President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a landmark agreement focusing on critical mineral supply chains, defense investments, and technological cooperation, including over $3 billion in joint mineral projects, defense deals worth billions, and increased economic and space collaboration, strengthening the US-Australia alliance.
US President Donald Trump announced a significant trade agreement with Japan, involving a 15% tariff on Japanese exports, Japan's $550 billion investment in the US, and opening markets for US cars and agricultural products, which is expected to create hundreds of thousands of jobs and strengthen economic ties.
The White House is set to announce that $1 trillion in private sector investments have been made in clean technology and manufacturing, attributed to Biden-era legislation like the Inflation Reduction Act. This milestone highlights the ongoing impact of Biden's policies, even as President-elect Trump has threatened to roll back these laws. The investments are seen as crucial for future American industries, potentially making it challenging for future administrations to reverse these initiatives.
Ukrainian President Zelensky met with Wall Street CEOs and business leaders in Manhattan to discuss rebuilding Ukraine's war-torn country and economy. The meeting, convened by JPMorgan Chase, included prominent figures such as Eric Schmidt, Mike Bloomberg, and Henry Kissinger. The focus was on finding ways to support and invest in Ukraine's reconstruction. This meeting followed Zelensky's UN speech calling for global unity against Russian aggression. Zelensky is scheduled to meet with US President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday.
Southwest Airlines has announced plans to establish a new crew base at Nashville International Airport (BNA), creating approximately 1,300 new jobs including pilots and flight attendants. The decision is based on Tennessee's status as a global travel destination and the expansion plans for BNA. The airline will work with BNA to add four gates, with a goal of reaching 20 gates by the end of the year.
Vice President Kamala Harris is embarking on a seven-day trip to Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia to reset US-Africa relations and encourage American businesses to invest in African nations. The Biden administration is trying to compete with China, which has gained a significant economic foothold on the continent. Harris will focus on elevating the youth and making announcements about public-private sector investments. The trip is intended to make good on the administration’s commitments from December at the U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit. Harris' task will be to shift how Americans view Africa from one that centers on civil war, human rights abuses, and coup d’etats.