Latest news with #Administration
OC Media
6 hours ago
- Business
- OC Media
Russian Deputy Prime Minister Novak visits Abkhazia, highlights economic partnership
Sign in or or Become a member to unlock the audio version of this article Join the voices Aliyev wants to silence. For over eight years, OC Media has worked with fearless journalists from Azerbaijan — some of whom now face decades behind bars — to bring you the stories the regime is afraid will get out. Help us fuel Aliyev's fears — become an OC Media member today Become a member Russian Deputy Prime Minister Aleksandr Novak arrived in Abkhazia on Monday, where he held high-level meetings with Abkhazian President Badra Gunba and touted the growth of bilateral economic ties. Novak has served as the Kremlin's curator for Abkhazia since 2022, although Sergei Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Chief of Staff of the Russian Presidential Administration, has increasingly taken centrestage as Russia's representative in Abkhazia. Official readouts from both the Russian government and the Abkhazian state-run media outlet Apsnypress highlighted similar elements of the talks between Novak and Gunba, leading with the increase in bilateral trade turnover since 2020. 'The volume of trade between [Russia and Abkhazia] grew by 60%', Novak said. Gunba concurred, noting that, 'based on the results of 2022–2025, we see positive results: trade turnover has increased significantly, GDP has increased by 187%'. In comments to reporters following the meeting, Novak told journalists that the draft programme for the socio-economic development of Abkhazia from 2026–2030 will be approved by the beginning of November. ''Russia provides support, including financial support, so that the republic can independently ensure its development in the future', Novak said, noting that the new programme will implement new investment projects, provide support for small and medium enterprises, implement the provision of social payments, and work to improve Abkhazia's energy supply. Gunba thanked Russia for its consistent support of Abkhazia and said that surmounting the many problems faced by Sukhumi (Sukhum) would be very difficult without help from Moscow. Advertisement For ease of reading, we choose not to use qualifiers such as 'de facto', 'unrecognised', or 'partially recognised' when discussing institutions or political positions within Abkhazia, Nagorno-Karabakh, and South Ossetia. This does not imply a position on their status.
NZ Herald
13 hours ago
- Politics
- NZ Herald
Analysis: As the Maga world focuses on the Epstein case, Trump seeks to focus on anything else
They included a woman snatching an approaching snake from the grass, a car sliding under a truck barrelling along a highway, and no fewer than four people doing tricks on motorcycles and jet skis. Today, Gabbard added another item to the list - announcing the release of hundreds of thousands of documents related to the 1968 assassination of the Rev Martin Luther King jnr. The through-line connecting those disparate posts? They have nothing to do with the political problem that has dogged Trump for weeks - the 2019 death of Jeffrey Epstein. As the controversy over Epstein, the wealthy financier and sex offender, has refused to dissipate, Trump and those closest to him have tried repeatedly to divert attention to other subjects, with limited success. Republican strategist Alex Conant said the Epstein episode has called into question Trump's ability to evade electoral consequences of actions that would kneecap other politicians. 'Nobody turns the page better than Donald Trump,' Conant said. 'His entire first term was constantly changing narratives. We lost track of all the dramas because he's always adding a new one to distract from the previous ones. 'This is different because he's in a real fight with his base. Normally his base helps change the topic by latching on to a new outrage. 'But now he's in a fight with his base, and the Democrats and the mainstream media are more than happy to fan those flames,' Conant said. The fight started because many of Trump's loyal supporters were angered that the Administration was refusing to follow through on promises to release more details about the Epstein case. The politically connected multimillionaire, who died in 2019, has been the subject of years of elaborate conspiracy theories, many of them fanned by people who now hold senior positions in Trump's Administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino. Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to state charges in Florida of soliciting a minor for prostitution. He was indicted on federal sex-trafficking charges in 2019 and died in jail later that year while awaiting trial. His death was ruled a suicide, though some prominent Trump supporters questioned that and alleged, without evidence, that he had been killed to protect rich and powerful friends who may have also been involved in his abuse of young girls. During an interview on Fox News in March, Attorney-General Pam Bondi said she would be releasing 'truckloads' of new information about Epstein. Instead, the Justice Department released a memo this month saying it had conducted an 'exhaustive review' and found no evidence of an 'incriminating 'client list'' or anything else that warranted public release. That set off an apoplectic response from some in Trump's base, which the Administration has spent two weeks trying to tamp down. Trump has questioned why his supporters had not moved on to more important topics, even suggesting that continued interest in the conspiracy theories benefitted Democrats. 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bull****,' hook, line, and sinker,' Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social last week. 'They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.' That and other efforts to change the subject have been so far unsuccessful, experts and observers say. Instead, new attention has focused on Trump's own well-documented friendship with Epstein, especially after a Wall Street Journal article about a salacious drawing Trump allegedly contributed to a 50th birthday present for the financier in 2003. Trump denied the story and has sued the Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch. By insisting that he is the victim of an unfair media attack, he has rallied some of his most prominent supporters around him. But polls show that large majorities of the public believe the Government is hiding facts about the Epstein case. As a result, the President whose ascent has been linked to a litany of unproven claims now finds his political power threatened by a conspiracy theory he can't shake. 'Donald Trump is the one who cast himself as the elite who doesn't side with the elites. He's the elite who sides with the people. He's going to drain the swamp,' said Russell Muirhead, a professor of democracy and politics at Dartmouth College and a Democratic state legislator from New Hampshire. 'But when he says, 'There's nothing to look at here. We're not going to release what the Justice Department has and forget about that list' … it looks like he's just another elite, corrupt like all the rest, and that impression will remain, to some extent, regardless of whether this particular story is at the top of people's attention.' The President has attempted to make some concessions on the issue, including an announcement last week shortly after the Wall Street Journal published its story that he had directed the Justice Department to petition the courts to release grand jury testimony related to Epstein. Today, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt rejected claims that Trump is paying a political price for his handling of the Epstein case, noting that he enjoys high approval ratings among Republicans. 'The President is the leader and the creator of the Make America Great Again movement. It's his baby that he made and he knows what his supporters want,' she said during an impromptu news conference outside the White House, where nearly a quarter of the questions were about Epstein. 'It's transparency, and he has given them that on all accounts when it comes to everything his Administration has done.' Democrats, seeing an opening, have demanded that Epstein records be released and have blasted Republicans' at times conflicting stances on the issue. How quickly the public may move on from paying attention to the Epstein case might be determined to a greater degree by organic movement in the news cycle than any effort Trump makes, said Conant. 'It's hard to keep a story like this alive unless there's fresh oxygen. Part of why it's become such a big story is because Trump himself keeps talking about it,' he said. 'It's not a coincidence this is happening in the dog days of summer. There's no big legislative fight. There's no national crisis. Fast-forward two months and we're going to be facing a government shutdown. Time is on the President's side here.'
Time Magazine
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Time Magazine
These House Republicans Want the Epstein Files Released
President Donald Trump's decision to direct Attorney General Pam Bondi to release grand jury testimony in the Jeffrey Epstein case was intended to appease his political base after he had called them 'stupid' for demanding the files to be released. But a group of House Republicans and right-wing influencers is arguing that they will accept nothing short of the federal government releasing everything it has on Epstein's network and any high-profile connections. The dispute has opened a rare and unusually public rift within Trump's MAGA movement, as some of his most vocal allies accuse the Administration of falling short of its promises. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky is leading a bipartisan effort with Democrat Ro Khanna of California to force a vote on legislation requiring the full release of Epstein-related government files. At least 10 other House Republicans have endorsed the measure, including longtime Trump allies Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. That's enough Republicans to pass the bill out of the House if every Democrat supports it. But Republican leaders are closing ranks behind Trump. On Monday, House Speaker Mike Johnson ruled out bringing Massie's bill to the floor before the upcoming August recess. 'There is no daylight between the House Republicans and the President on maximum transparency,' Johnson told reporters. 'He has said he wants all the credible files related to Epstein to be released... My belief is we need the Administration to have the space to do what it is doing.' Pressed on whether the House would vote before recess, Johnson replied: 'No.' Massie and others aren't backing down. Responding to a social media post from podcast host Theo Von asking why the bill can't be brought up now, Massie wrote: 'We should not punt this until after the 5-week recess, nor should we wait for my discharge petition to ripen and collect the required signatures to force the vote.' Despite Trump's insistence that the issue is overblown, a recent CBS News poll found that 89% of Americans—including majorities across party lines—believe the Justice Department should release all documents related to Epstein. These are the 11 House Republicans who have backed the resolution to compel the full release of Epstein-related documents: Thomas Massie—Kentucky's 4th District The libertarian from rural Kentucky has been a frequent foil to the Trump Administration, and he's leading the charge along with Democratic Rep. Khanna to force Congress to vote on publicizing Epstein-related records. 'We all deserve to know what's in the Epstein files, who's implicated, and how deep this corruption goes,' he wrote on social media. 'Americans were promised justice and transparency.' After Bondi said on Thursday that the Justice Department would move to release grand jury transcripts, Massie said: 'Folks, Keep the pressure on, it's working. But we want all the files.' Trump's allies recently launched a Super PAC to oust Massie, who is up for re-election next year and opposed the President's domestic policy bill. Marjorie Taylor Greene—Georgia's 14th District The firebrand Republican has been one of Trump's most ardent supporters on Capitol Hill since her election in 2021. But on Monday, she appeared to warn Trump that his supporters would no longer stand behind him if the Department of Justice does not release more information on Epstein. 'If you tell the base of people, who support you, of deep state treasonous crimes, election interference, blackmail, and rich powerful elite evil cabals, then you must take down every enemy of The People,' Greene posted to social media. 'If not,' she continued, 'The base will turn and there's no going back. Dangling bits of red meat no longer satisfies. They want the whole steak dinner and will accept nothing else.' Tim Burchett—Tennessee's 2nd District Burchett has continued to urge the Department of Justice to release evidence in the Epstein case. On Sunday, he called Trump's decision to direct the DOJ to unseal grand jury evidence 'a start' but warned the full truth may never come out. 'I don't think we're ever going to get to the bottom of … all of it, Ma'am,' Burchett said on ABC's This Week. 'You know, this town doesn't give up its secrets very easy.' Asked if Bondi should resign over her handling of the Epstein case, Burchett said: 'I have a saying: It's not how you start, it's how you finish. If she finishes strong on this, then I'm all for it,' Burchett said. 'I'm sure the learning curve is steep, and I think she blundered in the beginning, I really do, as most Americans do.' Eric Burlison—Missouri's 7th District Burlison, a member of the House Oversight Committee, has urged Trump to go beyond releasing grand jury testimony, warning that such testimony may cover only a narrow slice of the case and omit critical evidence. 'He needs to direct Pam Bondi to release everything they possibly can,' Burlison said in an interview with the Daily Signal. 'And if you don't have the answers, go find them. Dedicate resources to investigate it.' Burlison has also called for congressional hearings that give victims a platform and suggested Trump consider appointing a special prosecutor to probe the Epstein case. On Monday, he posted on social media: 'From the JFK files to the Russian collusion hoax, it's clear the deep state likes to hide the truth from the American people. Uncovering the truth about Epstein needs to be a priority as well.' Lauren Boebert—Colorado's 4th District Boebert last week said that Trump should appoint a special counsel to investigate the Epstein case, suggesting that former House Republican Matt Gaetz should lead the investigation. 'I think moving forward, we need a special counsel,' Boebert said, offering up Gaetz's name. 'There has to be a special investigation into this if we aren't going to be provided information.' (Gaetz was Trump's original pick for Attorney General before his candidacy was marred by allegations that he had paid for sex with a minor, which Gaetz denies). The White House on Thursday said that Trump did not support the appointment of a special counsel. Jeff Van Drew—New Jersey's 2nd District The former Democrat from New Jersey joined the Republican Party in 2019 during his first term in Congress. He has co-sponsored Massie's resolution calling for the release of Epstein records. 'The American people deserve full transparency,' Van Drew said in a post. Eli Crane—Arizona's 2nd District Crane, who has served in the House since 2023, also signed onto the resolution forcing the Epstein files to be released, telling Axios that it's 'something that I've supported from day one.' 'I think there needs to be transparency, and I'm glad to see that this is bipartisan because it should be,' he said. Cory Mills—Florida's 7th District Mills, an Army Veteran who joined the House in 2023, co-sponsored the resolution last Wednesday, but has not publicly commented on the Epstein case. Tom Barrett—Michigan's 7th District The Michigan Republican said that he co-sponsored the resolution because 'there are too many questions and not enough answers about the Epstein files.' 'I agree that it's time to release them, which is why I put my name on a resolution to force their release and give the American people the transparency they deserve,' he wrote on X. Max Miller—Ohio's 7th District Miller, who has served in the House since 2023, said he co-sponsored the resolution because 'I believe in transparency and delivering the truth to the American people.' Nancy Mace—South Carolina's 1st District The South Carolina Republican, who is considering a run for governor, gave a speech on the House floor in Febraury accusing four men—including her ex-fiancé—of rape, sex trafficking and other sex crimes against her. She has said she wants the Epstein files to be released and called on 'any one who raped underage girls [to be] in handcuffs and behind bars.' 'I've always been an advocate for women and children,' she said in a social post. 'The Jeffrey Epstein case is no different. I want to see arrests.'
Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
UT demolishes Furniture Market, reclaims 10–12 acres of land
The Chandigarh Administration Sunday showed its commitment to planned and sustainable urban development by demolishing the Furniture Market and reclaimed approximately 10–12 acres of land in sectors 53–54. As per a Chandigarh Administration official, the reclaimed land, acquired for the third phase of Chandigarh's urban expansion, has now been handed over to the Engineering Department for its planned development. It is valued at approximately Rs 400 crore. The original landowners have been duly compensated in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, ensuring a fair and transparent acquisition process, added the official. Chandigarh's Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav has urged all citizens to refrain from unauthorised occupation of public land. On Sunday, the demolition drive at the 40-year-old furniture market in Sector 53 began at 7 am. It was backed by nearly 1,000 police personnel, civil defence volunteers, and heavy machinery, including JCBs and poclain machines. Officials from the UT Administration reached the site and made announcements urging shopkeepers to vacate the premises and remove their belongings. While many traders had already shifted their furniture, a few still had stock left. These shopkeepers were given a brief time to clear out before the demolition commenced in their shops. Rajeev Bhandari, brother of Furniture Market Association president Sanjeev Bhandari, expressed disappointment over the drive. 'We did everything we could to save this market — it holds over four decades of memories. Unfortunately, we now have no option but to relocate,' he said. The disputed land, part of a 227.22-acre acquisition made in 2002 for developing sectors 53, 54, and 55, included 10-12 acres allegedly encroached upon by furniture dealers. While 29 shops were already demolished on June 30, another 116 were razed Sunday, marking the final phase of the clearance. Cong slams demolition, demands immediate rehabilitation The Congress has criticised the Chandigarh Administration's demolition of the decades-old Furniture Market, calling the action arbitrary, unjust, and devoid of humanity. The move has displaced hundreds of shopkeepers and rendered numerous daily-wage workers jobless. Chandigarh Congress president H S Lucky criticised the administration for ignoring the Punjab and Haryana High Court's advice to take a sympathetic approach and explore possibilities of alternative site allotments for affected traders. 'The administration acted without proper notice, consultation, or arrangements for relocation. This isn't governance — it's a systematic attack on the livelihoods of ordinary citizens,' Lucky said. He accused the administration of repeatedly showing a lack of concern for people's lives and called for an immediate rehabilitation plan and alternative commercial spaces for the evicted shopkeepers. 'Demolition has become their only achievement' The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) opposed the Chandigarh Administration move to demolish decades-old furniture market in sectors 53–54, terming the action 'heartless' and 'ill-conceived.' The party accused the administration of systematically targeting the urban poor and small traders. 'The same administration that cleared slum clusters without proper rehabilitation has now bulldozed small furniture businesses, leaving over 100 shopkeepers and their families without livelihood,' said AAP Chandigarh president Vijaypal Singh. Singh added, 'These traders have been part of Chandigarh's economy for decades, contributing taxes and services. Their sudden eviction is unjust. The government must immediately announce compensation and a structured rehabilitation policy.' AAP general secretary Sunny Aulkakh emphasised that the Furniture Market had served the city's needs for nearly 40 years and that the overnight demolition without offering an alternative site was unacceptable. 'All affected shopkeepers must be allotted space in the proposed Sector 56 bulk market and compensated for their losses,' he said. Vikrant A Tanwar, AAP's general secretary (trade) and state media in-charge, declared the party's intent to escalate the issue at every available platform. 'We demand a joint committee with trader representatives to ensure transparency in compensation and fairness in relocation,' he said. The AAP also reminded the administration that true development should be measured by how many lives are improved — not how many livelihoods are destroyed. 'Small traders are the backbone of Chandigarh's economy. Demolition cannot be a substitute for policy,' the party said in a joint statement.
Japan Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Japan Times
Trump aims tariff double whammy at industries and nations by Aug. 1
U.S. President Donald Trump is readying plans for industry-specific tariffs to kick in alongside his country-by-country duties in two weeks, ramping up his push to reshape the United States' standing in the global trading system by penalizing purchases from abroad. Administration officials could release details of Trump's planned 50% duty on copper in the days before they're set to take effect Aug. 1, according to a person familiar with the matter. That's the same date so-called reciprocal levies on products from more than a 100 nations are slated to begin. Trump said Tuesday he is likely to impose tariffs on pharmaceuticals by month's end, adding that import taxes on semiconductors could come soon as well. One person familiar with the process said after copper, Trump's team has discussed making announcements on lumber, chips, critical minerals and drugs in that order, though that cadence has not been finalized and may change. Those would follow existing duties on steel, aluminum, automobiles and car parts. Once fully implemented, all the sectoral tariffs would cover 30% to 70% of a country's imports, with much of the rest being hit by country-specific charges, according to a person familiar with the matter. The coming wave of U.S. customs taxes will test the calm in financial markets, where investors mostly see Trump's tough tariff talk as a negotiating ploy prone to delays and de-escalation rather than a prolonged economic headwind. After investigations that can last about nine months, sectoral duties are being imposed on national security grounds under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act. It's seen as stronger legal footing than the emergency powers Trump used for his country levies, which face court challenges and are being assigned in letters to dozens of trading partners without a deal. The European Union, Japan, India and others have sought to lower both their reciprocal and sectoral rates. That's complicating talks, given that U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer handles country-based rates, while Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick oversees tariffs on industries, according to people familiar with the dynamics. Here's where tariffs on each industry stand. Pharmaceuticals Trump told reporters Tuesday that drug duties would come "probably at the end of the month, and we're going to start off with a low tariff and give the pharmaceutical companies a year or so to build, and then we're going to make it a very high tariff.' Last month, he said duties on pharmaceuticals could grow as high as 200%. Lutnick said on July 8 that the phase-in period could last up to two years. A staff draft document has focused levies on between 80 and 90 generic essential medicines, as well as specialty chemicals and precursors, according to a person familiar with it. Those parameters have not been set, however, and the complex nature of the investigation could mean the process could drag out longer, another person said. Levies on generic medicines that have slim profit margins could hit companies including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd and Sandoz Group AG. A broader hit that includes brand-name drugs like Ozempic and Keytruda will weigh on the largest manufacturers, such as Eli Lily & Co., Merck & Co. and Pfizer. Semiconductors Chips tariffs are on a "similar' timeline to drugs and are "actually less complicated,' Trump said Tuesday. Semiconductors were exempted earlier this year from U.S. tariffs on China to give the administration time to develop separate duties. The wide array of exempted products, including inputs for consumer electronics, suggests a very broad consideration of item that could get hit later. Tech companies, auto manufacturers, boat makers and cryptocurrency enthusiasts are among those who have registered complaints over potential levies, according to public comments on the probe, which started in April. The charges won't just hit the chips themselves, but popular products including Apple and Samsung Electronics smartphones and laptops. It's even brought together rivals Tesla, General Motors and Ford Motor, which have all voiced reservations. Copper Copper duties are set to include all refined metal as well as semi-finished products used in power grids, data centers and the military. The outcome of the investigation that started in March could have an outsize effect on consumer prices, because the metal is in automobiles, homebuilding materials, appliances and many other products. While domestic copper producers competing with foreign suppliers may benefit, U.S. buyers of copper targeted with levies will face higher costs. Some of the nation's largest copper miners met Thursday in Washington to discuss how best to message the administration on how to boost the domestic industry while also avoiding punitive tariffs that would harm production. Lumber The administration's lumber investigation is proceeding on a separate track from existing duties on the material from Canada — by far the U.S.'s top source of imports. The probe is expected to conclude by summer's end, trade attorney Luke Meisner said during a Wednesday panel. More than a dozen lawmakers have pushed the Commerce Department to implement tariffs of at least 60% on imported wood products, such as cabinets and vanities. Some have urged the administration to tariff cabinets at 100% tariffs. Republicans from Alabama, North Carolina and Pennsylvania have written letters to the administration that their home-state manufacturers are threatened by cheap foreign imports. Sen. Tommy Tuberville said he expects the administration to fulfill their requests. Critical minerals The critical minerals investigation has proved difficult, according to people familiar with the process. The administration has made several moves to speed domestic mineral extraction and processing in order to reduce dependence on China. But in the short term, there is little domestic industry to protect with tariffs. Only one U.S.-based company operates a rare-earth mine and processing operation. America remains reliant on imports and tariffs could create supply crunches. Commercial aviation The EU is among the economies negotiating with the administration for exemptions from possible tariffs on commercial aircraft and jet engines. The Commerce Department launched its investigation in May, which remains pending. Others The Commerce Department on Monday launched investigations into drones and polysilicon, a key material for solar panels, setting the stage for tariffs but likely at a later date. The department also started an investigation into medium- and heavy-duty trucks used in shipping in April that is ongoing.
