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 | Trump convinced Republicans to overlook his misconduct. But can he do the same for his nominees? 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 National Politics | Republicans scramble to fill JD Vance’s Ohio Senate seat National Politics | Gaetz’s withdrawal highlights how incoming presidents often lose Cabinet nominees 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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New Complaint Contends 'Vaporware' Strategy and Systematic Anti-Competitive Practices Destroyed Competition for Internet Connectivity in Business Aviation CHARLOTTE, N.C. , Dec. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- SmartSky Networks, LLC today filed a comprehensive antitrust lawsuit against Gogo, Inc. and Gogo Business Aviation, LLC ($GOGO) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (Case 3:24-cv-01087), alleging illegal monopolistic practices in the air-to-ground (ATG) broadband inflight connectivity market for business aviation. The lawsuit alleges multiple violations of federal antitrust laws, including the Sherman Act and Clayton Act, as well as North Carolina state tort laws and the Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act, claiming that Gogo engaged in predatory pricing, misleading advertising, and exclusive dealing agreements to maintain its monopoly position in the ATG market. SmartSky is pursuing this case to protect innovation as well as to seek justice for unfair business practices. The company's complaint contends that a systematic campaign of misinformation and exclusive dealing arrangements effectively blocked SmartSky's access to critical distribution channels and created insurmountable barriers to market entry, stifling the innovation and competition customers depend on. The lawsuit seeks substantial damages potentially exceeding $1 billion . The legal action aims to address the alleged harm to competition and consumers in the aviation connectivity market. This new Complaint is separate and apart from the Intellectual Property case (Case 1:22-cv-00266-JLH) SmartSky previously filed against Gogo in Delaware . The trial of that case is scheduled to begin in April, 2025. SmartSky is represented by Rik Tozzi , of Burr & Forman, LLP. About SmartSky Until ceasing business operations in August, 2024, SmartSky Networks, LLC was an aviation technology company that developed and launched an innovative air-to-ground network for business aviation, offering superior connectivity solutions through advanced telecommunications technology and infrastructure. View original content: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/smartsky-files-1b-antitrust-lawsuit-alleging-gogo-business-aviation-acted-as-an-abusive-monopolist-302334142.html SOURCE SmartSky NetworksWASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith moved to abandon two criminal cases against Donald Trump on Monday, acknowledging that Trump’s return to the White House will preclude attempts to federally prosecute him for retaining classified documents or trying to overturn his 2020 election defeat. The decision was inevitable, since longstanding Justice Department policy says sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution. Yet it was still a momentous finale to an unprecedented chapter in political and law enforcement history, as federal officials attempted to hold a former president accountable while he ran for another term. In court filings, Smith’s team emphasized that the move to abandon their prosecutions was not a reflection of the merit of the cases but a recognition of the legal shield that surrounds any commander in chief. “That prohibition is categorical and does not turn on the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution, which the Government stands fully behind,” the prosecutors wrote in one of their filings. Smith’s team said it left intact charges against two co-defendants in the classified documents case — Trump valet Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira — because “no principle of temporary immunity applies to them.” Trump has long described the investigations as politically motivated, and he has vowed to fire Smith as soon as he takes office in January. Now he will re-enter the White House free from criminal scrutiny by the government that he will lead. The election case brought last year was once seen as one of the most serious legal threats facing Trump as he tried to reclaim the White House. He was indicted for plotting to overturn his defeat to Joe Biden in 2020, an effort that climaxed with his supporters’ violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The separate case involving classified documents was widely seen as legally clear cut, especially because the conduct in question occurred after Trump left the White House and lost the powers of the presidency. The indictment included dozens of felony counts accusing him of illegally hoarding classified records from his presidency at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, and obstructing federal efforts to get them back. He pleaded not guilty and denied wrongdoing. Get local news delivered to your inbox!
Online trolls are “typically younger and male” who spend lots of time down “social media rabbit holes with conspiracy theories”, it is claimed. The profile of Irish tolls is outlined in a new TG4 documentary Online Hate and Trolling. It airs tomorrow and reveals that almost half of Irish adults have experienced some form of online hate. The claim is made by a cyberbullying expert who hears testimony from online abuse victims as they speak openly about their ordeals. The expert - Dr Darragh McCashin – warns that social media companies are not doing enough to remove harmful and offensive. Dr McCashin is a Dublin City University assistant professor at DCU’s School of Psychology and is also chairperson of The Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate & Online Harassment in the Anti-Bullying Centre. He has studied the psychological characteristics of potential online trolls and reveals all tonight as part of TG4’s award winning series Iniúchadh. The programme demands that tech companies must explain why it remains so difficult for victims to get anonymous, abusive online comments removed. Dr McCashin said: “There is an initial set of demographic predictors of who that person might be. Typically younger, typically male. There is some emerging evidence to say that those who are holding medical cards, Irish born parents, probably have a problematic relationship with technology." READ MORE: Online troll's jab at Doireann Garrihy backfires - as RTE star issues hilarious response READ MORE: Dancing With The Stars' Arthur Gourounlian claims online trolls are 'jealous' of marriage to Brian Dowling Dr McCashin added: “They spend lots of time on social media, going down perhaps various rabbit holes with conspiracy theories or alternative media. They are not on a mission, they are just out to cause chaos.” He added: “We did a survey of just over a thousand near representative sample of Irish adults. Just under half of them had experience of one form of online hate. "Pretty much everyone in that sample had witnessed online hate, whether that is racism or consistent harassment of fellow online users. So, we can take from this, it’s highly prevalent to the extent that it is almost normalised. Men are more likely to be targeted because of age and or nationality. Women are more likely to be because of their gender.” Contributors to the documentary include Fianna Fáil MEP Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, organ donation campaigner Máirtín Mac Gabhann, social media influencer Cian Ó Gríofa, and Belfast-based Irish language advocate Linda Ervine. They all speak openly about the abuse they have endured and how they cope with it. Cian, 29, receives abuse online when he talks about growing up in Ireland as a young gay man. He said: "It bothers me, especially because of young people who follow me. They can see that hatred and see the negative comments and that's probably not a positive thing for them as they could be struggling with their own identity and sexuality. "These comments change public attitudes towards gay and marginalised people and people are then more comfortable that they can say so on social media. They go to a point where they feel comfortable saying things like that in real life and then the next step could be an attack and I think we're heading towards a dangerous future.” MEP Ní Mhurchú was elected earlier this year and has since been regularly subjected to abuse from anonymous online trolls. She said: “Sexual insults, insults because I'm a woman, insults because I'm a politician, and insults because they think my politics is not the same as their politics. They are destroying the mental health of ordinary people.” Ervine has been targeted by hardline Loyalists because of her efforts to make the Irish language more accessible in Belfast. She said: “It hurts, it hurts, because I'm a human being. I don't want to read insulting things. I don't want to read false accusations. I'm doing my job, that's it.” MacGabhann, 34, has a campaign slogan Donate4Daithi to raise awareness because his eight-year-old son Dáithí is waiting on a heart transplant. He said: "As our campaign became more successful and we became more vocal, that's when the online abuse began to increase and the type of trolls appeared. The words I saw were really hard to read about my innocent little son. In the beginning I didn't understand how people could write like this about a little boy who is going through a really bad time in his life. It broke my heart." Investigative journalist Kevin Magee speaks to Appeals Centre Europe about what people can do to resolve content disputes with social media platforms. TG4’s doc An Gréasán Gráiniúil (Online Hate and Trolling) by journalist Magee is on TV from 9.30pm. 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Advertisement Cliffhangers are an important part of television history. Iconic sitcoms, prestige TV shows, and soap operas have used cliffhangers in their storytelling. Some of the most famous were on "Game of Thrones," "Grey's Anatomy," and "Lost." Writing for television is all about how to keep your audience tuning in. One way to do that is to get viewers emotionally invested ... only to put their beloved characters in mortal peril , emotional hell, or a combination of the two. In the era of television before streaming, cliffhangers used to be a way to keep viewers coming back. During "sweeps week" — ratings periods held four times a year — networks would bring out their biggest, most shocking storylines to try to lure in the most viewers to boost viewership and, therefore, ad revenue. As such, some of the most iconic moments in TV history, including some of the cliffhangers below, took place during sweeps weeks. Advertisement However, streaming has changed the game when it comes to retaining viewers, and it seems like almost every episode of a Netflix series ends in a cliffhanger to keep you binging. Here are some of the most iconic cliffhangers in TV history , not all of which ended up satisfying viewers in the long run. But they all got people talking and kept them watching week after week.Trump gave Interior nominee one directive for a half-billion acres of US land: ‘Drill.’
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By Fabian Hamacher and Angie Teo TAIPEI (Reuters) - A new board game set against the backdrop of armed conflict around Taiwan is set to be released in January 2025, amid renewed threats from Beijing, inviting players to participate in an imaginary Chinese invasion 20 years from now. China has ramped up military activity close to democratically governed Taiwan in recent years, including massing naval forces around the island this month. The new game, titled "2045", tasks gamers with navigating the troubles of war by using colourful action cards, and role-playing characters involved in operations 10 days before a fictional Chinese invasion of Taiwan. That includes members of Taiwan's armed forces, Chinese sleeper agents and pro-China politicians working to sabotage the island's defence, as well as citizens picking up guns to defend their homeland. China claims Taiwan as its own and has never renounced the use of force to bring the island under its control. Taiwan's president and his government strongly object to China’s sovereignty claims and say only the island’s people can decide their future. Taiwanese board game maker Mizo Games started crowdfunding the game in August. Within two-and-a-half-months, the company had received more than T$4 million ($121,966) to fund the project. "It is not quite peaceful around Taiwan island and the Western Pacific as we speak," Chang Shao Lian, the founder of Mizo Games told Reuters at his Taipei office. Chang said he wanted "players to feel they want to win and think about what they will do to win". The game, which is also set to go on sale in the U.S. and Europe later in the year, has been developed at a time when Taiwan officials have intensified preparations for scenarios including a China conflict. Last week, Taiwan's presidential office held its first "tabletop" exercise involving government agencies beyond the armed forces, simulating a military escalation with China. The exercise involved scenarios, including the island being "on the verge of conflict", to test the readiness of government offices and civil society. Players who participated in a test run of "2045" said they learnt about what might happen in the event of a Chinese invasion and that they hoped the game could help people understand the implications of a war. "I'm not very knowledgeable on military matters, therefore through this game I learnt about where the army may land and launch an attack," said Kalin Lai, a 23-year-old who tried out the game. Mizo has previously created two other Taiwan war-themed board games - one about surviving an air raid in Taipei and the other about a bombing in Kaohsiung during Japan's colonisation of the island between 1895 and 1945. ($1=32.7960 Taiwan dollars) (Reporting By Fabian Hamacher and Angie Teo; Editing by Kate Mayberry)What's New Unidentified drones were recently spotted flying over U.S. military bases in Germany, according to multiple reports. The drones were seen flying over military installations, including Ramstein Air Base, and industrial facilities in Germany on December 3 and 4, according to Reuters and German magazine Der Spiegel . Newsweek reached out to the U.S. Air Force for comment. Why It Matters Residents in several New Jersey counties began reporting unidentified drones last month, with reports of sightings recently expanding to New York and Pennsylvania as well. Unidentified drones were also seen flying over three British air bases leased by the U.S. Air Force last month. What To Know A spokesperson for the Air Force told Reuters that there were "no impacts to base residents, facilities, or assets" associated with the drones spotted at the Ramstein base. A security source told the outlet that the operators of the drones have not been found, but authorities believe they were not operated by amateurs. Unidentified drones in New Jersey have been reported flying near the U.S. military facility Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump 's golf course in Bedminster. The sightings have raised public concerns about security, but the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said there is no threat to public safety at this time. The agencies also said that "many" of the reported drone sightings were actually "manned aircraft, operating lawfully." What People Are Saying The FBI and Department of Homeland Security said in a joint statement : "We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." Chief Scott D. Robb, president of the Warren County Police Chiefs Association, said on Facebook : "We are shocked by the lack of response or update from Federal and State officials. We do not agree with their response that there is no known threat to the public at this time. It is our stance that just the unidentified drone flying over us is a threat in itself." New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim, said on X : "It's hard to understand how with the technology we have we aren't able to track these devices to determine origin and this makes me much more concerned about our capabilities more broadly when it comes to drone detection and counter measures." New Jersey Senator Cory Booker said in a letter to federal agencies: "It is our shared responsibility to ensure that our airspace is safe and secure, and I am committed to giving New Jerseyans peace of mind about these activities." New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said in a letter to President Joe Biden: "The continued reporting of UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms." What Happens Next The FBI and DHS said they will work with the New Jersey State Police to continue investigating these sightings. Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com.
World leaders sent condolences to South Korea on Sunday after the country suffered its deadliest airplane crash, with 179 people killed when their aircraft went up in flames. Only two people survived when the Jeju Air Boeing 737-800 plane skidded off the runway and slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport. As relatives of those on board gathered at the airport in grief, leaders expressed their sympathy. Chinese President Xi Jinping said he was "shocked" to learn of the crash, in a message to South Korea's acting president Choi Sang-mok. "I express our deep condolences to the victims, sincere sympathy for the victims' families, and wish those injured a speedy recovery," he said, quoted by China's state broadcaster CCTV. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was "heartbroken to see images of the plane crash in Muan". "As your partner, Europe stands with you in this time of grief," the European Commission president said. Pope offers prayers Pope Francis, who visited South Korea a decade ago, told worshippers at the Vatican that he joins "in prayer for the survivors and the dead". "My thoughts are with the many families in South Korea who are mourning today following the dramatic plane crash," Francis said. France's foreign ministry said that Paris learnt "with great emotion the terrible toll" and sends condolences to the affected families German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said the crash is "yet another blow to the nation's heart" after "a difficult period" -- alluding to weeks of political turmoil in Seoul. "This is an incredible loss and pain" for the friends and families of those killed, Steinmeier said. "Profoundly saddened by the tragic incident", Greece's foreign affairs ministry said on X, sending condolences "during this difficult time". Tehran expressed its "condolences and sympathy to the government and people of the Republic of Korea and Thailand", the departure point of the plane which had two Thai nationals on board. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei addressed "the families of the victims, and wished a speedy recovery for the injured of this tragic incident". Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said he was "deeply saddened to hear about the tragic crash in South Korea" and offered his condolences to the families of the victims. "Israel stands in solidarity with South Korea during this difficult hour," said Saar on X. Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed the "sincere condolences and sympathy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the families of the victims, and to the government and people of the friendly Republic of Korea", it said in a statement. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "deeply saddened" and expressed "his solidarity with the people and Government of the Republic of Korea during this difficult time", his spokesperson said in a statement. "The Secretary-General also wishes a swift and full recovery to those injured in this tragic event," said the spokesperson. "We are shocked and saddened by the accident involving Jeju Air flight 7C2216. Our thoughts and prayers are with the passengers and crew on the flight and their loved ones," the International Air Transport Association, which represents some 340 airlines that comprise 80 percent of air traffic, said in a statement. Spain's foreign ministry said that Madrid was "profoundly shocked by the terrible accident", sending condolences and "all our solidarity" to those affected. "We are deeply saddened by the tragic plane crash that occurred at Muan International Airport in our friend, the Republic of Korea," President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in a post on X. "As we watch with disbelief the horrific scenes from the crash site, our thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives," President Aleksandar Vucic wrote on X, adding that he was "deeply shaken". (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
