torsdag 24 april 2025
TOP NEWS
Political situation in South Korea
South Korea's former president indicted for corruption
Former South Korean president Moon Jae-in has been indicted on corruption charges in connection with his son-in-law's employment at an airline in Thailand, the New York Times reports.
Moon Jae-in was president of the country for five years until 2022. According to the indictment, Moon Jae-in received a bribe worth around 1.5 million kronor in connection with enabling his son-in-law to get a job at the airline. He was appointed CEO, a role he was not qualified for.
Moon Jae-in is the second president, after Yoon Suk-Yeol, to be put on trial for crimes committed during his presidency. The two presidents are on different sides of the political spectrum and the New York Times describes it as the latest indictment deepening South Korea's already politicized society.
Middle East crisis Israel-Palestine conflict
89-year-old Abbas in Palestine to get a vice president
The umbrella organization PLO has voted to create a vice president position, which is seen as a decision that could open the way for a successor to Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas, news agencies report.
89-year-old Abbas was elected to a four-year term in 2005. But he remained as no elections have been held since then. Trust in Abbas and his Fatah party has plummeted in recent years.
Abbas is president of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited self-rule over less than half of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Trump's USA Tariff crisis
Trump’s tariff policy
French minister: EU and US far from an agreement
Talks are “warm” and the American side wants to “move forward as quickly as possible”. A new trade agreement between the EU and the US is likely to take some time, says French Economy Minister Eric Lombard.
– We will not hide the fact that we still have a long way to go to reach an agreement, he says, according to AFP.
Donald Trump has imposed new 10 percent import duties on goods from the EU as well as higher duties on steel, aluminum and cars.
Trump's even higher tariffs are on hold for 90 days, ending in early July.
French minister: EU and US far from an agreement
Talks are “warm” and the American side wants to “move forward as quickly as possible”. A new trade agreement between the EU and the US is likely to take some time, says French Economy Minister Eric Lombard.
– We will not hide the fact that we still have a long way to go to reach an agreement, he says, according to AFP.
Donald Trump has imposed new 10 percent import duties on goods from the EU as well as higher duties on steel, aluminum and cars.
Trump's even higher tariffs are on hold for 90 days, ending in early July.
Wall Street presses on – Trump changes rhetoric
Donald Trump pulled back on his populist rhetoric to satisfy important business leaders, reports Politico.
Trump has described his trade war as a way to save the American working class from globalization. But this week, the rhetoric softened, partly against China, partly against the head of the Swedish central bank, Jerome Powell. This happened after the heads of important large companies such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot met with Trump to express their concerns about how their supply chains would be affected by tariffs on the outside world, sources told Politico. Their arguments seem to have been heard, the newspaper writes.
- He gives a much more rational message and a confirmation to shareholders, says a White House source.
Donald Trump pulled back on his populist rhetoric to satisfy important business leaders, reports Politico.
Trump has described his trade war as a way to save the American working class from globalization. But this week, the rhetoric softened, partly against China, partly against the head of the Swedish central bank, Jerome Powell. This happened after the heads of important large companies such as Walmart, Target and Home Depot met with Trump to express their concerns about how their supply chains would be affected by tariffs on the outside world, sources told Politico. Their arguments seem to have been heard, the newspaper writes.
- He gives a much more rational message and a confirmation to shareholders, says a White House source.
Trump rages against the Wall Street Journal: "China-loving"
The business newspaper Wall Street Journal has reported during the day that China expects the United States to back down in the tariff conflict between the countries. Now President Donald Trump is responding with sour attacks against the newspaper.
"It sucks!" he writes in a post on his platform Truth Social, which he begins with a call for media mogul Rupert Murdoch to shut down Fox News opinion polls:
"While he's at it, he should make changes to the China-loving Wall Street Journal."
Yesterday, the newspaper published several articles in which anonymous sources in the White House, among other things, told about the administration's plans to scale back the tariff conflict with China. In the articles, the sources also explained how far-reaching Trump's plans actually were to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell.
China denies negotiations: “They should cancel”
There are no negotiations whatsoever between the US and China on tariffs, Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman He Yadong tells CNBC. This comes after US President Donald Trump indicated earlier this week that tensions have eased.
– If the US really wants to solve the problem, it should cancel all unilateral measures against China.
Trump's USA
Ministers' war chat
Donald Trump to interview journalist who revealed chat leak
US President Donald Trump will be interviewed by The Atlantic's editor-in-chief Jeffrey Goldberg later Thursday evening, he announced on Truth Social.
Goldberg is the journalist who was accidentally invited to the ministers' war chat on Signal. Trump writes that Goldberg is responsible for many "fictional articles" about himself.
"I am doing this interview out of curiosity, and as a competition with myself, just to see if The Atlantic can be 'truthful,'" Trump writes.
US-Russia relations
Russian spy chief: I want to meet with CIA chief
Sergey Naryshkin, head of Russia's international intelligence service, says he wants to have a meeting with CIA chief John Ratcliffe. This is reported by Reuters, which refers to the Russian state intelligence agency Tass.
Naryshkin says he had a “constructive” phone call with Ratcliffe and that he would like to follow this up with a personal meeting “at some point.”
The spy chief’s initiative is in line with Putin and Trump’s signals of easing tensions between the two countries.
The future of the Democrats
Democrats are shaken up – the whip is leaving
Dick Durbin, the Democrats’ second-highest politician in the Senate, will not run for re-election next year. This is reported by several media outlets.
The announcement shakes the party but is not unexpected. Durbin is 80 years old and terms last six years.
Amy Klobuchar and Cory Booker are among the possible successors being mentioned.
Testing "War Plan" Against Trump: "Not Weak and Woke"
Senator and former CIA analyst Elissa Slotkin is set to give a series of speeches about the Democrats' path forward in the new Trump era, and she used militaristic language during a rehearsal of the speech that Politico heard.
Slotkin said, among other things, that Democrats must stop being seen as "weak and woke," that the party "has to take back the fucking flag," and that we need to get some "fucking alpha energy."
In the speech, she called the whole thing a "war plan," but Slotkin says it's not certain that that term will stick.
- It's a military-style operational plan. I don't understand how we're going to be able to come together around a coherent strategy if we don't agree on where we're going, Slotkin tells Politico.
Russian invasion Negotiations
Trump on peace agreement: “I have my own deadline”
US President Donald Trump believes that both Ukraine and Russia must come to the negotiating table. Both sides want peace, Trump claims at the White House meeting with the Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Norway.
Regarding when the peace negotiations need to be completed, Trump says:
– I have my own deadline.
Earlier in the day, Trump urged Vladimir Putin to stop the airstrikes on Ukraine. Now Trump says he believes the Russian leader will listen to this.
New alternative reality: “Russia has made a pretty big concession”
Russia has “made a pretty big concession” by stopping itself from conquering all of Ukraine, US President Donald Trump tells the press at the White House.
Russia has been attacking Ukraine for over three years without coming close to anything like that. Russia has paid a very high price in people, equipment and money. Large areas have been liberated by Ukraine and where Russia is now attacking, progress is very slow.
Trump further claims that the US is pressuring Russia hard for a peace agreement and that Russia knows about it.
The concessions that the US is demanding from Russia are minimal, according to the seven-point plan that has been leaked to several media outlets.
Pope Francis 1936–2025
Vatican anxiety: “A conclave is quite scary”
The Vatican is now experiencing increasing anxiety and speculation ahead of the upcoming papal election, which is set to begin after a two-week mourning period. The BBC writes that Vincent Nichols, Cardinal for England and Wales, was certain that he would never have to vote on the next head of the Catholic Church again because he will turn 80 later this autumn and will then be too old.
But when he learned how ill Pope Francis really was, another realization began to dawn.
– Oh, my God, this is going to come my way!, says the British cardinal, who explains that he is in a way looking forward to the papal election but that the concept of a conclave is “quite scary”.
The Vatican is now experiencing increasing anxiety and speculation ahead of the upcoming papal election, which is set to begin after a two-week mourning period. The BBC writes that Vincent Nichols, Cardinal for England and Wales, was certain that he would never have to vote on the next head of the Catholic Church again because he will turn 80 later this autumn and will then be too old.
But when he learned how ill Pope Francis really was, another realization began to dawn.
– Oh, my God, this is going to come my way!, says the British cardinal, who explains that he is in a way looking forward to the papal election but that the concept of a conclave is “quite scary”.
Scandalous Cardinal Intends to Vote for New Pope – Despite Not Being Allowed
Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu used to be described as one of the Vatican’s most powerful before he lost most of his privileges in 2023 after being convicted of embezzlement and fraud in the Vatican’s own criminal court. Despite this, he now intends to participate in the upcoming papal election, several media outlets report.
Previously, Becciu was the Vatican’s “chief of staff” with a large responsibility for who will be granted sainthood. He has been sentenced to a five-year prison sentence but denies all charges and has continued to live in his Vatican apartment while the appeal process is ongoing.
According to the Vatican, Becciu is not allowed to participate in the conclave. Becciu has told newspapers on his home island of Sardinia that he will participate because there has been no express desire to exclude him from it.
Italian Cardinal Angelo Becciu used to be described as one of the Vatican’s most powerful before he lost most of his privileges in 2023 after being convicted of embezzlement and fraud in the Vatican’s own criminal court. Despite this, he now intends to participate in the upcoming papal election, several media outlets report.
Previously, Becciu was the Vatican’s “chief of staff” with a large responsibility for who will be granted sainthood. He has been sentenced to a five-year prison sentence but denies all charges and has continued to live in his Vatican apartment while the appeal process is ongoing.
According to the Vatican, Becciu is not allowed to participate in the conclave. Becciu has told newspapers on his home island of Sardinia that he will participate because there has been no express desire to exclude him from it.
Pope drama surges after death
Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday has led to a significant boost in viewership for the Oscar-nominated “Conclave,” The Guardian reports.
The film depicts the events following the death of a fictional pope and a number of cardinals who fight over who will replace him. On Sunday, the film was streamed for a total of 1.8 million minutes globally, according to the company Luminate. The following day, “Conclave” was up to 6.9 million minutes streamed, an increase of 283 percent.
The Pope’s death also appears to have led to renewed interest in the 2019 film “The Two Popes,” starring Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins. The film went from 290,000 minutes streamed on Sunday to 1.5 million minutes on Monday.
Pope Francis’ death on Easter Monday has led to a significant boost in viewership for the Oscar-nominated “Conclave,” The Guardian reports.
The film depicts the events following the death of a fictional pope and a number of cardinals who fight over who will replace him. On Sunday, the film was streamed for a total of 1.8 million minutes globally, according to the company Luminate. The following day, “Conclave” was up to 6.9 million minutes streamed, an increase of 283 percent.
The Pope’s death also appears to have led to renewed interest in the 2019 film “The Two Popes,” starring Jonathan Pryce and Anthony Hopkins. The film went from 290,000 minutes streamed on Sunday to 1.5 million minutes on Monday.
Violence in Nigeria
Mysterious deaths on film set in Nigeria
Two actors have died during a film shoot in the Nigerian city of Owerri, several Nigerian media outlets report.
Details of the deaths have not been confirmed, but the two actors were taken to hospital after having dinner at the director's house where they had been offered a drink. The director and three other people have been arrested in connection with the deaths.
The incident took place almost exactly a year after popular Nollywood actor Junior Pope was found dead during another film shoot in the country. Pope was traveling in a boat along the Niger River when he fell overboard and drowned, The Guardian reports.
Two actors have died during a film shoot in the Nigerian city of Owerri, several Nigerian media outlets report.
Details of the deaths have not been confirmed, but the two actors were taken to hospital after having dinner at the director's house where they had been offered a drink. The director and three other people have been arrested in connection with the deaths.
The incident took place almost exactly a year after popular Nollywood actor Junior Pope was found dead during another film shoot in the country. Pope was traveling in a boat along the Niger River when he fell overboard and drowned, The Guardian reports.
Demand after the deaths: "Spiritual intervention"
The mysterious deaths of two actors during a film shoot in Nigeria have prompted the union to call for further organizing, The Guardian reports.
Union leader Emeka Rollas wrote in a social media post that he wants to see better working conditions and "spiritual intervention" to prevent future tragedies. He also urged all actors who are not members to join the union.
The two actors were taken to hospital after being treated to dinner at the film's director's house. The director and three other film workers were later arrested in connection with the deaths.
The deaths are further raising concerns in the industry as they come almost exactly one year after popular Nigerian actor Junior Pope died in a drowning accident while filming.
"The devil still wants this pattern of mass deaths to repeat itself every year," writes Emeka Rollas.
The mysterious deaths of two actors during a film shoot in Nigeria have prompted the union to call for further organizing, The Guardian reports.
Union leader Emeka Rollas wrote in a social media post that he wants to see better working conditions and "spiritual intervention" to prevent future tragedies. He also urged all actors who are not members to join the union.
The two actors were taken to hospital after being treated to dinner at the film's director's house. The director and three other film workers were later arrested in connection with the deaths.
The deaths are further raising concerns in the industry as they come almost exactly one year after popular Nigerian actor Junior Pope died in a drowning accident while filming.
"The devil still wants this pattern of mass deaths to repeat itself every year," writes Emeka Rollas.
Political situation in Colombia
The president of Colombia is accused of drug abuse
Rumors that Colombian President Gustavo Petro uses cocaine have been circulating for a long time, but now accusations are coming from a more serious source.
Former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyvo writes in an open letter about a state visit to France in 2023 where Petro disappeared for two days.
"It was in Paris that I was able to confirm that you have a problem with drug addiction," Leyvo writes according to AFP.
President Petro has responded on social media, stating that he had better things to do in Paris than spend time with his foreign minister.
Leyvo writes that he spent the two days with his daughter and grandchildren who live in the city and that he is "addicted to love."
New records for cocaine in Colombia - fewer interventions
The new allegations of alleged drug abuse by Colombian President Gustavo Petro come as cocaine is once again on the rise in the Latin American country.
Under Petro's leadership, Colombia's cocaine production has reached new records and efforts to combat cultivation have been reduced.
Petro has repeatedly downplayed the dangers of cocaine and has said that whiskey "kills more" people.
Rumors that Colombian President Gustavo Petro uses cocaine have been circulating for a long time, but now accusations are coming from a more serious source.
Former Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyvo writes in an open letter about a state visit to France in 2023 where Petro disappeared for two days.
"It was in Paris that I was able to confirm that you have a problem with drug addiction," Leyvo writes according to AFP.
President Petro has responded on social media, stating that he had better things to do in Paris than spend time with his foreign minister.
Leyvo writes that he spent the two days with his daughter and grandchildren who live in the city and that he is "addicted to love."
New records for cocaine in Colombia - fewer interventions
The new allegations of alleged drug abuse by Colombian President Gustavo Petro come as cocaine is once again on the rise in the Latin American country.
Under Petro's leadership, Colombia's cocaine production has reached new records and efforts to combat cultivation have been reduced.
Petro has repeatedly downplayed the dangers of cocaine and has said that whiskey "kills more" people.
Kashmir conflict
Modi: All Pakistanis must leave India
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered all Pakistani citizens to leave the country after the attack in Kashmir, AFP reports.
Modi has promised to punish those responsible for the attack, which killed 26 civilians. He has accused Pakistan of backing the attack and supporting "cross-border terrorism".
- India will identify, find and punish all terrorists and those who support them. We will hunt them to the ends of the earth, Modi said on Thursday.
Pakistan, for its part, has said that any threat from India to its sovereignty will be met with "stern responses".
No actor has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Indian police have issued a warrant for two Pakistanis and one Indian citizen. They are linked to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is designated a terrorist by the UN.
The water threat could be a spark: “An act of war”
The most serious thing in the hostile escalation between the nuclear-armed countries India and Pakistan is that India has terminated a water agreement that has previously survived 65 years of bad relations between the two countries, writes AP.
The agreement concerns the Indus, which is a lifeline in both countries and in Pakistan the river runs through the country's densely populated areas. Pakistan has warned that it will view any attempt by India to restrict the flow of water as “an act of war”.
According to analyst Praveen DonthiI at the International Crisis Group, it is possible that the countries could resort to military action in the coming weeks, writes AFP.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ordered all Pakistani citizens to leave the country after the attack in Kashmir, AFP reports.
Modi has promised to punish those responsible for the attack, which killed 26 civilians. He has accused Pakistan of backing the attack and supporting "cross-border terrorism".
- India will identify, find and punish all terrorists and those who support them. We will hunt them to the ends of the earth, Modi said on Thursday.
Pakistan, for its part, has said that any threat from India to its sovereignty will be met with "stern responses".
No actor has claimed responsibility for the attack, but Indian police have issued a warrant for two Pakistanis and one Indian citizen. They are linked to the Pakistan-based group Lashkar-e-Taiba, which is designated a terrorist by the UN.
The water threat could be a spark: “An act of war”
The most serious thing in the hostile escalation between the nuclear-armed countries India and Pakistan is that India has terminated a water agreement that has previously survived 65 years of bad relations between the two countries, writes AP.
The agreement concerns the Indus, which is a lifeline in both countries and in Pakistan the river runs through the country's densely populated areas. Pakistan has warned that it will view any attempt by India to restrict the flow of water as “an act of war”.
According to analyst Praveen DonthiI at the International Crisis Group, it is possible that the countries could resort to military action in the coming weeks, writes AFP.
onsdag 23 april 2025
Russian invasion
Russian reactions
Russia releases its own demands for an end to the war
Russia has now released a list of demands that would “end the conflict immediately” and are much more far-reaching than the seven points in the US peace plan for Ukraine. The demands were announced by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov and reported by the state news agency RIA.
Russia is demanding that Ukraine completely withdraw from the four Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia and Kherson.
Russia is not demanding Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s resignation, but it is demanding that all his decisions and documents he signs be contestable because he is an “illegitimate leader”.
Russia, which launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, also claims that it is Ukraine that has dragged Europe and the US into a “war against Russia”.
Regarding Ukraine’s desire for a full ceasefire, Peskov states that it is “inappropriate” to set a deadline for such a ceasefire.
Source: Trump envoy to meet Putin on Friday
Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff's next meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to be on Friday, a US official told Axios.
Witkoff has had three lengthy meetings with Putin so far, the most recent in St. Petersburg on April 11 lasting about four hours.
The Negotiations
Zelensky's Response: Documents from Trump's Team in 2018
Volodymyr Zelensky has published an official statement on X in a new post about the annexed Crimean Peninsula made by Donald Trump's previous administration.
The post states that the US, through then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, opposes Russia's annexation, and that this is a position that will be maintained until "the territorial integrity of Ukraine is restored."
“Ukraine will always act in accordance with its constitution and we are absolutely confident that our partners, especially the United States, will act in line with its clear decision,” writes Zelenskyj, who does not mention Trump by name.
Earlier on Wednesday, Donald Trump launched a harsh attack on Zelenskyj, saying that his unwillingness to recognize the Ukrainian peninsula as Russian is damaging the peace talks.
Analysis: “Trump whispering” is futile and the peace plan is a blueprint for war
“Horse whisperer” became a term in the 1990s from a fluff film, but in politics “whisperer” was used ironically. Not anymore – the belief that one can have an unusual and unique ability to influence a person is something that is taken very seriously, writes Janan Ganesh for the Financial Times.
Horses have been swapped for the US president and a long line of leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Giorgia Meloni and Keir Starmer believe themselves to be “Trump whisperers”. But no country with a “Trump whisperer” leader has ever gotten anything out of it, writes Ganesh.
The signal to voters will be a real mess. They are expected to pay higher taxes or have their welfare reduced to pay for the armaments when the US withdraws, and at the same time Trump is invited on a state visit where their leaders try to charm him, writes Ganesh.
The Telegraph’s defence editor Con Coughlin instead warns against Donald Trump’s seven-point plan for Ukraine. It is many things, but not a peace plan.
“It is a blueprint for more wars”, writes Coughlin.
According to the plan, the US is to recognise Crimea as Russian and in practice also recognise the rest of the Ukrainian territories conquered in the war.
If Russia is allowed to drive the horse and cart right through such a fundamental principle of international law, what's stopping China from conquering Taiwan?, Coughlin asks.
Trump's USA The President's Team
Witnesses: Fight and screaming between Musk and Bessent – likened to wrestling
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special adviser Elon Musk got into a screaming brawl at the White House last week, two witnesses and three sources tell Axios.
– It was quite a scene – it was loud, I mean loud, says one witness.
The men did not get “physical” when they argued in front of Donald Trump in the Oval Office, but when they came out into the hallway, they allegedly started again.
The fight is described as a “chest-to-chest” clash.
– It was two middle-aged billionaires who thought there were wrestling matches going on in the White House, says one witness.
The fight was allegedly about who would lead the IRS.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and special adviser Elon Musk got into a screaming brawl at the White House last week, two witnesses and three sources tell Axios.
– It was quite a scene – it was loud, I mean loud, says one witness.
The men did not get “physical” when they argued in front of Donald Trump in the Oval Office, but when they came out into the hallway, they allegedly started again.
The fight is described as a “chest-to-chest” clash.
– It was two middle-aged billionaires who thought there were wrestling matches going on in the White House, says one witness.
The fight was allegedly about who would lead the IRS.
Leaks about "sensible" Bessent - may fall into disfavor
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has gained Donald Trump's ear and increasing influence. At the same time, it is leaked to the press and the theme is often that Bessent should be a sensible voice in the administration. Bessent is protecting his own skin, writes Axios.
At the same time, and strangely enough, good personal publicity can be a way to fall into disfavor with Trump, writes the news site.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on the other hand, may benefit and be protected by the fact that he is under attack in the media - Trump then recognizes it from his own media storms.
- Have you met Donald Trump? Telling him to fire someone is the surest way to ensure that they don't get fired, a high-ranking advisor to Trump tells Axios.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has gained Donald Trump's ear and increasing influence. At the same time, it is leaked to the press and the theme is often that Bessent should be a sensible voice in the administration. Bessent is protecting his own skin, writes Axios.
At the same time, and strangely enough, good personal publicity can be a way to fall into disfavor with Trump, writes the news site.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on the other hand, may benefit and be protected by the fact that he is under attack in the media - Trump then recognizes it from his own media storms.
- Have you met Donald Trump? Telling him to fire someone is the surest way to ensure that they don't get fired, a high-ranking advisor to Trump tells Axios.
Elon Musk
Stopped from fighting during meeting with Trump: “Scream”
Johan EdgarPublished 00.15
The commotion began in front of Donald Trump in the Oval Office and continued into the hall.
– It was quite a scene, says a source.
Quick versionTreasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Elon Musk stood and shouted profanities in each other's faces.
The insults rained down as they began arguing in the Oval Office and continued in the hallway outside.
Forced to step in
Eventually, it reportedly got so heated that an employee stepped in and stood between the two powerful men to avoid a fight.- It was two middle-aged billionaires who thought it was wrestling, a source told Axios, who is now revealing details about the chaos on Thursday last week.
The origin of the conflict was Trump's decision to put Musk's candidate Gary Shapley in the position of head of the tax agency.
Furious at Musk
This despite the fact that Treasury Secretary Bessent had another favorite and is the boss of the person who leads the agency.
- The swearing was pouring out, a source tells the site.
The Treasury Secretary accused Musk of overpromising and underdelivering in his work with the Department of Efficiency Doge.
Musk countered by calling Bessent a “Soros agent,” referring to the financier George Soros, who is loathed in Republican circles, and accused him of running a “failed hedge fund.”
“A real scene”
“They weren’t physical in the Oval Office, but the president saw it and then they continued out into the hallway. That’s when they did it again,” a source told Axios.“It was a real scene. It was loud. And I mean loud,” another source said.
The conflict between Trump’s senior aides is said to be about more than just an appointment.
“Scott can’t stand Musk. It’s pretty deep and it’s been going on for a long time. But he’s handling it maturely,” a Treasury Secretary aide told Axios.
Bessent Won the Round
The White House uproar ended with a victory for Scott Bessent, however.The day after the brawl, it was announced that his candidate Faulkender would replace the recently appointed Shapley as acting head of the IRS.
– Scott won that round. But I wouldn’t want a guy like Musk as an enemy, a source told the news site.
The White House would not comment on the specifics of the brawl in the Oval Office.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Axios that “it’s no secret that President Trump has assembled a group of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues that are important to the country.”
Cyber expert on the attack: "Out to create unrest"
Agnès EricsonUpdated 00.15 | Published 2025-04-23 23.38
The cause was a serious overload attack.
- Those who do this are often looking for attention, says cyber threat expert Mattias Wåhlén.
Swish did not work.
The bank could not be logged in.
All services that require logging in with Bank-id were down due to a severe overload attack, also called a DdoS attack.
The cyber threat expert believes that it is a need for attention that lies behind such attacks.
– They kind of want to create headlines and then you want to hit with something that is noticeable, says Mattias Wåhlén, who works at Truesec.
Then financial systems like Bank-id are the perfect victim.
"Temporary disruption"
How long such attacks last varies – it can be anything from half an hour to several hours.– And as soon as you stop the attack, everything works again. So it is a very temporary disruption, says Wåhlén.
He says that similar overload attacks are relatively harmless.
– Nothing is damaged on the inside. Nothing dangerous has happened, you just can't get through, says Wåhlén.
Who is behind tonight's attack is still unclear. Bank-id itself has said that an external party is behind it. Shortly after midnight, all services worked as usual again.
Users could not access banks or services such as Swish.
Hybrid warfare against Sweden
– Often, it is groups that have for one reason or another political reasons that do it as part of some kind of hybrid warfare against Sweden or that want to disrupt in various ways, he says.Attacks against banking systems are usually made up of groups with large resources that want to create concern and fear.
Russia has such resources, says Wåhlén.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, D-dose attacks have increased against Western Europe, he says.
Similar attacks have been directed several times against Swedish banks or financial systems, which affects the everyday lives of ordinary people.
– They are looking to create concern, says Mattias Wåhlén.
Bank-id tells Aftonbladet that there is no risk to their users.
– The technology is secured and the users' privacy continues to be protected, says Charlotte Pataky, press officer at Bank-id.
Middle East Crisis Gaza War
Abbas urges Hamas to release all hostages
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is calling on Hamas to release all remaining Israeli hostages, AFP reports. According to Abbas, this would block Israel's excuses for continuing the war in Gaza.
The relationship between Hamas, which is labeled a terrorist organization, and Abbas' Fattah movement have long been tense, and Abbas has accused Hamas of undermining Palestinian unity.
Hamas, in turn, has criticized Abbas for being too close to Israel.
At least ten killed in attack on school in Gaza
At least ten people have been killed in an Israeli attack on a school in Gaza City that served as a refugee camp, AFP reports, citing the Gaza Civil Defense. Several of those killed are said to be children.
- The school housed people who had been displaced from their homes. The bombing led to a huge fire and several burned bodies have been found, said civil defense spokesman Mahmud Bassal.
A total of 17 people have been killed in attacks on Gaza during the morning, writes AFP.
On Tuesday, Israel also carried out an attack, targeting 40 vehicles that were believed to be used for terrorist purposes.
Trump's USA
The President's Team
Hegseth's wife in the spotlight – her presence is "irritating"
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, has found herself in the political spotlight, CNN reports.
Jennifer Rauchet has long had an important role in her husband's inner circle. But in connection with the leak of information from a group chat in which Pete Hegseth shared information about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen with his wife, brother and lawyer, her role has once again attracted attention.
According to information to CNN, Rauchet has applied for a security clearance, even though she is not employed by the Department of Defense. She has also participated in several meetings at the Pentagon with international military leaders.
At the same time, Pete Hegseth and people close to him consistently claim that he did not share classified information with her in either chats or during meetings. Former Pentagon employee says Jennifer Rauchet's presence "irritates several senators"
Leaks about "sensible" Bessent - may fall into disgrace
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has gained Donald Trump's ear and increasing influence. At the same time, it is leaked to the press and the theme is often that Bessent should be a sensible voice in the administration. Bessent is protecting his own skin, writes Axios.
At the same time, and strangely enough, good personal publicity can be a way to fall into disgrace with Trump, writes the news site.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on the other hand, may benefit and be protected by the fact that he is under attack in the media - Trump then recognizes it from his own media storms.
- Have you met Donald Trump? Telling him to fire someone is the surest way to ensure that they don't get fired, a senior adviser to Trump tells Axios.
Hegseth's wife in the spotlight – her presence is "irritating"
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's wife, Jennifer Rauchet, has found herself in the political spotlight, CNN reports.
Jennifer Rauchet has long had an important role in her husband's inner circle. But in connection with the leak of information from a group chat in which Pete Hegseth shared information about a military operation against the Houthis in Yemen with his wife, brother and lawyer, her role has once again attracted attention.
According to information to CNN, Rauchet has applied for a security clearance, even though she is not employed by the Department of Defense. She has also participated in several meetings at the Pentagon with international military leaders.
At the same time, Pete Hegseth and people close to him consistently claim that he did not share classified information with her in either chats or during meetings. Former Pentagon employee says Jennifer Rauchet's presence "irritates several senators"
Leaks about "sensible" Bessent - may fall into disgrace
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has gained Donald Trump's ear and increasing influence. At the same time, it is leaked to the press and the theme is often that Bessent should be a sensible voice in the administration. Bessent is protecting his own skin, writes Axios.
At the same time, and strangely enough, good personal publicity can be a way to fall into disgrace with Trump, writes the news site.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, on the other hand, may benefit and be protected by the fact that he is under attack in the media - Trump then recognizes it from his own media storms.
- Have you met Donald Trump? Telling him to fire someone is the surest way to ensure that they don't get fired, a senior adviser to Trump tells Axios.
American public opinion
Ipsos: Trump's economic policies worry voters in the US
American voters give Donald Trump's economic policies a dubious rating, according to a survey from Ipsos/Reuters.
37 percent of those surveyed say they support Trump's way of handling the economy, compared with 42 percent when he took office in January. The figure is also clearly lower than at any point during Trump's first term.
- He promised a golden era, but right now everything that goes up goes down, and everything that goes down goes up, says James Pethokoukis from the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute.
Three-quarters of those surveyed in the survey say they are worried about a recession and 56 percent believe that Trump's economic reforms are "too erratic".
Ipsos: Trump's economic policies worry voters in the US
American voters give Donald Trump's economic policies a dubious rating, according to a survey from Ipsos/Reuters.
37 percent of those surveyed say they support Trump's way of handling the economy, compared with 42 percent when he took office in January. The figure is also clearly lower than at any point during Trump's first term.
- He promised a golden era, but right now everything that goes up goes down, and everything that goes down goes up, says James Pethokoukis from the conservative think tank American Enterprise Institute.
Three-quarters of those surveyed in the survey say they are worried about a recession and 56 percent believe that Trump's economic reforms are "too erratic".
LGBT rights in the USA
Trump sued – for ban on transgender people
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Donald Trump, Politico reports.
The reason is that they want to block the Trump administration from introducing a federal ban on transgender people competing in women's sports. A similar ban is already being implemented against the state of Maine. With concerns that the administration will attack Minnesota next, they choose to sue them before it happens.
- Minnesota is bringing the lawsuit to stop Trump and his administration from bullying vulnerable children in this state, Ellison said at a press conference.
The lawsuit seeks to block Trump's presidential order on the ban. In addition, they claim that his threat to withdraw federal aid violates the Constitution.
Trump sued – for ban on transgender people
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison has filed a preemptive lawsuit against Donald Trump, Politico reports.
The reason is that they want to block the Trump administration from introducing a federal ban on transgender people competing in women's sports. A similar ban is already being implemented against the state of Maine. With concerns that the administration will attack Minnesota next, they choose to sue them before it happens.
- Minnesota is bringing the lawsuit to stop Trump and his administration from bullying vulnerable children in this state, Ellison said at a press conference.
The lawsuit seeks to block Trump's presidential order on the ban. In addition, they claim that his threat to withdraw federal aid violates the Constitution.
The War on the Media
Judge blocks Trump's decision to close radio channel
A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump's decision to close the Voice of America radio channel, The Hill reports. According to the judge, the decision likely violates the law.
The agency that runs the channel has now been ordered to ensure that broadcasts are resumed and that the laid-off employees are reinstated.
Voice of America has been broadcasting news in a variety of languages since 1942, targeting other countries, including dictatorships in Asia and the Middle East.
Judge blocks Trump's decision to close radio channel
A federal judge has blocked Donald Trump's decision to close the Voice of America radio channel, The Hill reports. According to the judge, the decision likely violates the law.
The agency that runs the channel has now been ordered to ensure that broadcasts are resumed and that the laid-off employees are reinstated.
Voice of America has been broadcasting news in a variety of languages since 1942, targeting other countries, including dictatorships in Asia and the Middle East.
Tariff crisis
Fed vs. inflation
Sources: Ministers convinced Trump not to fire Powell
US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he never had any plans to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. But according to the Wall Street Journal's sources, high-ranking officials in the White House took Trump's outburst against Powell seriously.
Among other things, the officials investigated the legal conditions for firing Powell.
What, according to the newspaper's sources, made Trump refrain from firing Powell were objections from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Sources: Ministers convinced Trump not to fire Powell
US President Donald Trump said yesterday that he never had any plans to fire Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. But according to the Wall Street Journal's sources, high-ranking officials in the White House took Trump's outburst against Powell seriously.
Among other things, the officials investigated the legal conditions for firing Powell.
What, according to the newspaper's sources, made Trump refrain from firing Powell were objections from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
Trump's tariff policy
Chinese analysts: Trump is pressured and worried
Panic is rising on the American side and China is in control of the tariff crisis, analysts tell the South China Morning Post.
Donald Trump's recent speech that talks are underway and that he believes a trade deal will be reached soon is "typical Trump" and his way of sending a signal to China, says Chen Zhiwu, a professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong.
- The more he talks like this, the more it shows how worried the American side is. Trump and his team are under pressure, but China shows no signs of impatience, says Chen.
Chinese analysts: Trump is pressured and worried
Panic is rising on the American side and China is in control of the tariff crisis, analysts tell the South China Morning Post.
Donald Trump's recent speech that talks are underway and that he believes a trade deal will be reached soon is "typical Trump" and his way of sending a signal to China, says Chen Zhiwu, a professor of finance at the University of Hong Kong.
- The more he talks like this, the more it shows how worried the American side is. Trump and his team are under pressure, but China shows no signs of impatience, says Chen.
Trump's tariff policy
Sources: Trump considering sharply reducing China tariffs
To defuse the trade conflict with China, the Trump administration is considering sharply reducing its tariffs. This is reported by sources for the Wall Street Journal.
In some cases, tariffs could be reduced by more than half, according to discussions underway in the White House. However, President Donald Trump is said to have not yet made a final decision on the matter.
Sources: Trump considering sharply reducing China tariffs
To defuse the trade conflict with China, the Trump administration is considering sharply reducing its tariffs. This is reported by sources for the Wall Street Journal.
In some cases, tariffs could be reduced by more than half, according to discussions underway in the White House. However, President Donald Trump is said to have not yet made a final decision on the matter.
China: The door for tariff talks with the US is wide open
China is ready to enter into trade talks with the US. This is what a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
– China said early on that there are no winners in a trade war. The door for talks is wide open, the spokesperson said.
The statement comes the day after Donald Trump said that he believes tariffs on Chinese goods will be significantly reduced. Yesterday, there were also reports that the US Treasury Secretary said behind closed doors that a tariff war with China is not sustainable.
China is ready to enter into trade talks with the US. This is what a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday.
– China said early on that there are no winners in a trade war. The door for talks is wide open, the spokesperson said.
The statement comes the day after Donald Trump said that he believes tariffs on Chinese goods will be significantly reduced. Yesterday, there were also reports that the US Treasury Secretary said behind closed doors that a tariff war with China is not sustainable.
COP30 climate summit
Xi promises new climate goals: "Will not slow down"
Chinese leader Xi Jinping says that China's efforts to combat climate change "will not slow down".
“No matter how the international situation changes, China’s efforts to combat climate change will not slow down,” he told several media outlets.
The United States is on the verge of withdrawing from climate agreements, and Xi Jinping’s remarks come at a virtual climate summit hosted by Brazil.
According to Xi, China will announce new commitments for greenhouse gas reductions up to 2035 before the COP30 meeting to be held in November.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping says that China's efforts to combat climate change "will not slow down".
“No matter how the international situation changes, China’s efforts to combat climate change will not slow down,” he told several media outlets.
The United States is on the verge of withdrawing from climate agreements, and Xi Jinping’s remarks come at a virtual climate summit hosted by Brazil.
According to Xi, China will announce new commitments for greenhouse gas reductions up to 2035 before the COP30 meeting to be held in November.
Xi's speech shows: Wants to be a stable counterweight to Trump
Chinese leader Xi Jinping did not mention the US and Donald Trump during his unusual presence at a virtual climate summit ahead of COP30 but he made clear references, The Guardian reports.
Xi said that the international order has been seriously damaged by "some major countries' persistent pursuit of unilateralism and protectionism" but that "solidarity and cooperation" can lead to progress in the world and for climate work.
China appears to be trying to position itself as a stable and predictable superpower, an economic partner and a counterweight to an erratic Donald Trump, The Guardian writes.
Climate Threat Global Challenges
80 percent of world's reefs affected by coral bleaching
Over 80 percent of the world's coral reefs are currently affected by coral bleaching. It is the most extensive bleaching ever observed, reports AFP. The bleaching is caused by increased temperatures in the world's oceans as a result of climate change caused by humans.
Coral bleaching risks leading to the extinction of reefs and entire ecosystems. Reefs can recover, but according to researchers, this is becoming increasingly difficult as ocean temperatures are elevated for longer periods of time.
- If we get heatwave after heatwave, it is difficult to see how the reefs will recover, says Melanie McField, a coral reef specialist at
80 percent of world's reefs affected by coral bleaching
Over 80 percent of the world's coral reefs are currently affected by coral bleaching. It is the most extensive bleaching ever observed, reports AFP. The bleaching is caused by increased temperatures in the world's oceans as a result of climate change caused by humans.
Coral bleaching risks leading to the extinction of reefs and entire ecosystems. Reefs can recover, but according to researchers, this is becoming increasingly difficult as ocean temperatures are elevated for longer periods of time.
- If we get heatwave after heatwave, it is difficult to see how the reefs will recover, says Melanie McField, a coral reef specialist at
Russian invasion The negotiations
Trump launches new harsh attack on Zelensky: “He is losing the whole country”
US President Donald Trump is outraged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to recognize Crimea as Russian.
“This is very damaging to peace negotiations with Russia,” Trump writes on Truth Social.
Crimea is already lost to Ukraine, Trump claims. According to Trump, a peace agreement is very close, but Zelensky – “the man with no cards to play” – should finally get it done.
“He can have peace or he can fight for three more years before he loses the whole country,” Trump writes.
Ukraine: “Will not accept disguised peace”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterates his demands for a ceasefire: Immediate, comprehensive and unconditional, he says according to AFP.
– Ending the killing is the top priority, says the president.
The statement comes at the same time as several European countries meet in London to discuss a ceasefire. But earlier today, tough demands came from US Vice President JD Vance – that Ukraine and Russia need to say yes to the latest proposal from the US – otherwise they will withdraw. This proposal means, among other things, that the existing front lines should be frozen.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko writes that Ukraine will negotiate, but not give up, writes Reuters.
– Our people will not accept a frozen conflict disguised as peace.
US President Donald Trump is outraged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky does not want to recognize Crimea as Russian.
“This is very damaging to peace negotiations with Russia,” Trump writes on Truth Social.
Crimea is already lost to Ukraine, Trump claims. According to Trump, a peace agreement is very close, but Zelensky – “the man with no cards to play” – should finally get it done.
“He can have peace or he can fight for three more years before he loses the whole country,” Trump writes.
Ukraine: “Will not accept disguised peace”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterates his demands for a ceasefire: Immediate, comprehensive and unconditional, he says according to AFP.
– Ending the killing is the top priority, says the president.
The statement comes at the same time as several European countries meet in London to discuss a ceasefire. But earlier today, tough demands came from US Vice President JD Vance – that Ukraine and Russia need to say yes to the latest proposal from the US – otherwise they will withdraw. This proposal means, among other things, that the existing front lines should be frozen.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko writes that Ukraine will negotiate, but not give up, writes Reuters.
– Our people will not accept a frozen conflict disguised as peace.
The peace meeting is “downgraded” – ministers withdraw
Several leaders are withdrawing from the meeting in London on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, reports Sky News.
The initial plan was for ministers from Britain, France, Germany, the US and Ukraine to attend and for them to discuss an end to the war together. But US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced yesterday that he will not attend and today the same message came from the other nations' counterparts. This means that their meeting has now been postponed.
But officials from the five countries are to meet with Ukraine's foreign minister and talks are to be held with Britain's David Lammy. It is described as a "downgrade" by Sky News and is a contrast to the increased pressure the US has put on both Kyiv and the Kremlin to reach a ceasefire.
Trump expects an answer today: "Last offer" for peace
The US expects an answer from Ukraine today whether it will agree to Donald Trump's "last offer" for a ceasefire, sources tell Axios.
The proposal, which was presented earlier this week, is a framework for a peace agreement with Russia. This means, among other things, that the US will recognize the Crimean Peninsula as Russian and that Russia will be allowed to keep the areas occupied since the start of the invasion in 2022. In addition, the US promises that Ukraine will not become a NATO member and that sanctions against Russia that were imposed in 2014 will be lifted.
The proposal would mean major concessions from Kyiv, which has already ruled out recognizing Crimea and the occupied areas as Russian.
– The proposal states very clearly what concrete benefits Russia will receive, but only expresses itself vaguely and generally about what Ukraine will receive, a Ukrainian source tells Axios.
Source: US nervousness may be due to concessions already made to Putin
First Secretary of State Marco Rubio dropped out of the peace talks in London, then Vice President JD Vance issued an ultimatum, and now Donald Trump has had a new Truth Social outburst against Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
A source close to the negotiations tells Reuters that the nervousness from the US may indicate that Ukraine's position is not in line with what envoy Steve Witkoff has already agreed to with Vladimir Putin.
The source says that Rubio's defection came after Ukraine submitted a draft to its European partners in which the line was that there can be no discussions until there is a "complete ceasefire without conditions".
Russia does not seem to be particularly accommodating. Among other things, it is demanding that the EU lift all sanctions against Russia before the negotiations are concluded, a diplomatic source says.
First Secretary of State Marco Rubio dropped out of the peace talks in London, then Vice President JD Vance issued an ultimatum, and now Donald Trump has had a new Truth Social outburst against Volodymyr Zelenskyj.
A source close to the negotiations tells Reuters that the nervousness from the US may indicate that Ukraine's position is not in line with what envoy Steve Witkoff has already agreed to with Vladimir Putin.
The source says that Rubio's defection came after Ukraine submitted a draft to its European partners in which the line was that there can be no discussions until there is a "complete ceasefire without conditions".
Russia does not seem to be particularly accommodating. Among other things, it is demanding that the EU lift all sanctions against Russia before the negotiations are concluded, a diplomatic source says.
Netanyahu is already indicted for war crimes - still continuing on the same path
Wolfgang Hansson
This is a commentary text. Analysis and positions are the writer's.
Published 16.54
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is already indicted for using starvation as a weapon in Gaza. A war crime.
Yet he continues on the same path.
Israel is now openly saying that no aid will be allowed until Hamas releases the Israeli hostage.
It has been almost two months since Israel allowed any humanitarian aid to enter Gaza. The long lines are queuing on the other side of the border in Egypt but are not allowed to enter.
Not even essentials such as food, water and medicine, which are necessary for the more than two million inhabitants of Gaza to survive, are allowed to pass.
Unlike before, this is not something Israel is trying to hide. On the contrary, Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz says that it has deliberately stopped all aid as a strategy to get Hamas to release the remaining Israeli hostage. Hamas was behind the terrorist attack in Israel on October 7, 2023.
It is believed that 58 people are still being held, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.
-We have no intention of allowing any aid to enter Gaza as long as Hamas does not release the hostages, Israel Katz states. Blocking aid is one of our main methods of putting pressure on Hamas.
He is relatively new as defense minister. The previous one, Yoav Gallant, was fired by Netanyahu in November. But before that, both he and the prime minister were indicted at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, ICC.
They are suspected of war crimes. Among other things, for using starvation as a weapon during the war that has now been going on for over 18 months. At that time, the aid was not stopped completely, but Israel allowed far too few trucks with food, medicine and medical supplies in. The then US President Joe Biden was one of many world leaders who pressured Netanyahu to allow enough aid in.
Israel blamed the fact that it took time to inspect the cargo to ensure that no weapons or materials that Hamas could use in the war were being smuggled in.
Netanyahu also claimed that Hamas seized many of the aid shipments for its own purposes.
The ICC prosecutor did not buy the explanations. It does not matter what the circumstances are. It is a violation of international law to deliberately starve a civilian population.
Despite the indictment, Israel is intensifying this very prohibited method.
Katz is supported by Israel's Minister of Security Ben-Gvir.
–As long as our kidnapped people rot in the tunnels, there is no reason to allow a single gram of food or other aid to reach Gaza.
This time it seems that the world is so used to Israel's actions that it is no longer reacting. Few protests are heard from world leaders despite the UN and aid organizations on the ground in Gaza repeatedly sounding the alarm about the catastrophic humanitarian situation as stocks of food and medicine run low.
Malnutrition is already a fact in Gaza according to aid organizations and at least several children are reported to have already died of starvation.
One reason why the protests from the outside world have subsided may be that everyone knows that since the US is no longer pressuring Israel to allow aid into Gaza, there is no one who can in practice force Israel to obey. Israel only listens to the US and sometimes not even that, as the case of Biden shows.
Another may be that the world fears that the focus on the need in Gaza will lead Israel to decide to empty the enclave of people instead. President Trump has already proposed that the United States take over Gaza and empty the area of people while it is rebuilt. Trump would like to see it transformed into a resort, a Middle Eastern Riviera. The Palestinians who live in Gaza today should not be allowed to return. The Palestinian problem will be solved simply by moving them to other countries.
That too is a violation of international law.
The main stumbling block is that at present there are no countries that are willing to accept more than a few of the more than two million inhabitants.
Israel could have released the hostages by negotiating phase two of the ceasefire, which was part of the original agreement with Hamas. But Israel refused because phase two would have meant that Israeli troops would have had to leave Gaza completely.
Israel broke the ceasefire in mid-March and is now trying to bomb the hostages.
At the same time, it has occupied about 30 percent of Gaza. An occupation that Israel threatens to make permanent.
Netanyahu is increasingly criticized at home for not really caring about the hostages at all. That he is only keeping the war going so he can stay in power.
Not long ago, former Philippine President Duterte was surprisingly put on a plane to The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. Netanyahu does not seem particularly worried that a similar fate will befall him.
But on the day he is forced to resign, perhaps he should be.
Trump on Fed chief: Not going to fire him
Anna Sjögren
Published 11.33
Last week, Trump called the head of the US Federal Reserve a "major loser".
Rumors have circulated that he has considered firing Jerome Powell - something the president is now dismissing.
- But I would like to see him be a little more active, he tells reporters.
Quick version
Trump has been critical of the US Federal Reserve and its head for not having made any interest rate cuts so far this year.
When Powell said at an event that Trump's tariffs were unprecedented in modern history, the president has launched a fierce attack on him on social media.
- With all the prices trending down so nicely, just as I predicted they would, there can hardly be any inflation, but there could be a slowdown in the economy unless Mr. Too Late (Mr. Too Late, editor's note) cuts interest rates, NOW, he wrote in a post on Truth Social.
Speculation that Trump intended to fire Powell gained momentum after a statement from Kevin Hassett, his economic adviser. He said that Trump was exploring the possibility of firing the Federal Reserve Governor.
“A perfect time to cut”
But he doesn’t intend to do that, AP reports.
– No, I have no intention of firing him. I would like to see him be a little more active when it comes to his opinion on cutting interest rates. This is a perfect time to cut interest rates, he tells reporters.
He continues:
– If he doesn’t do it, is that the end? No, it’s not.
He would not answer the question of whether he has spoken to Powell.
– I have no comment on that, it doesn’t matter.
Trump appointed Jerome Powell as head of the US Federal Reserve in 2017, during his first term as president. In 2021, Biden extended his appointment for another four years.
Send feedback
He is singled out in the chaos: “Something huge happened”
Johan Edgar
Updated 12.42 | Published 11.33
Pete Hegseth’s days as Secretary of Defense may be numbered.
Now a person is being singled out as the driving force behind the chaos that is paralyzing the Pentagon.
– There is a lot of bad blood, a source tells Politico.
The scandals and revelations have been succeeding each other in the Pentagon since Donald Trump took over the White House.
In a Politico review of the personal conflicts that have contributed to the “total chaos” that is said to prevail, several sources point to one man as the driving force:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kasper.
A tangle of intrigue
He is said to have plotted to get rid of three competitors for Hegseth’s attention – adviser Dan Caldwell, deputy chief of staff Darin Selnick and deputy chief of staff Colin Carroll.
The trio were described as Hegseth’s inner circle and were forced to leave their positions after an investigation led by Kasper concluded that they were behind a series of leaks to the media.
The leaked information from inside the Pentagon is said to have shaken Hegseth and made him isolated and paranoid, writes Politico.
According to the site's sources, Kasper is said to have taken the opportunity and exploited the chaos to get rid of the three men at the top.
Made people uncomfortable
- It's very tense, there's a lot of bad blood, a source tells Politico.
- There are a lot of people trying to assert themselves in an environment where it's very difficult to do so without cutting someone else down.
Many in the staff saw problems with Kasper right from the start after Pete Hegseth was approved by the Senate and appointed as chief of staff.
He is said to have been late to meetings, handed over important tasks without following up and "lacked focus and organizational skills".
Kasper is also accused of having made people around him uncomfortable with his often childish behavior.
Described bathroom visit at meeting
During an important meeting with defense chiefs, he turned and said: “Can I just tell everyone around the table that I screwed up something huge right before I got here,” according to two sources to Politico.
The high tensions at the top worsened when Selnick was brought in as deputy chief of staff to deal with Kasper’s leadership problems. Hegseth is also said to have leaned increasingly towards the adviser Caldwell, whom he had known for a long time.
– Kasper didn’t like that they had the secretary’s ear. He didn’t like that they could go in and hang out as they wanted. It was a knife fight, a source tells Politico.
Last week, Hegseth fired the trio after being convinced by Kasper that they were behind the leaks.
“Personal vendettas”
None of them say they have seen any evidence of the investigation that is supposed to have been carried out and they claim to be innocent.
– These are people who have had personal vendettas against us, Caldwell said on Monday in an interview with Tucker Carlson.
The fighting has also backfired on Kasper himself, who announced late last week that he too is leaving Hegseth's staff.
– There is a complete meltdown in the building and it is reflected in the secretary's leadership. Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who are not focused on his best interests, says a source.
CNN stated last night that it is "unlikely" that Donald Trump will fire the secretary of defense as the situation is right now. In part because he had to fight hard to get Hegseth approved by the Senate.
Joe Kasper tells Politico that his statement at the meeting about the bathroom visit "is taken out of context" and that he only launched an investigation into the leaks after being ordered to do so by the secretary of defense.
Prenumerera på:
Inlägg (Atom)