Northern Minnesota and the rest of the Midwest are in for a cold, costly winter if President-elect Donald Trump succeeds in imposing 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico. The U.S. buys nearly all the crude oil that Canada produces, but no region depends on those imports more heavily than the Midwest, which gets more than 60% of its oil from Canada. In Minnesota and Wisconsin, the site of two major transnational pipelines, that figure is closer to 80%. At roughly 2.3 million barrels a day, the Midwest uses more Canadian crude than the rest of the U.S. combined. ADVERTISEMENT So it’s going to come as a shock when Republicans across the region — where victories in Wisconsin and Michigan helped propel Trump back to the White House — discover that one of his first official acts will have been to start a trade war that could send energy prices soaring. Trump said he will impose the tariffs on Inauguration Day unless the two countries curtail drug trafficking and illegal immigration at U.S. borders. As bad as that would be for the former “blue wall” states, it would be even worse for Canada. The U.S. is Canada’s most important trade partner, accounting for two-thirds of all Canadian trade. The U.S. is also Canada’s largest investor. The two nations’ economies are so intricately linked that, in 2023, $3.6 billion of goods and services flowed across their borders daily. So, after a series of urgent phone calls, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sprinted south for a visit to Mar-a-Lago to try to reach common ground. For his trouble, Trudeau found himself the object of ridicule. After warning the incoming president that the tariffs could wreck both countries’ economies, Trump reportedly joked that if Canada could not survive without “ripping off” the U.S., perhaps it should become the 51st state, with Trudeau as its governor. Trudeau was said to have laughed, nervously. Canadian Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc, who accompanied Trudeau, later told reporters in Ottawa that “the president was teasing us. It was ... in no way a serious comment.” Trudeau later said he and Trump had a productive meeting and even thanked Trump for the dinner. Trump undoubtedly was joking, at Trudeau’s expense, but he was also sending a serious message: He does not consider this a partnership of equals. He was serving notice that he is back, with all the brash aggression and seat-of-the-pants governing that marked his first term. Trudeau now is left to wonder whether he can even salvage the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that has guided mostly duty-free trade among the three countries since it was signed in 2020. Trump’s pledge to start tariffs on the first day of his presidency would appear to violate the terms of the agreement and could be a precursor to Trump attempting to renegotiate the deal. ADVERTISEMENT Trump’s stock-in-trade is creating chaos. It is his go-to move for gaining the upper hand in any situation: Do the unexpected. Be unpredictable. Go big. So why not threaten our closest trading partners with punitive tariffs that would wound their economies — and ours? Whatever concessions he wrings out of our partners will be declared “huge” victories. And it’s not just about the cost of oil. The tariffs would also increase the price of fruit and vegetables and the cost of natural gas. They would also hurt the U.S. auto sector. Michigan depends heavily on USMCA for its automotive industry. Most vehicles pass several times through the three countries, even if the final assembly is done in the U.S. Trump knows the stakes. Whether he lets on or not, he understands the concept of tariffs and their limitations. The Tax Foundation found that Trump’s first-term tariffs — many of which continued under President Joe Biden — “raised prices and reduced output and employment, producing a negative impact on the U.S. economy.” So what is Trump’s end game? On the campaign trail, he portrayed tariffs as a powerful cure-all that could generate enough revenue to cut taxes, bring down the deficit, pay for other programs, drive manufacturing back to the U.S., and wring concessions from foreign leaders — all at little to no cost for American consumers. Since being elected, he talks less of the huge revenues — which could only result from permanent tariffs — and seems to have settled on tariffs as a way to force foreign countries to bend to his will. His threat to impose tariffs on Canada and Mexico puts the onus on those countries to reduce drug trafficking and illegal immigration at U.S. borders. It also makes them handy scapegoats should they fail to do so. The terms of success have been left undefined — another Trump tactic to keep everyone guessing. In the meantime, Minnesotans and others in the Midwest could start the Trump years by paying more to fill their gas tanks, heat their homes, and fill their refrigerators. That can hardly be the outcome they expected when so many of them threw their lot in with Trump. ADVERTISEMENT Patricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Bloomberg editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.Kerala has achieved the highest increase in forest cover outside the recorded forest area in India over the past decade, as reported in the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) 2023. Between 2013 and 2023, the State’s total forest cover also increased by 133.42 sq.km, a growth of 19.99%, marking one of the highest growth rates in the country. The ISFR 2023, compiled by the Forest Survey of India and released by Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav a day ago, also highlights that Kerala ranks third in terms of maximum tree cover relative to the total geographical area, at 7.48%. Compared to the 2021 assessment, Kerala records the third-highest increase in forest cover outside the recorded forest area (95.19 sq.km.), following Gujarat and Bihar. The forest cover within recorded forest area grew by 38.23 sq.km., and the State’s overall forest and tree cover increased by 13.76 sq. km. Growing stock The report further states that Kerala has the second-highest per hectare growing stock in forest, with 179.78 cubic metres. (Growing stock refers to the total volume of living trees in a given area of forest, serving as a key metric for forest management, sustainability and timber production.) Kerala’s recorded forest area spans 11,522 sq.km., making up 29.66% of its notified geographical area of 38,852 sq.km. The State’s mangrove cover has expanded marginally by 0.02 sq.km (since 2021), now covering 9.45 sq.km., while the bamboo-bearing area has grown by 1.62%, extending across 2,443 sq.km. Among the districts located along the Western Ghats, the forest cover in the eco-sensitive areas of Idukki has decreased by 97.94 sq.km, while Kozhikode has seen the highest increase of 124.21 sq.km, followed by Malappuram with an increase of 99.98 sq.km. Published - December 22, 2024 08:45 pm IST Copy link Email Facebook Twitter Telegram LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit forests / Kerala
Jonah Goldberg Among elites across the ideological spectrum, there's one point of unifying agreement: Americans are bitterly divided. What if that's wrong? What if elites are the ones who are bitterly divided while most Americans are fairly unified? History rarely lines up perfectly with the calendar (the "sixties" didn't really start until the decade was almost over). But politically, the 21st century neatly began in 2000, when the election ended in a tie and the color coding of electoral maps became enshrined as a kind of permanent tribal color war of "red vs. blue." Elite understanding of politics has been stuck in this framework ever since. Politicians and voters have leaned into this alleged political reality, making it seem all the more real in the process. I loathe the phrase "perception is reality," but in politics it has the reifying power of self-fulfilling prophecy. Like rival noble families in medieval Europe, elites have been vying for power and dominance on the arrogant assumption that their subjects share their concern for who rules rather than what the rulers can deliver. Political cartoonists from across country draw up something special for the holiday In 2018, the group More in Common published a massive report on the "hidden tribes" of American politics. The wealthiest and whitest groups were "devoted conservatives" (6%) and "progressive activists" (8%). These tribes dominate the media, the parties and higher education, and they dictate the competing narratives of red vs. blue, particularly on cable news and social media. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of Americans resided in, or were adjacent to, the "exhausted majority." These people, however, "have no narrative," as David Brooks wrote at the time. "They have no coherent philosophic worldview to organize their thinking and compel action." Lacking a narrative might seem like a very postmodern problem, but in a postmodern elite culture, postmodern problems are real problems. It's worth noting that red vs. blue America didn't emerge ex nihilo. The 1990s were a time when the economy and government seemed to be working, at home and abroad. As a result, elites leaned into the narcissism of small differences to gain political and cultural advantage. They remain obsessed with competing, often apocalyptic, narratives. That leaves out most Americans. The gladiatorial combatants of cable news, editorial pages and academia, and their superfan spectators, can afford these fights. Members of the exhausted majority are more interested in mere competence. I think that's the hidden unity elites are missing. This is why we keep throwing incumbent parties out of power: They get elected promising competence but get derailed -- or seduced -- by fan service to, or trolling of, the elites who dominate the national conversation. There's a difference between competence and expertise. One of the most profound political changes in recent years has been the separation of notions of credentialed expertise from real-world competence. This isn't a new theme in American life, but the pandemic and the lurch toward identity politics amplified distrust of experts in unprecedented ways. This is a particular problem for the left because it is far more invested in credentialism than the right. Indeed, some progressives are suddenly realizing they invested too much in the authority of experts and too little in the ability of experts to provide what people want from government, such as affordable housing, decent education and low crime. The New York Times' Ezra Klein says he's tired of defending the authority of government institutions. Rather, "I want them to work." One of the reasons progressives find Trump so offensive is his absolute inability to speak the language of expertise -- which is full of coded elite shibboleths. But Trump veritably shouts the language of competence. I don't mean he is actually competent at governing. But he is effectively blunt about calling leaders, experts and elites -- of both parties -- stupid, ineffective, weak and incompetent. He lost in 2020 because voters didn't believe he was actually good at governing. He won in 2024 because the exhausted majority concluded the Biden administration was bad at it. Nostalgia for the low-inflation pre-pandemic economy was enough to convince voters that Trumpian drama is the tolerable price to pay for a good economy. About 3 out of 4 Americans who experienced "severe hardship" because of inflation voted for Trump. The genius of Trump's most effective ad -- "Kamala is for they/them, President Trump is for you" -- was that it was simultaneously culture-war red meat and an argument that Harris was more concerned about boutique elite concerns than everyday ones. If Trump can actually deliver competent government, he could make the Republican Party the majority party for a generation. For myriad reasons, that's an if so big it's visible from space. But the opportunity is there -- and has been there all along. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: thedispatch.com . Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly!
Looking ahead, Zhou Qi's journey towards full recovery serves as a testament to his resilience and perseverance. With each milestone achieved and each setback overcome, Zhou Qi is proving that he has the fortitude and determination to excel in the face of adversity.Nvidia’s stock dips after China opens probe of the AI chip company for violating anti-monopoly laws
In the end, the bar owner's brush with danger and the subsequent medical oversight served as a cautionary tale for all involved, underlining the importance of thorough and attentive care in times of crisis. It was a reminder that even in the midst of chaos and uncertainty, the human spirit and resilience can prevail, leading to healing and recovery in the face of adversity.Michail Antonio spoke to his West Ham team-mates via a video call from his hospital bed before they beat Wolves 2-1 on Monday night. Jarrod Bowen held Antonio’s number nine shirt aloft after scoring the winner in support of the Hammers striker, who is recovering after a horror car crash on Saturday. Boss Julen Lopetegui said: “He is not in his best moment but he kept his humour. It was a special moment for us. “I think we have a lot of reason to win matches but this was one reason more. He’s alive so we are happy.” MA9 ❤️ — West Ham United (@WestHam) West Ham players wore ‘Antonio 9′ shirts while warming up and walking out before kick-off. The shirts will be signed by the players, including Antonio, and auctioned off with the proceeds going to the NHS and Air Ambulances UK. Tomas Soucek headed West Ham into the lead and held up nine fingers to a TV camera. The Czech midfielder told Sky Sports: “He’s been here since I came here. He is really my favourite. I said it would be tough for me to play without him. "He was here since I came and he's really my favourite" Tomáš Souček on dedicating his goal to Michail Antonio ❤️ — Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) “I was so scared what was going to happen. It was a really tough week for him, his family and us.” Matt Doherty equalised for Wolves, and boss Gary O’Neil felt they should have had two penalties for fouls on Goncalo Guedes and Jean-Ricner Bellegarde, both of which were checked by VAR. But Bowen’s winner – O’Neil believed there was a foul in the build-up – condemned Wolves to a 10th defeat of the season and a third in a row. While under-pressure Lopetegui may have earned a stay of execution, O’Neil’s future as Wolves manager is now in serious doubt. “A lot of things went against us but ultimately we have not found a way to turn the game in our favour,” he said. “But the players showed they are still fighting for me, for the fans and the group. “Where does this leave me? In the same place I was. I’m aware of the noise. But if anyone expected this to be easy – I’m happy to be judged on results but it should be done in context. “Whenever this journey ends with Wolves I’ll be proud of it.” There was an acrimonious end to the match as captains Bowen and Mario Lemina scuffled after the final whistle, with the Wolves midfielder angrily shoving people including one of his own coaches, Shaun Derry. “I just went to shake his hand after the game,” Bowen said. “He didn’t want to shake my hand, two captains together just to say ‘well done’ after the game. “I know it’s difficult when you lose. I’ve been on the end of that situation.” O’Neil added: “Mario is calm now. He’s a passionate guy and something was said that upset him. “The instinct of the staff was to make sure he didn’t get into trouble, but he took some calming down.”
In the past 48 hours, Israel has carried out approximately 250 airstrikes on targets in Syria, causing significant damage to military facilities. The intense bombardment comes amidst escalating tensions in the region and reflects the complex and volatile dynamics at play in the Middle East.
Energy to be focus of India-Russia ties as economic trajectory determines future partners—Jaishankar
Although the main markets of are stocked with products, few people are already shopping for the preparations for Christmas dinner next Tuesday. Vegetables, fruits, pork, chicken, and other goods used for the big night are already set out in proportion in Cristo Rey, Villas Agrícolas, and Ciudad Ganadera markets, as observed yesterday in a tour of these shopping malls. According to vendors, the New Market of Agricultural Villages has stocked up on these goods since Thursday, but they understand that there has not yet been a great demand for them because there are still several days to go before the 24th. “Today is Friday. We have quite a few products, but our sales are practically the normal of every day. People buy some products that can be stored until Tuesday, but what are vegetables, pork, chicken... it would be from Sunday that sales will increase,” explained Juan Hernández, a chicken seller in the Cristo Rey market. “We hope to sell 100% of the goods by next week. For dinner it sells well because people have the tradition of making it,” he said. Elena Contreras explained that this week, more products such as rice, groceries, and canned goods have been sold. In the markets of Santo Domingo, most of the purchases were made yesterday by grocery stores and sellers of “guaguitas,” unlike the Livestock Fair, which was installed in the market of the Institute of Price Stabilization (Inespre), where a large number of people came to buy products, which according to its director , are sold at low prices. Although many buyers asked about prices, they assured they were sold with little difference from those in other markets! Viviana Polanco said the difference is almost nothing for the line we are making to buy. “But we have to take advantage of the savings even if it is RD$2.00,” she added.Furthermore, Sony's investment in new technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) and cloud gaming, has positioned the company for future growth and innovation in the gaming industry. The upcoming launch of PlayStation VR 2 and the integration of cloud gaming services through PlayStation Now demonstrate Sony's commitment to staying at the forefront of gaming technology and providing immersive and seamless gaming experiences to players around the world.
Solar-powered solution increases productivity, efficiency of pottery entrepreneurs
One former Manchester United legend, Rio Ferdinand, has recently spoken out about the importance of being ruthless with underperforming players in order to maintain success. Ferdinand, who enjoyed a successful career at Old Trafford, winning numerous trophies and accolades, knows first-hand the high standards set by the club and the pressure to deliver consistent performances.In conclusion, the alleged assassination attempt on the CEO of United Health has sent shockwaves throughout the United States and raised serious concerns about safety and security in the healthcare industry. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for increased vigilance and security measures to protect individuals in positions of authority and ensure a safe environment for all those involved in healthcare.