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WASHINGTON - Donald Trump threatened the United States’s closest neighbours with big tariffs this week, in a move that has reminded many of the unpredictable tactics the president-elect deployed during his first tenure in the White House. Trump said Monday he would use an executive order to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all goods coming from Canada and Mexico until the two countries stop drugs and migrants from illegally crossing the U.S. border. The announcement, made on Truth Social, brought swift responses from officials and industry in both countries who are bracing for chaos during Trump’s second tenure. He has long used the threat of import taxes to pressure other countries to do his bidding, saying this summer that “the most beautiful word in the dictionary is ‘tariff.’” It’s unlikely the move would violate the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement, which was negotiated during the first Trump administration. Laura Dawson, an expert on Canada-U. S. relations and the executive director of the Future Borders Coalition, said the president can impose tariffs under his national security powers. This type of duty has a time limit and can only be made permanent through Congressional approval, but for Trump, national security powers are like a “get out of jail free card,” Dawson said. “This is exactly what happened in the last Trump administration,” Dawson said. “Everyone said, ‘Well, that is ridiculous. Canada is the U.S.‘s best security partner. What do you mean our steel and aluminum imports are somehow a source of insecurity?’” But within the global trade system, she said, no country challenges another’s right to define their own national security imperatives. Trump’s first administration demonstrated how vulnerable Canada is to America’s whims when the former president scrapped the North American Free Trade Agreement. The U.S. is Canada’s closest neighbour and largest trading partner. More than 77 per cent of Canadian exports go to the U.S. Negotiation of CUSMA, commonly dubbed “the new NAFTA,” was a key test for Ottawa following Trump’s first victory. The trilateral agreement is up for review in 2026 and experts suspect this week’s tariff announcement is a negotiating tactic. Scott Bessent, Trump’s pick for treasury secretary, said in a recent op-ed that tariffs are “a useful tool for achieving the president’s foreign policy objectives.” “Whether it is getting allies to spend more on their own defence, opening foreign markets to U.S. exports, securing co-operation on ending illegal immigration and interdicting fentanyl trafficking, or deterring military aggression, tariffs can play a central role.” During the initial CUSMA negotiations in 2018, Trump floated the idea of a 25 per cent tariff on the Canadian auto sector — something that would have been crippling for the industry on both sides of the border. It was never implemented. At the time, he did use his national security powers to impose a 25 per cent tariff on steel and 10 per cent tariff on aluminum imports, casting fear of an all-out trade war that would threaten the global economy. The day after announcing those levies, Trump posted on social media “trade wars are good, and easy to win.” Former U.S. trade representative Robert Lighthizer recounted in his book that the duties sent an “unmistakable signal that business as usual was over.” “The Trump administration was willing to ruffle diplomatic feathers to advance its trade agenda.” It led to a legendary clash between Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Trump at the G7 in Quebec. Trudeau said Canada would impose retaliatory measures, saying the argument that tariffs on steel and aluminum were a matter of national security was “kind of insulting.” Trump took to social media, where, in a flurry of posts he called Trudeau “very dishonest and weak.” Canada and other countries brought their own duties against the U.S. in response. They targeted products for political, rather than economic, reasons. Canada hit yogurt with a 10 per cent duty. Most of the product impacted came from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. The European Union, Mexico and Canada all targeted U.S. whiskey products with tariffs, in a clear signal to then Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and his home state of Kentucky’s bourbon industry. Ultimately, Canada and Mexico were able to negotiate exemptions. Carlo Dade, the director of trade and trade infrastructure at the Canada West Foundation, said Trump is returning to the White House with more experience and a plan. But he suspects Americans will not like the blow to their bank accounts. Trump’s new across-the-board tariff strategy would not only disrupt global supply chains, it would also cause a major shakeup to the American economy. It’s unclear if Trump will go through with them, or for how long, after campaigning on making life more affordable and increasing the energy market. “I think it will be short-term,” Dade said. “The U.S. can only inflict damage on itself for so long.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 26, 2024. — With files from The Associated Press

Published 22:04 IST, December 21st 2024 Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait's Mina Abdullah area, which has a workforce of around 1500 Indian nationals Kuwait City: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited the Gulf Spic Labour Camp in Kuwait's Mina Abdullah area, which has a workforce of around 1500 Indian nationals, in part of his two-day visit to the Gulf nation. PM Modi is on a 2-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. This is the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Kuwait in 43 years. During his visit, PM Modi interacted with the workers and had some snacks and beverages with the workers there. The Prime Minister interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India and enquired about their well-being. According to a statement by the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit to the labour camp was symbolic of the importance attached by the Prime Minister to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. The MEA further stated that in the last few years, the Indian government had undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as the E-Migrate portal, the MADAD portal, and the upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad. During his visit, PM Modi also interacted with the Indian diaspora at the 'Hala Modi' community event at the Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex. The Prime Minister appreciated the hard work, achievement and contribution of the community to the development of Kuwait, which he said was widely recognized by the local government and society. He thanked the leadership of Kuwait for the welfare of the Indian community. Reflecting on India's strong commitment to support Indian workers in Kuwait and elsewhere in the Gulf. The Prime Minister also extended an invitation to diaspora members to participate in Pravasi Bharatiya Divas and Maha Kumbh to be held in India in January 2025. Earlier, following his arrival in Kuwait, PM Modi was greeted with a rousing welcome, as members of the Indian diaspora received him with greetings and cultural performances at the hotel. Taking to X, PM Modi said that he had received a "heartwarming welcome" and that the members' "energy, love, and unwavering connection to India" was truly inspiring. "Received a heartwarming welcome from the vibrant Indian diaspora in Kuwait. Their energy, love, and unwavering connection to India are truly inspiring. Grateful for their enthusiasm and proud of their contributions to strengthening ties between our nations," PM Modi said on X. He also met 101-year-old ex-IFS officer Mangal Sain Handa. "Delighted to have met Shri Mangal Sain Handa Ji in Kuwait this afternoon. I admire his contribution to India and his passion for India's development," PM Modi said on X. He also interacted with publisher Abdul Lateef Al-Nesef and translator Abdullah Al-Baroun, who published the Ramayana and Mahabharata in Arabic. "Happy to see Arabic translations of the Ramayan and Mahabharat. I compliment Abdullah Al-Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al-Nesef for their efforts in translating and publishing it. Their initiative highlights the popularity of Indian culture globally," PM Modi said, taking to X. Get Current Updates on India News , Entertainment News along with Latest News and Top Headlines from India and around the world. Updated 22:04 IST, December 21st 2024

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Kuwait City, Dec 21 (IANS): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers during his visit to a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait, his first official programme after arriving in the West Asian nation on a historic visit, earlier in the day. The labour camp has a workforce of around 1500 Indian nationals hailing from different states of India. During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi enquired about the well-being of Indian workers and discussed various welfare schemes initiated by the Indian government over the past 10 years. "The visit to the labour camp is symbolic of the importance attached by the Prime Minister to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. In the last few years, the government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as E-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad," said the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) after the visit. The government led by PM Modi remains at the forefront in providing unwavering support to its nationals at times of their need and PM's visit to the camp on Saturday assumes significance, especially after the fire tragedy at a labour housing facility in the Mangaf area of Kuwait City in June this year which resulted in deaths of dozens of Indian workers. Within hours of assuming charge, Minister of State for External Affairs Kirtivardhan Singh was sent to Kuwait on the direction of Prime Minister Modi who was himself keeping track of rescue efforts on June 12 despite major political developments at home, including swearing-in ceremonies of governments in Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Indian Embassy in Kuwait has been working in a mission mode since the tragic incident, constantly checking safety measures at the labour camps and places where Indian workers are staying. Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Kuwait Saturday afternoon, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Gulf nation in 43 years. The PM received a grand welcome upon his arrival as he began his historic two-day visit, which is expected to take India's close ties with the Gulf countries to another level, at the invitation of the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Later, as he arrived at the hotel, PM received a rousing welcome by the Indian community. "Received a heartwarming welcome from the vibrant Indian diaspora in Kuwait. Their energy, love and unwavering connection to India are truly inspiring. Grateful for their enthusiasm and proud of their contributions to strengthening ties between our nations," said PM Modi. He also met 101-year-old Mangal Sain Handa, a former Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer who now resides in Kuwait, besides receiving copies of Ramayana and Mahabharata translated in Arabic language by Abdullah Baron and published by Abdullateef Alnesef. "Happy to see Arabic translations of the Ramayan and Mahabharat. I compliment Abdullah Al-Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al-Nesef for their efforts in translating and publishing it. Their initiative highlights the popularity of Indian culture globally," PM Modi posted on X. The Prime Minister will also be accorded a ceremonial guard of honour at the Bayan Palace, following which he will be holding separate meetings with the Amir of Kuwait and the Crown Prince of Kuwait. Delegation-level talks with the Prime Minister of Kuwait will be held thereafter during which the Prime Minister will review with the leadership of Kuwait the entire spectrum of bilateral relations including in areas such as the political, trade, investment, energy, culture and people-to-people ties, and the steps that both sides need to take to further enhance them. The Crown Prince will be hosting a banquet in honour of the Indian PM. During his visit, PM Modi will also attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup as a special guest of the Amir of Kuwait. "Today, I am embarking on a two-day visit to Kuwait at the invitation of His Highness Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait. We deeply value the historical connection with Kuwait that has been nurtured over generations. We are not just strong trade and energy partners but also have shared interest in peace, security, stability and prosperity in the West Asia region," the Prime Minister said in his departure statement, earlier in the day. "It would be an opportunity to chalk out a road map for a futuristic partnership for the benefit of our people and the region. I eagerly look forward to meeting the Indian diaspora in Kuwait who have immensely contributed to the strengthening of bonds of friendship between the two nations," the statement added. PM Modi also said that he remains confident that his visit will further strengthen and reinforce the special ties and bonds of friendship between the people of India and Kuwait. This is, however, not the first instance of the PM meeting interacting with Indian workers abroad. In 2016, PM Modi visited L&T workers' residential complex and the All Women IT and ITES Centre of Tata Consultancy Services in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh. In the same year, PM Modi also visited the Indian workers' camp in Doha, Qatar. Earlier in 2015, PM Modi visited a labour camp in Abu Dhabi where he highlighted India's concern for the welfare of its migrant workers. He interacted with Indian workers at their camps to know the problems they face and discussed ways the Indian government can help them. At the same time, the government led by PM Modi has also been continuously working towards ensuring safe and legal migration. Launched in 2014, the e-Migrate project facilitates emigration of Indians for employment purposes and mitigates the scope of malpractices. It also helps to conduct recruitment processes in a hassle-free and transparent manner besides providing a comprehensive online database of Indian emigrants to all stakeholders, making the whole emigration cycle fast, transparent and efficient. The e-Migrate system has been integrated with other services like Passport Seva Project for online validation of passport details and also with insurance agencies providing Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojna. DG Shipping system has also been integrated with the eMigrate system through which data about seafarers submitted to DG Shipping is sent through eMigrate to the Bureau of Immigration for processing emigration at Immigration Check Posts and airports, thus streamlining the emigration process. The Overseas Employment and Protector General of Emigrants Division has also been strengthened, thus streamlining the process of emigration for individuals having ECR (Emigration Clearance Required category) passports going abroad for employment. As many as 16 offices of Protector General of Emigrants have been opened across India to facilitate the same. The Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra, which helps disseminate information about emigration and receive and redress complaints and grievances of migrant workers, has also been strengthened by the government while five regional centres have also been set up at Lucknow, Hyderabad, Chennai, Patna and Kochi assisting emigrants requiring face-to-face interaction for redressal of their grievances and queries. PM Modi has simultaneously been working towards improving the condition of Indian workers abroad. In his visit to UAE earlier this year, PM Modi had announced that UAE has given a piece of land in Dubai for the construction of a hospital for Indian workers. Quite significantly, India and Kuwait signed an agreement in 2021 which marked a pivotal step in ensuring the welfare and rights of Indian domestic workers in Kuwait. The agreement established a fair and balanced relationship between workers and employers, focusing on the protection of workers' rights and compliance with local laws.The promising career of Floyd Mayweather -promoted boxer Curmel Moton has encountered a setback after he failed to meet the weight requirements for his seventh professional fight in shocking fashion. The 18-year-old lightweight, who boasts a 6-0 record with 5 knockouts , was scheduled to face Bryan Mercado in Atlantic City, New Jersey, but tipped the scales at 147.8lbs, a staggering 15lbs over the agreed 133lbs catchweight. As a result, the six-round fight was postponed, putting a brake on the Las Vegas-based prospect's momentum. Moton had been on a three-fight knockout streak but will now have to wait for his next opportunity to step into the ring. In a statement, Moton revealed that he had not attempted to make weight for the fight and apologised to fans who had planned to attend. He also expressed his hope to return to action next month on the undercard of Ryan Garcia's exhibition fight against Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo. "I want to apologise to everyone that was planning on coming to Jersey to watch me fight," Moton said. "I've been going back and forth with the commission about my bloodwork passing, and as of right now, they lost my blood in their system [which meant the fight was unlikely to be sanctioned]. "I've known this for the past three days, so there was no point in killing myself to make [the] weight. They still made me weigh in for some reason, and they decided that was the reason they were going to cancel the fight. Regardless, I'll be back in Japan on December 30th [at the potential exhibition involving Ryan Garcia]. See you all there." Moton faced some criticism on social media with a spokesperson later saying. The event in New Jersey was due to be staged by Danny Garcia's Swift Promotions. The promotional company issued a statement to explain the decision to postpone the fight. "The decision to postpone the fight was made in the best interest of all parties involved," a spokesman said. "While we are disappointed to delay this event, our priority is ensuring that both Curmel and his opponents are set up for the best possible competition." "We appreciate the continued support of Curmel's fans and the boxing community, and we look forward to announcing his return to the ring soon."Gamified Barbecue Experience Now Available The Best Golf Simulator Book your event to include Texas. Legit. Barbecue and a few rounds of golf Whether you're sinking birdies or indulging in brisket , Dickey's has you covered. For just $40 per hour, guests can use their own clubs and balls to play on world-class courses simulated with cutting-edge Full Swing technology. The golf simulator is open during Dickey's normal business hours, with flexible reservations available for early mornings or late evenings by calling ahead. Special Features Include: Players can rent the simulator by the hour, not per person, making it ideal for groups. For reference, one person can complete 18 holes in an hour, while four players will need about four hours for a full round. Laura Rea Dickey , CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., shared her excitement: "Dickey's is always looking for innovative ways to bring communities together, and this golf simulator is a fantastic example. We're combining our tradition of quality barbecue with a modern, interactive experience that's sure to delight our guests.” Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, added: "This is more than just a game or a meal; it's a way to elevate how people spend their time with friends and family. Dickey's in Chillicothe is showing how franchisees can create dynamic, memorable experiences while staying true to our roots.” Perfect for Special Events Looking for an unforgettable gathering spot? Dickey's golf simulator can host parties and events of all kinds. From birthday celebrations to bachelor parties and office outings, this gamified barbecue experience makes every occasion more fun. Call the Chillicothe location for pricing and details. Ready to swing and savor? Visit Dickey's Barbecue Pit in Chillicothe today to try this one-of-a-kind experience. About Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. Founded in 1941 by The Dickey Family, Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. is the world's largest barbecue concept and continues as a third-generation family-run business. For over 80 years, Dickey's Barbecue Pit has served millions with its signature Legit. Texas. Barbecue.TM Slow-smoked over hickory wood-burning pits, Dickey's barbecued meats are paired with a variety of southern sides. Committed to authentic barbecue, Dickey's never takes shortcuts-because real barbecue can't be rushed. With over 866 restaurants across eight concepts in the U.S. and several countries, Dickey's Barbecue Franchise and Dickey's Restaurant Brands continues to grow under the leadership of Roland Dickey, Jr ., CEO of Dickey's Capital Group, and Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Inc. Dickey's has been recognized on Newsweek's 2022 "America's Favorite Restaurant Chains" list, Nation's Restaurant News 2024 top fast-casual brands for value, and USA Today's 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. The brand has also ranked in the Top 20 of Fast Casual's "Top 100 Movers and Shakers” for four of the past five years. Additional accolades include Entrepreneur's Top 500 Franchise and Hospitality Technology's Industry Heroes list. The brand has been featured by Fox News, Forbes, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, and People Magazine . For more information, visit www.dickeys.com . For information about becoming a franchise partner, visit www.dickeysfranchise.com. Attachment The Best Golf Simulator CONTACT: Louisa Garrett Dickey's Barbecue Pit [email protected]

Crime stories have captivated and shocked the nation over the past 12 months. 1. RTP riven by internal conflict This year, the Royal Thai Police (RTP) was embroiled in internal conflicts among its high-level officials, leading to administrative shake-ups. Former prime minister Srettha Thavisin intervened by issuing a sudden order transferring Pol Gen Torsak Sukvimol, then national police chief, to the Office of the Prime Minister for 60 days. During his absence, his deputy, Pol Gen Kitrat Phanphet, was appointed as acting national police chief. Pol Gen Torsak was in conflict with his then-deputy Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn, also known as "Big Joke", due to mutual accusations of involvement in high-profile corruption cases, particularly those related to online gambling and money laundering. After the investigation concluded, Pol Gen Torsak was reinstated as national police chief in June, where he served until his retirement at the end of September. Pol Gen Surachate, meanwhile, faces serious legal challenges, with the Criminal Court issuing an arrest warrant against him on charges of money laundering. He was dismissed from the police force. Despite attempts to seek justice through various agencies and the Supreme Administrative Court, all upheld the decision. The scandal ensured Pol Gen Surachate could not be considered a candidate for national police chief, and also ended his career in law enforcement, despite his having several years remaining before his mandatory retirement in 2031. The internal strife within the RTP and subsequent government interventions highlighted the challenges faced by the force in maintaining its integrity and public trust amid allegations of corruption and internal discord. 2. Fugitive Paeng Nanod found in Bali After evading authorities for over seven months, fugitive Chaowalit Thongduang, also known as “Paeng Nanod”, was apprehended in Bali, Indonesia, in a joint operation between Thai and Indonesian authorities. Chaowalit, 37, a native of tambon Nanod in Phatthalung province’s Muang district, is a notorious offender with a lengthy history of over 10 major convictions, including murder, armed assault and attempted homicide. On Oct 20 last year, he was sent from Nakhon Si Thammarat Central Prison to Maharaj Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital for dental treatment. He fled corrections staff on Oct 22 into the Banthad mountain range, which stretches across Phatthalung, Trang and Satun provinces. Despite a massive manhunt, he long managed to evade capture. He released video clips in which he claimed he was a victim of injustice and said his application for bail had not been handled fairly. His clips sparked a nationwide manhunt, led by Provincial Police Region 9 and the Immigration Bureau (IB). Investigators tracked his associates, some of whom travelled suspiciously frequently to Indonesia. Among them was a close female companion whose testimony provided crucial leads. Through collaboration with Justice Minister Pol Col Tawee Sodsong, a special task force was formed. The team worked with Indonesian authorities to locate Chaowalit on the tourist island of Bali, where he was found hiding in a rented room. Chaowalit was extradited to Thailand in early June to face justice after seven months on the run. He now faces additional charges related to his escape, compounding his already substantial criminal record. 3. The iCon group loses lustre One of the big scandals of the year concerned The iCon Group, the direct sales company allegedly involved in public fraud and pyramid schemes. A total of 7,875 people filed complaints against the company and claimed to have lost 1.64 billion baht in total. The iCon Group was founded by CEO Waratphon Waratvorakul in 2018, claiming it was involved in “online retail sales”. After six years of operation, it has 368,257 members and is known as a fast-growing business. Its accumulated financial statement from the year 2019-2023 reported around 10.6 billion baht in revenue. One reason for its success is the company hired celebrities to represent it, and portrayed their roles as if they were company executives. Those celebrities included Yuranunt “Sam” Pamornmontri, Kan Kantathavorn, and Pechaya “Min” Wattanamontree. On Oct 7, a group of damaged parties filed a complaint with the Central Investigation Bureau claiming The iCon Group lured them into investing in online e-commerce courses and purchase its products. They were unable to find customers and were advised to sign up members instead, in return for which they were to be paid commissions in a model similar to a pyramid scheme. More damaged parties came forward as victims with some saying their lost loved ones who committed suicide in despair of losing their savings or running up huge debts to The iCon Group. CIB officers arrested 18 suspects including the CEO, executives and three celebrities. They were charged with public fraud and crimes related to the Computer Act. The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) later took over the case and investigated the company for money laundering, while the Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo) worked on additional asset seizures from the suspects. The probe led to additional charges for those executives including fraudulent borrowing (pyramid scheme-linked offences) and breaching the Direct Sales and Marketing Act. The DSI impounded assets worth 747 million baht from the 18 suspects for future compensation. The seized assets included real estate and luxury vehicles. The investigation also expanded to people who allegedly demanded a bribe from Mr Waratphon, including politician Samart Janechaijittawanich, former assistant minister of justice and former member of the Palang Pracharath Party; Ms Wilawan, the mother of Mr Samart; and Kritanong Suwannawong, a former chairwoman of the online network promotion coordination centre. All 20 suspects have been detained at the Bangkok Remand Prison and Central Women’s Correctional Institution, except Mr Samart’s mother who was given bail. Mr Waratphon, however, insists his company is a real business selling dietary supplements and denies all charges. 4. Lawyer Sittra crashes down to earth High-profile lawyer Sittra Biabungkerd became the talk of the town when he and his wife were arrested in November over his alleged embezzlement scheme. On Nov 7, Mr Sittra, 44, and his wife, Pathitta Biabungkerd, were arrested on a highway in Chachoengsao on fraud and money laundering charges. The high profile lawyer ran the Sittra Law Firm, which represented many famous clients in recent years. One included Suchanun Sucharitchinsri, also known as Minnie, who was suspected of running online gambling websites and linked to a close aide of former deputy police chief, Pol Gen Surachate Hakparn. The scandal came to light when client Jatuporn Ubonlert, 58, filed a complaint with police saying Mr Sittra defrauded her of 71 million baht in an online lottery scheme which did not exist. Ms Jatuporn, who lives in France with her French husband, said she gave Mr Sittra the money after he claimed he could secure her rights to run an online lottery platform. The money was for the development of software which Mr Sittra had still failed to materialise after two years. Ms Jatuporn also paid Mr Sittra legal fees as her adviser of 300,000 baht a year. She decided to scrap the contract and demanded a refund but Mr Sittra claimed the money was a gift. Police expanded the investigation and arrested three others: Pinthira Kariwan, sister of his wife, Nuwat Yongyut and his girlfriend Sarini Nuchanart. They were charged with jointly laundering money and colluding to launder money, in relation to a 39 million baht fraud in which Mr Sittra claimed he could help Ms Jatuporn pay for a famous Chinese singer to perform in Thailand via cryptocurrency. But the money was later divided among the lawyer’s team. In addition, Mr Sittra allegedly forged documents when he bought a Benz for Ms Jatuporn. Police found he gained 1.5 million baht from 12.9 million baht payments on the car. He also asked Ms Jatuporn to pay 9 million baht for a hotel design when the actual cost was only 3.5 million baht, further raising her hackles. The Anti-Money Laundering Committee froze the assets of Mr Sittra and his associates totalling 71 million baht. Mr Sittra and his wife were charged with fraud and money laundering. The five suspects have been jailed at the Bangkok Remand Prison and the Central Women’s Correctional Institution, with the case still ongoing. 5. ‘PAO dispute’ behind fatal shooting Chaimet Sitsanitpong, a Prachin Buri provincial council member, was shot dead at the house of Soonthorn Vilawan, chairman of the Prachin Buri Provincial Administration Organisation (PAO), on the night of Dec 11. Chaimet, 48, was the adopted son of Mr Soonthorn, 85, an influential figure in the province and father of former deputy education minister Kanokwan Vilawan. Despite claiming he was resting in his bedroom when the gun went off, Mr Soonthorn has been named as one of seven suspects in the case, including two aides of Mr Soonthorn who are the alleged shooters. A political conflict is thought to be behind the fatal attack, as Chaimet supported his wife, Napaphat Anchasanichamon, to run for chairmanship of the Prachin Buri PAO under the Pheu Thai Party’s banner. At the same time, Mr Soonthorn insisted on fielding a Bhumjaithai Party candidate. Some audio clips containing heated arguments between the two over matters including the unsettled local election matter were leaked after the shooting. Most recently, the national police chief asked the Crime Suppression Division to take over the probe from local police. Police believe the murder was calculated and suspect Mr Soonthorn wanted his stepson dead. The case shows how truly nasty politics at the local level can be.Swinney and Brown at memorial service for ‘giant of a man’ Alex SalmondDonald Trump 'set to be first elected politician given two state visits' to UK

United States women’s head coach Emma Hayes admitted she initially grappled with how best to behave during ‘God Save The King’ ahead of her side’s goalless draw with England in their Wembley friendly. The billing of London-born former Chelsea boss Hayes against England’s Dutch manager Sarina Wiegman – arguably the best two bosses in the women’s game – had generated more buzz in the build-up than the players on the pitch, despite it being a rare encounter between the two top-ranked sides in the world. Hayes enjoyed her return to familiar shores but felt the US lacked the “killer piece” after they looked the likelier side to make the breakthrough. Asked what was going through her mind during the national anthem, Hayes said: “I was definitely mouthing (it), and Naomi (Girma) and Lynn (Williams) could see that I was struggling with where to be and all that. “I got to the end of the anthems and I thought, ‘that’s so ridiculous. I’m proud to be English and I’m proud of our national anthem, and I’m also really proud to coach America’. “Two things are possible all at once. I don’t want to fuel a nationalist debate around it. The realities are both countries are really dear to me for lots of reasons, and I’m really proud to represent both of them.” The Lionesses did not register a shot on target in the first half but grew into the game in the second. US captain Lindsey Horan had the ball in the net after the break but the flag was up, while Hayes’ side had a penalty award for a handball reversed after a VAR check determined substitute Yazmeen Ryan’s shot hit Alex Greenwood’s chest. Hayes, who left Chelsea after 12 trophy-packed years this summer, said: “I’ve been privileged to coach a lot of top-level games, including here, so there’s a familiarity to being here for me. “It’s not new to me, and because of that there was a whole sense of I’m coming back to a place I know. I have a really healthy perspective, and I want to have a really healthy perspective on my profession. “I give everything I possibly can for a team that I really, really enjoy coaching, and I thrive, not just under pressure, but I like these opportunities, I like being in these situations. They bring out the best in me. “You’ve got two top teams now, Sarina is an amazing coach, I thought it was a good tactical match-up, and I just enjoy coaching a high-level football match, to be honest with you. I don’t think too much about it.” Hayes had travelled to London without her entire Olympic gold medal-winning “Triple Espresso” forward line of Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith, all nursing niggling injuries. Before the match, the 48-year-old was spotted chatting with Wiegman and her US men’s counterpart, fellow ex-Chelsea boss Mauricio Pochettino , who was also in attendance. England were also missing a number of key attackers for the friendly including Lauren Hemp, Lauren James and Ella Toone, all ruled out with injury. Wiegman brushed aside suggestions from some pundits that her side were content to settle for a draw. She said: “I think we were really defending as a team, very strong. We got momentum in the second half, we did better, and of course both teams went for the win. “So many things happened in this game, also in front of the goal, so I don’t think it was boring. “We wanted to go for the win, but it was such a high-intensity game, you have to deal with a very good opponent, so you can’t just say, ‘Now we’re going to go and score that goal’. “We tried, of course, to do that. We didn’t slow down to keep it 0-0. I think that was just how the game went.”

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — An online spat between factions of Donald Trump's supporters over immigration and the tech industry has thrown internal divisions in his political movement into public display, previewing the fissures and contradictory views his coalition could bring to the White House. The rift laid bare the tensions between the newest flank of Trump's movement — wealthy members of the tech world including billionaire Elon Musk and fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and their call for more highly skilled workers in their industry — and people in Trump's Make America Great Again base who championed his hardline immigration policies. The debate touched off this week when Laura Loomer , a right-wing provocateur with a history of racist and conspiratorial comments, criticized Trump’s selection of Sriram Krishnan as an adviser on artificial intelligence policy in his coming administration. Krishnan favors the ability to bring more skilled immigrants into the U.S. Loomer declared the stance to be “not America First policy” and said the tech executives who have aligned themselves with Trump were doing so to enrich themselves. Much of the debate played out on the social media network X, which Musk owns. Loomer's comments sparked a back-and-forth with venture capitalist and former PayPal executive David Sacks , whom Trump has tapped to be the “White House A.I. & Crypto Czar." Musk and Ramaswamy, whom Trump has tasked with finding ways to cut the federal government , weighed in, defending the tech industry's need to bring in foreign workers. It bloomed into a larger debate with more figures from the hard-right weighing in about the need to hire U.S. workers, whether values in American culture can produce the best engineers, free speech on the internet, the newfound influence tech figures have in Trump's world and what his political movement stands for. Trump has not yet weighed in on the rift. His presidential transition team did not respond to questions about positions on visas for highly skilled workers or the debate between his supporters online. Instead, his team instead sent a link to a post on X by longtime adviser and immigration hard-liner Stephen Miller that was a transcript of a speech Trump gave in 2020 at Mount Rushmore in which he praised figures and moments from American history. Musk, the world's richest man who has grown remarkably close to the president-elect , was a central figure in the debate, not only for his stature in Trump's movement but his stance on the tech industry's hiring of foreign workers. Technology companies say H-1B visas for skilled workers, used by software engineers and others in the tech industry, are critical for hard-to-fill positions. But critics have said they undercut U.S. citizens who could take those jobs. Some on the right have called for the program to be eliminated, not expanded. Born in South Africa, Musk was once on an a H-1B visa himself and defended the industry's need to bring in foreign workers. “There is a permanent shortage of excellent engineering talent," he said in a post. “It is the fundamental limiting factor in Silicon Valley.” Trump's own positions over the years have reflected the divide in his movement. His tough immigration policies, including his pledge for a mass deportation, were central to his winning presidential campaign. He has focused on immigrants who come into the U.S. illegally but he has also sought curbs on legal immigration , including family-based visas. As a presidential candidate in 2016, Trump called the H-1B visa program “very bad” and “unfair” for U.S. workers. After he became president, Trump in 2017 issued a “Buy American and Hire American” executive order , which directed Cabinet members to suggest changes to ensure H-1B visas were awarded to the highest-paid or most-skilled applicants to protect American workers. Trump's businesses, however, have hired foreign workers, including waiters and cooks at his Mar-a-Lago club , and his social media company behind his Truth Social app has used the the H-1B program for highly skilled workers. During his 2024 campaign for president, as he made immigration his signature issue, Trump said immigrants in the country illegally are “poisoning the blood of our country" and promised to carry out the largest deportation operation in U.S. history. But in a sharp departure from his usual alarmist message around immigration generally, Trump told a podcast this year that he wants to give automatic green cards to foreign students who graduate from U.S. colleges. “I think you should get automatically, as part of your diploma, a green card to be able to stay in this country," he told the “All-In" podcast with people from the venture capital and technology world. Those comments came on the cusp of Trump's budding alliance with tech industry figures, but he did not make the idea a regular part of his campaign message or detail any plans to pursue such changes.How Trump’s bet on voters electing him managed to silence some of his legal woes

The announcement caps a turbulent eight-day period in which Trump sought to capitalize on his decisive election win to force Senate Republicans to accept provocative selections like Gaetz, who had been investigated by the Justice Department before being tapped last week to lead it. The decision could heighten scrutiny on other controversial Trump nominees, including Pentagon pick Pete Hegseth , who faces sexual assault allegations that he denies. “While the momentum was strong, it is clear that my confirmation was unfairly becoming a distraction to the critical work of the Trump/Vance Transition,” Gaetz, a Florida Republican who one day earlier met with senators in an effort to win their support, said in a statement. “There is no time to waste on a needlessly protracted Washington scuffle, thus I’ll be withdrawing my name from consideration to serve as Attorney General. Trump’s DOJ must be in place and ready on Day 1," he added. Trump, in a social media post, said: “I greatly appreciate the recent efforts of Matt Gaetz in seeking approval to be Attorney General. He was doing very well but, at the same time, did not want to be a distraction for the Administration, for which he has much respect. Matt has a wonderful future, and I look forward to watching all of the great things he will do!” He did not immediately announce a new selection. Last week, he named personal lawyers Todd Blanche, Emil Bove and D. John Sauer to senior roles in the department. Another possible contender, Matt Whitaker, was announced Wednesday as the U.S. ambassador to NATO. The withdrawal, just a week after the pick was announced, averts what was shaping up to be a pitched confirmation fight that would have tested how far Senate Republicans were willing to go to support Trump’s Cabinet picks. The selection of the fierce Trump ally over well-regarded veteran lawyers whose names had circulated as possible contenders stirred concern for the Justice Department's independence at a time when Trump has openly threatened to seek retribution against political adversaries. It underscored the premium Trump places on personal loyalty and reflected the president-elect's desire to have a disruptor lead a Justice Department that for years investigated and ultimately indicted him. In the Senate, deeply skeptical lawmakers sought more information about Justice Department and congressional investigations into sex trafficking allegations involving underage girls, which Gaetz has denied. Meanwhile, Justice Department lawyers were taken aback by the pick of a partisan lawmaker with limited legal experience who has echoed Trump's claims of a weaponized criminal justice system. As Gaetz sought to lock down Senate support, concern over the sex trafficking allegations showed no signs of abating. In recent days, an attorney for two women said his clients told House Ethics Committee investigators that Gaetz paid them for sex on multiple occasions beginning in 2017, when Gaetz was a Florida congressman. One of the women testified she saw Gaetz having sex with a 17-year-old at a party in Florida in 2017, according to the attorney, Joel Leppard. Leppard has said that his client testified she didn’t think Gaetz knew the girl was underage, stopped their relationship when he found out and did not resume it until after she turned 18. The age of consent in Florida is 18. "They’re grateful for the opportunity to move forward with their lives,” Leppard said Thursday of his clients. “They’re hoping that this brings final closure for all the parties involved.” Gaetz has vehemently denied any wrongdoing. The Justice Department’s investigation ended last year with no charges against him. Gaetz’s political future is uncertain. He had abruptly resigned his congressional seat upon being selected as attorney general, a move seen as a way to shut down the ethics investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He did win reelection in November for the new Congress, which convenes Jan. 3, 2025, but he said in his resignation letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson that he did not intend to take the oath of office. He transmitted a similar letter to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as the state launched a special election process to fill the vacancy. Republicans on the House Ethics Committee declined this week to release the panel's findings, over objections from Democrats in a split vote. But the committee did agree to finish its work and is scheduled to meet again Dec. 5 to discuss the matter. As word of Gaetz's decision spread across the Capitol, Republican senators seemed divided. Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who served with Gaetz in the House, called it a “positive move." Maine Sen. Susan Collins said Gaetz “put country first and I am pleased with his decision.” Others said they had hoped Gaetz could have overhauled the department. Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close ally of Trump, said he was “disappointed. I like Matt and I think he would have changed the way DOJ is run.” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said he hoped that Trump will pick someone “equally as tenacious and equally as committed to rooting out and eliminating bias and politicization at the DOJ.” Gaetz is not the only Trump pick facing congressional scrutiny over past allegations. A detailed investigative police report made public Wednesday shows that a woman told police that she was sexually assaulted in 2017 by Hegseth, the former Fox News host now tapped to lead the Pentagon, after he took her phone, blocked the door to a California hotel room and refused to let her leave. “The matter was fully investigated and I was completely cleared,” Hegseth told reporters Thursday at the Capitol, where he was meeting with senators to build support for his nomination. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price, Lisa Mascaro, Mary Clare Jalonick and Adriana Gomez Licon contributed to this report.With Danny Jansen reportedly on his way out, the Red Sox need a new backup catcher who can hold down the fort until top prospect Kyle Teel is ready.German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday ordered parliament dissolved and set new elections for Feb. 23 in the wake of the collapse of Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, saying it was the only way to give the country a stable government capable of tackling its problems. Scholz lost a confidence vote on Dec. 16 and leads a minority government after his unpopular and notoriously rancorous three-party coalition collapsed on Nov. 6 when he fired his finance minister in a dispute over how to revitalize Germany ́s stagnant economy. Steinmeier said he made the decision because it was clear after consultation with party leaders that there was no agreement among Germany’s political parties on a majority for a new government in the current parliament. “It is precisely in difficult times like these that stability requires a government capable of taking action and a reliable majority in parliament,” he said as he made the announcement in Berlin. “Therefore I am convinced that for the good of our country new elections are the right way.” x

Perry runs for 2 TDs, Louisiana-Lafayette reaches Sun Belt title game after beating UL Monroe 37-23