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Boston Globe
13 hours ago
- Business
- Boston Globe
Trying to satisfy Trump, NATO is running into difficulties
In any case, his influence is certain to loom over the gathering. Advertisement It has already driven an effort by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to increase military spending by each of the alliance's 32 members to meet a figure suggested by Trump. He has demanded it be raised to 5 percent of each country's gross domestic product, up from the current level of 2 percent. Rutte has proposed widening the definition of military spending to help meet that objective. The new benchmark would include 3.5 percent of GDP on core military spending — weapons, capabilities, troops — and the rest on what NATO calls 'defense and security-related investment, including in infrastructure and resilience.' In the weeks since Rutte's idea gained steam, its details, and shortcomings, have become clearer, according to officials and experts. The timeline to increase spending may be different for everyone, and officials are confused about the requirements. Even if countries do allocate the sums, European and even American defense industries may not be able to absorb the money or deliver in a timely fashion. Advertisement And while NATO countries generally agree it is past time to spend more on security in Europe, where officials believe a militarized Russia might be tempted to test the alliance within years, some nations already struggle to reach the existing target on military spending. They are unlikely to meet Trump's demand soon, if ever. The discussion about Rutte's proposal, experts said, has devolved into a debate over spending billions of dollars to fund an ever-widening range of priorities. 'It is largely a shell game,' said Jeremy Shapiro, a former State Department official and now research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations. 'There is some reality there, because defense spending is increasing across Europe, but more because of Vladimir Putin than Donald Trump.' Trump first demanded the 5 percent figure two weeks before his inauguration, although his ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, insisted recently that the United States was not 'driving the timeline' for allies to spend more on defense. 'The threats are driving the timeline,' he said. 'Europe keeps telling us that Russia is their biggest threat, and we agree, in the Euro-Atlantic it is. And so we need to make sure everybody's investing.' Initially, Trump's ambitions seemed both abstract and implausible: Only 23 NATO members were meeting their spending goals by the end of last year. But Rutte's proposal allows for some spending on what NATO calls 'military-adjacent' projects. In practical terms, that could include investments in advanced technology; rebuilding roads, bridges, and other infrastructure; civic defense; education; improved health services; and aid to Ukraine. Advertisement In effect, the Trump benchmark 'is both real and not real,' said Nathalie Tocci, director of Italy's Institute of International Affairs. 'The real thing is 3.5 percent, which has nothing to do with Trump and everything to do with NATO's getting what it judges it needs,' she said. 'The unreal part is the 1.5 percent, the PR move for Trump,' she said. 'Of course infrastructure is important, and diplomacy and education, so lump it all together for Trump. And if the magic figure of 5 percent ensures benign indifference rather than malign hostility, that's all to the good.' The proposal may have helped Rutte balance the president's desires with those of European leaders, but it has also created complications. Defense ministers meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels this month appeared confused over how the money should be spent, and how soon, and over whether aid to Ukraine could count. 'We have to find a realistic compromise between what is necessary and what is possible, really, to spend,' said Germany's defense minister, Boris Pistorius. Luxembourg's defense minister, Yuriko Backes, was more blunt. 'It will be the capabilities that will keep us safe, not percentages,' she said. 'This is what should be driving our investments, not the other way around.' Luxembourg will reach the current spending threshold — which was set in 2014 to be accomplished in a decade — only this year. Allies are debating how to count the aid to Ukraine. The current plan is to consider it core military spending. But some of the countries nearest to Russia's borders do not want to dilute their domestic defense and want aid to Ukraine categorized as 'related investments.' Advertisement There is also uncertainty about when allies would be expected to meet the higher spending threshold. Rutte initially proposed 2032, but countries on NATO's eastern flank want it to happen sooner. NATO intelligence suggests that, without a credible military deterrent, Russia could mount an effective offensive against the alliance in five years after the Ukraine war ends. 'We don't have time even for seven years,' Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur of Estonia said recently. 'We have to show that we have everything we need to defend our countries.' This article originally appeared in
Los Angeles Times
08-06-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Feds vow to continue immigration enforcement ‘every day in L.A.' Here are your rights
As the number of immigration raids has increased across Southern California over the last week, there are more questions than ever about how to handle an interaction with federal agents. Agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement made arrests in the Garment District, specifically at Ambiance Apparel, where immigration authorities detained employees inside the clothing wholesaler, and other locations on Friday. Protests followed into the weekend, prompting the deployment of National Guard troops in downtown Los Angeles by the Trump administration. The raids are the latest in a string of high-profile immigration enforcement actions over the last week, part of President Trump's promised deportation crackdown. A few days ago, immigration agents raided a popular San Diego restaurant and made arrests, sparking a standoff with outraged residents. Agents also arrested Chinese and Taiwanese nationals at an underground nightclub in the Los Angeles area. Officials suggest many more raids are coming. 'I'm telling you what, we're going to keep enforcing law every day in L.A.,' Trum's 'border czar,' Tom Homan, told NBC News. 'Every day in L.A., we're going to enforce immigration law. I don't care if they like it or not.' Officials have not said how long the raids will last or described the larger operation. But in the deployment memo sending the National Guard to L.A., officials said 'the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion.' Over the last few months, The Times has asked experts for guidance for employees and employers who find themselves in the cross-hairs. Here is a summary of what we found: If you're home alone or with family members and you hear a knock at the door, check the window, security camera or peephole so you can identify whether ICE agents are outside. When you find yourself in this situation, the first step is to keep your door closed and locked, advised advocacy groups and legal experts. You must open your door and allow agents inside your home if they present a valid search warrant. Advocates say agents must identify themselves and show you the warrant by putting it against the window or slipping it under your door. A valid warrant must be: This can be an overwhelming and scary situation. All those emotions are valid, said Pedro Trujillo, director of organizing for the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights. Take a moment to gather yourself, he suggests, because there isn't a time limit on the visit. If you need help verbalizing your rights, show the agent a Red Card that helps explain your rights. Red Cards can be downloaded from the website for the Immigration Legal Resource Center. By showing this card, you're affirming that you want to remain silent and wish to speak to a lawyer. The card states that the person ICE agents are inquiring about has the right to decline answering questions and signing or handing over documents based on their 5th Amendment rights under the U.S. Constitution. You can present this card to agents, whether it's a physical copy or a photo on your phone, by displaying it through the window. If ICE agents enter your home without consent, you have the right to say: 'I do not consent to this entry or search,' according to advocates. Don't physically resist. Instead, you have the right to document what happens, including: After agents have left, you have the right to reach out to and consult with a legal representative. You have the right to remain silent. For example, if you're asked about your immigration status, where you were born or how you entered the United States, you may refuse to answer or remain silent, according to the National Immigration Law Center. You can simply say, 'I want to remain silent' or 'I am exercising my right to remain silent.' Experts advise that you are not required to sign documents or provide personal information. If ICE agents are present when you're on public transportation: If ICE agents approach you while you're in the car: If you are detained or taken into custody, you have the right to reach out to an attorney and receive a phone call from an attorney. You can prove you have a lawyer by giving the officer your signed Form G-28, a federal document that details your lawyer's information and your consent to their legal representation. Don't have a lawyer? You can ask the ICE official for a list of pro-bono lawyers. You can also ask to contact the consulate, which may be able to assist you in finding a lawyer. Get familiar with the rules of the detention center you've been placed in. You can do so by asking for a copy of the Detainee Handbook to understand the detention center's rules, your rights and how you can communicate with loved ones. The book is available in 19 languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Hindi, K'iche' (Quiché)/Kxlantzij, Mam, Portuguese, Pulaar, Punjabi, Q'eqchi' (Kekchí), Romanian, Russian, Simplified Chinese, Turkish, Vietnamese and Wolof. A raid is when ICE agents arrive at a work site without warning the employer. They can be accompanied by other agencies or appear in large numbers, according to the California Employers Assn. ICE agents can go to a business to try to find a particular person, or people, according to the National Immigration Law Center. The California Employers Assn. recommends creating a four-step response plan that should address the following: Who should be alerted: Alerting management and employee/union representatives within an organization can help reduce workplace disruption and keep employees calm, said Giuliana Gabriel, vice president of human resources at the California Employers Assn. 'Rumors and misinformation tend to create panic amongst a workforce, and some employees may even try to flee or confront agents,' she said. 'Running could give the agents reason to detain or arrest someone, so having an employee representative or member of management to maintain order and keep employees calm is advisable.' Legal counsel should immediately be notified when ICE shows up because they can help 'protect your organization and your employees from agents overstepping their boundaries or taking liberties as far as what they are authorized to do at your workplace,' she added. Authorized speakers: Examples of people who can be designated to speak with agents include the business owner or a member of the management team, such as a general manager or human resources representative. 'Ideally it would be someone familiar with your response plan, if you have one, and authorized to speak on behalf of the company,' Gabriel said. The identified person or people should be able to communicate confidently, clearly and remain composed 'while protecting the privacy of your organization and its employees,' she said. Gathering ICE agent information: You have the right to ask immigration officials which agency they represent as well as for their names, badge numbers and business cards. 'There have been reports of citizens impersonating ICE agents to target, detain and harass others,' Gabriel said. Designated waiting area: Find a conference room or office where agents can wait. This can limit workplace disruptions. Businesses should enact their response plan immediately when immigration officials arrive. Before ICE agents can enter private areas of your business (public areas are parking lots or lobbies), they must present a valid warrant to conduct their search. As when a warrant is presented at a private home, at the workplace a valid warrant must be issued by a court, have the correct name and address of the person being seized and be signed by a judge or magistrate judge. Businesses should ensure that employees know their rights and that they should refrain from engaging with ICE officials, according to the National Employment Law Project. If ICE agents have questions or requests, workers should not respond and instead direct the officials to speak with their employer.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Elon Musk is distancing himself from Trump: ‘I don't want to take responsibility for everything'
The and CEO says any criticism would create a 'bone of contention' with President Trump, whom he helped install into office. Just about 48 hours after Musk left the government, his preferred pick to run NASA was withdrawn by the White House. Now that Elon Musk is no longer a member of President Trump's advisory team, the Tesla CEO and SpaceX entrepreneur is starting to put some daylight between himself and the White House. The world's wealthiest man spent over a quarter of a billion dollars of his own fortune to ensure Trump beat opponent Kamala Harris in November's race for the Oval Office. Musk was so jubilant his all-in bet had paid off that his excited thank-you to Trump voters at the inauguration was likened to fascist salute as he claimed 'the future of civilization is assured.' Speaking with CBS News recently, a far more restrained Musk struck a markedly different tone. Initially insisting he would only discuss SpaceX, the tycoon then complained about the federal spending bill currently making its way through Congress. 'I'm a little stuck in a bind,' Musk told the broadcaster in an interview. 'I don't want to speak out against the administration, but I also don't want to take responsibility for everything the administration is doing.' He explained that it was difficult for him to criticize the president openly since it would create a 'bone of contention' between the entrepreneur and the Trump White House. The comments to CBS News—itself under fire by critics recently for backsliding on its journalistic integrity to end a feud with Trump—were recorded in advance on Tuesday before airing on Sunday. A few remarks had already been revealed last week, including his public criticism of Trump's tax-cut bill. Only a day after the interview, Musk gave notice that he would be leaving the government. On Sunday, the first potential repercussions of the SpaceX CEO's departure became visible. Citing a thorough review of 'prior associations,' Trump pulled his nomination for the post of NASA administrator, Jared Isaacman, a favorite of Musk. The entrepreneur later posted: 'It is rare to find someone so competent and good-hearted.' Whether Trump celebrated Thanksgiving with family in Mar-a-Lago or attended sporting events like a UFC match or Army-Navy game, Musk never strayed far from his side. He called himself the 'First Buddy,' but others argued he acted more like a co-president. Trump was protective of Musk, initially—even turning the White House South Lawn into an impromptu Tesla showroom. When Musk lashed out at MAGA supporters over their opposition of the H-1B visa, Trump backed the Tesla CEO over his own base. When reports emerged that cabinet members refused to take their orders from Musk, the President publicly faced them down in front of cameras. This dynamic changed, according to reports, after Musk's efforts to elect a Republican to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court backfired at the start of April. Only a month ago, Musk was still singing Trump's praises at a Cabinet meeting to mark the first hundred days of his term. The Tesla CEO was not shy about throwing around superlatives, predicting the Trump White House would go on to make history after more had been accomplished in his view than by any Oval Office occupant ever before. 'I think this could be the greatest administration since the founding of the country,' he told the Cabinet in comments at the time. This story was originally featured on
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tom Brady — no, not that one — charged with extorting sheriff's office employees
The former deputy superintendent of the Norfolk County Sheriff's Office was arrested Wednesday on charges he extorted employees to perform free labor at his home. Thomas Brady, 53, of Norwood, was indicted by a federal grand jury on four counts of extortion and three counts of use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion. According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Brady served as assistant deputy superintendent for jail operations at the sheriff's office from 2021 to May 2023. From December 2021 to mid-November 2022, he ordered subordinate maintenance employees to do repair work at his home both during and after work hours, beginning with installing a new shower head in late 2021. Brady drove one of the employees, referred to in charging documents as 'Maintenance Officer A,' to his home to install the shower head during the employee's work shift, then drove them back to the sheriff's office to complete their shift, officials said. Then, on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, Brady contacted Maintenance Officer A to fix his water heater, according to charging documents. The employee was busy that day, but went to Brady's home the next day instead of going to work. There, they disconnected the broken water heater and drove it and Brady to Home Depot, where Brady purchased a new 50-gallon water heater that Maintenance Officer A brought back to his house and installed. The employee then drove to the sheriff's office for the rest of the work day. On Oct. 6 of that year, another employee, referred to as 'Maintenance Officer B,' went to Brady's home during work hours after Brady asked them to fix his heating system. Brady contacted the employee again later when he had subsequent issues with the heating system, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. In a text exchange on Oct. 15, a coworker, 'Maintenance Officer C,' told Maintenance Officer B that Brady was looking for them. 'What the [expletive] do I do,' Maintenance Officer B wrote back. On Nov. 1 and 2, Maintenance Officers B and C went to Brady's home, where they drained the hot water system, removed the circulator pump and installed a new pump, officials said. Maintenance Officers A and B told federal investigators that they feared if they didn't follow Brady's orders, they would lose their preferred shift, their position or their job at the sheriff's office. Brady was expected to appear in federal court in Boston Wednesday afternoon. The charge of extortion provides for a sentence of up to 20 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. The charge of use of interstate facilities to commit bribery and extortion provides for a sentence of up to five years in prison, three years of supervised release and a $250,000 fine. Market Basket CEO Arthur T. Demoulas placed on paid leave Charlie Woods, son of Tiger Woods, wins 1st AJGA tournament Social media clamoring for Red Sox to call up Roman Anthony after another ugly loss After a noisy launch, Mass. Senate's response to Trump is in park Trump proposes a 15% cap on foreign students at Harvard Read the original article on MassLive.
See - Sada Elbalad
11-05-2025
- Business
- See - Sada Elbalad
US, China Talks Make "Substantial Progress" toward Defusing Trade War
Taarek Refaat US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant said on Sunday that talks in Geneva between the US and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng had made "substantial progress" toward defusing the trade war between the world's two largest economies. Besant added that he would provide more details on Monday, while US Trade Representative Jameson Greer, who also attended the talks, said that the differences between the two sides were not as significant as previously thought. "I am pleased to report that we have made substantive progress between the United States and China in these very important trade talks," Besant told reporters. He added that he had informed President Donald Trump of the progress made in the talks and that a full briefing on the details would be issued on Monday. The talks continued for a second day on Sunday, as the two sides discussed how to de-escalate the trade war, which threatens to significantly damage the global economy. US Trade Representative Jameson Greer said, "The talks were very constructive. It is important to recognize how quickly we reached an agreement, which reflects that the differences may not have been as significant as we had thought." He added, "However, we have made great efforts over these two days. Just remember the reason we are here in the first place: the United States has a massive trade deficit of $1.2 trillion. That is why the President declared a national emergency and imposed tariffs. We are confident that the agreement we have reached with our Chinese partners will help us work toward resolving this national emergency." On his part, the Vice Chairman of the Chinese International Council confirmed that the trade talks with the United States were constructive and had made progress. He said, "China's position on the trade war is clear and consistent." He noted that an agreement was reached to establish a consultation mechanism on trade and economic issues. He stressed that "we will work to enhance certainty and stability in the global economy." In an effort to defuse the trade war that threatens to severely damage the global economy, senior officials from the United States and China met again in Geneva on Sunday to resume talks that began on Saturday. Senior U.S. and Chinese officials concluded the first day of talks in Geneva aimed at defusing a trade war that threatens to deal a severe blow to the global economy. Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a nearly eight-hour meeting with US Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and US Trade Representative Jameson Greer, the first face-to-face meeting between the two sides since the world's two largest economies imposed tariffs exceeding 100% on each other's imports, according to Reuters. Besant and Greer met with He in Geneva after weeks of escalating tensions following President Trump's February tariffs, which Beijing responded with retaliatory measures, bringing annual bilateral trade of nearly $600 billion to a near standstill. This trade standoff, along with Trump's decision last month to impose tariffs on dozens of other countries, has disrupted supply chains, rattled financial markets, and increased fears of a severe global economic recession. Beijing, for its part, rejects what it sees as foreign interference and demands that Washington lower tariffs, clarify which goods it wants China to purchase in greater quantities, and be treated as an equal on the international stage. read more CBE: Deposits in Local Currency Hit EGP 5.25 Trillion Morocco Plans to Spend $1 Billion to Mitigate Drought Effect Gov't Approves Final Version of State Ownership Policy Document Egypt's Economy Expected to Grow 5% by the end of 2022/23- Minister Qatar Agrees to Supply Germany with LNG for 15 Years Business Oil Prices Descend amid Anticipation of Additional US Strategic Petroleum Reserves Business Suez Canal Records $704 Million, Historically Highest Monthly Revenue Business Egypt's Stock Exchange Earns EGP 4.9 Billion on Tuesday Business Wheat delivery season commences on April 15 News Egypt confirms denial of airspace access to US B-52 bombers Lifestyle Pistachio and Raspberry Cheesecake Domes Recipe News Ayat Khaddoura's Final Video Captures Bombardment of Beit Lahia News Australia Fines Telegram $600,000 Over Terrorism, Child Abuse Content Arts & Culture Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban's $4.7M LA Home Burglarized Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Sports Neymar Announced for Brazil's Preliminary List for 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers News Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly Inaugurates Two Indian Companies Arts & Culture New Archaeological Discovery from 26th Dynasty Uncovered in Karnak Temple Business Fear & Greed Index Plummets to Lowest Level Ever Recorded amid Global Trade War
