Japan and the Philippines intend to emphasise to President-elect Donald Trump the critical importance of continued U.S. involvement in upholding the rule of law in Asia, particularly amid escalating security concerns, Japan's Foreign Minister said on Wednesday, reports AP. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S., Japan, and the Philippines have been fostering a strategic alliance to address China's increasingly assertive actions in the contested South China Sea and East China Sea. However, Trump's "America First" policy has raised doubts about the future extent of U.S. engagement in the region. Blinken heads to Asia, Europe on last expected trip as top US diplomat Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya, speaking at a news conference alongside his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo in Manila, stated, "We will communicate to the next U.S. administration that constructive U.S. engagement in this region is not only crucial for us but also beneficial for the U.S. itself." Iwaya confirmed his plans to attend Trump’s inauguration on January 20 as Japan remains a close treaty ally of the U.S., alongside the Philippines. Musk hiring cheaper tech servants from Asia: Alleges Bernie Sanders "Given the increasingly severe strategic environment in the region, Japan prioritises both bilateral cooperation with the Philippines and strengthening trilateral collaboration with the United States," Iwaya noted. Rising tensions between Chinese and Philippine coast guards in the heavily trafficked South China Sea have heightened fears of a larger conflict, potentially drawing in the U.S. The U.S. has reiterated its commitment to defend Philippine forces under their mutual defence treaty if they face armed attacks in the region. "The South China Sea issue is a legitimate international concern as it directly impacts regional peace and stability," Iwaya remarked. He added that Japan firmly opposes any unilateral attempts to alter the status quo through force and urged for a de-escalation of tensions. Jonathan Malaya, assistant director-general of the Philippine National Security Council, cautioned that China’s actions are becoming increasingly provocative, stating, "China is pushing us to the wall," and noting that "all options are on the table," including new international legal challenges. Zelenskyy, Macron discuss Western troop deployment in Ukraine The Philippine coast guard reported that a large Chinese coast guard vessel recently patrolled the contested Scarborough Shoal and approached the northwestern Philippine coast, coming within 77 nautical miles (143 kilometres). Meanwhile, a Chinese official in Beijing reiterated that the South China Sea falls under China’s established sovereignty, asserting that their coast guard’s activities are lawful and justified. China has consistently accused the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia of encroaching on what it considers its territorial waters. Philippine Foreign Minister Manalo said the latest developments would be discussed during a scheduled meeting on Thursday in Xiamen between Chinese and Philippine diplomats. The two nations have engaged in ongoing talks through the Bilateral Consultation Mechanism, aiming to manage disputes and prevent them from escalating into armed conflict.

The administrator of the Panama Canal said Friday that the vital waterway will remain in Panamanian hands and open to commerce from all countries, rejecting claims by President-elect Donald Trump that the United States should take it over. In an interview with The Associated Press, Ricaurte Vásquez denied Trump’s claims that China was controlling the canal’s operations, and said making exceptions to current rules concerning its operation would lead to “chaos.” He said Chinese companies operating in the ports on either end of the canal were part of a Hong Kong consortium that won a bidding process in 1997. He added that US and Taiwanese companies are operating other ports along the canal as well. Trump has gone so far as to suggest the US should take back control of the canal and he would not rule out using military might to do so. “It might be that you’ll have to do something,” Trump said Tuesday. “The Panama Canal is vital to our country.” Trump has characterized the fees for transiting the canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans as “ridiculous.” Panama prepares to evacuate first island in face of rising sea levels Panama President José Raúl Mulino has said unequivocally that the canal will remain in Panamanian hands. Responding to the suggestion that the US could try to retake control of the canal, Vásquez said there was “no foundation for that sort of hope. That is the only thing I can say.” Vásquez stressed that the Panama Canal was open to the commerce of all countries. The canal can’t give special treatment to US-flagged ships because of a neutrality treaty, Vásquez added. “The most sensible and efficient way to do this is to maintain the established rules.” Requests for exceptions are routinely rejected, because the process is clear and there mustn’t be arbitrary variations, he said. The only exception in the neutrality treaty is for American warships, which receive expedited passage. Some 70% of the sea traffic that crosses the Panama Canal leaves or goes to US ports. The United States built the canal in the early 1900s as it looked for ways to facilitate the transit of commercial and military vessels between its coasts. Washington relinquished control of the waterway to Panama on Dec. 31, 1999, under a treaty signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter. Last month, Trump told supporters “We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal.” He claimed that the US “foolishly gave it away.” Regarding the fees for using the canal, Vasquez said a planned series of increases had concluded with one this month. Any additional increases would be considered in the first half of the year to give clients certainty in their planning and would go through a public comment process, he said. Panama inaugurates third bridge over Panama Canal “There’s no discrimination in the fees,” he said. “The price rules are uniform for absolutely all those who transit the canal and clearly defined.” The canal depends on reservoirs to operate its locks and was heavily affected by drought during the past two years that forced it to substantially reduce the number of daily slots for crossing ships. With fewer ships using the canal each day, administrators increased the fees that are charged all shippers for reserving a slot. The canal bisects Panama, running 51 miles end to end. It allows ships to avoid the longer and costlier trip around Cape Horn at the tip of South America. “It is an enormous responsibility,” Vásquez said of Panama’s control of the canal. “Take the case of COVID, when it arrived, the canal took the necessary measures to protect the labor force, but while keeping the canal open, because the international commitment is to keep it open.”

President-elect Donald Trump was sentenced Friday in his hush money case, but the judge declined to impose any punishment, an outcome that cements his conviction while freeing him to return to the White House unencumbered by the threat of a jail term or a fine. The punishment-free judgement marks a quiet end to an extraordinary case that for the first time put a former president and major presidential candidate in a courtroom as a criminal defendant. The case was the only one of four criminal indictments that has gone to trial and possibly the only one that ever will. Manhattan Judge Juan M Merchan could have sentenced the 78-year-old Republican to up to four years in prison. Instead, he chose a sentence that sidestepped thorny constitutional issues by effectively ending the case but assured that Trump will become the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. Unlike his trial last year, when Trump brought allies to the courthouse and addressed waiting reporters outside the courthouse, the former president did not appear in person Friday, instead making a brief virtual appearance from his home in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump, wearing a dark suit and seated next to one of his lawyers with an American flag in the background, appeared on a video screen as he again insisted he did not commit a crime. “It’s been a political witch hunt. It was done to damage my reputation so that I would lose the election, and obviously, that didn’t work,” Trump said. Trump called the case “a weaponization of government” and “an embarrassment to New York.” Trump’s sentence of an unconditional discharge caps a norm-smashing case that saw the former and future president charged with 34 felonies, put on trial for almost two months and convicted by a jury on every count. Yet, the legal detour — and sordid details aired in court of a plot to bury affair allegations — didn’t hurt him with voters, who elected him to a second term. Merchan said that like when facing any other defendant, he must consider any aggravating factors before imposing a sentence, but the legal protection that Trump will have as president “is a factor that overrides all others.” US SC rejects Trump’s bid to delay sentencing in his hush money case “Despite the extraordinary breadth of those legal protections, one power they do not provide is that they do not erase a jury verdict," Merchan said. Trump, briefly addressing the court by video, said his criminal trial and conviction have “been a very terrible experience” and insisted he committed no crime. Before Friday's hearing, Merchan had indicated he planned the no-penalty sentence, called an unconditional discharge, which meant no jail time, no probation and no fines would be imposed. Prosecutors said Friday that they supported a no-penalty sentence, but they chided Trump's attacks on the legal system throughout and after the case. “The once and future President of the United States has engaged in a coordinated campaign to undermine its legitimacy,” prosecutor Joshua Steinglass said. Rather than show remorse, Trump has “bred disdain” for the jury verdict and the criminal justice system, Steinglass said, and his calls for retaliation against those involved in the case, including calling for the judge to be disbarred, "has caused enduring damage to public perception of the criminal justice system and has put officers of the court in harm’s way.” As he appeared from his Mar-a-Lago home, the former president was seated with his lawyer Todd Blanche, whom he’s tapped to serve as the second-highest ranking Justice Department official in his incoming administration. Trump's electric vehicle policies create uncertainty for automakers “The American voters got a chance to see and decide for themselves whether this was the kind of case that should’ve been brought. And they decided," Blanche said. “And that’s why in 10 days President Trump is going to assume the office of the president of the United States.” Before the hearing, a handful of Trump supporters and critics gathered outside. One group held a banner that read, “Trump is guilty.” The other held one that said, “Stop partisan conspiracy” and “Stop political witch hunt.” The hush money case accused Trump of fudging his business' records to veil a $130,000 payoff to porn actor Stormy Daniels. She was paid, late in Trump’s 2016 campaign, not to tell the public about a sexual encounter she maintains the two had a decade earlier. He says nothing sexual happened between them, and he contends that his political adversaries spun up a bogus prosecution to try to damage him. “I never falsified business records. It is a fake, made up charge,” the Republican president-elect wrote on his Truth Social platform last week. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office brought the charges, is a Democrat. Bragg's office said in a court filing Monday that Trump committed “serious offenses that caused extensive harm to the sanctity of the electoral process and to the integrity of New York’s financial marketplace.” While the specific charges were about checks and ledgers, the underlying accusations were seamy and deeply entangled with Trump’s political rise. Prosecutors said Daniels was paid off — through Trump's personal attorney at the time, Michael Cohen — as part of a wider effort to keep voters from hearing about Trump's alleged extramarital escapades. Trump tries again to get Friday's hush money sentencing called off Trump denies the alleged encounters occurred. His lawyers said he wanted to squelch the stories to protect his family, not his campaign. And while prosecutors said Cohen's reimbursements for paying Daniels were deceptively logged as legal expenses, Trump says that's simply what they were. “There was nothing else it could have been called,” he wrote on Truth Social last week, adding, “I was hiding nothing.” Trump's lawyers tried unsuccessfully to forestall a trial. Since his May conviction on 34 counts of falsifying business records, they have pulled virtually every legal lever within reach to try to get the conviction overturned, the case dismissed or at least the sentencing postponed. The Trump attorneys have leaned heavily into assertions of presidential immunity from prosecution, and they got a boost in July from a Supreme Court decision that affords former commanders-in-chief considerable immunity. Trump was a private citizen and presidential candidate when Daniels was paid in 2016. He was president when the reimbursements to Cohen were made and recorded the following year. Merchan, a Democrat, repeatedly postponed the sentencing, initially set for July. But last week, he set Friday's date, citing a need for “finality.” He wrote that he strove to balance Trump's need to govern, the Supreme Court's immunity ruling, the respect due a jury verdict and the public’s expectation that "no one is above the law.” Trump's inaugural committee raised a record $170m in donations Trump's lawyers then launched a flurry of last-minute efforts to block the sentencing. Their last hope vanished Thursday night with a 5-4 Supreme Court ruling that declined to delay the sentencing. Meanwhile, the other criminal cases that once loomed over Trump have ended or stalled ahead of trial. After Trump's election, special counsel Jack Smith closed out the federal prosecutions over Trump’s handling of classified documents and his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden. A state-level Georgia election interference case is locked in uncertainty after prosecutorFaniWillis was removed from it.

While electric vehicle demand is expected to continue growing this year, the forecast is clouded by uncertainty surrounding potential policy changes and tariffs, reports AP. S&P Global Mobility predicts global sales of 15.1 million battery electric vehicles in 2025, reflecting a 30% increase. These vehicles are expected to capture 16.7% of the light vehicle market. Automakers Renault, Nissan make cross-shareholdings equal Tesla, China's BYD, and other manufacturers face significant uncertainties in 2025. Under Donald Trump's presidency, major policy changes related to taxes and incentives for both electric vehicle producers and consumers could occur. The possibility of tariffs on imports and retaliatory tariffs globally could further complicate production and sales for electric vehicles. “There's just a lot of uncertainty in the air,” said Stephanie Brinley, associate director of auto intelligence at S&P Global Mobility. “It’s not an environment where you want to necessarily go gangbusters.” In the U.S., consumers can currently claim a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for certain new electric vehicles. Car manufacturers have also benefited from federal support for electric vehicle production and infrastructure. However, all of this may be at risk under President Trump. Automakers face a threat to EV sales: Slow charging times Trump has criticised the federal tax credit for electric vehicles during his presidential campaign, calling it part of a “green new scam” that would harm the auto industry. Nonetheless, the incoming administration is expected to push for wider deregulation of industries, which may benefit carmakers. Despite benefits for consumers and manufacturers, some large electric vehicle makers faced mixed results in 2024. Tesla saw a 1.1% drop in sales, marking its first annual sales decline in more than twelve years. Meanwhile, Rivian's deliveries rose by 2.9%. Tariffs also pose a threat to the industry. As production occurs globally, parts are imported and exported throughout the process. Trump has threatened to tax imports from Mexico, Canada, China, and other countries, potentially triggering retaliatory tariffs. China is the largest market for electric vehicles, followed by the U.S. Within the U.S., Tesla holds a dominant 50% market share. Automakers, like many industries, are adopting a wait-and-see approach to determine whether Trump will follow through on his threat to rescind tax credits and impose tariffs. The broader auto industry is proceeding cautiously. S&P Global Mobility forecasts a 1.6% decline in light vehicle production in 2024, followed by a further 0.4% drop in 2025. Administration ends antitrust probe of 4 automakers, Calif. This is attributed to automakers aligning production with demand. Overall, light vehicle sales are expected to increase by 1.7% in 2025. The ongoing shift to electric vehicles also contributes to more measured production. Companies such as Ford and General Motors are reallocating production capacity towards electric vehicles, sometimes at the expense of expanding overall capacity.

President-elect Donald Trump has raised more than $170 million for his upcoming inauguration, a record amount as tech executives and big donors have eagerly written large checks to help bankroll the ceremony. The private donations collected thus far were confirmed by a person with firsthand knowledge of the fundraising who was not authorized to speak publicly. The person said Trump's inaugural committee is expected to raise more than $200 million by the end of the effort. Trump's inaugural committee did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Wednesday. The committee has not yet detailed how it plans to spend the donations. The private donations are typically used to help pay for events surrounding the inauguration, such as costs related to the oath of office ceremony itself, along with a parade and glitzy inaugural balls. Money leftover from the inaugural committee is expected to be used toward a future Trump presidential library, according to the person. EU not to tolerate attacks within borders, France says amid Trump’s Greenland claim The whopping amount raised thus far by Trump's presidential inaugural committee is more than double the amount President Joe Biden raised four years ago when he brought in nearly $62 million for his inauguration, according to Federal Election Commission records. Donations to Trump's first inauguration in 2016 also set a record when he brought in nearly $107 million. After the former president's victory in November, along with Republicans winning control of both chambers of Congress, major donors, including tech companies, have been writing big checks as they've sought to improve their relationship with the incoming president. Amazon and Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said last month they were each planning to donate $1 million to Trump's inaugural fund. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman also said he was planning to make a $1 million personal donation. The New York Times first reported on Wednesday the fundraising sum for this month’s inauguration.

The European Union will not permit attacks on its sovereign territories, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot declared on Wednesday, following President-elect Donald Trump’s renewed insistence that the United States must bring Greenland under its control. Speaking in an interview with radio station France Inter, Barrot stressed the bloc’s commitment to defending its member states and territories, including Greenland, which is an autonomous Danish territory and an Overseas Country and Territory (OCT) associated with the EU. Trump Jr to visit Greenland after father’s interest in Danish territory “There is no question that the European Union would allow any nation in the world — and I would even emphasise, starting with Russia — to assault its sovereign borders,” Barrot said, as reported by CNBC. “We are a strong continent, and we must continue to strengthen ourselves.” Barrot dismissed the likelihood of a direct U.S. military invasion of Greenland but cautioned about the evolving global power dynamics. “If you’re asking me whether I think the United States will invade Greenland, the answer is no,” he explained. “But have we entered an era of survival of the fittest? The answer is yes.” Barrot’s remarks come ahead of a meeting between Greenland’s Prime Minister, Múte Egede, and Denmark’s King Frederik in Copenhagen. While no official agenda has been released, the meeting coincides with updates to the royal coat of arms to include symbols representing Greenland, signalling a renewed emphasis on the territory’s ties with Denmark. Trump’s Greenland Pursuit Resurfaces The controversy reignited after Donald Trump, on his Truth Social platform last month, reiterated that acquiring Greenland was vital for U.S. national and economic security. The proposal, first floated during his presidency in 2019, was dismissed outright by both Denmark and Greenland at the time. Trump reignites proposal for US-Canada 'merger' Trump’s comments have drawn fresh criticism from European leaders and Greenlandic officials. Prime Minister Egede reaffirmed Greenland’s stance, stating unequivocally last month, “We are not for sale.” Despite this, Trump’s rhetoric has intensified, with threats of economic pressure to achieve his goal. Adding fuel to the controversy, Donald Trump Jr. arrived in Greenland on Tuesday for what has been described as an “unofficial visit.” EU Reaffirms Territorial Integrity Barrot’s strong response highlights the EU’s commitment to safeguarding its associated territories. Greenland, though not an EU member, maintains close ties with the bloc through Denmark. Its strategic position and abundant natural resources have long made it a focal point of geopolitical interest. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau resigns in the face of internal, external pressure As global leaders convene in Copenhagen, the EU’s position remains steadfast: any attempt to compromise the sovereignty of its territories will be met with firm resistance. Whether Trump’s renewed claims over Greenland will escalate into a broader diplomatic standoff remains to be seen. Source: With inputs from CNBC

Fresh from pouring his money and energies into helping Donald Trump win re-election, Elon Musk has trained his sights on Europe, setting off alarm bells among politicians across the continent. The Tesla and SpaceX chief executive has endorsed the far-right Alternative for Germany, demanded the release of jailed UK anti-Islam extremist Tommy Robinson and called British Prime Minister Keir Starmer an evil tyrant who should be in prison. Many European politicians have been left concerned by the attention. Musk’s feed on his social network X is dotted with abusive language — labeling politicians “stupid cretin” and “sniveling cowards” — as well as retweets of far-right and anti-immigrant accounts. Andrew Chadwick, professor of political communication at Loughborough University, said Musk is using X “a bit like an old-style newspaper mogul,” to promulgate his political views. “We’ve seen Musk start to align himself much more obviously with an international movement of the far right,” Chadwick said. ”If you look at the kinds of people who Musk himself is boosting on his platform … he’s increasingly started to assemble a group of different right-wing influencers, many of them with large followings, and presenting their evidence as a basis for his interventions into European politics.” Musk has inserted himself into politics in Germany, which is headed for a Feb. 23 election after center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s fractious three-party coalition government collapsed. Elon Musk sparks speculation with name change on X; this is the name he chose On Dec. 20, Musk wrote on X: “Only the AfD can save Germany,” a reference to the Alternative for Germany party, which is under observation by the domestic intelligence agency for suspected extremism. He doubled down on support for the AfD in an article for the Welt am Sonntag newspaper, claiming Germany is “teetering on the edge of economic and cultural collapse.” Later this week Musk is due to hold a live chat on X with AfD co-leader Alice Weidel. Scholz’s response embodies the dilemma faced by European politicians — should they ignore and let Musk’s comments go unchallenged, or engage and risk amplifying them? Scholz has said it’s important to “stay cool” over personal attacks, but called Musk’s involvement in German politics worrying. In a new year message, Scholz pointedly noted that Germany’s way forward “will not be decided by the owners of social media channels” but by German voters. French President Emmanuel Macron warned Monday about the risks posed by unchecked power in the hands of tech billionaires and the destabilizing impact they could have on democratic institutions. “Who could have imagined, 10 years ago, that the owner of one of the world’s largest social networks would intervene directly in elections, including in Germany?” Macron said. Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis said Musk’s behavior was “troubling and far from amusing.” “Someone cannot simply use their platform, wealth and connections to try to dictate how governments are formed in each nation,” he told Parapolitika Radio. “This is becoming increasingly dangerous.” Musk has increasingly focused on British politics since the center-left Labour Party was elected in July, calling Starmer an “evil” leader presiding over a “tyrannical police state.” Musk’s recent focus is on child sexual abuse, particularly a series of cases that rocked northern England towns several years ago, in which groups of men, largely from Pakistani backgrounds, were tried for grooming and abusing dozens of mostly white girls. The cases have been used by far-right activists to link child abuse to immigration and Islam. Musk has accused Starmer of failing to bring perpetrators to justice when he was England’s director of public prosecutions between 2008 and 2013 — a charge Starmer strongly denies. “Starmer must go and he must face charges for his complicity in the worst mass crime in the history of Britain,” Musk tweeted. Chadwick said “there’s been a hesitancy on the part of the political elite in the U.K. to engage” with Musk’s “incredibly inflammatory remarks.” But Starmer changed tack Monday, condemning “lies and misinformation” and accusing U.K. Conservative politicians who have echoed some of Musk’s points of “amplifying what the far right are saying.” “I enjoy the cut and thrust of politics, the robust debate that we must have, but that’s got to be based on facts and truth, not on lies,” the prime minister said. Starmer is facing calls to tighten Britain’s laws on foreign interference, and governments around the world are under pressure to leave X. Both the U.K. and German governments say they have no plans to quit the platform. Elon Musk envisions ‘direct democracy’ for future ‘Mars Colony’ Musk’s X is under investigation by European authorities attempting to curb hatred, disinformation and other toxic content on social media. The European Union has launched infringement proceedings against X under the bloc’s Digital Services Act, and EU spokesman Thomas Regnier said it will look at whether Musk's livestream interview Thursday with the AfD's Weidel gives inappropriate “preferential treatment” to the party during a pre-election period. Musk, a self-styled free-speech advocate, is critical of efforts to regulate social media. He has compared British attempts to weed out online misinformation through the Online Safety Act to censorship in the Soviet Union. Musk clearly enjoys baiting mainstream politicians on social media, but Chadwick said it “remains to be seen” whether his posting changes public attitudes or helps the causes he champions. And the political interventions carry risk for him. His comments are being watched closely by Tesla investors for signs he could be turning off car buyers who don’t agree with his politics. Tesla is already struggling in Europe, where new registrations for Musk’s electronic vehicles fell 13% in the first nine months of 2023, according to auto researcher Jato Dynamics. In Germany, Tesla registrations dropped 44%. Jato senior analyst Felipe Munoz said that Musk's outspokenness is rare and risky for the owner of a publicly traded company — though it may pay off in the end. Elon Musk wants to turn SpaceX's Starbase site into Texas “Europe is going to (the) right,” he said, pointing to politicians including France’s Marine Le Pen and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. “Look at what happened in the US His bet on Trump worked. He is playing the same game in Europe.”

President-elect Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a $20 billion investment for data centers in the United States by an Emirati company led by billionaire Hussain Sajwani, a close business partner of the Trump family. The investment by DAMAC Properties in the United Arab Emirates is intended to highlight Trump's personal ability to attract new money for big projects. The announcement follows a pledge made last month by the Japanese billionaire investor Masayoshi Son, while at Trump's side, to invest $100 billion in the United States. Trump said at a news conference that he believed Sajwani made the commitment because “he was very inspired by the election and wouldn't do it without the election.” The president-elect emphasized his plans to get investments of $1 billion or more through the environmental regulatory review process quickly. Following Trump, Sajwani briefly joined the news conference and said: “It’s been amazing news for me and my family when he was elected in November.” Sajwani's promised investment feeds into an existing boom for constructing data centers used in the development of artificial intelligence and expansion of cryptocurrency, as well as in other elements of an increasingly digital economy that relies on having greater sources of computer processing power. Trump tries again to get Friday's hush money sentencing called off While Trump has sought to portray these announcements as a source of newfound energy in the U.S. economy, the $20 billion commitment is also a sign that wealthy investors close to Trump can profit off that relationship, given the already significant investment in new data centers. In October, the financial company Blackstone estimated that the U.S. would see $1 trillion invested in data centers over five years, with another $1 trillion being committed internationally. The commitment made by Sajwani could represent just 2% of the total expected domestic investment in the sector. Sajwani would gain data centers in the United States, which thus far have not been part of his company's EDGNEX data center portfolio. According to the company's website, it already has or plans to build data centers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Spain, Thailand and Indonesia. DAMAC Properties is one of the top private developers in the skyscraper-studded city-state in the United Arab Emirates. The property developer has been a Trump partner. Under Sajwani, DAMAC built the Trump International Golf Club at a massive development in the city’s desert outskirts just before Trump first entered the White House. DAMAC also paid a licensing fee worth millions back to the Trump Organization, following a pattern the president-elect's company has used in developments both in the U.S. and abroad. There had been plans for another DAMAC development further in the desert that would have a Trump-named golf course. However, DAMAC later dropped plans for the golf course at the development. Also, discussions for a promised $2 billion in deals between DAMAC and the Trump Organization after his first electoral win in 2016 never materialized. Sajwani has said that Trump's initial election to the presidency helped increase the profile of his company. Since Trump’s re-election in November, Sajwani has been seen at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. He posted a picture standing between a seated Trump and billionaire Elon Musk at a New Year’s Eve celebration. However, the Trump Organization since has been involved with Dar Global, a Saudi-funded real estate firm that’s building a Trump-branded golf course in Oman and Trump projects in Saudi Arabia. There are plans for a Trump Tower in Dubai as well, though previous plans for a Trump Tower on Dubai’s man-made Palm Jumeirah archipelago fell apart during the city’s financial crisis that began in 2008.

President-elect Donald Trump tried again Tuesday to delay this week’s sentencing in his hush money case, asking a New York appeals court to intervene as he fights to avoid the finality of his conviction before he returns to the White House. Trump turned to the Appellate Division of the state's trial court a day after the trial judge, Judge Juan M Merchan, rebuffed his bid to indefinitely postpone sentencing and ordered it to go ahead as scheduled on Friday. Trump is seeking an immediate stay that would spare him from being sentenced while he appeals Merchan's decision last week to uphold the historic verdict. Oral arguments were expected before a single judge later Tuesday, with a decision likely soon thereafter. The scheduling drama is playing out less than two weeks before his inauguration. Trump is poised to be the first president to take office convicted of crimes. If Trump's sentencing doesn't happen before his second term starts January 20, it may have to wait until he leaves office in 2029 because of the widely held belief, endorsed by Merchan, that a sitting president is immune from criminal proceedings. Merchan has signaled that he is not likely to punish Trump for his conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records and will accommodate his transition by allowing him to appear at sentencing by video, rather than in person at a Manhattan courthouse. Still, the Republican and his lawyers contend that his sentencing should not go forward because the conviction and indictment should be dismissed. They have previously suggested taking the case all the way to the US Supreme Court. Trump reignites proposal for US-Canada 'merger' Merchan “is without authority under the law to proceed to sentencing while President Trump exercises his federal constitutional right to challenge these rulings,” Trump's lawyers Todd Blanche and Emil Bove wrote in a filing with the Appellate Division. Last Friday, Merchan denied Trump’s bid to throw out his conviction and dismiss the case because of his impending return to the White House. He previously refused to toss the case on presidential immunity grounds. Trump’s lawyers are challenging both rulings. Merchan wrote that the interests of justice would only be served by “bringing finality to this matter” through sentencing. He said giving Trump what’s known as an unconditional discharge — closing the case without jail time, a fine or probation — “appears to be the most viable solution.” Manhattan prosecutors have pushed for sentencing to proceed as scheduled, “given the strong public interest in prompt prosecution and the finality of criminal proceedings.” The charges involved an alleged scheme to hide a hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels in the last weeks of Trump’s 2016 campaign to keep her from publicizing claims she’d had sex with him years earlier. He says that her story is false and that he did nothing wrong. The case centered on how Trump accounted for reimbursing his then-personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who had made the payment to Daniels. The conviction carried the possibility of punishment ranging from a fine or probation to up to four years in prison. Trump’s sentencing initially was set for last July 11, then postponed twice at the defense’s request. After Trump’s November 5 election, Merchan delayed the sentencing again so the defense and prosecution could weigh in on the future of the case.

In a provocative statement just hours after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his resignation, US President-elect Donald Trump has once again proposed making Canada the 51st state of the United States. Trump, 78, revived the controversial offer following Trudeau's resignation on Monday, which came amid mounting pressure from his ruling Liberal Party due to his dwindling popularity. Trudeau, 53, stated he would remain in office until a new party leader was selected. General elections are set for later this year. Biden bans new offshore drilling in federal waters This is not the first time Trump has suggested a "merger" between the two nations. Since his meeting with Trudeau after his November 5 electoral victory at his Mar-a-Lago estate, Trump has repeatedly floated the idea. His most recent remarks, shared on Truth Social, came after the Canadian Prime Minister's resignation. “Many people in Canada LOVE being the 51st State. The United States can no longer suffer the massive trade deficits and subsidies that Canada needs to stay afloat. Justin Trudeau knew this, and resigned,” Trump posted. The President-elect further elaborated on the potential benefits of such a union: “If Canada merged with the US, there would be no tariffs, taxes would go way down, and they would be TOTALLY SECURE from the threat of the Russian and Chinese ships that are constantly surrounding them. Together, what a great nation it would be!!!” Trump's remarks have raised eyebrows internationally, but there has yet to be any official response from Canadian authorities. Trump appears with Italian Prime Minister Meloni at his Florida club The proposal also follows Trump's previous threats of imposing a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian imports if the Canadian government fails to curb the flow of illicit drugs and illegal migrants from its southern border with the US. As the situation in Canada continues to evolve following Trudeau's resignation, the prospect of Trump's offer to absorb the country into the US remains a controversial and unlikely topic of discussion. Source: With inputs from PTI