Latest news with #Potus
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First Post
2 days ago
- Business
- First Post
How Qatari luxury jet will be converted into Air Force One to fly President Trump
The royal family of Qatar had gifted US President Donald Trump a luxury jet earlier. While Trump plans to use it as Air Force One, the Secret Service has some concerns. What would it take to turn the plane into one fit to fly Potus? read more Qatar Air Force Apache gunships perform a flyover as Air Force One is ready to depart from Al Udeid Air Base in Doha, Qatar. AP President Donald Trump really wants to fly on an upgraded Air Force One — but making that happen could depend on whether he's willing to cut corners with security. As government lawyers sort out the legal arrangement for accepting a luxury jet from the Qatari royal family , another crucial conversation is unfolding about modifying the plane so it's safe for the American president. Installing capabilities equivalent to the decades-old 747s now used as Air Force One would almost certainly consign the project to a similar fate as Boeing's replacement initiative, which has been plagued by delays and cost overruns. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Air Force Secretary Troy Meink told lawmakers Thursday that those security modifications would cost less than $400 million but provided no details. Satisfying Trump's desire to use the new plane before the end of his term could require leaving out some of those precautions, however. A White House official said Trump wants the Qatari jet ready as soon as possible while adhering to security standards. The official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, did not provide details on equipment issues or the timeline. Trump has survived two assassination attempts, and Iran allegedly also plotted to kill him, so he's well aware of the danger he faces. However, he seems willing to take some chances with security, particularly when it comes to communications. For example, he likes to keep his personal phone handy despite the threat of hacks. He boasted this week that the government got the jet 'for free,' saying, 'We need it as Air Force One until the other ones are done.' Here's a look at what it would take to make the Qatari plane into a presidential transport: What makes a plane worthy of being Air Force One? Air Force One is the call sign for any plane that's carrying the president. The first aircraft to get the designation was a propeller-powered C-54 Skymaster, which ferried Franklin D Roosevelt to the Yalta Conference in 1945. It featured a conference room with a bulletproof window. Things are a lot more complicated these days. Boeing has spent years stripping down and rebuilding two 747s to replace the versions that have carried presidents for more than three decades. The project is slated to cost more than $5.3 billion and may not be finished before Trump leaves office. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD A 2021 report made public through the Freedom of Information Act outlines the unclassified requirements for the replacement 747s under construction. At the top of the list — survivability and communications. The government decided more than a decade ago that the new planes had to have four engines so they could remain airborne if one or two failed, said Deborah Lee James, who was Air Force secretary at the time. That creates a challenge because 747s are no longer manufactured, which could make spare parts harder to come by. Air Force One also has to have the highest level of classified communications, anti-jamming capabilities and external protections against foreign surveillance, so the president can securely command military forces and nuclear weapons during a national emergency. It's an extremely sensitive and complex system, including video, voice and data transmissions. James said there are anti-missile measures and shielding against radiation or an electromagnetic pulse that could be caused by a nuclear blast. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The point is, it remains in flight no matter what,' she said. Will Trump want all the security bells and whistles? If the Qatari plane is retrofitted to presidential standards, it could cost $1.5 billion and take years, according to a US official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details that aren't publicly available. Testifying before Congress this week, Meink discounted such estimates, arguing that some of the costs associated with retrofitting the Qatari plane would have been spent anyway as the Air Force moves to build the long-delayed new presidential planes, including buying aircraft for training and to have spares available if needed. In response, Rep. Joe Courtney, D-Conn., said that based on the contract costs for the planes that the Air Force is building, it would cost about $1 billion to strip down the Qatar plane, install encrypted communications, harden its defences and make other required upgrades. James said simply redoing the wiring means 'you'd have to break that whole thing wide open and almost start from scratch.' President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart Joint Base Andrews. File image/AP Trump, as commander-in-chief, could waive some of these requirements. He could decide to skip shielding systems from an electromagnetic pulse, leaving his communications more vulnerable in case of a disaster but shaving time off the project. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD After all, Boeing has already scaled back its original plans for the new 747s. Their range was trimmed by 1,200 nautical miles, and the ability to refuel while airborne was scrapped. Paul Eckloff, a former leader of protection details at , expects the president would get the final say. 'The Secret Service's job is to plan for and mitigate risk,' he said. 'It can never eliminate it.' If Trump does waive some requirements, James said that should be kept under wraps because 'you don't want to advertise to your potential adversaries what the vulnerabilities of this new aircraft might be.' It's unlikely that Trump will want to skimp on the plane's appearance. He keeps a model of a new Air Force One in the Oval Office, complete with a darker colour scheme that echoes his personal jet instead of the light blue design that's been used for decades. What happens next? Trump toured the Qatari plane in February when it was parked at an airport near Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin was there, too. The US official said the jet needs maintenance but not more than what would be expected of a four-engine plane of its complexity. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Senator Tammy Duckworth, an Illinois Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said it would be irresponsible to put the president and national security equipment aboard the Qatari plane 'without knowing that the aircraft is fully capable of withstanding a nuclear attack.' 'It's a waste of taxpayer dollars,' she said. Meanwhile, Boeing's project has been hampered by stress corrosion cracks on the planes and excessive noise in the cabins from the decompression system, among other issues that have delayed delivery, according to a Government Accountability Office report released last year. Boeing referred questions to the Air Force, which said in a statement that it's working with the aircraft manufacturer to find ways to accelerate the delivery of at least one of the 747s. Even so, the aircraft will have to be tested and flown in real-world conditions to ensure no other issues. James said it remains to be seen how Trump would handle any of those challenges. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'The normal course of business would say there could be delays in certifications,' she said. 'But things seem to get waived these days when the president wants it.'
IOL News
30-05-2025
- Business
- IOL News
Farmer brain drain could be worse than export loss for SA agriculture
Financial and non-financial incentives must be upscaled to all farmers, especially the developing black farmers, to ensure farmers are committed and not persuaded by short-term political promises in the foreign countries, says the author. Image: File. While excluding South Africa from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (Agoa) would have dire consequences, the emigration of real Afrikaner farmers would be even more damaging to the agricultural sector and the rural economy. Since the departure of 49 white people, who are supposedly farmers, seeking refuge in the US, the country and the agricultural sector have been concerned with the potential Afrikaners exodus to the US. Interestingly, the departure of the 49 self-designated refugees to the US coincided with the NAMPO period, the biggest agricultural show in South Africa. For the past 57 years, NAMPO draws attention of farmers, traders, bankers, technocrats, and other service providers to gather in the Bothaville town and celebrate the grain harvest, appreciate new technologies and agricultural equipment, and welcome new research. The 2025 NAMPO event was particularly unique as it attracted the attention of top public figures and become a diplomatic channel to communicate a message to international communities. President Ramaphosa and Deputy President Mashatile visited the NAMPO event and received a warm and jubilant welcome from true farmers that affirmed their commitment to the country and their devotion to farming. Other prominent public leaders that visited this year's NAMPO event were Minister John Steenhuisen and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Dr Lotriet. The common message emanating from these visits was that there is neither ethnic cleansing nor Afrikaner extermination in the country. Essentially, they dispel the US decision to grant special refugee status to white Afrikaners on the basis of imaginary genocides in South Africa. How Important Is US and Afrikaners to SA Agriculture? Deducing from the messages of farmers and prominent public and private leaders who attended the NAMPO week, there is a solid consensus that farming communities and South Africans, as a whole, are united behind their rainbow nation flag and are opposed to the deluded decision by the Potus. While this may breed confidence and resilience that South Africans are well known for across the globe, it is also important to not lose sight of domestic structural and systematic pitfalls that fuel divisional views that subsequently taint the image of the country in the world. First, is the need to review the current agricultural growth strategy that depends on global demand and innovations while negating the need to build local capabilities on technology and research.\ Video Player is loading. 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Next Stay Close ✕ Agoa is important Agoa is one of the important trade agreements that enable South African farmers to produce and export products like fruits, nuts, wine, fish, and prepared foods. Without a doubt, access to the US market has been one of the critical growth factors for South African agriculture. The US accounted for 4% of South Africa's agricultural exports in 2024, suggesting it is not the largest destination market for farmers. However, looking at only trade data could be deceiving because the US's influence on South African agriculture goes beyond trade relations. When the US enacted Agoa in 2000, it aimed to strengthen trade, economic and political co-operation with African states. It is not a coincidence that the biggest companies providing seeds, agrochemicals, and technical services to South African farmers either originate in the US or at least have strong ties with US investors. This illustrates the interconnectedness and high dependency of South Africa's agriculture and food system on the global economy. While thinking global is important but acting local is vital to build resilience, sustainability and inclusivity. Second, it is the lagging development and transformation in the agricultural sector, which at times causes conflicts and division amongst farmers. On February 18, 2025, Minister Steenhuisen painted a concerning picture where he outlined that 90% of agricultural output is from white farmers. Slow transformation Wandile Sihlobo and Johann Kirsten in their book titled, 'The Uncomfortable Truth About South Africa's Agriculture' affirmed these figures and further highlighted the mushrooming divisions amongst farmer organisations. The slow transformation pace tends to portray white farmers, mainly Afrikaners, as the barriers to commercial agriculture which raises frustrations amongst other population groups which are yet to enjoy the full dividends of democracy. Behind these challenges are limited government support to farmers and decaying off-farm infrastructure and stringent market standards that proportionately disadvantaged black farmers. To resolve these challenges, government and private sector must put their hands on the deck to emulate the South African spirit of unity that was radiating in this year's NAMPO. This means the government must upscale its Comprehensive Agricultural Support Programme and the land reform. Private sector initiatives such as Metropolitan Collective Shapers, Karan Beef Emerging Academy and HortFin by Fruit South Africa, amongst others, must be promoted and encouraged to expand to all provinces in the country. These private and public programmes will encourage all farmers to work together to build a sustainable and growing agricultural sector. Through these collaborations, real Afrikaner farmers who may be considering emigrating to the US, would be able to realise that they will be foregoing centuries of hard work and investment in agriculture, thus making them to stay. Financial and non-financial incentives must be upscaled to all farmers, especially the developing black farmers, to ensure farmers are committed and not persuaded by short-term political promises in the foreign countries. Agriculture will strive through partnerships. Sifiso Ntombela is an agricultural economist. Image: Supplied Dr Sifiso Ntombela is the President of the Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa. He served as the Special Adviser to the former minister Thoko Didiza in the Department of Agriculture, land Reform and Rural Development. Contact details: sifiso@ BUSINESS REPORT
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Putin Aide Drops BOMBSHELL on India; Lavrov Warns PM Modi On ‘BIGGER PLOT' After Op Sindoor
Potus EXPOSED! Indians FURIOUS Over Trump's Ceasefire Flex | MAGA Ally Turned 'UNTRUSTWORTHY' Donald Trump is facing a wave of criticism from Indian Americans and across social media for his recent claims about brokering a ceasefire between India and Pakistan. The controversy started when Trump asserted that he had played a key role in securing the truce, even stating that trade incentives were a driving factor behind the agreement. However, the Indian government has firmly rejected these claims, stating that trade was never discussed during the negotiations, leaving many to question the validity of Trump's remarks. 2.0K views | 2 days ago
The Guardian
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
TV tonight: everything Trump did in his first 100 days as Potus 2.0
9pm, Channel 4Turbulent tariffs, forced migrations, tech bro best friends, accusations of 'gambling with world war three' and every other spine-chilling action in between – by the end of April, Donald Trump will have proved that a lot can happen when you've been Potus for 100 days of your second term. This documentary recalls what's been happening behind the headlines, with help from insiders and commentators, and asks what it means for the days ahead. Hollie Richardson 9pm, BBC OneMental health takes centre stage in the return of this illuminating series following the London ambulance service responding to people in crisis. First, a young woman is at risk of harming herself on Lambeth bridge, before a paramedic and mental health nurse help a heartbroken man drinking alcohol in a public library. Nicole Vassell 9pm, Channel 5When a neighbouring villager brings an old, bejewelled eagle trinket to Sainte Victoire, he's ambushed in an alley and dragged away by a masked figure. Caron launches an urgent investigation into the trinket's origins: could the assault be tied to a high-stakes jewellery heist? Ali Catterall 9pm, Sky AtlanticThroughout season three of Sky's violent crime thriller, a hooded badass has been sabotaging the capital's underworld operations. Now concussed antihero Elliot (Ṣọpẹ́ Dìrísù) finds himself face to face with the mysterious Zeek (Andrew Koji) in a derelict orphanage. Maybe they'll just have a nice chat over a cuppa? Graeme Virtue 9.55pm, Sky Atlantic Megan Stott – who starred with Reese Witherspoon in Little Fires Everywhere – leads this coming-of-age drama. She plays a 16-year-old who wants to quit her normal life to find adventure in the wilderness. She soon finds herself alone and spending her first night in the forest. HR 11pm, BBC TwoStakes are raised as the current series of the gothic but goofy comedy concludes with a double bill. Our self-involved vamps are invited to a weekend bacchanal at a mansion owned by a most notorious bloodsucker. But long-serving familiar Guillermo is harbouring a secret that could tear the group asunder. GV
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
World leader agrees with Vance that mass migration is threat to 'daily life'
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen says she agrees with recent comments from Vice President JD Vance that mass migration into Europe is a major problem. Frederiksen made the comment during an interview with Politico published Thursday, saying it is critical that Europe begin stemming the flow of foreign migrants. "I consider this mass migration into Europe as a threat to the daily life in Europe," Frederiksen said in a throwback to Vance's Feb. 14 speech at the Munich Security Conference in Germany. Frederiksen has backed up her rhetoric with policy as well, with her administration building on anti-migrant policies. Denmark now confiscates valuables from migrants to refund the cost of housing them, and the country's "No Ghetto" laws ensure no neighborhood has an outsized concentration of migrants, Politico reported. Md Gov Defends $190K Trump-centric Irish Consultant Contract As Potus Moves In Next Door "I totally believe in equal opportunities and a Scandinavian welfare model with a tax-paid education, social benefits and health care. But for me that's only one traditional pillar of being a social democrat," she argued to Politico. Read On The Fox News App "Being in control of migration is the second pillar," she added. Lawmakers From State With Most Federal Workers Per Capita Warn Against Trump Buyout Bid Vance's speech in Munich served as a general wake-up call to Europe from President Donald Trump's administration, admonishing leaders across the continent for straying from traditional values and quashing dissent. "The threat that I worry the most about vis-à-vis Europe is not Russia, it's not China. It's not any other external actor," Vance said at the time. "What I worry about is the threat from within the retreat of Europe from some of its most fundamental values, values shared with the United States of America." Vance went on to reference efforts in Romania and Germany to prevent anti-migrant movements from gaining power. "The crisis this continent faces right now, the crisis I believe we all face together, is one of our own making. If you're running in fear of your own voters, there is nothing America can do for you," Vance article source: World leader agrees with Vance that mass migration is threat to 'daily life'
