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US politics live: ‘Fallen out of favour': Trump rift deepens
US politics live: ‘Fallen out of favour': Trump rift deepens

Daily Telegraph

time10 minutes ago

  • Politics
  • Daily Telegraph

US politics live: ‘Fallen out of favour': Trump rift deepens

Welcome to our coverage of US politics. Rifts continue to emerge in Donald Trump's inner circle regarding the possibility of striking Iran. The US president has already chided national intelligence director Tulsi Gabbard who stated that Tehran wasn't actually that close to getting a nuclear bomb. Now, despite her critical role, Ms Gabbard has reportedly 'fallen out of favour' with Mr Trump. On Thursday, US time, Mr Trump took his intelligence briefing in the White House Situation Room. This is from where he has been co-ordinating the US' position on Iran. A new poll has suggested that a majority of 'MAGA Republicans' would support a US strike on Tehran. That would fly in the face of other reporting which has suggested Trump followers are far more keen on his no new wars message. Former US president Bill Clinton has made an intervention on Iran with a direct message to Mr Trump. And Vice President JD Vance has been kicked off a competitor to Elon Musk's X just minutes after joining. Read on for more updates. Originally published as US politics live: 'Fallen out of favour': Trump rift deepens

Donald Trump delays US TikTok ban again
Donald Trump delays US TikTok ban again

South Wales Argus

time10 minutes ago

  • Business
  • South Wales Argus

Donald Trump delays US TikTok ban again

'As he has said many times, President Trump does not want TikTok to go dark. This extension will last 90 days, which the administration will spend working to ensure this deal is closed so that the American people can continue to use TikTok with the assurance that their data is safe and secure,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Tuesday. Mr Trump disclosed the executive order on the Truth Social platform on Thursday morning. Donald Trump (Alex Brandon/AP) It is the third time the president has extended the deadline. The first one was through an executive order on January 20, his first day in office, after the platform went dark briefly when a national ban — approved by Congress and upheld by the Supreme Court — took effect. The second was in April when White House officials believed they were nearing a deal to spin off TikTok into a new company with US ownership that fell apart after China backed out after Mr Trump's tariff announcement. It is not clear how many times he can — or will — keep extending the ban as the government continues to try to negotiate a deal for TikTok, which is owned by China's ByteDance. While there is no clear legal basis for the extensions, so far there have been no legal challenges to fight them. Mr Trump has gained more than 15 million followers on TikTok since he joined last year, and he has credited the trendsetting platform with helping him gain traction among young voters. He said in January that he has a 'warm spot for TikTok'. TikTok praised Mr Trump for signing an extension on Thursday. 'We are grateful for President Trump's leadership and support in ensuring that TikTok continues to be available for more than 170 million American users and 7.5 million US businesses that rely on the platform as we continue to work with Vice President Vance's office,' the company said in a statement. As the extensions continue, it appears less likely that TikTok will be banned in the US any time soon. The decision to keep the site alive through an executive order has received some scrutiny, but it has not faced a legal challenge in court, unlike many of Mr Trump's other executive orders. Jeremy Goldman, analyst at Emarketer, called TikTok's US situation 'deadline purgatory'. The whole thing 'is starting to feel less like a ticking clock and more like a looped ringtone. This political Groundhog Day is starting to resemble the debt ceiling drama: a recurring threat with no real resolution'. For now, TikTok continues to function for its 170 million users in the US, and tech giants Apple, Google and Oracle were persuaded to continue to support the app, on the promise that Mr Trump's Justice Department would not use the law to seek potentially steep fines against them. Americans are even more closely divided on what to do about TikTok than they were two years ago. A recent Pew Research Centre survey found that about a third of Americans supported a ban, down from 50% in March 2023. Roughly a third said they would oppose a ban, and a similar percentage said they were not sure. Among those who supported a ban, about eight in 10 cited concerns over users' data security being at risk as a major factor in their decision, according to the report. Democratic senator Mark Warner, vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said the Trump administration is again 'flouting the law and ignoring its own national security findings about the risks' posed by a China-controlled TikTok. 'An executive order can't sidestep the law, but that's exactly what the president is trying to do,' he added.

Council of Europe alarmed by free speech curbs in Germany
Council of Europe alarmed by free speech curbs in Germany

Euronews

time10 minutes ago

  • Politics
  • Euronews

Council of Europe alarmed by free speech curbs in Germany

The Human Rights Commissioner of the Council of Europe, Michael O'Flaherty, has expressed serious concerns regarding the conduct of German authorities in response to pro-Gaza demonstrations. In a letter addressed to the German Interior Minister, Alexander Dobrindt, O'Flaherty highlighted what he perceives as infringements on freedom of expression and the right to peaceful assembly. 'Since February 2025, Berlin authorities have imposed restrictions on the use of the Arabic language and cultural symbols during protests. In certain instances, such as the demonstration held on 15 May 2025, marches were limited to static gatherings. Additionally, protestors have reportedly been subjected to intrusive surveillance—both online and in person—and arbitrary police checks,' O'Flaherty stated. The Commissioner also raised alarm over reports of disproportionate police violence during these events. 'I am deeply concerned by allegations of excessive force used by police against demonstrators, including minors, which in some cases led to injuries. The use of force by law enforcement must adhere to the principles of non-discrimination, legality, necessity, proportionality, and precaution,' he said. O'Flaherty has urged the German authorities to thoroughly investigate incidents of excessive force and to hold officers accountable where misconduct is found. He noted that police efforts to suppress Nakba Day commemorations—a remembrance of the 1948 displacement of Palestinians—were especially troubling. The Irish human rights advocate further pointed out that freedom of speech appears to be restricted within some German universities and cultural institutions. He cited reports of foreign nationals facing deportation following their involvement in pro-Gaza activities. 'I am concerned by indications that the working definition of antisemitism adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) is being interpreted by some German authorities in a manner that equates any criticism of Israel with antisemitism,' O'Flaherty wrote. Tensions have run high in Germany since the beginning of the Gaza conflict, with frequent clashes at pro-Palestinian rallies. During the Nakba protest in mid-May, demonstrators were heard chanting slogans such as 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free'—phrasing considered antisemitic under German law. The event saw several injuries as confrontations escalated. In April, five students were arrested during a protest at Humboldt University for chanting anti-Israeli slogans. German police have also taken action against demonstrators displaying banned symbols, including altered Hamas slogans. Bill Gates will visit Brussels next week to participate in a Gavi vaccine alliance summit together with EU leaders to pledge provision of vaccine purchases for developing countries in an event co-hosted by The Gates Foundation and the European Union. The goal of the event is to collect €9 billion between 2026 and 2030. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the president of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, will likely represent the EU at the event. Gavi is a global vaccine alliance bringing together public and private actors that help vaccinate more than half the world's children against some of the deadliest diseases. The Gates Foundation, alongside the European Union, is its biggest sponsor. Gavi intends to immunise at least 500 million children in the next five years. This, according to their press release, would save 8-9 million lives. It is not immediately clear how much the EU will contribute to this plan financially. The EU has provided €3.2 billion in financing to Gavi since 2003. There was enhanced cooperation between the two during the coronavirus pandemic in the COVAX programme. EU institutions together with individual member states have also contributed €2.55 billion to Gavi's programmes, amounting to one third of the budget of the campaign. 'When the Gates Foundation made its first investment in Gavi 25 years ago, I couldn't have predicted the extraordinary impact it would have on combatting infectious diseases, lifting up economies and saving lives,' said Bill Gates in a press release announcing the summit in Brussels. "Together with Gavi, we have the goal to vaccinate 500 million children by 2030. That is why the European Union is proud to co-host Gavi's High-Level Pledging Summit in Brussels. Our support will remain steadfast,' von der Leyen is cited in the release as saying. Besides the Gavi's pledging summit, Bill Gates will also have other agenda items in Brussels, participating on Tuesday in a debate with MEPs on the European Parliament's Development Committee. The discussion will focus on assistance and innovation as drivers for improving health and living standards in the Global South. The press release of the Parliament adds that several international donors, like the United States and several EU countries, are cutting their aid budgets.

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