• Dhaka Fri, 22 NOVEMBER 2024,
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27-Year-Old Caroline Named White House Press Secretary
Elon Musk's Grip on Politics is Stronger than Ever
Elon Musk, billionaire owner of some of the world's most prominent technology companies, including carmaker Tesla, social media platform X and aerospace company SpaceX,  has this week seen his political influence cemented with a potentially powerful appointment in the administration of Donald Trump, who had promised Musk a leadership role in an administration if he is reelected. The president-elect announced on Tuesday evening that he was going to make Musk the head of a new "Department of Government Efficiency" (DOGE) aimed at slashing government expenditure, bureaucracy and regulations. The exact position of this new organization is not yet clear, as, despite its name, it will apparently not be an official government department. Musk would "provide advice and guidance from outside the government," Trump said in a statement posted on his social media platform Truth Social. Nevertheless, the appointment potentially gives Musk enormous power over government policy. Though there are few details about what plans DOGE has, Musk promised on X that its work would be transparent, and it would "have a leaderboard for most insanely dumb spending of your tax dollars." Musk has regularly been using the influence he wields through his companies to weigh in on political debates in countries around the world, from Brazil to Germany.   The 53-year-old's intervention in politics, unprecedented in its openness and visibility, highlights how a few private tech companies and their executives hold increasingly unchecked power over decisions traditionally reserved for governments, digital rights experts warn.   "The kinds of technologies Musk operates are highly critical, and the companies he owns are incredibly influential and positioned at key junctures in terms of access to information and geopolitics," said Marietje Schaake, a fellow at Stanford University's Cyber Policy Center and author of The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley.   "And Musk isn't just running these companies to maximize their success," Schaake, a former member of the European Parliament for the Dutch liberal Democrats 66 party, told DW. "He's also using them as tools for his own geopolitical agenda."  From self-proclaimed ‘moderate' to right-wing hard-liner  Since founding his first company in the mid-1990s, the South African-born entrepreneur has built a string of successful businesses and amassed an estimated fortune of more than $243 billion (€224 billion).  His talent for growing startups into leading technology companies has also given him increasing control over critical digital infrastructure and gradually helped expand his political influence. Today, the US space program NASA relies on Musk's astronautics company, SpaceX, to launch satellites. SpaceX subsidiary Starlink delivers broadband internet to some of the most remote places in the world and has become an indispensable tool for militaries in conflict zones from Ukraine to Gaza. The geopolitical influence that comes with control of these technologies is illustrated by revelations from The Wall Street Journal: According to the paper, Musk has been in contact with Russian President Vladimir Putin since late 2022. Among other things, Putin asked Musk not to activate the Starlink satellite communications system over Taiwan as a favor to Chinese leader Xi Jinping, The Wall Street Journal reports. With his acquisition of X, previously Twitter, in 2022, Musk also gained control over one of the most influential social media platforms.  At the same time, the entrepreneur, who once identified as a "moderate" on the political fringes, has increasingly aligned himself with hard-line conservative positions, openly opposing left-leaning ideals he now views as detrimental to society's future.  Breaking with tradition  Musk's political involvement reached new heights in the buildup to the US election in November. After an assassination attempt in mid-July, Musk publicly endorsed Trump. Between July and mid-October this year, Musk contributed nearly $119 million to a super PAC supporting Trump, according to campaign finance reports. Then, in the final weeks before election day, he drew criticism by offering cash incentives to registered voters in seven swing states to sign a petition. Every day until the election, one signatory was selected at random and awarded one million dollars. he drew attention Such overt political involvement is unusual among US business elites. "The relationship between Musk and Trump brings into the open a level of influence that most business moguls prefer to keep under the radar," Schaake said. "Musk's actions seem to reflect that he believes he can do whatever he wants," she added, referring to Musk's repeated attempts to insert himself into other countries' political debates. What next?  This concentration of power over critical digital infrastructure poses a risk to democracy, cyber policy expert Schaake warned. A first glimpse of this potential influence was offered in late September: Trump's running mate, JD Vance, suggested that the US might reconsider its support for NATO if the European Union moved forward with regulations targeting social media platforms, specifically Musk's X. The EU is currently investigating X for potential violations of new online platform regulations, which could lead to substantial fines.  "Musk is unpredictable; his positions can change overnight," she said. "And when someone who controls significant products and infrastructure changes his mind, the consequences are also significant." 
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Trump’s Victory Speech: ‘God Saved My Life for a Reason’
Donald Trump is set to take the White House for a second time. Although the official announcement of his position as the 47th President of the United States is yet to come, Trump has already declared himself the winner. On Wednesday, November 6, he delivered a victory speech, mentioning Pennsylvania, where he won in a landslide. He remarked, "God saved me for a reason." Following his landslide victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris in the November 5 election, Trump addressed his supporters at the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida on Wednesday. In his speech, Trump said, "God saved me for a reason, and that reason is to save our country and rebuild America as the ‘Great America’ it once was. Together, we are now embarking on that mission. We will accomplish it." He reiterated this determination. He continued, "The path ahead is not easy, but I will fulfill my duties with every ounce of strength, enthusiasm, and goodwill I possess." The newly elected President also pledged to mend the divisions among the American people. He said, "It is time to heal the rifts that have emerged among us over the past four years. This is a moment for unity, and we will strive to bring America back to being ‘Great America’ once again." Earlier, Trump had stated that if he won in Pennsylvania, one of the key swing states, he would become the President of the United States. With 19 electoral votes, Trump secured victory in Pennsylvania. Several months ago, during an election rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Trump faced an assassination attempt. A gunman fired at him from a distance, and Trump narrowly survived, with a bullet grazing his ear. The Secret Service neutralized the attacker. Since then, Trump has faced another attack, underscoring the challenges surrounding his journey back to the presidency.
Trump Breaks 132-Year Record, Supporters Erupt in Jubilation
Donald Trump has made a historic comeback, becoming the U.S. President once again after previously losing an election. With this victory, Trump shattered a 132-year-old record. Exceeding the magic number of 270 electoral votes, the Republican camp is celebrating with unrestrained joy, as they also hold a majority in the Senate. American citizens, including many Bangladeshis, voted to elect the 47th President of the United States, focusing on key issues such as the economy, abortion, healthcare, immigration, employment, and Israeli aggression in Palestine. This election saw a significant increase in new voters, with a noticeable rise in female voter turnout. On election day, Republican candidate Donald Trump cast his vote in West Palm Beach, Florida, while Democratic candidate Kamala Harris had already voted by mail two days earlier. Both candidates were optimistic about winning. However, on Wednesday (October 6), at around 1:30 PM Bangladesh time, Fox News reported Trump as the victor. According to Fox News, the latest results showed Trump securing 277 electoral votes, while his Democratic rival Kamala Harris received 226. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the U.S. presidency. Following his confirmed victory, Trump addressed his supporters, pledging to make America great once more and extending special thanks to voters from swing states. Trump's supporters erupted in boundless jubilation over his triumph.
Republicans Swipe Senate for First Time in 4 Years
Republicans regained control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday, flipping Democratic-held seats and securing GOP incumbents. The pivotal moment came in Nebraska, where incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer narrowly defeated independent Dan Osborn. Republicans also flipped a seat in West Virginia, with Jim Justice replacing retiring Sen. Joe Manchin. Democratic attempts to oust Republicans Ted Cruz of Texas and Rick Scott of Florida failed. Cruz’s victory in Texas, a state that hasn’t elected a Democrat in nearly 30 years, was fueled by his support for reproductive rights amid strict abortion laws. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno defeated Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, marking the first loss for an incumbent senator in the cycle. As Democrats fought to retain their majority, attention shifted to critical states like Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin. With the Senate split 50-50, control could hinge on just one seat, with the vice president holding the tie-breaking vote. Historic victories also marked the night. Lisa Blunt Rochester of Delaware and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland became the first Black women elected to the Senate, while Andy Kim of New Jersey became the first Korean American senator. Meanwhile, Sarah McBride of Delaware made history as the first openly transgender person elected to Congress. Amid these battles, the economy, immigration, and the future of democracy emerged as key issues for voters. With former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris on the presidential ballot, Congress’s role in certifying election results remains critical. As vote counting continues in several key races, both parties are closely watching outcomes in Montana, Arizona, Nevada, and other battleground states. Records show that if Democrats take the House and Republicans take the Senate, it would be the first time that the chambers of Congress have both flipped to opposing political parties. (Source: AP)
Trump Wins North Carolina; Harris' Path to Victory Narrows
Republican Donald Trump defeated Democrat Kamala Harris in the battleground state of North Carolina in Tuesday's U.S. presidential election, Edison Research projected, moving him one step closer to completing an improbable political comeback. The outcome remained uncertain in six other states expected to determine the winner. But Trump was showing strength across broad swaths of the country. He had won 227 Electoral College votes to Harris' 165 as of 11:30 p.m. ET (0430 GMT on Wednesday). A candidate needs a total of at least 270 votes in the state-by-state Electoral College to claim the presidency. Decision Desk HQ projected Trump would also win Georgia, narrowing her path to victory through the Rust Belt trio of Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, though she was behind in all three states. Trump picked up more support from Hispanics, traditionally Democratic voters, and among lower-income households that have keenly felt the sting of price rises since the last presidential election in 2020, according to exit polls from Edison. Trump won 45% of Hispanic voters nationwide, trailing Harris with 53% but up 13 percentage points from 2020. Voters whose top issue was the economy voted overwhelmingly for Trump, especially if they felt they were worse off financially than they were four years ago. About 31% of voters said the economy was their top issue, and they voted for Trump by a 79%-to-20% margin, according to exit polls. Some 45% of voters across the country said their family's financial situation was worse off today than four years ago, and they favored Trump 80% to 17% for Harris.