Waive foreign worker levy

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Welcome to the Checks & Imbalances newsletter . Today we get you caught up on this week’s abundance of Trump news. Mar-A-Lago Is Looking To Hire 91 Foreign Workers This Year M ar-a-Lago, former president Donald Trump’s private club-cum-legal residence at the center of an investigation into his handling of classified government documents, has relied on temporary foreign workers to keep the sprawling estate humming. Last year, the Trump Organization sought 87 foreign workers for the Palm Beach property, up from 78 a few years earlier. It’s not clear how many were hired, but no doubt at least some likely had backstage access to political theater (maybe even scraps of presidential records floating in toilets ). On Monday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Mar-a-Lago, with one of Trump’s attorneys confirming the agency’s search related to an investigation into his handling of classified … [Read more...] about Checks & Imbalances: Mar-A-Lago’s Busy Week

UPDATE The foreign man spotted parrotfishing off an island in South Thailand’s Krabi province has said today that he is sorry for his actions. The man had been fishing in the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. Catching fish in a national park is illegal under Thailand’s National Park Act BE 2562. A storm of Thai netizens went ham calling out the unnamed man, who had posted a TikTok video of himself fishing this week. The netizens pointed out that parrotfish are a protected animal. Following the outrage, the man posted a message on TikTok insisting he didn’t know he could fish at the park, and that he was deeply sorry. The director-general of the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation has ordered an examination of the man’s video clip, to swiftly prosecute him. In the video, the man is seen with three parrotfishes, one moray eel, and two other unidentified fish. Authorities have also found that the fishing boat’s name is the ‘Erawin.’ … [Read more...] about Foreign parrotfisher in Krabi says he’s sorry

A report from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) found that small businesses across the country continue to raise wages to keep employees and fill a historically high level of job openings, but are still struggling to fill jobs. Nearly half or 49% of owners reported job openings they could not fill, down just one point from June and two points from May’s 48-year record high, suggesting the labor shortage remains frustrating for many small business owners as they confront inflation and other economic headwinds. Twenty-one percent of owners said that labor quality was their top business problem, down two points from June, while 9% said labor costs were their top business problem. Overall, 64% of owners reported hiring or trying to hire in July. Of those trying to hire, 91% of owners reported few or no qualified applicants for their jobs. To keep employees, 48% of business owners reported raising compensation, just two points below the 48-year record high set … [Read more...] about Nearly Half of Small Businesses Can’t Fill Jobs

The number of small business owners reporting inflation as their top business problem has reached its highest level since 1979, according to a survey by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Thirty-seven percent of small business owners reported that inflation was their single most important problem in operating their business, an increase of three points from June and the highest level since the fourth quarter of 1979. Overall, the NFIB’s Small Business Optimism Index rose to 89.9, marking the sixth consecutive month below the 48-year average of 98. The reading was higher than estimates for a reading of 89 and slightly more than June’s reading of 89.5. Owners expecting better business conditions over the next six months increased nine points from June’s record low level to a net negative 52%. Expectations for better business conditions had deteriorated every month from January to June of this year. Thirty-two percent of owners reported that supply chain … [Read more...] about Small Business Inflation Worries Highest Since 1979

MULTI-AWARDED This year Caroline Ong became the first creative to receive the Pamana ng Pilipino Award from Malacañang. —Contributed photos While most Filipinos dream of living the life of an expat in Western countries, Caroline Ong wanted to try her luck in a country closer to home and her heart. “I want to work in China.” This is what she manifested to the universe even before she became a global advertising creative and paved the way for the brand of Filipino creativity to be recognized in the world stage. Carol, who hails from Bacolod City, is a third-generation Chinese-Filipino. In order to come full circle with her Chinese roots, she wanted to study Mandarin so she could work in Shanghai. “I dreamed of coming to Shanghai way before it became hip. To my dismay, I couldn’t afford to pay for the tuition and living expenses without work. I couldn’t find scholarships. I looked for job opportunities, but why would anyone hire an English copywriter in a non-English speaking … [Read more...] about China-based Pinay creative now a trailblazing entrepreneur

As China’s economic ties to Africa entrench further, one small, semi-autonomous African region is resisting Chinese advances in a move that mirrors Taiwan’s efforts to maintain autonomy from China, according to The Wall Street Journal. Somaliland , one of two remaining African political regions with formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, broke away from Somalia over 30 years ago but has yet to achieve recognition as an independent state at the United Nations, according to the WSJ. Beijing offered to build infrastructure projects in Somaliland if it would distance itself from Taiwan, but Somaliland refused, instead sending a delegation to Taiwan in February. Somaliland is “open to all bilateral relations we can have with any country, but it has to be unconditional, no strings attached,” Essa Kayd, Somaliland’s foreign minister, told the WSJ. “We’re not going to allow anyone to dictate who we can have a relationship with.” Taiwanese companies now have greater … [Read more...] about Bucking The Trend, One Small African Region Is Taking Sides With Taiwan

Two years ago, President Obama cited “impressive security and political gains in Somalia” to support his decision to grant diplomatic recognition for the fragile government of Somalia. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called the diplomatic recognition of the President Hassan Mohamud’s government, the first Somali government America recognized since 1991, a “ new chapter” between the two countries. Last month, Obama nominated a career diplomat Katherine Dhanani to serve as the new U.S. ambassador to Somalia, since 1991, after dictator Siad Barre was ousted. But the new ambassador will not be posted in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu, where a climate of insecurity prevails. It has been more than two years since President Mohamud was selected as the leader of Somalia. But Mohamud’s government did little to contribute peace, security and political reconciliation for the war torn country. His government is struggling to govern, and its authority is not beyond Mogadishu, where … [Read more...] about President Obama Is Backing The Wrong Partners In Somalia

GAS PRICES SHATTER RECORD HIGHS… USA TODAY: Gas prices are now the most expensive in US history, breaking record from 2008 After days of dramatically rising gas prices in wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the national average for a gallon of gas is now the highest in United States history, breaking the record that stood for nearly 14 years. As of Tuesday morning, the cost of regular gas in the U.S. is $4.17, according to AAA, up from $4.06 on Monday. Last week, the average cost was $3.60. The previous national average high was $4.11, set on July 17, 2008, according to AAA. The cost for diesel is also nearing the record of $4.84, which was also set in July 2008. The current price for a gallon of diesel is $4.75, over double what it was in October 2020. WORSE THAN HOLLYWOOD COULD IMAGINE… ‘I Am Legend’ Set A Prediction For Gas Prices In The Apocalypse. Prices In Beverly Hills Just Surpassed It In one rich pocket of the country, gas is officially more … [Read more...] about Editor Daily Rundown: Gas Prices Shatter Record Highs

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline A 24-year-old man from New Jersey has been charged with attempted murder after allegedly stabbing author Salman Rushdie onstage Friday, the latest act of violence on someone involved in publishing Rushdie’s 1988 book, The Satanic Verses , which provoked controversy around the world and even resulted in a fatwa calling for the death of Rushdie and his publishers. Key Facts Hadi Matar from Fairview, New Jersey, is being held without bail after being charged with second degree murder and assault, Chautauqua County district attorney Jason Schmidt said in a statement Saturday. Rushdie spent years in hiding after The Satanic Verses –which was partially inspired by the life of the Islamic prophet Muhammad–recieved backlash from Muslim leaders who said the novel was blasphemous. Threats against Rushdie and others involved in publishing the book reached a boiling point in 1989, when Iran’s … [Read more...] about Suspect In Salman Rushdie Stabbing Charged With Murder — Latest In History Of Attacks Against Those Involved In ‘The Satanic Verses’

Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Topline In an apparently coordinated action, at least four major state-owned Chinese companies said Friday they intend to delist their stocks in the U.S., as Beijing appears unwilling to bend to increased U.S. scrutiny into the country’s financial auditing practices. Key Facts Aluminum Corp. of China, China Life Insurance, PetroChina and Sinopec all announced they plan to delist from U.S. stock exchanges within the next month. The quartet are among the largest companies in China and in the world: According to Forbes ’ list of the 2,000 largest public companies globally released in May, PetroChina is the 21st largest company in the world, Sinopec the 45th, China Life Insurance the 71st and Aluminum Corp. of China the 853rd. All will remain listed on the Hong Kong and Chinese exchanges. Chinese financial regulators said Friday the delistings are routine and talks with foreign regulators are … [Read more...] about Several Large Chinese-Owned Companies Announce Plans To Delist From NYSE