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Tag: U.S.

  • U.S. gears up as Trump assumes office as president today

    U.S. gears up as Trump assumes office as president today

    Donald Trump is set to be sworn in as president of the United States in Washington on Monday, returning to the White House for a second term four years after his initial re-election bid ended in defeat.

    Trump, a Republican, will replace outgoing President Joe Biden in the top U.S. political office at noon (1900 GMT), two and a half months after defeating outgoing Vice President Kamala Harris in the U.S. presidential election.

    Biden had defeated Trump in 2020, but stepped aside as the Democratic candidate mid-campaign in July amid intense concerns about his age and mental fitness.

    Trump, who has long refused to acknowledge his defeat in the 2020 election, ultimately stayed away from Biden’s swearing-in ceremony in January 2021, breaking with tradition.

    Earlier that month, Trump’s insistence that he won and that his “victory” was stolen from him led to the storming of the Capitol in Washington, the seat of the U.S. Congress, by his supporters.

    Biden, on the other hand, is set to attend the ceremony as per tradition.

    In the morning, Trump is scheduled to attend a service at St. John’s Church in Washington.

    After the swearing-in ceremony, the Bidens are then set to receive the Trumps for tea at the White House.

    The inauguration was originally meant to take place outside on the west side of the Capitol as usual, but was relocated indoors as Washington was experiencing stuck in sub-zero temperatures.

    After taking the oath of office, Trump will deliver his inaugural speech as the 47th President of the United States of America.

  • Trump to sign over 200 executive orders immediately after inauguration

    Trump to sign over 200 executive orders immediately after inauguration

    On the eve of his inauguration, President-elect Donald Trump staged a campaign-style rally in frigid Washington where he and his supporters celebrated his win.

    Here are some takeaways from Trump’s remarks on Sunday:

    As he has been signalling for weeks, Trump is expected to sign a torrent of executive actions on Monday to make good on his campaign promises.

    “The American people have given us their trust, and in return, we’re going to give them the best first day, the biggest first week and the most extraordinary first 100 days of any presidency in American history,” Trump said.

    A source familiar with the planning confirmed Trump is preparing to sign more than 200 executive actions on Monday.

    The orders are expected to cover border security, mass deportations, rolling back government diversity initiatives, pardoning Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack defendants, boosting oil and gas production, and replacing thousands of career government bureaucrats, among other policy items.

    Trump vowed to repeal “every radical and foolish executive order of the Biden administration” within hours of assuming the presidency.

    Trump and other rally speakers said Trump has been given a clear mandate to carry out his plans.

    Although critical of his predecessor’s record, Trump largely avoided the name-calling of past rally speeches.

    It was perhaps a preview of the tone Trump will try to strike on Monday during his inaugural address.

    The existence of the rally itself was unusual.

    Traditionally with a new president, campaign rhetoric yields to more substantive conversations.

    The language of transition typically focuses on the handover between administrations.

    But the crowd at the Capital One Arena was indistinguishable from any at Trump’s prior campaign events: men and women clad in red MAGA hats, Trump-adorned shirts and American-flag regalia.

    And the speakers who took the stage often spoke at the prior events: Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White, longtime Trump aide Stephen Miller, and two of Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric.

    Trump, too, recycled many of his campaign soundbites on border security and crime and played campaign videos on the arena’s screens.

    As the campaign wound down, Trump lamented that his rallies were going away. So Sunday’s event was a nostalgic thank-you of sorts to his supporters.

    “We’re all going to be sworn in together. That’s the way I look at it,” Trump said to cheers.

    Sunday’s scene will likely stand in striking juxtaposition with Monday’s rarefied swearing-in event at the U.S. Capitol, where tech all-stars such as Tesla’s Elon Musk, Amazon’s Jeff Bezos, Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Sundar Pichai are expected to be present.

    Their companies and many others donated millions to Trump’s inaugural fund.

    Trump is aiming to pack his administration with billionaires, including Musk, the world’s richest man, who will head up his government efficiency effort, Commerce nominee Howard Lutnick, Treasury Secretary pick Scott Bessent, and Education nominee Linda McMahon.

    The official balls at which Trump is expected to speak Monday night are invitation-only and will likely be populated with mega-donors and the U.S. corporate elite.

    The tension between the populist MAGA diehards and Trump’s corporate allies has already shown itself on issues such as H1-B, a visa programme for foreign tech workers, and TikTok and may deepen as Trump identifies his near-term priorities.

    Is there room under Trump’s tent for all of them? We’ll soon find out.

    Musk has been at Trump’s side since he won the election in November.

    So it was no surprise when Trump asked him to come on stage during the rally to cheers from the MAGA faithful.

    “We’re looking forward to making a lot of changes, and this victory is the start really,” said Musk, who will chair Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency.

    But Musk’s advisory role may extend beyond that mandate.

    He is likely to work with Trump’s White House appointees such as Russell Vought and James Sherk to shrink the size of the federal government while also replacing thousands of career employees with hand-picked Trump political employees.

    As befitting his status, Musk was called by Trump to the stage to speak, while JD Vance, who will be sworn-in on Monday as vice president, was not.

    As it was, Trump seemed to be unsure where Vance was in the arena.

    “Wherever the hell he is,” Trump said, looking about. “He’s here someplace.”

  • Trump to end ‘invasion of borders’ immediately after inauguration

    Trump to end ‘invasion of borders’ immediately after inauguration

    On the eve of his swearing-in ceremony, U.S. President-elect Donald Trump told supporters that he would implement anti-immigration measures from day one of his second term in office.

    “By the time the sun sets tomorrow evening, the invasion of our borders will have come to a halt.

    “All the illegal border trespassers will, in some form or another, be on their way back home,” the Republican said at a rally in Washington.

    As during his election campaign, Trump used broad generalisations and portrayed undocumented migrants living in the U.S. as criminals.

    While there has been a rise in crime in some areas of the U.S., experts attribute this to complex socio-political causes.

    There is no evidence of a migrants-driven crime wave, nor of migrants committing crimes at higher rates than U.S. nationals. One of Trump’s key election promises was to carry out mass deportations.

    To implement this plan, Trump has nominated several right-wing hardliners to join his government.

    According to U.S. media, the first raids are set to begin shortly after his swearing-in on Monday.

    These are initially planned in Chicago and may also extend to other cities. The action is scheduled to last for a week.

  • Ex-U.S. President discharged from hospital after falling sick

    Ex-U.S. President discharged from hospital after falling sick

    Former U.S. president Bill Clinton has been released from hospital after falling sick and admitted at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital for testing and observation.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, Angel Ureña confirmed he has been discharged and that he was treated for the flu.

    “President Clinton was discharged earlier today after being treated for the flu,” Ureña said, adding:

    “He and his family are deeply grateful for the exceptional care provided by the team at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and are touched by the kind messages and well wishes he received. He sends his warmest wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season to all”.

    Clinton, 78, was treated at the Georgetown University Medical Center, Ureña posted.

    U.S. broadcaster MSNBC, citing people from Clinton’s circle, said the situation is not acute and that the former president is expected to improve soon.

    Clinton, a Democrat, served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

    His presidency was overshadowed by the Lewinsky sex scandal and the subsequent impeachment proceedings, which he survived politically.

    His wife Hillary Clinton, who served as a senator and secretary of state, ran for the presidency in 2016 but lost to Republican Donald Trump.

  • Former U.S. president Bill Clinton hospitalised

    Former U.S. president Bill Clinton hospitalised

    Former U.S. president Bill Clinton is in a Washington hospital for testing and observation after developing a fever, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff said.

    “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he is receiving,” Angel Ureña posted on X.

    Clinton, 78, is being treated at the Georgetown University Medical Center, Ureña posted.

    U.S. broadcaster MSNBC, citing people from Clinton’s circle, said the situation is not acute and that the former president is expected to improve soon.

    Clinton, a Democrat, served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001.

    His presidency was overshadowed by the Lewinsky sex scandal and the subsequent impeachment proceedings, which he survived politically.

    His wife Hillary Clinton, who served as a senator and secretary of state, ran for the presidency in 2016 but lost to Republican Donald Trump.

  • U.S election: Dollar, Bitcoin soar as Trump emerges president -elect

    U.S election: Dollar, Bitcoin soar as Trump emerges president -elect

    The United States dollar has surged as Republican Donald Trump surged to win back the White House in the presidential race.

    Bitcoin is also at a record high as traders bet on potential tax cuts, tariffs, and rising inflation under Trump.

    The result of the election is expected to have a major impact on the global economy.

    The Republican Party has also taken control of the Senate but there are still votes left to count.

    The dollar has soared by around 1.5% against a host of different currencies, including the pound, euro and the Japanese yen.

    Meanwhile, the value of Bitcoin jumped by $6,000 (£4,645) to a record high of $75,371.69, surpassing the previous high of $73,797.98 in March this year.

    In Japan, the benchmark Nikkei 225 stock index ended the session up by 2.6%, while Australia’s ASX 200 closed 0.8% higher.

    Experts are predicting a turbulent day for the financial markets as a response to global uncertainty and Trump’s potential plans for the economy.

    “Many of his measures will be inflationary and likely to lead to a rise in bond yields, putting pressure on the Federal Reserve in its quest to bring interest rates down,” BBC quoted Lindsay James, investment strategist at Quilter Investors, as saying.

    Trump has pledged to make the U.S. the “bitcoin and cryptocurrency capital of the world”.

    He plans to put billionaire Elon Musk in charge of an audit of governmental waste.

    The major U.S. stock indexes also look likely to open sharply higher. That came after the Dow Jones Industrial Average, S&P 500, and Nasdaq all closed more than 1% higher on Tuesday.

    Tesla’s Frankfurt-listed shares rallied over 14% at the open on Wednesday. Elon Musk, Tesla’s top shareholder, has supported Trump throughout his electoral campaign.

    Trump has said he would dramatically increase trade tariffs, especially on China, if he became the next U.S. president.

    “Trump’s global trade policies are causing particular angst in Asia, given the strong protectionist platform on which more aggressive tariffs on imports into the US have been pledged,” said Katrina Ell, director of economic research at Moody’s Analytics.

    The former president’s more isolationist stance on foreign policy has also raised questions about his willingness to defend Taiwan against potential aggression from China.

    The self-ruling island is a major producer of computer chips, which are crucial to the technology that drives the global economy.

    Meanwhile, Trump’s tax-cutting agenda has also been broadly welcomed by big American companies.

    “If Trump gets elected, we should see pro-business policies and tax cuts, in turn possibly driving up inflation and less rate cuts,” said Jun Bei Liu, portfolio manager at Tribeca Investment Partners.

    However, not all indexes have reacted positively to the potential of a Trump victory.

    In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index ended the day down 0.1%, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was down by around 2.23%.

    Investors also have other key issues to focus on this week.

    On Thursday, the U.S. Federal Reserve is due to announce its latest decision on interest rates.

    Comments from the head of the central bank, Jerome Powell, will be watched closely around the world.

    On Friday, top Chinese officials are expected to unveil more details about Beijing’s plans to tackle the slowdown of the world’s second-largest economy.

  • Iran issues fresh threats to Israel, U.S. as confrontations escalate

    Iran issues fresh threats to Israel, U.S. as confrontations escalate

    The supreme leader of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued renewed threats to Iranian arch-enemies Israel and the United States on Saturday, following the recent military confrontations.

    “The enemies, whether the Zionist regime or America, will certainly receive a devastating response to what they are doing to Iran and the resistance front,” the 85-year-old Khamenei said at an event in Tehran.

    Whether there would be a military response to the Israeli retaliatory attack a week ago initially remained open.

    The danger of a major, open war between Iran and Israel recently increased.

    A week ago, Israel hit Iran with airstrikes in what the country described as retaliation for an Iranian missile attack at the beginning of October.

    Afterwards, there were contradictory statements and reports as to whether Iran’s military would respond.

    Iran’s so-called Axis of Resistance, an informal alliance of Islamist militant groups backed by Tehran, includes the Lebanese Hezbollah movement and the Palestinian Hamas movement in the Gaza Strip.

  • 20 dead after Hurricane Helene slammed south-east U.S.

    20 dead after Hurricane Helene slammed south-east U.S.

    At least 20 people died after Hurricane Helene slammed into south-eastern United States as a dangerous Category 4 storm, before later weakening to a tropical depression by Friday afternoon.

    The deaths were reported in US media across the states of Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida. The governor of Georgia said at least 11 people had died in his state.

    Around 3 million people were without power across those states and beyond, with houses destroyed and entire communities flooded.

    There were fears that many people could still be trapped under collapsed and damaged buildings. Many roads across the region were not passable.

    The National Weather Service said Helene made landfall on the west coast of Florida as a Category 4 hurricane – the second highest category – but then began losing steam.

    The service had warned of “historic and catastrophic flooding,” and in some places on Friday the water was about 5 metres high. There were also threats of mudslides due to the extreme rain.

    Many victims were killed or injured by falling trees, while others died in their cars. In Florida, a woman drowned in her home, CNN reported.

    In North Carolina, authorities warned that a dam could break and urged nearby residents to move to safety.

    After pummelling the south-east, it began moving over the Appalachian mountains and affecting states like Tennessee and Virginia.

    Helene had already caused flooding and power outages in Cuba as it barrelled toward the U.S.

  • U.S. not seeking new cold war with China – Official

    U.S. not seeking new cold war with China – Official

    Jake Sullivan, U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor, on Thursday said the U.S. was not seeking a new Cold War with China or change China’s system. Sullivan made this known during a meeting with President Xi Jinping of China in Beijing.

    He explained that the revitalisation of U.S. alliances especially in Asia was not against China. The presidential aide also conveyed the regards of President Biden to President Xi.

    He recalled that since the San Francisco Summit between the two world leaders, the duo had earnestly implemented their common understandings and achieved positive progress.

    According to him, the earlier round of strategic communication with Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi in China was “in-depth, candid, substantive and constructive.”

    “The U.S. does not seek a new Cold War; it does not seek to change China’s system. The revitalisation of U.S. alliances is not against China.

    “The U.S. does not support Taiwan’s independence and it does not seek conflict with China.  The One-China policy of the U.S. has not changed and it has no intention to use Taiwan as a tool to contain China,” Sullivan said.

    He said that the U.S. hoped to maintain strategic communication with China and find a way for the duo to coexist in peace. The National Security Advisor expressed confidence that U.S.-China relations would develop in a sustainable way.

    Sullivan further said that Biden was looking  forward to having communication again with  Xi soon.

    Earlier, Xi stated that in a changing and turbulent world, countries needed solidarity and coordination, not division or confrontation. According to him, people want openness and progress, not exclusion or regress.

    “As two major countries, China and the U.S., should be responsible for history, for the people and for the world. They should be the source of stability for world peace and the propeller for common development.

    “Great changes have taken place in the two countries and in China-U.S. relations. China’s commitment to the goal of a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. relationship remains unchanged.

    “Its principle in handling the relationship based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation remains unchanged. Its position of firmly safeguarding the country’s sovereignty, security and development interests remains unchanged.

    “Its efforts to carry forward the traditional friendship between the Chinese and American people remain unchanged,” Xi said.

    He further explained that China remained focused on managing its own affairs well and would continue to deepen reform comprehensively. This, he said, was to further improve the system of socialism with Chinese characteristics that suits China’s national conditions.

    Xi said that China would follow the path of peaceful development. He also assured that the country would work closely with other countries for common development and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind.

    Sullivan’s visit to Beijing is scheduled to end on Thursday. It is aimed at setting the stage for Biden to hold his final summit with Xi before leaving office in January, 2025.

  • U.S. politics of dubious peace-making – By Owei Lakemfa

    U.S. politics of dubious peace-making – By Owei Lakemfa

    THE United States Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, on Monday August 19, made another public claim that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had accepted a peace proposal to end the war in the Palestine. The US christened its latest claim a “bridging proposal”.

    However, going by previous US announcements, this is maybe another false claim by the Biden administration.

    As in past, the US puts the burden on Hamas to accept the so-called proposal. Again as it claimed in previous offers, this is the best offer. However this time, the US proclaims that this could potentially be the last peace offer. In other words, as far as the super power is concerned, if its latest gambit fails, there may no longer be peace proposals to end the war.

    The US has appointed itself the Peacemaker-in-Chief of the Israeli-Palestinian War. Every second, it shouts from the roof tops that it is working assiduously for a ceasefire. It also parcels what it claims are peace deals. But, so far, they have turned out to be dubious packages of propaganda designed to give the impression that it is a peace maker; Israel is a peace lover and that Hamas is a bunch of unrelenting terrorists wedded to violence.

    Meanwhile, the war continues with the US creating an Iron Dome to shield Israel from missiles of international condemnation and adherence to international law.

    The cyclic pattern of US actions in the past ten months, follow a template. First, it increases military aid to Israel but claims strenuous efforts to make peace. Then it announces a peace deal, proclaims Israel’s alleged authorship or acceptance of the deal and, claims Hamas is obstinate. Next, it asks peace lovers to pressure Hamas acceptance; Hamas accepts, Israel denies the deal and the US repeats the cycle.

    Earlier this year, a peace deal allegedly accepted by Israel was announced. It included the release of wounded, sick and elderly hostages held in Gaza and an extendable six-week ceasefire that could allow for more aid to be delivered to besieged Gaza. Hamas was alleged to be delaying the peace deal. But all Hamas asked was for a permanent ceasefire and release of all hostages. An angry Israel rejected the peace deal and, as possible punishment for the Hamas insolence, increased its bombardment of Rafah City in southern Gaza.

    This cycle has been most apparent within the last three months. On Friday, May 31, 2024, US President Joe Biden surprised the world with an announcement that Israel had proposed a peace plan! He claimed it was one that would ensure a ceasefire in exchange for the release of hostages. To him, the only obstacle was Hamas accepting it. He told the Palestinian group that the alleged Israeli plan was the best way to end the conflict.

    Turning to the world, he said: “It’s time for this war to end and for the day after to begin.”

    Many were doubtful that Israel would package a peace plan. But it didn’t matter who gives birth to a peace plan so long as it works.

    Same day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had authorised its negotiators to present the peace plan to the Palestinians.

    This plan technically included the core Hamas demand for a permanent ceasefire. It had three phases. First, is a six-week ceasefire during which the Israeli military would withdraw from population centres in Gaza and, hundreds of Palestinian prisoners would be exchanged for hostages. Also, the Palestinian civil populace would be allowed to return to Gaza and 600 aid trucks would be permitted to enter Gaza daily.

    In the second phase, both sides were to negotiate terms for a permanent end to hostilities. Biden had added that: “The ceasefire will still continue as long as negotiations continue.” The third phase included a major reconstruction plan for destroyed Gaza.

    This peace package was in contrast with the rhetoric coming out of Israel. But if Biden, a major backer of Israel said this peace deal was not only acceptable to the latter, but that Israel had actually packaged it, why doubt him?

    Biden also made a show of addressing Israelis who may not support their country’s peace proposals: “As someone who’s had a lifelong commitment to Israel, as the only American President who has ever gone to Israel at a time of war, as someone who just sent the U.S. forces to directly defend Israel when it was attacked by Iran, I ask you to take a step back, think what will happen if this moment is lost.

    But many doubted the US. They thought it was another American ploy to be seen as a peace broker; make Israel, widely accused of genocide, to smell fresh like roses and portray Hamas as a warmonger.

    For instance, when this peace package was presented to the United Nations Security Council for passage, the Russian Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said it was nebulous. He added: “The Council should not agree to any agreement that has vague parameters…what specifically has Israel agreed to?” Despite its scepticism, Russia did not use its veto. So, the resolution passed by 14:0 votes.

    Immediately this resolution was passed on Monday, March 25, 2024, the US moved to the next stage of the drama: present Hamas as an unreasonable and belligerent group opposed to peace. US Ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, claimed that with the passage, if Hamas were to agree to the resolution, fighting could stop immediately. She warned Hamas to beware that the world is “united behind a deal that will save lives and help Palestinian civilians in Gaza start to rebuild and heal. United behind a deal that will reunite hostages with their families after eight months in captivity.”

    Hamas immediately accepted the resolution and it seemed peace had come at last. But alas, it was all a US-Israeli ruse. Israel’s rejection of this peace deal which President Biden had claimed was crafted by it, was instantaneous and venomous.

    Apparently, this so-called peace deal was supposed to be a propaganda stunt. So, Israel was very angry the US had allowed it pass at the UN Security Council by merely abstaining rather than vetoing it.

    Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who was in Washington when the resolution was passed, said it was scandalous. He added: “We have no moral right to stop the war in Gaza until we return all the hostages to their homes.”

    Five months after the US claimed that once the UN passed the peace resolution and Hamas accepts, hostilities would come to an end, no such thing has happened. Rather, the US this week announced another of its dubious peace plans which like previous ones, is unlikely to lead to peace.