Trump administration establishes militarized zone in California: “Strengthen border security operations”
The Trump administration announced Wednesday plans to establish a new militarized zone along the U.S.–Mexico border in California. The Department of the Interior said roughly 760 acres in San Diego and Imperial Counties will be placed under Navy jurisdiction to “strengthen ongoing border security operations.” Adding the installation will effectively allow federal personnel to detain suspected illegal immigrants for trespassing on U.S. territory. The department described the National Defense Area as a high-traffic corridor for illegal crossings. The zone will reportedly stretch from the western boundary of the Otay Mountain Wilderness Area to about one mile west of the California–Arizona state line, with Navy control set for three years. FEDERAL MAGISTRATE JUDGE DISMISSES TRESPASSING CHARGES AGAINST 98 ARRESTED IN NEW MILITARY ZONE Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the move directly advances what President Donald Trump has identified as his top national priorities. “President Trump has made it clear that securing our border and restoring American sovereignty are top national priorities,” Burgum said. “This action delivers on that commitment. By working with the Navy to close long-standing security gaps, we are strengthening national defense, protecting our public lands from unlawful use, and advancing the President’s agenda to put the safety and security of the American people first.” ‘MAIN HOTSPOT’ AT NORTHERN BORDER RECORDS 95% DROP IN ILLEGAL MIGRANT APPREHENSIONS IN MARCH: WHITE HOUSE The Department added that the corridor’s heavy traffic of illegal crossings has contributed to both “significant national security challenges” and environmental degradation. Militarizing the area will reportedly “enhance border operations while minimizing ecological damage” associated with sustained illegal activity. The Interior Department said it coordinated the move with the Navy to ensure it is lawful and consistent with the land’s original purpose — having been reserved in 1907 by President Theodore Roosevelt for border protection. In recent months, the administration has established several national defense areas, including sites in Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. The moves were made to aggressively expand military authority along the southern border, including deploying federal troops and expanding rules to crack down on illegal migration, border security and overall crime. Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Interior and the Navy for more information.
Trump admin weighs terrorism sanctions against UN Palestinian aid agency over Hamas allegations
The Trump administration is weighing whether to pursue terrorism-related sanctions against the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), as officials review allegations the agency has ties to Hamas and consider steps that could further pressure its leadership and operations, two sources with direct knowledge of the matter told Reuters. The United Nations agency provides aid, schooling, healthcare, shelter and social services to millions of Palestinians in Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. U.N. officials have described UNRWA as the backbone of Gaza’s aid effort during the two-year war between Israel and Hamas, but the Trump administration has accused the group of ties to Hamas – an allegation the agency vehemently disputes. Washington, once UNRWA’s biggest donor, froze funding in January 2024 after Israel accused roughly a dozen staff members of involvement in the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack that triggered the war. In October, Secretary of State Marco Rubio referred to UNRWA as a subsidiary of Hamas. NEW FILM PROBES UN AGENCY’S ALLEGED TERROR TIES AND CLAIMS IT FUELED THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT “UNRWA’s not going to play any role in it,” Rubio said at the time when asked whether the agency would assist in delivering humanitarian aid to Gaza. “The United Nations is here. They’re on the ground. We’re willing to work with them if they can make it work, but not UNRWA. UNRWA became a subsidiary of Hamas.” Reuters reported it was unclear whether recent internal discussions focused on sanctioning the entire agency or specific officials or operations, and that U.S. officials have not yet settled on what type of sanctions they might pursue. The sources said the State Department has discussed declaring UNRWA a “foreign terrorist organization,” or FTO – a step that would financially isolate the agency. UN UNDER FIRE AS USAID INVESTIGATORS PROBE HAMAS DIVERSION OF AID TO GAZA Any broad move against UNRWA could disrupt refugee aid across the region, as the agency is already facing a severe funding crisis. Such sanctions would be highly unusual, since the U.S. is both a U.N. member and the host nation of the body that created the agency in 1949. William Deere, who heads UNRWA’s Washington office, said the group would be “disappointed” if officials were discussing an FTO designation, calling such a step “unprecedented and unwarranted.” He pointed to multiple investigations – including one by the U.S. National Intelligence Council – that concluded UNRWA remains a neutral and essential humanitarian actor. UNRWA SCHOOLS ‘HIJACKED BY HAMAS,’ WATCHDOG REPORT WARNS The White House and State Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. The U.S. and Israel have maintained tough positions towards the agency, particularly in the aftermath of the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre. President Donald Trump in February reaffirmed that the U.S. would not fund UNRWA. In the executive order, Trump said that “UNRWA has reportedly been infiltrated by members of groups long designated by the Secretary of State as foreign terrorist organizations, and UNRWA employees were involved in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel.” When the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in April 2025 demanded Israel work with UNRWA, Washington backed Israel, saying it was under no obligation to work with the agency and had “ample grounds to question UNRWA’s impartiality.” UNRWA announced in August 2024 the end of an investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services into whether its staff participated in the attacks, as Israel claimed. The probe examined 19 employees and resulted in nine dismissals over evidence that “could indicate” involvement. The investigation found one case with no evidence of involvement and nine others in which “the evidence obtained by OIOS was insufficient” to prove participation, the agency said. Fox News Digital’s Rachel Wolf and Reuters contributed to this report.
Speaker Johnson laughs off Jasmine Crockett Senate bid: ‘Absolutely delighted’ she is running
Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters that he is “absolutely delighted” that progressive firebrand Rep. Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, is running for U.S. Senate. Johnson was asked during a House leadership press conference on Wednesday what he thought of Crockett entering the race and whether he was worried about her chances of flipping one of Texas’ Senate seats. In response, Johnson rubbed his hands together and smiled. “I’m absolutely delighted that Jasmine Crockett is running for Senate in Texas,” said Johnson. “I think it’s one of the greatest things that’s happened to the Republican Party in a long, long time,” he went on, adding, “She is the face of the Democratic Party, she and [Zohran] Mamdani. Good luck with that.” CROCKETT’S POTENTIAL SUCCESSOR HAS REPEATEDLY RAILED AGAINST US IN REPARATIONS PUSH: ‘IT’S BEEN EVIL’ Johnson said that he would like Crockett to “have the largest, loudest microphone that she can every single day.” “We look forward to having that election down there,” he said, adding, “We are going to elect another Republican senator in Texas. Texas is a red state… The people of Texas are commonsense Americans, and what Jasmine is trying to sell will not be purchased by the folks of Texas.” Later that day, House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Pete Aguilar, D-Calif., shot back at Johnson’s statements about Crockett, saying, “I think Speaker Johnson is trying to do anything he can to distract from the majority… that we see dwindling, and it’s like sand falling through his hands.” “He just can’t keep a hold of it – he sees that – he would much rather talk about a Senate race than he would the Georgia House races that Republicans lost or the mayor’s race that the vice-chair mentioned, the first time in 30 years that a Democrat has been mayor of Miami… he wants to distract and take away from this because he’s losing his grip on his majority. That much is very clear.” “So, the more that Speaker Johnson wants to talk about the national landscape and the Senate environment, I absolutely support because he’s losing his majority next November, if not sooner,” said Aguilar. MAMDANI DECLARES HE’S READY FOR ‘ANY CONSEQUENCE’ FOR STANDING AGAINST TRUMP’S FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT Crockett, who is an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump, launched a last-minute Senate campaign on Monday. The race may determine if the GOP holds its majority in the chamber next year. In her announcement speech to supporters in Dallas, Crockett framed her candidacy as an effort to stand up against Trump, something she said incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn will not do. “I’m done watching the American dream on life support while Trump tries to pull the plug. The gloves have been off, and now I’m jumping into the ring,” she said. “Many people wonder why I jumped in this race so late, and I just want to be clear that this was never my intention, this was never about me, I never put myself into any of the polls,” Crockett said. “But the more I saw the poll results, I couldn’t ignore the trends, which were clear, both as it relates to the primary as well as the general election, I could have played it safe and continued serving in the United States House of Representatives for as long as my constituents would have me, but I don’t choose to do that, because, Texas, this moment we’re in now is life or death.” “Many people asked, ‘Can we win this race in November?’ I’m here to say, ‘Yes, we can!’” Crockett fired back while echoing a slogan from former President Obama, whom she praised during her speech. FAR-LEFT FIREBRAND SPENDS EYE-POPPING AMOUNT OF CAMPAIGN CASH ON LUXURY HOTELS, ‘TOP-TIER’ LIMO SERVICES “Texas is a big boy state made up of brawlers with a moral code. Our representation should reflect that, sadly enough, it doesn’t,” she went on. “After evaluating the data, analyzing the trends, researching historic numbers, and combing over the crosstabs, it was clear, the numbers were strongest for my candidacy for United States Senate, that’s why I decided to enter this race.” In the Democratic primary, Crockett will be facing off against state Rep. James Talarico, another rising Democratic star. On the Republican side of the aisle, Cornyn is being challenged by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas.
Top automaker unleashes 250 limited-edition Corvettes inspired by America’s founding
General Motors’ Chevrolet announced a new America250 “Stars and Steel” collection celebrating the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary, which will include a “one of one” Corvette auctioned off in January and a set of 250 “limited-edition” Corvettes. The “Stars and Steel” collection will include cars across five Chevrolet vehicle models from its 2026 lineup — the Corvette, Silverado EV, Silverado LD, Silverado HD and Colorado, which are all manufactured in the U.S. with globally sourced components. The collection’s modernized design features will entail dark, metallic finishes meant to embody American craftsmanship and patriotism. The “one of one” 2026 Corvette ZR1X with a special “Stars and Steel” inspired design will be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Winter Auction Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, with 100% of the final hammer cost going to the veterans’ advocacy group Tunnel to Towers Foundation. NFL TO HONOR AMERICA’S 250TH BIRTHDAY WITH SPECIAL TRIBUTES ONCE CALENDAR FLIPS TO 2026 The collection will make its first public, in-person appearance at this weekend’s Army-Navy football game in Baltimore Saturday. In advance of the game, Fox News Digital obtained photos of the wide-ranging fleet. The “one of one” Corvette is still in the final stages of production, but it will be a ZR1X model pictured below. The “Stars and Steel” collection will also include an exclusive “limited-edition” series run of 250 Corvette units, which will be available in all models from the Stingray to the ZR1X, and will be offered in both coupe or convertible styles on 3LT/3LZ trims only. Only the Corvette will be limited to 250 units. Buyers of one of these 250 exclusive units can choose between Arctic White with a Santorini Blue interior and black with an Adrenaline Red interior. Each limited edition includes American flag-inspired, full-length stripes in satin silver or satin black, “250” flag graphics on doors and spoiler ends, unique sill plates and an interior plaque featuring build sequence number, black gloss, carbon-flash or carbon fiber wheels. OUSTED DIRECTOR SAYS AMERICA250 LEADERS ‘HATE TRUMP MORE THAN THEY LOVE AMERICA’ AFTER FIRING FOR KIRK POST “The Stars & Steel Collection celebrates a key milestone for the country that not only served as the birthplace of our brand but has also been its home for nearly 115 years,” Scott Bell, vice president of Global Chevrolet, said. “Each vehicle in this collection is proudly assembled in the United States and honors the rich legacy of our nation.” Production is expected to begin in early spring 2026 with package pricing to be announced at a later date. In addition to giving the final auction cost of the “one of one” Corvette to Tunnels To Towers, a nonprofit group that helps build homes for the families of first responders and military troops lost in the line of duty, Chevy will also donate $250 to nonprofits that support the veteran community for every vehicle from the “Stars and Steel” collection that gets sold. The “Stars and Steel” collection follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in January establishing a White House task force to lead planning and execution of celebrations for America’s 250th anniversary. The White House told Fox News Digital it would be engaging with the entire federal government, state and local governments, the private sector, nonprofits and educational institutions to put on various events and other initiatives honoring the nation’s heritage leading up to the official anniversary in 2026. The 250th anniversary celebrations will include, among other events, a UFC fight on the White House South Lawn June 14, President Trump’s 80th birthday.
Walz urges Noem to ‘reassess’ immigration enforcement strategy in Minnesota after alleged citizen arrests
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is urging Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to “reassess” her enforcement strategy after he said multiple U.S. citizens have been arrested during federal immigration operations across the state amid the Trump administration’s aggressive mass deportation campaign. In a letter to Noem, Walz said he was writing with “serious concern” regarding arrests made by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents in Minneapolis. “Reports indicate that some citizens were documenting federal activity, while others were going about their daily lives,” he wrote. “This troubling pattern raised serious questions, not only about due process and the rights of U.S. citizens, but also about trust between Minnesota communities and federal authorities.” MINNESOTA COLLEGE ADMINISTRATOR ACCUSED OF IMPEDING ICE ARREST TO PROTECT STUDENT SEXUAL PREDATOR “This series of incidents raises serious concerns about civil liberties and trust between Minnesota communities and federal authorities,” Walz said in a statement regarding his letter. “Minnesotans have long valued civic engagement, and detaining citizens for lawfully exercising those rights or going about their daily lives sends a deeply disturbing message. I am urging Secretary Noem to respect the constitution and for her administration to ensure that federal operations are conducted lawfully and with respect for the rights of all individuals.” He stated that the “forcefulness, lack of communication and unlawful practices” displayed by federal agents won’t be tolerated in Minnesota. He urged Noem to reassess the broader enforcement strategy. Fox News Digital has reached out to the Department of Homeland Security and ICE. Walz cited one alleged incident in which someone named “Sue” was physically pushed, handcuffed and taken to a federal facility after she refused to move back from a scene after being asked to do so while documenting a law enforcement operation. She was told she would be charged with obstruction, Walz said. BORDER CZAR TOM HOMAN FIRES BACK AT CNN HOST IN DEFENSE OF ICE TACTICS: ‘THEY’VE BEEN SHOT AT’ Another person named “Mubashir” was chased, tackled and handcuffed before being detained despite stating his citizenship status, he said. The governor said those who document law enforcement activity “play an essential role in transparency, accountability and safeguarding civil liberties in Minnesota.” Immigration officials have said that individuals are free to watch and film law enforcement operations, but anyone obstructing authorities from doing their jobs could face arrest. In his letter, Walz urged Noem to review recent arrests made by federal agents to ensure they have a judicial warrant authorizing detention or seizure and to clarify the legal standard under which a citizen may exercise his rights to document and witness “aggressive law enforcement actions.” He also asked that she ensure ICE agents operating in Minnesota receive guidance and training on respecting the civil rights of U.S. citizens and residents.
Obama surprises Chicago students in Santa hat for holiday library story time reading session
A group of Chicago elementary school students had an unexpected visitor Tuesday when former President Barack Obama walked in wearing a Santa hat and sat down to read to them. The Burke Elementary School students were at the Bessie Coleman branch of the Chicago Public Library, where they were learning about leadership qualities. As the students were learning, Obama walked into the library and asked, “How you guys doing?” After making introductions, Obama began to read “Flying Free: How Bessie Coleman’s Dreams Took Flight.” TAXPAYERS ON THE HOOK FOR LAWN CARE, FIXING HINGES AT PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARIES. TRUMP-LED REFORMS AIM TO STOP IT The book recounts how Coleman, for whom the library branch is named, broke barriers to become the first Black female pilot. Obama shared a video of his visit on X, saying he had a good time. “I had fun reading to some Burke Elementary students at the Chicago Public Library today,” he wrote. “When the Obama Presidential Center opens next year, we’ll have a new branch of the library for the community to enjoy.” FOX 32 in Chicago reported that Obama’s appearance was a sneak peek into the story time programming that will be offered at the library branch coming to the Obama Presidential Center next June. The center’s opening comes after years of delays and protests and more than a decade of planning. “We’re going to open in June so that y’all don’t have to bring your coats up,” Obama said during a visit to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas last week, without revealing a firm opening date, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. CHICAGO RESIDENTS CALL OBAMA PRESIDENTIAL CENTER A ‘MONSTROSITY,’ FEAR THEY’LL BE DISPLACED: REPORT The presidential center’s site on Chicago’s South Side was announced in May 2015. The center, which will include the presidential library, was projected to open in 2021 but has been tied up in lawsuits and federal reviews that have pushed the timeline back years. The center will be home to the presidential library, a museum, an auditorium, a Chicago Public Library branch, a garden, an athletic facility and other attractions on its 20-acre campus. “We want to create a campus, a place where the public gathers for a range of things that puts them face to face with each other and get them to meet and be in dialogue and conversation and exposed to new ideas with each other,” Obama said last week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. PROTESTERS RAGED, CRITICS MOCKED – NOW OBAMA SAYS HIS LIBRARY’S ACTUALLY OPENING The $850 million project in Jackson Park was first hit with a yearslong lawsuit in 2018 when a group called Protect Our Parks alleged that Chicago illegally transferred parkland to the private Obama Foundation. That court battle persisted until 2022, when a federal judge terminated a revised version of the suit. The planned construction also sparked federal reviews because the project required an overhaul of roads in the area and because Jackson Park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Those reviews did not wrap up until late 2020, local media reported at the time. The Obama Foundation has celebrated the center as “a lively community hub, economic anchor and beacon of democracy right here on the South Side of Chicago.” A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was not held until 2021, with construction picking up in earnest in the last year. Fox News Digital’s Emma Colton contributed to this report.
Elon Musk accuses Ilhan Omar of treason over Somalia comments in viral social media post
Elon Musk accused Rep. Ilhan Omar of committing treason over past comments in which she vowed to safeguard Somali interests in the U.S. while assuring her constituents the administration would “do what we ask it to do.” “This sounds like treason,” Musk wrote on X, reposting a clip of Omar speaking to Somali constituents in Minnesota in 2024. The video circulated widely online and was highlighted further by the Tesla and SpaceX CEO’s retweet Wednesday. Omar originally made the remarks in January 2024, when she told supporters in the Twin Cities she would fight to prevent the breakaway Republic of Somaliland from allowing Ethiopia to create a naval base on its coastline. ILHAN OMAR PRESSED TO EXPLAIN HOW FRAUD IN MINNESOTA GOT ‘SO OUT OF CONTROL’ Minnesota is home to the largest Somali refugee community in the U.S., with most members of that community living in Omar’s district. “The U.S. government will do what we ask it to do,” a translation of Omar’s speech said. “We should have this kind of confidence in ourselves as Somalis. We live in this country. We are taxpayers in this country. This country is one where one of your daughters sits in Congress. While I am in Congress, no one will take Somalia’s sea, and the U.S. government won’t support others to rob us. Don’t stress over it, Minnesotans.” DAVID MARCUS: SOMALI POWER SURGE RAISES THE QUESTION MINNESOTA AVOIDS — WHERE’S ASSIMILATION? Omar’s resurfaced video gained traction shortly after President Trump spoke at a rally in Pennsylvania on Tuesday, where he said she prioritized Somalia over the U.S. “I love this Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is, with the little turban,” Trump said. “She comes in, does nothing but b—-. She comes from her country, where, I mean, it’s considered about the worst country in the world, right? “We ought to get her the hell out.” And the crowd chanted, “Send her back!” TIM WALZ FIRES BACK AT TRUMP ACCUSATION OF ‘INCOMPETENCE,’ DODGES ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR FRAUD IN MINNESOTA Trump also criticized Omar and the Somali population more broadly, referencing the fact that dozens of Somali immigrants in Minnesota have been arrested or charged with fraud schemes. He also targeted Gov. Tim Walz since the alleged fraud schemes, which cost the state around $1 billion, happened under his watch. On Tuesday night, Omar responded to Trump’s comments, writing on X: “Trump’s obsession with me is beyond weird. He needs serious help… He continues to be a national embarrassment.” Fox News Digital has reached out to Elon Musk and Ilhan Omar for comment.
Bondi shares heart-pounding footage of US seizing Venezuelan oil tanker in rare action last seen in 2014
Attorney General Pam Bondi released video footage Wednesday of U.S. forces seizing a Venezuelan crude oil tanker, a bold move last ordered more than a decade ago. Video footage showed FBI and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents, along with U.S. Coast Guard members, with support from the Department of War, executing a precise seizure of the tanker, which was being used to move sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. Armed personnel in tactical gear rappelled from a helicopter above the vessel off the Venezuelan coast Wednesday, landing on the deck of the ship and entering with weapons drawn. DEMOCRATS ESCALATE WAR CRIME ACCUSATIONS AS WHITE HOUSE CALLS ‘INNOCENT FISHERMAN’ THE NEW ‘MARYLAND MAN’ HOAX “For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations,” Bondi wrote in a statement on X. “This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.” FBI Director Kash Patel said in an X post the administration’s “efforts to crush FTO’s” and cut off their resources will “continue day and night.” Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem added, “If you threaten our nation or break the law, there is no place on land or sea where we won’t find you. Thank you to our brave service members. America FIRST.” President Donald Trump noted at the White House Wednesday that the tanker was the “largest one ever seized action,” adding “other things are happening.” “You’ll be seeing that later,” Trump said. “And you’ll be talking about that later with some other people.” The Navy confirmed to Fox News Wednesday that 15% of U.S.-deployed Navy ships are in the Caribbean region. It is unclear what percentage of U.S. Naval assets are in the region. The Venezuelan government condemned Wednesday’s U.S. action, calling it “a blatant theft and an act of international piracy,” in a statement. MARCO RUBIO SAYS TRUMP WILL NOT BE ‘SUCKERED’ BY MADURO LIKE BIDEN The last time the public was made aware of the U.S. military seizing a foreign oil tanker was in 2014, when Navy SEALs boarded and took over a ship previously seized by three armed men at a Libyan port who were attempting to sell the nationalized Libyan oil on the black market, Fox News Digital previously reported. About 30 men from Navy SEAL team 2 embarked from the USS Roosevelt, using inflatable boats and ladders to get on board the MV Morning Glory oil tanker and detained the rebels. There were no casualties during the 2014 mission, which was carried out on orders from former President Barack Obama in international waters southeast of Cyprus at the request of the Libyan and Cypriot governments. The administration’s latest action is expected to further strain ties with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s government, which is already under sweeping U.S. oil sanctions, and follows 22 U.S. strikes on alleged narco-traffickers near Venezuela that have killed 87 people. The Trump administration is also weighing land strikes to increase pressure on Maduro, whom the administration deems Venezuela’s illegitimate leader, after recent talks between the two countries failed to produce a deal for his exit. The White House could not immediately be reached for comment. Fox News’ Morgan Phillips and Justin Fishel, Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Trump’s $12bn aid package: Are tariffs bleeding US farmers?
US President Donald Trump has announced a $12bn aid package for farmers, offering financial assistance to a core part of his political base that has been hit hard by falling crop prices and the impact of his trade policies. Unveiling the plan at the White House in Washington, DC alongside Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and several farmers on Monday, Trump said: “Maximising domestic farm production is a big part of how we will make America affordable again and bring down grocery prices.” Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list Rollins said the Farmer Bridge Assistance programme’s initial phase would provide $11bn for row crop farmers – those who cultivate crops such as corn, soya beans and cotton in rows. An additional $1bn has been earmarked for farmers who grow some speciality crops not covered by this. The aid money is expected to be made available by the end of February. The package is Trump’s latest effort to defend his economic record and respond to public anxiety about rising food costs. It also comes after China curbed its purchases of US soya beans in retaliation for steep US trade tariffs, which have also caused the cost of fertiliser and other agricultural products to soar. How will this aid be distributed to farmers? The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) will calculate per-acre payments for different crops using a formula that estimates production costs. Payments will be capped at $155,000 per farm or individual, and only farms earning less than $900,000 annually will qualify. The USDA’s formula is designed to bolster small-scale producers who may be struggling more than others. “We looked at how they were hurt, to what extent they were hurt,” Trump said. Advertisement Farmers will begin receiving funds on February 28, according to Rollins. Meanwhile, applications for funds will open in the coming weeks so that farmers “will know exactly what that number looks like”. Trump said the money for the scheme will come from tariff revenues. Though Trump has, at times, downplayed cost-of-living issues, he visited Pennsylvania on Tuesday to explain to voters how his administration is addressing this concern. At the same time, he defended his record on trade and the sweeping reciprocal tariffs he has imposed on countries around the world this year. “It’s amazing,” Trump said of tariffs at a rally in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania. “It’s the smart people who understand it. Other people are starting to learn, but the smart people really understand it.” Why is this aid package being introduced now? Many farmers continue to support Trump. The country’s most farming-dependent counties overwhelmingly backed him in last year’s presidential election by an average of 77.7 percent, according to the USDA. Experts say his anti-establishment rhetoric has resonated with rural communities that feel overlooked by political elites in Washington, DC. His promises of deregulation also appealed to many farmers who feel frustrated by federal rules they view as burdensome. But the president’s trade agenda and the imposition of trade tariffs to address the country’s trading deficit with many other countries have hit farmers hard. Trump’s “liberation day” tariff announcement earlier this year provoked steep retaliatory duties on US products, particularly from China, including on US agricultural exports. Trump’s latest package is an echo of a $12bn programme he offered to farmers in 2018 during his first-term administration’s initial trade dispute with China. Which crops have been hardest hit by trade tariffs? Soya bean farmers have been badly bruised by the US-China trade spat this year. Trump was the principal architect of recent tensions – his sweeping “reciprocal” tariffs, launched earlier this year, targeted China more than any other country. Historically, more than half of all soya beans produced in the US – mainly in the Midwest – have been sold to China. But after Trump imposed steep tariffs on Chinese goods, Beijing raised duties on US soya beans to 34 percent. Last year, China bought slightly more than 50 percent (27 million metric tons) of the $24.5bn of produce that US soya bean farmers sold to international markets. This year, US exports to China have so far fallen by more than half. Advertisement Instead, China has begun buying more soya beans from Brazil and other South American nations. The American Soybean Association has also warned that tariffs are driving up costs for soya bean producers. In particular, US tariffs on Moroccan fertiliser, which have been hiked from 2.1 percent to 16.8 percent, have squeezed farmers. In October, following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea, Trump said Beijing had committed to buying 12 million metric tons of US soya beans by the end of this year, and 25 million metric tons annually for the next three years. Trump is also facing pressure to address rising beef prices. On November 7, he asked the Department of Justice to investigate foreign-owned meatpackers in the US, which he claims are driving up costs, though he has provided no supporting evidence for this. Then, on November 20, Trump announced he would peel back trade tariffs of up to 50 percent on certain Brazilian agricultural products, including coffee and beef. The reversal was broadly interpreted as an acknowledgement that the tariffs were fuelling inflationary pressures at home. More broadly, US consumer sentiment remains near record lows. In November, data released by the University of Michigan showed that Americans view their personal finances as the weakest they’ve been since 2009. High inflation is the primary cause of concern. Prices of other food staples have also risen recently. Compared to last year’s Thanksgiving Day, potatoes this year on the November US holiday were up by 3.7 percent, bread rolls 3.9 percent and apples 5.3 percent – all outpacing the 3 percent annual inflation rate, government data shows. Will Trump’s bailout package be enough to rescue farmers? While farmers have generally welcomed Trump’s bailout package, many view it as a temporary reprieve rather than a solution to long-term challenges like rising costs and the decline of small-scale farming. “[It’s]
Zelenskyy warns Russia, China stepping up military-industrial cooperation
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that China is moving to “intensify cooperation” with Russia, particularly in the military-industrial sphere, amid deepening ties between the strategic partners since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbour. In comments on social media on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said a report from the head of Kyiv’s foreign intelligence had noted the dependence of the Russian state on “Chinese investment, technologies, and political priorities”. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list The Ukrainian leader said that Kyiv’s partner intelligence services had also noted the moves by Beijing and Moscow to ramp up their cooperation in the military-industrial sector, adding he had instructed Ukraine’s foreign intelligence service to monitor the cooperation “more substantively” for how it related to Ukraine’s and its Western allies’ interests. “Global security must not be undermined because Russia’s appetite for aggression remains unabated,” he said. The report also observed a growing trend of the “de-sovereignisation of parts of Russian territory” in Beijing’s favour – primarily through the use of resource-rich land, and the sale of precious resources to China, he said. Despite pressure from the West, Beijing, Moscow’s key strategic partner, has drawn closer to Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. It has claimed neutrality in the conflict, maintaining a low profile amid international efforts to negotiate peace, despite calls for it to use its influence over Moscow – which relies heavily on China to blunt the impact of Western sanctions – to help bring an end to the conflict. Advertisement In September, the Chinese and Russian leaders outlined their vision of a new, multilateral international order at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, while last month, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to expand investment and deepen economic relations between the countries in a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, describing the enhanced ties as a “shared strategic choice”. Xi highlighted industries including aerospace, energy, agriculture, and the digital economy as sectors where the countries could cooperate. ‘Coalition of willing’ to meet Zelenskyy’s warning came as he said Ukrainian officials were expected to hand US negotiators their latest proposals to end the war shortly, amid US President Donald Trump’s push for a settlement. Zelenskyy is due to discuss the status of those negotiations in a video call on Thursday with the leaders of about 30 of Ukraine’s allies, members of the so-called “coalition of the willing” led by France and the United Kingdom. The French presidency confirmed on Wednesday that the call would take place. Ukraine’s European allies are backing Zelenskyy’s effort to ensure that any deal to end the war is fair and deters future Russian aggression in Europe, amid concerns that Trump’s push for a swift settlement will result in an outcome heavily weighted in the Kremlin’s favour. Responding to comments from Trump that suggested the Ukrainian president was using the war as an excuse not to hold an election, Zelenskyy also said the country would be ready to hold a vote within three months if its partners guaranteed security during wartime, and provided its electoral law could be altered. “To hold elections, two issues must be addressed: primarily, security – how to conduct them, how to do it under strikes, under missile attacks; and a question regarding our military – how they would vote,” Zelenskyy said. “The second issue is the legislative framework required to ensure the legitimacy of elections,” he said, referring to the fact that elections cannot be held during times of martial law. Hospital shelled in Russian-held Kherson Meanwhile, as efforts continued to reach a settlement in the war, hostilities continued to play out on the battlefield. In a Russia-controlled part of Ukraine’s southern Kherson region, three people were killed and two wounded by Ukrainian shelling of a hospital, a Russia-installed governor, Vladimir Saldo, said on Telegram. He said all the victims worked at the facility, and one of the injured was in intensive care. Advertisement Elsewhere, Russian drones hit the gas transport system in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, Deputy Energy Minister Mykola Kolisnyk said, while heavy fighting was continuing to rage in Pokrovsk, in the eastern Donbas region, where Ukraine’s military said it was fending off a Russian mechanised assault. Adblock test (Why?)