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Trump Makes First Cabinet Pick, Eyes Putin Talks

Published

1 year ago

November 8, 2024

Editor

US President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday made his first cabinet appointment following his decisive election win, signalling his intent to overturn the outgoing administration’s policies by reaching out to Vladimir Putin.

Trump’s campaign manager, Susie Wiles, will serve as his White House Chief of Staff, becoming the first woman in this high-profile role and marking the Republican’s first appointment to his incoming administration.

Trump’s sweeping defeat of Democrat Kamala Harris is already shaking up US and global politics, just two days after Election Day and two-and-a-half months before he returns to the White House.

Putin, the Russian President, hailed Trump as “courageous” for the way he handled himself following an assassination attempt at a rally in July, stating he was “ready” to hold discussions with him.

Billionaire Trump later told NBC News he had not spoken with Putin, the authoritarian leader he has repeatedly praised over the years, since his victory but added, “I think we’ll speak.”

This marked a major shift from the icy silence that has existed between Biden and Putin since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and underscored Trump’s criticism of US support for Kyiv.

The president-elect has previously stated he would push for a peace deal in the conflict, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who spoke with Trump on Wednesday, said calls for a ceasefire were “dangerous.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier joined other foreign leaders in congratulating Trump, who had been criticised by Harris during the campaign for his friendliness with autocrats.

Trump reaffirmed his plans for mass deportations of undocumented migrants, telling NBC he had “no choice” and that there could be “no price tag” too high.

‘Orderly’ Transfer of Power

As Trump began working on his transition team at his Florida resort, Biden pledged a peaceful and “orderly” transfer of power.

Biden, 81, urged Americans in a solemn televised address to “bring down the temperature,” in contrast to Trump’s refusal to accept his 2020 election defeat.

The Democrat has invited Trump for talks at the White House, but Biden’s spokeswoman said Trump’s team had not yet signed key documents to allow the formal transition process to commence.

In a speech from the Rose Garden, Biden called for unity and encouraged Democrats not to lose hope, saying, “Remember, a defeat does not mean we are defeated.”

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Finger-pointing has already erupted within the party over Biden’s initial decision to seek a second term despite his age, before withdrawing at the last minute in July and handing the reins to Harris, his vice president.

The White House denied Biden had any regrets, with Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre stating, “He believed it was the right decision to make at that time.”

Trump’s election, despite a criminal conviction for fraud, two impeachments, and being the oldest president-elect at 78, reflected voters’ desire for change from the Biden era.

Voter concerns over the economy and migration fuelled Trump’s victory.

Trump 2.0

Trump’s first cabinet pick, Wiles, enjoys wide support within his team and was notably called on stage during his victory speech on Wednesday morning.

“Susie is tough, smart, innovative, and is universally admired and respected. She will continue to work tirelessly to Make America Great Again,” Trump said of the steely 67-year-old Florida native.

Other frontrunners for roles in the Trump 2.0 administration reflect the disruptive nature it is likely to take.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent figure in the anti-vaccine movement to whom Trump has promised a “big role” in health care, told NBC News on Wednesday, “I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines.”

However, the former independent candidate reiterated that the Trump administration would consider removing fluoride — a mineral US authorities say supports dental and skeletal health — from public water supplies.

Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, may also be considered for a role in auditing government waste, following his enthusiastic endorsement of Trump. The CEO of SpaceX, Tesla, and X (formerly Twitter), Musk has positioned himself as a right-wing advocate.

Trump is expected to reverse many of Biden’s flagship policies. He returns to the White House as a climate change sceptic, pledging to dismantle Biden’s green policies and to “drill, baby, drill” for oil.

However, Trump may find it challenging to overturn some of Biden’s investment laws, which channel funds into numerous Congressional districts where members may be reluctant to see cuts.

AFP

Headline

Putin Says Russia Ready For War, Blames Europe For Sabotaging Peace

Published

14 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Russia was “ready” for war if Europe seeks one, accusing the continent’s leaders of trying to sabotage a deal on the Ukraine conflict before he met with US envoys.

The comments came as US envoy Steve Witkoff and President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner were in Moscow for high-stakes talks on ending the nearly four-year war, which were preceded by days of intense diplomacy.

“We are not planning to go to war with Europe, but if Europe wants to and starts, we are ready right now,” Putin told reporters in Moscow.

“They have no peaceful agenda, they are on the side of war,” he added, repeating his claim that European leaders were hindering US attempts to broker peace in Ukraine.

He added that European changes to Trump’s latest plan to end the war “aimed solely at one thing — to completely block the entire peace process and put forward demands that are absolutely unacceptable for Russia”.

Washington has presented a 28-point draft to end the conflict, later amended after criticism from Kyiv and Europe, which viewed it as heeding to many of Russia’s maximalist demands.

The plan to end the war is championed by Trump, but European countries fear it risks forcing Kyiv to cave in to Russian demands, notably on territory.

Fearing further Russian aggression, Europe has repeatedly said an unfair peace should not be imposed on Ukraine.

The Trump envoys are now seeking to finalise the plan with the approval of Moscow and Kyiv.
AFP

Headline

US Senator Proposes Bill To End Dual Citizenship

Published

14 hours ago

December 2, 2025

Editor

A United States lawmaker has introduced a bill seeking to abolish dual citizenship for American nationals, a move that could affect thousands of Nigerians who hold both US and Nigerian passports.

Bernie Moreno, a Colombian-born US senator, announced the proposed legislation — titled the Exclusive Citizenship Act of 2025 — arguing that the current system, which allows Americans to hold multiple nationalities, creates “conflicts of interest and divided loyalties.”

“One of the greatest honours of my life was when I became an American citizen at 18, the first opportunity I could do so.

“It was an honour to pledge an Oath of Allegiance to the United States of America and only to the United States of America! Being an American citizen is an honour and a privilege—and if you want to be an American, it’s all or nothing. It’s time to end dual citizenship for good,” Moreno said.

Moreno, who has since renounced his Colombian citizenship, maintains that exclusive allegiance is essential to national integrity.

If passed, the bill could have far-reaching implications for prominent figures such as US First Lady Melania Trump, who holds both US and Slovenian citizenship. It would also significantly impact Nigerians with dual citizenship.

According to a July naturalisation flow report by the US Department of Homeland Security, 38,890 Nigerians became naturalised American citizens between 2021 and 2023. Nigeria ranked 13th among countries with the highest number of new US citizens and was the only African nation in the top 20.

Nigerian law allows citizens by birth to hold dual nationality without relinquishing their Nigerian citizenship.

This development comes months after President Donald Trump issued an executive order aimed at denying automatic US citizenship to children of undocumented immigrants born in the country.

The order was immediately challenged by 18 states and multiple rights groups, who argued it violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of birthright citizenship. Ongoing legal battles have prevented the order from taking effect.

Headline

12 Die, 30 Missing In Peru Landslide

Published

2 days ago

December 1, 2025

Editor

At least 12 people, including three children, died in a landslide at a river port in central Peru on Monday, and 30 were reported missing, officials said.

The landslide submerged a boat with about 50 passengers on board, and another with none, as they were docked at the port of Iparia in the Amazon jungle region of Ucayali, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

Six people were injured, it added, and a search and rescue operation was underway at the start of the Peruvian rainy season.

Without giving a toll, Peru’s COEN national emergency operations centre said on X that tragedy struck at dawn due to “erosion” of the bank of the Ucayali river.

It said the navy has been called in to help.

AFP