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Trump admin threatens to cut US state funds over trucker English rules

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If commercial truck drivers aren’t required to have English proficiency, the USDOT has threatened to withhold funding from three states.

The Transportation Department called on the states of California, New Mexico, and Washington on Tuesday to possibly withhold funding.

A number of actions have been taken by the president’s administration to address concerns about unproven English-speaking truck drivers. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated last week that the US was immediately halting the issuance of all commercial truck drivers’ worker visas.

A rule mandating the compliance of commercial drivers in the US to meet English proficiency standards was announced by President Trump in an executive order issued in April.

fewer offenses

Since the introduction of the new language standards, which require truck drivers to be able to recognize and read road signs and communicate with authorities in English, according to the Transportation Department, which has conducted roughly 34, 000 inspections in California.

However, one inspection revealed a driver had been suspended from service due to an English language rule violation. Additionally, after California’s traffic inspections, 23 drivers who had violations in other states were permitted to drive.

Similar statistics were provided by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy for the other states, with Washington finding more than 6, 000 safety violations during inspections but only requiring four drivers to be suspended for English language violations. Since the rules became law in New Mexico, no drivers have been suspended or disabled.

Penalties are enacted more frequently.

Duffy outlined the conditions that would force truck drivers who didn’t meet them to cease their jobs in May.

Truckers who are capable of comprehending and interpreting our traffic signs are much safer on American roads. According to Duffy, this common-sense change makes it possible for the penalty for breaking the law to be greater than a slap on the wrist.

If they don’t comply within 30 days, according to Duffy, the government may withhold about $50 million in federal funding.

The states did not respond to comments requests right away.

Duffy claimed last week that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) was looking into a fatal crash on a Florida highway. According to Florida and US officials, the driver was an Indian national who had legal legal authority to travel to the United States but did not speak English. According to Duffy, the investigation revealed that the three states had violated the laws.

Harjinder Singh, the driver, is facing three counts of vehicular homicide. He attempted an illegal U-turn through an “Official Use Only” access point, blocking traffic, and leading to the fatal collision after a minivan struck his truck, according to police.

Trump’s executive order in April replaced the guidance from 2016 that inspectors wouldn’t place commercial drivers out of work if their only offense was a lack of English, even though the English-proficiency standard for truckers has a long history in US law.

Duffy claimed that failing to properly enforce the requirements for driver qualification raises serious safety concerns and makes crashes more likely.

About 16 percent of US truck drivers were born abroad, according to FMCSA, in 2023.

Every commercial driver operating in the United States must be able to read road signs, communicate with law enforcement, and comprehend safety instructions, according to American Trucking Associations CEO Chris Spear.

GB’s Turner claims first Grand Tour stage win at Vuelta

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Great Britain’s Ben Turner produced a stunning sprint finish at the Vuelta a Espana to claim his first ever Grand Tour stage win.

Turner won the fourth stage of the race – a 206.7km medium mountain route from Susa to Voiron – from Belgian duo Jasper Philipsen and Edward Planckaert, who finished second and third.

The 26-year-old – a late call up to the Vuelta when Ineos team-mate Lucas Hamilton pulled out through illness – powered to victory on a long, rising finish.

“It’s a crazy feeling. I really believed in myself today and trusted what I had to do,” said Turner, who picked up his third win as a professional.

France’s David Gaudu, who won the third stage, leads the overall standings having finished enough places in front of Jonas Vingegaard of Denmark to take the red jersey on count-back.

Related topics

  • Cycling

‘Always tough’ to leave out Coleman – Hallgrimsson

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Given that Seamus Coleman hasn’t played any recent games for Everton, Republic of Ireland head coach Heimir Hallgrimsson said it would set the “wrong example” when he was chosen for World Cup qualifiers against Hungary and Armenia next month.

Due to injury, the 36-year-old defender was a unused substitute in both of his club’s Premier League games this year. He missed Senegal and Luxembourg’s friendlies in June.

Hallgrimsson has chosen not to have his squad captain called for an international recall despite his possibility for a return to the Toffees against Mansfield Town on Wednesday in the League Cup. He has only played twice since December 26.

We “absolutely want him to be in the squad once he begins playing,” he said. The former Icelandic boss claimed that picking a player who hasn’t played for almost a year would be a bad example.

Seamus is always difficult to exclude, no matter what. With his background, there aren’t many people in this room.

He will likely be in the squad when camp is over, according to the team’s manager. A player with his or her experience and quality should always be a part of the squad.

Chiedozie Ogbene, who hasn’t played for his country since October 2024 because of an Achilles tendon injury, does make a 23-man roster appearance.

Evan Ferguson, who made his Serie A debut in Roma’s 1-0 win over Bologna on Saturday, joins an eight-strong group of forwards that includes club teammates Sammie Szmodics and Kasey McAteer as well as the 28-year-old.

Will Smallbone, a midfielder for Preston North End, and Robbie Brady, a player for Southampton, are both injured.

Bosun Lawal, an uncapped Stoke City defender, was called up for the draw with Luxembourg, who was then called up for the draw.

On September 6, the Republic of Ireland travels to Armenia three days later before facing Hungary in Dublin.

Squad for the Republic of Ireland

Caoimhin Kelleher (Brentford), Gavin Bazunu (Southampton), and Mark Travers (Everton) are the goalkeepers.

Matt Doherty (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Jake O’Brien (Everton), Nathan Collins (Brentford), Dara O’Shea (Ipswich Town), Bosun Lawal (Stoke City), Liam Scales (Celtic), and Ryan Manning (Southampton) are the defenders.

Josh Cullen (Burnley), Jason Knight (Bristol City), Jack Taylor (Ipswich Town), and Killian Phillips (St. Mirren) are the midfielders.

related subjects

  • Men’s football team from the Republic of Ireland
  • Everton
  • Football
  • FIFA World Cup

Eamonn Holmes makes ‘unconditional love’ quip after bitter break-up with Ruth Langsford

By in Entertainment News, News

When they announced they had called it quits and were about to divorce, Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford shocked the showbiz industry last year.

Eamonn Holmes has made a cryptic comment about unconditional love(Image: Instagram)

Eamonn Holmes has made a cryptic comment about unconditional love as his bitter divorce with Ruth Langsford rumbles on. The former This Morning couple, both 65, sent shockwaves through the showbiz world last year when they announced they had called it quits and were heading for divorce.

Eamonn has now moved out of the lavish home he shared with Ruth after moving on with relationship expert, Katie Alexander, 44. However, showing his love for the dog, Maggie, who he still shares with his ex-wife, the GB News host proudly paid tribute to the pooch on Instagram.

Posting a snap of the dog, with her tongue out in the back of the car, Eamonn wrote: “Today is #internationalDogDay …. And this is Maggie. I love u Mags x She changed my life and gave me unconditional love . My Bestie xxx.”

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Maggie
Eamonn Holmes said the dog he shares with Ruth, Maggie, ‘changed his life’(Image: Eamonn Holmes /Instagram)

The veteran presenter made a second cryptic statement about love last month. Eamonn, a father-of-four, claimed Katie was his “soulmate” at Nana Akua’s engagement party in London, and that he would find out in sickness who was there for him.

A source responded to the apparent dig by saying: “Eamonn is smitten with Katie and feels like she has been there for him through the difficult times.”

Ruth has been there for him since the beginning, so it is a kick in the teeth.

In light of her ongoing divorce from her ex-husband, Ruth revealed she is “so grateful” to her son Jack for his unwavering support.

Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford
Ruth and Eamonn in happier times(Image: GETTY)

The Loose Women star opened up about the challenging ordeal she has endured since splitting from the Northern Irish broadcaster and praised the 23-year-old for his maturity during what has been a ‘difficult time’.

Saying that Jack has been particularly helpful with her mum, who sadly has Alzheimer’s, she told the Mirror: “He goes to see my mum.

I have to kind of remind her who he is, so I say, “Oh, Mum, Jack’s home tomorrow, and he’s going to come in on Sunday with me.” She then says, “Oh yes, lovely.

Continue reading the article.

She will have forgotten that as soon as I leave, I know. So when we do enter, I say, “Oh, look who’s here, mum, it’s your grandson, Jack.”

She kind of looks at him, and he says, “Hello, Grandma,” and then her brain says, “Oh no, it’s him,” and she says, “Oh my goodness, you’re so tall” – he’s been that tall for, say, seven years. But it’s lovely.”

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‘The whole scheme stinks’: Ugandans question deal to take US deportees

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The agreement between US President Donald Trump’s administration and the country’s parliament has drawn criticism from the country’s citizens, who also raises questions about the country’s parliament’s lack of support, and suggest that it is to relieve President Yoweri Museveni of the pressure.

According to Ibrahim Ssemujju, a lawmaker and prominent opposition figure, “Museveni will be happy” when Washington has imposed sanctions on numerous government officials, including the parliamentary speaker. He will be enquiring about “When are you bringing them?”

Although Ugandan officials have stated they do not want people with criminal records, they prefer deportees of African descent.

However, the country is being pushed into detention for El Salvadorian and Maryland native Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who is wanted for human smuggling.

Trump’s hardline anti-immigration policies now feature Abrego Garcia as the face. He has a wife and two children in the United States, has resided in Maryland for years, and has protected his legal status ever since. In 2019, a judge ordered that he not be deported to El Salvador because he was fearful of harm in his home country.

Immigration officials in Baltimore detained him on Monday. Abrego Garcia is being processed for removal to Uganda, according to a statement from the US Department of Homeland Security.

As part of Trump’s crackdown on refugees, immigrants, and asylum seekers in the US, the Trump administration sent more than 200 people to El Salvador’s CECOT mega-prison this year. He has already been deported. His case continues to be a significant turning point for the Trump administration’s anti-immigration crackdown. According to Department of Justice attorneys, the Salvadoran citizen was deported incorrectly because of an “administrative error.”

According to his attorneys, Abrego Garcia was brutally beaten and subjected to psychological torture in the prison in El Salvador.

The entire scheme is a mess, according to the author.

“The whole scheme stinks,” said Mathias Mpuuga, the opposition’s leader until recently, “without the consent of the parliamentary system.”

He claimed that the US-Uganda agreement made him “a little perplexed” because it struggles to provide for refugees fleeing conflicts in neighboring countries like Sudan and South Sudan.

Some Ugandans claimed that the agreement is only pertinent for the Ugandan government’s purposes because it is “economic expediency.” However, it is still unclear exactly what Ugandan authorities will pay for deportees. According to analysts, Uganda wants to be listed in Trump’s good books and is looking for better trade deals.

The deputy minister in charge of international relations, Okello Oryem, called the deal “complete rubbish” according to the Associated Press. The comments were made a day before his permanent secretary confirmed that an agreement was in place to accept people who “reluctance to or may have concerns about returning to their countries of origin.”

According to human rights organizations, Uganda’s negotiators have allegedly been supplying reports to Museveni, who has been in power for four decades and who is in charge of a government that executes unlawful killings, detained opposition members, and targeted journalists.

Museveni was widely regarded as a strong US ally during his time in power, particularly given his support for counterterrorism operations in Somalia when he sent troops there to combat al-Qaeda.

However, his stock in Washington has recently fallen precipitously. A growing number of Ugandan officials were subject to sanctions as a result of former President Joe Biden’s administration’s mounting pressure on corruption, LGBTQ rights violations, and other human rights violations.

According to a report released in May by Human Rights Watch, Uganda’s LGBTQ community has been subject to increased persecution since the passage of a harsh anti-gay law two years ago. The report claimed that Ugandan authorities have “perpetrated widespread discrimination and violence” and “spread misinformation and hatred against LGBT people” since the 2023 law was passed.

The current prisons chief, a former police chief, a former deputy army commander, and former government ministers are among the Ugandan officials who have been sanctioned by the US, in addition to Speaker Anita Among, a significant ally of Museveni.

According to Marlon Agaba, the head of a prominent anti-corruption organization in Uganda, the agreement with the US is “for political and perhaps economic reasons” for Museveni.

According to Agaba, executive director of the Anti-Corruption Coalition Uganda, the deal eases Museveni’s pressure and may lead to trade opportunities.

Any strongman would welcome that because the Trump administration is about making deals, he said.