Articles in this Cluster
03-08-2025
US President Donald Trump has responded to nuclear threats made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev by repositioning two US nuclear submarines, appearing to escalate nuclear rhetoric between Washington and Moscow. However, this move may be seen as a distraction from Trump's domestic issues and upcoming diplomatic talks with Russia, rather than a genuine shift in US nuclear posture, as Medvedev is no longer a decision-maker in Moscow and the repositioning of submarines may not significantly impact the US ability to strike Russian targets.
03-08-2025
US President Donald Trump has ordered two nuclear submarines to move closer to Russia after sparring with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev on social media. Medvedev had posted that Trump's ultimatum to Russia to end its war in Ukraine was a threat and a step towards war, prompting Trump to respond that Medvedev was "entering very dangerous territory." The Russian press has been dismissive of Trump's announcement, with some describing it as a "temper tantrum" and "meaningless blather." The Kremlin, Russian foreign ministry, and defence ministry have not commented on the move, suggesting that Moscow does not feel the need to react. The article questions whether Trump's move is a genuine escalation or a strategic maneuver to put pressure on Russia before potential talks.
03-08-2025
US President Donald Trump has ordered two nuclear submarines to be deployed to "appropriate regions" in response to "highly provocative" comments made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who threatened the US over Trump's ultimatum to Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. Trump stated that the move was made "just in case" Medvedev's comments were more than just words, and warned that "words are very important, and can often lead to unintended consequences." The Kremlin has not publicly commented on the issue, but Moscow's stock market fell sharply following Trump's statements.
03-08-2025
President Trump said he ordered two nuclear submarines to be positioned in "appropriate regions" in response to comments made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who made threatening remarks towards the US. Trump posted on Truth Social that the move was made in case Medvedev's "foolish and inflammatory statements" were more than just words, and told reporters that the US would "protect our people." Medvedev had responded to Trump's threats of sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine conflict, warning Trump not to issue ultimatums and referencing the Soviet-era "Dead Hand" nuclear system.
03-08-2025
Dmitry Medvedev, Russia's former president, has transformed from a relatively liberal technocrat to a nationalist provocateur, making inflammatory comments as the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council. Recently, he suggested that US President Donald Trump's potential new sanctions on Russia could lead to war and warned of Russia's nuclear capabilities. Trump responded by ordering two nuclear submarines to move to "appropriate regions." Medvedev's comments are seen as part of a Kremlin strategy to stoke panic among Western decision-makers, but analysts believe he should not be taken literally. Medvedev's shift towards nationalism began after his presidency, when he repositioned himself to retain the confidence of the ruling United Russia party, and has since become known for xenophobic and ad hominem attacks on Western leaders and Ukrainians.
03-08-2025
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, praising President Donald Trump's efforts to broker peace. Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine supports Trump's efforts to end Russia's war and achieve a lasting peace, and that the world understands Putin makes the decisions in Russia and must end the war. Trump had announced a deadline for ending the war by August 8 and repositioned two nuclear submarines after a "highly provocative" conversation with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine, carrying out a deadly airstrike on Kyiv that killed 31 people, including five children.
03-08-2025
Donald Trump's obsession with the Nobel Peace Prize is driven by a desire for international prestige, a rivalry with Obama, and a need for validation, with his administration claiming he has brokered numerous peace deals despite controversy surrounding his actions, including US strikes against Iran's nuclear facilities.
03-08-2025
Switzerland is experiencing confusion and anger after being hit with the highest US tariffs in Europe, at 39%, imposed by President Donald Trump. The Swiss government had been confident of a trade deal with the US, with President Karin Keller-Sutter meeting US Trade Secretary Scott Bessent in May and being told Switzerland was likely to be the second country to strike a deal. However, after a last-minute phone call between Keller-Sutter and Trump yielded nothing, the tariffs were announced. The Swiss government believes the tariffs are due to the country's trade deficit with the US, which was $47.4 billion in 2024. Switzerland has tried to compensate by reducing its own tariffs on US industrial goods and promising multibillion-dollar investments in US plants, but the move has been met with punitive tariffs. Swiss businesses are warning of thousands of job losses, and the government is feverishly trying to negotiate until the tariffs come into force on August 7th.
03-08-2025
Critics of the EU-US trade deal, including French Prime Minister François Bayrou and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, have strongly opposed the agreement, warning of severe damage to the German economy and submission to President Donald Trump's demands. However, the article argues that internal reform within the EU is more crucial than the trade deal, and that the critics are misguided in their opposition.
03-08-2025
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing new tariffs on countries that impose tariffs on US goods, but has delayed implementation until August 7. The move is part of Trump's protectionist agenda, which has seen tariffs imposed on various countries, with some securing deals to limit the tariffs. Eight countries, including the UK, Japan, and the EU, have agreed deals, while others, such as Canada, Mexico, and Brazil, face higher tariff rates. The consequences of the trade war are uncertain, but it poses a risk to company sales and economic growth, and may lead to higher inflation if countries pass on the additional costs to consumers.
03-08-2025
African countries are bracing for the impact of US President Donald Trump's announced tariffs, with South Africa facing a 30% tariff increase and most other African countries facing 10-15% tariffs. South Africa had been negotiating with the US, offering to invest $3.3 billion in US industries, but received no response until the last minute. The tariffs are expected to have a significant impact on the economies of affected countries, particularly Lesotho, which has a large textile industry and was initially threatened with a 50% tariff. The African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), which gives 35 African countries duty-free access to the US, is set to expire in September, and some analysts believe Trump may cancel it, further exacerbating the economic impact. Economists warn that the tariffs could lead to increased inflation, currency depreciation, and job losses, prompting some to call for diversification of export markets and exploration of new regional and global trade deals.
03-08-2025
Donald Trump's trade policies, including imposing "reciprocal" tariffs on trading partners and negotiating deals with the EU, Japan, and South Korea, will ultimately harm America despite the President's claims of winning on trade. The tariffs, ranging from 10% to 41%, and levies on exports of 15% will have lasting and deep effects on the US economy, and the deals struck with other countries may not be as beneficial as they seem.
