Amazon is planning to donate $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund, a move that comes as major tech companies seek to improve their relationship with the incoming president. A company spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening that the e-commerce giant will also stream Trump's inauguration on its Prime Video service, a separate in-kind donation worth another $1 million. How to secure communications with encryption Earlier in the day, Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. Amazon's plans — first reported by The Wall Street Journal — came after Trump said Thursday morning that the company's founder, Jeff Bezos, was planning to visit him in person next week. The two men had feuded in the past. During his first term, Trump criticized Amazon and railed against the political coverage at The Washington Post, which Bezos owns. Top 10 Best Gaming Monitors Released in 2024 Meanwhile, Bezos had criticized some of Trump's past rhetoric. In 2019, Amazon also argued in a court case that Trump’s bias against the company harmed its chances of winning a $10 billion Pentagon contract. The Biden administration later pursued a contract with both Amazon and Microsoft. More recently, Bezos has struck a more conciliatory tone. Last week, he said at The New York Times' DealBook Summit in New York that he was “optimistic” about Trump’s second term while also endorsing president-elect's plans to cut regulations. In October, Bezos did not allow the Post to endorse a presidential candidate, a move that led to tens of thousands of people canceling their subscriptions and to protests from journalists with a deep history at the newspaper. At the time, Bezos wrote in an op-ed in the newspaper that editorial endorsements create a perception of bias at a time when many Americans don’t believe the media. Separately, the donation from Meta, which was also first reported by the Journal, came just weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the offering Thursday. Meta donates $1m to Trump's inauguration fund Stephen Miller, who has been appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump’s second term, has said that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, wants to support Trump’s economic plans. The tech CEO has been seeking to change his company’s perception on the right following a rocky relationship with Trump. Trump was kicked off Facebook following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The company restored his account in early 2023. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president, but he has voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly during the campaign. In July, he posted a message on his own Truth Social platform threatening to send election fraudsters to prison in part by citing a nickname he used for the Meta CEO. “ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!” Trump wrote. Corporations have traditionally made up a large share of donors to presidential inaugurals, with an exception in 2009, when then-President-elect Barack Obama refused to accept corporate donations. He reversed course for his second inaugural in 2013. Facebook did not donate to either Biden's 2021 inaugural or Trump’s 2017 inaugural. Google donated $285,000 each to Trump's first inaugural and Biden’s inaugural, according to Federal Election Commission records. Inaugural committees are required to disclose the source of their fundraising, but not how they spend the money. Microsoft gave $1 million to Obama’s second inaugural, but only $500,000 to Trump in 2017 and Biden in 2021. Amazon had donated roughly $58,000 to Trump's 2017 inaugural, much lower than than $1 million it now plans to donate. The company also streamed Biden's inauguration on Prime Video in 2021.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, said it has donated $1 million to President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration fund. The donation comes just weeks after Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg met with Trump privately at Mar-a-Lago, a Meta spokesperson confirmed the offering Thursday. Stephen Miller, who has been appointed deputy chief of staff for Trump’s second term, has said that Zuckerberg, like other business leaders, wants to support Trump’s economic plans. The tech CEO has been seeking to change his company’s perception on the right following a rocky relationship with Trump. Trump was kicked off Facebook following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The company restored his account in early 2023. During the 2024 campaign, Zuckerberg did not endorse a candidate for president but has voiced a more positive stance toward Trump. Earlier this year, he praised Trump’s response to his first assassination attempt. Still, Trump had continued to attack Zuckerberg publicly during the campaign. In July, he posted a message on his own social network Truth Social threatening to send election fraudsters to prison in part by citing a nickname he used for the Meta CEO. “ZUCKERBUCKS, be careful!” Trump wrote. Trump named Time Person of the Year 2024 Corporations have traditionally made up a large share of donors to presidential inaugurals, with an exception in 2009, when then-President-elect Barack Obama refused to accept corporate donations. He reversed course for his second inaugural in 2013. Facebook did not donate to either Biden's 2021 inaugural or Trump’s 2017 inaugural. Google donated $285,000 each to Trump first inaugural and Biden’s inaugural, according to Federal Election Commission records. Inaugural committees are required to disclose the source of their fundraising, but not how they spend the money. Microsoft gave $1 million to Obama’s second inaugural, but only $500,000 to Trump in 2017 and Biden in 2021.  

President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Kari Lake, a vocal supporter and former Arizona gubernatorial and Senate candidate, as the new director of Voice of America (VOA). The congressionally funded broadcaster is tasked with delivering impartial news to global audiences. Lake, a former Phoenix TV news anchor who left her role in 2021 after controversies surrounding her social media posts and COVID-19 misinformation, emerged as a prominent political figure. Known for her sharp criticisms of mainstream media and alignment with Trump’s rhetoric, she gained national attention despite unsuccessful bids for public office. Biden approves National Security Memo to assist Trump on key global issues Trump announced that Lake would collaborate closely with the U.S. Agency for Global Media, which oversees VOA, to promote “American values of Freedom and Liberty” worldwide. He emphasized Lake’s role in ensuring fair and accurate broadcasting, contrasting it with what he has previously labeled as “fake news.” VOA, established during World War II, has faced criticism from Trump in the past, including accusations of bias and unfavorable reporting on the U.S. Trump’s remarks particularly targeted VOA's coverage of the early COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, which the White House criticized during his first term. US keen to support Syrian leaders on conditions Lake has been unwavering in her support for Trump, including promoting unfounded claims of election fraud. Despite losing her Arizona gubernatorial bid and more recently her Senate race, Lake’s loyalty has kept her in Trump’s favor. She has written about her political journey and legal challenges in her book, Unafraid: Just Getting Started. In related announcements, Trump named Leandro Rizzuto as ambassador to the Organization of American States, Dan Newlin as ambassador to Colombia, and Peter Lamelas as ambassador to Argentina. All appointees are notable Trump supporters or significant Republican donors.

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday said Americans “are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive" and said he will retaliate if Donald Trump goes ahead with them. Speaking at an event put on by the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, Trudeau also said dealing with Trump will be “a little more challenging” than the last time because Trump’s team is coming in with a much clearer set of ideas of what they want to do right away than after his first election win in 2016. Trudeau, opposition leaders to discuss US ties amid Trump tariff threat The U.S. president-elect has threatened to impose a 25% tax on all products entering the U.S. from Canada and Mexico unless they stem the flow of migrants and drugs. “Trump got elected on a commitment to make life better and more affordable for Americans, and I think people south of the border are beginning to wake up to the real reality that tariffs on everything from Canada would make life a lot more expensive," Trudeau said. On the weekend, Trump appeared in an interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press,” where the president-elect said he can’t guarantee that his promised tariffs on key U.S. foreign trade partners won’t raise prices for American consumers. “Let’s not kid ourselves in any way, shape or form, 25% tariffs on everything going to the United States would be devastating for the Canadian economy," Trudeau said. “It would also, however, mean real hardship for Americans as well. Americans import 65% of their crude oil from Canada, significant amounts of electricity. Just about all the natural gas exported from Canada goes to the United States. They rely on us for steel and aluminum. They rely on us for a range of agriculture imports. All of those things would get more expensive.” If Trump makes good on his threat to slap 25% tariffs on everything imported from Mexico and Canada, the price increases that could follow will collide with his campaign promise to give American families a break from inflation. Economists say companies would have little choice but to pass along the added costs, dramatically raising prices for food, clothing, automobiles, alcohol and other goods. Canada's Trudeau revives a Cabinet-level panel to address concerns about a Trump presidency The Produce Distributors Association, a Washington trade group, has said tariffs will raise prices for fresh fruit and vegetables and hurt U.S. farmers when the countries retaliate. “We will of course, as we did eight years ago, respond to unfair tariffs,” Trudeau said. Trudeau said his government is still mulling over “the right ways” to respond, referencing when Canada put billions of new duties in 2018 against the U.S. in a tit-for-tat response to new taxes on Canadian steel and aluminum. Many of the U.S. products were chosen for their political rather than economic impact. For example, Canada imports just $3 million worth of yogurt from the U.S. annually and most of it comes from one plant in Wisconsin, the home state of then-Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan. That product was hit with a 10% duty. “It was the fact that we put tariffs on bourbon and Harley-Davidsons and playing cards and Heinz ketchup and cherries and a number of other things that were very carefully targeted because they were politically impactful to the president’s party and colleagues,” Trudeau said. Trudeau said when Trump says things he means them but they also know Trump is trying to insert uncertainty and “a bit of chaos” into democracies. “One of the most important things for us to do is not freak out, not to panic,” Trudeau said. “Knowing these would be absolutely devastating means we have to take them seriously but it does mean we have to be thoughtful and strategic and not going around making our opponents arguments for him but making our arguments in a significant and united way." Canadian officials have said it is unfair to lump Canada in with Mexico. U.S. customs agents seized 43 pounds of fentanyl at the Canadian border last fiscal year, compared with 21,100 pounds at the Mexican border. Most of the fentanyl reaching the U.S. — where it causes about 70,000 overdose deaths annually — is made by Mexican drug cartels using precursor chemicals smuggled from Asia. On immigration, the U.S. Border Patrol reported 1.53 million encounters with irregular migrants at the southwest border with Mexico between October 2023 and September 2024. That compares to 23,721 encounters at the Canadian border during that time. Trump has also claimed the U.S. is “subsidizing Canada to the tune of over $100 billion a year." On America’s trade deficit Canada’s ambassador to Washington, Kirsten Hillman, told the AP U.S. had a $75 billion trade deficit with Canada last year but noted a third of what Canada sells into the U.S. are energy exports and prices have been high. About 60% of U.S. crude oil imports are from Canada, and 85% of U.S. electricity imports as well. Canada is also the largest foreign supplier of steel, aluminum and uranium to the U.S. and has 34 critical minerals and metals that the Pentagon is eager for and investing for national security. Nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border each day. Canada is the top export destination for 36 U.S. states.

Bangladesh has reiterated that there will be no major change in Dhaka-Washington relations with US President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House next month. "If we review our long five-decade relationship, it is easy to understand that their foreign policy and strategic positions and national goals have remained largely unchanged even though the ruling party has changed," Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mohammad Rafiqul Alam told reporters on Thursday. Responding to a question at the weekly media briefing, he stressed that the possibility of contradictions on issues of mutual interest between the two countries is "slim" and noted that they had worked with the previous Trump administration, too. Rafiqul Alam, who is also Director General of the Public Diplomacy wing, said the bilateral relationship with the United States is long and multifaceted. President Shahabuddin seeks Malaysian investment "The United States is one of our largest trade and investment partners," Rafiqul Alam said, adding that there are many issues of mutual interest between the two countries. Over the past five decades, Bangladesh has worked with governments under both Democratic and Republican parties. Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain recently said they do not need to speculate and it would not be right to think that there will be any big change in the relationship with the Trump Administration. Trump secured a second term in the White House after winning the US presidential election on November 5, marking a significant comeback following his loss to President Joe Biden in the 2020 election.

Bitcoin has surpassed the $100,000 milestone as its value continues to surge, spurred by the election of Donald Trump and his crypto-friendly policies. This development follows Trump’s announcement of plans to nominate cryptocurrency advocate Paul Atkins as the next chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), signaling a shift toward lighter regulation in the industry. The cryptocurrency’s meteoric rise began on Election Day, climbing from $69,374 to a peak of $103,713, according to CoinDesk data. This rally comes just two years after Bitcoin plummeted below $17,000 following the collapse of the FTX exchange. However, its sustainability at the $100,000 mark remains uncertain, as the price briefly dipped to under $102,000 on Thursday. FBI urges telecom firms to enhance security after chinese hacking campaign Cryptocurrency Basics Cryptocurrencies are digital currencies that operate on decentralized networks, typically without backing from governments or banks. Bitcoin, the first and largest cryptocurrency, is recorded on a blockchain and is known for its high volatility. Other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum, Tether, and Dogecoin have also gained popularity, though traditional fiat currencies dominate daily transactions. Factors Behind Bitcoin’s Surge Trump’s election win has played a significant role in Bitcoin’s recent performance. The President-elect has pledged to make the U.S. a global hub for cryptocurrency and establish a “strategic reserve” of Bitcoin. His campaign embraced cryptocurrency donations, and he has launched a family venture for crypto trading. The crypto community has welcomed Trump’s victory, anticipating regulatory reforms that could bring legitimacy while reducing red tape. His choice of Paul Atkins, known for opposing heavy market regulation, to lead the SEC aligns with these expectations. This marks a departure from the outgoing SEC chair Gary Gensler’s stricter regulatory approach, which faced criticism from industry stakeholders despite approving spot Bitcoin ETFs earlier this year. Risks and Challenges Cryptocurrency remains a high-risk investment due to its volatility. Bitcoin's history includes dramatic price swings, such as its rise to nearly $69,000 in 2021 before crashing below $17,000 amid rate hikes and the FTX collapse. While investor interest has rebounded, experts urge caution, particularly for those with limited resources. The anticipated lighter regulations under Trump may also reduce protective measures. Generative AI product user base in China reaches 230mln Environmental Concerns Bitcoin mining is energy-intensive and has drawn criticism for its environmental impact. Research indicates that mining emissions in 2020-2021 equaled those from burning 84 billion pounds of coal. While the industry has gradually shifted toward cleaner energy, fossil fuels still dominate its electricity supply. The future of Bitcoin remains uncertain, with potential for further gains or losses, but its recent surge highlights the growing influence of political and regulatory factors on the crypto market.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte led a fresh push Wednesday for European countries to ramp up defense spending, a budget shortfall that President-elect Donald Trump used to berate US allies during his first term in office, severely damaging trust. After Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula a decade ago, NATO leaders agreed to halt the defense cuts that began when the Cold War ended and move toward spending two percent of GDP on their military budgets. Since Russia launched its full-fledged invasion almost three years ago, the leaders have agreed that the two percent target should be the floor rather than the ceiling for defense spending. On average, US allies combined meet that figure, but around a third of the members still do not individually. There is 'no consensus' on inviting Ukraine to join NATO: Hungarian official Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, threatened not to defend “delinquent” countries. NATO is founded on the principle that an attack on any member must be considered an attack on them all. Trump’s remarks undermined confidence that the US could be counted on in a crisis. “If you want to keep the deterrence at the present level, two percent is not enough,” Rutte told reporters after chairing a meeting of NATO foreign ministers in Brussels. “We can now defend ourselves and nobody should try to attack us. But I want that to stay the same in 4 or 5 years.” In July, US President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts endorsed the biggest shakeup of the way the military alliance would respond to any attack on its territory by Russia since the Cold War. It was meant to deter Moscow from targeting any of the 32 allies. Under highly secret new plans, NATO intends to have up to 300,000 troops ready to move to its eastern flank within 30 days. The plans lay out which allies would respond to an attack anywhere from the Arctic and Baltic Sea region through the Atlantic and east to the Black Sea. But senior NATO officials concede that countries might have to spend up to three percent of GDP to execute the security blueprint successfully. A new spending target is likely to be announced next year. Rutte also said NATO might set specific targets for member countries to fill military equipment gaps. American top court weighs Tennessee’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy insisted that “the time to act is now.” “We’re living in very dangerous times,” he said, singling out Russia and its role in conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, on top of its war on Ukraine. “We urge all allies across the NATO family to get serious about defense spending.” On his last visit to Brussels for a NATO meeting, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that “this is a time for every ally to lean in, not lean back.” The United States is by far the organization's most powerful member country. “A stronger NATO means more capabilities to deter aggression, more effective allies to meet more complex challenges, and the peace and stability that allows our people to pursue fuller lives,” Blinken said. Rutte also underlined the importance of expanding Europe’s defense industry, with incentives to drive companies to set up more production lines and hire more workers to staff them, as Western support for Ukraine drains armament stocks. “We are producing not enough at too high prices, and the delivery is too slow,” he said. “We cannot have a situation where we just pay more for the same, and we see large kickbacks to the shareholders.” Rutte urged the allies “to work closely together to make sure that we produce at a much higher rate and acceptable prices.” He noted “a number of countries who are now buying South Korean (equipment) because our own defense companies are not producing at a rate we need.”  

As the United States braces for Donald Trump to assume office as the 47th President in January, several top universities have issued advisories urging international students, particularly those from India, to return to the country before the inauguration. Concerns over potential travel bans have fuelled uncertainty amongst students and professionals studying and working in the US. President-elect Trump, who will take the oath of office on 20 January, has outlined plans to implement sweeping executive orders on his first day, targeting immigration and economic policies. These announcements have reignited fears reminiscent of his first term in 2017, when nationals from seven predominantly Muslim countries faced immediate travel restrictions. The University of Massachusetts Amherst has released a detailed advisory urging its international students and staff to consider returning to the US before 20 January. “Given that a new presidential administration can enact policies on their first day in office and based on previous experience with travel bans in 2017, this advisory is made out of an abundance of caution,” the university stated. Similarly, Wesleyan University’s Office of International Student Affairs (OISA) has issued guidance, advising students to avoid being outside the country during the transition period. According to The Wesleyan Argus, the office’s email read: “The safest way to avoid difficulty re-entering the country is to be physically present in the US on 19 January and the days thereafter.” At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Associate Dean David Elwell cautioned international students about the risks of travel during this period, citing potential visa processing delays and policy unpredictability. “With every election, there can be changes in policies, regulations, and legislation that impact higher education as well as immigration and visa status matters,” he wrote in a recent post. These warnings have particularly resonated with Indian students, many of whom vividly recall the disruptions caused by Trump’s 2017 executive order. That ban not only sparked protests across the US but also affected thousands of students and professionals, raising significant concerns about the inclusivity of American immigration policies. In response to these anxieties, universities are taking proactive measures to support their international students. Yale University recently hosted a webinar to address concerns about potential immigration policy changes. Other institutions have signalled their readiness to challenge any policies that may disrupt the academic ecosystem. North Korea's Kim vows steadfast support for Russia’s war in Ukraine India’s Ministry of External Affairs has yet to issue a formal advisory but has urged Indian nationals in the US to remain vigilant and stay updated on travel regulations. The US remains a top destination for Indian students pursuing higher education, with India surpassing China in 2023-2024 to become the leading country of origin for international students. According to the Open Doors 2024 Report on International Educational Exchange, 331,602 Indian students were enrolled in American institutions, marking a 23 per cent increase from the previous year. This demographic now represents a vital component of the US academic and cultural landscape. As the date of the presidential inauguration approaches, the international student community continues to navigate this period of uncertainty with a mix of caution and resilience. Source: With inputs from Indian media  

Donald Trump has big plans for the economy — and a big debt problem that will be a hurdle to delivering on them. Trump has bold ideas on tax cuts, tariffs and other programs, but high interest rates and the price of repaying the federal government’s existing debt could limit what he’s able to do. Not only is the federal debt at roughly $36 trillion, but the spike in inflation after the coronavirus pandemic has pushed up the government's borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. The higher cost of servicing the debt gives Trump less room to maneuver with the federal budget as he seeks income tax cuts. It's also a political challenge because higher interest rates have made it costlier for many Americans to buy a home or new automobile. And the issue of high costs helped Trump reclaim the presidency in November's election. “It's clear the current amount of debt is putting upward pressure on interest rates, including mortgage rates for instance," said Shai Akabas, executive director of the economic policy program at the Bipartisan Policy Center. “The cost of housing and groceries is going to be increasingly felt by households in a way that are going to adversely affect our economic prospects in the future.” Akabas stressed that the debt service is already starting to crowd out government spending on basic needs such as infrastructure and education. About 1 in 5 dollars spent by the government are now repaying investors for borrowed money, instead of enabling investments in future economic growth. It's an issue on Trump's radar. In his statement on choosing billionaire investor Scott Bessent to be his treasury secretary, the Republican president-elect said Bessent would “help curb the unsustainable path of Federal Debt.” The debt service costs along with the higher total debt complicate Trump's efforts to renew his 2017 tax cuts, much of which are set to expire after next year. The higher debt from those tax cuts could push interest rates higher, making debt service even costlier and minimizing any benefits the tax cuts could produce for growth. “Clearly, it's irresponsible to run back the same tax cuts after the deficit has tripled,” said Brian Riedl, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a former Republican congressional aide. “Even congressional Republicans behind the scenes are looking for ways to scale down the president’s ambitions.” Democrats and many economists say Trump's income tax cuts disproportionately benefit the wealthy, which deprives the government of revenues needed for programs for the middle class and poor. NATO head and Trump meet in Florida for talks on global security "The president-elect’s tax policy ideas will increase the deficit because they will decrease taxes for those with the highest ability to pay, such as the corporations whose tax rate he’s proposed reducing even further to 15%,” said Jessica Fulton, vice president of policy at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, a Washington-based think tank that deals with issues facing communities of color. Trump's team insists he can make the math work. “The American people re-elected President Trump by a resounding margin giving him a mandate to implement the promises he made on the campaign trail, including lowering prices. He will deliver,” said Karoline Leavitt, the Trump transition spokeswoman. When Trump was last in the White House in 2020, the federal government was spending $345 billion annually to service the national debt. It was possible to run up the national debt with tax cuts and pandemic aid because the average interest rate was low, such that repayment costs were manageable even as debt levels climbed. Congressional Budget Office projections indicate that debt service costs next year could exceed $1 trillion. That's more than projected spending on defense. The total is also greater than nondefense spending on infrastructure, food aid and other programs under the direction of Congress. What fueled the increased cost of servicing the debt has been higher interest rates. In April 2020, when the government was borrowing trillions of dollars to address the pandemic, the yield on 10-year Treasury notes fell as low as 0.6%. They're now 4.4%, having increasing since September as investors expect Trump to add several trillions of dollars onto projected deficits with his income tax cuts. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor Democratic President Joe Biden can point to strong economic growth and successfully avoiding a recession as the Federal Reserve sought to bring down inflation. Still, deficits ran at unusually high levels during his term. That's due in part to his own initiatives to boost manufacturing and address climate change, and to the legacy of Trump's previous tax cuts. People in Trump's orbit, as well as Republican lawmakers, are already scouting out ways to reduce government spending in order to minimize the debt and bring down interest rates. They have attacked Biden for the deficits and inflation, setting the stage for whether they can persuade Trump to take action. Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the wealthy businessmen leading Trump's efforts to cut government costs, have proposed that the incoming administration should simply refuse to spend some of the money approved by Congress. It's an idea that Trump has also backed, but one that would likely provoke challenges in court as it would undermine congressional authority. Russell Vought, the White House budget director during Trump's first term and Trump's choice to lead it again, put out an alternative proposed budget for 2023 with more than $11 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years in order to potentially generate a surplus. Michael Faulkender, a finance professor who served in Trump's Treasury Department, told a congressional committee in March that all the energy and environmental components of Biden's Inflation Reduction Act from 2022 should be repealed to reduce deficits. Trump has also talked up tariffs on imports to generate revenues and reduce deficits, while some Republican lawmakers such as House Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington, R-Texas, have discussed adding work requirements to trim Medicaid expenses. The White House was last pressured by high rates to address debt service costs roughly three decades ago during the start of Democrat Bill Clinton's presidency. Higher yields on the 10-year Treasury notes led Clinton and Congress to reach an agreement on deficit reduction, ultimately producing a budget surplus starting in 1998. Clinton political adviser James Carville joked at the time about how bond investors pushing up borrowing rates for the U.S. government could humble the commander in chief. “I used to think that if there was reincarnation, I wanted to come back as the president or the pope or as a .400 baseball hitter," Carville said. "But now I would like to come back as the bond market. You can intimidate everybody.”  

Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus is "confident" that he can find "common ground" with President-elect Donald Trump despite their divergent worldviews, reports TIME Magazine. “Trump is a businessman; we are in business,” TIME quoted Prof Yunus as saying.  “We are not asking for free money to help us out of some crisis; we want a business partner,” he said. Reassuring global firms that Bangladesh remains open for business with a top priority, he said still the glacial pace of reform means doubts fester, according to the TIME. On October 31, Trump posted on X to condemn the “barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians, and other minorities who are getting attacked and looted by mobs in Bangladesh, which remains in a total state of chaos.” Compounding matters, Prof Yunus has his own baggage with Trump, owing to his close friendship with Hillary Clinton, publicly lamenting her 2016 election defeat: “Trump’s win has hit us so hard that this morning I could hardly speak. I lost all strength.” As protesters encircled her official residence in Dhaka, former PM Sheikh Hasina fled in a military helicopter to India, where she and her cabal of key advisers continued to rail against her ouster. Prof Yunus revealed that he would be seeking Hasina’s extradition after prosecutors issued a warrant for her part in the violence, though few believe Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would comply.  “Not only is she being hosted by India, the worst part is that she’s talking, which causes a lot of problems for us. It makes people very unhappy to hear that voice. So, this is something that we have to resolve,” Yunus said. Prof Yunus tells TIME that the young minds are full of ideas and ambitions and aspirations. "They depicted their future in those murals, and it’s something much greater than Bangladesh has ever seen.”