Trump, Congress set to clash over economic costs of tariffs

WASHINGTON — Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of House Democrats, promises to “stop the stupid Trump tariffs jacking up prices on Americans.” Ron Wyden, incoming Senate Finance Committee chairman, says he’ll reassert congressional authority over trade policy. Even Sen. Ted Cruz, the Texas Republican, lamented that “tariffs have made everything too expensive.”

But curbing President Donald Trump’s tariff powers won’t be easy or quick, and there’s a risk any efforts to do so in the incoming Democratic-led Congress will spur infighting in both parties.

While the president tempered his policies ahead of Tuesday’s election, he has several potential trade barriers in the pipeline. Trump could announce a new set of duties linked to excess industrial capacity that would hit imports from more than a dozen economies — even before Democrats take control in January.

“The administration will continue correcting long-standing trade imbalances that incentivize companies to invest and build in America and that protect American workers and their families,” the U.S. Trade Representative’s office said in a statement Thursday.

—Bloomberg News

Ivanka Trump’s luxury trip to Morocco before midterms cost taxpayers nearly $100,000

Days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, when American voters rebuked Donald Trump’s leadership and newly empowered congressional Democrats vowed to investigate “the Trump crime family” for allegedly profiting off his presidency, his beloved daughter Ivanka Trump went on a luxury vacation to Morocco that cost U.S. taxpayers at least $100,000 — and probably more.

The Daily Mail reported that Ivanka Trump’s trip to Marrakech coincided with her 45th birthday on Oct. 30, and she and her entourage were photographed by the local media visiting some of the local markets the day before. Marrakech has become a popular destination for wealthy Europeans and is known for its picturesque old city, packed with markets, the nearly 1,000-year-old Kutubiyya Mosque and other cultural and historic sites.

Marrakech also is known for offering luxury accommodations to well-heeled travelers, and it appears that Ivanka Trump enjoyed her getaway to that city, with taxpayers footing some of her expenses, according to federal procurement records obtained by the Daily Mail. Those documents showed that Secret Service agents assigned to protect Ivanka Trump spent $93,000 staying in rooms at two five-star hotels in the city ahead of her trip.

On Oct. 21, a $59,543 contract was issued for hotel rooms at the five-star Sofitel in Marrakech for a Secret Service advance team preparing for a ‘VVIP’ arrival, records show, the Daily Mail reported.

—The Mercury News

Audio reveals dire cockpit moments before fatal plane crash near Palm Beach

MIAMI — Harrowing recordings shortly before a Learjet 60 fatally crashed in Palm Beach County reveals air traffic control advised the 20-year-old co-pilot to “expect better rides ahead” moments before the plane hurtled into a thunderstorm and went down, killing all nine on board.

Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras, of Boca Raton, was the one heard speaking with controllers at the Miami Air Route Traffic Control Center as the private plane, captained by 55-year-old Jeffrey Gregory, headed to the Bahamas from Texas with seven passengers.

Her conversation lasted just more than two minutes the afternoon of Nov. 1, as the plane hit a large thunderstorm over South Florida. The recordings reveal how quickly the plane descended. Her chilling last words heard in the recording: “We’re out of time.”

When the conversation began, there wasn’t a hint of something seriously wrong. “Miami 722 Bravo Delta 350, turning direct Freeport,” Filgueiras radioed to Miami air traffic controllers at around 12:47 p.m. “We have light, clear ice that is manageable and moderate turbulence."

—Miami Herald

More bomb threats at airports in Prague and Paris

PRAGUE — Czech and French aviation authorities reported further bomb threats on Friday. Prague's Václav Havel Airport had again been dealing with bomb threats targeting passenger flights, police and airport authorities in the Czech capital said on Friday.

A larger number of arriving and departing aircraft had been affected, police posted on X, adding that the necessary security measures had been put in place, with "minimal impact" on normal operations at international airport.

An airport spokeswoman said the threats had targeted nine flights. According to media reports, affected aircraft are inspected while still on the airport apron. A mobile X-ray scanner operated by customs officials was used. Police later announced that the explosives searches had yielded negative results.

Searches following similar incidents on Thursday also found nothing.

—dpa