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India is expected to experience an extreme summer this year, with more heatwave days between March and May in most parts of the country, according to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD).

The forecast, issued on February 28, 2025, predicts above-normal temperatures for most regions, except Northeast India, extreme north India, and some parts of southern Peninsular India.

With rising temperatures, electricity consumption is set to increase significantly as households and businesses ramp up their use of air-conditioners and coolers.

In response, the Indian government has been preparing to meet the anticipated peak demand, ensuring an adequate supply of power throughout the summer months.

“We are expecting a peak demand of 270 Gigawatts this summer. All the preparations are in place to meet that demand,” said Ghanshyam Prasad, chairman of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA).

The government is expected to utilize its full capacity to ensure uninterrupted power supply, with a special focus on managing shortages in April, May, June, and September-October, which are projected to be the most crucial months for electricity demand.

“Demand for power, both energy and peak power, in India has been growing at an unprecedented level of 8.5% in recent years for FY 21-24. Peak demand touched 250GW on May 30, 2024. However, during 10MFY25, demand was subdued with energy/peak growing a meagre 3.6% YoY/ 2.3% YoY,” JM Financial said recently.

There is a high probability of higher power demand from irrigation during the ensuing wheat and, then, paddy sowing seasons. As per our analysis of FY23-25, around 10% of power demand in India is sensitive to rainfall, the brokerage said.

“We estimate energy/peak power demand to grow to 1,828BU/ 270GW at 7.5%/8.0% during FY26, which is also in alignment with estimates,” it said.

With demand for power set to rise, stocks from the power sector may benefit in the coming months.

Based on technical charts, five power stocks show potential for significant gains, with upside potential of up to 27%.

NTPC: Poised for recovery

Current Price: Rs 327

Upside Potential: 14.7%

Support Levels: Rs 306; Rs 300

Resistance Levels: Rs 345; Rs 350

NTPC shares have been consolidating around the 100-week moving average (WMA) at Rs 306 for the past nine trading weeks.

Key momentum indicators such as the RSI and Stochastic Slow suggest a positive outlook.

The stock may attempt to rally towards Rs 375, with interim resistance at Rs 345 and Rs 350.

On the downside, crucial support lies at Rs 306 and Rs 300.

Tata Power: Strong base formation

Current Price: Rs 353

Upside Potential: 22.4%

Support Levels: Rs 347; Rs 330

Resistance Levels: Rs 361; Rs 368; Rs 391; Rs 415

Tata Power has been stabilizing around its 100-WMA at Rs 347, with strong support at Rs 330.

If the stock sustains above this level, it may see a rally toward Rs 432. Interim resistance is expected at Rs 361, Rs 368, Rs 391, and Rs 415.

NHPC: Holding key support

Current Price: Rs 77

Upside Potential: 21.4%

Support Levels: Rs 74.40; Rs 71

Resistance Levels: Rs 79.60; Rs 81; Rs 86.30; Rs 91

NHPC has repeatedly found support around Rs 71 over the past month.

The stock has also managed to hold above its 100-WMA at Rs 74.40, indicating a cautiously optimistic outlook.

A breakout above Rs 79.60 could trigger a rally toward Rs 93.50, with interim resistance at Rs 81, Rs 86.30, and Rs 91.

CESC: Breakout signals strength

Current Price: Rs 141

Upside Potential: 20.6%

Support Levels: Rs 133; Rs 126

Resistance Levels: Rs 146; Rs 160

CESC recently broke above a key resistance level, confirming a bullish breakout.

The stock has strong support at Rs 133 and Rs 126, with the potential to rally up to Rs 170.

Interim resistance levels to watch are Rs 146 and Rs 160.

JSW Energy: Eyes fresh highs

Current Price: Rs 497

Upside Potential: 27.2%

Support Levels: Rs 471; Rs 435

Resistance Levels: Rs 510; Rs 565; Rs 595

JSW Energy has been holding above its short-term moving average (20-DMA) for the past four sessions, and momentum indicators suggest a favorable trend.

However, the stock must cross Rs 510 to trigger fresh upward momentum.

If successful, it may climb to Rs 632, with interim resistance at Rs 565 and Rs 595. Support exists at Rs 471 and Rs 435.

The post From NTPC to Tata Power: 5 power stocks to watch as India braces for extreme summer appeared first on Invezz

February wasn’t a particularly good month for US equities.

The first trading day began with a sharp sell-off which saw all the US majors gap lower.

Why? Tariffs.

Just one week into his second term as President of the United States, and Donald Trump did exactly what he said he would do, announcing swingeing tariffs, not just on his old trade enemy, China, but on his neighbours to the north and south too. 

Reports came in over that weekend that President Trump was preparing to impose 25% tariffs on Mexican and Canadian imports (but ‘just’ 10% on Canadian oil), along with an additional 10% on Chinese goods.

The latter was on top of the levies that he had arranged during his first term, and which were kept in place by his successor (and predecessor) Joe Biden.

The tariffs were set to kick in on Tuesday, 4th February, and the news triggered fears of an international trade war, with all combatants threatening retaliation. 

Most investors had left for the weekend believing that President Trump’s tariff threats were a negotiating tactic that would never be realized in full.

And they weren’t entirely wrong. There was a small window for negotiation, and guess what?

Mr Trump ended up postponing the levies on Mexico and Canada after both countries promised to take action to crack down on illegal immigration and drug smuggling through their porous borders.

No such luck for China which was enjoying its extended Lunar New Year holidays. 

The tariff postponement led to a sharp rally across US stock indices, which ultimately resulted in new all-time highs for both the NASDAQ and S&P 500 just two weeks later.

But it wasn’t to last, and equities began to slide. A strong fourth quarter earnings season had provided a tailwind for stocks. But this fizzled out after NVIDIA’s strong numbers just weren’t strong enough.

The Dow, NASDAQ, S&P and Russell 2000 limped and stumbled through the following fortnight and finished off February in negative territory. 

And here we are in March and it’s all happening again.

Only this time there was no tariff delay for Canada and Mexico, while China copped an additional 10%.

With tit-for-tat measures now a certainty, investors worry that this is the start of a global trade war, particularly as President Trump said that Europe could be next. 

Many economists believe that tariffs will result in another burst of inflation in the US, although those around Mr Trump say there’s no basis for that forecast.

But it seems likely that global growth will take a hit, and that is showing up in bond yields which have fallen sharply.

US equities are not taking this well, although so far the damage to European stock indices has proved minimal. 

Interestingly, the US dollar has turned sharply lower, with the Dollar Index trading down to levels last seen just after Donald Trump’s election victory back in early November.

Again, this suggests that investors are less concerned about tariffs boosting inflation, and more worried about the outlook for US economic growth. 

Could this mean that we’ve already seen the top in US equities, or are we about to enjoy an exceptional buying opportunity ahead of fresh all-time highs?

It’s too early to say. But the trouble, or benefit, with Trump’s second term is that volatility is back with a vengeance. And markets will once again be driven by news headlines. 

(David Morrison is a Senior Market Analyst at Trade Nation. Views are his own.)

The post Tariffs kick in appeared first on Invezz

Aluminium composite panels (ACPs) have become a key element in modern architecture due to their versatility, durability, and aesthetic flexibility, and Indian ACP manufacturers are playing a crucial role in pushing the construction material out into the global market.

Euro Panel and Products, one of the leading manufacturers of ACP in India, recently made an INR 30 crore investment to integrate an advanced coating line with a capacity of 750 tonnes monthly, which will help it decouple from Chinese supply chain dependencies, where coated coils were imported from China.

In an interview with Invezz, Rajesh Shah, chairman and MD at Euro Panel, anticipates 2025 to contain strong tailwinds for ACP demand in India, with the government of India’s ambitious infra push, the Smart Cities Mission, and revival in commercial real estate sector.

However, there are also headwinds in the form of volatility in alumina and aluminium prices, as well as the imposition of tariffs by the US on steel and aluminium imports.

Shah says the company’s recent backward integration initiatives give it greater control over raw material sourcing, cushioning it from volatility in commodity prices.

As far as impact of tariffs go, Shah says, “While we anticipate short-term pricing pressures due to tariffs, our diversified supply chain and strong global partnerships provide us with a strategic advantage.”

Edited excerpts:

Infrastructure push, commercial real estate to drive demand for ACP in 2025

Invezz: What is your forecast for the ACP market in 2025? Which sectors are expected to drive demand for ACP? 

The ACP market in 2025 is poised for remarkable growth, fuelled by India’s rapid urbanization and the government’s ambitious infrastructure push.

With large-scale metro rail expansions, airport modernisations, and railway station overhauls gaining momentum, the demand for high-quality ACP solutions is expected to surge.

Additionally, the commercial real estate sector is witnessing a strong revival, with corporate offices, IT parks, and retail spaces investing heavily in premium façade solutions to enhance aesthetic appeal and sustainability. 

At Eurobond, we anticipate a significant industry shift towards advanced, fire-retardant, and eco-friendly ACP products, in line with the tightening of safety and environmental regulations.

The government’s Smart Cities Mission, coupled with increasing adoption of ACP in luxury residential projects and retail branding, will further accelerate demand.

With these strong tailwinds, 2025 promises to be an exciting and transformative year for the ACP industry. 

Invezz: Do you have any plans to expand manufacturing capacity or set up new plants in  India or abroad for both ACP and ZCP? 

Eurobond has always taken a forward-thinking approach to capacity expansion.

Our recent strategic backward integration and significant capacity enhancements have strengthened our manufacturing capabilities, ensuring we stay ahead of market demand.

Actively exploring strategic investments to enhance global footprint

Our current infrastructure is designed to scale efficiently, allowing us to meet growing industry needs without any immediate requirement for additional plants. 

However, as a dynamic and growth-driven company, we continuously assess global and domestic market trends.

With increasing international interest in high-quality ACP and ZCP  solutions, we are actively exploring strategic investments that can enhance our global footprint.

Our focus remains on strengthening our supply chain, optimizing production efficiencies, and maintaining a competitive edge through cutting-edge innovation.

If market conditions present viable opportunities, we are prepared to expand further in key international markets to reinforce our leadership position. 

Invezz: Are you looking at international growth markets, or is domestic demand the primary focus? 

Both domestic and international markets are integral to our growth strategy.

India is currently undergoing an infrastructure revolution, with rapid urban expansion, commercial developments, and government-backed projects fuelling an unprecedented demand for ACP solutions.

As a leading player in the industry, we are deeply committed to supporting this domestic boom by delivering innovative and high-performance products.

China’s removal of VAT rebate on metal exports has made Indian ACPs more competitive

At the same time, global demand for premium ACP and ZCP solutions is on the rise, and Eurobond is actively expanding its international footprint.

We have already established strong relationships in multiple global markets and are leveraging India’s increasing competitiveness in the export sector.

With China’s recent removal of its VAT rebate on metal exports, Indian ACP manufacturers now have a strategic pricing advantage, making our  products more competitive worldwide.

This shift opens new doors for us to capture a larger share of the global market while reinforcing our domestic stronghold. 

Invezz: Alumina prices hit record highs in 2024. How did it impact your business?  Aluminium is expected to be in deficit in 2025 as well. How do you plan to tackle the cost fluctuations and ensure profitability? 

The volatility in alumina and aluminium prices has undoubtedly posed a challenge for the entire industry.

However, Eurobond has always operated with a proactive risk-mitigation strategy.

Our recent backward integration gives us greater control over raw material sourcing, reducing our reliance on fluctuating global supply chains.

Additionally, we have diversified our supplier base and implemented stringent cost optimization measures across our production processes. 

Operational efficiency remains at the core of our strategy.

By leveraging advanced manufacturing technologies, lean production methods, and alternative material innovations, we have successfully minimized cost escalations while maintaining our commitment to quality.

Looking ahead, we continue to invest in process improvements and explore alternative material solutions that will help insulate our business from commodity price swings, ensuring long-term stability and profitability. 

Impact of Trump Tariffs on steel and aluminium imports

Invezz: How do you see Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminium imports impacting your supply chain and business in the US, India, and other countries? 

Global trade policies, including tariffs, have always played a significant role in shaping supply chains, and the recent developments under the Trump administration will certainly influence global market dynamics.

However, Eurobond has built a highly resilient and flexible sourcing strategy that allows us to swiftly adapt to changing economic and geopolitical conditions. 

While we anticipate short-term pricing pressures due to tariffs, our diversified supply chain and strong global partnerships provide us with a strategic advantage.

For our US clients, we are continuously optimizing supply routes and exploring alternative trade agreements to ensure seamless operations.

Meanwhile, in India and other key markets, we are strengthening our domestic ecosystem to reduce dependencies and enhance supply chain stability.

By proactively adapting to global trade shifts, we remain confident in our ability to navigate these challenges while maintaining steady growth.

On competition with China

Invezz: Chinese ACPs are often cheaper—how is Eurobond tackling the competition? 

Chinese ACP manufacturers have historically enjoyed a pricing advantage due to government subsidies and tax incentives.

However, the recent removal of China’s VAT rebate on metal exports has led to an estimated 13% cost increase for Chinese manufacturers, significantly altering the competitive landscape.

This change has made Indian exports far more competitive, and Eurobond is well-positioned to capitalize on this shift. 

Beyond pricing, our core differentiators lie in product quality, durability, and adherence to stringent fire safety standards—areas where we consistently outperform low-cost imports. 

We also prioritize innovation, customer-centric solutions, and superior after-sales service, ensuring our clients recognize the long-term value of choosing Eurobond.

Our strong brand reputation, combined with our commitment to sustainable and high-performance ACP  solutions, enables us to maintain a competitive edge and drive continued growth in both domestic and international markets.

(USD 1=INR 87.10)

The post Interview: ‘We anticipate short-term pricing pressures,’ says Euro Panel Products MD Rajesh Shah on Trump tariffs appeared first on Invezz

A wave of artificial intelligence (AI) developments from Chinese technology firms has triggered a buying frenzy in the nation’s stock market, sending an index of tech companies to its highest level in years.

Leading the surge, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. unveiled its latest AI model, while other major players, including Tencent and Kuaishou Technology, also introduced new AI tools.

Alibaba’s unveiling of DeepSeek contender leads surge in tech stocks

Alibaba’s announcement of its QwQ-32B AI model, an open-source tool that significantly advances its previous version, fuelled an 8.4% surge in its stock price in Hong Kong.

The QwQ-32B model, which boasts 32 billion parameters, is positioned to challenge DeepSeek’s R1 and OpenAI’s offerings.

Kuaishou Technology, which launched a competing AI video model, saw its shares skyrocket by 16%, marking its biggest single-day gain in over two years.

The broader Chinese tech index surged 5.4%, reaching its strongest level since 2021.

The rally also extended to AI-related firms in mainland China.

Focus Technology Co., which develops AI-powered agent products, hit the 10% daily limit, reflecting investor enthusiasm for the sector.

Government reiterates support to AI development at National People’s Congress

The latest AI boom was further reinforced by policy signals from Beijing.

At the National People’s Congress (NPC), the Chinese government reiterated its commitment to supporting AI development, with a focus on large-scale AI models, intelligent manufacturing, and next-generation AI applications.

“The supportive rhetoric to AI announced at the NPC sets a proper context for Chinese AI innovation to move forward,” said Linda Lam, head of equity advisory North Asia at Union Bancaire Privee.

“Looking ahead, we expect a proliferation of open-source AI applications from China and the US, to propel the tech rally globally.”

The AI-driven surge mirrors the effect of DeepSeek’s AI breakthrough earlier this year, which set off a bullish run in Chinese stocks and sent ripples across global markets.

With multiple firms rolling out advanced models and AI services, the competitive landscape in China is heating up.

Alibaba’s ambitious AI investment plans

Alibaba has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of the AI-driven market rally, adding approximately $153 billion in market value since its January low.

The company has stabilized after a prolonged government crackdown and is now leveraging AI to drive its recovery.

To solidify its AI leadership, Alibaba has pledged to invest more than 380 billion yuan ($52 billion) over the next three years in AI infrastructure, including data centers.

This ambitious investment plan positions Alibaba as a key contender in China’s AI race.

Tech stocks remain attractively valued

Despite the significant gains, Chinese tech stocks remain relatively undervalued compared to their US counterparts.

The Hang Seng Tech Index is currently trading at around 19 times forward earnings, a stark contrast to its 45 times multiple from four years ago.

“We see a further re-rating happening in the market given how cheap a lot of the China tech stocks look compared to their U.S. peers,” said Ken Wong, an Asian equity portfolio specialist at Eastspring Investments in a Bloomberg report.

“Showcasing the enthusiasm is that even some hardware tech names which haven’t really performed earlier are going up,” he said.

Chinese firms seek to outpace global peers

As competition in AI intensifies, Chinese firms are seeking to outpace global counterparts.

Manus AI recently claimed its general AI agent outperformed OpenAI’s DeepResearch in some areas, highlighting China’s growing expertise in artificial intelligence.

Alibaba’s QwQ-32B model, which boasts 32 billion parameters, is positioned to challenge DeepSeek’s R1 and OpenAI’s offerings.

With efficiency and minimal data usage as key differentiators, Chinese AI firms are focusing on creating models that are both powerful and resource-efficient.

The post Alibaba leads Chinese tech rally with DeepSeek rival launch: What investors need to know appeared first on Invezz

US housing stocks are having a hard time this year amidst higher tariffs the Trump administration has announced on the likes of Canada and Mexico.

Washington relies significantly on foreign imports for materials essential for home construction. These include cement, aluminum, steel, wood products, and even some appliances.  

As a result, the cost of building a house will likely increase materially in the wake of Trump tariffs, according to a recent report from CoreLogic.

That’s part of the reason why the iShares US Home Construction exchange-trade fund (ETF) has lost nearly 12% since late January.

Canada and Mexico export two key home construction materials

In particular, the US relies on Canada and Mexico for two essential home construction materials: gypsum products including lime and softwood lumber.

The world’s largest economy imports nearly 70% of the softwood lumber from Canada while 71% of the gypsum products it requires come from Mexico.

“Even incremental increases in the cost of materials, labour, and equipment make it that much more difficult to build a home profitably,” according to CoreLogic’s executive Pete Carroll.

Trump tariffs will make it significantly more difficult for the US to close the critical gap in housing supply, he added in a statement on Thursday.

US home prices could increase by up to $22,000 in 2025

All in all, the information services provider expects Trump tariffs to increase construction costs by up to 6% over the next 12 months.

Such an increase will raise sticker prices on new homes by $17,000 to $22,000, as per a CoreLogic estimate.

That’s significant considering the average price of building a home in the US already sits at a whopping $422,000.

US housing stocks are seeing pressure this year as tariffs and the related increase in construction costs could hurt affordability and prove to be a menace for the first-time homebuyers in 2025.

Investors should note, however, that homebuilders are broadly known to be dividend stocks.

US continues to grapple with a housing shortage

What’s also worth mentioning is that Trump tariffs do not paint a rosy picture for construction materials that are produced within the United States either.

Recent data indicates that “a rush on domestic materials would overwhelm current production,” and may lead to supply shortages and higher prices over the medium to long term, according to the CoreLogic report.

And “as builders pass extra costs on to homebuyers, housing will become less affordable” in the US, said Matt Saunders of John Burns Research & Consulting in a recent interview with CNBC.

Note that housing shortage in the United States is a significant concern that has built over decades. The country currently faces a deficit of about 4.5 million homes, as demand continues to outpace supply.

The post Trump tariffs could prove to be a menace for homebuyers: here’s why appeared first on Invezz

January Littlejohn, a mother and one of President Donald Trump’s guests at his address to Congress on Tuesday night, shared a special message to the president in an interview with Fox News Digital.

During his address, Trump recognized Littlejohn and thanked her for advocating against transgender ideology, which he called a ‘form of child abuse.’

‘My administration is also working to protect our children from toxic ideologies in our schools,’ said Trump. ‘A few years ago, January Littlejohn and her husband discovered that their daughter’s school had secretly socially transitioned their 13-year-old little girl. Teachers and administrators conspired to deceive January and her husband while encouraging her daughter to use a new name and pronouns, they-them pronouns actually, all without telling January.’

Trump touted his recent signing of an executive order that he said bans public schools from ‘indoctrinating our children with transgender ideology.’ 

During his address, the president urged Congress to pass a bill ‘permanently banning and criminalizing sex changes on children and forever ending the lie that any child is trapped in the wrong body.’

‘This is a big lie and our message to every child in America is that you are perfect exactly the way God made you,’ said Trump. 

Littlejohn told Fox News Digital that she was ‘extremely grateful’ to the president but that the fight is far from over.

Regarding Trump, Littlejohn said, ‘I would just like to thank him and continue to speak truth that there are two sexes, male or female, and no matter what one does to their body, that can never change. Sex is binary.’

‘It’s really important that parents understand how destructive in nature social transition of children is,’ she said. ‘It’s the first step toward medical intervention, and it makes the child less likely to desist.’

She explained her daughter as a 13-year-old in middle school and some friends became fixated on their gender identity.

‘The school took it upon themselves to intervene and socially transition my child. And this goes way beyond name and pronouns. They sit the child down, and in our case it was behind closed doors with three adults that consisted of the school counselor, the assistant principal and a social worker I had never met, and they did an official ‘gender support plan.’’

Littlejohn said that in this session, the school staff asked her daughter what bathroom and locker rooms she wanted to use, which sex she wanted to room with during overnight trips and whether she wanted her parents to be notified or not.

‘They put the burden on her as to whether or not my parental rights would be honored by deciding she was the sole decision maker as to whether or not my husband and I would be notified of the meeting,’ she explained.

Littlejohn said that when she made inquiries about the session to the school she was told ‘they could not give me any information about that meeting’ and ‘that my daughter was now protected by a nondiscrimination law.’

Today, Littlejohn says her daughter has worked through her gender confusion. But she said the school’s actions created a ‘huge wedge between us and our daughter’ that ‘took many years to repair.’

‘If you give these children the gift of time, if you allow them to go through their natural puberty, the vast majority of these kids will resolve their distress naturally, just like my daughter did,’ she said. ‘My daughter is a shining example of that, although she still does grieve the time that she lost, years that she lost, dedicated to the lie of this ideology to become something that she could never become. So that part is really tragic.’

Despite all this, Littlejohn said she was ‘humbled and honored’ to be invited to attend the address as the president’s guest.

‘I felt the weight of not just representing my family and what we’ve been through but of all families who have been harmed by this gender identity ideology,’ she said. ‘And it’s still happening. I get phone calls weekly from parents whose children are being seduced by the false idea that they were born in the wrong body.’ 

Though she said the experience left her feeling ‘filled with such hope,’ she said, ‘executive orders alone will not change this, because this ideology has infected every institution, including our schools.’

‘There are still 21,000 school districts across our country that have these secret social transition plans. And it’s really sad … because these children, this identity crisis is being forced on them. It’s creating confusion where no previous confusion would have existed,’ she said. ‘But the bottom line is, is we have truth and reality on our side. And I’m very grateful that we are moving in the right direction.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Multiple sources told Fox News Digital that the U.N.’s Department of Global Communications may be a target for reform and even funding cuts, since it is often at odds with the U.S. and Israel.

The calls for reform come a month after President Donald Trump signed an executive order calling for a review of funding to the U.N. At the time, Trump said that the world body ‘has tremendous potential,’ but is ‘not being well run.’ 

Last week, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned about cuts to U.S. spending at the U.N., stating that ‘going through with recent funding cuts will make the world less healthy, less safe, and less prosperous.’

So far, Trump has halted new funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Administration for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and withdrew the U.S. from the U.N. Human Rights Council. On Feb. 27, the U.S. also terminated $377 million in grants with the United Nations Population Fund, which offers sexual and reproductive health services in 150 countries.

The U.N. media branch’s nearly 700 employees are tasked to ‘leverage the power of communications to tell the United Nations story to global audiences in multiple languages and platforms in order to mobilize action in support of the United Nations agenda.’

Anne Bayefsky, Director of the Touro Institute on Human Rights and the Holocaust and President of Human Rights Voices, told Fox News Digital that, through the Department, ‘the U.S. taxpayer pays the U.N. to hire media experts and do P.R. for the purpose of blasting anti-American and antisemitic trash around the globe.’

Asked whether funding the Department of Global Communications serves U.S. interests, a U.N. spokesperson told Fox News Digital that the Department performs media outreach, operates as a newswire, and hosts the Dag Hammarskjöld Library.  

Many of the Department of Global Communications’ personnel, the spokesperson explained, are ‘based at 59 U.N. Information Centers across the world, which communicate about the U.N. and the collective will of its Member States in local languages, closer to the people that the U.N. serves.’ 

Former member of the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Hugh Dugan told Fox News Digital that the need to use information centers ‘to lobby its own members on their dime in their countries speaks to the deep state to me.’ With U.S. public support for the U.N. declining, Dugan said the Department of Global Communications ‘is more than failing in its own backyard in the most consequential country for its future.’

A Pew Research Center found that 52% of Americans had a favorable perspective of the U.N. as of April 2024, down from 57% in 2023.

Fox News Digital asked Under Secretary-General for Global Communications Melissa Fleming whether the Department of Global Communications is involved in oversight of communications for additional U.N. entities. 

Fleming said that her department ‘does not have oversight, but convenes regular coordination meetings with communication colleagues from across the U.N. system to discuss crisis situations and content plans.’ Fleming also confirmed that the Department of Global Communications has charge of the main United Nations’ social media account.

Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of U.N. Watch, told Fox News Digital that ‘in terms of its regular communications, whether it’s the Secretary General, or whether it’s various U.N. social media accounts, are routinely engaged in anti-American and anti-Israel, and you could say, to the extent that it’s demonizing the Jewish people, antisemitic messaging.’

U.S. Ambassador-designate to the U.N. Elise Stefanik recently tweeted that ‘the days of propping up organizations at the United Nations that run counter to our interests are long gone. We will no longer fund terrorism, antisemitism, and anti-Israel hate.’ Stefanik was speaking at the ADL’s ‘NEVER IS NOW’ summit.

Fox News Digital found multiple Tweets from the U.N. Twitter account that promote a one-sided narrative of the Israel-Gaza conflict. These included a Jan. 29 Tweet in support of the UN Relief and Works Administration for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, which states that ‘Israeli legislation imposes massive restraints on UNRWA’s operations,’ but fails to note why Israel has banned UNRWA’s operations and a growing number of countries have pulled funding from the terror-tied organization.

A Dec. 27 World Health Organization Tweet retweeted by the United Nations said that a raid on Kamal Adwan Hospital was part of a ‘systematic dismantling of the health system in Gaza,’ but did not mention that the Israel Defense Forces entered the facility to apprehend multiple members of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, including the director, who stored weaponry inside the hospital, as terror groups have done repeatedly during the war.

Spokespersons from the U.S. State Department, U.S. Mission to the U.N., and the United Nations were unable to provide Fox News Digital with figures about what percentage of the Department of Global Communications’ more than $117.9 million budget is covered by the U.S.

In 2022, the U.S.’s $18.1 billion contribution to the U.N. covered 30% of the organization’s total budget. By 2024, U.S. contributions to the U.N. were at 22% for the general budget and 27% for the peacekeeping budget. The U.N. reports that more than 40% of humanitarian aid it donated in 2024 was provided by the U.S. 

A State Department spokesperson did not answer direct questions about whether funding the Department of Global Communications serves U.S. interests, but explained that a 90-day review period instated by a Jan. 20 executive order ‘is a measure put in place for us to align our ongoing work with the America First agenda. The results of the in-depth review will be communicated transparently.’ The spokesperson said that the State ‘Department and USAID take their role as stewards of taxpayer dollars very seriously.
 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Democrats displayed their internal party divisions in the wake of President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress. 

Democrats who are a part of leadership or more aligned with the establishment are clashing with progressives, many of whom heckled Trump throughout his more than 90-minute speech on Tuesday. The party is facing pressure from grassroots organizations to take a more combative approach – in lieu of decorum – to the Trump administration’s dismantling of the federal bureaucracy. 

While moderate Democrats are frustrated over the progressives’ disruptions, progressives complained about a lack of direction and clear strategy ahead of Trump’s first joint session address to Congress since he began his second term. 

‘People are pissed at leadership too,’ one senior House Democrat told Axios. ‘Everyone is mad at everyone.’

Rep. George Latimer, D-N.Y., told Axios he believed the outbursts were ‘inappropriate.’ 

‘When a president — my president, your president — is speaking, we don’t interrupt, we don’t pull those stunts,’ he said. 

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., had Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, escorted out of the chamber after the Democrat repeatedly jeered at Trump, waving his cane during the speech. Some Democrats had warned their colleagues against protesting Trump, with former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., saying they should let him ‘stew in his own juice.’

Democrats protested nonetheless, including remaining seated as Trump celebrated his policies, and held up signs reading ‘false,’ ‘lies,’ ‘Musk steals,’ and ‘Save Medicaid.’ Some female Democratic lawmakers wore pink suits in protest of policies they claim are anti-woman, while other Democrats were heard jeering Trump throughout the speech. 

A centrist, Rep. Jared Golden, D-Maine, told Axios, ‘I didn’t take that approach myself, so obviously I don’t condone it.’ 

‘If anyone is thinking that it was an effective strategy, they’re probably in an echo chamber,’ Golden added. ‘My take is that the average American thought the optics were pretty bad. 

‘I think it was a big mistake,’ Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., told Axios of the disruptions. ‘I’m an old school traditional type guy, I think we should be treating the president with deference. So I think it was inappropriate.’

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., took to X to condemn the ‘sad cavalcade of self owns and unhinged petulance.’ 

‘It only makes Trump look more presidential and restrained,’ he wrote of the Democrats’ outbursts. ‘We’re becoming the metaphorical car alarms that nobody pays attention to – and it may not be the winning message.’ 

‘I don’t think that’s the way forward,’ Fetterman added to Axios. 

DJ Daniel, a 13-year-old boy who survived cancer, stole the show Tuesday evening when Trump introduced him to the audience and officially swore him in as a member of the Secret Service. Daniel received a standing ovation from a majority of the crowd, although some Democrats were seen sitting at various times while Trump was speaking about the 13-year-old.

‘Not standing for Trump would have been a fine strategy, but you need to separate him from the kid with cancer,’ another centrist House Democrat told Axios, condemning his party’s messaging. 

‘It would be a compliment to call it a strategy,’ the lawmaker added, noting the progressives’ signs were edited online to read ‘TDS,’ referring to the term known as ‘Trump Derangement Syndrome.’ 

Progressives, meanwhile, argued that a lack of direction from leadership forced them to develop their own approach.

‘There was definitely frustration about lack of guidance [or a] plan,’ one progressive member of Congress told Axios. 

‘People are super pissed that we didn’t get more direction from leadership,’ another progressive added. 

Rep. Dan Newhouse, R-Wash., is planning on bringing a resolution Thursday to censure Green for ‘breach of proper conduct,’ and some Democrats, including Golden and Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C., have not ruled out supporting it, Axios reported. 

‘What [Green] did was inappropriate — and he became the story, not the price of eggs,’ a centrist House Democrat told Axios. 

Fox News’ Emma Colton contributed to this report.

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The Hamas terror group on Thursday dismissed President Donald Trump’s latest threat and refused to release more Israeli hostages without a permanent ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas spokesman Abdel-Latif al-Qanoua said the ‘best path to free the remaining Israeli hostages’ is through negotiations on a second phase of the ceasefire agreement. 

The first phase of the ceasefire, which lasted 42 days, ended on Saturday. A second phase was supposed to begin in early February, though only limited preparatory talks have been held so far.

Hamas’ response comes after Trump met with eight former hostages in Washington and posted what he called a ‘last warning’ to Hamas on his Truth Social platform on Wednesday.

‘‘Shalom Hamas’ means Hello and Goodbye – You can choose,’ the president’s post began. ‘Release all of the Hostages now, not later, and immediately return all of the dead bodies of the people you murdered, or it is OVER for you.’

Trump added that he is ‘sending Israel everything it needs to finish the job,’ and that ‘not a single Hamas member will be safe if you don’t do as I say.

‘Also, to the People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages,’ the president wrote. ‘If you do, you are DEAD! Make a SMART decision. RELEASE THE HOSTAGES NOW, OR THERE WILL BE HELL TO PAY LATER!’

Hamas is believed to still have 24 living hostages taken in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack that led to the ongoing war. It is also holding the bodies of 34 others who were either killed in the initial attack or in captivity, as well as the remains of a soldier killed in the 2014 war.

Hamas terrorists killed some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, in the Oct. 7 attack and took a total of 251 people hostage. Most have been released in ceasefire agreements or other arrangements. Israeli forces have rescued eight living hostages and recovered the bodies of dozens more.

Israel’s military offensive has killed over 48,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not say how many of the dead were militants. Israel says it has killed over 17,000 fighters, without providing evidence.

Fox News Digital’s Andrea Margolis and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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A federal appeals court cleared the way for President Donald Trump to fire Hampton Dellinger, the head of the Office of Special Counsel, on Wednesday.

Dellinger, appointed to the role by former President Joe Biden, sued the Trump administration in Washington, D.C., federal court after his Feb. 7 firing.

D.C. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson had argued in a filing last month that Dellinger’s firing was ‘unlawful.’

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia sided with the Trump administration in a Wednesday ruling, however. Dellinger is likely to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.

Jackson claimed that the court ‘finds that the elimination of the restrictions on plaintiff’s removal would be fatal to the defining and essential feature of the Office of Special Counsel as it was conceived by Congress and signed into law by the President: its independence. The Court concludes that they must stand.’

Dellinger has maintained the argument that, by law, he can only be dismissed from his position for job performance problems, which were not cited in an email dismissing him from his post.

Earlier in February, liberal Supreme Court justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson voted to outright deny the administration’s request to approve the firing.

Conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Samuel Alito dissented, saying the lower court overstepped. They also cast doubt on whether courts have the authority to restore to office someone the president has fired. While acknowledging that some officials appointed by the president have contested their removal, Gorsuch wrote in his opinion that ‘those officials have generally sought remedies like backpay, not injunctive relief like reinstatement.’

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