Trump to sign order creating Olympics task force ahead of 2028 games
WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump will sign an executive order on Aug 5 creating a White House Olympics task force to handle security and other issues related to the 2028 summer Olympic games, an administration official told Reuters.
The task force, made up of members from Mr Trump's cabinet and government agencies, will coordinate federal, state and local government work on transportation, the official said.
It also will 'streamline visa processing and credentialing for foreign athletes, coaches, officials, and media,' the official said in an email.
The United States will
host the Olympics in Los Angeles in three years. Mr Trump, a Republican who lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden, has expressed pleasure that his second term will coincide with the Olympics and the World Cup.
'During his first term, President Trump was instrumental in securing America's bid to host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. The president considers it a great honor to oversee this global sporting spectacle in his second term,' White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement on Aug 4.
July organisers of the Los Angeles games released the first look at the Olympic competition schedule. The city had also hosted the Olympics in 1932 and 1984.
'The creation of this task force marks an important step forward in our planning efforts and reflects our shared commitment to delivering not just the biggest, but the greatest Games the world has ever seen in the summer of 2028,' Ms Casey Wasserman, the chair and president of LA28, said in a statement. REUTERS
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Two children among injured in Russia's overnight attack on Kharkiv region, Ukraine says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Two children were among several people injured in Russia's largest air attack on the Ukrainian town of Lozova since the war began, the head of the local administration said on Tuesday. "Critical infrastructure, apartment buildings and private homes have been damaged," Serhiy Zelenskiy, the head of the city's council, said on the Telegram messaging app. "Lozova has endured the largest attack since the beginning of the war," he said, adding several people including two children were wounded in the town in the eastern Ukrainian region of Kharkiv. The scale of the attack on the town, which had a pre-war population of about 55,000, was not immediately clear. Reuters could not independently verify Zelenskiy's report. There was no immediate comment from Russia. Both sides deny targeting civilians in the war that Russia launched with a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The Kharkiv region, which lies near the border with Russia, has been the target of regular Russian drone and missile attacks since the start of the war. Parts of Lozova, a town in the southern parts of the Kharkiv region, were left without power and water supply, Zelenskiy said. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. World Israel to decide next steps in Gaza after ceasefire talks collapse Singapore 'I wish I can hear her sing again,' says boyfriend of Yishun fatal crash victim Singapore Singapore-made bot amble matchmakes strangers virtually - without profile photos Asia What's it like to deal with brutal US tariffs? Ask Malaysia Singapore Singapore launches review of economic strategy to stay ahead of global shifts Singapore A look at the five committees reviewing Singapore's economic strategy Singapore Conditional warning for ex-manager at Mendaki accused of trying to obtain laptop as bribe "We will persevere!" he added. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Ukraine's drone attack sparks fires in Rostov region, Russia says
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox An overnight Ukrainian drone attack sparked several fires, including at a power substation, in the southern Russian region of Rostov, the acting regional governor said on Tuesday. There were no injuries as a result of the attack and the fire at the substation on an area of about 500 square metres (5,400 square feet) has been extinguished, Rostov's acting governor, Yuri Slyusar, said on the Telegram messaging app. Russia's defence units destroyed a total of 24 Ukrainian drones overnight, including seven over the Rostov region, which has been a frequent target of Ukraine's strikes, Russia's defence ministry said on Telegram. The ministry reports only the number of downed drones, not how many Ukraine launched. Reuters could not independently verify the reports, and there was no immediate comment from Kyiv. Ukraine has frequently said its attacks inside Russia are aimed at destroying infrastructure key to Moscow's war efforts and are in response to Russia's continued strikes on Ukraine. REUTERS
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Tesla awards Elon Musk $37 billion in shares to stay focussed
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox The move suggests that directors still see him as best-suited to tackle Tesla's growing list of challenges. Bengaluru - Tesla has granted chief executive Elon Musk shares worth about US$29 billion (S$37 billion) in a new pay deal aimed at keeping him at the helm a crucial pivot for the struggling electric vehicle maker. The move is meant to keep Mr Musk, the public face of Tesla and architect of its robotaxi strategy, focussed on the company as it navigates a shift to cybercabs and robotics from its mainstay auto business. It also seems to quell any speculation that the board's patience with Mr Musk could be wearing thin because of the recent tumultuous months, including the CEO's foray into politics. The company described the 'interim award' of the 96 million new shares as a first step, 'good faith' payment to honour Mr Musk's more than US$50 billion pay package from 2018 that was struck down by a Delaware court in 2024. Mr Musk can claim the new award if he remains in a top executive role for another two years and a court does not reinstate the 2018 package currently on appeal. The move to give Mr Musk greater control of the company suggests that directors still see him as best-suited to tackle Tesla's growing list of challenges in the years ahead. Sales have been falling at the company due to its ageing vehicle line-up, tough competition and Mr Musk's right-wing political stances that have tarnished its brand. S&P Global Mobility data shared exclusively with Reuters showed on Aug 4 that Tesla's brand loyalty had plunged since Mr Musk endorsed US President Donald Trump last summer. Mr Musk's involvement in politics and his wider business empire, including AI startup xAI, have also sparked concerns about his devotion to Tesla, the main source of his wealth. Mr Musk has threatened to leave unless he gets more control over Tesla. The new stock award will take his Tesla stake, already the largest, to more than 15 per cent from the 12.7 per cent currently, according to Reuters calculations based on data compiled by LSEG. Before Aug 4's grant, Mr Musk had no active compensation plan and Tesla said he had not received meaningful pay since 2017. With the legal fight over his 2018 package expected to continue, the board said it moved to retain Mr Musk's 'extraordinary talent.' Talent magnet 'While we recognise Elon's business ventures, interests and other potential demands on his time and attention are extensive and wide-ranging... we are confident this award will incentivise Elon to remain at Tesla,' said a special committee Tesla formed in 2025 to consider Mr Musk's compensation. The new shares will also be forfeited or offset if the Delaware courts fully reinstate the 2018 stock award, ensuring there is no 'double dip,' it said. Investors and analysts welcomed the news, with Tesla shares rising nearly 2 per cent in early trading. The stock has lost a quarter of its value in 2025. 'Under normal circumstances, a compensation package in the billions would raise some eyebrows. (But) clearly investors have benefited from Musk's stewardship of Tesla,' said Camelthorn Investments adviser Shawn Campbell, who owns Tesla shares. 'This stock grant will bind Musk to Tesla for the next two years.' Battle for pay The Delaware ruling on Mr Musk's 2018 pay package, the largest in Corporate America, had cited flaws in the board's approval process and unfairness to investors. Mr Musk kicked off an appeal against the order in March. He argued that the package resulted in spectacular growth for Tesla and yet was determined by the lower Court of Chancery to be unfair to shareholders, who voted twice to approve the plan. Tesla shares have risen nearly 2,000 per cent over the past decade, far outperforming the around 200 per cent rise in the benchmark S&P 500 index in the same period. 'This is simply a repackaged version of what was done years ago and was ruled improper by a judge. It renders the Delaware court decision effectively meaningless,' said Mr Charles Elson, founding director of the Weinberg Centre for Corporate Governance at the University of Delaware. 'You don't have to incentivise him to stay. If he leaves, he throws away 13 per cent of the company, which is still a huge part of his net worth, said Mr Elson, who had filed amicus briefs supporting the court's decision to void Mr Musk's 2018 award. REUTERS
