#or that many of our politicians have 'investment properties' including the federal housing minister

[awkward-teabag]

So tired of everything being derailed by racists.

Want to talk about jobs? Blame immigrants.

Want to talk about the state of housing? Blame immigrants.

Want to talk about post-secondary education? Blame immigrants.

Want to talk about healthcare? Blame immigrants.

Want to talk about the state of the economy in general? Blame immigrants.

And it's never about the systems in place that lead to immigration or the how companies exploit young workers from elsewhere in the world (by taking advantage of their inexperience, their lack of support network, taking their money, and so on), it's all about how those dastardly non-whites are trying to screw honest Canadians out of everything by taking advantage of us, and they're personally going after you.

You can be talking about something and even be open to talking about the complex issue that is immigration but it immediately gets taken over by THEY TOOK OUR JERBS! assholes.

It's at the point where as soon as immigrants/immigration comes up, I peace out unless I know the person and can expect them to have a point beyond bigotry and fascism.

Because it's never about our systems, decade(s) of neglect, neoliberalism or conservatism, or anything like that, it's about how selfish, rich, and anti-white brown kids are and things would be perfectly fine if not for them.

[thisdaynews]

Breaking down Trump’s post-NATO hot spots

New Post has been published on https://thebiafrastar.com/breaking-down-trumps-post-nato-hot-spots/

Breaking down Trump’s post-NATO hot spots

President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in London. | Stefan Rousseau – WPA Pool/Getty Images

President Donald Trump is in his element when he abandons diplomatic protocol and enters fighting mode. And often, those fights are with America’s historic allies.

The president’s open clashes at the NATO leader’s gathering this week with the leaders of France and Canada are a case in point. At the same time, Trump spent some of his time this week offering praise for authoritarian leaders like North Korea’s Kim Jong Un, before zig-zagging back to skepticism.

The pattern of Trump slamming allies and praising strongmen is entrenched enough that officials from NATO countries spent weeks attempting to limit the ways Trump could disrupt this week’s proceedings. Even with the guardrails — such as avoiding referring to the event as an official “summit” — Trump still carved our two hours of impromptu, grievance-filled press conferences.

With the NATO meeting now wrapped, POLITICO has taken stock of which conflicts Trump heated up and which he cooled off during yet another reliably unpredictable gathering of world leaders. And we’ve broken down which specific issues — personal relationships, digital security, trade, defense and climate — were inflamed or smoothed over over the last few days.

The run-down

Personal relationships

Unlike most trained diplomats and career politicians, Trump speaks his mind in public as well as in private.

That was on full display this week when he tussled with other world leaders, calling Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “two-faced” and mocking French President Emmanuel Macron for giving “one of the greatest non-answers” after sarcastically asking him, “Would you like some nice ISIS fighters?”

But the comments have to be graded on the Trump bell curve. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel gives a peer a public dressing down, it’s a carefully planned hit job. That’s not necessarily true with Trump. When Trump criticizes a leader, it is often a means to boost himself. For example, when he chided former British leader Theresa May over her failure to secure Brexit, it was a vehicle to note that the problem was that she hadn’t followed Trump’s advice.

Perhaps the greatest surprise of the NATO summit was that Trump kept quiet about Jeremy Corbyn, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s socialist opponent in Britain’s Dec. 12 election. Trump told local media last month that a Corbyn win would take the country “into such bad places.” But he held his tongue this week, offering only polite praise for Johnson and no-commenting on the rest.

Another surprise was Trump’s cordial press conference with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, where the two leaders praised the other’s leadership of the military alliance. Stoltenberg gave Trump considerable credit for the defense spending increases among NATO allies in recent years, and Trump quickly returned the compliments.

Trump also presented a united front with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, holding an unscheduled meeting with the leader, even as other NATO allies criticized the Turkish leader for his unilateral invasion of northern Syria.

Digital Security

Is there anything more mystical than a 5G network?

It doesn’t actually exist yet (despite some mobile companies already promising 5G speeds), but what’s at stake is whether democratic countries can secure their mobile networks, or whether they will hand a back door key to the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for quicker and cheaper delivery of those networks.

Trump has been leading the charge against allowing Chinese equipment manufacturer Huawei, urging allies to ditch or ban Huawei.

During the NATO conference, Trump brought up the issue with a number of world leaders, including Trudeau and Merkel. The president did give a positive shout-out to Italy for apparently staying away from Huawei, saying, “they look like they’re not going to go forward with that.”

America doesn’t have a major telecommunications network equipment manufacturer — the main players are European companies Ericsson and Nokia, in addition to China’s Huawei and ZTE — but Trump would like Apple or another American tech company to step in.

Most U.S. allies prefer to place limits and conditions on Huawei while stopping short of a full ban. Countries with existing Huawei 4G networks would face years of litigation and costly replacement if they were to abruptly replace the networks.

Trade

President Trump’s main target is China, and he brought his anger to the NATO table.

He pressed allies to get wise to the Chinese Communist Party, which he sees as an unrepentant currency manipulator and intellectual property thief, enabled by state-linked companies that cheat their way to market domination. The International Monetary Fund has found that China was not a currency manipulator.

Trump has also had an up and down relationship with the European Union, which negotiates trade terms for its 28 member countries. Trump struck a trade truce with EU negotiators after a White House visit by EU negotiators in June 2018, but has on several occasions slapped tariffs on specialty export products from sensitive industries and regions in Europe. Hopes of a broader U.S.-EU trade deal are “in the freezer” according to Europe’s recently departed trade commissioner, Cecilia Malmström.

At the NATO gathering, Trump tussled with Macron over the issue, lashing out over a tax France recently levied on American tech companies that operate in the country. In response, the Trump administration on Monday threatened to hit luxury French items with 100 percent tariffs, threatening a truce the two countries had reached in August.

The president was more equanimous toward the British while at the NATO meeting, issuing a public reassurance that he would not negotiate an opening for private American companies to obtain contracts with Britain’s public health system. The possibility has become a point of contention during the U.K. elections, with Corbyn saying such an outcome would drive up drug prices in the country.

Trump also had kind words for the updated trade deal he struck with Canada and Mexico, repeatedly urging Congress to approve it.

Defense

Debates about the future of NATO have focused on how much alliance members should spend on the military, as well as how the organization should prioritize national security threats.

On spending, Trump spent his time at the NATO gathering this week chiding Germany and Canada for their lagging investment levels, while hosting a lunch for the countries that have hit a hit a voluntary target of spending 2 percent of their GDP on military expenses.

And on the topic of national security threats, Trump sparred with Macron over the fight against the Islamic State, with the French leader openly telling his American counterpart that he didn’t feel the fight was finished, as Trump has largely proclaimed.

The focus on terrorism — and Trump’s repeated reliance on military spending as a bellwether of whether a NATO ally is an effective member — has small European countries concerned about whether the U.S. will be there for them if, for example, Russia were to invade. Moscow is already involved in a war in the eastern region of Ukraine.

Trump raised some eyebrows yet again at NATO when he was evasive when asked whether he would commit to defending NATO countries that haven’t hit the 2 percent mark.

“I’m going to be discussing that today. And it’s a very interesting question, isn’t it?” he said, before launching a largely unrelated monologue about possible back pay.

Meanwhile, the U.S. on Wednesday confirmed it was weighing a troop increase in the Middle East amid what the administration called “indications” that Iran could lash out violently. And American troops recently resumed large-scale operations against ISIS in Syria.

And China always looms in the background, with its own military buildup, territorial conflicts in the South China Sea and the anti-Beijing protests roiling Hong Kong. Each issue has the potential to spark a skirmish with the U.S.

Trump also faced questions this week about his unorthodox attempts to get North Korea to denuclearize. Multiple face-to-face meetings with North Korea’s Kim, not to mention bizarre Twitter exchanges, have not led to permanent changes in North Korean policy. Trump this week yet again touted his “confidence” in Kim, but also resurrected his diminutive “Rocket Man” nickname for the Asian leader.

Climate

As Trump sucked up oxygen at the NATO proceedings in London, much of the world’s policy elite (from 195 countries) was in Madrid, Spain, working out how to implement the Paris Climate Agreement, which Trump has abandoned.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi even jetted to Madrid to tell the world that the United States hasn’t left the Paris deal, only its federal government. Indeed, many American states and mayors raced to boost their own climate action plans after Trump announced his intention to leave the Paris agreement more than two years ago.

Still, Trump continues to be a pariah among climate officials on the world stage, the only major world leader not committed to implementing the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement.

Read More

[iksathrob]

Prime Minister Theresa May’s Brexit withdrawal deal suffered a crushing defeat in parliament on Tuesday 15 January, heaping further uncertainty on investors in the UK and potentially prolonging their pain by delaying Britain’s exit date from the European Union beyond 29th March. “The size of the defeat is a real blow to the UK real estate sector,” said Mario Berti, CEO of lender Octopus Property. “Whilst a lot of the uncertainty caused by Brexit has been priced into the property market, this result is likely to lead to even more reluctance amongst real estate developers and investors to move forward with their UK real estate strategies, which will negatively impact the whole sector.” The Prime Minister’s deal, the result of two years of arduous negotiations with the EU, was rejected by a margin of 230 votes, the largest ever defeat for a government bill in modern times. The scale of the failure exceeded many expectations as 118 out of 317 Conservative MPs voted against the agreement, voicing their dissatisfaction with the so-called “backstop” designed to avoid a hard border in Ireland but seen by critics as tying the UK to the EU indefinitely. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn immediately tabled a vote of no confidence, which the government won by a narrow margin – as expected – as Conservative backbench MPs and Northern Ireland’s DUP nevertheless swung behind the Prime Minister to stave off the prospect of a fresh General Election. Although Theresa May survived, the defeat of her Brexit bill has only served to heighten uncertainty among industry and markets – and raised questions of what kind of alternatives could realistically get through parliament. The FTSE 100 benchmark index lost 0.5% to 6,863 the day after the vote, putting it some 13% down on its all-time high achieved last May. Meanwhile, sterling – which had been expected to fall in the event of a defeat – remained virtually flat at $1.29 as investors wrestled to understand the potential repercussions of the vote. Some seized on the parliamentary defeat as a potential death knell for Brexit altogether. “This outcome is certainly better than the deal that was on offer, that’s for sure,” said Guy Harrington, CEO of specialist property lender Glenhawk. “The sooner it is taken off the table, the better. Hopefully any further negotiations with the EU will now be delayed, and ultimately Brexit cancelled.” The risk of a disorderly Brexit However, the extent of the loss and the clear divisions in UK’s House of Commons also increase the risk of a disorderly Brexit, which is worrying many in business and the investment industry. “It is critical that the government avoids the disruption and uncertainty posed by no deal,” said Melanie Leech, chief executive, British Property Federation. “Leaving the EU with no withdrawal agreement would be harmful to investment and the property sector’s ability to deliver new homes, support economic growth, regenerate towns and cities and help increase productivity – all benefits to people and businesses across the UK that the sector is keen to contribute.” Her views reflected those of the CBI, Britain’s business lobby, which represents 190,000 companies across the UK. “Every business will feel no deal is hurtling closer,” CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said. “A new plan is needed immediately. This is now a time for our politicians to make history as leaders. All MPs need to reflect on the need for compromise and to act at speed to protect the UK’s economy.” Following the votes, Theresa May embarked on a series of talks with different elements in the House of Commons in an attempt to find a Plan B. Among the options that various factions favour are a softer Norway-style deal that includes membership of Europe’s single market, Labour’s preferred option of permanent membership of the Customs Union, harder Brexiters ambition for a Canada-style free trade deal that removes tariffs on many goods but allows Britain to retain control of immigration and negotiate other international trade agreements, and a so-called People’s Vote that would effectively be a second referendum on EU membership. All face significant hurdles, and it is unclear whether any can secure the support of the majority in parliament. While British politicians wrangle over options, there is no small amount of division in the EU also. Poland’s Foreign Minister Jacek Czaputowicz suggested that the Irish backstop could be time limited – a move that would get the support of staunch UK Brexit supporters. However, his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney dismissed the idea as not having the backing of the rest of the EU. Part of the reason for the diverging opinions in Europe is that many other countries in Europe have their own populist-led issues to deal with, from France’s so-called “yellow vests” movement to the now-resolved budget stand-off in Italy. “We could be forgiven for thinking that Brexit is the only show in town, but in reality it really isn’t,” said Simon Durkin, head of BlackRock’s European real assets research, speaking at an INREV conference in January. “Around Europe and around the globe, everybody has their ‘Brexit’ to deal with.” Extending Article 50 And as uncertainty persists, the clock ticks down to 29th March, increasing the likelihood that the UK will be forced to ask for an extension to Article 50 in order to find a new solution. Although some in the UK seeking a no-deal outcome are dead set against delaying the UK’s exit beyond 29 March and Theresa May outwardly appears resistant, there is growing support in the Commons for an extension until after European parliamentary elections in May to prevent the UK crashing out of the EU. “While the government is downplaying the idea of extending Article 50, the longer this deadlock continues, the less time there is for firms to be ready. If the government’s withdrawal deal fails in parliament again they may have no choice but to look at some form of technical extension, at least for a limited period,” said Allie Renison, head of Europe and trade policy at the Institute of Directors. According to the Institute of Directors, an organisation for business leaders and entrepreneurs in the UK, only 14% report feeling very prepared for no deal with large amounts of detail on the processes for business to use on day one following a hard Brexit still unclear. Parliament is set to vote again on Brexit plans on 29 January, although a meaningful vote on a deal is unlikely before February. There is also support in the property industry for an extension, even though a quicker resolution may bring about resurgence in investment levels. Office investment in central London is expected to come close to £20bn in 2018, well ahead of the 10-year average, as yields softened relative to Paris and top German cities, according to Savills. However, back in November, the advisory firm also noted that many investors were questioning whether or not to delay deals in the UK, as asset prices showed little prospect of increasing. “What investors and business so urgently need is clarity for the longer term before markets can return to normal, which may be some time away,” said Tom Brown, managing director of real estate at Ingenious. “We’re sympathetic to those that think the Article 50 process should be extended to allow time for greater consensus to be reached on a cross party basis which will enable the UK to go back to the EU with a clearer account of what it wants. This now seems all but inevitable.” pie The post Brexit bill defeat prolongs uncertainty for industry and investors appeared first on Property Investor Europe Magazine. from Property Investor Europe Magazine http://bit.ly/2DtLOds

http://realestateiksa.blogspot.com/2019/01/brexit-bill-defeat-prolongs-uncertainty.html

[newssplashy]

The rally was organised to rally support for the APC guber candidate in the July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election, Kayode Fayemi.

President Buhari was at the All Progressives Congress (APC) rally which held in Ekiti state on Tuesday, July 10, 2018.

The rally was organised to rally support for the APC guber candidate in the July 14, 2018 Ekiti governorship election, Kayode Fayemi.

Some APC chieftains present at the rally were: the National leader of the All Progressives' Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, minister of labour, Chris Ngige, Kogi state Governor, Yahaya Bello, APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Ondo state Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu.

Others are: Bisi Akande,  Segun Osoba, SSA to the President on Foreign Relations & Diaspora, Abike Dabiri, Secretary to the Federal Government, Boss Mustapha, Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen. Dambazau (rtd), and Senator Andy Ubah, among others.

See the President’s full speech, obtained from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) below:

I am happy to be here in Ekiti State, and among the good people of Ekiti. Ekiti State people are dear to me. My earliest interactions with people of this State dates back several decades ago, and I have always found them to be very intelligent and honourable people.

2.   For those of us with a background in the military, we have come to know officers and men of Ekiti origin to be of exemplary courage, discipline and integrity.

3.    Today, alongside indigenes of other States, many officers and men of Ekiti origin continue to follow in the footsteps of their forebears, under the command of the current Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Gabriel Olonisakin from Ode-Ekiti.

4.    Outside of the military, over the years, many of your leading lights, especially in the academia, have distinguished Ekiti indigenes in the comity of states in our federation.

5.     My coming here today is not only to campaign, but make clear the reason why Ekiti people must embrace the Change Agenda and vote for APC.

 6.     The Ekiti people are a politically aware and well informed electorate. They cannot be brainwashed or deceived.

7.     In the last three years, this Administration has not only carried out laudable projects in Ekiti State, but also helped in creating employment opportunities for the indigenes of the State.  

8.     The APC Government has executed 13 Federal Roads and Intervention Projects in Ekiti State. Some have already been completed and some are near completion.

9.     Those roads that have been completed at the cost of N766,739,968.37 are;

a.  The construction of infrastructure, Roads Drainages and Asphalt Finishing at IKERE EKITI.

b.  The construction of infrastructure, Roads Drainages and Asphalt Finishing at NATIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMME SITES.

c.   The completion of emergency Repairs of failed sections of IFAKI – IKOLE – OMUO Road and;

d.  The completion of emergency repairs of failed sections of IFAKI – IDO Road, while the Rehabilitation of EFON ALAAYE-ERINMO-IWARAJA road is 87% completed.

 10.   In addition, other Road projects ongoing in the State are; Rehabilitation of ADO-IFAKI-OTUN road; Repairs of IJEBU-IJESHA ROAD; Rehabilitation of ILA-ORANGUN-OKE ILA –ILALE-EKAN Road; Rehabilitation and Asphalt Overlay/construction of Reinforced Concrete Drains and Kerbs of 1.33km internal roads in Federal University, Oye, amongst others.

11.   These roads are being handled by 13 different contractors, providing more employment to the people of Ekiti state.

12.   You are all aware that Ekiti State has been operating without a Federal Secretariat. The APC-led Administration has also AWARDED the construction of a Federal Secretariat Complex in Ekiti to accommodate Federal Staff, and ensure that the state no longer operates without a Federal Secretariat as she has done since the creation of the State.

13.   In addition to these laudable projects and employment opportunities, the APC government has also extended the National Housing Programme to the people of Ekiti State.

14.  This National Housing Programme being handled by 16 contractors is not only beneficial in terms of accommodation, but also providing gainful employment. The suppliers of materials for this project are from Ekiti State, while the site work, electrical, plumbing, welding etc, are all carried out by the people of Ekiti State. This Administration desires to provide more employment opportunities to the people of Ekiti State and Nigeria at large.

15.   There has been an unprecedented number of Federal political appointments of Ekiti indigenes in the state.

Ekiti State is also one of the Beneficiaries of our Social Investment Programmes, which include – N-Power, Homegrown School Feeding; Conditional Cash Transfer and Micro-credit finance for traders. We have also done several tranches of Bail-Out Fundsand Paris Club Refunds.

 16.   In spite of the fact that the current administrations in Ekiti State and the Federal Government belong to opposing political parties, we have always ensured the State got her fair share in the allocation of resources, the siting of federal projects, and the selection of beneficiaries of federal government programmes. We will never play politics with the welfare of the people of Ekiti or any other State regardless of the partisan affiliation of the government of the day.

17.   May I, again, clear the air on the issue of herdsmen and farmers’ conflicts, on which many politicians in their mischievous attitude have been blackmailing me and the APC-led administration, purporting that I have not taken any action on the issue because I am a Fulani man. This is cheap blackmail. Like I said recently, the protection of lives and property of Nigerians is my responsibility. This, I have vowed to do, and will stick to the oath of office. I assure you that measures are being taken to ensure lasting solutions.

18.   I, therefore, call on Ekiti people!  Don’t allow yourself to be insulted by stomach infrastructure. Your future and the future of the upcoming generations are in your hands today. Vote for APC and grow beyond Stomach Infrastructure.

19.   The time has come to correct historical injustice and restore Ekiti State to the path of peace and prosperity. The whole country looks to Ekiti to do the right thing by voting for the APC candidate in the election this Saturday, July 14, as you commence the journey to Reclaiming Your Land and Restoring Your Values.

20.   I present to you the APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Kayode Fayemi. VOTE for him on Saturday, 14th July, 2018.

 21.   Dr. Kayode Fayemi served as Minister of Mines and Steel Development and recorded series of achievements in the Ajaokuta Steel Company. And with his experience as one-term Governor of the State, a meaningful development is guaranteed. DON’T WASTE YOUR VOTE. VOTE FOR DEVELOPMENT. VOTE for APC-Dr. Kayode Fayemi.

ALSO READ: PDP is 'Poverty Development Party', APC National Leader says

22.   I came into office in 2015 through a free and fair election. In my party, the APC, we do not believe in manipulation of electoral processes. The will of the people must matter. And that is what we will uphold here in Ekiti – FREE and FAIR ELECTIONS. No manipulation of any form.

23.   Finally, I urge all the stakeholders of this important election to ensure free and fair election, embrace peace and promote democracy in Nigeria.

24.   Thank you and God bless EKITI People! God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti state has promised to match the All Progressives Congress (APC) ‘bumper to bumper’ in the upcoming governorship election.

via Latest Nigerian News Online-Nigerian News,World Newspaper

[cleopatrarps]

Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs

FRANKFURT — American allies did not bother to conceal their annoyance Tuesday with the Trump administration’s last-minute decision to delay punitive aluminum and steel tariffs by a month, in their view leaving a sword of Damocles hanging over the global economy.

In Europe, the reprieve was seen not as an act of conciliation or generosity but instead as another 30 days of precarious limbo that will disrupt supply networks and undermine what has been an unusually strong period of growth.

European leaders, normally circumspect, are openly irritated that President Trump’s protectionist assault is aimed at them despite decades of military alliance and shared values. The region has pushed for a permanent exemption to the American trade penalties, and threatened retaliation otherwise.

They find it absurd that Mr. Trump is risking a trade war with Europe, the United States’ biggest trading partner, rather than joining forces to rein in Chinese trade practices they both oppose. And the European Union’s cautious, often ponderous approach to policymaking is now clashing directly with Mr. Trump’s unpredictability and aggressiveness.

“The U.S. decision prolongs market uncertainty, which is already affecting business decisions,” the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the commission said it was willing to continue negotiating, it was hard to see how the two sides would find common ground.

The White House wants to reduce what it maintains is the United States’ trade deficit with the 28-member European Union and is seeking concessions, such as lower tariffs on American cars sold here. Speaking to a group of steel executives on Tuesday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro insisted that the administration would take a tough line toward Europe.

“The guiding principle of this administration from the president down to his team is that any country or entity like the European Union which is exempt from the tariffs will have a quota and other restrictions, which are necessary to defend the aluminum and steel industries from imports in defense of our national security,” Mr. Navarro said.

But the Europeans say they will discuss the Trump administration’s concerns only after the bloc receives a permanent, unconditional exemption from the tariffs. They regard the tariffs as illegal under global rules.

“We will not negotiate under threat,” the commission said in the statement Tuesday.

The unusually grumpy tone of the statement from Brussels highlighted the enormous cultural gap. The European Commission prizes deliberation and procedure, while the Trump administration shows a penchant for ad hoc decision-making, exemplified by its announcing the latest reprieve just hours before the deadline.

“There is huge frustration with the way the administration is doing business,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director in London for Eurasia Group, a consultancy.

Economists say the biggest danger to the global economy is not so much the tariffs as the insecurity they sow among business managers trying to plan where to buy or sell products that contain steel or aluminum.

Big metals consumers like auto manufacturers and construction firms have been stockpiling supplies, girding for a disruptive trade war. “As a result, there is a visible surge in steel prices in the U.S., which negatively affects manufacturing and many other sectors,” said Max Finne, assistant professor of operations management at the University of Warwick in Britain.

Mr. Trump’s provocative approach has fueled anxiety in Europe that the long-awaited economic recovery is losing momentum. The threat of a trade war adds to a list of risks that are making businesses less willing to invest and create jobs, including the imminent end of European Central Bank stimulus, Britain’s planned exit from the bloc and political deadlock in Italy.

Recent surveys have shown that confidence in Europe is flagging. British manufacturers’ expectations for future business hit a 17-month low in April, partly because of fear of trade barriers, the research firm IHS Markit said Tuesday.

“The latest extension has created enormous insecurity for companies,” Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German Industries, a lobbying group, said in an email.

The European Union regards the planned tariffs on steel and aluminum as a violation of international treaties and has already complained to the World Trade Organization, normally the arbiter of trade disputes. The complaint lays the groundwork for the bloc to impose retaliatory tariffs on a long list of American products — including bluejeans, bourbon and Harley Davidson motorcycles — as early as mid-June.

While officials in Brussels have said they do not want to reward the Trump administration’s breach of international rules with concessions, Germany — the country with the most to lose — has indicated a willingness to be more flexible. Steel accounts for about one-fifth of German exports outside the European Union, and German carmakers like BMW and Daimler would be hit the hardest if Mr. Trump acts on threats to penalize vehicle imports.

Martina Fietz, a spokeswoman for the German government, said in a statement Tuesday that it was important for the European Union to continue talks with the United States and “develop a trade agenda that is in the interests of both sides.”

Peter Altmaier, the German economics minister, went further. “Personally I believe we should make an offer, something concrete, that would be the basis for further talks,” Mr. Altmaier said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio before the extension of the exemptions was announced.

Mr. Altmaier’s statement was at odds with the European Commission’s refusal to negotiate until the Trump administration removes the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs. The potential for a rift between Berlin and Brussels raised the possibility that Mr. Trump would succeed in rattling European unity.

Two members of the European Parliament complained Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany had undermined the European position when they discussed trade with Mr. Trump during visits to Washington last week.

“This open demonstration of different European priorities is deplorable at the moment of high political tensions,” Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, members of the environmentalist Green faction in Parliament, said in a letter to Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner.

Some German business groups have begun calling for Europe to use the dispute with the United States to reopen negotiations about a broad trade agreement that would largely eliminate tariffs and reduce regulatory impediments, for example by agreeing on common safety standards for cars.

The statement by Ms. Fietz on behalf of the German government hinted at that theme, saying, “Both the U.S.A. and European Union would profit from further deepening of the trade relationship.”

The Obama administration pursued such an agreement for years, but it was largely moribund even before Mr. Trump took office, in part because of popular opposition in Germany.

Renewed negotiations on a comprehensive pact would in theory provide a venue to address Mr. Trump’s complaint that Europe profits from the trade relationship more than the United States — a contention disputed by economists.

But the chances for such talks are probably slim given Mr. Trump’s disdain for the European Union and his complaints about German cars. Mr. Trump said in March that if Europe retaliated against American products, he would tax imports of European vehicles into the United States, which in practice would hit the German automotive sector.

China, whose support for state-owned firms and restrictions on outside investment have long frustrated politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, presents another opportunity for Europe and the United States to make common cause.

Mr. Rahman of Eurasia Group said that secretly, some European leaders were happy that Mr. Trump had challenged China, whose large and increasingly sophisticated economy is a threat to Europe.

Europe would be happy to cooperate with the United States to press China on issues such as protection of intellectual property. But in the current climate it seems unlikely that the European Union and United States are capable of joining forces.

“The way Trump is going about it may not be the most effective, but he’s put it on the agenda. There is some sympathy for that,” Mr. Rahman said. “But it’s very difficult. The process seems completely broken.”

Follow Jack Ewing on Twitter: @JackEwingNYT.

Ana Swanson contributed reporting from Washington.

The post Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2vZ8ssy via News of World

[newestbalance]

Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs

FRANKFURT — American allies did not bother to conceal their annoyance Tuesday with the Trump administration’s last-minute decision to delay punitive aluminum and steel tariffs by a month, in their view leaving a sword of Damocles hanging over the global economy.

In Europe, the reprieve was seen not as an act of conciliation or generosity but instead as another 30 days of precarious limbo that will disrupt supply networks and undermine what has been an unusually strong period of growth.

European leaders, normally circumspect, are openly irritated that President Trump’s protectionist assault is aimed at them despite decades of military alliance and shared values. The region has pushed for a permanent exemption to the American trade penalties, and threatened retaliation otherwise.

They find it absurd that Mr. Trump is risking a trade war with Europe, the United States’ biggest trading partner, rather than joining forces to rein in Chinese trade practices they both oppose. And the European Union’s cautious, often ponderous approach to policymaking is now clashing directly with Mr. Trump’s unpredictability and aggressiveness.

“The U.S. decision prolongs market uncertainty, which is already affecting business decisions,” the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the commission said it was willing to continue negotiating, it was hard to see how the two sides would find common ground.

The White House wants to reduce what it maintains is the United States’ trade deficit with the 28-member European Union and is seeking concessions, such as lower tariffs on American cars sold here. Speaking to a group of steel executives on Tuesday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro insisted that the administration would take a tough line toward Europe.

“The guiding principle of this administration from the president down to his team is that any country or entity like the European Union which is exempt from the tariffs will have a quota and other restrictions, which are necessary to defend the aluminum and steel industries from imports in defense of our national security,” Mr. Navarro said.

But the Europeans say they will discuss the Trump administration’s concerns only after the bloc receives a permanent, unconditional exemption from the tariffs. They regard the tariffs as illegal under global rules.

“We will not negotiate under threat,” the commission said in the statement Tuesday.

The unusually grumpy tone of the statement from Brussels highlighted the enormous cultural gap. The European Commission prizes deliberation and procedure, while the Trump administration shows a penchant for ad hoc decision-making, exemplified by its announcing the latest reprieve just hours before the deadline.

“There is huge frustration with the way the administration is doing business,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director in London for Eurasia Group, a consultancy.

Economists say the biggest danger to the global economy is not so much the tariffs as the insecurity they sow among business managers trying to plan where to buy or sell products that contain steel or aluminum.

Big metals consumers like auto manufacturers and construction firms have been stockpiling supplies, girding for a disruptive trade war. “As a result, there is a visible surge in steel prices in the U.S., which negatively affects manufacturing and many other sectors,” said Max Finne, assistant professor of operations management at the University of Warwick in Britain.

Mr. Trump’s provocative approach has fueled anxiety in Europe that the long-awaited economic recovery is losing momentum. The threat of a trade war adds to a list of risks that are making businesses less willing to invest and create jobs, including the imminent end of European Central Bank stimulus, Britain’s planned exit from the bloc and political deadlock in Italy.

Recent surveys have shown that confidence in Europe is flagging. British manufacturers’ expectations for future business hit a 17-month low in April, partly because of fear of trade barriers, the research firm IHS Markit said Tuesday.

“The latest extension has created enormous insecurity for companies,” Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German Industries, a lobbying group, said in an email.

The European Union regards the planned tariffs on steel and aluminum as a violation of international treaties and has already complained to the World Trade Organization, normally the arbiter of trade disputes. The complaint lays the groundwork for the bloc to impose retaliatory tariffs on a long list of American products — including bluejeans, bourbon and Harley Davidson motorcycles — as early as mid-June.

While officials in Brussels have said they do not want to reward the Trump administration’s breach of international rules with concessions, Germany — the country with the most to lose — has indicated a willingness to be more flexible. Steel accounts for about one-fifth of German exports outside the European Union, and German carmakers like BMW and Daimler would be hit the hardest if Mr. Trump acts on threats to penalize vehicle imports.

Martina Fietz, a spokeswoman for the German government, said in a statement Tuesday that it was important for the European Union to continue talks with the United States and “develop a trade agenda that is in the interests of both sides.”

Peter Altmaier, the German economics minister, went further. “Personally I believe we should make an offer, something concrete, that would be the basis for further talks,” Mr. Altmaier said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio before the extension of the exemptions was announced.

Mr. Altmaier’s statement was at odds with the European Commission’s refusal to negotiate until the Trump administration removes the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs. The potential for a rift between Berlin and Brussels raised the possibility that Mr. Trump would succeed in rattling European unity.

Two members of the European Parliament complained Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany had undermined the European position when they discussed trade with Mr. Trump during visits to Washington last week.

“This open demonstration of different European priorities is deplorable at the moment of high political tensions,” Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, members of the environmentalist Green faction in Parliament, said in a letter to Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner.

Some German business groups have begun calling for Europe to use the dispute with the United States to reopen negotiations about a broad trade agreement that would largely eliminate tariffs and reduce regulatory impediments, for example by agreeing on common safety standards for cars.

The statement by Ms. Fietz on behalf of the German government hinted at that theme, saying, “Both the U.S.A. and European Union would profit from further deepening of the trade relationship.”

The Obama administration pursued such an agreement for years, but it was largely moribund even before Mr. Trump took office, in part because of popular opposition in Germany.

Renewed negotiations on a comprehensive pact would in theory provide a venue to address Mr. Trump’s complaint that Europe profits from the trade relationship more than the United States — a contention disputed by economists.

But the chances for such talks are probably slim given Mr. Trump’s disdain for the European Union and his complaints about German cars. Mr. Trump said in March that if Europe retaliated against American products, he would tax imports of European vehicles into the United States, which in practice would hit the German automotive sector.

China, whose support for state-owned firms and restrictions on outside investment have long frustrated politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, presents another opportunity for Europe and the United States to make common cause.

Mr. Rahman of Eurasia Group said that secretly, some European leaders were happy that Mr. Trump had challenged China, whose large and increasingly sophisticated economy is a threat to Europe.

Europe would be happy to cooperate with the United States to press China on issues such as protection of intellectual property. But in the current climate it seems unlikely that the European Union and United States are capable of joining forces.

“The way Trump is going about it may not be the most effective, but he’s put it on the agenda. There is some sympathy for that,” Mr. Rahman said. “But it’s very difficult. The process seems completely broken.”

Follow Jack Ewing on Twitter: @JackEwingNYT.

Ana Swanson contributed reporting from Washington.

The post Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2vZ8ssy via Everyday News

[dani-qrt]

Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs

FRANKFURT — American allies did not bother to conceal their annoyance Tuesday with the Trump administration’s last-minute decision to delay punitive aluminum and steel tariffs by a month, in their view leaving a sword of Damocles hanging over the global economy.

In Europe, the reprieve was seen not as an act of conciliation or generosity but instead as another 30 days of precarious limbo that will disrupt supply networks and undermine what has been an unusually strong period of growth.

European leaders, normally circumspect, are openly irritated that President Trump’s protectionist assault is aimed at them despite decades of military alliance and shared values. The region has pushed for a permanent exemption to the American trade penalties, and threatened retaliation otherwise.

They find it absurd that Mr. Trump is risking a trade war with Europe, the United States’ biggest trading partner, rather than joining forces to rein in Chinese trade practices they both oppose. And the European Union’s cautious, often ponderous approach to policymaking is now clashing directly with Mr. Trump’s unpredictability and aggressiveness.

“The U.S. decision prolongs market uncertainty, which is already affecting business decisions,” the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the commission said it was willing to continue negotiating, it was hard to see how the two sides would find common ground.

The White House wants to reduce what it maintains is the United States’ trade deficit with the 28-member European Union and is seeking concessions, such as lower tariffs on American cars sold here. Speaking to a group of steel executives on Tuesday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro insisted that the administration would take a tough line toward Europe.

“The guiding principle of this administration from the president down to his team is that any country or entity like the European Union which is exempt from the tariffs will have a quota and other restrictions, which are necessary to defend the aluminum and steel industries from imports in defense of our national security,” Mr. Navarro said.

But the Europeans say they will discuss the Trump administration’s concerns only after the bloc receives a permanent, unconditional exemption from the tariffs. They regard the tariffs as illegal under global rules.

“We will not negotiate under threat,” the commission said in the statement Tuesday.

The unusually grumpy tone of the statement from Brussels highlighted the enormous cultural gap. The European Commission prizes deliberation and procedure, while the Trump administration shows a penchant for ad hoc decision-making, exemplified by its announcing the latest reprieve just hours before the deadline.

“There is huge frustration with the way the administration is doing business,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director in London for Eurasia Group, a consultancy.

Economists say the biggest danger to the global economy is not so much the tariffs as the insecurity they sow among business managers trying to plan where to buy or sell products that contain steel or aluminum.

Big metals consumers like auto manufacturers and construction firms have been stockpiling supplies, girding for a disruptive trade war. “As a result, there is a visible surge in steel prices in the U.S., which negatively affects manufacturing and many other sectors,” said Max Finne, assistant professor of operations management at the University of Warwick in Britain.

Mr. Trump’s provocative approach has fueled anxiety in Europe that the long-awaited economic recovery is losing momentum. The threat of a trade war adds to a list of risks that are making businesses less willing to invest and create jobs, including the imminent end of European Central Bank stimulus, Britain’s planned exit from the bloc and political deadlock in Italy.

Recent surveys have shown that confidence in Europe is flagging. British manufacturers’ expectations for future business hit a 17-month low in April, partly because of fear of trade barriers, the research firm IHS Markit said Tuesday.

“The latest extension has created enormous insecurity for companies,” Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German Industries, a lobbying group, said in an email.

The European Union regards the planned tariffs on steel and aluminum as a violation of international treaties and has already complained to the World Trade Organization, normally the arbiter of trade disputes. The complaint lays the groundwork for the bloc to impose retaliatory tariffs on a long list of American products — including bluejeans, bourbon and Harley Davidson motorcycles — as early as mid-June.

While officials in Brussels have said they do not want to reward the Trump administration’s breach of international rules with concessions, Germany — the country with the most to lose — has indicated a willingness to be more flexible. Steel accounts for about one-fifth of German exports outside the European Union, and German carmakers like BMW and Daimler would be hit the hardest if Mr. Trump acts on threats to penalize vehicle imports.

Martina Fietz, a spokeswoman for the German government, said in a statement Tuesday that it was important for the European Union to continue talks with the United States and “develop a trade agenda that is in the interests of both sides.”

Peter Altmaier, the German economics minister, went further. “Personally I believe we should make an offer, something concrete, that would be the basis for further talks,” Mr. Altmaier said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio before the extension of the exemptions was announced.

Mr. Altmaier’s statement was at odds with the European Commission’s refusal to negotiate until the Trump administration removes the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs. The potential for a rift between Berlin and Brussels raised the possibility that Mr. Trump would succeed in rattling European unity.

Two members of the European Parliament complained Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany had undermined the European position when they discussed trade with Mr. Trump during visits to Washington last week.

“This open demonstration of different European priorities is deplorable at the moment of high political tensions,” Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, members of the environmentalist Green faction in Parliament, said in a letter to Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner.

Some German business groups have begun calling for Europe to use the dispute with the United States to reopen negotiations about a broad trade agreement that would largely eliminate tariffs and reduce regulatory impediments, for example by agreeing on common safety standards for cars.

The statement by Ms. Fietz on behalf of the German government hinted at that theme, saying, “Both the U.S.A. and European Union would profit from further deepening of the trade relationship.”

The Obama administration pursued such an agreement for years, but it was largely moribund even before Mr. Trump took office, in part because of popular opposition in Germany.

Renewed negotiations on a comprehensive pact would in theory provide a venue to address Mr. Trump’s complaint that Europe profits from the trade relationship more than the United States — a contention disputed by economists.

But the chances for such talks are probably slim given Mr. Trump’s disdain for the European Union and his complaints about German cars. Mr. Trump said in March that if Europe retaliated against American products, he would tax imports of European vehicles into the United States, which in practice would hit the German automotive sector.

China, whose support for state-owned firms and restrictions on outside investment have long frustrated politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, presents another opportunity for Europe and the United States to make common cause.

Mr. Rahman of Eurasia Group said that secretly, some European leaders were happy that Mr. Trump had challenged China, whose large and increasingly sophisticated economy is a threat to Europe.

Europe would be happy to cooperate with the United States to press China on issues such as protection of intellectual property. But in the current climate it seems unlikely that the European Union and United States are capable of joining forces.

“The way Trump is going about it may not be the most effective, but he’s put it on the agenda. There is some sympathy for that,” Mr. Rahman said. “But it’s very difficult. The process seems completely broken.”

Follow Jack Ewing on Twitter: @JackEwingNYT.

Ana Swanson contributed reporting from Washington.

The post Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2vZ8ssy via Online News

[dragnews]

Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs

FRANKFURT — American allies did not bother to conceal their annoyance Tuesday with the Trump administration’s last-minute decision to delay punitive aluminum and steel tariffs by a month, in their view leaving a sword of Damocles hanging over the global economy.

In Europe, the reprieve was seen not as an act of conciliation or generosity but instead as another 30 days of precarious limbo that will disrupt supply networks and undermine what has been an unusually strong period of growth.

European leaders, normally circumspect, are openly irritated that President Trump’s protectionist assault is aimed at them despite decades of military alliance and shared values. The region has pushed for a permanent exemption to the American trade penalties, and threatened retaliation otherwise.

They find it absurd that Mr. Trump is risking a trade war with Europe, the United States’ biggest trading partner, rather than joining forces to rein in Chinese trade practices they both oppose. And the European Union’s cautious, often ponderous approach to policymaking is now clashing directly with Mr. Trump’s unpredictability and aggressiveness.

“The U.S. decision prolongs market uncertainty, which is already affecting business decisions,” the European Commission, the European Union’s executive arm, said in a statement on Tuesday.

While the commission said it was willing to continue negotiating, it was hard to see how the two sides would find common ground.

The White House wants to reduce what it maintains is the United States’ trade deficit with the 28-member European Union and is seeking concessions, such as lower tariffs on American cars sold here. Speaking to a group of steel executives on Tuesday, the White House trade adviser Peter Navarro insisted that the administration would take a tough line toward Europe.

“The guiding principle of this administration from the president down to his team is that any country or entity like the European Union which is exempt from the tariffs will have a quota and other restrictions, which are necessary to defend the aluminum and steel industries from imports in defense of our national security,” Mr. Navarro said.

But the Europeans say they will discuss the Trump administration’s concerns only after the bloc receives a permanent, unconditional exemption from the tariffs. They regard the tariffs as illegal under global rules.

“We will not negotiate under threat,” the commission said in the statement Tuesday.

The unusually grumpy tone of the statement from Brussels highlighted the enormous cultural gap. The European Commission prizes deliberation and procedure, while the Trump administration shows a penchant for ad hoc decision-making, exemplified by its announcing the latest reprieve just hours before the deadline.

“There is huge frustration with the way the administration is doing business,” said Mujtaba Rahman, managing director in London for Eurasia Group, a consultancy.

Economists say the biggest danger to the global economy is not so much the tariffs as the insecurity they sow among business managers trying to plan where to buy or sell products that contain steel or aluminum.

Big metals consumers like auto manufacturers and construction firms have been stockpiling supplies, girding for a disruptive trade war. “As a result, there is a visible surge in steel prices in the U.S., which negatively affects manufacturing and many other sectors,” said Max Finne, assistant professor of operations management at the University of Warwick in Britain.

Mr. Trump’s provocative approach has fueled anxiety in Europe that the long-awaited economic recovery is losing momentum. The threat of a trade war adds to a list of risks that are making businesses less willing to invest and create jobs, including the imminent end of European Central Bank stimulus, Britain’s planned exit from the bloc and political deadlock in Italy.

Recent surveys have shown that confidence in Europe is flagging. British manufacturers’ expectations for future business hit a 17-month low in April, partly because of fear of trade barriers, the research firm IHS Markit said Tuesday.

“The latest extension has created enormous insecurity for companies,” Dieter Kempf, president of the Federation of German Industries, a lobbying group, said in an email.

The European Union regards the planned tariffs on steel and aluminum as a violation of international treaties and has already complained to the World Trade Organization, normally the arbiter of trade disputes. The complaint lays the groundwork for the bloc to impose retaliatory tariffs on a long list of American products — including bluejeans, bourbon and Harley Davidson motorcycles — as early as mid-June.

While officials in Brussels have said they do not want to reward the Trump administration’s breach of international rules with concessions, Germany — the country with the most to lose — has indicated a willingness to be more flexible. Steel accounts for about one-fifth of German exports outside the European Union, and German carmakers like BMW and Daimler would be hit the hardest if Mr. Trump acts on threats to penalize vehicle imports.

Martina Fietz, a spokeswoman for the German government, said in a statement Tuesday that it was important for the European Union to continue talks with the United States and “develop a trade agenda that is in the interests of both sides.”

Peter Altmaier, the German economics minister, went further. “Personally I believe we should make an offer, something concrete, that would be the basis for further talks,” Mr. Altmaier said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio before the extension of the exemptions was announced.

Mr. Altmaier’s statement was at odds with the European Commission’s refusal to negotiate until the Trump administration removes the threat of steel and aluminum tariffs. The potential for a rift between Berlin and Brussels raised the possibility that Mr. Trump would succeed in rattling European unity.

Two members of the European Parliament complained Tuesday that President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany had undermined the European position when they discussed trade with Mr. Trump during visits to Washington last week.

“This open demonstration of different European priorities is deplorable at the moment of high political tensions,” Yannick Jadot and Sven Giegold, members of the environmentalist Green faction in Parliament, said in a letter to Cecilia Malmstrom, the European trade commissioner.

Some German business groups have begun calling for Europe to use the dispute with the United States to reopen negotiations about a broad trade agreement that would largely eliminate tariffs and reduce regulatory impediments, for example by agreeing on common safety standards for cars.

The statement by Ms. Fietz on behalf of the German government hinted at that theme, saying, “Both the U.S.A. and European Union would profit from further deepening of the trade relationship.”

The Obama administration pursued such an agreement for years, but it was largely moribund even before Mr. Trump took office, in part because of popular opposition in Germany.

Renewed negotiations on a comprehensive pact would in theory provide a venue to address Mr. Trump’s complaint that Europe profits from the trade relationship more than the United States — a contention disputed by economists.

But the chances for such talks are probably slim given Mr. Trump’s disdain for the European Union and his complaints about German cars. Mr. Trump said in March that if Europe retaliated against American products, he would tax imports of European vehicles into the United States, which in practice would hit the German automotive sector.

China, whose support for state-owned firms and restrictions on outside investment have long frustrated politicians on both sides of the Atlantic, presents another opportunity for Europe and the United States to make common cause.

Mr. Rahman of Eurasia Group said that secretly, some European leaders were happy that Mr. Trump had challenged China, whose large and increasingly sophisticated economy is a threat to Europe.

Europe would be happy to cooperate with the United States to press China on issues such as protection of intellectual property. But in the current climate it seems unlikely that the European Union and United States are capable of joining forces.

“The way Trump is going about it may not be the most effective, but he’s put it on the agenda. There is some sympathy for that,” Mr. Rahman said. “But it’s very difficult. The process seems completely broken.”

Follow Jack Ewing on Twitter: @JackEwingNYT.

Ana Swanson contributed reporting from Washington.

The post Europe Is Annoyed, Not Grateful, After Trump Delays Tariffs appeared first on World The News.

from World The News https://ift.tt/2vZ8ssy via Today News

[tqtheater]

Recent editorials from Texas newspapers

Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Texas newspapers:

San Antonio Express-News. March 26, 2018.

Downtown San Antonio is a jewel, and a recent federal historic designation should help keep it that way.

Here’s the news: The National Park Service has designated downtown as a federal historic district. The district includes more than 200 buildings and properties, including 37 already listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Here’s what it means: Properties in the district are eligible for federal tax credits equal to 45 percent of renovation costs. That’s a huge financial benefit for restoring and maintaining significant history in our community. Think of the 2015 renovation of the St. Anthony Hotel as a good example of what’s possible. But this designation creates much-needed continuity.

We must admit to occasional walks across the district on brilliant and sunny days, pausing to admire the stunning details of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, replica of a Greek temple; the ornate details in the facades of the Southwestern Bell Building and the Emily Morgan Hotel; and many other displays of architectural inspiration.

Downtown San Antonio is packed with wondrous architecture.

When we talk about downtown, the focus is often on the new — development at The Pearl or in Southtown; revival of the San Pedro Creek; the symbolic shimmer of the new Frost Bank Tower; the tension created with new high-end housing and an obvious need for affordability.

But this designation, thanks to the work of the city’s Office of Historic Preservation, will help preserve our rich and layered architectural history. As the city continues to move forward, its residents will always be able to look back.

___

Houston Chronicle. March 26, 2018.

Those pesky teachers are at it again.

First they balk at the idea of packing heat in their classrooms. Now they have the audacity to encourage each other to vote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton apparently has some time on his hands, even though he’s fighting security fraud charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. His office has launched a fishing expedition against school administrators he suspects of "illegal electioneering."

The Texas Tribune reports the AG’s office sent open records requests to more than a dozen school districts, demanding copies of communications about voting in Texas primaries. Some of those districts also got slapped with cease and desist letters telling them to stop using taxpayer money to advocate for political candidates.

What we have here is the latest salvo in a battle between right-wing activists and school administrators encouraging teachers to vote. Educators across Texas are justifiably upset with Republican elected officials who’ve slashed school funding and failed to fix our broken school finance system. So anything that drives more teachers to the polls presumably would hurt GOP candidates on the ballot.

That’s what prompted the influential conservative group Empower Texans to launch a social media campaign encouraging teachers to snitch on educators engaging in electioneering. That’s also what led state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, to ask for an attorney general’s opinion saying that school districts shouldn’t incentivize voting by driving students and teachers to polling places.

No doubt a couple of administrators have stepped over the line. One superintendent posted a video encouraging teachers "to let the Texas Legislature know you’ve had enough." In at least two other districts, educators wrote questionable comments on official social media accounts; they didn’t name any politicians’ names, but they left no doubt they weren’t very happy with elected officials who’ve been cutting funding for public education.

Still, those examples don’t justify the attorney general’s office wasting a lot of time and energy trolling for superintendents and principals urging teachers to cast ballots. And let’s face it, there’s no doubt this heavy-handed action will serve the partisan purpose of discouraging school administrators from engaging in legitimate get-out-the-vote efforts.

This is the sort of behavior that threatens to stigmatize Texas Republicans as enemies of public education. Unless it wants to alienate a generation of Texas parents, the GOP doesn’t want to get stuck with that brand.

Our attorney general has more important job duties. This partisan battle against public school educators needs to come to an end.

___

The Dallas Morning News. March 26, 2018.

After a deadly house explosion in northwest Dallas, Atmos Energy is facing two substantial repair jobs: Not only must it replace problematic pipes carrying natural gas but it also must improve communication lines with all its consumers.

Twelve-year-old Linda "Michellita" Rogers died Feb. 23 when her home was blown off its foundation. Since that tragedy, we’ve asked many questions of Atmos officials — on behalf of North Texas residents — regarding the safety of natural gas service.

Assurances from Atmos lean heavily on the several billion dollars it has invested in infrastructure since 2005 and its plans to spend more. Company executives also point to the safety regulations under which they operate and the training of field personnel.

Yet it’s understandable if residents don’t feel completely at ease, especially given Dallas Morning News investigative reporting that exposed new concerns.

Atmos officials who met with us last week were adamant that the company had no way to know the danger the Midway Hollow neighborhood potentially faced. They brought with them a consultant with expertise in civil engineering and geology who explained how heavy rains and unique soil composition created a "sudden and unexplainable" problem.

But in a preliminary report Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board said Atmos became aware of gas leaks in the neighborhood Jan. 1 and had made various repairs.

Records obtained by The News show that at least one emergency repair was ordered in January after Atmos found a leak in the alley behind Linda Rogers’ home. The company says that problem, which it described as non-hazardous, was repaired by Jan. 29. Additionally, gas-related house fires were reported nearby on Feb. 21 and 22.

Among The News’ other findings is that Atmos can take weeks or even months to fully repair the most dangerous types of gas leaks. Company leaders insist they take action immediately to eliminate any potential danger.

Atmos says it wants to be more open with customers and, as part of that effort, released a map last week that generally shows where steel, cast iron and plastic pipelines are located in Dallas.

The company says it has replaced 400 miles of cast iron pipes — generally the oldest in the system — in North Texas and plans to replace the remaining 400 miles.

While plastic pipes are the preferred choice, Atmos maintains the steel ones are safe. Yet in 2010 the Texas Railroad Commission considered requiring gas utilities to replace all steel lines following several North Texas explosions.

When asked about the decades-long timeline for replacing steel pipes, here was Atmos’ response: "Is it fast enough?" CEO Michael Haefner said. "That’s a good debate to have."

Answers like that are unnerving. As Atmos finishes the replacement of the entire gas distribution system in Midway Hollow, it needs to dig deeper to determine how best to restore consumer confidence.

Perhaps that’s a full accounting on its website of work being performed throughout the system or better explanations of what technicians finds during service calls. But giving customers the full facts is the next step in Atmos’ pledge for greater transparency and improved communication.

___

Amarillo Globe-News. March 27, 2018.

Amarillo was part of the #marchforourlives event Saturday, a nationally organized demonstration/protest (depending on perspective) in support of increased gun control measures following a mass shooting at a high school in Florida.

Here is what Nell Newton, a minister at Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship who participated in Amarillo’s march, had to say regarding the event, "I wanted to support our youth because our youth are really seeing that things are not safe. Our youth are wondering what happened? Why did the adults not work to keep them safe?" (Amarillo takes part in the national conversation, March 24, amarillo.com.)

It is a valid question — why did the adults not work the keep kids safe?

This is a question that has many answers — if the question is looked at logically and not from a one-sided perspective.

For example, more gun laws and regulations will not change the fact that school administrators and officials failed to adequately address or respond to the myriad of problems and issues displayed by the shooter, at least in the case of the aforementioned Florida school shooting.

Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter has detailed mistakes made by school administration, most recently in a column in Amarillo Globe-News. (Coulter: Make Dems run on ‘school to prison pipeline’, March 19, amarillo.com.) We doubt many of the young people who participated in a #marchforourlives event (especially in Amarillo) are aware of this failure by the school, especially since many in national media have ignored these facts because they do not fit the gun control agenda.

And the constant blame of the National Rifle Association is tiresome and illogical.

According to www.opensecrets.org, the NRA ranked 154th out of 3,798 entities in 2016 in terms of money spent on lobbying, and No. 490 of 18,910 in contributions.

Follow the money — the political influence of the NRA is overrated, which is supported by the numbers, if one bothers to look.

Are some politicians fervently in favor of the Second Amendment? Yes, but this fact has more to do with politicians doing what is necessary to reflect what the voters back home want and support rather than a special interest group which ranked 490th in terms of contributions in 2016.

Young people need to understand that the gun used to commit death and carnage is often the final step in a descent into crime, evil and insanity – a fall that far too often can and should be noticed before a person legally or illegally obtains a gun.

___

Victoria Advocate. March 27, 2018.

The Victoria city and county officials have released a copy of the 929-page emergency plan.

The plan is designed to be the official handbook of how to be prepared for and respond to emergencies ranging from floods to hazardous material spills to nuclear cite crisis and natural disasters such as hurricanes.

The plan has been held so close to the vest of select officials for many years that even elected officials were not privy to the information until recently when city Councilmember Jeff Bauknight asked for a copy of the plan so he could have informed answers when the public needed information.

The Advocate also asked for a copy of the plan in early December, but was told no because it contained confidential material. But after learning other counties have posted their plans online, local officials changed their minds and agreed to release it after information they deemed confidential was redacted.

The plan is on the website now for anyone to read, the way it should have been all along.

Releasing the emergency plan is the right step. At the very least, the public can now get more informed, involved and better prepared.

It will allow the public an opportunity to volunteer to be a part of the committees the plan calls for to be set up prior to disasters.

It will help all in city and county governments be prepared for the next disaster when it happens.

We are doubtful many will take the time to read all 929 pages of the plan. To say it is not light reading is fairly accurate. But it is divided into sections that allow the public to pick sections that interest them.

Unfortunately at this time the plan is only a document online and not interactive and not searchable by topic. It does contain a two-page table of contents at the beginning of the plan.

As the emergency management officials begin working on the new plan, it is important for all to include lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey and other disasters so preparation for the recovery is already in place before the disaster.

A good example of the city doing this was pre-contracting for debris removal, which meant the contractor was in town soon after it was safe for workers to begin to clear the debris.

This also locked in the city on a set cost and expectations for the contractor, cutting out needless lost time to negotiate after the disaster.

The city is also taking the right steps now by having a consultant look at its water supply needs so it can be prepared with the right equipment to keep the water supply running to the city.

While we applaud the city for taking these steps, we question why they did not do a full damage assessment for private property. It is not credible to say the assessment was not needed because the federal disaster declaration had been granted.

This information would have greatly helped not only the city, but also nonprofits and recovery groups to know how badly the city was damaged and where the needs are for helping in the recovery.

We are also concerned that required parts of the plan were not followed. It appears the preparation for this storm was not carried out months beforehand.

Plans are developed for reasons — to be used and referred to so everyone is fully prepared when a disaster hits — not to sit on a shelf, never to be looked at until the disaster hits. Preparation takes time and energy, but if it is done properly, it will save time and energy after the disaster when time and organization are crucial.

As officials work to update this plan, hopefully this spring before the June 1 start of hurricane season, let’s hope all the planners take the past year’s experience to heart and make a plan that will work, including developing committees that will help the emergency operations be prepared and organized.

The public needs to be part of the planning as well, so we will have a better informed community that can pull together to successfully recover from a disaster no matter the level.

Source Article

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[eaglesviewart]

Recent editorials from Texas newspapers

Here are excerpts from recent editorials in Texas newspapers:

San Antonio Express-News. March 26, 2018.

Downtown San Antonio is a jewel, and a recent federal historic designation should help keep it that way.

Here’s the news: The National Park Service has designated downtown as a federal historic district. The district includes more than 200 buildings and properties, including 37 already listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

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Here’s what it means: Properties in the district are eligible for federal tax credits equal to 45 percent of renovation costs. That’s a huge financial benefit for restoring and maintaining significant history in our community. Think of the 2015 renovation of the St. Anthony Hotel as a good example of what’s possible. But this designation creates much-needed continuity.

We must admit to occasional walks across the district on brilliant and sunny days, pausing to admire the stunning details of the Scottish Rite Cathedral, replica of a Greek temple; the ornate details in the facades of the Southwestern Bell Building and the Emily Morgan Hotel; and many other displays of architectural inspiration.

Downtown San Antonio is packed with wondrous architecture.

When we talk about downtown, the focus is often on the new — development at The Pearl or in Southtown; revival of the San Pedro Creek; the symbolic shimmer of the new Frost Bank Tower; the tension created with new high-end housing and an obvious need for affordability.

But this designation, thanks to the work of the city’s Office of Historic Preservation, will help preserve our rich and layered architectural history. As the city continues to move forward, its residents will always be able to look back.

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Houston Chronicle. March 26, 2018.

Those pesky teachers are at it again.

First they balk at the idea of packing heat in their classrooms. Now they have the audacity to encourage each other to vote.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton apparently has some time on his hands, even though he’s fighting security fraud charges that could send him to prison for the rest of his life. His office has launched a fishing expedition against school administrators he suspects of "illegal electioneering."

The Texas Tribune reports the AG’s office sent open records requests to more than a dozen school districts, demanding copies of communications about voting in Texas primaries. Some of those districts also got slapped with cease and desist letters telling them to stop using taxpayer money to advocate for political candidates.

What we have here is the latest salvo in a battle between right-wing activists and school administrators encouraging teachers to vote. Educators across Texas are justifiably upset with Republican elected officials who’ve slashed school funding and failed to fix our broken school finance system. So anything that drives more teachers to the polls presumably would hurt GOP candidates on the ballot.

That’s what prompted the influential conservative group Empower Texans to launch a social media campaign encouraging teachers to snitch on educators engaging in electioneering. That’s also what led state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, to ask for an attorney general’s opinion saying that school districts shouldn’t incentivize voting by driving students and teachers to polling places.

No doubt a couple of administrators have stepped over the line. One superintendent posted a video encouraging teachers "to let the Texas Legislature know you’ve had enough." In at least two other districts, educators wrote questionable comments on official social media accounts; they didn’t name any politicians’ names, but they left no doubt they weren’t very happy with elected officials who’ve been cutting funding for public education.

Still, those examples don’t justify the attorney general’s office wasting a lot of time and energy trolling for superintendents and principals urging teachers to cast ballots. And let’s face it, there’s no doubt this heavy-handed action will serve the partisan purpose of discouraging school administrators from engaging in legitimate get-out-the-vote efforts.

This is the sort of behavior that threatens to stigmatize Texas Republicans as enemies of public education. Unless it wants to alienate a generation of Texas parents, the GOP doesn’t want to get stuck with that brand.

Our attorney general has more important job duties. This partisan battle against public school educators needs to come to an end.

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The Dallas Morning News. March 26, 2018.

After a deadly house explosion in northwest Dallas, Atmos Energy is facing two substantial repair jobs: Not only must it replace problematic pipes carrying natural gas but it also must improve communication lines with all its consumers.

Twelve-year-old Linda "Michellita" Rogers died Feb. 23 when her home was blown off its foundation. Since that tragedy, we’ve asked many questions of Atmos officials — on behalf of North Texas residents — regarding the safety of natural gas service.

Assurances from Atmos lean heavily on the several billion dollars it has invested in infrastructure since 2005 and its plans to spend more. Company executives also point to the safety regulations under which they operate and the training of field personnel.

Yet it’s understandable if residents don’t feel completely at ease, especially given Dallas Morning News investigative reporting that exposed new concerns.

Atmos officials who met with us last week were adamant that the company had no way to know the danger the Midway Hollow neighborhood potentially faced. They brought with them a consultant with expertise in civil engineering and geology who explained how heavy rains and unique soil composition created a "sudden and unexplainable" problem.

But in a preliminary report Friday, the National Transportation Safety Board said Atmos became aware of gas leaks in the neighborhood Jan. 1 and had made various repairs.

Records obtained by The News show that at least one emergency repair was ordered in January after Atmos found a leak in the alley behind Linda Rogers’ home. The company says that problem, which it described as non-hazardous, was repaired by Jan. 29. Additionally, gas-related house fires were reported nearby on Feb. 21 and 22.

Among The News’ other findings is that Atmos can take weeks or even months to fully repair the most dangerous types of gas leaks. Company leaders insist they take action immediately to eliminate any potential danger.

Atmos says it wants to be more open with customers and, as part of that effort, released a map last week that generally shows where steel, cast iron and plastic pipelines are located in Dallas.

The company says it has replaced 400 miles of cast iron pipes — generally the oldest in the system — in North Texas and plans to replace the remaining 400 miles.

While plastic pipes are the preferred choice, Atmos maintains the steel ones are safe. Yet in 2010 the Texas Railroad Commission considered requiring gas utilities to replace all steel lines following several North Texas explosions.

When asked about the decades-long timeline for replacing steel pipes, here was Atmos’ response: "Is it fast enough?" CEO Michael Haefner said. "That’s a good debate to have."

Answers like that are unnerving. As Atmos finishes the replacement of the entire gas distribution system in Midway Hollow, it needs to dig deeper to determine how best to restore consumer confidence.

Perhaps that’s a full accounting on its website of work being performed throughout the system or better explanations of what technicians finds during service calls. But giving customers the full facts is the next step in Atmos’ pledge for greater transparency and improved communication.

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Amarillo Globe-News. March 27, 2018.

Amarillo was part of the #marchforourlives event Saturday, a nationally organized demonstration/protest (depending on perspective) in support of increased gun control measures following a mass shooting at a high school in Florida.

Here is what Nell Newton, a minister at Amarillo Unitarian Universalist Fellowship who participated in Amarillo’s march, had to say regarding the event, "I wanted to support our youth because our youth are really seeing that things are not safe. Our youth are wondering what happened? Why did the adults not work to keep them safe?" (Amarillo takes part in the national conversation, March 24, amarillo.com.)

It is a valid question — why did the adults not work the keep kids safe?

This is a question that has many answers — if the question is looked at logically and not from a one-sided perspective.

For example, more gun laws and regulations will not change the fact that school administrators and officials failed to adequately address or respond to the myriad of problems and issues displayed by the shooter, at least in the case of the aforementioned Florida school shooting.

Syndicated columnist Ann Coulter has detailed mistakes made by school administration, most recently in a column in Amarillo Globe-News. (Coulter: Make Dems run on ‘school to prison pipeline’, March 19, amarillo.com.) We doubt many of the young people who participated in a #marchforourlives event (especially in Amarillo) are aware of this failure by the school, especially since many in national media have ignored these facts because they do not fit the gun control agenda.

And the constant blame of the National Rifle Association is tiresome and illogical.

According to www.opensecrets.org, the NRA ranked 154th out of 3,798 entities in 2016 in terms of money spent on lobbying, and No. 490 of 18,910 in contributions.

Follow the money — the political influence of the NRA is overrated, which is supported by the numbers, if one bothers to look.

Are some politicians fervently in favor of the Second Amendment? Yes, but this fact has more to do with politicians doing what is necessary to reflect what the voters back home want and support rather than a special interest group which ranked 490th in terms of contributions in 2016.

Young people need to understand that the gun used to commit death and carnage is often the final step in a descent into crime, evil and insanity – a fall that far too often can and should be noticed before a person legally or illegally obtains a gun.

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Victoria Advocate. March 27, 2018.

The Victoria city and county officials have released a copy of the 929-page emergency plan.

The plan is designed to be the official handbook of how to be prepared for and respond to emergencies ranging from floods to hazardous material spills to nuclear cite crisis and natural disasters such as hurricanes.

The plan has been held so close to the vest of select officials for many years that even elected officials were not privy to the information until recently when city Councilmember Jeff Bauknight asked for a copy of the plan so he could have informed answers when the public needed information.

The Advocate also asked for a copy of the plan in early December, but was told no because it contained confidential material. But after learning other counties have posted their plans online, local officials changed their minds and agreed to release it after information they deemed confidential was redacted.

The plan is on the website now for anyone to read, the way it should have been all along.

Releasing the emergency plan is the right step. At the very least, the public can now get more informed, involved and better prepared.

It will allow the public an opportunity to volunteer to be a part of the committees the plan calls for to be set up prior to disasters.

It will help all in city and county governments be prepared for the next disaster when it happens.

We are doubtful many will take the time to read all 929 pages of the plan. To say it is not light reading is fairly accurate. But it is divided into sections that allow the public to pick sections that interest them.

Unfortunately at this time the plan is only a document online and not interactive and not searchable by topic. It does contain a two-page table of contents at the beginning of the plan.

As the emergency management officials begin working on the new plan, it is important for all to include lessons learned from Hurricane Harvey and other disasters so preparation for the recovery is already in place before the disaster.

A good example of the city doing this was pre-contracting for debris removal, which meant the contractor was in town soon after it was safe for workers to begin to clear the debris.

This also locked in the city on a set cost and expectations for the contractor, cutting out needless lost time to negotiate after the disaster.

The city is also taking the right steps now by having a consultant look at its water supply needs so it can be prepared with the right equipment to keep the water supply running to the city.

While we applaud the city for taking these steps, we question why they did not do a full damage assessment for private property. It is not credible to say the assessment was not needed because the federal disaster declaration had been granted.

This information would have greatly helped not only the city, but also nonprofits and recovery groups to know how badly the city was damaged and where the needs are for helping in the recovery.

We are also concerned that required parts of the plan were not followed. It appears the preparation for this storm was not carried out months beforehand.

Plans are developed for reasons — to be used and referred to so everyone is fully prepared when a disaster hits — not to sit on a shelf, never to be looked at until the disaster hits. Preparation takes time and energy, but if it is done properly, it will save time and energy after the disaster when time and organization are crucial.

As officials work to update this plan, hopefully this spring before the June 1 start of hurricane season, let’s hope all the planners take the past year’s experience to heart and make a plan that will work, including developing committees that will help the emergency operations be prepared and organized.

The public needs to be part of the planning as well, so we will have a better informed community that can pull together to successfully recover from a disaster no matter the level.

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[realestate63141]

Trump’s White House Family Affair Looks A Lot Like The Most Corrupt Nations In The World

WASHINGTON ― For decades, the United States has worked with other countries to eliminate nepotism. There’s a good reason for that: Nepotism breeds corruption.

“You’ve seen it in countries all over the world where they’ve appointed family members, whether it’s their son, daughter, in-laws — it provides for tremendous opportunities for corruption,” said Shruti Shah, an international anti-corruption expert at Coalition for Integrity, a good-government nonprofit. “People who want to curry favor find their way to provide favors to family members as a way to get closer to the person in power.”

But President Donald Trump, who has entrusted more power to his family members than any recent president, puts that agenda at risk. “I like nepotism,” Trump told Larry King in 2006, the year he replaced his “Apprentice” costar, Trump company executive Carolyn Kepcher, with his daughter Ivanka Trump.

Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, hold broad portfolios at the White House that include everything from diplomacy with China, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, women’s issues, cybersecurity and reinventing government.

They determine who else has power in the Trump administration. Trump sidelined Steve Bannon, a close adviser, after he butted up against his daughter and adviser-in-law, and he elevated former Goldman Sachs employees Gary Cohn and Dina Powell based in part on their friendly relationships with Ivanka and her husband. And the couple act as presidential emissaries, with Kushner traveling to Iraq at the suggestion of the Pentagon and Ivanka heading to Germany.

Ivanka and Kushner — the two Trump advisers least likely to be fired — now rule the White House. And, although Ivanka and Kushner are not being paid, they maintain ownership stakes in their own businesses. Ivanka owns her own personal brand, which produces shoes, clothing, jewelry and accessories, and has a stake in her father’s businesses, including the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C. Kushner, like Trump, is a real estate magnate with numerous holdings throughout the U.S. who inherited his wealth from his father.

“You’ve seen it in countries all over the world where they’ve appointed family members, whether it’s their son, daughter, in-laws — it provides for tremendous opportunities for corruption,” said Shruti Shah, an international anti-corruption expert at Coalition for Integrity, a good-government nonprofit. “People who want to curry favor find their way to provide favors to family members as a way to get closer to the person in power.”

But President Donald Trump, who has entrusted more power to his family members than any recent president, puts that agenda at risk. “I like nepotism,” Trump told Larry King in 2006, the year he replaced his “Apprentice” costar, Trump company executive Carolyn Kepcher, with his daughter Ivanka Trump.

Ivanka and her husband, Jared Kushner, hold broad portfolios at the White House that include everything from diplomacy with China, the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, women’s issues, cybersecurity and reinventing government.

They determine who else has power in the Trump administration. Trump sidelined Steve Bannon, a close adviser, after he butted up against his daughter and adviser-in-law, and he elevated former Goldman Sachs employees Gary Cohn and Dina Powell based in part on their friendly relationships with Ivanka and her husband. And the couple act as presidential emissaries, with Kushner traveling to Iraq at the suggestion of the Pentagon and Ivanka heading to Germany.

The nepotism in the Trump administration would seem familiar in foreign countries with high rates of corruption, according to U.S. diplomats who have served in them.

“For many countries and governments, certainly in the Gulf, in the Middle East, they would recognize this pattern immediately,” Gerald Feierstein, who served as ambassador to Yemen from 2010 to 2013 and worked as a deputy secretary of state in the Obama administration, told HuffPost. “I think that they would find it completely normal that leaders mix personal business interests with government affairs and would use family members in various official responsibilities.”

Joseph C. Wilson IV, former ambassador to Gabon and Sao Tome and Principe from 1992 to 1995 and deputy chief of mission in Iraq during the first Gulf War, told HuffPost, “If you’re an overseas businessman or politician who wants to curry favor with the Trump family, it doesn’t hurt to provide these little niceties to them. Things such as having a conference at the Trump hotel in Washington or entertaining at the Trump hotel, that you already see.”

Foreign countries have indeed taken advantage of the continued business ownership of Trump and his children/advisers.

China approved five new trademarks for Ivanka Trump’s business on the same day she met with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Ivanka’s business already had 16 registered trademarks in the country and has 30 more pending. The new trademarks covered the brand-name rights for jewelry, spa services and purses. The vast majority of Ivanka Trump’s product line is made in China and imported to the U.S.

Kushner’s company was seeking an investment from a politically connected Chinese bank into the largest property he owns. Those negotiations ended after members of Congress and others questioned whether it would create a conflict of interest with his work as a go-between for the White House and Chinese leadership. (Kushner sold his stake in the building to a private trust controlled by his family members.)

Foreign governments, including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, Azerbaijan and Turkey, have held or plan to hold events at Trump’s D.C. hotel, which both the president and his daughter have a stake in. It is not known how many diplomats and foreign dignitaries have decided to book rooms at Trump hotels or properties since the president took office.

“I think the Chinese have already completely figured it out,” Feierstein said. “I would say the Arabs have figured it out. Because, again, from their perspective, this isn’t an unusual thing. One way of ensuring favorable treatment is you take care of the business interests.”

Not all former diplomats see Trump’s nepotistic governing arrangement through the lens of foreign nations.

“Actually I would compare it to what I’ve seen in Washington,” Ambassador John Herbst, who headed the embassy in Uzbekistan from 2000 to 2003 and in Ukraine from 2003 to 2006, told HuffPost.

Herbst is right: The U.S. has its own long tradition of political nepotism. President George Washington was opposed to nepotism, but his successor, John Adams, appointed his son John Quincy Adams as minister to Prussia. Unlike Kushner and Ivanka Trump, John Quincy Adams had already, perhaps against his wishes, worked as minister to the Netherlands during Washington’s administration. “I rather wish it had not been made at all,” Adams lamented about the Netherlands posting. Later, President John F. Kennedy appointed his brother Robert as attorney general.

When President Bill Clinton tapped his wife, Hillary Clinton, to lead an effort to reform health care in 1993, conservative and medical industry groups charged that her appointment violated either a 1967 anti-nepotism law or a federal advisory committee law requiring public meetings. But two appeals court judges ruled that Hillary Clinton’s White House role was not a violation of the anti-nepotism law. The decision stated that the nepotism law probably did not apply to White House adviser positions, particularly if they were unpaid.

“The anti-nepotism statute, moreover, may well bar appointment only to paid positions in government,” D.C. Circuit Court Judges Laurence Silberman and Stephen Williams wrote in their 1993 decision. “Thus, even if it would prevent the President from putting his spouse on the federal payroll, it does not preclude his spouse from aiding the President in the performance of his duties.”

The Department of Justice’s Office of Legal Counsel made the same argument in a 14-page memo rationalizing Trump’s appointment of his son-in-law as a White House adviser. The legal counsel also argued that a subsequent law providing the president with unilateral hiring authority in the White House superseded the possibility of the nepotism law restricting the employment of children or in-laws.

Or, as Eric Trump, the co-head of the president’s multibillion-dollar international business, puts it, “Nepotism is kind of a factor of life.”

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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[universeinform-blog]

Mark McGowan hopes to move Roe 8 workforce to other road projects

New Post has been published on https://universeinform.com/2017/03/31/mark-mcgowan-hopes-to-move-roe-8-workforce-to-other-road-projects/

Mark McGowan hopes to move Roe 8 workforce to other road projects

Mark McGowan desires to put Roe 8’s staff to different use.Picture: Nic Ellis, The West Australian

The Kingdom Government has announced it’ll attempt to range as opposed to canceling Roe eight contracts, in a bid to swiftly redeploy the personnel to different “shovel equipped” street tasks within weeks. Most desirable Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti discovered the negotiations with the Roe eight alliance of contractors this morning at the same time as condemning the preceding Authorities for spending greater and clearing extra land than essential to get the task underway before the election.

Ms. Saffioti said the Country had additionally entered negotiations with the Federal Authorities to redirect $1.2 billion in a price range from the scrapped Perth Freight Hyperlink, including Roe 8, to opportunity projects.

The brand new plans for Roe eight production web page. At some point of the election marketing campaign, Labor recognized three “congestion busting” tasks it wanted to fund alternatively. They have been bringing forward the $145m duplication of Armadale street among Anstey and Tapper roads, constructing a $166m bridge linking Armadale and North Lake roads over the Kwinana Throughway and spending $95m to build overpasses on Wanneroo street over Ocean Reef road and Joondalup Drive.

Mr. McGowan said he turned into assured of redirecting the PFL money after meeting PM Malcolm Turnbull every week in the past.

Ms. Saffioti would no longer speculate on which fits might be activated first but said there was the precedent for varying contracts to other initiatives without a separate aggressive tender manner, mentioning the Gateway task surrounding Perth Airport.

Jeff Miller of the Civil Contractors Affiliation at the Roe eight website.Photo: Trevor Collins, The West Australian She insisted negotiations could include “price for cash components” and numerous the unit fees constructed into the Roe eight contract might be duplicated. “That is a complicated negation, This is something ideally we wouldn’t want to be in, but of course the Barnett Government signed as much as a contract despite the fact that they had been warned of a large value and we now realize they have been being told internally they might lose the election,” she stated.

Why It’s Okay If Your Team Members Don’t Like Each Other

Have you ever labored with someone whom you simply plain failed to like? I assume all of us have, at one time or some other. As an instance, there are moments when I genuinely hate my boss and I’m self-hired!

The coolest information is that liking every other is not a prerequisite for an amazing, efficient group. Granted, in case you are fortunate sufficient to work in a crew wherein you all like each different, that is brilliant! It’s a bonus. However, It’s no longer crucial.

What is important? Two things:

Agree with and recognize.

I was lucky when I used to be producing; my crew members preferred every different. However, that does not suggest we continually got alongside. And, over the course of fifteen years, there were times while a number of us failed to especially like a number of the others. Nonetheless, we constantly got the display accomplished on time, and at high first-class and, we Nonetheless won Emmys®. Why?

Because the core of our professional courting turned into Trust and recognize. each one of us trusted that the others had The coolest of the display (and, with the aid of extension, The best of the crew) at coronary heart. And, irrespective of what, we respected every different’s talents.

Would you want a short way to tell if the members of your group Agree with every different?

See if they’re preventing.

If they’re, that is appropriate.

I’m serious. Now I’m not speak about name calling and character conflicts. I’m speaking about group purpose conflicts. when crew individuals Agree with each other, they feel extra inclined to have oh, allow’s call them, “lively discussions” approximately the crew goals, merchandise, and offerings. As you can see, I appreciated it when my team contributors fought!

If there’s no warfare inside your group (and, again, I am talking about expert, no longer personal, struggle), do not pat yourself on the back and congratulate yourself on what an amazing manager you’re. You can have a Consider difficulty inside your group.

In the film Remember the Titans, Denzel Washington performed legendary high college football instruct Herman Boone.

In a single memorable scene, Washington (as Boone) takes his team to visit the Gettysburg battleground. Even as there, he drives home the factor that, Even as the infantrymen won’t all have preferred every other, they Still fought fiercely, shoulder to shoulder, for a not unusual motive. He then says, “I do not care if you want each different or not, However you may admire each differently.”

In case your team likes every different, you will get peace and harmony. In the event that they Accept as true with and recognize each different, you’ll get fantastic consequences. As a frontrunner, which one Might you alternatively have?

Retraining Our Workforce For Our Future Economy

Whenever there’s an election the USA, politicians get up at panel debates and roll-out their plans to either create jobs or help retrain the personnel with the capabilities essential for the jobs which are to be had. Most of this is political rhetoric and malarkey. First, authorities are not excellent with creating jobs, unless it hires a gaggle of people for the paperwork, however, if it does it has to borrow money or raise taxes which hurts the financial system and the forex. Worse, it takes cash far from consumers who might spend it and buy something while enjoying their exceptional of existence and widespread of dwelling, or from an enterprise that might re-make investments that cash to create jobs. Suffice it to mention, it would not paintings.

Retraining is a great deal more difficult than it seems, governments do this very poorly,

It normally by no means works and that they usually misappropriate sources and omit estimate what number of or few employees are needed. If we comply with the theories of the Singularity Institute, a number of which makes a variety of experience, we suppose we see wherein we can need the hard work in the future and yet, we’re typically wrong, despite the fact that many of the Futurists type companies and the Singularity Institute are absolutely inside the pipeline of the brand new and greatest rising technologies – ie… the ones growing the future are the only ones who can expect it.

We can not spend money paying human beings to go to education as though it have been a task

Prolonged unemployment benefits) and then expect the ones actual jobs to be there as soon as these individuals have completed -years of training.

Every other undertaking is that many accept as true with “we can construct it and they may come” but will they? Just because you’ve got an education application does not mean all and sundry will sign up or take it significantly. If we assign humans to do certain schooling the usage of a career guidance counselor, nicely we recognize how worthless the one’s parents are, and exactly how will we do that? Assigning jobs to human beings based totally on what? IQ level, age, race, athletic capacity, work revel in isn’t in line with what “The Man or woman” may see as meaningful work.

Successful Housing Projects With Construction Management Services

Living at a suited vicinity that is properly geared up with all the centers required is one of the most searched approximately elements. Regrettably, gradual monetary repute in and round the world seems to be actual restrain in such occasions. With expenses of homes going better and unavailability of the same, aforesaid want listing frequently remains incomplete.

Ultimately, the owners of creation projects have become affected too.

In the end, collecting proper and ability consumers for their residential or any other style of edifice creation is getting blocked. In the due path, ventures getting closed are a common thing too. No wonder, with the assist of proficient creation control services, these perplexities are getting fulfilled and these days its efficacies also can be observed Inside the subject of affordable housing control machine.

Low to mild income holders are frequently observed struggling while choosing the maximum profitable property investment for abiding onto the same. Fortuitously, with the help of low-cost housing system, all the one’s tricky facets were given eliminated to some extent.

investment for abiding onto the same. Fortuitously, with the help of low-cost housing system, all the one’s tricky facets were given eliminated to some extent.

Business owners on this construction enterprise are properly aware of the competitions and other headaches which can be associated with the development of such housing pattern. this is the reason why they’re impeccably depending on above cited carrier solutions. In the end, architects, economists, legal experts and numerous different honchos related to such service providers are extraordinarily skilled and informed. Ultimately, making plans the execution procedure of such low priced tasks becomes actually profitable for proprietors and on the equal-time for its cease-users.

Lowering and as a result putting off all of the days after day perplexities

Related to a production assignment are some thing that controls recourses cited above are reputed for. Such aids also are favored for the substantial functionality to streamline the complete execution procedure and therefore, on the cease of sure initiatives, incomes acceptable sales and goodwill of potential purchasers can be accrued through owners.