WAKEFIELD, England (BN24) — Former Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins has died following a violent assault inside HMP Wakefield, where he was serving a 29-year sentence for multiple child sex offences. West Yorkshire Police confirmed on Sunday that two male inmates, aged 25 and 43, have been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Watkins, 48, was found critically injured on Saturday morning after an attack at the high-security facility. Emergency services were called to the prison shortly after reports of a serious assault on an inmate, who was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The Prison Service acknowledged an “incident” had occurred at the facility but declined to offer further details, citing an ongoing police investigation.
Watkins, originally from Pontypridd in South Wales, was jailed in December 2013 after admitting to a catalogue of child sexual offences described by prosecutors as “shocking” and “beyond imagination.” Among the charges were the attempted rape of a baby, conspiracy to rape a child, sexual assault of children under 13, and possession of extreme pornographic images, including one involving an animal.
The trial revealed Watkins had used his fame as the lead singer of the multi-platinum rock band Lostprophets to manipulate fans and exploit children. He committed many of the offences with the help of two female accomplices, both mothers of children he abused. They were sentenced to 14 and 17 years in prison, respectively.
Sentencing him in 2013, Mr. Justice Royce described the case as one that “plunged into new depths of depravity,” adding that any “decent person will experience shock, revulsion and incredulity.” The judge noted Watkins’s lack of remorse and described him as having a “corrupting influence.”
Watkins had previously survived a prison attack in August 2023, during which he sustained injuries that were not life-threatening.
His death comes less than two weeks after a damning report into HMP Wakefield highlighted a sharp rise in violence at the prison. The Chief Inspector of Prisons noted that many inmates, especially older men convicted of sexual offences, reported feeling unsafe due to rising tensions with younger prisoners.
The report stated that Wakefield Prison, sometimes referred to as “Monster Mansion” due to its high-profile inmate population, had become increasingly volatile. The watchdog warned of “markedly increased” levels of violence and inadequate protection for vulnerable inmates.
Once one of Wales’ most recognisable musicians, Watkins fronted Lostprophets from its formation in 1997 until the band disbanded following his arrest in 2013. The group sold millions of albums and toured internationally before collapsing under the weight of Watkins’ criminal revelations.
The case shocked both fans and the wider public, with prosecutors accusing Watkins of being driven by power, drugs, and fame. His trial revealed the use of hard drugs like crystal meth and a pattern of calculated manipulation over vulnerable individuals.
Following his conviction, children’s charity NSPCC said Watkins had “used his status and global fame as a means to manipulate people and sexually abuse children,” reminding the public that “this case isn’t about celebrity, it’s about victims.”
As of Sunday, West Yorkshire Police said the investigation into Watkins’ death was ongoing. The two suspects remain in custody.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (BN24) — Lionel Messi and Jordi Alba delivered a dazzling performance Saturday night as Inter Miami CF cruised to a 4-0 victory over Atlanta United FC in their final regular-season match at Chase Stadium, sealing a crucial three points ahead of the MLS playoffs.
Messi, temporarily released from international duty with Argentina, led the Herons as captain and scored twice while setting up a goal for Alba in an emotional farewell match at the Fort Lauderdale venue. Inter Miami is set to move into its new home, Miami Freedom Park, in 2026.
The 37-year-old World Cup champion had been called up by Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni for October friendlies against Venezuela and Puerto Rico. However, Scaloni cleared him to play for Miami after deciding not to use him in Friday’s match.
“It was pretty straightforward yesterday before the game,” Miami coach Javier Mascherano said. “I spoke with Scaloni, and he told me he was going to release him. Leo was willing to play, and we saw what he did today — he helped us win. He scored, which was also important for him.”
Messi opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a trademark curling strike into the top-left corner for his 25th goal of the season. Minutes later, he turned provider, lofting a perfectly weighted ball to Alba, who chipped Atlanta goalkeeper Jayden Hibbert to make it 2-0.
Alba, 36, who will retire at the end of the 2025 MLS season, received a special tribute from Inter Miami after the final whistle. A video montage celebrated his career with messages from former coaches and teammates.
“I think I’ve had a very good career,” Alba said. “It’s been special, and I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved. Now we have the last game against Nashville, then the playoffs. Hopefully I can win them and then rest.”
Luis Suárez added Miami’s third with a clinical volley from the edge of the penalty area in the 61st minute, and Messi struck again late in the match to seal the 4-0 scoreline. His brace brought his season tally to 26 goals, moving him two ahead of LAFC striker Denis Bouanga in the MLS Golden Boot race.
“At this point in his life, winning the Golden Boot isn’t going to change him too much,” Mascherano said. “But if it’s there, he’ll go for it. It was a great night for the team, for him, for everyone.”
Several Argentina teammates, including Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes, Nicolás Otamendi and Giovani Lo Celso, watched from the sidelines and celebrated each goal. Messi may return to national team duty for Argentina’s upcoming friendly against Puerto Rico on Tuesday at Chase Stadium, depending on how the coming days unfold.
Miami is now tied on points with FC Cincinnati in second place heading into the final round of the regular season. The Herons will travel to face Nashville, while Cincinnati hosts Montreal. The Philadelphia Union have already secured first place in the Eastern Conference and the Supporters’ Shield for the best overall regular-season record.
Smoke fills the air as debris covers the ground and vehicles after a powerful blast ripped through a military explosives manufacturing plant in Hickman County, Tenn., on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (WTVF-TV via AP)
MCEWAN, Tenn. (BN24) – Sixteen people are believed to have died after a massive explosion tore through an explosives manufacturing plant in Tennessee on Friday morning, officials said, as recovery teams continue to search the site for remains and clues to what caused the deadly blast.
Smoke fills the air as debris covers the ground and vehicles after a powerful blast ripped through a military explosives manufacturing plant in Hickman County, Tenn., on Friday, Oct. 10, 2025. (WTVF-TV via AP)
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said Saturday evening that authorities have not found any survivors in the debris of the Accurate Energetic Systems facility near McEwen, roughly 60 miles west of Nashville.
“At this time, I can tell you that we have not located any survivors. And we are making the assumption that all are deceased,” Davis said during a news conference.
Eighteen people were initially reported unaccounted for after the explosion, which occurred at around 7:45 a.m. Friday. Two were later confirmed not to have been at the site despite their vehicles and belongings being found in the parking area, reducing the presumed death toll to 16.
More than 300 personnel have searched the destroyed facility, which satellite images show has been reduced to scattered debris. “As we get into this, we find it even more devastating than what we thought initially,” Davis said.
The victims’ names have not been publicly released, but families of all 16 presumed dead have been notified, Davis added.
The explosion engulfed one entire building of the privately owned facility, which specializes in processing ammunition and explosives. The cause remains under investigation by local authorities and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), which has dispatched explosives specialists and bomb technicians to secure the site.
Special Agent Guy McCormick of the ATF said Saturday that residual explosives at the site may have become unstable due to the intense heat and pressure of the blast. Controlled detonations will continue in the coming days to safely dispose of hazardous materials, according to the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency.
There is no ongoing threat to the public, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency (TEMA) said, urging residents to stay clear of the area while recovery efforts continue. Residents who find debris from the blast are being asked to contact local sheriff’s offices so trained personnel can handle the material safely.
Accurate Energetic Systems issued a brief statement expressing condolences to the families, employees, and community members affected by the explosion. A family assistance center has been set up to support those impacted.
Nearby residents described the explosion as powerful enough to shake homes miles away. “There was a huge boom and my house shook very hard,” said Felicity Howell, a nurse at a local middle school who lives about 10 miles from the site. “It honestly felt like a vehicle drove through our house.”
On Friday night, community members gathered in nearby Centerville for a candlelight vigil to mourn the victims.
The FBI is assisting local and federal investigators as they work to determine what triggered one of the deadliest industrial explosions in Tennessee’s recent history.
AL-FASHIR, Sudan (BN24) — Drone and artillery strikes by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on the besieged city of Al-Fashir, Sudan, have killed at least 60 people, local activists said Saturday, marking one of the deadliest attacks in the city since fighting escalated earlier this year.
The assault began Friday night and continued into Saturday morning, targeting a displacement shelter in Al-Fashir, the last major stronghold held by Sudan’s army in the Darfur region. Local resistance committees said the shelter was struck twice by drones and eight times by artillery shells, leaving many civilians trapped or burned alive inside caravans.
“Bodies remain under the rubble, and others were burned alive inside the shelter caravans, children, women, and elderly killed in cold blood,” the Al-Fashir Resistance Committees said in a statement.
The city has been under siege for months as RSF forces attempt to seize it from the army. The prolonged encirclement has triggered a severe humanitarian crisis, with widespread hunger and disease among the civilian population. Activists say relentless drone and artillery bombardments have repeatedly struck civilian targets, including mosques, hospitals, clinics, and shelters for displaced people.
Residents told Reuters that they have begun digging bunkers in their homes and neighborhoods to protect themselves from the escalating attacks. The resistance committees added that Al-Fashir is losing an average of 30 civilians daily to violence, hunger, and disease.
Human rights monitors and aid groups have warned that the siege of Al-Fashir risks worsening an already dire situation in Darfur, where civilians continue to bear the brunt of Sudan’s brutal civil war.
MOMBASA, Kenya (BN24) — A festive boat race along the Mombasa shoreline turned tragic Friday when a dragon boat carrying 22 participants capsized just meters from the finish line during the East African Ocean Festival, triggering panic among spectators and a frantic rescue operation.
The vessel, identified as the MV Dragon, overturned in full view of hundreds of beachgoers who had gathered to watch the final lap of the race. The incident, which was captured on multiple mobile phone videos, unfolded moments after an intense sprint toward the finish line. In the footage, rowers are seen paddling in perfect unison when the trailing boat suddenly tips, hurling all onboard into the Indian Ocean.
Initial confusion among spectators gave way to panic as screams pierced the air and emergency responders scrambled to the water.
According to the Kenya Red Cross Society, 19 rowers were rescued alive, with three still missing as of Friday night. A multi-agency response team, including the Kenya Coast Guard Service, Mombasa County Disaster Management Unit, and volunteer divers, launched a full-scale search and rescue mission that extended into the night.
“Search and rescue operations are ongoing, with a multi-agency team actively responding to locate the missing persons,” the Kenya Red Cross said in a public statement issued hours after the incident.
The accident occurred during the final heat of the dragon boat race a highlight of the annual East African Ocean Festival, which brings together local and regional teams in a colorful celebration of coastal sports and culture.
Eyewitnesses described the moment as shocking and surreal. “One boat had just crossed the finish line, and the crowd was cheering when the second boat suddenly capsized,” said a bystander who recorded the scene.
The cause of the capsize has not yet been officially confirmed, though footage suggests instability as the boat attempted to make a final surge.
Mombasa County Chief Fire Officer Ibrahim Basafar described the rescue operation as “chaotic,” noting that the team acted immediately but faced challenges due to crowd size and rough waters. One participant was reported in critical condition and rushed to the Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital.
Concerns about safety protocols have since emerged, with Ishmael Onyango, one of the rescued rowers, revealing that many participants were not wearing life jackets at the time of the incident.
“Most of us were from Bangladesh [a low-income settlement in Mombasa]. It happened so fast that some of us didn’t even react,” Onyango told reporters. “There was no proper briefing or gear.”
His testimony has sparked questions about the organizers’ adherence to safety regulations and whether appropriate emergency measures were in place.
What began as a celebration of teamwork, endurance, and East African coastal heritage quickly turned into a desperate struggle for survival. Spectators, including families and tourists, watched as what had been a moment of competitive triumph dissolved into a rescue emergency.
Local authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the organizers’ responsibilities or possible violations. The Mombasa County government is expected to review safety standards for future public maritime events.
As of Saturday morning, search efforts for the three missing participants were ongoing, with the Kenya Red Cross and Coast Guard teams urging locals along the coastline to report any findings or floating objects.
LAGOS, Nigeria (BN24) — A group of individuals identifying themselves as security operatives was arrested Saturday at Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 (MM2) in Ikeja, Lagos, after attempting to board a domestic flight with over $6.1 million in undeclared cash, authorities confirmed.
The suspects, whose exact number has not been officially disclosed, were intercepted while preparing to board an Aero Contractors flight. The group had already cleared initial security checks before staff flagged their baggage due to its unusual weight and size.
According to Ado Sanusi, Managing Director of Aero Contractors, suspicions were raised by ground personnel at the boarding gate.
“Our security team flagged the baggage due to its size and weight,” Sanusi said. “The individuals refused to check in the luggage and eventually admitted that it contained money, which had not been declared.”
The suspects allegedly claimed they were law enforcement agents transporting a suspect and accompanying evidence, which initially allowed them to bypass standard screening procedures. However, their evasive conduct drew the attention of Aviation Security (AVSEC) personnel, who intervened and escalated the matter.
Further inspection revealed that the men were carrying multiple boxes filled with U.S. dollars — totaling approximately $6.1 million in cash, none of which had been formally declared to airport or customs authorities.
Following their detention, the suspects were handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS) for questioning. The DSS subsequently transferred the case to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which has now opened a full-scale investigation into the origin, purpose, and legality of the funds.
As of Saturday night, EFCC operatives were said to be reviewing airport security footage and interviewing airline staff.
An EFCC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the commission is also probing possible money laundering, abuse of office, and security protocol violations.
The incident has raised fresh concerns over the potential misuse of security credentials at Nigerian airports, especially by individuals claiming law enforcement affiliations. Airport sources said the suspects failed to provide any formal documentation to validate their claim of escorting a detainee or transferring evidentiary materials.
“In such cases, airlines must be formally notified in advance, and specific boarding protocols must be followed,” Sanusi added. “None of that happened here.”
Multiple security officials expressed concern over the unauthorized use of privileged access to bypass screening, noting that such actions could compromise airport integrity and passenger safety.
A senior airport official said the case may prompt a review of procedures for law enforcement officers using commercial flights, especially where sensitive materials or high-value items are involved.
As of Sunday morning, the identities of the detained individuals had not been publicly released. The EFCC is expected to brief the press once preliminary investigations are concluded.
The incident adds to growing scrutiny of financial crimes in Nigeria’s airspace, following recent seizures involving undeclared currencies and unauthorized bulk cash movements.
LELAND, Miss. (BN24) — A pair of shootings at high school homecoming celebrations on opposite ends of Mississippi left six people dead and many more injured Friday night, shattering what were supposed to be joyful community events, authorities said.
In the western part of the state, four people were killed and about 20 others were wounded when gunfire erupted in downtown Leland after a high school football homecoming game. The town, located in the Mississippi Delta and home to fewer than 4,000 residents, had drawn crowds of people celebrating in the streets when the violence broke out.
State Sen. Derrick Simmons said Saturday that four of the injured were in critical condition and had been airlifted from a hospital in nearby Greenville to a larger medical center in Jackson, the state capital. Simmons said he was receiving updates from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies working on the case.
“People were just congregating and having a good time in the downtown of Leland,” Simmons said. He described the aftermath as “very chaotic,” with police, sheriff’s deputies and ambulances rushing in from surrounding areas.
Simmons condemned the violence as “senseless” and blamed the widespread circulation of firearms for the tragedy. As of Saturday morning, no arrests had been made and authorities had not announced any suspects. “They are on the ground working and I have all the faith in the world that they will get to the bottom of this,” Simmons said, urging anyone with information to come forward.
Meanwhile, in the eastern part of the state, two people were shot and killed during homecoming celebrations in Heidelberg, a small town of about 640 residents located 85 miles southeast of Jackson.
Heidelberg Police Chief Cornell White said both victims were killed on the school campus Friday night during the homecoming football game for the Heidelberg Oilers. White declined to say whether the victims were students or provide further details but confirmed that police were searching for a suspect.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office said an 18-year-old man was being sought for questioning in connection with the Heidelberg shooting and urged the public to share any information. It remains unclear exactly when the gunfire occurred or how close it was to the stadium. White said investigators remained at the scene Saturday and more details were expected in the coming days.
The two incidents have left communities on opposite sides of Mississippi reeling. What began as nights of celebration and school spirit ended in tragedy, underscoring ongoing concerns about gun violence across the state.
President Donald Trump initiated mass layoffs of federal workers Friday, terminating more than four thousand one hundred employees as the government shutdown continues, in what administration officials described as the biggest set of firings since the Department of Government Efficiency purge early in Trump’s second term.
The president previewed the terminations during a press conference in the Oval Office earlier Friday, blaming them and the shutdown on Democrats. “It’ll be a lot and it’ll be Democrat-oriented because we figure they started this thing. It’ll be a lot of people, all because of the Democrats,” Trump said.
Russ Vought, director of the Office of Management and Budget, announced on the social platform X that the “RIFs have begun,” referring to reduction-in-force plans aimed at reducing the size of the federal government. The White House budget office said the mass firings were intended to exert more pressure on Democratic lawmakers as the government shutdown continues.
In a court filing, the budget office said well over four thousand employees would be fired, though it noted that the funding situation was “fluid and rapidly evolving.”
The firings hit hardest at the Treasury Department, which lost over fourteen hundred employees, the Department of Health and Human Services, with a loss of over eleven hundred, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, set to lose over four hundred. The departments of Commerce, Education, Energy and Homeland Security and the Environmental Protection Agency were all set to terminate hundreds more employees. It was not clear which particular programs would be affected.
The aggressive move by Trump’s budget office goes far beyond what usually happens in a government shutdown and escalates an already politically toxic dynamic between the White House and Congress. Talks to end the shutdown are almost nonexistent.
Typically, federal workers are furloughed but restored to their jobs once the shutdown ends, traditionally with back pay. Some seven hundred fifty thousand employees are expected to be furloughed during the shutdown, officials have said.
The White House had previewed its tactics shortly before the government shutdown began October 1, telling all federal agencies to submit their reduction-in-force plans to the budget office for review. It said reduction-in-force could apply for federal programs whose funding would lapse in a government shutdown, is otherwise not funded and is “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”
Trump said that going forward, “We’re going to make a determination, do we want a lot? And I must tell you, a lot of them happen to be Democrat oriented.” He described federal employees as “people that the Democrats wanted, that, in many cases, were not appropriate,” eventually adding, “Many of them will be fired.”
Some leading Republicans were highly critical of the administration’s actions. Maine Senator Susan Collins, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, said she “strongly oppose OMB Director Russ Vought’s attempt to permanently lay off federal workers who have been furloughed due to a completely unnecessary government shutdown.” Collins blamed the federal closure on Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski called the announcement “poorly timed” and “yet another example of this administration’s punitive actions toward the federal workforce.”
Schumer said blame for the layoffs rested with Trump. “Let’s be blunt: nobody’s forcing Trump and Vought to do this,” Schumer said. “They don’t have to do it; they want to. They’re callously choosing to hurt people – the workers who protect our country, inspect our food, respond when disasters strike. This is deliberate chaos.”
The Education Department was among agencies hit by new layoffs Friday, a department spokesperson confirmed. A labor union for the agency’s workers said the administration is laying off almost all employees below the director level at the Office of Elementary and Secondary Education, while fewer than ten employees were being terminated at the agency’s Office of Communications and Outreach.
Notices of firings also went out at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which leads federal efforts to reduce risk to the nation’s cyber and physical infrastructure, according to the Department of Homeland Security, where CISA is housed. The agency has been a frequent Trump target over its work to counter misinformation about the 2020 presidential election and the COVID-19 pandemic. DHS said the layoffs were “part of getting CISA back on mission.”
Federal health workers were also being fired, though an HHS spokesman did not say how many or which agencies were being hit hardest. An EPA spokesperson blamed Democrats for the firings and said they can vote to reopen the government anytime.
An official for the American Federation of Government Employees, which represents federal workers and is suing the Trump administration over the firings, said in a legal filing Friday that the Treasury Department is set to issue layoff notices to thirteen hundred employees.
The AFGE asked a federal judge to halt the firings, calling the action an abuse of power designed to punish workers and pressure Congress. “It is disgraceful that the Trump administration has used the government shutdown as an excuse to illegally fire thousands of workers who provide critical services to communities across the country,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement.
Democrats have tried to call the administration’s bluff, arguing the firings could be illegal, and had seemed bolstered by the fact that the White House had not immediately pursued the layoffs once the shutdown began.
But Trump signaled earlier this week that job cuts could be coming in “four or five days.” He said Tuesday that if the shutdown continues, “it’ll be substantial, and a lot of those jobs will never come back.”
The unprecedented scale of permanent layoffs during a government shutdown represents a significant departure from historical precedent. Previous administrations have generally maintained furloughed workers on temporary status with the expectation they would return once appropriations were restored.
The Justice Manual guidelines for federal workforce management do not typically contemplate permanent reductions-in-force during funding lapses, making the legality of the administration’s actions uncertain. Legal challenges are expected to focus on whether the president has authority to permanently eliminate positions during a temporary funding gap rather than implementing traditional furloughs.
MIAMI (BN24) — Argentina announced Friday that Lionel Messi will not play in the national team’s friendly match against Venezuela at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, Florida, as the World Cup champions continue their preparations for 2026.
Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni had suggested on Thursday that he might experiment with the lineup, leaving open the possibility that Messi could feature. “Yes, we’ve spoken with [Messi], as we’ve spoken with everyone. We haven’t decided on the team yet. We’ll decide until late in the last training session,” Scaloni said. “It’s true that these are games to try out and to see, as I said the other day, and that’s what we’re going to do. But we’ll talk with him and decide today. It’s obvious I’d like to try out different options because that’s what these games are for, while always respecting the opponent.”
When the match began, Messi was pictured watching from the stands alongside his family, confirming that he would not take the field. Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul was in Argentina’s squad but did not start.
Scaloni has emphasized that Argentina’s upcoming friendlies are key to preparing for the 2026 World Cup. Argentina will face Puerto Rico on Tuesday in Fort Lauderdale at Chase Stadium, a match originally scheduled for Chicago but relocated partly due to low ticket sales.
Messi’s club team, Inter Miami, has a game scheduled for Saturday at Chase Stadium against Atlanta United FC. Head coach Javier Mascherano said he would welcome Messi’s presence for the final home game of the regular season but admitted there had been no discussions about his availability.
“I’d love it. Imagine being able to have Leo Messi, but the reality is he hasn’t been with us,” Mascherano said. “Messi can play at any time, obviously. The issue afterward is that I can’t talk to you about something that’s counterfactual because he’s not with us, and the truth is, I haven’t spoken to Leo. Now we’ll see tonight what happens.”
Inter Miami has already qualified for the 2025 MLS playoffs but continues to chase a higher finish in the Eastern Conference to secure home-field advantage in the postseason.
Argentina also announced that midfielder Franco Mastantuono would miss the remainder of the camp due to a left thigh injury, further shaping the lineup as Scaloni looks to test new combinations without Messi leading the squad.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will impose an additional one hundred percent tax on Chinese imports starting November 1 or sooner, potentially escalating tariff rates to levels that in April sparked fears of a global recession.
The president said on his social media platform that he is imposing the new tariffs in response to export controls placed on rare earth elements by China. The announcement built on an earlier post Friday on Truth Social in which Trump said “there seems to be no reason” to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping as part of an upcoming trip to South Korea.
“Starting November 1st, 2025 (or sooner, depending on any further actions or changes taken by China), the United States of America will impose a Tariff of 100% on China, over and above any Tariff that they are currently paying,” Trump stated.
The announcement came after financial markets closed Friday and threatened to throw the global economy into turmoil. The import taxes would be heaped on top of the thirty percent already being levied on Chinese goods, potentially causing trade to break down between the United States and China in ways that could cause worldwide growth to slump.
While Trump’s wording was definitive, he is known for backing down from threats. Some investors began engaging in what The Financial Times called the “TACO” trade, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out.”
The prospect of tariffs this large could compound the president’s political worries inside the United States, potentially pushing up inflation at a moment when the job market appears fragile and the effects of a government shutdown are compounding into layoffs of federal workers.
Trump also said the U.S. government would respond to China by imposing its own export controls “on any and all critical software” from American firms.
The United States and China have been jostling for advantage in trade talks after import taxes announced earlier this year triggered a trade war between the world’s two largest economies. Both nations agreed to reduce tariffs after negotiations in Switzerland and the United Kingdom, yet tensions remain as China has continued to restrict American access to the difficult-to-mine rare earths needed for a wide array of U.S. technologies.
Trump did not formally cancel the meeting with Xi, instead indicating it might not happen as part of a trip at the end of the month in Asia. The trip was scheduled to include stops in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, Japan, and South Korea, where he was slated to meet with Xi ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.
“I was to meet President Xi in two weeks, at APEC, in South Korea, but now there seems to be no reason to do so,” Trump posted.
Trump’s threat shattered a monthlong calm on Wall Street. The S&P 500 tumbled two point seven percent on worries about rising tensions between the world’s largest economies. It was the market’s worst day since April when the president last discussed import taxes this high. The stock market closed before the president spelled out the full terms of his threat.
On Thursday, the Chinese government restricted access to rare earths ahead of the scheduled Trump-Xi meeting. Beijing announced it would require foreign companies to obtain special approval for shipping the metallic elements abroad. It also announced permitting requirements on exports of technologies used in mining, smelting and recycling rare earths, adding that any export requests for products used in military goods would be rejected.
Trump said China is “becoming very hostile” and is holding the world “captive” by restricting access to metals and magnets used in electronics, computer chips, lasers, jet engines and other technologies.
The Chinese Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment.
Sun Yun, director of the China program at the Stimson Center, said Beijing reacted to U.S. sanctions of Chinese companies this week and upcoming port fees targeting China-related vessels but noted room for deescalation to keep the leaders’ meeting alive. “It is a disproportional reaction,” Sun said. “Beijing feels that deescalation will have to be mutual as well. There is room for maneuver, especially on the implementation.”
Trump said the move on rare earths was “especially inappropriate” given the announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza so remaining hostages from Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack can be released. He raised the possibility without evidence that China was trying to steal the moment from him for his role in the ceasefire, saying on social media, “I wonder if that timing was coincidental?”
There is already a backlog of export license applications from Beijing’s previous round of export controls on rare earth elements, and the latest announcements “add further complexity to the global supply chain of rare earth elements,” the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China said in a statement.
Gracelin Baskaran, director of the Critical Minerals Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said China signaled it is open to negotiations but also holds leverage because it dominates the market for rare earths with seventy percent of mining and ninety-three percent of production of permanent magnets made from them that are crucial to high-tech products and the military.
“These restrictions undermine our ability to develop our industrial base at a time when we need to. And then second, it’s a powerful negotiating tool,” she said. The restrictions can hurt efforts to strengthen the U.S. military amid global tensions because rare earths are needed for defense applications.
The outbreak of a tariff-fueled trade war between the United States and China initially caused the world economy to shudder over the possibility of global commerce collapsing. Trump imposed tariffs totaling one hundred forty-five percent on Chinese goods, with China responding with import taxes of one hundred twenty-five percent on American products.
The taxes were so high as to effectively constitute a blockade on trade between the countries. That led to negotiations that reduced the tariff charged by the U.S. government to thirty percent and the rate imposed by China to ten percent so further talks could take place. The relief those lower rates provided could now disappear with the new import taxes Trump threatened, likely raising the stakes not only of whether Trump and Xi meet but also of how any disputes are resolved.
Differences continue over American access to rare earths from China, U.S. restrictions on China’s ability to import advanced computer chips, sales of American-grown soybeans and a series of reciprocal port fees being levied by both countries starting Tuesday.
Nebraska Republican Representative Don Bacon said “China has not been a fair-trade partner for years,” but the Trump administration should have anticipated China’s restrictions on rare earths and refusal to buy American soybeans in response to the tariffs.
Wendy Cutler, senior vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute, said Trump’s post shows the fragility of the détente between the two countries and it remains unclear whether the two sides are willing to de-escalate to save the bilateral meeting.
Cole McFaul, a research fellow at Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology, said Trump appeared in his post to be readying for talks on the possibility that China had overplayed its hand. By contrast, China sees itself as having come out ahead when the two countries have engaged in talks.
“From Beijing’s point of view, they’re in a moment where they’re feeling a lot of confidence about their ability to handle the Trump administration,” McFaul said. “Their impression is they’ve come to the negotiating table and extracted key concessions.”
Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, said Trump’s post could “mark the beginning of the end of the tariff truce” that had lowered the tax rates charged by both countries.
It remains unclear how Trump intends to follow through on his threats and how China plans to respond.
“But the risk is clear: Mutually assured disruption between the two sides is no longer a metaphor,” Singleton said. “Both sides are reaching for their economic weapons at the same time, and neither seems willing to back down.”
