Latest news with #Rothman
The Star
21-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Will the US$499 Trump phone be made in Alabama or China?
Trump Mobile is rolling out the US$499 (RM2,123) T1 Phone in August. — Getty Images via AFP Buried in Monday's news of a new cell phone bearing the name of the Trump organisation was one tidbit about where it will be manufactured. President Donald Trump's company said it is launching the Trump Mobile cell phone service, which it claimed is 'designed to deliver top-tier connectivity, unbeatable value and all-American service for our nation's hardest-working people.' Along with the service, Trump Mobile is rolling out the US$499 (RM 2,123) T1 Phone in August, a 'gold smartphone engineered for performance and proudly designed and built in the United States for customers who expect the best from their mobile carrier.' But The Wall Street Journal is reporting that, according to the company, Alabama will be one of three states where the phones will be made. A spokesman for the Trump Organization told the Journal that 'manufacturing for the new phone will be in Alabama, California and Florida.' The Trump Organization did not respond to a request from for more information. Eric Trump did say Monday that the first wave of phones wouldn't be built in the US. 'You can build these phones in the United States,' he told podcaster Benny Johnson. 'Eventually, all the phones can be built in the United States of America. We have to bring manufacturing back here.' The Journal is a bit sceptical that any American-made cellphone will show up soon. Earlier this year, the newspaper quizzed supply-chain experts on how quickly a completely US-made phone on the order of the iPhone could appear. They projected years and a multi-billion dollar commitment to build the infrastructure necessary, which would result in a phone more expensive than the iPhones made in China. The Journal's deputy tech editor Wilson Rothman said in the Journal's 'Tech News Podcast' that there are currently phones that resemble the specs of the T1 phone at this price point that are made in China. 'The thing about manufacturing phones in America is you have to have an infrastructure,' Rothman said. 'You have to have a workforce. You have to have things that you can't just snap your fingers or even throw US$500bil (RM2.13 trillion) at. It's not a problem that can be solved just with money. It really is a decades-in-the works kind of project.' Regardless, Rothman said the Trump phone could do well in capitalising 'on the frustration of people (with) their wireless plans.' And despite being advertised as an American-made phone, 'it is likely that this device will be initially produced by a Chinese (original design manufacturer),' Counterpoint Research analyst Blake Przesmicki wrote in a June 16 note, according to Variety . 'Max Weinbach, an analyst at research firm Creative Strategies, in a post on X, said the T1 Phone is likely being made by Wingtech, which is owned by Chinese company Luxshare. 'Same device as the T-Mobile REVVL 7 Pro 5G, custom body,' Weinbach wrote in the post, Variety reprted. 'Wingtech, now owned byLuxshare, makes it in Jiaxing, Wuxi, or Kunming China.' – News Service
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sunday hunting proposal passes Pa. House. What's next?
A hunter walks across a field. (Getty Images) For the second year in a row, a proposal to repeal Pennsylvania's Sunday hunting prohibition passed the state House in bipartisan fashion this week. After Wednesday's vote, a bevy of organizations have weighed in with some arguing it's past time to end the ban, while others say it would be a step backwards for the outdoor experience in Pennsylvania. As the debate moves to the Senate, a key committee chair told the Capital-Star he's still evaluating House Bill 1431, but the legislation advancing seems like good news. Senate Game and Fisheries Committee Chairperson Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) said he expects to have a debate and vote on it in the near future. 'I think it's an idea that's time has come,' Rothman told the Capital-Star on Thursday. 'Other states allow it. What we want to be doing as a state government is to promote hunting and make it as accessible as possible, especially to working families and to younger people.' 'And I think Sunday (hunting) gives them more opportunities,' he added. 'So the more opportunities to hunt gets more hunters, and helps us keep this great tradition alive in Pennsylvania.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE The sale of hunting licenses generated more than $59 million in revenue for the Game Commission last year. Rothman said he supports Sen. Dan Laughlin's (R-Erie) proposal to end the ban and believes that proposal would have the support in the chamber. Rothman said state Rep. Mandy Steele (D-Allegheny) assured him the language in her proposal is the same in Laughlin's. While the bill proposed by Laughlin also has the support of Sen. James Malone (D-Lancaster), the minority chair of the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee, Rothman wants to go over the details of Steele's proposal to see if it can also pass the chamber. Steele described the state's ban as 'archaic' and 'not based in the reality of today.' Pennsylvania expanded Sunday hunting in 2019 when Gov. Tom Wolf signed a law to allow hunting on three Sundays each year: One during archery season, one during rifle season, and one Sunday selected by the Game Commission. Laughlin also led that effort. Prior to the 2019 expansion, hunting had been mostly illegal on Sundays for over 200 years under the state's Blue Laws, which stem from the Quaker foundations of the commonwealth and barred certain activities on the sabbath. 'It's a law that most states have eliminated long ago,' Steele said during debate on the House floor, noting that with a Monday to Friday workweek, most people only have Saturday to hunt. 'Not being able to hunt on Sundays creates major hurdles for busy families. It's a significant barrier for working people.' Steele described herself as 'not a typical hunter' and someone who did not grow up learning to hunt. But she spent a lot of time outdoors and later picked it up as an adult and mother of four children. She said she's been welcomed into the hunting community wholeheartedly. 'It has been a gratifying experience,' Steele said. Her proposal is backed by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen and Conservationists, Hunter Nation, Hunters United for Sunday Hunting, and Backcountry Hunters & Anglers. The Game Commission celebrated the bill advancing Wednesday, issuing a statement referencing a number of reasons that it backs the measure. 'Though hunters play an active role in helping to manage wildlife populations through the purchase of their licenses and other revenue they generate, they also fund wildlife conservation at a larger scale, for all species,' Game Commission Executive Director Steve Smith said. 'For those reasons and others, it's important to keep hunters engaged and providing the valuable service they do. These bills would help accomplish that.' 'One of the biggest reasons hunters stop hunting is a lack of time,' he added. 'While no one can add hours to the day or days to the week, removing the prohibition on Sunday hunting holds the potential to add significantly more time to the hunting calendar and keep hunters hunting.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau said expanding hunting could help reduce crop damage across the state by better managing deer populations. The bill would require at least one member of the Game Commission's Board of Commissioners to have an agriculture background. The bill passed by a 131-72 vote on Wednesday, with support from most Democrats. Republicans were more divided on the matter. The House unanimously approved an amendment to H.B. 1431, to restore the hunting rights of people charged with trespassing immediately upon their acquittal or dismissal of the charges. Other amendments were rejected, including one defeated along party lines that would move the first day of deer hunting season to the Monday after Thanksgiving. The debate around Sunday hunting in Pennsylvania is far from new. Last session, the House passed Steele's bill to repeal the Sunday hunting ban by a 129-73 vote. That bill did not advance in the Senate. Rep. David Maloney, minority chairperson of the House Game and Fisheries Committee, opposed H.B. 1431 and argued that it is 'not a simple Sunday hunting piece of legislation.' Touting his experience with hunting from a young age, Maloney said the bill would have 'unintended consequences.' The problems Maloney had with the proposal included the language regarding trespassing penalties, the requirement for a member of the agriculture community to be on the Game Commission Board, the power given to farmers to hunt deer, and negative impacts on waterfowl hunters. He also said he doesn't buy the supporters' argument about free time. Maloney said since he began hunting at age 12, the opportunities to hunt throughout the year have more than doubled. Maloney also said he believes the bill is unconstitutional because it violates the requirement that legislation must be limited to a single subject. For that reason, Maloney said he doesn't believe the Senate would consider it or Gov. Josh Shapiro would sign it. Rep. Greg Vitali (D-Delaware), one of the three Democrats who did not vote in support of H.B. 1431, said the Pennsylvania chapter of the Sierra Club, the Keystone Trails Association, and the Pennsylvania Parks and Forest Foundation oppose the bill. Jen Quinn, legislative and political director for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club, told the Capital-Star the organization supports hunting and effective management of the deer population, but cited a number of concerns she has with the proposal. 'Our concern is that when people know there are hunters in the woods, are they going to stay out?' Quinn said. She noted that it is relatively safe to be in the woods with hunters, but there are people who may decide to stay home instead of enjoying the outdoors when hunters are out. Quinn also said she doesn't think the legislation would address the problem of deer overpopulation and the decline in hunting licenses. 'I doubt adding one more day will fix this, because the state did add three Sundays a few years ago, and it didn't reverse that trend,' Quinn said. She also said that the organization supports phasing out lead ammunition, arguing that it is harmful to wildlife. Brook Lenker, executive director of the Keystone Trails Association, said the organization was disappointed that H.B. 1431 passed the House, even though it anticipated it might move on to the Senate. He's holding out hope that the Senate won't pass the bill. 'We just feel that additional Sundays open to hunting has the potential to erode quality hiking opportunities on Pennsylvania's trails … a lot of hiking occurs on weekends,' Lenker told the Capital-Star. Steele or Laughlin's proposal would have to receive a vote in the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee before it could advance to a full vote in the chamber. The Senate is slated to return to session on Monday, June 23. Earlier this year, both Steele and Laughlin, who are leading the efforts in their respective chambers again this session, told the Capital-Star that they were optimistic the bill could get across the finish line.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
‘Sanctions': Albo's options on Israel
Anthony Albanese's scathing rebuke of Israel for continuing to restrict aid into Gaza has sparked speculation his government is eyeing sanctions on Australia's Middle East ally. Israel last week lifted its months-long aid blockade on Gaza. But despite thousands of lorries packed full of food and critical supplies waiting on the border, fewer than 700 trucks have entered the Palestinian territory, according to Israeli officials. With Gazans facing famine and photos emerging of severely malnourished children, Australia has joined other major Western countries in condemning the Israeli stranglehold on aid. The UK, France and Canada have even threatened sanctions – a step Australia could follow, according to a leading international law expert. Ex-minister Ed Husic on Tuesday called for the Prime Minister to 'move beyond words'. He said that looked like 'calling in the Israeli ambassador to stress that Australia … expects that humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, be delivered' as well as boosting humanitarian support for Gazans. Mr Husic also said he suspected sanctions on Israel were 'under active consideration'. The Albanese government has several 'diplomatic options' it could take before sanctions, ANU professor of international law Donald Rothman told NewsWire. He said the two main courses of action were summoning the Israeli ambassador and issuing a démarche – a formal letter expressing 'displeasure directly to another government'. 'The next option would be, what are the mechanisms available in the sort of toolbox for Australia to respond, over and above a verbal or a written statement expressing its concern directly to the Israeli government,' Dr Rothman said. 'To that end, there's a suite of sanctions that could be available to the government.' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has criticised Israel for restricting the flow of aid. NewsWire / Martin Ollman Credit: News Corp Australia How and what sanctions were imposed would depend on why, but Dr Rothman said it was a safe bet that any sanctions would have a 'military dimension associated with them'. 'There has been an ongoing debate on this question ever since the events of October 7 (2023) about whether or not Australia should impose sanctions on Israel with respect to military to military co-operation and the level of military engagement that exists between the two countries,' he said. 'So that's an obvious area where the Albanese government could focus on.' But he noted the 'level of military to military engagement between Australia and Israel is nothing comparable to that which exists between the United States and Israel'. 'It would have a minimal impact on the ability of the Israeli military to exercise its right of self-defence,' Dr Rothman said. If Australian sanctions were part of broader internationals efforts, it would be another story, he said. Ex-minister Ed Husic has called on Mr Albanese to 'move beyond words'. NewsWire / Philip Gostelow Credit: News Corp Australia In his comments on Tuesday, Mr Husic said it was 'clear' the UK, France and Canada were considering sanctioning Israel. He said Australia 'should be ready to move when others move as well, to be able to exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade and to help people in Gaza'. Dr Rothman said Australian sanctions could sting in a collective approach. 'If Australia was to join like-minded states … one could certainly see Australia seeking to mirror the types of sanctions which ultimately those three states might be moving to impose,' he said. 'And that would mean that cumulatively, the impact would be much better than Australia acting on its own.' Another avenue open to Australia would be targeted travel bans for 'certain Israeli officials'. Dr Rothman said they 'would really just be seen as being very symbolic', but targeting Benjamin Netanyahu directly 'would be a very extreme step'. 'The government has sought to not directly criticise Mr Netanyahu and has been very careful in terms of the way in which it's addressed the question of the (International Criminal Court) arrest warrant against (him),' he said. Getting aid trucks into Gaza has been slow due to inspections and the threat of looting, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli Prime Minister last week said his government was committed to preventing starvation in Gaza but wanted to ensure aid could not be 'looted' by Hamas. Mr Netanyahu said his country's military would set up secure 'distribution points'. But the plan has drawn ire from the international community. Australia was among 23 countries that issued a joint statement saying the 'proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required'. Criticism has only intensified. Mr Albanese on Monday condemned the trickling in of aid as 'outrageous'. 'People are starving,' he told reporters. 'The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage. 'That is my clear position. That is one I have indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government.' He also condemned Hamas, which triggered the war after raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, slaughtering more than 1200 Jewish men, women and children and taking hundreds more hostage. Hamas's October 7 assault was the worst lost of Jewish life since the Holocaust. 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation who should have no role in the future of Gaza or the West Bank,' Mr Albanese said.
West Australian
27-05-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Australia could join other countries in sanctioning Israel, expert says
Anthony Albanese's scathing rebuke of Israel for continuing to restrict aid into Gaza has sparked speculation his government is eyeing sanctions on Australia's Middle East ally. Israel last week lifted its months-long aid blockade on Gaza. But despite thousands of lorries packed full of food and critical supplies waiting on the border, fewer than 700 trucks have entered the Palestinian territory, according to Israeli officials. With Gazans facing famine and photos emerging of severely malnourished children, Australia has joined other major Western countries in condemning the Israeli stranglehold on aid. The UK, France and Canada have even threatened sanctions – a step Australia could follow, according to a leading international law expert. Ex-minister Ed Husic on Tuesday called for the Prime Minister to 'move beyond words'. He said that looked like 'calling in the Israeli ambassador to stress that Australia … expects that humanitarian aid, particularly medical supplies, be delivered' as well as boosting humanitarian support for Gazans. Mr Husic also said he suspected sanctions on Israel were 'under active consideration'. The Albanese government has several 'diplomatic options' it could take before sanctions, ANU professor of international law Donald Rothman told NewsWire. He said the two main courses of action were summoning the Israeli ambassador and issuing a démarche – a formal letter expressing 'displeasure directly to another government'. 'The next option would be, what are the mechanisms available in the sort of toolbox for Australia to respond, over and above a verbal or a written statement expressing its concern directly to the Israeli government,' Dr Rothman said. 'To that end, there's a suite of sanctions that could be available to the government.' How and what sanctions were imposed would depend on why, but Dr Rothman said it was a safe bet that any sanctions would have a 'military dimension associated with them'. 'There has been an ongoing debate on this question ever since the events of October 7 (2023) about whether or not Australia should impose sanctions on Israel with respect to military to military co-operation and the level of military engagement that exists between the two countries,' he said. 'So that's an obvious area where the Albanese government could focus on.' But he noted the 'level of military to military engagement between Australia and Israel is nothing comparable to that which exists between the United States and Israel'. 'It would have a minimal impact on the ability of the Israeli military to exercise its right of self-defence,' Dr Rothman said. If Australian sanctions were part of broader internationals efforts, it would be another story, he said. In his comments on Tuesday, Mr Husic said it was 'clear' the UK, France and Canada were considering sanctioning Israel. He said Australia 'should be ready to move when others move as well, to be able to exert maximum international pressure to stop this blockade and to help people in Gaza'. Dr Rothman said Australian sanctions could sting in a collective approach. 'If Australia was to join like-minded states … one could certainly see Australia seeking to mirror the types of sanctions which ultimately those three states might be moving to impose,' he said. 'And that would mean that cumulatively, the impact would be much better than Australia acting on its own.' Another avenue open to Australia would be targeted travel bans for 'certain Israeli officials'. Dr Rothman said they 'would really just be seen as being very symbolic', but targeting Benjamin Netanyahu directly 'would be a very extreme step'. 'The government has sought to not directly criticise Mr Netanyahu and has been very careful in terms of the way in which it's addressed the question of the (International Criminal Court) arrest warrant against (him),' he said. Getting aid trucks into Gaza has been slow due to inspections and the threat of looting, according to Israeli authorities. The Israeli Prime Minister last week said his government was committed to preventing starvation in Gaza but wanted to ensure aid could not be 'looted' by Hamas. Mr Netanyahu said his country's military would set up secure 'distribution points'. But the plan has drawn ire from the international community. Australia was among 23 countries that issued a joint statement saying the 'proposed model cannot deliver aid effectively, at the speed and scale required'. Criticism has only intensified. Mr Albanese on Monday condemned the trickling in of aid as 'outrageous'. 'People are starving,' he told reporters. 'The idea that a democratic state withholds supply is an outrage. 'That is my clear position. That is one I have indicated clearly and directly to the Israeli government.' He also condemned Hamas, which triggered the war after raiding Israel on October 7, 2023, slaughtering more than 1200 Jewish men, women and children and taking hundreds more hostage. Hamas's October 7 assault was the worst lost of Jewish life since the Holocaust. 'Hamas is a terrorist organisation who should have no role in the future of Gaza or the West Bank,' Mr Albanese said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
U.S., China reach temporary trade deal. How does this affect consumers?
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — U.S. and Chinese officials say they have called a 90-day truce in their trade war, rolling back most of the recent tariff hikes. The agreement drops the 145 percent U.S. tariff on Chinese goods down to 30 percent, and China agreed to lower its rate on U.S. goods to 10 percent. Trump's next 100 days: Trade deals, foreign policy and reconciliation Experts say that this agreement is temporary and could change at any time in this 90-day period. However, they say it is still a great sign that both countries are working to find a solution. 'My fear would be that a lot of businesses go under, just because it's so sudden,' said Eric Rothman, Dayton resident. Several Dayton residents share similar sentiments: concerned for local businesses amidst the ongoing trade war between the United States and China. According to officials, both countries say they recognize how important it is to resolve this trade issue, but Rothman says he and many other Americans are concerned about the economic impact once a deal is reached. 'I do get the sense, like sure, I think this is where we're maybe headed toward a better place than we were,' said Rothman. 'But I still feel like there's some damage that's been done.' In a new agreement, Chinese goods will have a reduction from thee initial tariff of 145 percent to 30 percent. According to experts, 10 percent is a baseline tariff, while the other 20 percent is to get the country to do more to stop the flow of fentanyl into the country. 'This is sort of a way to sort of induce Beijing to do more, to stop that trade, to take some more aggressive stances to prevent fentanyl from coming into the United States,' said Riley Dugan, University of Dayton professor, dept. head of Management and Marketing. How US-China tariffs reached sky-high levels in 3 months For the U.S., the tariff will be lowered from 125 percent down to 10 percent. Dugan says the stock market are now responding to news of the deal, adding that this agreement is a good sign for consumers and investors. 'But the fact that you're at the table talking things out, that's a huge sign,' said Dugan. 'That's a huge sign of progress. So it's good news for sure.' The new 90-day deal is now in place, but experts say to keep in mind that policies are not permanent, and can change quickly as the two countries continue to work to reach a long-term trade solution. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
