Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’Ibnul Hasan Dhaka University's decision to restrict external vehicle access during specific hours has sparked widespread frustration among the city's residents as the new rules, limiting vehicle entry from 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekdays and from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM on weekends, coincide with peak traffic hours, amplifying Dhaka's already critical congestion issues. The recent decision of Dhaka University to restrict entry for external vehicles from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on workdays and from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on weekends and holidays has raised a storm of frustration across Dhaka. While the university may have had security or logistical reasons for this restriction, the timing of this decision is problematic as it clashes with peak hours for traffic, when the public most urgently depends on these roads. This move does not only affect Dhaka universities’ students and faculty; it impacts daily commuters, emergency services, and local businesses, further exacerbating the already strained traffic conditions in the capital. The hours of the restriction fall within some of the busiest periods in Dhaka's daily traffic cycle. From 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on workdays, people are returning home from work, children are leaving schools, and many essential services operate. Similarly, the weekend restrictions from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. overlap with the time when families are heading out for errands or entertainment, adding an additional layer of congestion and inconvenience. The no-entry timing for vehicles during peak hours exacerbates the already critical traffic-jams that characterize Dhaka. It is bound to cause sullen bottlenecks in nearby areas, considering the DU roads are key transit routes for thousands of commuters every day, with few routes to divert. Closing this route during peak hours neglects the needs of smooth traffic flow for the general population of Dhaka. Dhaka is notorious for traffic gridlocks, and this is adding to it. The streets around DU are vital and connect major parts of the city, like business centers, hospitals, and educational institutions. It is blocking the access to thousands in critical times, which turns out to be a critical issue for people who depend on these routes to find their way across the jammed roads of Dhaka. This is leading to disgruntlement among the commoners. Also, restrictions that impact basic transport like buses and rickshaws mean disturbances to this essential manner of movement of people around Dhaka. The drivers in Dhaka-one of the world's most jammed cities-make difficult lives more unbearable for drivers in an effort to take their passengers where they are supposed to be taken to. The new rules also affect emergency vehicles, which may be caught up in traffic and hence reach hospitals or accident sites late, putting lives at risk. Several ambulances have been witnessed stuck in the traffic caused by these restrictions, further putting the lives of those in urgent need of medical attention in danger. This oversight could have serious consequences for individuals requiring immediate medical intervention, as timely response is critical in emergencies. The decision to close off public roads without consideration for the wide-ranging effects of such a decision demonstrates a serious lack of vision and inability to balance the needs within the university with those in the larger community. Such a decision reflects not only a lack of sensitivity on the part of the university administration but also a failure of values that a university of excellence, like DU, should be upholding-social responsibility, empathy, and collective thinking. One would have expected students of such a prestigious institution to have considered the public good and devise a more pragmatic solution, rather than resort to a move that would exacerbate an already problematic traffic situation. While it is clear that the university's administration has its reasons for tightening security or controlling traffic, the solution of restricting external vehicles at these times seems to be without much awareness of its effects on the general public. There are other ways of ensuring campus security and improving the university's internal logistics without causing huge disruption in the city's movement. DU could limit access to high-security zones - specific areas like dormitories, academic buildings, and faculty offices - without keeping the entire campus out of reach for all vehicles. These roads can be kept open for the general public since they are quite essential for the general traffic flow of the city. Similar to other major institutions worldwide, DU could have introduced technology like scanning devices or access-controlled gates for students and staff to enter restricted zones on campus, without disrupting public traffic flow. The university could have worked with city authorities to find a solution that balances security concerns with the needs of commuters. This could include establishing drop-off points or adjusting traffic signals to mitigate any adverse effects of the restrictions. While this might be within Dhaka University's mandate, either to improve security or streamline traffic within its campus, the timing is highly unfortunate for the general public on account of certain restrictions against the flow of traffic along public roads. The closing of such strategic routes, especially during rush hours of traffic, simply shows indifference to the welfare of society at large. Instead of blanket restrictions, DU could have implemented more targeted solutions that preserve the flow of traffic while addressing its own security needs. Dhaka's residents, who are already fighting daily traffic nightmares, deserved better than this ill-thought-out measure. Moreover, the delays brought about by these restrictions are not just an inconvenience; they are potentially life-threatening. Ambulances caught in the jam due to the closures vividly bring into focus that such decisions can have serious, even fatal consequences. This decision is certainly disappointing coming from the students of Dhaka University, which is regarded as one of the best educational institutions in Bangladesh. As a university that should set an example, it was crucial for them to consider the broader social impacts of their actions and come up with a more balanced solution. For the well-being of all people in Dhaka, it would be beneficial for the university to revisit its approach, ensuring that both campus security and public welfare are given the attention they deserve. The writer is a final-year law student at University of Asia Pacific, with an interest in labor rights and economic development.
In its edition of 100 years ago this week, the Darlington & Stockton Times suggested they plump for "the beauty of the umbrella". The umbrella had, of course, been around since time immemorial – the Oxford English Dictionary says that the first use of the Latin word meaning "shade" in the English language was in 1611 – but advances in materials and folding technology meant that 100 years ago, it was affordable to all, and there was quite an industry of "umbrella doctors" keeping them well serviced and watertight. From a postcard advertising the "smart, stylish and sophisticated... Chris LloydThe Los Angeles Chargers activated running back J.K. Dobbins from injured reserve on Friday. Dobbins is formally listed as questionable but figures to be the team's top running threat for Saturday's road game against the New England Patriots. Teammate Gus Edwards (ankle) was ruled out Thursday. Dobbins has missed the past four games since sustaining a knee injury against the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 25. He was a full practice participant Thursday before receiving the questionable label. The injury-prone Dobbins was enjoying a solid season prior to the knee ailment, with 766 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground and 28 receptions for 134 yards in 11 games. His career high for rushing yardage is 805 for the Ravens in 2020. Dobbins' return comes with the Chargers (9-6) just one win from clinching an AFC wild-card playoff spot. Los Angeles also elevated safeties Eddie Jackson and Kendall Williamson from the practice squad. --Field Level Media
BRUSSELS (AP) – Even before the French and German governments collapsed, Europe’s economy had enough difficulties. An auto industry that’s struggling. Where to find billions for defence? And now Donald Trump threatening tariffs. Solutions will be harder to find. Where once there was the so-called French-German axis to push Europe ahead, now there’s a vacuum. French Prime Minister Michel Barnier resigned on Thursday after losing a vote of confidence, and while President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a successor, the new head of government will lack a majority. Elections are not constitutionally permitted until at least June. Germany’s coalition led by Social Democratic Chancellor Olaf Scholz with the Greens and pro-business Free Democrats fractured in November, triggering an early election on February 23. Talks to form a new government could last into April. At least Germany’s likely new chancellor, conservative opposition leader Friedrich Merz, appears open to loosening constitutional restrictions on borrowing to enable pro-growth spending and investment, said managing director Europe at Eurasia Group Mujtaba Rahman. France, however, could be facing “complete paralysis on the economic question,” Rahman said. “It’s highly unlikely they’re going to get a political equilibrium that has a mandate to implement a credible fiscal course correction.” “And that’s obviously a problem for Europe because it means the great potential of the European economy is not what it otherwise should be, because you don’t have France and Germany firing on all cylinders,” he said. Then there’s Europe’s lagging business environment, dissected by former European Central Bank head Mario Draghi in a report that contains recommendations such as common borrowing to support public investment; European Union (EU)-wide industrial policy; and integrating financial markets to help startups raise capital. Yet “nothing can move in Europe without Franco-German alignment,” Rahman said. Meanwhile, Europe’s auto industry has sought a review of tough EU emissions standards in 2025 instead of 2026, saying slackening demand for electric cars means they won’t be able to avoid heavy fines and that the money would be better used to develop new electric vehicles. French economist and head of research at the National Center for Scientific Research Anne-Laure Delatte said financial markets remain cautious but are not overly alarmed by France’s political instability. But economic weakness in France and Germany could have broader implications for the EU. “This could either weaken Europe’s position globally or shift power and influence to other European countries like the Netherlands or Spain, which are performing well at the moment,” she said. France is expected to see growth of 1.1 per cent this year and 0.8 per cent next year, while Germany’s economy is expected to shrink 0.1 per cent this year, the second consecutive year of contraction, and rebound modestly with 0.7 per cent next year. Germany faces headwinds from a shortage of skilled labour, excessive bureaucracy and higher energy prices, and efforts to address those issues have been stalled by squabbling in Scholz’s coalition. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is equipped with serious powers, especially on trade, a key EU authority delegated to Brussels by member countries. But there’s only so much von der Leyen can do without political backing from the two biggest member countries, whose national budgets are bigger than the EU’s. The most urgent matter may be how to respond to US President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office on January 20. European officials are trying to defuse a potential trade conflict involving new US tariffs or import taxes on European goods that would seriously ding the continent’s export-focused economy. Europe could decide not to retaliate to any US tariffs, thus avoiding a mutually destructive tit-for-tat cycle. The bloc could also commit to buying US liquefied natural gas to mollify Trump, or spend billions more on defence for Ukraine to answer his complaint that European countries don’t meet NATO commitments on defence spending. Europe is seeing only modest growth as consumers pummeled by inflation remain cautious about spending. The economy is expected to expand 0.8 per cent this year and 1.3 per cent next year for the 20 EU member countries that use the euro currency, according to the European Commission. While the direct impact on growth is small, the political logjam means Europe is missing an important opportunity to engage Trump, said chief economist at Berenberg Bank Holger Schmieding. “It would be ideal if Europe – at the moment when Trump is not yet in office – would prepare a big offer for Trump, such as: We spend significantly more on defence, if on trade and on Ukraine you don’t disappoint us. This is unfortunately not happening.” “The risk is that Trump on trade might be tougher on us than otherwise because Germany and France are missing in action,” he said. Von der Leyen can offer to get countries to purchase more US natural gas and remind Trump that the EU could retaliate, but “the offer that Europe can make to Trump is small, rather than a big offer where there would be German and French money behind it.” The EU commission estimates that as much as EUR500 billion (USD528 billion) will be needed over the next decade to help meet the bloc’s security needs. Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has indicated common defence bonds could raise that enormous sum. But moving ahead without Germany, the bloc’s biggest member, is hard to imagine. The big issues such as defence and competitiveness “require the fiscal and parliamentary resources of the biggest member states and the question is whether Germany and France are in a position to enable that at the European level,” said Rahman. “I think the answer is probably yes, but I feel a bit less certain than I would have had Germany and France not had this very difficult political time.”The Reform UK leader pushed back against reports suggesting that legal action would be the next step, saying he would make a decision in the next couple of days about his response if there is no apology for the “crazy conspiracy theory”. Mr Farage also said the party has “opened up our systems” to media outlets, including The Daily Telegraph and The Financial Times, in the interests of “full transparency to verify that our numbers are correct”. His remarks came after Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch accused Mr Farage of “fakery” in response to Reform claiming they had surpassed the Tories in signed-up members. Mrs Badenoch said Reform’s counter was “coded to tick up automatically”. A digital counter on the Reform website showed a membership tally before lunchtime on Boxing Day ticking past the 131,680 figure declared by the Conservative Party during its leadership election earlier this year. Mr Farage, on whether he was threatening legal action or not, told the PA news agency: “I haven’t threatened anything. I’ve just said that unless I get an apology, I will take some action. “I haven’t said whether it’s legal or anything.” He added: “All I’ve said is I want an apology. If I don’t get an apology, I will take action. “I will decide in the next couple of days what that is. So I’ve not specified what it is.” Mr Farage, on the move to make membership data available to media organisations, said: “We feel our arguments are fully validated. “She (Mrs Badenoch) has put out this crazy conspiracy theory and she needs to apologise.” The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News & FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. I am now demanding apologises. — Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) On why Mrs Badenoch had reacted as she did, Mr Farage said: “I would imagine she was at home without anybody advising her and was just angry.” Mr Farage, in a statement issued on social media site X, also said: “The accusations of fraud and dishonesty made against me yesterday were disgraceful. “Today we opened up our systems to The Telegraph, Spectator, Sky News and FT in the interests of full transparency to verify that our data is correct. “I am now demanding Kemi Badenoch apologises.” A Conservative Party source claimed Mr Farage was “rattled” that his Boxing Day “publicity stunt is facing serious questions”. They added: “Like most normal people around the UK, Kemi is enjoying Christmas with her family and looking forward to taking on the challenges of renewing the Conservative Party in the New Year.” Mrs Badenoch, in a series of messages posted on X on Thursday, said: “Farage doesn’t understand the digital age. This kind of fakery gets found out pretty quickly, although not before many are fooled.” There were 131,680 Conservative members eligible to vote during the party’s leadership election to replace Rishi Sunak in the autumn. Mrs Badenoch claimed in her thread that “the Conservative Party has gained thousands of new members since the leadership election”. Elsewhere, Mr Farage described Elon Musk as a “bloody hero” and said he believes the US billionaire can help attract younger voters to Reform. Tech entrepreneur Mr Musk met Mr Farage earlier this month at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, amid rumours of a possible donation to either Mr Farage or Reform. Mr Farage told The Daily Telegraph newspaper: “The shades, the bomber jacket, the whole vibe. Elon makes us cool – Elon is a huge help to us with the young generation, and that will be the case going on and, frankly, that’s only just starting. “Reform only wins the next election if it gets the youth vote. The youth vote is the key. Of course, you need voters of all ages, but if you get a wave of youth enthusiasm you can change everything. “And I think we’re beginning to get into that zone – we were anyway, but Elon makes the whole task much, much easier. And the idea that politics can be cool, politics can be fun, politics can be real – Elon helps us with that mission enormously.”
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The International Criminal Court's decision on Thursday to issue arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant – along with a similar warrant for the presumed-dead Hamas leader Mohammed Deif – marks a significant legal, diplomatic and political turning point for Israel.
New York state government to monitor its use of AI under a new lawPointing fingers: How politicians and cops blamed victims, passed the buck in 2024O n November 5th as the US elections results were being announced the Caribbean watched, knowing that the results would have significant implications for our future. Of course, ‘if America coughs, the Caribbean catches the cold.’ But, as it was clear that Donald Trump had won the US Presidency, Caribbean people now started to question what it would mean for us and the stability or instability of the global international order. As such, what will Trump 2.0 mean for the Caribbean? Climate Change You Might Be Interested In Shoring up good ideas I resolve to... Wellness for life: The importance of self-care While we don’t know for certain what policies the Trump administration will pursue internally on climate change in light of increased climate-related disasters across the US, and the fact that the Inflation Reduction Act has continued to pour over $390 billion into EVs, and other climate resilient technologies, which have created millions of jobs and other benefits to Republican affiliated states. These may all disappear if he repeals sections of the Act. However, If this has impacts during the midterm elections, he may not be as keen to repeal. But his global actions will have disastrous impacts for the Caribbean, particularly since he has promised to withdraw the US again from the Paris Agreement, and possibly to withdraw from the UNFCCC , which is the multilateral framework for the reduction of CO2 in the world, and which also provides financial and technical assistance for developing countries like the Caribbean to mitigate climate change through a shift to renewable energy, and to adapt to its impacts and respond to the loss and damage it creates. When these are coupled with his denial of the existence of climate change as a ‘hoax’ , and his intention to ‘ drill baby bill’ and ‘frack, frack, frack’, like never before, increasing the fossil fuel stock of the US, which some have suggested would not only roll back the gains by President Biden, but contribute an estimated 4 billion tons of additional CO2 emissions by 2030 and 25 billion tons by 2050, then these increases would significantly increase the vulnerability of the Caribbean to extreme weather events, more ferocious hurricanes, devastating droughts and floods, and deadly heatwaves, which can continue to plummet our GDPs, increase poverty, destroy infrastructure and roll back any gains made in our climate recovery processes. As we know, our Caribbean countries are low-lying and heavily exposed to rising sea levels, which erodes coastlines, and displaces populations and industries. Any withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, which is meant to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs), will increase the emissions of these gases, thereby exacerbating the climate crisis and affecting our ability to protect lives and livelihoods. Of course, it is a no brainer that with warmer ocean temperatures that increase the intensity and ferocity of our hurricanes, the US exit will increase the levels of financial and technical support needed to bolster the climate recovery effort. Such an exit is even more egregious when you add the fact that the US, together with the other developed countries, are the ones that have created this existential climate crisis. The Caribbean may unfortunately be in for some hotter months, longer droughts and more devastating floods. What is needed now is not an increase in GHGs, which fuels the extreme weather patterns, which Trump promises, but a radical decarbonisation of the US and other global economies. Caribbean leaders should therefore be prepared to dialogue with the president on these critical issues, but also to engage other European counterparts to step up and not bend over backwards to try and mould the climate regime around the vagaries of the US political currents. These countries, together with China, must now play leading roles in reducing the climate crisis. This is not to suggest however that when the US exits, the climate movement is ‘trumped’, but it is only morally appropriate that due to their overwhelming historical and current contributions to global greenhouse gas emissions, that the US contribute towards reducing the effects on developing countries. Additionally, they must meet their financial obligation, not just to the USD$100 billion per annum that was promised from 2020 by developed countries, but to a higher New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) on Climate Finance. It is one thing to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, like Trump did during his first presidency, but it is another thing entirely to commit to increasing greenhouse gas emissions by expanding oil and gas exploration, given the severe impacts that Caribbean and other SIDS are already experiencing from the climate crisis. Immigration Trump’s immigration policy, according to him, would see the largest domestic deportation operation in human history of millions of illegal immigrants. For the Caribbean, and Haiti in particular, this is troubling, because Trump’s inward-looking policies will devastatingly affect all who flee from war, climate crises, strife, political upheavals and the collapse of their states in search for a better life or the American dream, which has sustained the economic prosperity of America. This use of excessive force against already vulnerable and marginalised populations is testament of Trump’s disregard for human dignity and rights. Of course, it is easy for us to sit in comfort and say that ‘they should enter legally now or that they should return to their countries.’ That is a privileged position as our countries are not facing the life-threatening issues that Haiti and others do, requiring individuals to flee, as a condition of survival. Who feels it knows it! But have we for one moment considered that it is also a global responsibility to ensure integration of displaced peoples, in tandem with our humanitarian and civil rights requirements, particularly in circumstances where the US has also contributed towards this destabilisation and has an opportunity to cure these wrongs? At least in Haiti’s case for certain. But, Trump may only compound the problem, making the work of the Expert Group more difficult, if he refuses to assist, but also if he increases his Haitian animus. Remember his eating the animals’ comments, and how they were poisoning the blood of America, ignoring the diversity of America. What is even more certain is that Trump may not provide support for the improvement of the Haitian state, such that migration is an option, and not a necessity. It will also now become almost impossible to gain a legal path to citizenship, as even those who have become citizens by marrying an American citizen or their child is a birther are at risk of deportation, thereby further decreasing their quality of lives causing migration issues for the Caribbean. The implications for the Caribbean are a general sentiment of fear of migration and lack of belonging as they search for a better life, and a concomitant fear by those who voted for ‘closed borders’ of all who are not of the blood of America i.e., also Caribbean peoples. But, more directly, if there are Caribbean peoples who are ‘illegal immigrants’, working and providing remittances to their families back home, one can potentially see a massive reduction in the country’s remittances income, which contribute towards healthcare, education among other areas. The reduction will exacerbate poverty, which has wider economic impacts for the Caribbean economy. Further, there may be deeper fiscal and political strains on other Caribbean countries who would not be able to handle this sudden migration flows. The Caribbean region as a whole through their political leaders need to engage the President on the abovementioned. Foreign Aid In Trump 2.0, particularly with his isolationist ‘America First’ philosophy, there may be less pushback to aid cuts as there were in Trump 1.0, and it could mean that key developmental programmes and agencies within the Caribbean could receive less funding, particularly in areas that are not favourable to the Trump administration. It means that the Caribbean should now utilise the opportunity to forge new relationships with new nations, as opposed to confining itself to looking North. Trade Trump will seek to reduce the US Trade deficit, ensuring manufacturing jobs stay within the US, and there’s a baseline global tariff for imports. That has the potential to affect Caribbean exports to the US, making it more difficult through stricter trade regulations. Should there also be a modification of the CBI, which provides certain duty-free access to the US market, in favour of US production, it could also reduce the competitive advantage of Caribbean goods in US markets. But, recognising the large trade deficit with the US, the Caribbean poses no real threat to US jobs, and its beneficial nature to US industry might prove helpful to its continuation. In the end, Caribbean leaders and people should never see the election of Donald Trump as far removed from impacting the Caribbean region but heed the words of Rudder when he said that they’re trying to pass all laws to spoil our beauty, but in the end we shall prevail. We must take a side or be lost in the rubble, in a divided world that don’t need islands no more. Are we doomed forever to be at somebody’s mercy, little keys can open up mighty doors. Rally! Rahym Augustin-Joseph is the 2025 Commonwealth Caribbean Rhodes Scholar. He is a recent political science graduate from the UWI Cave Hill Campus and an aspiring attorney-at-law. He can be reached via rahymrjoseph9@ gmail.com
10-20 cm of snow expected in Ottawa starting Monday
By Fabio Teixeira RIO DE JANEIRO, - The 163 Chinese workers found by Brazil's labor ministry in what it described as "slavery-like conditions" at a factory construction site owned by Chinese electric vehicle producer BYD have been removed and taken to hotels, while officials negotiate with BYD and the Jinjiang Group about further measures to protect them, authorities said. The growing controversy in the automaker's biggest overseas market has put a spotlight on immigrant worker conditions in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. A deal with labor prosecutors involving BYD and the Jinjiang Group could be inked as soon as Jan. 7, when they are scheduled to meet. Earlier this week, the labor prosecutor's office described the workers, who had been hired by Chinese construction firm Jinjiang Group, as human trafficking victims. The firm had withheld the passports of 107 of the workers, investigators said. Investigations into slavery can carry powerful consequences for employers in Brazil, including a restriction on their access to bank loans. Jinjiang has denied any wrongdoing, while BYD said it had cut ties with Jinjiang. Both companies are collaborating with authorities on the investigation. Jinjiang said, in a social media post reposted by a BYD spokesperson, that describing the workers' conditions as "slavery-like" was inaccurate, while a BYD executive said media and other groups were "deliberately smearing Chinese brands and the country and undermining the relationship between China and Brazil." If the two companies are charged by labor inspectors with submitting workers to slavery-like conditions, they could be added to Brazil's so-called "dirty list" - a public listing of employers found liable for such charges. While the names of companies are only added to the list after all possibility of appeal is exhausted, which can take years, once a company is included it would stay there for two years. Beyond the substantial reputation risk the "dirty list" carries, companies in it are also barred from obtaining certain types of loans from Brazilian banks. Companies can avoid being included on the "dirty list" by signing a deal with the government committing to change their practices and compensate workers whose rights were abused. Companies and executives are also subject to legal action. Prosecutors who monitor labor affairs can sue companies that are found to have abused workers' rights, unless they agree to pay damages to the Brazilian government and to victims. Separately, federal prosecutors may also pursue criminal charges against executives. Charges of human trafficking and keeping workers in slavery-like conditions carry sentences of up to eight years in prison each. Federal prosecutors have already asked labor authorities to share the evidence they have gathered against BYD and the Jinjiang Group, according to a Thursday statement from the Labor Prosecutor's Office. NEGOTIATIONS BEGIN Labor inspectors are now negotiating with the companies for compensation for the workers whose rights they believe were abused. That could include payment for missed wages and severance. The workers will also receive unemployment benefits. "The efforts of the government bodies at this time are focused on the victims and guaranteeing the victims' rights," said Mauricio Krepsky, a former head of Brazil's Division of Inspection for the Eradication of Slave Labor , a government body staffed by labor inspectors. Victims of human trafficking can choose to stay in Brazil or go back to their home countries, said Ludmila Paiva, co-founder of I-MiGRa, a non-profit that develops projects and research on human trafficking. During a meeting on Thursday, BYD has labor prosecutor's office.already agreed to purchase tickets and cover up to $120 in travel expenses for the return trip to China of seven employees scheduled to return on Jan. 1, according to a statement from Brazil's Negotiations between labor authorities and companies that are suspected of submitting workers to degrading conditions can take months to come, depending on the complexity of the case, the number of victims involved and whether the firms cooperate with authorities or not, experts told Reuters. If the firms are charged, it could still take years for their names to be added to the list, as companies can appeal internally to the government or file lawsuits to keep their names out of the registry. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.The ( ) share price continued growing through 2024, delivering 100% growth over 12 months. As the company continues its transformation under CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç, analysts are optimistic about its prospects, citing strong earnings growth and improved profitability. In fact, from its low point around 26 months ago, it’s hard to imagine how things could have gone better. However, challenges such as high valuation metrics and market volatility could temper expectations. With key factors like travel demand and defence spending playing crucial roles, the outlook for Rolls-Royce remains intriguing as investors weigh the possibilities of sustained momentum against potential valuation concerns. Valuation concerns might not be justified Concerns about Rolls-Royce’s valuation might not be justified. While the company trades ahead of its long-term EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) ratio, this metric has been historically low due to past issues, including efficiency and the pandemic. Rolls-Royce has emerged from recent challenges more cost-efficient and significantly deleveraged — having an improving debt position — with strong prospects in its end markets. The company’s successful turnaround and growth potential support a positive outlook among management and with analysts projecting continued strong EBITDA growth through 2026. In other words, the company’s foundations are strong and the business is growing. Free cash flow is also expected to continuing growing, albeit at a slower rate than over the last year due to higher capital expenditure for long-term growth positioning. Growth comes at a premium As investors, we’re typically willing to pay a premium for companies that promise to grow earnings. Sometimes, that premium can be a little extreme — , , and could be examples of where the growth premium is simply too high. However, Rolls-Royce’s growth-oriented metrics are much more palatable. The stock is currently trading at 35 , but the company is expected to grow earnings annually by 30% over the medium term. This gives us a (PEG) ratio of 1.18. This PEG ratio might be above the traditional fair value benchmark of one, but valuation metrics are always relative. It’s cheaper than peers, and Rolls operates in sectors with very higher barriers to entry. Given these factors, a peer group valuation suggests the stock is trading between 30% and 50% below its competitors based on forecasted earnings for the next two years. This indicates that current valuation concerns may be overstated, considering Rolls-Royce’s improved fundamentals and future growth platforms. The bottom line Investors should be cautious about Rolls-Royce due to ongoing aerospace supply chain challenges that affect working capital efficiency, output, and new airplane deliveries. These issues can potentially reduce engine flying hours and impact the company’s long-term services agreement business. Despite this, management and analysts remain confident in the company’s ability to continue delivering growth and value for investors. If the company continue to exceed quarterly growth expectations, I’d thoroughly expect it to push higher. If I didn’t already have healthy exposure to this engineering giant, I’d consider buying more.
The naira has depreciated in value against the United States dollar in the foreign exchange markets. New official data shows that the Nigerian currency dropped marginally by 0.12%, while in the black market naira fell by just N5 The administration of President Tinubu expects the naira to close 2025 at a new exchange rate of N1,500 PAY ATTENTION: Follow our WhatsApp channel to never miss out on the news that matters to you! Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of business journalism experience with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy , stocks, and general market trends. The value of Nigerian currency marginally declined against the US Dollar in the official and unofficial foreign exchange markets. Data from the FMDQ securities showed that the naira in the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM) closed at N1,541.68/$1 on Friday, December 20. Friday's exchange rate represents 0.02% or 30 Kobo drop in contrast to Thursday’s closing price of N1,541.38/$1. PAY ATTENTION: Follow us on Instagram - get the most important news directly in your favourite app! The naira's decline follows the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) granting Bureaux de Change (BDC) operators access to the official market for 50 days in an effort to ease some of the pressure. Read also Naira’s value rises against US dollar in official market, nears Tinubu's target for 2025 Legit.ng reported that on Friday, the apex announced that BDC operators would have access to FX at the official market from December 19, 2024, to January 30, 2025. There is a weekly cap of $25,000 , with transactions requiring upfront funding at prevailing rates must follow a maximum of 1 per cent spread. Naira against pound, euro There is good news for the naira against the British pound sterling and the euro in the official market. The CBN data showed that the naira appreciated yesterday by N6.46 to trade at N1,929.77/£1 compared with the previous day’s N1,936.23/£1. While against the euro, the Nigerian currency depreciated by N60.21 to quote at N1,597.64/€1 versus N1,537.43/€1. Meanwhile, in the parallel market, traders told Legit.ng that the naira depreciated against the dollar. Abdulahhi a BDC trader told Legit.ng: "I sold the dollar at N1,655/$1 on Friday to my customers, a N5 increase from yesterday's rate of N1,650. Read also Fuel price expected to change as petrol landing cost drops again The market is a bit calm for us, but we are managing to source and sell." CBN naira against other foreign currencies exchange rates US Dollar: N1536.93 Pounds Sterling: N1929.77 Euro: N1597.64 Swiss Franc: N1718.20 Yen: N9.82 CFA: N2.44 Riyal: N408.97 Danish Krona: N214.14 Yuan/Renminbi: N210.60 South African Rand: N83.58 Report predicts new exchange rates for naira Ealier, Legit.ng reported that the new report from Meristem Security Limited has predicted that the naira will close the year at N1,690.32 per dollar in the official window In the report, Meristem expressed worry that the forex demand during Christmas would increase. A similar prediction by BMI analysis said the naira is expected to depreciate to N1,993 per dollar by 2028. PAY ATTENTION: Сheck out news that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” block on the home page and enjoy! Source: Legit.ng(Bloomberg) -- Voters in Indonesia’s capital choose its next governor Wednesday in an early test for President Prabowo Subianto after he took office last month. The election pits Prabowo’s candidate, former West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil, against the opposition pick, former cabinet secretary Pramono Anung, for control of a metropolis that accounts for about a fifth of the country’s economic output. Whoever wins will face a range of challenges including traffic congestion, pollution and the fact that the city of more than 11 million people is sinking. The new governor may even preside over a defining moment in Jakarta’s history, when it relinquishes its duties as Indonesia’s seat of government to a new city being built in the rainforests of Borneo more than 1,200 kilometers (750 miles) away. The role is a career-maker in Indonesia, a stepping stone to becoming the president of the archipelago that spans three time zones and more than 17,000 islands. The race remains wide open. The latest opinion poll showed Ridwan falling behind Pramono for the first time, but about a quarter of voters have yet to decide who they’ll choose. A run-off is likely, with neither of the top two candidates set to get more than 50% of the vote. Initial results are expected from 3 p.m. The Jakarta contest is the most prominent of local elections taking place in 37 provinces across Indonesia. It’s also one of the first chances for voters to register their level of support for Prabowo after he became Indonesia’s eighth president in late October following a landslide victory in a February election. Prabowo, who’s allied with his predecessor, Joko Widodo, is seeking to further consolidate power after forming a coalition government that controls some 80% of national parliament seats. The former general has set out ambitious targets ranging from achieving 8% annual growth in the next few years to carrying out a $30 billion free lunch program for schoolchildren. Controlling the island of Java, which counts Jakarta as its biggest city, is key to the success of those policies since more than half the country’s population lives there. If Prabowo’s candidates lose in Jakarta and Central Java, investors may sell Indonesian stocks, according to Lionel Priyadi, a macro strategist at Mega Capital Indonesia, a brokerage based in Jakarta. Defeats could “make the implementation of Prabowo’s programs more complicated because of stronger political resistance,” Priyadi said. Foreign investors pulled about $1.5 billion from the Indonesian stock and bond markets after Donald Trump won the US election on a campaign that included a vow to impose blanket tariffs. The rupiah has fallen about 1.5% against the dollar this month, while the benchmark Jakarta Composite Index of shares has lost roughly 4%. Prabowo’s predecessor, Widodo, popularly known as Jokowi, was Jakarta governor for two years before he became president in 2014. Jokowi then sought to shift the capital to Borneo and rename it Nusantara, as part of his legacy and to redistribute wealth across the sprawling archipelago. But the multibillion dollar project remains a work in progress, with most transport links and buildings far from complete. Prabowo has pledged to see the project through, saying he wants key facilities in Nusantara to be finished in the next four years. In the past few weeks, the Jakarta governor candidates have been presenting their visions for the megacity that remains an economic powerhouse in Southeast Asia. Prabowo’s candidate, Ridwan, has promised to cut red tape to attract investors, build a Disneyland off Jakarta’s coast and continue with land reclamation projects. Pramono, who’s backed by the opposition Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle, has vowed to invest in training Jakarta’s workforce, start a $3 billion fund to finance projects in the city and push ahead with plans to construct a giant sea wall. “The systems in Jakarta are already running, but whoever wins, the challenge is to improve the quality,” said D. Nicky Fahrizal, a researcher at the Jakarta-based think tank the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Jakarta can be as busy as New York but will it be comfortable? Or will Jakarta have clean air like Singapore?” --With assistance from Norman Harsono. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com ©2024 Bloomberg L.P.
FOUR players from the Emerald Isle will be playing on the PGA Tour in 2025. Rory McIlroy , Shane Lowry and Seamus Power will be joined by Tom McKibbin on the US based tour for the upcoming season. Holywood native McKibbin earned his status after claiming the final tour card in the DP World Tour end-of-season order of merit. Four-time major winner McIlroy and his Ryder Cup team-mate Shane Lowry, finished T9 in the 2024 Fedex Cup standings. Waterford ace Power had a mediocre season after numerous injuries halted his momentum after a decent start to the 2024 calendar year. The 2025 campaign also sees the launch of Tiger Woods and Rory Mc Ilroy's high-tech TGL golf league - separate from the PGA Tour. The full list of the four majors has been confirmed too, there will also be eight Signature tournaments on the PGA Tour's rota. And the first tournament of the season will see Kapalua play host to the first elevated event of the year with a $20 million purse up for grabs in Hawaii. The season gets underway in just two weeks time. Sunsport delves into the dates, purse and past winners ahead of the new season that is sure to be an exciting one. JAN 2 - 5 The Sentry Plantation Course at Kapalua Kapalua, Maui, HI • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Chris Kirk ($3,600,000) JAN 9 - 12 Sony Open in Hawaii Waialae Country Club Honolulu, HI • USA Purse : $8,700,000 FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Grayson Murray ($1,494,000) JAN 16 - 19 The American Express Pete Dye Stadium Course La Quinta, CA • USA Purse : $8,800,000 FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Nick Dunlap JAN 22 - 25 Farmers Insurance Open Torrey Pines Golf Course (South Course) San Diego, CA • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Matthieu Pavon ($1,620,000) JAN 30 - FEB 2 AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am Pebble Beach Golf Links Pebble Beach, CA • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Wyndham Clark ($3,600,000) FEB 6 - 9 WM Phoenix Open TPC Scottsdale (Stadium Course) Scottsdale, AZ • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Nick Taylor ($1,584,000) FEB 13 - 16 The Genesis Invitational The Riviera Country Club Pacific Palisades, CA • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Hideki Matsuyama ($4,000,000) FEB 20 - 23 Mexico Open at VidantaWorld VidantaWorld Vallarta • MEX Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Jake Knapp ($1,458,000) FEB 27 - MAR 2 Cognizant Classic in The Palm Beaches PGA National Resort (The Champion Course) Palm Beach Gardens, FL • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Austin Eckroat ($1,620,000) MAR 6 - 9 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard Arnold Palmer's Bay Hill Club & Lodge Orlando, FL • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($4,000,000) MAR 13 - 16 THE PLAYERS Championship TPC Sawgrass (THE PLAYERS Stadium Course) Ponte Vedra Beach, FL • USA Purse : $25,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 750 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($4,500,000) MAR 20 - 23 Valspar Championship Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead Course) Palm Harbor, FL • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Peter Malnati ($1,512,000) MAR 27 - 30 Texas Children's Houston Open Memorial Park Golf Course Houston, TX • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Stephan Jaeger ($1,638,000) APR 3 - 6 Valero Texas Open TPC San Antonio (Oaks Course) San Antonio, TX • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Akshay Bhatia ($1,656,000) APR 10 - 13 Masters Tournament Augusta National Golf Club Augusta, GA • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 750 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($3,600,000) APR 17 - 20 RBC Heritage Harbour Town Golf Links Hilton Head Island, SC • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($3,600,000) APR 24 - 27 Zurich Classic of New Orleans TPC Louisiana Avondale, LA • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 400 pts Previous Winner : Rory McIlroy, Shane Lowry ($1,286,050) MAY 1 - 4 THE CJ CUP Byron Nelson TPC Craig Ranch McKinney, TX • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Taylor Pendrith ($1,710,000) MAY 8 - 11 Truist Championship The Philadelphia Cricket Club (Wissahickon Course) Philadelphia, PA • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Rory McIlroy ($3,600,000) MAY 8 - 11 Myrtle Beach Classic Dunes Golf and Beach Club Myrtle Beach, SC • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 300 pts Previous Winner : Chris Gotterup ($720,000) MAY 15 - 18 PGA Championship Quail Hollow Club Charlotte, NC • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 750 pts Previous Winner : Xander Schauffele ($3,330,000) MAY 22 - 25 Charles Schwab Challenge Colonial Country Club Fort Worth, TX • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Davis Riley ($1,638,000) MAY 29 - JUN 1 The Memorial Tournament presented by Workday Muirfield Village Golf Club Dublin, OH • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($4,000,000) JUN 5 - 8 RBC Canadian Open TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley (North Course) Caledon, Ontario • CAN Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Robert MacIntyre ($1,692,000) JUN 12 - 15 U.S. Open Oakmont Country Club Oakmont, PA • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 750 pts Previous Winner : Bryson DeChambeau ($4,300,000) JUN 19 - 22 Travelers Championship TPC River Highlands Cromwell, CT • USA Signature Event Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 700 pts Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($3,600,000) JUN 26 - 29 Rocket Mortgage Classic Detroit Golf Club Detroit, MI • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Cam Davis ($1,656,000) JUL 3 - 6 John Deere Classic TPC Deere Run Silvis, IL • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Davis Thompson ($1,440,000) JUL 10 - 13 Genesis Scottish Open The Renaissance Club North Berwick • SCO Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Robert MacIntyre ($1,575,000) JUL 17 - 20 The Open Championship Royal Portrush Golf Club Portrush • NIR Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 750 pts Previous Winner : Xander Schauffele ($3,100,000) JUL 24 - 27 3M Open TPC Twin Cities Blaine, MN • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Jhonattan Vegas ($1,458,000) JUL 31 - AUG 3 Wyndham Championship Sedgefield Country Club Greensboro, NC • USA Purse : - FEDEXCUP : 500 pts Previous Winner : Aaron Rai ($1,422,000) AUG 7 - 10 FedEx St. Jude Championship TPC Southwind Memphis, TN • USA Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 2,000 pts Previous Winner : Hideki Matsuyama ($3,600,000) AUG 14 - 17 BMW Championship Caves Valley Golf Club Owings Mills, MD • USA Purse : $20,000,000 FEDEXCUP : 2,000 pts Previous Winner : Keegan Bradley ($3,600,000) AUG 21 - 24 TOUR Championship East Lake Golf Club Atlanta, GA • USA Purse : - Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler SEP 11 - 14 Procore Championship Silverado Resort (North Course) Napa, CA • USA Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Patton Kizzire ($1,080,000) SEP 26 - 28 Ryder Cup Bethpage State Park (Black) Farmingdale, NY • USA Purse : - Previous Winner : Europe OCT 2 - 5 Sanderson Farms Championship The Country Club of Jackson Jackson, MS • USA Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Kevin Yu ($1,368,000) OCT 9 - 12 Baycurrent Classic Yokohama Country Club Yokohama • JPN Purse : $8,500,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Nico Echavarria ($1,530,000) OCT 23 - 26 Black Desert Championship Black Desert Resort Ivins, UT • USA Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Matt McCarty ($1,350,000) NOV 6 - 9 World Wide Technology Championship El Cardonal at Diamante Los Cabos • MEX Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Austin Eckroat ($1,296,000) NOV 13 - 16 Butterfield Bermuda Championship Port Royal Golf Course Southampton • BER Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Rafael Campos ($1,242,000) NOV 20 - 23 The RSM Classic Sea Island Golf Club (Seaside Course) St. Simons Island, GA • USA Purse : $6,000,000 FEDEXCUP FALL PTS : 500 pts Previous Winner : Maverick McNealy ($1,368,000) DEC 4 - 7 Hero World Challenge Albany GC Albany • BAH Purse : $5,000,000 Previous Winner : Scottie Scheffler ($1,000,000) DEC 12 - 14 Grant Thornton Invitational Tiburón Golf Club Naples, FL • USA Purse : $4,000,000 Previous Winner : Jake Knapp, Patty Tavatanakit ($500,000)The government’s new furnace and water heater rules are coming for youTrudeau, Carney push back over Trump's ongoing 51st state comments
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AP News Summary at 3:17 p.m. ESTWeeks before President-elect Donald Trump is to take office, a major rift has emerged among his supporters over immigration and the place of foreign workers in the U.S. labor market. The debate hinges on how much tolerance, if any, the incoming administration should have for skilled immigrants brought into the country on work visas. The schism pits immigration hard-liners against many of the president-elect’s most prominent backers from the technology industry — among them Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, who helped back Trump’s election efforts with more than a quarter-billion dollars, and David Sacks, a venture capitalist picked to be czar for artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency policy. The tech industry has long relied on foreign skilled workers to help run its companies, a labor supply that critics say undercuts wages for American citizens. The dispute, which late Thursday exploded online into acrimony, finger-pointing and accusations of censorship, frames a policy quandary for Trump. The president-elect has in the past expressed a willingness to provide more work visas to skilled workers, but has also promised to close the border, deploy tariffs to create more jobs for American citizens and severely restrict immigration. Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and fervent Trump loyalist, helped set off the altercation this week by criticizing Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan, an Indian American venture capitalist, to be an adviser on artificial intelligence policy. In a post, she said she was concerned that Krishnan, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in India, would have influence on the Trump administration’s immigration policies, and mentioned “third-world invaders.” “It’s alarming to see the number of career leftists who are now being appointed to serve in Trump’s admin when they share views that are in direct opposition to Trump’s America First agenda,” Loomer wrote on the social platform X, which is owned by Musk. Loomer’s comments surfaced a simmering tension between longtime Trump supporters, who embrace his virulent anti-immigrant rhetoric, and his more recently acquired backers from the tech industry, many of whom have built or financed businesses that rely on the government’s H-1B visa program to hire skilled workers from abroad. In response, Sacks called Loomer’s critiques “crude,” while Musk posted regularly this week about the lack of homegrown talent to fill all the needed positions within American technology companies. The expertise U.S. companies need “simply does not exist in America in sufficient quantity,” Musk posted Thursday, drawing a line between what he views as legal immigration and illegal immigration. Throughout the election cycle, Musk helped amplify the debunked theory that the Democratic Party was encouraging immigrants to illegally cross the border to vote, thus replacing American voters. A naturalized citizen born in South Africa, Musk has spoken out frequently against immigration, characterizing it as a threat to national sovereignty and endorsing messages calling noncitizens “invaders.” This week, however, he came out strongly in favor of H-1B visas, which are given to specialized foreign workers. Musk has said he held an H-1B before becoming a citizen, and his electric-car company, Tesla, obtained 724 of the visas this year. H-1B visas are typically for three-year periods, although holders can extend them or apply for green cards. Krishnan, Sacks and Musk did not respond to requests for comment. Loomer, reached by telephone, said she took on the visa issue because she didn’t trust the motivations of Musk and other tech magnates who helped elect Trump. She is worried, she said, that Musk, in particular, would try to use his sway to persuade the incoming president to allow more immigration rather than close the border as she and others on the right would prefer. “He’s not MAGA and he’s a drag on the Trump transition,” said Loomer, who said she believed that Musk was using his relationship with Trump to further enrich himself. “Elon wants everyone to think he’s a hero because he gave $250 million to the Trump campaign. But that’s not much of an investment if it allows him to become a trillionaire.” A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment. Trump said on a podcast co-hosted by Sacks in June that any international student who graduates from an American university “should be able to stay in this country.” The taping followed a San Francisco fundraiser for Trump’s campaign hosted by Sacks. Since then, the leaders of tech companies who rely on skilled foreign labor, including Mark Zuckerberg of Meta, Jeff Bezos of Amazon and Sundar Pichai of Google, have wooed Trump with calls, visits to Mar-a-Lago — Trump’s resort in Palm Beach, Florida — and donations for his inauguration. That’s a different dynamic from Trump’s first term, which began with the industry’s sweeping condemnation of the first Trump administration’s travel ban suspending the issuance of visas to applicants from seven countries, all of which had Muslim-majority populations. Tech leaders have also been taking an important role in the presidential transition, proposing associates for high-ranking administration positions and advising the president-elect on potential policies and foreign relations. Trump also tapped Musk to serve as co-leader of a new “government efficiency” commission. The rising importance of tech leaders in Trump’s circle is now drawing scrutiny from his base — and even some past rivals. Nikki Haley, the former governor of South Carolina who ran for president against Trump and who in the past has called herself the “proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” slammed the tech industry and its leaders as “lazy” for automatically seeking out foreign workers to fulfill their needs. “If the tech industry needs workers, invest in our education system,” she wrote on X on Friday morning. “Invest in our American workforce. We must invest in Americans first before looking elsewhere.” On Friday, Steve Bannon, a longtime Trump confidant, hosted a series of influencers and researchers on his popular “War Room” podcast who critiqued “big tech oligarchs” for supporting the H-1B program and cast immigration as a threat to Western civilization. Others took a more sympathetic stance toward Silicon Valley’s desire to continue bringing in engineers and other skilled workers from abroad. Vivek Ramaswamy, the former Republican presidential candidate who last month was tapped to lead the government efficiency initiative alongside Musk, blamed American culture for creating people ill-suited for skilled tech positions. “The H-1B system is badly broken & should be replaced with one that focuses on selecting the very best of the best,” Ramaswamy said on X on Friday. The rancorous exchange over immigration soon grew to encompass another flashpoint on the right: online speech. Since acquiring what was then called Twitter in 2022 for $44 billion, Musk has characterized himself as a “free speech absolutist.” Among his first acts atop the company was reinstating accounts banned by the previous management, including Loomer’s, which had been taken down in 2018 after sharing anti-Muslim posts. But on Thursday, X temporarily blocked Loomer from posting on the site and removed her verified status, cutting her off from income from paid subscribers. Numerous other accounts reported losing their verified status as well, although only Loomer seems to have been blocked from posting or monetizing her account. Loomer said that starting Friday morning, she was able to post again but still had not regained her verified status. An X spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. Loomer, whose account has 1.4 million followers, called it retaliation, pointing out that Musk on Thursday night endorsed a post from a popular pro-tech influencer stating “play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” in reference to Loomer. Loomer called the restriction “censorship.”
By MATTHEW BROWN and JACK DURA BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Donald Trump assigned Doug Burgum a singular mission in nominating the governor of oil-rich North Dakota to lead an agency that oversees a half-billion acres of federal land and vast areas offshore: “Drill baby drill.” That dictate from the president-elect’s announcement of Burgum for Secretary of Interior sets the stage for a reignition of the court battles over public lands and waters that helped define Trump’s first term, with environmentalists worried about climate change already pledging their opposition. Burgum is an ultra-wealthy software industry entrepreneur who grew up on his family’s farm. He represents a tame choice compared to other Trump Cabinet picks. Public lands experts said his experience as a popular two-term governor who aligns himself with conservationist Teddy Roosevelt suggests a willingness to collaborate, as opposed to dismantling from within the agency he is tasked with leading. That could help smooth his confirmation and clear the way for the incoming administration to move quickly to open more public lands to development and commercial use. “Burgum strikes me as a credible nominee who could do a credible job as Interior secretary,” said John Leshy, who served as Interior’s solicitor under former President Bill Clinton. “He’s not a right-wing radical on public lands,” added Leshy, professor emeritus at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. The Interior Department manages about one-fifth of the country’s land with a mandate that spans from wildlife conservation and recreation to natural resource extraction and fulfilling treaty obligations with Native American tribes. Most of those lands are in the West, where frictions with private landowners and state officials are commonplace and have sometimes mushroomed into violent confrontations with right-wing groups that reject federal jurisdiction. Burgum if confirmed would be faced with a pending U.S. Supreme Court action from Utah that seeks to assert state power over Interior Department lands. North Dakota’s attorney general has supported the lawsuit, but Burgum’s office declined to say if he backs Utah’s claims. U.S. Justice Department attorneys on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to reject Utah’s lawsuit. They said Utah in 1894 agreed to give up its right to the lands at issue when it became a state. Trump’s narrow focus on fossil fuels is a replay from his 2016 campaign — although minus coal mining, a collapsing industry that he failed to revive in his first term. Trump repeatedly hailed oil as “liquid gold” on the campaign trail this year and largely omitted any mention of coal. About 26% of U.S. oil comes from federal lands and offshore waters overseen by Interior. Production continues to hit record levels under President Joe Biden despite claims by Trump that the Democrat hindered drilling. But industry representatives and their Republican allies say volumes could be further boosted. They want Burgum and the Interior Department to ramp up oil and gas sales from federal lands, in the Gulf of Mexico and offshore Alaska. The oil industry also hopes Trump’s government efficiency initiative led by billionaire Elon Musk can dramatically reduce environmental reviews. Biden’s administration reduced the frequency and size of lease sales, and it restored environmental rules that were weakened under Trump . The Democrat as a candidate in 2020 promised further restrictions on drilling to help combat global warming, but he struck a deal for the 2022 climate bill that requires offshore oil and gas sales to be held before renewable energy leases can be sold. “Oil and gas brings billions of dollars of revenue in, but you don’t get that if you don’t have leasing,” said Erik Milito with the National Ocean Industries Association, which represents offshore industries including oil and wind. Trump has vowed to kill offshore wind energy projects. But Milito said he was hopeful that with Burgum in place it would be “green lights ahead for everything, not just oil and gas.” It is unclear if Burgum would revive some of the most controversial steps taken at the agency during Trump’s first term, including relocating senior officials out of Washington, D.C., dismantling parts of the Endangered Species Act and shrinking the size of two national monuments in Utah designated by former President Barack Obama. Officials under Biden spent much of the past four years reversing Trump’s moves. They restored the Utah monuments and rescinded numerous Trump regulations. Onshore oil and gas lease sales plummeted — from more than a million acres sold annually under Trump and other previous administrations, to just 91,712 acres (37,115 hectares) sold last year — while many wind and solar projects advanced. Developing energy leases takes years, and oil companies control millions of acres that remain untapped. Biden’s administration also elevated the importance of conservation in public lands decisions, adopting a rule putting it more on par with oil and gas development. They proposed withdrawing parcels of land in six states from potential future mining to protect a struggling bird species, the greater sage grouse. North Dakota is among Republican states that challenged the Biden administration’s public lands rule. The states said in a June lawsuit that officials acting to prevent climate change have turned laws meant to facilitate development into policies that obstruct drilling, livestock grazing and other uses. Oil production boomed over the past two decades in North Dakota thanks in large part to better drilling techniques. Burgum has been an industry champion and last year signed a repeal of the state’s oil tax trigger — a price-based tax hike industry leaders supported removing. Burgum’s office declined an interview request. In a statement after his nomination, Burgum echoed Trump’s call for U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. The 68-year-old governor also said the Interior post offered an opportunity to improve government relations with developers, tribes, landowners and outdoor enthusiasts “with a focus on maximizing the responsible use of our natural resources with environmental stewardship for the benefit of the American people.” Related Articles National Politics | Attorneys want the US Supreme Court to say Mississippi’s felony voting ban is cruel and unusual National Politics | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? National Politics | Beyond evangelicals, Trump and his allies courted smaller faith groups, from the Amish to Chabad National Politics | Trump’s team is delaying transition agreements. What does it mean for security checks and governing? National Politics | Judge delays Trump hush money sentencing in order to decide where case should go now Under current Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, the agency put greater emphasis on working collaboratively with tribes, including their own energy projects . Haaland, a member of the Pueblo of Laguna tribe in New Mexico, also advanced an initiative to solve criminal cases involving missing and murdered Indigenous peoples and helped lead a nationwide reckoning over abuses at federal Indian boarding schools that culminated in a formal public apology from Biden. Burgum has worked with tribes in his state, including on oil development. Badlands Conservation Alliance director Shannon Straight in Bismarck, North Dakota, said Burgum has also been a big supporter of tourism in North Dakota and outdoor activities such as hunting and fishing. Yet Straight said that hasn’t translated into additional protections for land in the state. “Theodore Roosevelt had a conservation ethic, and we talk and hold that up as a beautiful standard to live by,” he said. “We haven’t seen it as much on the ground. ... We need to recognize the landscape is only going to be as good as some additional protections.” Burgum has been a cheerleader of the planned Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota. Brown reported from Billings, Montana.
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