International
Trump hints at softening China tariffs and says no plan to sack Fed boss
US President Donald Trump has appeared to soften his recent comments on China and the head of the US Federal Reserve after recent clashes as he pursues his economic agenda.
He said he has “no intention of firing” Jerome Powell after repeatedly criticising the head of the central bank, but he added that he would like Powell to be “a little more active” on cutting interest rates.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Tuesday, Trump also said he was optimistic about improving trade relations with China.
He said the level of tariffs – or import taxes – that he had imposed on Chinese imports would “come down substantially, but it won’t be zero”.
The president’s tariffs are an effort to encourage factories and jobs to return to the US. This is a pillar of his economic agenda – as is a cut in interest rates, aimed at reducing the cost of borrowing for Americans.
Trump has ratcheted the rate on Chinese goods up to 145% – sparking reciprocal measures from Beijing and warnings from economists about the global impact of a trade war.
In his comments to reporters on Tuesday, Trump said he would be “very nice” in negotiations with Beijing – in the hope of securing a trade deal.
Earlier, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly said he expected a de-escalation of the trade war, which he said was unsustainable. Responding to comments from China, he said the current situation was “not a joke”.
The trade war has led to turbulence in financial markets around the world – to which Trump’s comments on Powell have also contributed.
The Fed has not cut rates so far this year, after lowering them by a percentage point late last year, a stance Trump has heavily criticised.
Last week, the president intensified his attacks on the Fed chief, calling him “a major loser”.
The comments sparked a selloff of stocks, bonds and the US dollar – though markets have since been recovering from those losses.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Friday that Trump was looking into whether it would be possible to sack Powell – who he first nominated to lead the central bank in 2017.
Powell was then renewed in 2021 by Joe Biden.It is unclear whether Trump has the authority to fire the Fed chair. No other US president has tried to do so.
Most major Asian stock markets were higher on Wednesday as investors appeared to welcome the latest remarks.
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index rose about 1.9%, the Hang Seng in Hong Kong climbed by around 2.2%, while mainland China’s Shanghai Composite was down less than 0.1%.
That came after US shares made gains on Tuesday, with the S&P 500 ending Tuesday’s session up 2.5% and the Nasdaq rose 2.7%.
US futures were also trading higher overnight. Futures markets give an indication of how financial markets will perform when they open for trading.
Investors feared that pressure on Powell to lower interest rates could cause prices to rise at a time when trade tariffs are already seen boosting inflation.
Trade tensions between the world’s biggest economies, as well as US tariffs on other countries around the world, have triggered uncertainty about the global economy. Those concerns triggered turmoil in financial markets in recent weeks.
On Tuesday, the forecast for US economic growth for this year was given the biggest downgrade among advanced economies by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) due to uncertainty caused by tariffs.
The sharp increase in tariffs and uncertainty will lead to a “significant slowdown” in global growth, the Fund predicted.
Trump has imposed taxes of up to 145% on imports from China. Other countries are now facing a blanket US tariff of 10% until July.
His administration said last week that when the new tariffs are added on to existing ones, the levies on some Chinese goods could reach 245%.
China has hit back with a 125% tax on products from the US and vowed to “fight to the end”.
The Chinese government has not yet officially responded to the latest statements from the Trump administration.
However, an article in the state-controlled Global Times on Wednesday quoted commentators who said the remarks showed that the US is beginning to realise the tariffs do more harm than good to America’s economy.
BBC
The FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office on Friday released video footage of the man suspected of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk fleeing a rooftop after the incident on September 10, 2025.
The bureau, in a statement accompanied by the video link shared on X on Friday, noted that the video shows the shooter climbing onto a rooftop shortly before the attack and then jumping off and fleeing the scene after firing the fatal shots.
Investigators also reportedly found the weapon and ammunition used in the shooting in a wooded area near the university.
The agency wrote, “The FBI has released a video and more photos of the shooter in the Utah Valley shooting. The subject is seen jumping from the rooftop of a building after the shooting.
“Around 12 pm Mountain Time on September 10, 2025, the subject climbed up to a rooftop; after he shot and killed Charlie Kirk, he jumped off and ran away. He left a gun and ammunition in a wooded area near the university.
“Trace evidence collected from the rooftop scene included shoe impressions, a forearm imprint, and a palm print. Anyone with information in this case should call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or visit fbi.gov/utahvalleyshooting.”
The bureau added that it is working closely with law enforcement partners to seek justice in the murder of Charlie Kirk.
Credit: X| FBISaltLakeCity
Burkina Faso’s military government has eliminated visa fees for all African nationals, aiming to strengthen Pan-African ties and promote regional integration.
The announcement was made Thursday by Security Minister Mahamadou Sana following a cabinet meeting led by junta leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
“From now on, any citizen from an African country wishing to go to Burkina Faso will not pay any amount to cover visa fees,” Sana said. However, visitors must still complete an online application, subject to approval.
The move aligns Burkina Faso with other African nations like Ghana, Rwanda, and Kenya, which support the African Union’s free movement agenda.
While West African nationals had already enjoyed visa-free access under ECOWAS, the new policy extends this to all Africans—months after Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger exited the bloc, accusing it of advancing Western interests.
Officials say the visa waiver reflects Burkina Faso’s Pan-Africanist vision and is expected to boost tourism, cultural exchange, and the country’s global profile.
The decision comes amid ongoing security challenges, as the country continues to battle a growing Islamist insurgency controlling parts of its territory.
International
Trump vows to hunts down killers of Charlie Kirk, global leaders react
Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative politics at just 31 years old, was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University in Utah, Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump says :”My administration will find each and every one of those who contributed to the assassination of Charlie Kirk, and to other political violence, including the organizations that fund it and support it.”
Trump said on a video posted to his Truth Social website hours after Kirk’s murder, hailing Kirk as a “martyr for truth,described the atrocity as a “Dark moment for America.”
Other world leaders strongly condemned the politically-motivated murder of right-wing activist and Trump ally Charlie Kirk.
Kirk, a powerful voice in conservative politics at just 31 years old, was shot dead during an event at Utah Valley University in Utah, Wednesday.
Here’s how world leaders reacted to his death:
“No justification’ – Canada
“I am appalled by the murder of Charlie Kirk. There is no justification for political violence and every act of it threatens democracy,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on X.
‘Must be free to debate’ – Britain
“We must all be free to debate openly and freely without fear — there can be no justification for political violence,” British Prime Minister Keir Starmer wrote on X.
‘Deep wound for democracy’ – Italy
An atrocious murder, a deep wound for democracy and for those who believe in freedom. My condolences to his family, to his loved ones, and to the American conservative community,” Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said on X.‘
Murdered for speaking truth’ – Israel
“Charlie Kirk was murdered for speaking truth and defending freedom. A lion-hearted friend of Israel, he fought the lies and stood tall for Judeo-Christian civilization,” wrote Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on X.
“I spoke to him only two weeks ago and invited him to Israel. Sadly, that visit will not take place.”
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