Four reasons why GM’s huge F1 arrival makes so much sense
The rising price of paying the national debt is a risk for Trump's promises on growth and inflation WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has big plans for the economy. He also has big debt problem that'll be a hurdle to delivering on those plan. Trump has bold ambitions 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. The federal debt stands at roughly $36 trillion, and the spike in inflation after the pandemic has pushed up the government’s borrowing costs such that debt service next year will easily exceed spending on national security. 'Wicked' and 'Gladiator' make gravity-defying theater debuts NEW YORK (AP) — “Wicked” and “Gladiator II” have debuted in theaters with a combined $270 million in ticket sales. Their worldwide performance breathed fresh life into global box office results that have struggled lately. Together the films turned the moviegoing weekend into one of the busiest of the year. Jon M. Chu’s lavish big-budget musical “Wicked,” starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, debuted with $114 million domestically and $164.2 million globally. Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” is a sequel to his 2000 best picture-winning original and launched with $55.5 million in ticket sales. “Moana 2” is being released Wednesday, so it looks like Hollywood might be looking at historic sales over the Thanksgiving holiday. Trump's Republican Party is increasingly winning union voters. It's a shift seen in his labor pick WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members. It's a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members. They're a key part of the Democratic base but are gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. Trump raced to pick many Cabinet posts. He took more time to settle on a treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump launched a blitz of picks for his Cabinet, but he took his time settling on billionaire investor Scott Bessent as his choice for treasury secretary. The Republican not only wanted someone who jibes with him, but an official who can execute his economic vision and look straight out of central casting while doing so. With his Yale University education and pedigree trading for Soros Fund Management before establishing his own funds, Bessent will be tasked with a delicate balancing act. Trump expects him to help reset the global trade order, enable trillions of dollars in tax cuts, ensure inflation stays in check, manage a ballooning national debt and still keep the financial markets confident. Trump chooses Bessent to be treasury secretary, Vought as budget chief, Chavez-DeRemer for Labor WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen hedge fund manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent, 62, is founder of hedge fund Key Square Capital Management. He previously had worked on and off for Soros Fund Management since 1991. Trump also said he would nominate Russell Vought, 48, to lead the Office of Management and Budget, a position he held during Trump's first term. And Trump chose Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, an Oregon Republican, as his labor secretary, and Scott Turner, a former football player who worked in Trump’s first administration, as his housing secretary. Afraid of losing the US-Canada trade pact, Mexico alters its laws and removes Chinese parts MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has been taking a bashing for allegedly serving as a conduit for Chinese parts and products into North America. Officials here are terrified that a re-elected Donald Trump or politically struggling Justin Trudeau could simply expel their country from the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement. Mexico's ruling Morena party is so afraid its has gone on a campaign to get companies to replace Chinese parts with locally made ones. And its legislators are consciously tweaking the wording of major laws to try to make them compatible with the trade pact's language. Mexico hopes the rules of the trade pact would prevent the U.S. or Canada from simply walking away. Australia withdraws a misinformation bill after critics compare it to censorship CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australia’s government has withdrawn a bill that would give a media watchdog power to monitor digital platforms and require them to keep records about misinformation and disinformation on their networks. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said Sunday that the government was unable to drum up the support needed to pass the legislation. The opposition spokesman, David Coleman, said the bill “betrayed our democracy” and amounted to “censorship laws in Australia.” The bill would have granted the Australian Communications and Media Authority power over digital platforms by approving an enforceable code of conduct or standards for social media companies if self-regulation fell short. He'll be the last meatpacker in the Meatpacking District. Here's how NYC's gritty 'hood got chic NEW YORK (AP) — The last meatpackers in New York's Meatpacking District have agreed to end their leases early and make way for development on their city-owned lot. A third-generation meatpacker says he is ready to retire and he'll be proud to be there when the building closes. The closure date has not been set, but will mark the end of over a century of industrial life in the Meatpacking District. Starting in the 1970s, a new nightlife scene emerged as bars and nightclubs moved in. Today it's a hub for shopping, tourism, and recreation and only echoes of that grit remain. US budget airlines are struggling. Will pursuing premium passengers solve their problems? DALLAS (AP) — Delta and United Airlines have become the most profitable U.S. airlines by targeting premium customers while also winning a significant share of budget travelers. That is squeezing smaller low-fare carriers like Spirit Airlines, which filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday. Some travel industry experts think Spirit’s troubles indicate less-wealthy passengers will have fewer choices and higher prices. Other discount airlines are on better financial footing but also are lagging far behind the full-service airlines when it comes to recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Most industry experts think Frontier and other so-called ultra-low-cost carriers will fill the vacuum if Spirit shrinks, and that there's still plenty of competition to prevent prices from spiking. What to know about Scott Bessent, Trump's pick for treasury secretary WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen money manager Scott Bessent, an advocate for deficit reduction and deregulation, to serve as his next treasury secretary. Bessent is a past supporter of Democrats who has become an enthusiastic supporter of Trump. He’s an advocate of cutting spending while extending the tax cuts approved by Congress in Trump’s first term. He has said tariffs imposed during a second Trump administration would be directed primarily at China.Stock market today: Wall Street inches higher to set more records
President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers urge judge to toss his hush money conviction‘Wheel of Fortune’ Contestant Devastated by Botched $75k Bonus Round Despite Big Boost
{ "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "NewsArticle", "dateCreated": "2024-11-27T01:12:26+02:00", "datePublished": "2024-11-27T01:12:26+02:00", "dateModified": "2024-11-27T01:12:24+02:00", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22141/opinions/rwandas-nuclear-technology-plans-benefits-vs-challenges", "headline": "Rwanda’s nuclear technology plans: benefits vs challenges", "description": "In recent years, Rwanda has started exploring nuclear technology as part of its broader Vision 2050 plan to meet the country’s growing energy,...", "keywords": "", "inLanguage": "en", "mainEntityOfPage":{ "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/article/22141/opinions/rwandas-nuclear-technology-plans-benefits-vs-challenges" }, "thumbnailUrl": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/27/64914.jpg", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/thenewtimes/uploads/images/2024/11/27/64914.jpg" }, "articleBody": "In recent years, Rwanda has started exploring nuclear technology as part of its broader Vision 2050 plan to meet the country’s growing energy, healthcare, and agriculture needs. Rwanda is taking a step toward modernising its infrastructure and solving key challenges by working with international partners like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). While this move holds great potential, Rwanda must overcome several obstacles like high costs associated with nuclear development and the need for skilled workers to make nuclear technology a reality. One major driver behind Rwanda’s interest in nuclear technology is the increasing demand for reliable and sustainable energy. As the economy grows and industrialisation accelerates, existing energy sources like hydropower and solar face limitations. Nuclear energy, particularly small modular reactors (SMRs) are considered safer and more adaptable to smaller grids, making them suitable for a country like Rwanda. While these projects are in their feasibility stages, the government is conducting studies and collaborating with experts to assess how nuclear energy can complement the national grid. Nuclear technology could also transform Rwanda’s healthcare sector. The government plans to make Rwanda a hub for medical tourism in the region. This includes setting up a medical city in Masaka, Kicukiro District, which would need advanced services like nuclear medicine. This technology uses special materials called radioisotopes for diagnosing and treating illnesses like cancers and cardiac diseases. However, nuclear medicine requires major investments in equipment, training, and safety and security, which Rwanda is starting to address through international partnerships. To manage nuclear technology safely, Rwanda has put in place relevant regulatory requirements, including Rwanda Atomic Energy Board (RAEB), an entity that was set up to coordinate all research and development of nuclear energy activities in Rwanda, as well as the planned Center for Nuclear Science and Technology (CNST). These bodies ensure that nuclear projects follow strict safety and security rules. They work under guidelines from the IAEA, which sets international standards. Rwanda’s membership in the IAEA helps it stay aligned with global best practices. The IAEA has even praised Rwanda for its efforts to protect nuclear materials, which is an important step in using nuclear technology responsibly. The country has also signed important treaties like the Non-Proliferation Treaty and the Convention on Nuclear Terrorism to show its commitment to safety. Additionally, Rwanda has ratified key international treaties and conventions, such as the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), the Convention on physical protection of nuclear materials (CPPNM), and the convention on nuclear terrorism, among other international conventions, underscoring its commitment to responsible nuclear development. Building a skilled workforce is another key part of Rwanda’s plan. The country is working with partners like Russia, China, and the IAEA to train experts in nuclear science and technology. Many Rwandans are currently studying abroad in advanced programmes to learn about nuclear safety, security, nuclear physics, and energy production, among other nuclear related courses. Locally, Rwanda is exploring ways to create nuclear science programmes at its universities and research centres to train more professionals in the future. Despite these positive steps, Rwanda faces a few challenges, especially the high costs of nuclear infrastructure as the nuclear industry is one of the industries that require heavy investments. For example, the proposed small modular reactor construction costs between $50 million to $3 billion depending on the capacity. Building nuclear plants and ensuring safety will require significant investments. Additionally, Rwanda will need to continue working with international partners and keep developing its workforce to stay on track. One area of focus is nuclear medicine, which could be important for Rwanda’s healthcare system. The country hopes to become a regional medical tourism hub, and nuclear medicine will play a role in that. However, developing the necessary infrastructure to support nuclear medicine will also take time and money. Rwanda’s pursuit of nuclear technology is an exciting step toward addressing some of the country’s most pressing issues. The country has made good progress in setting up the necessary institutions, training professionals, and building partnerships with international experts. But Rwanda will need to continue working on the financial, technical, and regulatory aspects of nuclear technology to make it a successful part of its future. With careful planning and ongoing effort, Rwanda could become a leader in using nuclear technology to improve energy, healthcare, and agriculture in the region. The author is a nuclear safety and security expert and currently a PhD student in nuclear security at University of National and World Economy (UNWE) Sofia Bulgaria. emmyabens@yahoo.com", "author": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Emmanuel Abenanye" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/", "sameAs": ["https://www.facebook.com/TheNewTimesRwanda/","https://twitter.com/NewTimesRwanda","https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuZbZj6DF9zWXpdZVceDZkg"], "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "/theme_newtimes/images/logo.png", "width": 270, "height": 57 } }, "copyrightHolder": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "The New Times", "url": "https://www.newtimes.co.rw/" } }Alkami Technology's chief strategy officer sells $2.63 million in stock
GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers coach Matt LaFleur hopes the homework he did earlier this month will help his team deal with its compressed schedule over the next couple of weeks. The Packers’ 38-10 victory Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers began a 12-day stretch in which they play three games. They’re back at Lambeau Field on Thursday night to host the Miami Dolphins before visiting the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions the following Thursday. LaFleur prepared for this. When the Packers had a bye Nov. 10, LaFleur said he spent the extra time studying the Dolphins, knowing he’d have little time to prepare for them this week. “I watched pretty much every snap of Miami knowing this was coming, so made my notes, had kind of a preliminary plan for that,” LaFleur said. The Packers (8-3) showed they could thrive in these quick turnaround situations last year, when they won a Thanksgiving Day game at Detroit four days after beating the Los Angeles Chargers at Lambeau Field. The difference this time is that the Packers will play another Thursday game a week after their Thanksgiving matchup against the Dolphins. Playing three games in so short a time frame could take a long-term physical toll as they head into the stretch run of the regular season. They started this three-game set by producing their highest point total since winning 38-20 at Chicago in their 2023 season opener. “I think collectively as a whole, especially on offense, I feel we’re getting back into a rhythm,” quarterback Jordan Love said. The Packers understand the importance of this stretch, particularly with the NFC North-leading Lions looming next week. Although Green Bay has put itself in good position to earn a playoff berth, the Packers have little margin for error if they want to catch up to the Lions (10-1) or Minnesota Vikings (9-2) in the NFC North race. The Packers already lost to both those teams at home and are just 1-2 within the division. “We know going down this stretch every game is going to be important, every practice is going to be important, every meeting, whatever the case may be is going to be important,” safety Xavier McKinney said. “So we’re looking forward to this challenge.” What’s working The Packers shored up their red zone offense by scoring touchdowns on each of their five trips inside the 49ers 20-yard line. It was the first time since 2017 the Packers had posted a perfect red zone percentage in a game while getting inside the opponent’s 20 at least five times. Green Bay entered the game having converted just 48.7% of its red zone possessions into touchdowns to rank 27th in the NFL. ... The Packers had 169 yards rushing to increase their season total to 1,668. That’s their highest total through the first 11 games of a season since 2003. ... After allowing a season-high 179 yards rushing in a 20-19 victory at Chicago, the Packers limited the 49ers to 44 yards on 16 carries. What needs work Not much. The Packers squandered a scoring opportunity late in the second quarter and could have led by more than 17-7 at the beak considering how they had dominated play up to that point, but this otherwise was a pretty crisp performance. Stock up McKinney broke up a fourth down pass and had a 48-yard interception return that led to a touchdown. McKinney has seven interceptions this season to tie Detroit’s Kerby Joseph for the NFL lead. ... RB Josh Jacobs rushed for 106 yards and three touchdowns. Jacobs has seven touchdowns (six rushing, one receiving) over his past five games. ... DL Rashan Gary has 2 1/2 sacks over his past three games. Gary also forced a fumble Sunday. ... One week after blocking a field-goal attempt as time expired to preserve Green Bay’s victory at Chicago, DL Karl Brooks recovered a fumble to set up a touchdown. ... K Brandon McManus made a 51-yard field goal, converting Green Bay’s first attempt from 50-plus yards this season. Stock down WR Christian Watson had no catches and dropped a potential 49-yard touchdown pass. Watson’s struggles came just a week after he caught four passes for a career-high 150 yards against the Bears. Injuries WR Romeo Doubs left the game with a concussion. CB Jaire Alexander (knee) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) didn’t play. Key numbers 800/6: Jacobs has rushed for 944 yards and seven touchdowns this season which means he has run for at least 800 yards and six touchdowns in each of his first six NFL seasons. The only other players since 2000 to rush for at least 800 yards and six touchdowns in each of their first six seasons are Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson, Ezekiel Elliott and Adrian Peterson. Next steps The Packers could get a strong test from the Dolphins (5-6), who are playing better than their record indicates. Miami has won three straight games by a combined score of 91-49. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL Steve Megargee, The Associated PressTrump has promised again to release the last JFK files. But experts say don’t expect big revelations
Nagpur: Devendra Fadnavis emerged as Maharashtra's most influential political leader, steering the BJP to its best-ever performance in the 2024 assembly elections. With the party winning 132 of the 149 seats it contested, recording an impressive 86% strike rate, the deputy chief minister has solidified his legacy. The victory marked a remarkable comeback from the BJP's 105 seats in 2019, setting the stage for the Nagpur Southwest MLA to take the CM's chair for a historic third term. If confirmed, Fadnavis will join the ranks of political legends like Vasantrao Naik, Maharashtra's longest-serving chief minister, and Sharad Pawar, who was sworn in four times. IPL 2025 mega auction IPL Auction 2025: Who got whom IPL 2025 Auction: Updated Full Team Squads His ability to manoeuvre through Maharashtra's complex political landscape has made Fadnavis a force to reckon with. From Nagpur to the Pinnacle of Power Fadnavis's journey began in Nagpur, home to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent of the BJP. His early association with the RSS shaped his political acumen, paving the way for his rise from being Nagpur's youngest mayor to BJP's Maharashtra unit chief in 2013. In 2014, Fadnavis, who was then Maharashtra BJP president, became CM after the BJP emerged as the single largest party with 122 seats. His second stint came briefly in 2019 when he took oath alongside Ajit Pawar in a dramatic early-morning ceremony. However, that govt lasted only three days. In 2022, he orchestrated a split in the Shiv Sena, leading to the formation of the Mahayuti govt with Eknath Shinde as CM. This time, he happily settled as deputy CM on the BJP's central leadership directives. Mastermind of Strategic Alliances Known for his clean image and sharp negotiation skills, Fadnavis has been the architect of major political realignments in Maharashtra. He played a key role in splitting the Shiv Sena and later engineered the NCP's division, bringing Ajit Pawar and his 40 MLAs into the Mahayuti fold. These moves not only strengthened the BJP's position but also showcased Fadnavis's ability to outmanoeuvre opposition leaders. BJP insiders credit Fadnavis's strategic brilliance for keeping the party ahead in civic and panchayat polls, and maintaining its dominance in Maharashtra's political arena. His proximity to the RSS leadership has further bolstered his position, ensuring seamless coordination between state and central govts. Development Agenda at the Core Fadnavis has consistently championed development-focused governance, emphasising urban infrastructure projects like the Samruddhi Expressway, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, and the Navi Mumbai Airport. He has also expanded Metro connectivity in Nagpur, Pune, and Mumbai. His commitment to addressing irrigation issues and boosting investments has reinforced his image as a progressive leader. A Clean Leader Amid Scandals Despite Maharashtra's often turbulent political environment, Fadnavis has retained his reputation as a clean politician. Fadnavis himself summed up his approach in a post on X: "Ek hai toh safe hai, Modi hai toh mumkin hai." Later, speaking to the media, he likened himself to a modern-day Abhimanyu, saying, "I know how to break the opposition's Chakravyuh." He also clarified that the decision on the CM's post would be taken by BJP's central committee in consultation with CM Shinde and Ajit Pawar. Looking Ahead: A Historic Third Term At 54, Fadnavis is set to make history as one of Maharashtra's few three-time chief ministers. Backed by the BJP's central leadership and the RSS, he is poised to replicate the long-serving tenure of leaders like Vasantrao Naik. With an unblemished record, a development-centric agenda, and unmatched political acumen, Fadnavis cemented his place as a towering figure in Maharashtra's political landscape. As the state looks ahead, all eyes will be on how he shapes its future in his third term.None
