Trump’s biggest deal ever: Global chaos and disaster

Trump’s apparent pivot from Russia to Ukraine, after a full decade as the dog at the end of Vladimir Putin’s chain, has aligned him (for now) with liberal-democratic elite opinion. But that’s literally an accident ||

 

How the 2017 Trump tax cuts ballooned The “big, beautiful bill" ||

How the 2017 Trump tax cuts ballooned The “big, beautiful bill" Congressional Republicans really like the 2017 Trump tax cuts. The decision to either extend those cuts or make them permanent before their year-end expiration date was the driving force behind the original, $2.4 trillion price tag of the House-passed megabill. That's why the “big, beautiful bill” costs so much. In the end, the Senate added another $1 trillion to the price tag ||  READ MORE:

Republicans say Trump is withholding 'basic information' about spending ||

 Many business owners are complaining that President Donald Trump's on-again/off-again announcements on tariffs are making it very difficult to for them to plan their budgets and the private sector isn't the only place where complaints about Trump's volatility are being voiced || Read More:

Something dangerous is happening to the U.S. economy ||

 Something dangerous is happening to the U.S. economy and at one point, the threat of tariffs and resulting chaos evaporated US$4 trillion in value in the U.S. stock market.  The rule of law – the idea that legal rules apply to everyone equally, regardless of wealth or political connections − is essential for a thriving economy. Yet globally the respect for the rule of law is slipping, and the U.S. is slipping with it. According to annual rankings from the World Justice Project, the rule of law has declined in more than half of all countries for seven years in a row ||    Read More:

How Donald Trump's economic policies are damaging the US ||

 

United States has enjoyed a high level of trust in the strength, openness and stability of its economy. But this privilege is being eroded by the US president’s tariff agenda. Economic motives aside, it is the way they are being applied – their size and the unpredictability – that is really sapping investor confidence.  Read more:

An Independence Day warning about the US dollar |

The US currency is being diminished in ways that are both cumulative and new, and in a manner that should concern every American patriot.  For decades, the world chose the dollar without thinking about it all that much, and that was not only because of unrivaled American economic strength. Most of the world’s major economic players also trusted the United States’ financial leadership—its rule of law, its institutions, its predictability. 

Nothing will replace the greenback soon, but its erosion is an increasing topic of conversation among global investors.    Read More:

Immigration crackdown ripples through economy |

The sharp fall in immigration this year threatens to slow down economic growth, particularly in the sectors and cities that relied on newcomers to the U.S. in recent years || READ MORE:

Trump considers more Patriots missiles for Ukraine, says Putin "has to end" the war ||

U.S. President Donald Trump indicated on Wednesday he will consider providing more of the Patriot missiles that Ukraine needs to defend against mounting Russian strikes, adding that Russian President Vladimir Putin "really has to end that war" || Read More:

The US dollar is having its worst year in decades ||

 The US dollar is having its worst year in decades, and has broadly weakened this year as Trump’s tariffs — his back-and-forth decisions on implementing them, pausing them, raising them & lowering them, have injected uncertainty into markets & clouded the outlook for the US economy || Read More

Putin’s Kyiv blitz sends message to G7 leaders: Russia does not want peace

Russian attacks on Kyiv involved hundreds of drones and missiles targeting residential districts across the city. Dozens of Ukrainian civilians were killed with many more injured. While this latest Kyiv blitz was by no means unprecedented in a war that has been marked by frequent Russian attacks on Ukraine’s civilian population. Like a mafia boss ordering elaborate killings to send coded messages, Putin has repeatedly scheduled major bombardments of Ukraine to coincide with international summits and gatherings of Western leaders || Read More:

Higher electricity costs raise the cost of doing business for manufacturers, including those at the leading edge of AI, making it more difficult to compete with China ||

 Since utilities have been unable to meet the power needs of tech players like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon Web Services, some of these companies have begun directly contracting with renewables developers and striking deals with nuclear power plant operators. A trade group representing these companies recently asked the Senate to revise the pending legislation so it restores some of the clean energy provisions from the Inflation Reduction Act, saying the U.S. needs “affordable and reliable power” in order to “maintain its leadership in AI.” Analysts say such leadership is threatened if the Trump administration continues to try to tip the scales toward fossil fuel sources that are not competitive with newer sources of energy.

Orvis added that higher electricity costs raise the cost of doing business for manufacturers, including those at the leading edge of AI, making it more difficult to compete with China || Read More:

Inside Trump's backtrack on immigration ||

 For months, Trump administration officials have been adamant about targeting all the millions of immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, regardless of their work or taxpaying status.

• But now Trump is making a huge exception: those working at hotels, farms, meatpacking plants and restaurants.

Why it matters: He's bowing to pressure from businesses that have been warning of economic devastation — and is opening the door for potentially millions of workers who are here illegally to stay after all.  Read More:

The search for safe assets ||

The deteriorating fiscal outlook of major countries, especially the United States, has made safe assets more difficult to find. Going forward, there will likely not be an effort to replace US Treasuries with other government bonds—there is simply no viable alternative. The global bond market is estimated to be about $140 trillion, dominated by the United States, which amounts to $55 trillion—or 39.3 percent of the total. Instead, a trend toward diversification to better manage heightened sovereign and credit risks on what used to be thought of as risk-free assets is probable || Read More:

Trump eliminates grants for protecting children, victims’ assistance and hate-crime prevention ||

 Outrage as Trump eliminates 373 grants designed to help fight crime || Gun violence is among America’s most deadly public health crises, medical experts say. “Not only are these funds being pulled away from worthy investments that will save lives,” said Thomas Abt, founding director of the Violence Reduction Center at the University of Maryland, “but the way that this was done — by pulling authorized funding without warning — is going to create a lasting legacy of mistrust."                   READ MORE :

Fresh Ukraine, Russia demands show no interest for actual peace ||

The memos presented by Ukraine and Russia at their direct talks in Istanbul on Monday make it absolutely clear that, absent a strong U.S. intervention based on a detailed U.S. peace plan, there will be no peace settlement in Ukraine.

It is not just that several of the positions on both sides are completely mutually incompatible; they suggest that at present neither side is in fact interested in an early peace.   READ MORE:

Why a Ukraine deal was never realistic:

 Four months of chaotic shuttle diplomacy aimed at reaching a cease-fire in Ukraine, multiple phone calls between US President Donald Trump and Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, repeated US attempts to pressure, browbeat, and bully Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy into concessions, have all yielded exactly nothing. 

Which is not in the least bit surprising. Because there is no deal to be had with Russia on Ukraine. There never has been ... Read More:

Why Trump is suddenly trying to shake off his Putin stupor ||

 Putin's playing Trump like a Stradivarius and this past week Trump seemed to realize for the first time that Vladimir isn't the loyal best pal he thought he was. Trump has been wrong about this from the very start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, as any sentient being could have told him. He was right that Putin was thrilled that he was back in the White House but only because he knew that Trump would divide the allies, favor him over Ukraine and essentially help him achieve his goal. After all, Trump had said he was a "genius" and very "savvy" for invading in the first place. Trump's also extremely naive and ignorant, even after having already been president once. This was a big win for Putin.

Trump has spent most of his time in these first months pretending that he never said that he'd end the war in 24 hours and instead tried to muscle Zelenskyy into surrendering to Putin. Trump apparently believed that Vladimir Putin was his true friend, and I think he also truly believed that he could just pick up the phone once he was elected and his buddy (Vladimir Putin) would congratulate him and tell him that he couldn't wait to do a deal to end the war ||       READ MORE:

The Trump administration is disrupting career paths for new graduates hoping to work in climate and sustainability, international aid, public service and the sciences

 As the class of 2025 enters the workforce, the Trump administration has dismantled career pathways for graduates interested in climate and sustainability work, international aid, public service and research across the natural, behavioral and social sciences. Federal jobs are disappearing, and the administration is eliminating grants and agency divisions that sustain university research programs and nonprofits that are crucial to launching careers ||

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Russia says Trump 'does not fully understand' ||

"In an interview on Feb. 22, 2022, former U.S. President Donald Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin's stated Ukraine strategy “savvy” and “genius.” The intensity of strikes by both sides has only increased since Trump's return to office in January, although the president had promised to end Russia's war on its neighbor in 24 hours. In the past, Trump has criticized Biden's response to Russia's war, falsely alleging that Biden was only in the White House because the 2020 election had been "rigged.

 

~ The inevitable happens, when you praise a person like Vladimir Putin who badgers and intimidates smaller countries.

Fiona Hill: Trump is terrified of Putin, I’ve seen it first hand ||

What Trump doesn’t understand is that “Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire”. “Putin wants a neutered Ukraine, not one that is able to withstand military pressure. Everybody sees this, apart from Trump,” she said. Read More:

Billionaire Ray Dalio raises alarm over China, says Trump renegotiating trade deals 'has to happen'

Speaking with Brian Kilmeade on "Fox & Friends" Wednesday, Dalio warned China won’t give up its competition anytime soon. "They're also making technology and improving at a fast rate. So you cannot take China and think that they are not going to be a force for the foreseeable future. They're not folding, okay?" Dalio said. "We both have our challenges and there's going to be a big conflict. That's the nature of the beast."  || 

 

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Why the US cannot afford to lose dollar dominance ||

This Atlantic Council Strategy Paper explores the relationship between the status of the United States as a geopolitical superpower and the role of the US dollar as the world’s dominant currency. It examines how these two facets of US power have reinforced each other and how a decline in either of them could trigger a downward cycle in US influence around the world. The report discusses options for how the United States could counteract such trends, relying on its traditional strengths and strategic alliances ||

Rising costs rip into business reputation ||

Business reputation is eroding due to consumer concerns about rising costs, according to this year's Axios Harris Poll 100, which assigns reputation scores based on seven categories like trust, products and services, vision and culture. Companies that have kept costs low while standing firm on their corporate values rank highest on this year's list. Trader Joe's, the low-cost grocer known for being values-focused, ranks No. 1 on the list and saw a 3.5-point increase in its reputation score since last year.

Who really pays for tariffs?

While politicians often frame tariffs as a way to punish other countries, they actually hit domestic consumers and businesses hardest. Whether they’re facing higher grocery bills or disruptions in manufacturing, Americans will feel the strain. The Canadian prime minister encouraged his compatriots to consider boycotting U.S. orange juice following Trump’s tariff threats.

Under both Trump and Biden, US oil and gas production surged to record highs, despite very different energy goals ||

 

The United States is producing more oil and natural gas today than ever before, and far more than any other country. So, what roles did the Trump-Pence and Biden-Harris administrations play in this surge?

 Our London building sets new standards for sustainability and innovation, and raises the bar for future office buildings around the world.  “This building is designed to encourage cooperation and collaboration, and that’s what makes for a successful business.” 

– Michael Bloomberg

Michael Bloomberg offers to step in after Trump withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement

 New York, New York - Billionaire Michael Bloomberg announced Thursday that his foundation will step in to fund the UN climate change body after President Donald Trump declared the US would withdraw from the Paris Agreement for the second time.           Read more

Eco Wave Power Receives Final Permit from U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for First Onshore Wave Energy Project at Port of Los Angeles ||

Los Angeles, CA – November 18, 2024 –Eco Wave Power Global AB (Nasdaq: WAVE) (“Eco Wave Power” or the “Company”), a leading provider of onshore wave energy technology, is pleased to announce it has received the final Nationwide Permit (NWP) from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for its groundbreaking wave energy project at AltaSea’s premises at the Port of Los Angeles.

This milestone marks a significant step forward in the development of Eco Wave Power’s pioneering wave energy project, which is set to become the first onshore wave energy installation in the United States. 

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Shifting When and Where Electricity is Used Can Avoid Gigatons of Carbon Emissions

 How electricity is produced and when it is used has a huge impact on how clean it is. As such, marginal emissions, which result from a power plant turning on or increasing its production to meet increased demand, represent substantial potential carbon reductions. A newly expanded dataset from the tech solution nonprofit WattTime suggests as much as 9 gigatons could be avoided per year. 

The nonprofit works with major corporations like Microsoft, Toyota and Salesforce to shift when electricity is used and where it is purchased while optimizing grid decarbonization.

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Climate change is increasing hurricane wind speeds, study finds

 Climate change strengthened the maximum wind speeds of Atlantic hurricanes by an average of 18 mph during the past five years, a new study published Wednesday shows.

Why it matters: The study is among the first to show a link between hotter ocean temperatures and stronger hurricane wind speeds. It ties climate change to a hurricane's destructive potential.

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Electric vehicles in Africa: what’s needed to grow the sector |

In sub-Saharan Africa, high levels of particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution from vehicle tailpipe emissions cause poor health, developmental stunting, and even death. Vehicle emissions also contribute to global warming.

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Countries spend huge sums on fossil fuel subsidies – why they’re so hard to eliminate -

 Fossil fuels are the leading driver of climate change, yet they are still heavily subsidized by governments around the world.

Although many countries have explicitly promised to reduce fossil fuel subsidies to combat climate change, this has proven difficult to accomplish. As a result, fossil fuels remain relatively inexpensive, and their use and greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow.

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After 40 Years, New Carbon Sequestration Study Confirms the Value of Trees

 

A new model for assessing the carbon sequestration capability of trees and other plants found that the world's greenery sucks up 31 percent more carbon than previously thought. But more tree-planting may not be the answer to maximize these benefits.

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Building Climate and Financial Resilience in Cities: A Dual Imperative

 Climate change is challenging cities' financial resilience, and the impact is often overlooked. Sustainable Capital Advisors created a three-step framework to help them manage climate-related financial risks and seize opportunities for sustainable growth during a historic moment in climate funding.

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World’s 1st artificial island to provide 3.5GW wind energy to 3 million homes

The draft plans for the world’s first artificial energy island have been presented by Belgium's electricity system operator Elia. The island would be the first building block of a European hub for offshore wind energy and will be located in the Belgian part of the North Sea.

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Engineers Consider Carbon Emissions During The Design Process

To make carbon accounting easier, Bentley Systems' new tool allows engineers to see a digital representation of the embodied carbon in their future projects. That also helps them compare building materials and design choices to mitigate those emissions.

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Assessing the Real Climate Costs of Manufacturing

 Producing materials such as steel, plastics and cement in the United States alone inflicts $79 billion a year in climate-related damage around the world, according to a new study by engineers and economists at the University of California, Davis. Accounting for these costs in market prices could encourage progress toward climate-friendly alternatives. 

Read More: University of California - Davis

Bloomberg Green has visited labs and factories in search of the most promising climate-saving technologies ||

Bloomberg Green Ideas Inspiring $1.8 Trillion Climate Tech Revolution || 

Artificial intelligence (AI) can quickly and accurately predict the path and intensity of major storms, a new study has demonstrated ||

 Professor Andrew Charlton-Perez, who led the study, said: “AI is transforming weather forecasting before our eyes. Two years ago, modern machine learning techniques were rarely being applied to make weather forecasts. Now we have multiple models that can produce 10-day global forecasts in minutes.

A new study revealed that electric vehicle drivers in the U.S. prefer Tesla's at-home wall-mounted chargers compared to all other charging …

American EV owners' favorite home-charging solution: 'We are loving our new car'

Dubai conducted cloud seeding exercises for two consecutive days prior to the floods.

 The scoop on UAE’s artificial rain: Did cloud seeding drown Dubai?

Many workers now follow a hybrid model, spending part of the week in-office and the rest of their time at home, fully remote work is on the rise.

 Remote work more important than salary for 63% of US workers - Interesting Engineering

Hammer Museum Courtyard

 

Originally opened in 1990 as the Armand Hammer Museum of Art and Cultural Center, the building, designed by Edward Larrabee Barnes, has been undergoing a series of interventions

Building on the greenbelt is central to solving the housing crisis – just look at how the edges of cities have changed

 The way we develop urban peripheries is central to tackling both the housing crisis and climate emergency

Renewable energy generation is expected to increase somewhere between 30 to 76%, with between 81-95% of new electric capacity

 Energy Information Administration projects that electric vehicles will “account for between 29% and 54% of global new vehicle sales by 2050” with China and Western Europe leading the market for these vehicles 

 

A Boom in Renewable Energy Has Blunted the Global Rise in Emissions |

 Emissions associated with energy use are on track to increase 1 percent this year because of a boom in wind and solar power ||

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Sustainable Electric Car That Cleans The Air While Driving

TU Eindhoven student team TU/ecomotive has developed a sustainable electric passenger car that captures more carbon dioxide (CO₂) than it emits while driving. It is a prototype, called Zem, that purifies the air through a special filter. By storing the captured CO₂ and then disposing it.                                                                                        READ MORE

How to certify your SITES project by the end of 2022 |

Here is an overview of the review process and timeline associated with each review path ||

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Resilient Building Strategies ||

Resilient strategies are used globally, many contemporary, others derived from vernacular architecture’s strong relationship to climate and natural processes. Many of these techniques—some key ones follow—have been aggregated into a set of accessible guidelines at various scales that can be implemented immediately. They support an approach to the natural and built environment that dramatically reduces or eliminates greenhouse gas emissions, addresses climate adaptation and resilience, and offers the potential for an accessible and inexhaustible supply of renewable energy.

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