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337 jili casino Chairman of a non-governmental organisation, Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation, Dr Josephine Effah-Chukwuma, speaks to AYOOLA OLASUPO on innovative approaches to tackling gender-based violence in Nigeria What is the motivation behind ICCEF’s participation in the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence? ICCEF stands for Innocent Chukwuemeka Chukwuma Empowerment Foundation. It is a family foundation set up in memory of my husband, Innocence Chukwemeka Chukwuma. He was a renowned social justice crusader, human rights activist, good governance advocate, feminist, philanthropist, etc. ICCEF was set up a year after he passed, and its vision is to build a society where young people and women are empowered to contribute their quota to make an impact in their community and in the world. The world and our society are made up of two genders; male and female and any form of discrimination, inequality or violence against one gender is going to affect their ability to contribute. How will a young girl grow up to be an empowered adult when she is discriminated against because she’s a girl and not sent to school because her parents believe that sending a girl to school is a waste of time? How can a woman or a young girl be empowered to make an impact if in school she’s sexually abused, if at the workplace, she’s always sexually harassed by employers? A lot of women have been sexually harassed out of their jobs, including married women because it’s not a matter of single girls alone. Some people have had to say, ‘Let me not work again so that I will not have any problem since this man will not allow me to rest.’ All of this is impacting the lives of women and young girls. We need to add our voice that any society that violates or discriminates against female folks is a society that will not have optimal growth. That is one of the things that continue to elude us in Nigeria. Look at the House of Assembly; how many women are there? Are people saying that we don’t have qualified women? The next thing they will say is that women did not contest. The question is why didn’t women contest? Even the issue of violence in elections is enough to disarm people. That is why ICCEF is adding a strong voice in support of the 16 days of activism. If the vision of ICCEF is to be achieved, then violence against men and girls needs to be addressed and brought down to the barest minimum. Even if you don’t eliminate it, we should be able to copy in such a way that little girls are born and allowed to grow, feeling safe, empowered, wanted, and not discriminated against. Almost 30 years ago in Beijing, China, in 1995, the entire world came together to discuss various issues affecting women. It was known as the 4th World Conference on Women, Beijing, China. At the end of that 4th World Conference, 12 critical areas of concern were identified, one of which was violence against women. They were not talking about something that is happening in Nigeria only. The global issue is very pervasive but of course, we have our peculiarities in Nigeria. When you have the issue of culture and tradition, it takes it to another level. Our widows are maltreated; we also have the issue of forceful marriage and early marriage. In politics, they will say a woman is not grown enough and that she is too small to contest, but she is not too small to marry and be called amaria or to be married off at 12 years or 13 years. Can you share some areas where ICCEF initiatives have helped reduce gender-based violence or supported survivors? We have been able to do that through various partnerships. For example, the Mirabel Centre; the first sexual assault centre; we partner with them to ensure that women or young girls who are sexually abused can access services at Mirabel Centre and Assurance Centre. We have partnered with them to build their capacity, working closely with the authorities of the Federal Medical Centre. Related News Baby convention 2024 empowers parents Why parents shouldn’t give babies phones – Physicians Women affairs minister seeks end to violence against children They do have lots of cases of rape and sexual abuse. So, through this partnership, we went to the community to create awareness. Now, they are getting cases and are responding. People are getting the help they require. This partnership project is the way forward. Based on your experience, what do you identify as the biggest challenges in preventing violence against women and girls in Nigeria and globally? Culture is a way of life. Culture is what you and I decide. For example, you and I may decide that we will stay outside because of the heat inside the house till 10pm, but if we stay outside till 10pm, robbers will attack us. Should we not change the culture, and say by 7pm, we’ll go inside? So that is what culture is. For people, when it comes to issues affecting women, you hear them say that is our culture. Why should a culture be discriminating against one? For example, any married man who dies in Nigeria is killed by his wife. The only men who die a natural death are those who are not married, but if a woman dies, do they do the same thing to the man? Most times they don’t and that is what makes it discriminatory. If what we do to women is the same as that of men, then no problem. We must change our attitude to things because change is the only constant thing in life. If we refuse to change, then it will be forced on us. Do you think there should be a special court to try gender-based violence? Yes, there should be a specialised court because on the issue of sexual abuse, most of the victims are children and you don’t want to put them in an open court. So, there should be a specialised court for gender-based matters so justice is not only done but also seen and fast-tracked. We know that justice delayed is justice denied. Lagos State has started that, and some other states are beginning to have it. In what other way do you think governments and institutions can strengthen the fight against gender-based violence? They can strengthen it by stopping lip service. Governments should work on the talk. They should set aside funds for gender-based violence. Setting aside such funds means money that will service the sexual assault centres, courts, the police stations, and then maybe a specialised police team to respond to issues like that. We should stop talking and act. That action includes making funds available to put these things in place. So, I want the government at all levels; be it local, state, or federal to be part of this. What approaches can be adopted to engage men and boys in eliminating violence against women and girls? We have to work with men and boys. We must engage boys right from the school so that they start developing what we call positive relationships with young girls. Some children are from abusive homes, and they may think that it is the right thing to do because they see their fathers beating their mothers. We need to engage boys and men; they are our brothers. They are our sons and fathers.

LaMelo Ball is arguably the most enigmatic player in the NBA. He is universally acclaimed for his flashy playstyle. But his defensive deficiencies and injury issues have prompted doubts about whether he could be the franchise cornerstone the Hornets need. However, this season, he has been answering those questions. He has missed only one game and is averaging 31.1 points, which ranks second in the league. But despite his hot star, Lou Williams believes he’s only the fifth-best guard in the East. On FanDuel’s Run It Back show, the former Clippers star claimed that the Hornets, who are 6-13, aren’t equipped to earn a playoff berth this season. However, he believes the future could be bright. Williams said , Williams claimed that Bucks’ Damian Lillard, Hawks’ Trae Young, Cavaliers’ Darius Garland, and Knicks’ Jalen Brunson are above him in the guard rankings in the East. He added it’s close between Pistons’ Cade Cunningham and Ball for the fifth spot but he prefers the former. While Williams is entitled to his opinion, ranking the Hornets star as the sixth-best guard in the East this season grossly undermines his impact. LaMelo Ball is among the best in the East LaMelo Ball is one of only two players in the league alongside Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo to average over 30 points per game. He has always been a stellar offensive player, but he’s finally taking the next step and becoming an elite scorer. Over the years, the Hornets star’s defensive impact has been scrutinized heavily. However, his defensive rating of 115.1 ranks 12th in the East among guards, above Darius Garland (115.1), Damian Lillard (116.8), Trae Young (119.2), and Jalen Brunson (121). Among the names Williams mentioned, only Cunningham has a better defensive rating than Ball with 111.9. However, he’s averaging only 23.5 points per game, nearly eight fewer than the Hornets star. While he has been exceptional as a scorer, his playmaking hasn’t been up to the mark. He’s averaging only 6.9 assists per game, which is lower than every player on the former Clippers star’s list, except Darius Garland (6.8). However, it’s worth noting that sophomore Brandon Miller is the only other reliable scoring option on the Hornets, putting the onus on Ball to carry the offense. Charlotte’s 6-13 record has been used as a knock to undermine the 23-year-old’s campaign. However, except for Garland’s Cavaliers, none of the teams of the other five players that Williams named on his list have had a noteworthy season. On the contrary, Brunson’s Knicks and Lillard’s Bucks have had underwhelming seasons. Young’s Hawks and Cunningham’s Pistons haven’t exactly set the league ablaze either. Any argument against Ball being the best guard in the East this season falls flat in the face of facts. It remains to be seen whether he can sustain this form. But for now, no player in his position in his conference can claim they are having a better year than Ball.Trump names David Sacks as White House AI and crypto czar

City U21s chief 'really disappointed' by Boro defeat'Fire Ryan Day': How X users reacted to Ohio State's 4th straight loss to MichiganIncreasing revenue shortfall risking IMF package FBR says it might face shortfall of Rs321 billion for first half (July-Dec) period ISLAMABAD: Amid falling short of the tax target with a margin of Rs149 billion in November, the FBR’s revenue shortfall ballooned to Rs338 billion in the first five months, making crystal clear that wrong assumptions led to breakdown of the fiscal framework fallen apart under the IMF program. With increasing instability on the country’s political horizon, the IMF program will be heading towards a risky zone with an increased revenue shortfall. The FBR had made internal projections that it might face a shortfall of Rs321 billion for the first half (July-Dec) period, but the shortfall already exceeded this and stood at Rs338 billion in five months. The FBR has collected Rs4.3 trillion in five months of FY2024-25. Now, it will have to fetch revenues of Rs1.71 trillion this month to achieve an indicative target of Rs6.009 trillion by December 31, 2024, under the IMF program. In case of further shortfall, the IMF program will enter into a danger zone on the occasion of the first review scheduled to be held in Feb-March of 2025. Both the IMF and the Ministry of Finance had struck the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) on the basis of wrong assumptions on a macroeconomic and fiscal framework for 2024-25 as it fell apart into pieces where all major numbers proved wrong starting from envisaging the real GDP growth rate, Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM), receding CPI-based inflation at faster pace, declining imports and now falling short of revenue collection than envisaged at the time of finalizing the IMF program. Now the IMF will come up with its prescription of a mini-budget for 2024-25 in Feb-March 2025 when there will be much limited time for any course correction in the remaining period of the current fiscal year. Despite hiring consultancy of McKinney with a grant of Karandaaz by doling out at least Rs1 billion and granting approval of the FBR’s Transformation Plan with the taxpayer money of Rs 32.5 billion, the FBR miserably failed to materialize the revenue collection target. One top official of the FBR told The News that the country was still going through import compression which was making half of the revenue static. The CPI-based inflation and markup rates are declining, resulting in bringing down tax revenues. The compensatory real GDP growth is going through a time lag. “This is a typical stabilisation phase in which revenues will continue to suffer till February 2025 and then the turnaround will start happening from March 2025 onwards,” said the official. However, independent tax experts opined that the front- loaded design of the IMF program resulted in fixing the FBR’s tax collection target of Rs12,913 billion (Rs12,970 billion approved by parliament) against a revenue collection of Rs 9311 billion for the last fiscal year 2023- 24, requiring a growth by 40 per cent. So far, the FBR has achieved growth in the range of 23 per cent so the FBR’s shortfall ranged around more than 17 per cent. The FBR did not prefer issuing any official press statement till filing this report on Saturday night.

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NEW YORK , Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Report on how AI is driving market transformation - The global lighting market size is estimated to grow by USD 54.76 billion from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.89% during the forecast period. Growing number of developments and lighting product launches is driving market growth, with a trend towards advances in automotive lighting systems. However, sustainability issue in the lighting industry poses a challenge.Key market players include Acuity Brands Inc., ams OSRAM AG, Bridgelux Inc., Dialight Plc, Digital Lumens Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Ennostar Inc., General Electric Co., GrowRay Lighting Technologies, Havells India Ltd., Hubbell Inc., IDEAL INDUSTRIES Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LSI Industries Inc., Lumileds Holding BV, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Sharp Corp., SMART Holdings Inc., Syska Led Lights Pvt. Ltd., and Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd.. Key insights into market evolution with AI-powered analysis. Explore trends, segmentation, and growth drivers- View Free Sample PDF Lighting Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2023 Historic period 2018 - 2022 Forecast period 2024-2028 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.89% Market growth 2024-2028 USD 54.76 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023 (%) 6.45 Regional analysis APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 45% Key countries US, China, Japan, Germany, and UK Key companies profiled Acuity Brands Inc., ams OSRAM AG, Bridgelux Inc., Dialight Plc, Digital Lumens Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, Ennostar Inc., General Electric Co., GrowRay Lighting Technologies, Havells India Ltd., Hubbell Inc., IDEAL INDUSTRIES Inc., Koninklijke Philips N.V., LSI Industries Inc., Lumileds Holding BV, Panasonic Holdings Corp., Sharp Corp., SMART Global Holdings Inc., Syska Led Lights Pvt. Ltd., and Toyoda Gosei Co. Ltd. Market Driver The lighting market is witnessing significant trends in various sectors including interior designing, photography, and scientific research. LED lights are leading the charge with their energy efficiency and long life span, replacing traditional incandescent, CFL, LFL, HID, and halogen bulbs. Scientists are also exploring the use of LEDs for growing plants and in developing countries for off-grid solar solutions. In the automotive sector, LED lighting is becoming standard in headlamps and taillights, while solar is powering outdoor lighting in urban cities and commercial buildings. Effective manufacturers like Signify are launching energy-efficient luminaires and smart lighting systems, reducing electricity consumption and operating costs. The Biden Harris Administration is promoting energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives, driving demand for cost-effective, energy-saving solutions. Smart lighting solutions are also being integrated into HVAC, security, and building automation systems, improving urban infrastructure and reducing logistics inefficiency. The horticulture sector is using LEDs for growing plants, and smart LED bulbs are being used in advertising, aviation, medical devices, and camera flashes. The market for LED lights in residential sector, retail, and commercial buildings is expected to grow significantly due to their cost-effectiveness and life expectancy. The semiconductor industry is also investing in research and development to improve the performance and affordability of LEDs. However, environmental degradation and energy problems remain challenges that need to be addressed, making energy efficiency and environmental sustainability key priorities. The CEA systems and EcoLink range are also gaining popularity for their smart outdoor lighting solutions. The market for LED fixtures in real estate, parking lots, and smart cities initiatives is expected to grow significantly in the coming years. Adaptive lighting systems are gaining popularity in both commercial and automotive industries due to their enhanced safety and comfort features. These systems are designed to improve visibility during nighttime and low-light conditions, particularly around curves and hills. Traditional headlights illuminate the road directly ahead, leaving the sides unlit. In contrast, adaptive headlamps adjust their beams according to steering input, ensuring the vehicle's path is illuminated. Additionally, when climbing a hill, conventional headlights may point upward, reducing visibility. Adaptive lighting systems address these issues, providing a safer and more comfortable driving experience. Request Sample of our comprehensive report now to stay ahead in the AI-driven market evolution! Market Challenges The lighting market faces various challenges in sectors like interior designing, photography, and scientific research, requiring different types of lights such as white light for houses and LEDs for plants. Scientists are focusing on energy-efficient LEDs to reduce electricity consumption and environmental degradation. Developing and under-developing nations face energy problems, with off-grid solar sector solutions gaining popularity. Effective manufacturers like Signify offer energy-efficient luminaires and smart lighting systems. In the residential sector, capital costs and logistics inefficiency hinder LED adoption over incandescent, CFL, LFL, HID, halogen, and fluorescent bulbs. LEDs are increasingly used in automotive, retail, and commercial sectors due to energy costs and long life expectancy. Smart LED bulbs and outdoor lighting systems are cost-effective and energy-efficient solutions for real estate, urban cities, highways, commercial buildings, and parking lots. Governments and organizations promote energy efficiency and environmental sustainability through initiatives like the Biden Harris Administration's focus on smart cities and the CEA systems' Color Rendering Index. The horticulture sector uses specialized LED lighting for plant growth, while building automation systems integrate HVAC, security, and smart lighting solutions. In industries like aviation, advertising, medical devices, camera flashes, traffic signals, and automotive headlamps, energy-efficient lighting is essential for reducing electricity consumption and operating costs. Solar and LED fixtures are becoming increasingly popular in developing nations, while smart outdoor lighting solutions are cost-effective and eco-friendly. In conclusion, the lighting market faces challenges in various sectors, including cost-effectiveness, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability. Effective manufacturers like Signify offer energy-efficient solutions, while governments and organizations promote initiatives to address these challenges. The future of lighting lies in smart, energy-efficient, and cost-effective technologies like LEDs and solar. The lighting market faces a significant challenge in ensuring sustainability as the demand for environmentally friendly and energy-efficient solutions, such as CFLs and LED lighting, increases. The limited supply of rare earth elements, like those used in Phosphor-based LEDs, can lead to price fluctuations and supply chain disruptions. Addressing sustainability concerns in the lighting industry is crucial to prevent potential growth hindrances. Companies must explore alternative sources for rare earth elements or develop new technologies using less of these materials to maintain a steady supply and keep costs competitive. Discover how AI is revolutionizing market trends- Get your access now! This lighting market report extensively covers market segmentation by Application 1.1 General lighting 1.2 Automotive lighting 1.3 Backlighting Type 2.1 LED technology 2.2 Traditional technology Geography 3.1 APAC 3.2 Europe 3.3 North America 3.4 Middle East and Africa 3.5 South America 1.1 General lighting- The general lighting market encompasses various lighting solutions including lamps, electronics, consumer luminaires, systems, and professional luminaires and systems. This segment is the most widely used in residential, commercial, and industrial applications such as homes, offices, factories, streets, stadiums, and theaters. Market leaders like Signify NV, OSRAM, and IDEAL INDUSTRIES Inc's Cree dominate this segment. The introduction of LED technology has significantly boosted the general lighting market. LEDs offer several advantages over traditional lighting sources, including low maintenance cost, long lifespan, energy efficiency, and eco-friendliness. The continuous price reduction of LEDs further enhances their appeal. Developed countries are witnessing the trend of connected lighting, where lighting fixtures can be controlled via smartphones. Although not yet mainstream, this innovation will add a new dimension to the general lighting segment, contributing to the growth of the global lighting market. Download a Sample of our comprehensive report today to discover how AI-driven innovations are reshaping competitive dynamics Research Analysis The lighting market encompasses various applications of light for interior designing, photography, and scientific research. LED lights have revolutionized the industry with their energy efficiency and long lifespan, replacing traditional incandescent bulbs and Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFLs). Scientists continue to explore the properties of white light, impacting electricity consumption and energy costs. Metals play a crucial role in lighting production, while electricity is the primary power source. LEDs are not just limited to residential and commercial use but also extend to automotive headlamps, aviation, advertising, and traffic signals. The Biden Harris Administration's focus on energy efficiency and sustainability further boosts the market growth. The Color Rendering Index (CRI) is a critical factor in evaluating the quality of light for various industries, including horticulture and medical devices. Building automation systems, HVAC, security, and smart lighting solutions are integral components of modern infrastructure. LED lighting and CEA systems are at the forefront of innovation, offering advanced features and energy savings. Camera flashes and lighted wallpapers cater to niche markets, while the horticulture sector benefits from specialized grow lights. Market Research Overview The lighting market encompasses various applications, from interior designing and photography to scientific research and automotive industries. Lighting solutions range from LEDs to traditional incandescent, CFL, LFL, HID, and halogen bulbs. Scientists continue to innovate, developing energy-efficient luminaires and light control systems. Plants and urban cities benefit from LEDs, while developing and under-developing nations explore off-grid solar sector solutions. Effective manufacturers produce cost-effective, energy-efficient LED fixtures for residential and commercial sectors, including houses, malls, stores, restaurants, hospitals, schools, parking lots, and real estate. Solar and semiconductor industries play crucial roles in reducing electricity consumption and environmental degradation. Smart LED bulbs and outdoor lighting systems, along with building automation systems, HVAC, and security, contribute to energy efficiency and environmental sustainability initiatives. The Biden Harris Administration smart cities, energy efficiency, and environmental sustainability, while various industries, including aviation, advertising, and medical devices, utilize specialized lighting solutions. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Application General Lighting Automotive Lighting Backlighting Type LED Technology Traditional Technology Geography APAC Europe North America Middle East And Africa South America 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ View original content to download multimedia: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lighting-market-to-expand-by-usd-54-76-billion-2024-2028-driven-by-new-product-launches-and-developments-market--evolution-powered-by-ai---technavio-302314004.html SOURCE Technavio © 2024 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.

It was a fine first win for Ruud van Nistelrooy , and perhaps one final defeat for Julen Lopetegui. Leicester marked Van Nistelrooy’s first match in charge of the team by surging to a 3-1 win over Lopetegui's West Ham in the Premier League on Tuesday. Van Nistelrooy, the former Manchester United striker, is back in English soccer this time as a manager, with Leicester taking something of a gamble on the Dutchman after his brief and impressive spell as interim coach at United this season following Erik ten Hag's departure. He faces the tough task of keeping Leicester, one of the top candidates for relegation, in the top division. For that to happen, he’s likely to need goals from Jamie Vardy — and the 37-year-old former England international delivered immediately. Nine years after breaking Van Nistelrooy’s record for scoring in consecutive games, Vardy scored the first goal of the Dutchman’s tenure at Leicester by beating the offside trap and slotting home a finish with less than two minutes gone. Morocco midfielder Bilal El Khannouss supplied the pass for Vardy’s goal and scored himself with a low shot in the 61st minute to make it 2-0. Patson Daka added a third for Leicester in the 90th minute, before a stoppage-time consolation by West Ham substitute Niclas Füllkrug. “We are very happy with the new manager," El Khannouss said of Van Nistelrooy. “He arrived two days ago, and there’s a new dynamic in the group.” Van Nistelrooy praised the “spirit and energy” in his team. “The foundation for us going forward is everyone working their socks off, fighting for every inch and defending together,” he said. “We can look further then, and they did that in an unbelievable way.” This dismal result for West Ham came three days after its 5-2 thrashing at home by Arsenal , which piled more pressure of Lopetegui early in the former Spain and Real Madrid coach's first season with the London club. West Ham's disgruntled traveling fans chanted "You’re getting sacked in the morning” toward Lopetegui during the second half — even if his team dominated large parts of the game but only had one goal to show from 31 shots on goal. “We're very frustrated but in the same way I can say nothing about the players — they fight until the end,” Lopetegui said. "It’s not easy to explain football some days.” West Ham has lost seven of its 14 games so far and is in 14th place in the 20-team league, one spot above Leicester. Crystal Palace won for just the second time in the league this season, beating relegation rival Ipswich 1-0 to pull clear of the bottom three. Jean-Philippe Mateta scored the goal in the 59th minute. Palace’s only other league victory was against Tottenham in October. While Ipswich stayed in next-to-last place, Palace moved three points above the relegation zone. Much of the focus ahead of the game was on the teams’ captains , Sam Morsy of Ipswich and Marc Guehi of Palace, during another round when the Premier League was celebrating LGBTQ+ inclusion in its campaign to promote equality and diversity. For the second straight game, Morsy chose against wearing a rainbow armband issued to the captain of each of the 20 teams in the league. He has made the decision “due to his religious beliefs,” Ipswich says. Guehi did wear the rainbow armband but defied Football Association rules by writing a religious message on the item. The message read “Jesus loves you” — using a heart sign instead of the word “loves.” During the match against Newcastle on Saturday, Guehi wrote “I love Jesus” — and was later contacted by the FA for acting in contravention of its regulations. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerTrump’s defense secretary pick is ready for ‘insurgency’ — against American schoolsPM orders flood aid dispatch to MalaysiaRFK Jr.'s surprising defense of leaked audio calling the president-elect Hitler and MAGA supporters 'idiots'

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When dockworkers walked the picket line in October, the strike lasted for 3 days. And if a new contract between their 45,000 member union and the U.S. Maritime Alliance isn't signed by mid-January — a longer strike could send inflation going in the wrong direction. Just months after a strike at Gulf and East Coast ports ended, operators and union members are now at an impasse — once again — over automation. Port operators say they need more technology to increase port efficiency, improve safety and to control costs. But union members say no, because some workers will lose their jobs. A new strike could come if an agreement isn't reached by January 15. And if that happens inflation could increase, when goods aren't flowing in an out of ports as quickly. Thursday union leaders met with President-elect Donald trump at Mar-a-Lago and walked away with his support. Writing about automation on Truth social, Trump said "the amount of money saved is nowhere near the distress, hurt, and harm it causes for American workers," and that foreign countries "...shouldn't be looking for every last penny knowing how many families are hurt." RELATED STORY | Billions of dollars of U.S. economic activity halted as port workers enter day two of their strike Professor Todd Belt of George Washington University called it Trump striking a different path than he did during his first term. "During the first Trump term you had Donald Trump, surrounded by a lot of people who were suggested to him by incumbent Republicans who had really a Republican orthodoxy on free trade. Donald trump now is going to be surrounded by a lot of people who support his ideas of interventionism and tariffs, as well as other trade policies that will protect working people at the expense of, of course, inflation," Belt said. The International Longshoremen's Association has until Jan. 15 to negotiate a new contract with the U.S. Maritime Alliance, which represents ports and shipping companies. At the heart of the dispute is whether ports can install automated gates, cranes and container-moving trucks that could make it faster to unload and load ships. The union argues that automation would lead to fewer jobs, even though higher levels of productivity could do more to boost the salaries of remaining workers. The Maritime Alliance said in a statement that the contract goes beyond ports to "supporting American consumers and giving American businesses access to the global marketplace — from farmers, to manufacturers, to small businesses, and innovative start-ups looking for new markets to sell their products." "To achieve this, we need modern technology that is proven to improve worker safety, boost port efficiency, increase port capacity, and strengthen our supply chains," said the alliance, adding that it looks forward to working with Trump. In October, the union representing 45,000 dockworkers went on strike for three days, raising the risk that a prolonged shutdown could push up inflation by making it difficult to unload container ships and export American products overseas. The issue pits an incoming president who won November's election on the promise of bringing down prices against commitments to support blue-collar workers along with the kinds of advanced technology that drew him support from Silicon Valley elite such as billionaire Elon Musk. Trump sought to portray the dispute as being between U.S. workers and foreign companies, but advanced ports are also key for staying globally competitive. China is opening a $1.3 billion port in Peru that could accommodate ships too large for the Panama Canal. There is a risk that shippers could move to other ports, which could also lead to job losses. Mexico is constructing a port that is highly automated, while Dubai, Singapore and Rotterdam already have more advanced ports. "For the great privilege of accessing our markets, these foreign companies should hire our incredible American Workers, instead of laying them off, and sending those profits back to foreign countries," Trump posted. "It is time to put AMERICA FIRST!" The Associated Press contributed to this report.