metres (yards) from shore rather than only if lives are at risk as now. Police, activists and migrants interviewed by Reuters were sceptical such a plan would work. 'I just don't see how this could ever be implemented,' said Julien Soir, a police union representative in the northern city of Lille. 'Getting it up and running is simply impossible.' He said police were already stretched covering 180 km (112 miles) of coastline and lack the equipment and training needed for seaborne operations. Police also fear drowning if they fall in the water with heavy equipment, or personal legal liability if migrants die or are injured during an intervention. Angele Vettorello, a coordinator at the Utopia 56 charity in Calais, said numbers were rising despite more French police patrolling beaches, including with British-sponsored drones. She said the proposed measures would only make a dangerous crossing - last year 73 migrants died navigating what is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes - more perilous. If implemented, it would 'lead to even more deaths ... more distress,' she said. RIGHT-WING RISE The influx of migrants has helped Nigel Farage's Reform UK overtake Starmer's Labour Party in polls. Farage, a right-wing populist and longtime immigration hard-liner, has proposed using the Navy to intercept migrant vessels and take them back to France. Lawyers say this could only be done if France agreed. Nearly 20,000 asylum seekers have arrived in Britain via small boats so far this year, a 50% increase compared to the same period in 2024. French and British authorities blame the spike on unusually good weather. Peter Walsh, from Oxford University's Migration Observatory, said maritime interception may stop more migrants but would not affect long-term trends behind the migrant surge, including multiple conflicts and the allure of English-speaking Britain. Britain also wants to negotiate a returns agreement with France, which it had before it left the European Union. At a filthy migrant camp near Dunkirk, Reuters spoke with several migrants who were unaware of the new proposal. They said it wouldn't stop them from trying to cross. Israrullah Lodin, 26, left Afghanistan in 2021 after his family's work with the U.S. army irked the Taliban. He had failed to cross three times; twice he was stopped by police and once his boat had problems. Lodin dreamed of working in a UK fulfilment warehouse. Nothing would stop him from getting there. 'We are not afraid to die,' he said. 'I have to reach my destination.' Nisarahmad Afghan, 23, had been a migrant almost all his adult life, having left his home region of Nangarhar four years ago. He had made two failed attempts to cross, both foiled by police. 'Until I succeed, I will keep trying,' he said. 'I've passed through many dangerous roads. I will pass this one too.' - Reuters
The Sun
15 minutes ago
- The Sun
Israeli military readies plan to counter Iran threat, says defence minister
DUBAI: The Israeli military is preparing an enforcement plan to 'ensure that Iran cannot return to threaten Israel', Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz told senior military officials. He said the military must be prepared, both in intelligence and operations, to ensure Israel has air superiority and to prevent Tehran from reestablishing its previous capabilities. He made his remarks following a 12-day air war between the longtime enemies in June, during which Israel struck Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the aim was to prevent Tehran developing a nuclear weapon. Iran denies seeking nuclear arms and that its nuclear programme is only for peaceful purposes. Israel and Iran agreed to a U.S.-brokered ceasefire that ended hostilities on June 24. - Reuters
