International

US ports shut down as dockworkers embark on strike

Published

1 year ago

October 1, 2024

US ports shut down as dockworkers embark on strike

Tens of thousands of dockworkers have gone on strike indefinitely at ports across much of the US, threatening significant trade and economic disruption ahead of the presidential election and the busy holiday shopping season.

Members of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) walked out on Tuesday at 14 major ports along the east and gulf coasts, halting container traffic from Maine to Texas.

The action marks the first such shutdown in almost 50 years.

President Joe Biden has the power to suspend the strike for 80 days for further negotiations, but the White House has said he is not planning to act.

What is the strike about?

Talks have been stalled for months and the current contract between parties expired on Monday.

The two sides are fighting over a six-year master contract that covers about 25,000 port workers employed in container and roll-on/roll-off operations, according to the US Maritime Alliance, known as USMX, which represents shipping firms, port associations and marine terminal operators.

On Monday, USMX said it had increased its offer, which would raise wages by almost 50%, triple employers’ contributions to pension plans and strengthen health care options.

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Union boss Harold Daggett has called for significant pay increases for his members, while voicing concerns about threats from automation.

USMX has accused the union of refusing to bargain, filing a complaint with labour regulators that asked them to order the union back to the table.

Under the previous contract, starting wages ranged from $20 to $39 per hour, depending on a worker’s experience. Workers also receive other benefits, such as bonuses connected to container trade.

Mr Daggett has indicated the union wants to see per-hour pay increase by five dollars per year over the life of the six-year deal, which he estimated amounted to about 10% per year.

The ILA said workers are owed after shipping firm profits soared during the Covid pandemic, while inflation hit salaries. It has warned to expect a wider strike of its members, including those not directly involved in this dispute, though the exact numbers are unclear.

The union has said it represents more than 85,000 people; it claimed about 47,000 active members in its annual report to the Labor Department.

What items will be affected by the strike?

Time-sensitive imports, such as food, are likely to be among the goods first impacted.

The ports involved handle about 14% of agricultural exports shipped by sea and more than half of imports, including a significant share of trade in bananas and chocolate, according to the Farm Bureau.

Other sectors exposed to disruption include tin, tobacco and nicotine, Oxford Economics said. Clothing and footwear firms, and European carmakers, which route many of their shipments through the Port of Baltimore, will also take a hit.

Imports in the US surged over the summer, as many businesses took steps to rush shipments ahead of the strike.

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“I don’t think we will see immediate, significant economic impacts…but over the course of weeks, if the strike lasts that long, we can begin to see prices rise and for there to be some shortages in goods,” said Seth Harris, a professor at Northeastern University and a former White House adviser on labour issues.

What will the economic impact be?

More than a third of exports and imports could be affected by the strike, hitting US economic growth to the tune of at least $4.5bn each week of the strike, according to Grace Zemmer, an associate US economist at Oxford Economics, though others have estimated the economic hit could be higher.

She said more than 100,000 people could find themselves temporarily out of work as the impact of the stoppage spreads.

“This is really a trigger event, one that will see dominoes fall over the coming months,” said Peter Sand, chief analyst at ocean freight analytics firm Xeneta, warning that the stand-off also has the potential push up wider shipping costs.

That would hit consumers and businesses which tend to rely on so-called “just-in-time” supply chains for goods, he added.

How could this affect the US election?

The stand-off injects uncertainty into the US economy at a delicate time.

The economy has been slower and the unemployment rate is ticking higher as the US election approaches in six weeks.

The strike risks putting President Biden in a tricky spot.

US presidents can intervene in labour disputes that threaten national security or safety by imposing an 80-day cooling-off period, forcing workers back on the job while negotiations continue.

In 2002, Republican President George W Bush intervened to open ports after 11 days of a strike action by dockworkers on the west coast.

The US Chamber of Commerce business group has called on President Biden to take action.

“Americans experienced the pain of delays and shortages of goods during the pandemic-era supply chain backlogs in 2021. It would be unconscionable to allow a contract dispute to inflict such a shock to our economy,” said Suzanne P. Clark, president and chief executive of the business group.

The ILA’s Mr Daggett endorsed Democrat Biden in 2020, but has been critical of the president more recently, citing pressure on west coast dockworkers to reach a deal a year ago. He met with Donald Trump in July.

Although any strike chaos is likely to hurt Democrats, the cost of alienating allies in the labour movement just weeks before the election would be greater, said William Brucher, a professor of labor studies and employment relations at Rutgers University.

But public support of strikes could be tested by the dispute, which has been championed by Mr Daggett, who was acquitted of having links to organised crime in a 2004 case by federal prosecutors. A related civil suit remains unresolved.

Films such as the 1954 classic On the Waterfront once defined the dockworkers union’s image, but Prof Brucher said he thought that historical memory had largely faded and many people shared the dockworkers’ concerns about cost-of living and automation.

“As much as it could sway public opinion against the ILA, a strike by ILA members is their decision and I don’t think they will be swayed by public opinion in any meaningful way,” he said.

“What is more likely to happen is the pressure of a strike will likely force the employers back to the table with a much more substantial offer.”

US ports shut down as dockworkers embark on strike

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US Adds 19 More Nigerians to ‘Worst of the Worst’ Deportation List

Published

31 minutes ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

79 Nigerians on US Criminal Records Face Possible Deportation

US Adds 19 More Nigerians to ‘Worst of the Worst’ Deportation List

The United States government has added 19 more Nigerian nationals to its “worst of the worst” criminal aliens list, bringing the total number of Nigerians scheduled for deportation to 113. The move targets convicted criminals who have served time in U.S. courts and are deemed a threat to public safety.

According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the newly listed Nigerians were convicted of serious crimes, including sexual assault on a minor, fraud, assault, drug trafficking, and money laundering. These individuals were arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and will be deported after completing immigration procedures.

A DHS statement highlighted the purpose of the programme:
“The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is highlighting the worst of the worst criminal aliens arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Under Secretary Kristi Noem’s leadership, ICE is carrying out deportations — starting with the worst of the worst.”

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Among those newly added to the list are Adeolu Solabu, Oladayo Agboola, Chinonso Ochie, Oluchi Jennifer Chimdimma Chime, Samuel Omorodion, Sunday Adediora, Sunday Kunkushi, Mkpouto Etukudoh, as well as Marcus Unigwe, Kehinde James, Blessing Uchanma, Victor Adebisi, Richard Ugbah, Olaniyi Ojikutu, Oluwamuyiwa Olawoye, Okechukwu Amadi, Femi Jolayemi, Anthony Asanya, Izuchukwu Okoye, and Ebele Agbasiele.

This latest addition follows a previous announcement in which 79 Nigerian nationals had already been slated for deportation for offences ranging from fraud, manslaughter, assault, robbery, to drug-related crimes. The combined total of 113 Nigerians reflects the U.S. government’s intensified focus on criminal aliens.

The move has sparked renewed discussion about U.S. immigration enforcement, diplomatic engagement with Nigeria, and the rights and welfare of deportees. Advocates have raised concerns about ensuring due process and humane treatment for those returned to Nigeria, while authorities stress that deportation is a legal measure targeting foreign nationals convicted of serious crimes.

Globally, Nigerians have faced similar deportation measures, including large-scale removals from countries like India, where thousands were repatriated for visa violations or alleged criminal activities. The ongoing deportations underscore the challenges facing Nigerian citizens abroad amid tightened international immigration and law enforcement policies.

US Adds 19 More Nigerians to ‘Worst of the Worst’ Deportation List

International

Armed Man Shot Dead at Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago Residence by Secret Service

Published

2 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Armed Man Shot Dead at Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago Residence by Secret Service

An armed man was shot and killed early Sunday after breaching the secure perimeter of Donald Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, the United States Secret Service confirmed. The incident occurred around 1:30 a.m. ET (06:30 GMT) while Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were in Washington, D.C.

Authorities said the suspect, later identified as Austin Tucker Martin, a 21-year-old from Cameron, North Carolina, was carrying a shotgun and a fuel canister when confronted by Secret Service agents and a Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputy. Officers ordered him to drop the items, but he raised the shotgun toward them, prompting them to fire and neutralise the threat. No law enforcement officers were injured in the incident. Martin’s family had reported him missing hours before the shooting. Moore County authorities said the missing-person report was turned over to federal investigators. Officials are examining whether he acquired the firearm during his drive from North Carolina to Florida. A box for the shotgun was later recovered from his vehicle.

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Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw described the encounter: the suspect dropped the fuel can but lifted the shotgun into a threatening position. “At that point, agents fired their weapons to neutralise the threat,” Bradshaw said. Officers involved were equipped with body cameras, which captured the incident. The FBI is leading the investigation with support from the Secret Service and local law enforcement. Officials are analyzing bodycam footage, gathering evidence, and creating a psychological profile of the suspect. Authorities have yet to determine a motive.

Mar‑a‑Lago is heavily guarded, with an outer cordon maintained by local Palm Beach deputies and an inner perimeter secured by the Secret Service. Visitors are screened, and vehicles and bags are checked with metal detectors and sniffer dogs. The shooting adds to a history of threats against Trump. In July 2024, Trump was grazed by a bullet at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, where one bystander was killed and two others injured. Another would-be assassin, Ryan Routh, attempted an attack at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach and was recently sentenced to life in prison. Following the Mar‑a‑Lago shooting, Secret Service Director Sean Curran traveled to Florida to oversee “after-actions” and reinforce operational communication and response protocols.

Political violence has become a prominent topic in the US. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent criticized what he described as “normalizing violence” in politics, referencing previous assassination attempts and recent high-profile attacks, including the public shooting of right-wing activist Charlie Kirk and the fatal shootings of a Democratic lawmaker and her husband in Minnesota. The FBI and Secret Service are continuing the investigation to determine the suspect’s motive and possible affiliations, with authorities pledging to release updates as more information becomes available.

Armed Man Shot Dead at Trump’s Mar‑a‑Lago Residence by Secret Service

International

Women, Children Killed as Pakistan Launches Overnight Strikes on Afghanistan

Published

2 hours ago

February 23, 2026

Trends Admin

Islamabad said the strikes were launched on Afghanistan following recent suicide bombings in Pakistan (BBC)

Women, Children Killed as Pakistan Launches Overnight Strikes on Afghanistan

Pakistan has carried out deadly overnight airstrikes on Afghanistan, killing at least 18 people, including women and children, according to the Afghan Taliban, in a major escalation of Pakistan–Afghanistan tensions along their volatile border.

Islamabad confirmed that the operation involved precision airstrikes against seven alleged militant camps and hideouts close to the Pakistan–Afghanistan border, saying the attacks were launched in retaliation for recent suicide bombings inside Pakistan. Pakistani officials said the strikes were intelligence-based and aimed at eliminating armed groups accused of orchestrating cross-border attacks.

The Taliban government in Afghanistan strongly condemned the strikes, accusing Pakistan of bombing civilian homes and a religious school. Afghan authorities described the attacks as a violation of national sovereignty and warned that continued military action could worsen regional instability.

According to Afghanistan’s defence ministry, the airstrikes hit civilian areas in Nangarhar and Paktika provinces. In Girdi Kas village in the Bihsud district of Nangarhar, residents said entire families were affected when homes were destroyed. Local Taliban officials said 18 members of one family were killed, while only a few survived. Earlier casualty estimates had placed the death toll at around 20 people, though figures were later revised.

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In Paktika province, strikes reportedly hit a guesthouse and a religious school in the Bermal and Urgun districts. Local officials said those facilities were empty at the time, and no deaths were reported there.

Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said the military action involved “selective targeting” of fighters linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Islamabad refers to as Fitna al Khawarij, as well as elements of the Islamic State-Khorasan Province. The ministry described the operation as a retributive response to terror attacks it said were planned from Afghan soil.

The latest escalation follows a series of deadly attacks in Pakistan, including a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad earlier this month and additional assaults in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa since the start of Ramadan. Pakistan accused the Afghan Taliban of failing to rein in militants, claiming it had conclusive evidence that some of the attacks were directed from across the border. Kabul has repeatedly denied allowing Afghan territory to be used against neighbouring countries.

In a strongly worded response, the Taliban’s defence ministry described the airstrikes as a “blatant violation of Afghanistan’s territorial integrity” and a “clear breach of international law.” It warned that an “appropriate and measured response” would be taken at a suitable time, accusing Pakistan of flawed intelligence for hitting civilian targets and religious institutions.

The strikes come despite a fragile ceasefire reached in October after deadly cross-border clashes, the worst since the Taliban returned to power in 2021. Although that truce reduced large-scale fighting, sporadic clashes and air operations have continued to strain relations.

Tensions had briefly eased earlier this week after Saudi Arabia mediated the release of three Pakistani soldiers captured during last year’s border clashes. However, analysts warn that the latest airstrikes could undermine diplomatic efforts, worsen humanitarian conditions in border communities, and heighten the risk of further retaliation.

Pakistan and Afghanistan share a 1,600-mile mountainous border, long plagued by militancy, smuggling, and recurring military confrontations, making it one of the region’s most unstable frontiers.