Mexican truck drivers study English to comply with new US language rules
CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico - Mexican truck drivers in the border city of Ciudad Juarez have begun studying English in efforts to comply with an executive order by President Donald Trump requiring commercial drivers in the U.S. to meet English-proficiency standards.
Some 50 drivers who haul goods back and forth between Ciudad Juarez and El Paso, just across the border in Texas, are attending four to eight hours of English classes a week organized by their employer, Fletes Sotelo, in order to meet the U.S. standards.
The company's owner, Manuel Sotelo, said the classes started some six weeks ago, and that the goal is for all the company's drivers to know basic English. Sotelo is also the president of the transport association of Ciudad Juarez.
Jose Murguia, one of the drivers, said he thought the classes were a great opportunity, especially given the recent executive order.
"It's important to know the language, at least in the ways that are necessary for our work, which is to transport goods into El Paso," he said.
While the English-proficiency standard for truckers was already longstanding U.S. law, Trump's executive order in April reversed 2016 guidance that inspectors not place commercial drivers out of service if their only violation was lack of English.
The order came on the heels of Trump's March executive order mandating English as the official language of the United States.
Top stories
Swipe. Select. Stay informed.
Singapore Critical infrastructure in S'pore under attack by cyber espionage group: Shanmugam
Singapore Who is UNC3886, the group that attacked S'pore's critical information infrastructure?
Singapore HSA looking to get anti-vape cyber surveillance tool with AI capabilities
Singapore Singapore police in contact with Indonesian authorities over baby trafficking allegations
Singapore Alleged Kpod peddler filmed trying to flee raid in Bishan charged with 6 offences
Singapore NTU upholds zero grade for student penalised for academic misconduct; panel found 14 false citations or data
Singapore 30% of aviation jobs could be redesigned due to AI, automation; $200m fund to support workers: CAAS
Singapore Former NUH male nurse faces charges after he allegedly molested man at hospital
That executive order has been criticized as discriminatory since millions of Americans speak languages other than, or in addition to, English. REUTERS
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Economists split on Singapore monetary policy after surprise growth
Find out what's new on ST website and app. MAS already eased monetary policy twice this year in January and April on growth concerns due to US tariffs. SINGAPORE - Economists are split on whether Singapore's central bank will loosen monetary policy or leave settings unchanged in its scheduled review next week as the economy remains resilient despite weakening global growth. Of 12 analysts Reuters polled, six expect the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) to loosen its currency-based monetary policy at the review on July 30 to counter an expected negative output gap in the economy. The other six expect no change in policy. MAS already eased monetary policy twice this year in January and April on growth concerns due to US tariffs after holding settings since a tightening in October 2022. The economy, however, is posting better-than-expected results due to frontloading activity. Singapore avoided a technical recession after the economy grew 1.4 per cent quarter on quarter in the second quarter of 2025, according to preliminary government data released last week. But authorities in Singapore have warned that growth is likely to slow in the second half of 2025 as frontloading activity tapers off amid global trade uncertainties. In April, the government reduced its GDP forecast to 0 per cent to 2 per cent from 1 per cent to 3 per cent. Instead of using interest rates, MAS manages monetary policy by letting the local dollar rise or fall against the currencies of Singapore's main trading partners within an undisclosed trading band, known as the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate, or S$Neer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Cambodia and Thailand are willing to consider ceasefire: Malaysian PM Anwar Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Sport 'We can match Malaysia or do even better', say Singapore's divers Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts World Trump and Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit It adjusts policy via three levers: the slope, mid-point and width of the policy band. Maybank economists expect MAS to maintain policy given the improved economic outlook. The analysts also upgraded their forecast for 2025 GDP to 3.2 per cent from 2.4 per cent. OCBC analyst Christopher Wong also expects MAS to hold policy. 'Having implemented two consecutive easings in the first half of 2025 by reducing the policy slope, a pause at this juncture will allow policymakers to evaluate the effects of earlier easing measures and await greater clarity on tariff-related uncertainties,' he said. However, Barclays analysts think MAS will flatten the S$Neer slope. 'MAS knows better than to celebrate any upside surprises to second quarter GDP too early: frontloading implies an eventual payback – which is likely to manifest in second half of 2025 – while the more pernicious effects of uncertainty on investment will likely also take time to show up,' they said. Central banks globally are taking a wait-and-see approach. The US Federal Reserve is expected to hold its benchmark rate steady at its July meeting, while the European Central Bank left rates unchanged on July 24 after eight consecutive interest rate cuts. REUTERS
Straits Times
8 minutes ago
- Straits Times
HDB resale price growth moderates in Q2, more flats sold
Find out what's new on ST website and app. More resale flats were sold in the second quarter of 2025. SINGAPORE – Prices of Housing Board resale flats inched up 0.9 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, a slower pace than the 1.6 per cent increase recorded in the previous quarter. This marked the third consecutive quarter of a moderation in price growth, and is the lowest quarter-on-quarter growth since the second quarter of 2020, the Housing Board said on July 25. HDB resale prices have been rising continuously on a quarterly basis since the second quarter of 2020 after the Covid-19 pandemic slowed the construction of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats and crimped the supply of public housing. Data released by HDB on July 25 also showed that more resale flats were sold in the second quarter of 2025, rising by 7.8 per cent to 7,102 units, from 6,590 units in the first quarter. HDB said Singapore's gross domestic product growth for 2025 is expected to moderate from 2024. There are also early signs of moderation in labour demand amid slowing economic growth and continued headwinds arising from global trade conflicts, it said. 'Given the highly uncertain macroeconomic outlook, households should continue to exercise prudence when purchasing properties and taking on mortgage loans,' HDB added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business GIC posts 3.8% annualised return over 20 years despite economic uncertainties Business GIC's focus on long-term value aims to avoid permanent loss amid intensifying economic changes Opinion No idle punt: Why Singapore called out cyber saboteur UNC3886 by name Asia Cambodia and Thailand are willing to consider ceasefire: Malaysian PM Anwar Asia Deadly Thai-Cambodian dispute puts Asean's relevance on the line Sport 'We can match Malaysia or do even better', say Singapore's divers Business MAS' measures spark cautious optimism for Singapore stock market revival: Analysts World Trump and Fed chief Powell bicker during tense central bank visit In October, the board will roll out about 9,100 BTO flats in Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Bishan, Bukit Merah, Jurong East, Sengkang, Toa Payoh and Yishun. These include the first flats in two new housing estates – the Greater Southern Waterfront and Mount Pleasant. An assisted-living project in Sengkang, which will be the fifth of its kind in Singapore, will also be on offer. It advised home seekers to apply for an HDB Flat Eligibility letter by Sept 15, so that they can take part in the next BTO exercise.
Business Times
38 minutes ago
- Business Times
US prepares to allow limited oil operations in Venezuela, starting with Chevron, sources say
[HOUSTON] The United States is preparing to grant new authorisations to key partners of Venezuela's state-run PDVSA, starting with Chevron, to allow them to operate with limitations in the sanctioned Opec nation and swap oil, five sources close to the matter said on Thursday. If granted, the authorisations to the US oil major, and possibly also to PDVSA's European partners, would mark a policy shift from a pressure strategy Washington adopted this year on Venezuela's energy industry, under US sanctions since 2019. President Donald Trump's administration might now allow the energy companies to pay oilfield contractors and make necessary imports to secure operational continuity. Some imports could be swapped for Venezuelan oil, as authorised in previous licenses, three of the sources said. A senior State Department official said in a statement they could not speak about any specific licenses to PDVSA's partners, but added the United States would not allow President Nicolas Maduro's government to profit from the sale of oil. A source in touch with US and Venezuelan officials said it was difficult to understand how Maduro's government would not benefit from cargoes Chevron can sell to the US, and later on Thursday Maduro hailed work done to keep Chevron in the country. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up 'There are already working groups so that Chevron can re-incorporate its functions,' Maduro told an interview with Telesur, adding that Chevron's top leadership had already been informed of licenses so it can keep operating in Venezuela. Chevron shares touched US$155.93 on Thursday, their highest level since April 3, according to LSEG data. 'Chevron conducts its business globally in compliance with laws and regulations applicable to its business, as well as the sanctions frameworks provided for by the US government, including in Venezuela,' a company spokesperson said. The move to ease some restrictions on Venezuela's oil sector follows a prisoner swap this month in which Maduro released 10 American detainees while accepting the return of more than 200 Venezuelans who had been deported from the US and held in an El Salvador prison. Relations between the two countries have been tense for years, and the Trump administration has publicly supported opposition leaders who say their candidate won last year's election, not Maduro. Trump in February announced the cancellation of a handful of energy licenses in Venezuela, including Chevron's, and gave until late May to wind down all transactions. The move left all operations in oil and gas joint ventures with Chevron and other partners in PDVSA's hands, but the companies were authorized to preserve their stakes and output remained almost unchanged. The US State Department, which in May blocked a move by special presidential envoy Richard Grenell to extend the licenses, is this time imposing conditions on any authorization modifications, so that no cash reaches Maduro's coffers, the three sources said. In the past, US officials have promised no money would reach Maduro from oil proceeds despite licenses. But it did because PDVSA demands tax and royalties to be paid before granting exports permits. Even if parties agree to oil swaps, those arrangements save PDVSA, and ultimately Maduro's government, millions of dollars per year in imports. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is not expected this time to ban the authorisations, but is negotiating their scope, they added. It was not immediately clear if the terms of the license that could be granted to Chevron would be reproduced for other foreign companies in Venezuela, including Italy's Eni and Spain's Repsol, which have been asking the US to allow them to swap fuel supplies for Venezuelan oil. The authorisations might remain private, one of the sources said. The US Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control and PDVSA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Where will the oil go? Following the cancellation of Chevron's license earlier this year, Trump announced the imposition of secondary tariffs on buyers of Venezuelan oil. But the measure, expected to severely hit Venezuela's main crude buyer China, has not been enforced, allowing the South American country to divert to Asia crude grades that were previously sold to US and European refiners through PDVSA's joint-venture partners. The reshuffle, which has maintained Venezuela's oil output and exports close to the levels they were at before the license cancellations, has been criticised by politicians in Washington and was discussed as part of talks for the new authorisations, the sources said. During former US President Joe Biden's administration, targeted licenses to PDVSA's partners allowed Western refiners to regain access to Venezuelan supplies, but they also granted a stable source of cash to Maduro's administration as the companies were required by Venezuela to pay royalties and taxes. REUTERS
