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The Trump administration is once again targeting California's controversial high-speed rail project, with federal transportation officials on Thursday announcing an investigation and possible withdrawal of about $4 billion in federal funding. Voters first approved $10 billion in bond money in 2008 for a project designed to shuttle riders between San Francisco and Los Angeles in less than three hours. It was slated to cost $33 billion and be finished by 2020. But the project has been beset by funding challenges, cost overruns and delays. Now, state officials are focused on a 171-mile (275-kilometer) stretch connecting the Central Valley cities of Bakersfield and Merced, which is set to be operating by 2033. The entire San Francisco to Los Angeles line will now cost an estimated $106 billion to finish and officials hope to complete it in the next 20 years if there is money. “I am directing my staff to review and determine whether the (California High-Speed Rail Authority) has followed through on the commitments it made to receive billions of dollars in federal funding. If not, I will have to consider whether that money could be given to deserving infrastructure projects elsewhere in the United States,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said at a news conference in Los Angeles. President Donald Trump cancelled nearly $1 billion in federal funding for the high-speed rail project in 2019, during his first term. The Biden administration later restored the funding and, in December 2023, allocated $3.3 billion more. Losing that money would be a major blow to the project. The rail authority's most recent business plan counts on receiving up to $8 billion in federal money to help close a funding gap. Ian Choudri, CEO of the California’s High-Speed Rail Authority, which oversees planning and funding for the project, said he welcomes the investigation. “With multiple independent federal and state audits completed, every dollar is accounted for, and we stand by the progress and impact of this project,” Choudri said. He said the project has created nearly 15,000 jobs and that more than 50 major structures have been completed so far. Several Republican Congress members have taken aim at the project over its costs. On Thursday, Republican Rep. Kevin Kiley, who represents 3rd Congressional District that stretches alongside much of the state’s border with Nevada and includes Sacramento’s northeastern suburbs, called the California high-speed rail “the worst public infrastructure failure in U.S. history.” Apple unveils a souped-up and more expensive version of its lowest priced iPhone "There is no plausible scenario where the cost to federal or state taxpayers can be justified. It is past time to stop throwing good money after bad, and we must formally end this project,” said Kiley, who introduced a bill earlier this year to make the project ineligible for further federal funding. Kiley joined Duffy in Los Angeles' Union Station for the announcement of the probe. Those present were interrupted at times by booing by about 30 demonstrators. The protesters also chanted “build the rail!” and held up signs that read “CA has no king” and “Don’t delay our train.” Eli Lipmen, executive director of Move LA, an organization that advocates for efficient public transit systems, said the high-speed train project remains popular among many Californians. “They said they’re going to start an investigation, but come on, this is a sham investigation,” Lipmen, who was at Union Station during the announcement, told KABC-TV. Greg Regan and Shari Semelsberger, president and secretary-treasurer of the Transportation Trades Department coalition that includes all the country's rail unions, said the project is the most ambitious and innovative transportation project in the country and urged Trump to become “a Builder-in-Chief by bringing high-speed rail to America.” “Building ambitious projects requires bold leadership and a commitment to getting the job done. Just last year, President Trump complained that the United States does not have bullet trains similar to Japan. We agree with him that it is past time for our country to have these kinds of modern, efficient, high-capacity transportation systems," they said in a statement.

New FBI Director Kash Patel has told senior officials that he plans to relocate up to 1,000 employees from Washington to field offices around the country and move an additional 500 to a bureau facility in Huntsville, Alabama, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions. The plans were communicated Friday, the same day Patel was sworn in at the White House, and are in keeping with his oft-stated vision of reducing the size of the FBI’s footprint in Washington and having more of a presence in offices in other cities. “Director Patel has made clear his promise to the American public that FBI agents will be in communities focused on combatting violent crime. He has directed FBI leadership to implement a plan to put this promise into action,” the FBI said in a statement that did not provide any specifics. The person who discussed Patel’s vision did so on condition of anonymity to describe plans that have not been made public. Patel was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday by a 51-49 margin, with two Republican lawmakers, Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, breaking party ranks and voting against him. US Senate moves forward on confirming Kash Patel as FBI director At his swearing-in ceremony, Patel called the opportunity to lead the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency the “greatest honor” of his life. “I think he’ll go down as the best ever at that position,” President Donald Trump told reporters Friday ahead of the ceremony, which was conducted by Attorney General Pam Bondi and attended by Republican supporters in Congress, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio. Trump added that the "agents love this guy." Patel will inherit an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department over the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents who participated in investigations related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Democrats had for weeks sounded the alarm about the appointment, saying they fear Patel will operate as a loyalist for Trump and abuse the FBI's law enforcement powers to go after the president's adversaries. They've cited past comments, such as his suggestion before he was nominated that he would “come after” anti-Trump “conspirators” in the government and media. Patel sought to assuage those concerns at his confirmation hearing last month, saying he intended to follow the Constitution and had no interest in pursuing retribution, though he also said at his swearing-in Friday that reporters had written “fake, malicious, slanderous and defamatory” stories about him. Meanwhile, Republicans angry over what they see as law enforcement bias against conservatives during the Democratic Biden administration, as well as criminal investigations into Trump, have rallied behind Patel as the right person for the job. Patel has repeatedly spoken of his desire to implement major changes at the FBI. That includes a smaller presence in Washington — he once said he thought the decades-old FBI headquarters in Washington should be closed down and reopened as a “museum of the deep state” — and a renewed emphasis on the bureau’s traditional crime-fighting duties rather than the intelligence-gathering work that has come to define its mandate over the past two decades as national security threats have proliferated. Trump supports giving Americans part of DOGE savings as dividends He said Friday that the FBI's “national security mission” was equally important as its efforts to fight violent crime and drug overdoses. “Anyone that wishes to do harm to our way of life and our citizens, here and abroad, will face the full wrath of the DOJ and FBI," Patel said. "If you seek to hide in any corner of this country or planet, we will put on the world’s largest manhunt and we will find you and we will decide your end-state.” A former Justice Department counterterrorism prosecutor, Patel was selected in November to replace Christopher Wray, who was picked by Trump in 2017 and who resigned at the conclusion of the Biden administration to make way for his chosen successor.

An engineering company said Friday it has agreed to pay $53 million to settle all remaining lawsuits that alleged some blame for lead-contaminated water in Flint, Michigan, a decade ago. The deal by Veolia North America and Flint residents comes on top of $26.3 million in previous settlements with the company, and $626 million from the state of Michigan and other parties. Veolia has denied responsibility for the contamination and repeatedly noted that it was briefly hired by Flint as a consultant months after the city began pulling water from the Flint River in 2014. The water was not treated to reduce corrosion, causing lead to leach from old pipes. Critics claimed Veolia could have done much more before then-Gov. Rick Snyder and Flint switched the city's water source back to a regional supplier in fall 2015. By that time, tests showed elevated lead levels in children. Winter-weary East Coast hit with another storm as temperatures plunge elsewhere “This final settlement is in no way an admission of responsibility, but the best resolution to avoid decades of costly, unproductive, and time-consuming litigation, and to bring closure for all parties involved,” Veolia said. The company said the Flint water crisis was “caused by government officials.” Veolia said it had no role in the water switch or running the Flint water plant and was told that the water was meeting standards. The $53 million settlement will be distributed to approximately 26,000 people represented by law firms, the Michigan attorney general's office said. As part of the deal, the state will dismiss its own separate lawsuit against Veolia. “After years of drawn-out legal battles, this settlement finally closes a chapter for Flint residents,” Attorney General Dana Nessel said.

The Senate was poised to vote on Thursday on whether to confirm Kash Patel as the director of the FBI, a decision that could install him at the helm of the country’s leading federal law enforcement agency despite Democratic concerns over his qualifications and the likelihood that he would follow President Donald Trump’s directives. Patel secured approval from the Senate Judiciary Committee last week with a 12-10 party-line vote and is scheduled for consideration by the Republican-controlled Senate on Thursday afternoon, reports AP. Trump's FBI director to face skeptical Democrats at Senate confirmation hearing Barring defections from more than three Republican senators—an unlikely scenario—he is expected to be confirmed. Trump has already managed to get most of his nominees approved despite initial skepticism from some Republicans. A staunch Trump ally who has strongly criticised the agency he is set to lead, Patel would take over an FBI embroiled in turmoil. The Justice Department has, in the past month, forced out several senior FBI officials and made the unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Trump has indicated that he expects some of those agents to be dismissed. Republicans, frustrated by what they perceive as law enforcement bias against conservatives under the Biden administration and ongoing criminal investigations into Trump, have rallied behind Patel as the right choice. Meanwhile, Democrats have raised concerns over his lack of management experience compared to previous FBI directors and pointed to controversial past remarks that, they argue, call his judgment into question. “My prediction is if you vote for Kash Patel, more than any other confirmation vote you make, you will come to regret this one to your grave,” said Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut this week. Patel’s past statements, made in hundreds of podcasts over the past four years, have included calling law enforcement officials who investigated Trump “criminal gangsters,” referring to some January 6 rioters as “political prisoners,” and vowing to pursue anti-Trump “conspirators” within the government and media. FBI Chief Wray plans to resign before Trump takes office in January At his confirmation hearing last month, Patel argued that Democrats were misrepresenting some of his remarks or failing to grasp the broader context. He also defended his past proposal to shut down the FBI headquarters in Washington and convert it into a museum dedicated to the so-called deep state. Additionally, Patel rejected the notion that a list of government officials in his book, whom he identified as part of a “deep state,” was an “enemies list,” calling that claim a “total mischaracterization.” FBI directors are appointed for 10-year terms to shield them from political pressures and prevent them from becoming too aligned with any single president or administration. Patel was nominated in November to succeed Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and served for more than seven years but repeatedly clashed with the president and was perceived as insufficiently loyal. Wray resigned before Trump’s return to office. A former federal defender and Justice Department counterterrorism prosecutor, Patel first gained Trump’s attention during his initial term when, as a staffer on the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, he helped draft a memo sharply criticising the FBI’s investigation into ties between Russia and Trump’s 2016 campaign. Patel later joined Trump’s administration, serving as a counterterrorism official at the National Security Council and later as chief of staff to the defense secretary.

US President Donald Trump has said he supports the idea of distributing some of the savings from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency to US citizens as a form of dividend, reports AP. Speaking at an investment conference in Miami on Wednesday, the President revealed that the administration is considering a proposal in which 20% of the savings generated by DOGE's cost-reduction initiatives would be returned to the public, while another 20% would go towards reducing the national debt. Trump calls Tesla’s India expansion ‘unfair’ amid tariff concerns Trump also suggested that these potential dividend payments would encourage citizens to report wasteful government spending. “They’ll report it themselves,” Trump remarked. “They’ll be part of the process of saving us money.” On his way back to Washington aboard Air Force One, Trump was asked by a reporter about Musk's proposal. “I love it," he responded. Trump faces backlash for calling himself ‘King’ The day before, Musk had posted on his social media platform that he would “check with the President” regarding a suggestion to launch a “DOGE Dividend” to refund taxpayers with part of the savings from DOGE. The initiative has already resulted in thousands of federal government employees being fired or laid off.

US President Donald Trump has criticised Tesla’s decision to establish a factory in India, calling it “very unfair” as he continues to push for higher tariffs.  During an interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, featuring Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with India’s trade policies. His remarks follow Musk’s recent meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the US.  Trump has long accused various countries of imposing tariffs that disadvantage American businesses, citing India’s policies as an example. Addressing Musk directly, Trump said, “It’s practically impossible for him to sell a car in India.” Musk promptly interjected, saying that India imposes an import duty of 100 per cent on automobiles.  However, India currently levies a 15 per cent import duty on electric vehicles (EVs) priced above $35,000 under specific conditions. Additionally, the country recently reduced customs duty on high-end vehicles costing over $40,000 from 110 per cent to 70 per cent.  Trump faces backlash for calling himself ‘King’ Despite this, Trump maintained that allowing Tesla to set up a factory in India was unjust to the US. “If he wants to build a factory there, that’s fine. But it’s unfair to us,” he said. He also claimed to have discussed the issue with Modi, suggesting the need for a “fair” approach to trade.  As the discussion continued, Hannity asked Trump whether India’s tariff rate was 36 per cent. Trump responded that it was “much, much higher.” Musk reaffirmed his stance, repeating that auto import tariffs in India stood at 100 per cent. He also supported Trump’s demand for a “level playing field” in trade.  Trump concluded by asserting that the US would benefit from upcoming policy changes, predicting significant business growth.  Meanwhile, Tesla has already started preparing for its entry into the Indian market. The company has identified showroom locations in New Delhi and Mumbai and has begun hiring for 13 mid-level positions, according to a report by Reuters.  With inputs from Indian media

US President Donald Trump is facing widespread criticism after referring to himself as a “king” on social media following his administration’s decision to block New York City’s congestion pricing plan.  On Wednesday, US Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy sent a letter to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, announcing the termination of the federal agreement that supported Manhattan’s congestion pricing program. Shortly after, Trump took to Truth Social, declaring:  “CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!”  The White House amplified Trump’s statement by sharing it on social media along with an edited image. The post featured a mock Time magazine cover depicting Trump wearing a golden crown, smiling against the backdrop of the New York City skyline, reports The Guardian.  Governor Hochul swiftly responded, rejecting Trump’s characterisation. In a statement, she emphasised, “We are a nation of laws, not ruled by a king.” She added, “Public transit is the lifeblood of New York City and critical to our economic future – as a New Yorker, like President Trump, knows very well.”  Addressing reporters later on Wednesday, Hochul reinforced her stance: “New York hasn’t laboured under a king in over 250 years. We sure as hell are not going to start now … In case you don’t know New Yorkers, we’re going to fight. We do not back down, not now, not ever.”  Trump says he's considering buying used planes to serve as Air Force One amid Boeing delays New York City Council Member Justin Brannan also condemned Trump’s statement, referencing the Justice Department’s decision—under Trump-appointed officials—to drop a federal corruption case against Mayor Eric Adams.  “Doesn’t matter what you think of congestion pricing, federal government doesn’t get to make this decision. NY State passed a law, USDOT approved it. No matter what corrupt deal Donald Trump made with the Mayor, he isn’t king. Only fools concede to false power. It’s an illusion,” Brannan wrote.  Democratic Representative Don Beyer of Virginia echoed the criticism, writing on X: “We don’t have kings in the USA.”  David Hogg, vice-chair of the Democratic National Committee, also weighed in, posting: “Republicans: Stop overreacting and calling Trump a king. Literally the White House Twitter account,” while resharing the image of Trump with the crown.

The Trump administration is formally designating eight Latin American crime organizations as “foreign terrorist organizations,” upping its pressure on cartels operating in the U.S. and on anyone aiding them. The move, carrying out a Jan. 20 executive order by President Donald Trump, names Tren de Aragua in Venezuela, MS-13 in El Salvador and others. The designation will be published in Thursday’s edition of the Federal Register, according to a notice Wednesday. The Republican president has made securing the U.S.-Mexico border among his top priorities, vowing to carry out mass deportations, sending active duty troops to the border and reaching deals with some countries to take in more migrants. The notification is due for formal publication in the federal register Thursday. Trump labels Zelenskyy a 'dictator' amid rising tensions over Russia-Ukraine war The “foreign terrorist organization” label is unusual because it deploys a terrorist designation normally reserved for groups like al-Qaida or the Islamic State group that use violence for political ends — not for money-focused crime rings such as the Latin American cartels. The Trump administration argues that the international connections and operations of the groups — including drug trafficking, migrant smuggling and violent pushes to extend their territory — warrant the designation. Critics of the move call it an unnecessarily broad and harsh one that could damage relations and paralyze trade with Latin America. Businesses, banks and buyers could fear possible U.S. prosecution if they knowingly or unknowingly have any transactions that touch the world of the cartels. Such cartels permeate Mexico's economy, dealing not only in drug trafficking and migrant smuggling but fighting for control of the multibillion-dollar avocado business. Aid groups say some past U.S. designations of groups as foreign terrorist organizations have threatened overall food imports into countries, for example, by making shipping companies fearful that U.S. prosecutors may accuse them of directly or indirectly supporting the targeted groups. Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum responded to Trump's order last month that set up the new formal designation by saying Mexico would defend its sovereignty and independence while seeking coordination. “We all want to fight the drug cartels,” Sheinbaum said. The U.S. “in their territory, us in our territory.”

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday said that US President Donald Trump is living in a Russian-made “disinformation space” as a result of his administration’s discussions with Kremlin officials. Zelenskyy said he “would like Trump’s team to be more truthful.” He made the comments shortly before he was expected to meet with Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy for Ukraine and Russia, who arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday, AP reports. Kellogg will meet Zelenskyy and military commanders as the US shifts its policy away from years of efforts to isolate Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump suggested Tuesday that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, as talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters. French President Emmanuel Macron was to hold a videoconference on Ukraine later Wednesday with leaders of over 15 countries, mostly European nations, “with the aim of gathering all partners interested in peace and security” on the continent, his office said. Key European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris on Monday after they felt they had been sidelined by the Trump administration. Trump’s comments are likely to vex Ukrainian officials, who have urged the world to help them fight Russia’s full-scale invasion that began Feb. 24, 2022. US policy on Russia shifts as Trump’s envoy arrives in Kyiv Trump also said at Mar-a-Lago that Zelenskyy’s rating stood at 4 percent. Zelenskyy replied in a news conference in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv that “we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia.” He said that Trump “lives in this disinformation space.” Trump also suggested Ukraine ought to hold elections, which have been postponed due to the war and the consequent imposition of martial law, in accordance with the Ukrainian Constitution. Zelenskyy questioned claims, which he didn't specify, that 90 percent of all aid received by Ukraine comes from the United States. He said that, for instance, about 34 percent of all weapons in Ukraine are domestically produced, over 30 percent of support comes from Europe, and up to 40 percent from the US. The battlefield has also brought grim news for Ukraine in recent months. A relentless onslaught in eastern areas by Russia's bigger army is grinding down Ukrainian forces, which are slowly but steadily being pushed backward at some points on the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. Trump told reporters at his Florida residence Tuesday that Ukraine “should have never started” the war and “could have made a deal” to prevent it. Kellogg said his visit to Kyiv was “a chance to have some good, substantial talks.” Zelenskyy was due to travel to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday but cancelled his trip in what some analysts saw as an attempt to deny legitimacy to the US-Russia talks about the future of his country. American officials have signalled that Ukraine’s hopes of joining NATO in order to ward off Russian aggression after reaching a possible peace agreement won’t happen. Zelenskyy says any settlement will require US security commitments to keep Russia at bay. “We understand the need for security guarantees,” Kellogg said in comments carried by Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne Novyny on his arrival at Kyiv train station. “It’s very clear to us the importance of the sovereignty of this nation and the independence of this nation as well. ... Part of my mission is to sit and listen,” the retired three-star general said. Kellogg said he would convey what he learns on his visit to Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to “and ensure that we get this one right.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday fully endorsed Israel's war aims in the Gaza Strip, saying Hamas “must be eradicated” and throwing the shaky ceasefire into further doubt. Rubio met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem at the start of a regional tour, where he is likely to face pushback from Arab leaders over President Donald Trump's proposal to transfer the Palestinian population out of Gaza and redevelop it under US ownership. Netanyahu has welcomed the plan, and said he and Trump have a “common strategy” for Gaza's future. Echoing Trump, he said "the gates of hell would be open” if Hamas does not release dozens of remaining hostages abducted in its Oct. 7, 2023, attack that triggered the 16-month war. Their remarks came two weeks before the ceasefire's first phase is set to end. The second phase, in which Hamas is to release dozens of remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces, has yet to be negotiated. Ceasefire deal should be canceled if Hamas doesn’t release all hostages by Saturday: Trump Rubio said Hamas cannot continue as a military or government force. “As long as it stands as a force that can govern or as a force that can administer or as a force that can threaten by use of violence, peace becomes impossible,” he said. "It must be eradicated.” Such language could complicate continued talks with Hamas, which remains in control of Gaza despite suffering heavy losses in the war. Rubio is also set to visit regional heavyweights the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The Israeli military meanwhile said it carried out an airstrike Sunday on people who approached its forces in southern Gaza. The Hamas-run Interior Ministry said the strike killed three of its policemen while they were securing the entry of aid trucks near Rafah, on the Egyptian border. Hamas called the attack a “serious violation” of the ceasefire and accused Netanyahu of trying to sabotage the deal.