Chad last month ended military cooperation with its former colonial power, and French troops began leaving the country last week. France has handed over its first military base as part of the withdrawal of its military forces from Chad, the French and Chadian militaries say. Chad’s chief of military staff on Thursday said the base at Faya-Largeau in the north of the country had been handed over and the army would inform the public about progress concerning the withdrawal of French forces from bases in the eastern city of Abeche and the capital, N’Djamena. Chad’s military said French troops had left in vehicles for N’Djamena, 780km (480 miles) to the south, without providing a precise figure. The French army had about 1,000 personnel in the country. “The handover took place in accordance with the calendar and the conditions agreed with Chad,” the French military chief of staff said separately. Chad last month ended military cooperation with its former colonial power, and French troops began leaving the country on Friday, 10 days after French warplanes left. The move came as Chad prepares to hold parliamentary and local elections on Sunday. Chad’s military said an Antonov 124 took off on Thursday with 70 tonnes of cargo on board as part of the withdrawal. French authorities said military vehicles would leave by January and be repatriated via the Cameroonian port of Douala. Chad had been a key link in France’s military presence in Africa and its last foothold in the wider Sahel region after the withdrawal of French troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger in the wake of a series of military coups. The military authorities in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have pivoted towards Russia in recent years. Landlocked Chad borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host paramilitary forces from Russia’s Africa Corps, which took over the operations of the Wagner mercenary group on the continent. Chad’s leader, General Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno, has also sought closer ties with Moscow in recent months, but talks to strengthen economic cooperation have yet to bear concrete results. French soldiers and fighter aircraft have been stationed in Chad almost continuously since the country’s independence in 1960. They have helped train the Chadian military. The planes provided air support that proved crucial on several occasions in stopping rebels moving to seize power. The election of Deby in May brought an end to a three-year political transition triggered by his father’s death in fighting with rebels in 2021. Longtime ruler Idriss Deby Itno had received support from the French army to quell rebel offensives in 2008 and 2019.
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NoneCalifornia urges Buttigeg to grant last-minute cash for LA-SF bullet train as DOGE looms
Crypto Token Replicating Dogecoin's (DOGE) 2021 Rise to Breakout into a 19800% Run: Here’s WhenNone(The Center Square) — California’s senators have sent a letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg requesting last-minute federal funding for the state’s high-speed rail project before the Trump administration takes office in January. This move comes amid concerns that the incoming administration might pull federal funding from the now $135 billion project, and use California as a national example for redirecting federal funds from Democratic priorities. Once complete, the project is supposed to carry passengers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in under three hours, with one-way tickets priced at $86. It’s unclear how competitive this will be with air travel; one-way flights booked more than two weeks in advance currently cost $59 on Southwest, which includes two checked bags. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), proposed by the incoming Trump administration, aims to reduce what it views as wasteful government spending, recently spotlighted the project, and Congressmen Kevin Kiley, R-California, announced his bill to eliminate federal funding for the endeavor. Amid the state’s financial foes, a pause or withdrawal of federal funding could leave the state with no choice but to put the project on hold. During the spring, the California High Speed Rail Authority requested the use of state rainy day funding to plug the $8 billion to $10 billion funding shortfall for the system’s initial $30 billion to $33 billion, 171-mile segment connecting the cities of Bakersfield and Merced in the relatively sparsely populated Central Valley. But with the state’s legislative analyst now finding the state has “no capacity” for new spending and projecting annual deficits will soon rise to $30 billion, enhanced state support for the project is unlikely, leaving federal funding as the only option to fill the gap. The letter , signed by Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff, and Reps. Pete Aguilar, Zoe Lofgren, and Jim Costa, requests an additional $536 million to join $134 million in state funds to complete a 30%, or preliminary, design of one tunnel in Southern California and one tunnel in Northern California. The letter also recounted the federal government’s existing $6.8 billion in support for the project, and $22 billion from California for the project thus far. “By preparing for future final design and construction of complex tunnels in this corridor, the Project will advance both state and federal goals to improve safety, expand economic strength and global competitiveness, address equity issues, and implement sustainability practices to confront climate change,” wrote the federal legislators. “These investments will continue to support living wage jobs, provide small business opportunities, and equitably enhance the mobility of communities in need – including disadvantaged agricultural communities – all while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.” In 2012, the state legislative analyst’s office found the bullet train would increase overall greenhouse gas emissions for the first 30 years of its operation, putting the project’s emissions impact — and state funding based on emissions reductions — into question. Kiley, who is aiming to pass a bill in Congress ending federal support for the project, said even if a grant is approved, he hopes to keep that money away from California’s bullet train. “A small group of CA Democrats is asking Biden to send even more money for High-Speed Rail ... before Congress can pass my bill to deny further funding,” said Kiley on X. “If Biden complies, we will make sure that the grant is promptly revoked.” Because U.S. Congress holds “power of the purse,” Kiley’s bill could allow the federal government to withhold any further funding from the project – even spending that is already approved. However, it's less clear whether the Trump administration could unilaterally halt funding. As a discretionary grant under the Department of Transportation, such a decision might fall within its authority, but political and legal challenges could arise.New Delhi: Dr. Manmohan Singh, who passed away on December 26 at the age of 92, was a distinguished economist, academician, and bureaucrat, known for his remarkable contributions across various fields. Throughout his career, he held several key positions and received numerous awards in recognition of his work. Dr. Singh served in prominent roles, including Governor of the Reserve Bank of India, Secretary of the Finance Ministry, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, Advisor to the Prime Minister, and Chairman of the University Grants Commission from 1987 to 1990. His leadership and expertise left an indelible mark on India's economic and policy landscape. According to Forbes Magazine, Dr Singh was the 19th Most Powerful Person in the World in 2011, the 20th Most Powerful Person in the World in 2012 and the 28th Most Powerful Person in the World in 2013. Throughout his illustrious public career, Dr. Manmohan Singh has received numerous prestigious awards and honours, both in India and globally, acknowledging his transformative contributions to economics, governance, and diplomacy. Among the most prominent recognitions is India’s second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan (1987), presented to Dr. Singh for his exceptional service to the nation. Other significant accolades include the Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award from the Indian Science Congress (1995), and the Asia Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993 and 1994), alongside the Euro Money Award for Finance Minister of the Year (1993), which highlighted his pivotal role in India’s economic reforms. In academia, Dr. Singh was honoured with the Adam Smith Prize by the University of Cambridge (1956) and the Wright’s Prize for Distinguished Performance at St. John’s College, Cambridge (1955). Dr. Singh's leadership also earned him recognition from international institutions, including being honoured by the Japanese Nihon Keizai Shimbun. Furthermore, he is a recipient of honorary degrees from several prestigious universities, including the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford, acknowledging his intellectual contributions and global influence. These awards reflect the broad and enduring impact of Dr. Singh's career, cementing his legacy as one of India's most respected statesmen and economists. National Honors:Padma Vibhushan (1987): India’s second-highest civilian honor, recognizing his exceptional contributions to public service.Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Award (1995): Presented by the Indian Science Congress for his outstanding leadership.Outstanding Parliamentarian Award (2002): Awarded by the Indian Parliamentary Group for his exemplary role in Parliament.Wright Prize for Distinguished Performance Award (1995): Honored by St. John’s College, Cambridge.Adam Smith Prize (1996): Recognized by the University of Cambridge for his academic and intellectual achievements.International Honors:Order of King Abdulaziz (2010): Saudi Arabia's second-highest civilian honor, awarded for strengthening bilateral relations.Order of the Paulownia Flowers (2014): Japan’s second-highest civilian honor, acknowledging his contributions to India-Japan relations.Global Recognition:Ranked as the 19th Most Powerful Person in the World (2011) by Forbes Magazine.Ranked as the 20th Most Powerful Person in the World (2012).Ranked as the 28th Most Powerful Person in the World (2013). Manmohan Singh Passes Away Singh, a renowned economist and statesman, was admitted to AIIMS Delhi on Thursday evening after his health deteriorated. "With profound grief, we inform the demise of Former Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, aged 92. He was being treated for age-related medical conditions and had sudden loss of consciousness at home on 26th December 2024. Resuscitative measures were started immediately at home. He was brought to the Medical Emergency at AIIMS, New Delhi at 8:06 PM. Despite all efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 9:51 PM," AIIMS said in a statement, confirming the death. In his political career, Singh has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since 1991, where he was Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2004.Manmohan Singh was sworn in as Prime Minister on 22nd May after the 2004 general elections and took the oath of office for a second term on 22nd May 2009. 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LOS ANGELES — The four words were first spoken here on a bright spring afternoon at Camelback Ranch, my astonished syllables joining similar tones of amazement floating from every corner of a crowded press box. "Are you kidding me?" Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
BRP Inc. executives said the Ski-Doo maker needs to stay calm in the face of tariffs proposed by U.S. president-elect Donald Trump — tariffs that could hurt a manufacturer that depends on Mexican production. "I don't think we should overreact right now," chief financial officer Sébastien Martel told analysts on a conference call Friday. "We should not speculate too much, because there are hundreds of different possibilities." Last month, the incoming president threw markets into turmoil when he threatened to slap a 25 per cent tariff on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico. Trump also proposed a 10 per cent tariff on Chinese imports. Some 70 per cent of BRP's production stems from Mexico, Martel said. The company also churns out Ski-Doo snowmobiles and some of its Can-Am three-wheeled motorcycles at a factory in Valcourt, Que. He stressed the advantage of Mexico's lower labour costs as well as its skilled workforce and the benefits of a North American free trade agreement. "We believe we would not be the same company had we not had that footprint in Mexico," Martel said. Roughly 10 per cent of BRP's goods are sourced from China, Martel noted, adding that those parts are "less technically complex." "There are parts that we could easily transfer to another supplier," he said. "Obviously, it would require work." Many observers have framed Trump's tariff threat as a gambit to gain negotiating leverage, rather than an announcement set in stone. "We are used to dealing with evolving trade agreements and have always succeeded in finding solutions to new tariffs," said CEO José Boisjoli. National Bank analyst Cameron Doerksen said the "uncertainty on this issue" remains a problem. "With the return of the Trump administration, the risk of tariffs on powersports imports into the U.S. market has risen materially, with BRP potentially vulnerable," he said in a note to investors. The uncertainty over tariffs could hardly come at a worse time for the company. BRP saw earnings plunge across all product lines amid dropping demand last quarter, capping off a tough year for the recreational vehicle manufacturer. Net income at the Sea-Doo maker fell 70 per cent year-over-year to $27.3 million in the quarter ended Oct. 31. Third-quarter revenue decreased 17 per cent to $1.96 billion. "Our retail performance was as anticipated, reflecting a challenging market dynamic due to soft industry trends," Boisjoli said, stating that discounts from competitors added to the company's woes. A slow start to the snowmobile season has not helped either. "The snow is a bit late, but now it’s catching up. And we expect good retail this season," Boisjoli said, adding that Ski-Doo sales over the next three months remain a "big question." After an urge for outdoor activity sparked a sales boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, buyers responded to inflation and interest rate hikes by pulling back from pricey recreational purchases. BRP's revenues have fallen year-over-year for eight straight quarters. Last month, the company laid off more than 120 employees in its home province of Quebec. The cuts followed some 1,150 layoffs across North America earlier this year, leaving it with roughly 20,000 workers globally. In October, BRP put its marine businesses up for sale as it looks to focus on powersports products and cut the cable to its money-losing boat brands. Nonetheless, its diluted earnings of $1.16 per share beat analysts' expectations of 69 cents, according to financial markets firm LSEG Data & Analytics. The performance boosted BRP's stock price seven per cent; it closed at $72.75 on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Friday. The company forecast that sales of seasonal products such as Ski-Doos and Sea-Doos will fall by more than 30 per cent this year. The category accounted for a third of BRP revenues last quarter. It predicted sales of all-terrain vehicles and other year-round products — comprising more than half of revenue in the quarter — will drop by more than 20 per cent. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 6, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:DOO) Christopher Reynolds, The Canadian PressFederal government seeks injunctions against two Tulsa-area DAs
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