Latest news with #2R
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First Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- First Post
Trump hosts West African leaders to secure critical minerals, counter China–Russia influence
President Trump hosted five West African leaders in Washington to deepen trade ties and secure access to critical minerals. The summit marks a shift in US Africa strategy, emphasising economic partnerships over aid to compete with China and Russia's growing regional influence. read more US President Donald Trump, flanked by US Senior Advisor for Africa Massad Boulos (L) and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller (2R), participates in a multilateral lunch with visiting African Leaders in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on July 9, 2025. Image- AFP In what is being called a strategic move by the US, President Donald Trump welcomed five West African leaders to the White House on Wednesday, aiming to strengthen trade ties and gain access to the region's untapped trove of critical minerals. The summit, which included the presidents of Senegal, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania and Gabon, reflects Washington's growing urgency to offer economic partnerships in Africa as a counterweight to China and Russia's deepening influence on the continent. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Trump's administration is working to deepen economic links with these resource-rich nations even as it scales back foreign aid across the continent and enforces a 10 percent import tariff. The strategy reflects a growing push by Washington to counter the growing influence of China and Russia in Africa's economic and geopolitical arena. The shift has been shaped in part by Massad Boulos, Trump's senior advisor on African affairs and father-in-law to one of the president's daughters. Boulos played a key role in negotiating a recent peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo — a move seen as opening the door to US investment in Congo's valuable minerals sector. While the West African nations represented at the summit are relatively small in economic output, they are rich in essential natural resources such as manganese, bauxite, and copper. These reserves offer a new avenue for American businesses to engage in mining and infrastructure development in territories where China has yet to fully dominate. 'We're working tirelessly to forge new economic opportunities involving both the United States and many African nations,' Trump told the assembled leaders and reporters ahead of the meeting. 'There's great economic potential in Africa, like few other places, in many ways." He gushed about the continent's 'vibrant places, very valuable lands, great minerals, great oil deposits' – and was rewarded with personal praise in return as each leader offered their approval when asked by an African media outlet if Trump should win a Nobel Peace Prize. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The talks – held over a lunch in the State Dining Room – came with Washington seeking to ensure a stable supply of critical minerals. All five of the countries invited enjoy rich natural resources, including manganese – a key mineral in the production of stainless steel and batteries – iron ore, gold, diamonds, lithium and cobalt. But overshadowing the talks will be radical steps by Trump and his officials to recalibrate US relations with African nations. Earlier this month, the administration shuttered the US Agency for International Development (USAID), and said it was moving away from a 'charity based-model' to focus instead on trade-based partnerships. West Africa is expected to be among the regions hardest hit by the aid cuts, which are likely to lead to more than 14 million additional deaths globally by 2030, according to a study published in the Lancet medical journal. Drug trafficking and immigration US financial help played a crucial role in rebuilding Liberia after its civil wars, and it was still receiving an annual $160 million – about three percent of its GDP – as recently as last year. 'Liberia is a long time friend of the United States, and we believe in your policy of making America great again,' President Joseph Boakai told Trump. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'And we also go a long way with you and your in your diplomacy that has to do with economic development and commercial friendship." US arch-rival China has made substantial investments in several of the nations attending, with Gabon providing 22 percent of the manganese it uses in batteries. Russia has meanwhile supported the nascent Alliance of Sahel States, which shares borders with several of the countries at Wednesday's lunch. Security is expected to loom large at the meeting, with international drug trafficking and immigration top concerns for Washington. West Africa's Sahel countries have been dogged by attacks from terrorist groups, while a series of coups have deepened political instability. Entries from the region make up a significant portion of the Black immigrant population in the United States, which rose by almost a quarter between 2012 and 2022, reaching 4.3 million individuals. Guinea-Bissau – a transit zone for cocaine shipments from Latin America to Europe and beyond – has struggled to contain drug trafficking. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Guinea-Bissau is a peaceful country, and we are a small country. But we are a great state – not a great state like the United States, but we're a great country as well,' said the country's President Umaro Sissoco Embalo. A potential US travel ban impacting Gabon, Liberia, Mauritania, and Senegal was reported in June, as part of a larger list of 36 countries facing scrutiny by the Trump administration. With inputs from agencies
Sinar Daily
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Sinar Daily
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban
The announcement came after a meeting between Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul. 04 Jul 2025 09:08am Taliban security personnel stand guard as Afghan refugees arrive at the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran after their deportations from Iran, on June 27, 2025. (Photo by Wakil Kohsar / AFP) KABUL - Afghanistan's government said on Thursday that Russia had become the first country to officially recognise its rule, calling it a "brave decision". The announcement came after a meeting between Afghanistan's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and Russia's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, in Kabul. Deputy Prime Minister of the Taliban Abdul Salam Hanafi (2R) speaks with media during his visit to the Islam Qala border crossing between Afghanistan and Iran on June 28, 2025. (Photo by Wakil KOHSAR / AFP) "This brave decision will be an example for others... Now that the process of recognition has started, Russia was ahead of everyone," Muttaqi said in a video of the meeting posted on X. "Russia is the first country which has officially recognised the Islamic Emirate," Taliban foreign ministry spokesman Zia Ahmad Takal told AFP, using the government's name for their administration. Moscow's special representative for Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, told the Russia's state news agency Ria Novosti that the government had "recognised" the Taliban government. Russia's foreign affairs ministry also confirmed the news to the TASS news agency. Multiple other states, including China and Pakistan, have Taliban ambassadors in their capitals, but have not officially recognised the Islamic Emirate. - AFP More Like This
UPI
02-06-2025
- Politics
- UPI
Trump-backed Populist conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland's presidential election
Polish presidential candidate Karol Nawrocki (2L) with his wife, Marta Nawrocka, (L) and sons Daniel (R) and Antoni (2R) react during the presidential election night in Warsaw, Poland, on Sunday, June 1, 2025. Photo by Leszek Szymanski/EPA-EFE June 2 (UPI) -- Karol Nawrocki, a populist conservative backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, has won Poland's presidential runoff election, according to official results released Monday. Eyes across the country, Europe and even North America were watching the race in Poland, where the presidency is a somewhat symbolic position -- especially compared to the prime minister and their executive powers -- but one that does come with veto authority. The election of Nawrocki also suggests a political shift in the deeply divided nation. Warsaw Mayor Rafal Kazimierz Trzaskowski -- of Prime Minister Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party -- had narrowly beaten Nawrocki, a conservative historian who ran as an independent, in the first round of voting on May 18, but failed to gain a majority of the votes to win the presidency outright. In Sunday's runoff, the roles were reversed, and it was Nawrocki who secured the narrow victory. According to official results, Nawrocki, 42, won 50.89% of the vote. Trzaskowski, 53, received 49.11%. Of the 20.8 million cast votes -- representing 71.6% of Poland's population -- nearly 37,000 votes separated the two candidates. Nawrocki was backed by the nationalist opposition Law and Justice party. This is a developing story.
Malaysiakini
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Rafizi proves that he is a man of his word
YOURSAY | 'All is not lost, you will emerge stronger from this.' Rafizi tenders resignation Vijay47: Outgoing economy minister Rafizi Ramli, the 2R that the nation is proud of, the person who always stood by his principles and, unlike most of his fellow politicians, never did anything to sully his name and image. Sadly, things have taken such a turn that he has been compelled to submit his resignation from the cabinet. So be it, and he did this without hesitation or regret because this is what he promised should he lose his party elections. In doing so, he fills his countless supporters with pride that one's word counts far more than clinging on to the privileges that position might offer. Yes, Rafizi, it is the far, far better thing that you do. Minister or not, we stand by you. Needless to say, we can now expect the outpourings of grief from that huge coterie of hypocrites that PKR is rife with, filling almost every rung of the party. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will lament what a terrible loss Rafizi's departure would be to the party. But what to do? Life must go on; the party stands above the individual. Yeah, sure. That is a song we have heard so many times. Betrayal is painful, especially when wrought by those considered allies or even friends. It is what this country has learned the hard way, especially in recent years. Yet, there is hope. Rafizi's abilities can still be harnessed to bring hope to Malaysia and, with it, might offer some repair to Anwar's lost respect. If the prime minister now wishes to assure us that the country is his great concern and is not running around the world futilely trying to convince us that he comes with merit, that he is not bothered by the riff-raff of Gaza, there is a simple path open to him. As ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim suggested, Anwar Ibrahim could appoint Rafizi as head of MACC. OceanMasterII: This is a defining moment, Rafizi, for Pakatan Harapan and more so for PKR. Rafizi, I salute you for your decision to resign as a minister. You deserve a short break for yourself and your loved ones, but not too long. Malaysia is at a crossroads. The global economic and social changes are too rapid, too steep and in flux. Led by artificial intelligence, technology is sweeping through everything that we take for granted. As Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated in his address at the Asean Summit a few days ago, we are facing 'moments of truth'. Malaysia needs a new kind of leadership and a new leader. I believe the stars are aligning for you. Think this through, meditate on it and start building a deserving political third force for the people of this country. A political party or a coalition that is forward-looking, which believes in meritocracy, detests corruption and nepotism, and stands up for every Malaysian. See you soon. Doc: Why I say Rafizi is the problem is because to be a successful politician and minister in Malaysia, stupidity, incompetence, and the ability to wallop money are the requirements. People like Rafizi or some of those intelligent, capable politicians in DAP are vilified by the people because they are educated and try to address the people's problems. Even though PAS states are already running to the ground economically and socially, and top Umno and Bersatu politicians are all neck deep in corruption cases, they are wildly popular with the people. VioletOrca0545: Rafizi, time to start a new party with former minister Khairy Jamaluddin. All these old-timers in politics are like cancers. Time to eradicate them and administer some chemotherapy in the country. It will be painful, we might suffer, but the country will end up better and stronger. Show the people that reformasi is not dead. There is still hope as long as there are still people who support the changes. Anwar started this movement 27 years ago to save his own back. Today, you can start the same reformasi movement to save the country. Never give up. IndigoGoat3056: It was an unwise and immature move, seemingly done out of sulking, and has shattered the hopes of the people who voted for you. If you truly respect the people's democratic choice, then you should also resign as the MP for Pandan. From the beginning, when Pakatan Harapan chose to form a government with Umno-BN, that was the time for you to object. If you strongly disagreed, you should have declined the ministerial post then. Resigning now from the cabinet shows a lack of respect for collective decision-making and an unwillingness to accept defeat. What, then, is the difference between your dramatic exit and the Sheraton Move? Both involve abandoning the mandate, both betray voters' trust, and both destabilise the government mid-term. The people of Selangor: Easy for him to just walk away after resigning. How about all those stupid policies that burden the rakyat that he has created? Is he going to abolish them, or will we continue to suffer due to his 'smart' tax policies, RON95, E-Invoicing, and other policies? Please clean up or reverse those policies that do not benefit the people of Malaysia before you leave… before you disappear. Salvage Malaysia: Well-made move. I expect PKR to suffer significantly in the 16th general election, and the blame will go to both the father and daughter. In 2028, I hope to see Rafizi fight for the presidency in PKR and spearhead Harapan for the 17th general election. I don't see Anwar being able to get a second term as prime minister. Maybe finally we can get an equivalent of the late Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew in our Malaysian political landscape. RedFalcon7124: Hats off to you, Rafizi, a man with integrity. Hopefully, you can get like-minded politicians and form a new party of hope for our country and the younger generation. We want to move away from racist and religious bigot-centred governments. Be assured of support from East Malaysia as well as they will welcome change as well. Prominority: Rafizi, the comments here have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are not a fringe politician but the favourite of millions of Malaysians. It's a heartbreaking decision you made, but it also catapulted you to the highest esteem, where no politician has risen before. You have worked yourself to exhaustion as an unerring light. No one can put a good man down, and you will return as champion again. God bless you. MarioT: A very noble act, admire you for it. Only a few have the nobility and dignity to honour their words. All is not lost; you will emerge stronger from this. Opportunities are still available. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
Malaysiakini
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Malaysiakini
Rafizi proves that he is a man of his word
YOURSAY | 'All is not lost, you will emerge stronger from this.' Rafizi tenders resignation Vijay47: Outgoing economy minister Rafizi Ramli, the 2R that the nation is proud of, the person who always stood by his principles and, unlike most of his fellow politicians, never did anything to sully his name and image. Sadly, things have taken such a turn that he has been compelled to submit his resignation from the cabinet. So be it, and he did this without hesitation or regret because this is what he promised should he lose his party elections. In doing so, he fills his countless supporters with pride that one's word counts far more than clinging on to the privileges that position might offer. Yes, Rafizi, it is the far, far better thing that you do. Minister or not, we stand by you. Needless to say, we can now expect the outpourings of grief from that huge coterie of hypocrites that PKR is rife with, filling almost every rung of the party. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim will lament what a terrible loss Rafizi's departure would be to the party. But what to do? Life must go on; the party stands above the individual. Yeah, sure. That is a song we have heard so many times. Betrayal is painful, especially when wrought by those considered allies or even friends. It is what this country has learned the hard way, especially in recent years. Yet, there is hope. Rafizi's abilities can still be harnessed to bring hope to Malaysia and, with it, might offer some repair to Anwar's lost respect. If the prime minister now wishes to assure us that the country is his great concern and is not running around the world futilely trying to convince us that he comes with merit, that he is not bothered by the riff-raff of Gaza, there is a simple path open to him. As ex-law minister Zaid Ibrahim suggested, Anwar Ibrahim could appoint Rafizi as head of MACC. OceanMasterII: This is a defining moment, Rafizi, for Pakatan Harapan and more so for PKR. Rafizi, I salute you for your decision to resign as a minister. You deserve a short break for yourself and your loved ones, but not too long. Malaysia is at a crossroads. The global economic and social changes are too rapid, too steep and in flux. Led by artificial intelligence, technology is sweeping through everything that we take for granted. As Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong stated in his address at the Asean Summit a few days ago, we are facing 'moments of truth'. Malaysia needs a new kind of leadership and a new leader. I believe the stars are aligning for you. Think this through, meditate on it and start building a deserving political third force for the people of this country. A political party or a coalition that is forward-looking, which believes in meritocracy, detests corruption and nepotism, and stands up for every Malaysian. See you soon. Doc: Why I say Rafizi is the problem is because to be a successful politician and minister in Malaysia, stupidity, incompetence, and the ability to wallop money are the requirements. People like Rafizi or some of those intelligent, capable politicians in DAP are vilified by the people because they are educated and try to address the people's problems. Even though PAS states are already running to the ground economically and socially, and top Umno and Bersatu politicians are all neck deep in corruption cases, they are wildly popular with the people. VioletOrca0545: Rafizi, time to start a new party with former minister Khairy Jamaluddin. All these old-timers in politics are like cancers. Time to eradicate them and administer some chemotherapy in the country. It will be painful, we might suffer, but the country will end up better and stronger. Show the people that reformasi is not dead. There is still hope as long as there are still people who support the changes. Anwar started this movement 27 years ago to save his own back. Today, you can start the same reformasi movement to save the country. Never give up. IndigoGoat3056: It was an unwise and immature move, seemingly done out of sulking, and has shattered the hopes of the people who voted for you. If you truly respect the people's democratic choice, then you should also resign as the MP for Pandan. From the beginning, when Pakatan Harapan chose to form a government with Umno-BN, that was the time for you to object. If you strongly disagreed, you should have declined the ministerial post then. Resigning now from the cabinet shows a lack of respect for collective decision-making and an unwillingness to accept defeat. What, then, is the difference between your dramatic exit and the Sheraton Move? Both involve abandoning the mandate, both betray voters' trust, and both destabilise the government mid-term. The people of Selangor: Easy for him to just walk away after resigning. How about all those stupid policies that burden the rakyat that he has created? Is he going to abolish them, or will we continue to suffer due to his 'smart' tax policies, RON95, E-Invoicing, and other policies? Please clean up or reverse those policies that do not benefit the people of Malaysia before you leave… before you disappear. Salvage Malaysia: Well-made move. I expect PKR to suffer significantly in the 16th general election, and the blame will go to both the father and daughter. In 2028, I hope to see Rafizi fight for the presidency in PKR and spearhead Harapan for the 17th general election. I don't see Anwar being able to get a second term as prime minister. Maybe finally we can get an equivalent of the late Singapore premier Lee Kuan Yew in our Malaysian political landscape. RedFalcon7124: Hats off to you, Rafizi, a man with integrity. Hopefully, you can get like-minded politicians and form a new party of hope for our country and the younger generation. We want to move away from racist and religious bigot-centred governments. Be assured of support from East Malaysia as well as they will welcome change as well. Prominority: Rafizi, the comments here have proven beyond any shadow of a doubt that you are not a fringe politician but the favourite of millions of Malaysians. It's a heartbreaking decision you made, but it also catapulted you to the highest esteem, where no politician has risen before. You have worked yourself to exhaustion as an unerring light. No one can put a good man down, and you will return as champion again. God bless you. MarioT: A very noble act, admire you for it. Only a few have the nobility and dignity to honour their words. All is not lost; you will emerge stronger from this. Opportunities are still available. The above is a selection of comments posted by Malaysiakini subscribers. Only paying subscribers can post comments. In the past year, Malaysiakinians have posted over 100,000 comments. Join the Malaysiakini community and help set the news agenda. Subscribe now. These comments are compiled to reflect the views of Malaysiakini subscribers on matters of public interest. Malaysiakini does not intend to represent these views as fact.
