Trade on agenda as Trump heads to Scotland for diplomacy and golf

US President Donald Trump departed for Scotland on Friday for a mix of diplomacy, business and leisure, as a huge UK security operation swung into place amid planned protests near his family-owned golf resorts. The president, whose mother was born in Scotland, is expected to split his time between two seaside golf courses bearing his name, in Turnberry on the southwestern coast and Aberdeen in the northeast.Air Force One was due to arrive around at 8:20 pm local time (1920 GMT) with the president and White House staff, and Trump has no public events scheduled for Saturday or Sunday, the White House said.However, he is due to meet with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during the trip.”We’re going to do a little celebrating together, because we got along very well,” Trump told reporters as he left the White House Friday, calling Starmer “a good guy” doing “a very good job”.He said they would discuss “fine tuning” the bilateral trade deal struck in May, and would “maybe even improve it”.But the unpredictable American leader appeared unwilling to cede to a UK demand for flexibility over reduced steel and aluminium tariffs.Trump has exempted London from blanket 50 percent tariffs on imports of both metals, but the fate of that carve-out remains unclear.”If I do it for one, I have to do it for all,” Trump told reporters, when asked if he had any “wiggle room” for the UK on the issue. The international outcry over the conflict in Gaza may also be on the pair’s agenda, as Starmer faces growing pressure to follow French President Emmanuel Macron and announce that Britain will also recognise a Palestinian state.- Protests -Trump is expected to return to the UK in September for a state visit — his second — at the invitation of King Charles III, which promises to be lavish.During a 2023 visit, Trump said he felt at home in Scotland, where his mother Mary Anne MacLeod grew up on the remote Isle of Lewis before emigrating to the United States at age 18.The affection is not necessarily mutual.Residents, environmentalists and elected officials have voiced discontent over the Trump family’s construction of a new golf course, which he is expected to open before he departs the UK on Tuesday.Police Scotland, which is bracing for mass protests in Edinburgh and Aberdeen as well as close to Trump’s golf courses, have said there will be a “significant operation across the country over many days”.Scottish First Minister John Swinney, who will also meet Trump during the visit, said the nation “shares a strong friendship with the United States that goes back centuries”.He added it would provide Scotland with a “platform to make its voice heard on the issues that matter, including war and peace, justice and democracy”.Trump has also stepped into the sensitive debate in the UK about green energy and reaching net zero, with Aberdeen being the heart of Scotland’s oil industry.In May, he wrote on his Truth Social platform that the UK should “stop with the costly and unsightly windmills” as he urged incentivising drilling for oil in the North Sea.- US discontent -The trip to Scotland puts physical distance between Trump and the latest twists in the case of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the wealthy financier accused of sex trafficking who died in prison in 2019 before facing trial.In his heyday, Epstein was friends with Trump and others in the New York jet-set, but the president is now facing backlash from his own MAGA supporters who demand access to the Epstein case files.Many support a conspiracy theory under which “deep state” elites protected rich and famous people who took part in an Epstein sex ring. But Trump is urging his supporters to move on from the case.The Wall Street Journal, which published an article detailing longstanding links between Trump and the sex offender, is being punished by the White House.Its reporting staff plans to travel to Scotland on their own and join the White House press pool. But it has now been denied a seat on Air Force One for the flight back home.While Trump’s family has undertaken many development projects worldwide, the president no longer legally controls the family holdings.But opponents and watchdog groups have accused him of many conflicts of interest and using his position as US president to promote private family investments, especially abroad.The American NGO Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington said in May that 21 development projects were already underway abroad during Trump’s second term.

Tour de France: Arensman s’impose encore, Pogacar et Vingegaard se neutralisent

Le Néerlandais Thymen Arensman a remporté sa deuxième étape dans le Tour de France 2025, sous la pluie vendredi à La Plagne, en gardant deux secondes d’avance sur Jonas Vingegaard et Tadej Pogacar qui se sont neutralisés toute la journée.Déjà vainqueur de la 14e étape à Superbagnères, le grimpeur d’Ineos a accéléré à 14 kilomètres du sommet de cette dernière journée de montagne, raccourcie et amputée du col des Saisies en raison d’une épidémie touchant les bovins, pour résister jusqu’au bout au retour des favoris qui ne se sont pas attaqués.Beaucoup plus conservateur que par le passé, Pogacar a lancé deux petites accélérations mais s’est pour le reste contenté de défendre son maillot jaune. Vingegaard n’a pas bougé du tout lors de cette étape, très décevante à ce niveau.Le Danois s’est seulement payé le luxe de finir pour une fois devant Pogacar qui n’a pas disputé le sprint et a été bousculé involontairement par un agent de sécurité juste après l’arrivée.Le Slovène de 26 ans, qui compte 4:24 d’avance au classement général sur le Danois, s’oriente tout droit vers une quatrième victoire dans le Tour de France, autant que Chris Froome et à un succès du record.Il ne reste plus que deux étapes qui, sauf accident ou énorme coup de théâtre, ne devraient pas bouleverser le classement général.L’Allemand Florian Lipowitz a quasiment assuré sa place sur le podium en terminant quatrième de l’étape, dans les roues de Vingegaard et Pogacar, alors qu’Oscar Onley, qui s’était rapproché à 22 secondes la veille, a craqué dans le dernier kilomètre.Arensman, 25 ans, s’est chargé d’assurer le suspense avec un raid solitaire exceptionnel. Le Néerlandais n’a jamais compté plus d’une trentaine de secondes d’avance. Mais, allant au bout de lui-même, a tenu bon jusqu’au bout avec un courage admirable.”Je suis totalement détruit, a-t-il réagi. Déjà gagner une étape du Tour de France en étant échappé est incroyable. Et là je sors du groupe maillot jaune face aux meilleurs du monde. J’ai l’impression de rêver, je ne sais pas ce que je viens de faire.””C’est Tadej et Jonas. Tout le monde sait que ce sont les meilleurs du monde, presque des extraterrestres et moi je suis juste un humain. Mais je viens de les battre, c’est juste fou”, a-t-il ajouté.Le Français Kévin Vauquelin, 17e de l’étape, a conservé sa septième place au général après avoir “géré (s)a montée”.Dépassé par le Norvégien Tobias Johannessen, il a profité du craquage complet de Primoz Roglic qui était parti dans l’échappée et était seul en tête dans la vallée précédant la montée finale avant d’exploser.

How might Trump’s tariffs hurt Brazil?

With Donald Trump’s punitive tariffs against Brazil poised to take effect within days, Latin America’s largest economy is bracing for a virtual embargo on its planes, grains, and crude oil.The mercurial US president has penciled in 50 percent tariffs on Brazilian goods starting August 1, swatting aside centuries-old ties and a US trade surplus which Brasilia put at $284 million in 2024.Trump has not attempted to hide the political motivation behind the sanctions — citing a judical “witch hunt” against his right-wing ally, ex-president Jair Bolsonaro.The former artillery officer is on trial, accused of plotting a coup after losing re-election in 2022 to now-President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.While Brazil’s seasoned trade diplomats rush to avoid a damaging trade war that would hurt the country’s already slow-growing economy, key sectors are bracing for impact.- Who will feel the pain? -Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of beef, chicken, soybeans, corn, coffee, sugar and orange juice.Its main exports to the United States are crude oil, semi-finished iron and steel products, coffee and aircraft.The agriculture sector alone is projecting losses of $5.8 billion, according to the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock. Other sectors, such as aeronautics, fisheries and defense, allocate more than half of their exports to the US market and may suffer “an impact on jobs,” according to economist Felipe Salto, former secretary of finance of Sao Paulo state. In the aeronautics sector, the tariff hike is “almost an embargo” and may lead to a “workforce adjustment similar to the Covid-19 pandemic,” according to Francisco Gomes Neto, CEO of Brazil’s Embraer, the world’s third-largest aircraft manufacturer.- When will the impact be felt? – Trump has become notorious for changing his mind on tariff rates, for stalling deadlines, and for claiming epic deals that fail to materialize. He may yet change his mind again.But in Brazil, the impact of his threats is already being felt.There is a preventive suspension of shipments of meat, fruit, fish, and grains, according to industry sources.About 77,000 tons of fruit are sitting in containers awaiting a diplomatic resolution before they spoil, according to the Brazilian Association of Fruit Export Producers. New shipments of beef to the United States are “under analysis” as they would only arrive after August 1, the powerful Brazilian Beef Association said. – Making a deal? -The political nature of the spat seems to make a last-minute deal less likely. Brazil has insisted the case against Bolsonaro will go ahead unless prosecutors decide otherwise.Trump “doesn’t want to talk,” leftist Lula lamented recently, reiterating that his Plan A is to continue “negotiating.” Lula has tasked Vice President Geraldo Alckmin with reaching out to the White House.But a Brazilian negotiating proposal sent in May has received no response, according to Brasilia.Ricardo Alban, president of the National Confederation of Industry, believes Brazil will continue trying to negotiate as long as possible.Its “largest bilateral trade relationship in manufactured products is with the United States,” he said.- Damage control? -As a Plan B, Lula’s government is already considering offering credit lines for tariff-hit companies. In the longer term, Brazil is trying to “restructure” its trade ties with countries beyond the United States, top government official Rui Costa said recently.The European Union, Mexico, and Canada are all potential partners. When it comes to increasing exports to China, economists see a more difficult path for some sectors.”It’s easier to redirect oil or coffee production to other countries than aircraft parts,” said Marcos Mendes of the Insper research center. “Highly specialized sectors will suffer more,” he explained.Lula promised to apply “reciprocity” if Trump’s tariff threat materializes, measures that could deepen the economic impact on both economies.

Iran says it held ‘frank’ nuclear talks with European powers

Iranian diplomats said they held “frank and detailed” nuclear talks on Friday with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, who have threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran fails to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.The meeting in Istanbul was the first since Israel launched an attack on Iran last month targeting key nuclear and military sites, sparking a 12-day war and leading Tehran to pull away from working with the UN watchdog.The European diplomats were seen leaving the Iranian consulate shortly before 1100 GMT after spending several hours inside.Israel’s offensive — which killed top commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of others and in which residential areas and military sites were struck — also derailed US-Iran nuclear talks that began in April.Since then, the European powers, known as the E3, have threatened to trigger a so-called “snapback mechanism” under a moribund 2015 nuclear deal that would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran by the end of August.The sanctions trigger expires in October, and Tehran has warned of consequences should the E3 opt to activate it.Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi, who attended the talks alongside senior Iranian diplomat Majid Takht-Ravanchi, wrote on X that he had used the meeting to criticise the European stance on the 12-day conflict with Israel.He said the snapback mechanism had also been discussed, adding: “It was agreed that consultations on this matter will continue.”Takht-Ravanchi told state news agency IRNA the Iranian side had demanded “punitive sanctions” be lifted “as soon as possible”.Before the talks, a European source said the three countries were preparing to trigger the mechanism “in the absence of a negotiated solution”.The source urged Iran to make “clear gestures” on uranium enrichment and resuming cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.- ‘Common ground’ -Gharibabadi warned earlier in the week that triggering sanctions — which would deepen Iran’s international isolation and place further pressure on its already strained economy — would be “completely illegal”.He accused European powers of “halting their commitments” under the 2015 deal, which the United States unilaterally withdrew from in 2018 during President Donald Trump’s first term.”We have warned them of the risks, but we are still seeking common ground to manage the situation,” said Gharibabadi.Iranian diplomats have previously warned that Tehran could withdraw from the global nuclear non-proliferation treaty if sanctions were reimposed.Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has urged European powers to trigger the mechanism.Israel’s June 13 attack on Iran came two days before Tehran and Washington were scheduled to meet for a sixth round of nuclear negotiations.On June 22, the US joined Israel’s offensive by striking Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.Before the war, the US and Iran were divided over uranium enrichment — with Tehran describing it as a “non-negotiable” right, while Washington called it a “red line”.The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) says Iran is enriching uranium to 60 percent purity — far above the 3.67 percent cap under the 2015 deal and close to weapons-grade levels.Tehran has said it is open to discussing the rate and level of enrichment, but not the right to enrich uranium.A year after the US withdrew from the nuclear deal, Iran began rolling back its commitments, which had placed restrictions on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.Israel and Western powers accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has repeatedly denied.- ‘New form’ -Iran insists it will not abandon its nuclear programme, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi describing the position as “unshakable”.Though he claimed enrichment had come to a halt because of “serious and severe” damage to nuclear sites caused by US and Israeli strikes, the full extent of the damage sustained in the US bombing remains unclear. Trump claimed at the time the sites had been “completely destroyed”, but US media reports based on Pentagon assessments cast doubt on the scale of destruction.Since the 12-day war, Iran has suspended cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of bias and failing to condemn the attacks.Inspectors have since left the country but a technical team is expected to return in the coming weeks after Iran said future cooperation would take a “new form”.Israel has warned it may resume strikes if Iran rebuilds facilities or moves toward weapons capability.Iran has pledged a “harsh response” to any future attacks.

Deuxième jour d’interrogatoire de la complice d’Epstein par un haut responsable du gouvernement Trump

Un haut responsable gouvernemental américain et ancien avocat de Donald Trump rencontre vendredi pour la deuxième journée consécutive Ghislaine Maxwell, complice de Jeffrey Epstein, en Floride, où elle purge sa peine de prison, en pleine crise pour l’exécutif autour de l’affaire Epstein.Le président Donald Trump a de son côté de nouveau pris ses distances avec le défunt homme d’affaires, dont il était pourtant très proche il y a plus d’une vingtaine d’années.”Je n’ai rien à voir avec ce type”, a-t-il déclaré à des journalistes à son départ de Washington pour un voyage en Ecosse.Il a conseillé aux médias de “s’intéresser plutôt” à des personnalités démocrates comme l’ex-président Bill Clinton ou son ministre des Finances Larry Summers, ex-président de Harvard, assurant pouvoir leur “fournir une liste” de personnalités bien plus liées à Jeffrey Epstein que lui.Interrogé sur la possibilité d’accorder une grâce présidentielle ou une commutation de peine à Ghislaine Maxwell, condamnée en 2022 à 20 ans de prison pour trafic sexuel, Donald Trump a assuré “ne pas y avoir pensé”, mais a souligné qu’il en avait le pouvoir.La mort de Jeffrey Epstein, riche homme d’affaires retrouvé pendu dans sa cellule à New York le 10 août 2019 avant son jugement pour crimes sexuels, a alimenté d’innombrables théories du complot selon lesquelles il aurait été assassiné pour empêcher des révélations embarrassantes sur des personnalités de premier plan.Donald Trump, qui pendant des mois a promis à sa base des révélations fracassantes sur ce dossier, subit un retour de flamme, y compris dans son propre camp, depuis que son gouvernement a annoncé début juillet n’avoir découvert aucun élément nouveau qui justifierait la publication de documents supplémentaires.Le ministère de la Justice et le FBI, la police fédérale, ont conclu qu’il n’existait aucune preuve de l’existence d’une liste secrète de “clients” de Jeffrey Epstein et confirmé qu’il s’était bien suicidé.- “Aucune raison de mentir” -C’est dans ce contexte que Todd Blanche, numéro 2 du ministère de la Justice et ancien avocat personnel de Donald Trump dans plusieurs procédures pénales, rencontrait vendredi Ghislaine Maxwell au tribunal de Tallahassee, capitale de la Floride, pour une deuxième journée. L’équipe de Todd Blanche est entrée au tribunal par une porte dérobée, rapportent les médias américains.De son côté, David Markus, l’avocat de Ghislaine Maxwell, ex-compagne et collaboratrice de Jeffrey Epstein, a brièvement parlé aux journalistes à son arrivée.”Ghislaine a été traitée injustement depuis plus de cinq ans maintenant”, a-t-il déclaré, la qualifiant de “bouc émissaire”.”Tout ce qu’elle dit peut être corroboré et elle dit la vérité. Elle n’a aucune raison de mentir à ce stade et elle continuera à dire la vérité”, a ajouté l’avocat, se refusant à la moindre précision sur la teneur de l’interrogatoire.Ghislaine Maxwell a été condamnée en 2022 pour avoir recruté entre 1994 et 2004 des jeunes filles mineures afin qu’Epstein les exploite sexuellement.”Le ministère de la Justice partagera davantage d’information sur ce que nous avons appris au moment opportun”, a affirmé Todd Blanche sur X jeudi soir au terme de la première journée de discussions.Donald Trump a par ailleurs de nouveau nié être l’auteur d’une lettre salace à l’intention de Jeffrey Epstein en 2003 pour le 50e anniversaire de celui-ci, dont le Wall Street Journal a fait état la semaine dernière. Il poursuit le quotidien en diffamation pour cet article et lui réclame des milliards de dollars.L’administration Trump et ses alliés font feu de tout bois pour se dépêtrer de cette affaire.Les dirigeants républicains à la Chambre des représentants ont ainsi envoyé dès mercredi les élus en vacances, soit un jour plus tôt que prévu, afin d’éviter des débats potentiellement explosifs, notamment dans leur propre camp, sur l’éventuelle publication de documents de l’affaire Epstein.

More than 1.3 million return to homes in Sudan: UNFri, 25 Jul 2025 15:24:14 GMT

More than 1.3 million people who fled the fighting in Sudan have headed home, the United Nations said Friday, pleading for greater international aid to help returnees rebuild shattered lives.Over a million internally displaced people (IDPs) have returned to their homes in recent months, UN agencies said.A further 320,000 refugees have crossed back into Sudan …

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Kinshasa slum battles deadly cholera outbreakFri, 25 Jul 2025 15:22:54 GMT

Faced with a lack of running water, unsanitary conditions and poverty, the Kinshasa neighbourhood of Pakadjuma has struggled to end a cholera epidemic that has claimed hundreds of lives in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this year. Some 20 African countries have been tackling outbreaks of the severe intestinal infection since the start of the …

Kinshasa slum battles deadly cholera outbreakFri, 25 Jul 2025 15:22:54 GMT Read More »