INTERNACIONAL
Daylight Savings: It’s about the sunlight
It’s not about the math.
But it is about the sunlight.
«My goal is just to make sure people get more sunshine,» said Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass.
«I am fond of saying you can’t shovel sunshine,» said Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex.
«The American people love having an extra hour of sunlight,» said Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla.
‘STOP THE CLOCK’: GOP, DEMS COME TOGETHER TO END DAYLIGHT SAVING OVER HEALTH, ECONOMIC RISKS
Tax day is upon us. So millions of Americans are hoping they score a refund from the federal government.
And millions of Americans are hoping Washington can help them pocket an extra hour of daylight too.
This is why Congress is trying to maximize the sun.
President Trump recently opined «the House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day,» emphatically dubbing Daylight Saving Time «A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!» (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Some lawmakers believe it’s time to «lock the clock.» Either choosing Standard Time or Daylight Saving Time. But the twice-a-year clock switching may be living on borrowed time.
That’s why the Senate Commerce Committee held the first Congressional hearing on the biannual time change for the first time in three years last week.
«We need to stop the clock. We need to find a solution and stick with it,» said Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester, D-Del. «People across our country are tired of the constant cycle of falling back and springing forward. I mean, who hasn’t forgotten to change their clock on their microwave. I think mine is still on the wrong time.»
WE LIVE IN TIME: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS AND THE ‘TIME LORDS’ OF CONGRESS
President Trump has weighed in several times in opposition to the clock switching – both during this term in office and during his previous tenure.
In March, the President called it a «50-50 issue.» But Mr. Trump again wrinkled the time conversation with a post on Truth Social. Despite not taking a stand when the U.S. «sprang forward,» President Trump was emphatic about what should happen now.
«The House and Senate should push hard for more Daylight at the end of a day. Very popular and, most importantly, no more changing of the clocks, a big inconvenience and, for our government, A VERY COSTLY EVENT!!!,» wrote the President.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., has long been a proponent of ending the biannual clock change. (iStock | Getty Images)
Rick Scott has grappled with the time issue before. Scott served two terms as governor of Florida before entering the Senate. Scott signed a bill into law that would let the Sunshine State (go figure) opt out of the time change. A similar piece of legislation has bipartisan support on Capitol Hill.
Scott looked to the president’s lead.
«We have a great opportunity to finally get this done with President Trump on board to lock the clock,» said Scott.
But locking it an hour ahead? Or an hour behind? There’s little agreement.
TRUMP SAYS CONGRESS SHOULD PUSH ‘FOR MORE DAYLIGHT AT THE END OF A DAY’
The Senate voted to permanently park the U.S. on Daylight Saving Time in 2022. Secretary of State and then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., surprisingly advanced a bill without objection from any senator.
«Without objection, so ordered!» exclaimed former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., who presided over the Senate that day.
«Yes!» she declared, yanking her arms toward her like a coach who’s kicker just drilled a field goal late in the game.
Then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was able to advance a bill establishing permanent Daylight Savings in 2022 without objection from his colleagues. It subsequently died in the House. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
But the plan died in the House.
«The spring clock change to Daylight Saving Time is bad. But permanent Daylight Saving Time is worse,» testified Karin Johnson a Professor of Neurology at UMass Chan School of Medicine. «The later sunrises and sunsets of Daylight Saving Time lead to higher risks of chronic diseases, including but not limited to cancer, diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and these outweigh the short term risks of what happens with the time change.»
Johnson also told senators that «year-round Standard Time is a natural, healthy choice promoting physical health, mental health performance and safety.»
CONGRESS DEBATES FUTURE OF DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME
Johnson argued that the U.S. should not «pick something that’s been tried and failed twice before.»
Johnson’s right. The U.S. has «sprung» forward to Daylight Saving Time – or its equivalent – on two separate occasions. In 1918, Congress voted for the nation to embrace Daylight Saving Time to conserve energy during World War I. Farmers pushed a repeal of Daylight Saving Time. So Congress undid it. President Woodrow Wilson vetoed the bill. But Congress overrode him. It’s one of only 112 successful presidential veto overrides by Congress in the history of the republic.
Lawmakers greenlighted the Emergency Daylight Saving Time Energy Conservation Act – triggering year-round Daylight Saving Time – in the mid 1970s. This was in response to the OPEC oil shocks. The nation was supposed to remain on Daylight Saving Time for two years. But the new time proved so unpopular that lawmakers unwound the clocks to Standard Time after only a few months.
Daylight Saving Time, in its current form, first became law during the Johnson administration. (Keystone/Getty Images)
However, permanent Daylight Saving Time has its advocates.
Jay Karen of the National Golf Course Owners Association told senators that shifting the clocks an hour ahead would prompt an extra 27 million rounds of golf on the links each year. Karen estimated that golf course owners would pocket an additional $1 billion.
«Americans overwhelmingly prefer evening recreation over early morning,» testified Karen.
But do you know who absolutely hates Daylight Saving Time?
Convicts!
A University of Washington study found that the single toughest sentencing day of the year is the Monday after we spring forward each March.
Blame it on cranky judges who lost an hour of sleep.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME: THERE OUGHTA BE A LAW
«Some people receive harsher sentences than they otherwise would,» said Scott Yates of the Lock the Clock Movement.
Justice may be blind. But it can certainly tell time.
Arizona and Hawaii don’t observe Daylight Saving Time.
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., is leery of a nationwide fix. Two time zones cleave the Hoosier State.
«We have 12 counties in the western part of the state that are in the Central Time Zone,» said Young. «Maybe a one-size-fits-all national policy on time changes doesn’t take into account the regional differences that significantly impact daily life.»
Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., represents a state that straddles two time zones. He’s naturally skeptical of a one-size-fits-all approach to the Daylight Savings issue. (Alex Wong)
It all hinges on location. Some people in the north and east will benefit for some of the year. But the sun will come up too early in the summer and set too early in the winter. Residents on the western ends of time zones seem to get more sunlight later in the year as well. But other locales? Not so much.
«Hello darkness, my old friend,» mused Cruz, channeling Simon & Garfunkel.
During the hearing, Cruz commented to a witness that «your time has expired.»
And that may be the case with the time change. But not unless Congress can agree what to do.
Even the name of the March time switch is contrived. It’s classic Washington spin. «Daylight Saving.» Lawmakers are essentially trying to convince the public they’re getting more of something – for free. But they’re not.
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There are only so many hours and minutes of sunlight in the day. Period. It’s always going to get too dark too early somewhere. And the sun will always come up too early somewhere. And even though Congress has a lot of clout, it certainly can’t control that.
Congress,Senate,Donald Trump
Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., is considering a bid for governor in 2026, multiple sources close to her confirmed to Fox News Digital.
Stefanik was withdrawn from consideration as President Donald Trump’s United Nations Ambassador to shore up numbers of the House Republicans’ narrow majority. She is now the chairwoman of House Republican Leadership.
Sources tell Fox News Digital that she is being encouraged to run by allies of Trump and longtime friends. Stefanik outperformed the president in her congressional district in 2016, 2020 and 2024, which one source says could be an indicator that she could do well with New York’s swing voters. The Republican won with 62% of the vote in her strongly conservative district in November.
On Wednesday, Stefanik made the case for a GOP win in New York this year when she commented on a Marist poll that shows Governor Hochul’s approval numbers to be underwater with NY voters. «This latest bombshell polling proves what every New Yorker already knows: that we must FIRE Kathy Hochul in 2026 to SAVE NEW YORK. Hochul is the Worst Governor in America and it’s not even close.»
Her incompetence, corruption, and radical failed Far Left policies have destroyed our great state causing businesses and families to flee from crushing high taxes, out of control regulations, inept fiscal mismanagement, wide open border sanctuary city policies putting illegals first and New Yorkers last, and an out of control crime crisis due to Democrats’ failed bail reform defund the police policies.This polling shows that we can WIN & SAVE NEW YORK.», Hochul said in the statement.
HARVARD IS ‘ACTING MORE ENTITLED THAN EVER,’ SAYS GOP CONGRESSWOMAN
Elise Stefanik with Donald Trump (Getty Images)
«Congresswoman Elise Stefanik is GREAT!!!» Trump posted to Truth Social on Wednesday morning.
She has $10 million cash-on-hand through her entities, and is considered popular among Republican voters in the state. Stefanik was the keynote speaker at a New York GOP event on Tuesday night.
At the time of her nomination’s withdrawl, the Republican congresswoman said it was a matter of holding the line in Congress.
«I have been proud to be a team player. The president knows that. He and I had multiple conversations today, and we are committed to delivering results on behalf of the American people. And as always, I’m committed to delivering results on behalf of my constituents,» Stefanik said on «Hannity» last month.
REP. ELISE STEFANIK EXPLAINS HER ‘TEAM PLAYER’ DECISION TO STAY IN CONGRESS
House Republican Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., listens as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump speaks at the House Republicans Conference meeting at the Hyatt Regency on Capitol Hill on Nov. 13, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)
Trump said he would work on finding a replacement pick, which has not been announced yet.
«As we advance our America First Agenda, it is essential that we maintain EVERY Republican Seat in Congress. We must be unified to accomplish our Mission, and Elise Stefanik has been a vital part of our efforts from the very beginning,» the president posted to Truth Social at the time.
«I have asked Elise, as one of my biggest Allies, to remain in Congress to help me deliver Historic Tax Cuts, GREAT Jobs, Record Economic Growth, a Secure Border, Energy Dominance, Peace Through Strength, and much more, so we can MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. With a very tight Majority, I don’t want to take a chance on anyone else running for Elise’s seat. The people love Elise and, with her, we have nothing to worry about come Election Day. There are others that can do a good job at the United Nations,.»
Whoever wins the primary could be running in the general election against incumbent Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul, who had a tough fight against now-Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin in 2022, when he was in Congress at the time.
SANCTUARY GOVERNORS WALZ, PRITZKER, HOCHUL CALLED TO TESTIFY BEFORE CONGRESS
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has been outspoken about her thoughts on the controversial tolling program. (Photo by Alex Kent/Getty Images)
Stefanik is far from the only well-known Republican in New York State considering a 2026 run for governor.
Rep. Mike Lawler, R_N.Y., a moderate who’s in his second term representing the state’s 17th Congressional District, which covers a large swath of New York City’s northern suburbs, is mulling a bid.
«I’ll make a decision at some point – middle of the year. Obviously, you know if we’re going to do it, you got to get out there, and you got to campaign hard,» Lawler said last week in an interview with Fox News Digital.
He added, «I haven’t made a decision yet. I think, obviously, there’s a number of factors in play, but you know, we’re working through that right now.»
Among the other Republicans weighing a gubernatorial run are Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman, who like Stefanik is a major Trump ally and longtime Bethany town supervisor Carl Hyde Jr.
It’s been 23 years since a Republican won a gubernatorial election in heavily blue New York State. You have to go all the way back to former Gov. George Pataki’s second re-election victory in 2002.
«New York’s Republican primary is set to be a nasty and vicious race to see who can be the Trumpiest – and most out of touch with New Yorkers,» Democratic Governors Association spokesperson Kevin Donohoe said. «All three potential candidates in this race are running to bring Donald Trump’s extreme agenda of raising costs and taking away fundamental freedoms to Albany – and could not be more out of step with New York.»
FILE – Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, at podium, speaks during a news conference in Mineola, N.Y., Wednesday, March 6, 2024. (AP Photo/Philip Marcelo, File)
But Hochul’s approval ratings and favorable ratings remain underwater, giving Republicans hope the losing streak will come to an end next year. The governor also faces potential, longshot primary challenges from her lieutenant governor, Antonio Delgado, as well as Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y.
In 2022, Zeldin had the best performance by a GOP gubernatorial candidate in New York since Pataki’s 2002 victory. Zeldin, who now steers the Environmental Protection Agency in President Donald Trump’s second administration, lost to Hochul by less than six and a half points.
And Trump lost the state to then-Vice President Kamala Harris by 13 points in last November’s presidential election, but that was a 10-point improvement from his loss margin to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
«What is really telling is that you have three, at least, very qualified Republican candidates looking at it,» a veteran Republican strategist who works on New York State races told Fox News. «I think it shows her [Hochul’s] vulnerability.»
Stefanik’s departure could still have an impact on House Republicans’ razor-thin three-seat majority, but GOP leaders hope to be done with their plans for a massive conservative policy overhaul via the budget reconciliation process by the end of this year.
If elected governor, Stefanik would not have to leave the House until the end of December 2025.
Her vote was critical to advancing the legislation earlier this month. The bill appeared at risk of failing during a tense procedural vote last week, but Stefanik – who was among the last to cast her vote – carried it over the like 216 to 215.
Fox News’ Madeline Coggins contributed to this report.
Congress,New York
The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom unanimously ruled Wednesday that a woman is someone born biologically female, a move that now excludes transgender women from the legal definition of a woman.
Trans women can be excluded from some single-sex spaces and groups under the U.K. Equality Act, the five judges of the top court ruled. These spaces and groups include changing rooms, homeless shelters, swimming areas and medical or counseling services provided only to women.
The ruling means that even a transgender person with a certificate that recognizes them as female should not be considered a woman for equality purposes.
But Justice Patrick Hodge said its ruling «does not remove protection from trans people,» who are «protected from discrimination on the ground of gender reassignment.»
TRANSGENDER ACTIVIST CLAIMS ‘SCIENCE IS ON OUR SIDE’ WHILE PUSHING DEMOCRATS TO FIGHT BACK ON THE ISSUE
Women’s rights activists celebrate the ruling outside the Supreme Court in London on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
«Interpreting ‘sex’ as certificated sex would cut across the definitions of ‘man’ and ‘woman’ … and, thus, the protected characteristic of sex in an incoherent way,» Hodge said. «It would create heterogeneous groupings.»
Women’s rights groups celebrated the ruling outside the court.
The U.K. Supreme Court unanimously ruled Wednesday that a woman is someone born biologically female. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
«Everyone knows what sex is and you can’t change it,» said Susan Smith, co-director of For Women Scotland, which brought the case. «It’s common sense, basic common sense and the fact that we have been down a rabbit hole where people have tried to deny science and to deny reality and hopefully this will now see us back to, back to reality.»
Women’s rights activists hold signs outside the Supreme Court amid a challenge to gender recognition laws in London on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)
FEDERAL JUDGE RULES AGAINST PARENTS SEEKING TO PROTEST TRANSGENDER ATHLETES WITH WRISTBAND
Hannah Ford, an employment lawyer, said that while the judgment will provide clarity on the controversial issue in the U.K., it would be a setback for transgender rights and there would be «an uphill battle» to ensure workplaces are welcoming places for trans people.
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«This will be really wounding for the trans community,» Ford told Sky News.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
INTERNACIONAL
Wall Street sufre bajas por las nuevas medidas comerciales que afectan al sector tecnológico
Wall Street, las bolsas europeas y asiáticas experimentaron retrocesos generalizados el miércoles tras el anuncio de nuevas restricciones comerciales impuestas por el gobierno estadounidense sobre las exportaciones de chips clave de Nvidia hacia China, en lo que constituye el más reciente episodio de tensiones comerciales entre las dos mayores economías del mundo.
Nvidia informó a los reguladores que estas nuevas restricciones representarán un impacto financiero estimado en 5.500 millones de dólares para el trimestre en curso, debido a la imposición de un requisito de licencia para exportar sus chips de inteligencia artificial H20 a China. La empresa comunicó que las restricciones se extienden a circuitos integrados H20 y otros de ancho de banda similar, que estarán sujetos a requisitos de licencia por un “futuro indefinido”.
Las acciones estadounidenses cayeron considerablemente el miércoles ante la noticia, mientras los inversores intentaban asimilar la incertidumbre generada por la política comercial del presidente Trump.
El índice de referencia S&P 500 registraba una caída del 0,9%, mientras que el índice tecnológico Nasdaq Composite se desplomaron un 1,8%, liderando las pérdidas. Eel índice Dow Jones también oscila por debajo de la línea plana.
Las acciones de Nvidia fueron las más afectadas, con un desplome superior al 7%, tras revelarse las nuevas restricciones a sus exportaciones de chips.
Las acciones del fabricante de chips rival AMD cayeron un 6,5%.
Según la documentación presentada ante los organismos reguladores, el gobierno estadounidense justificó los controles como una medida para evitar que estos productos “puedan ser utilizados en, o desviados a, superordenadores en China”, reflejando la creciente preocupación de Washington por el avance tecnológico del país asiático en sectores estratégicos.
“Nvidia dejó caer el micrófono, revelando nuevas restricciones a la exportación de equipos de IA con destino a China”, comentó Stephen Innes, analista de SPI Asset Management, quien añadió: “Bienvenidos a la nueva normalidad: un paso adelante, dos sondeos arancelarios atrás”.
Este movimiento se produjo apenas días después de que Nvidia anunciara su intención de comenzar a producir superordenadores de inteligencia artificial en Estados Unidos por primera vez, una decisión que ahora adquiere nuevos matices estratégicos a la luz de estas restricciones comerciales.
Las restricciones a Nvidia no representan un hecho aislado en la creciente disputa comercial entre Estados Unidos y China. Trump también ha iniciado una investigación que podría derivar en la imposición de aranceles a minerales críticos como las tierras raras, elementos utilizados en una amplia gama de productos tecnológicos, desde teléfonos inteligentes hasta turbinas eólicas y motores de vehículos eléctricos.
Estos movimientos han intensificado las tensiones ya existentes entre ambas potencias. China respondió el miércoles indicando que los gravámenes estadounidenses están ejerciendo presión sobre su economía, aunque los datos oficiales mostraron un crecimiento superior al esperado durante el primer trimestre. Beijing exhortó a Washington a “dejar de amenazar y chantajear”.
Como señal de la escalada de tensiones, el servicio postal de Hong Kong decidió suspender el envío de mercancías a Estados Unidos, describiéndolo como respuesta a los gravámenes “intimidatorios” impuestos por Washington.
Los mercados financieros reaccionaron con cautela ante este nuevo capítulo de tensiones comerciales. Después de un par de días relativamente tranquilos tras las turbulencias arancelarias de la semana pasada, los inversores adoptaron nuevamente una postura defensiva.
En Europa, el índice de referencia londinense FTSE 100 cerró con una subida moderada del 0,3%, ya que los datos oficiales mostraron que la inflación británica se ralentizó más de lo esperado en marzo.
Frankfurt también cerró con una subida del 0,3%, pero París cayó casi un 0,1%.
Las acciones del gigante tecnológico holandés ASML, que fabrica máquinas para producir semiconductores, cayeron más de un cinco por ciento, ya que sus reservas netas se situaron por debajo de las expectativas.
Según David Morrison, analista de Trade Nation, el decepcionante informe de resultados de ASML “no ha hecho más que agravar las preocupaciones del sector tecnológico”.
En Asia, el impacto fue más pronunciado. El índice Nikkei 225 de Tokio bajó un 1,0%, cerrando en 33.920,40 puntos, mientras que el Hang Seng de Hong Kong se desplomó un 1,9%, finalizando en 21.056,98 puntos. El índice compuesto de Shanghái fue uno de los pocos que logró mantenerse en terreno positivo, con un modesto incremento del 0,3%.
Los gigantes tecnológicos asiáticos también registraron grandes caídas. Las acciones del fabricante de equipos de pruebas Advantest cayeron un 6,7% en Tokio, Disco Corp. perdió un 7,6% y la taiwanesa TSMC, un 2,4%.
El dólar volvió a caer frente a sus principales rivales.
Los rendimientos de las letras del Tesoro a 10 años se redujeron, pero siguen siendo elevados tras la venta masiva de la semana pasada, que suscitó dudas sobre el valor refugio de los bonos estadounidenses.
El oro alcanzó un récord de 3.317,75 dólares la onza, antes de ceder terreno.
Los precios del petróleo subieron casi un dos por ciento tras las fuertes caídas registradas recientemente por el temor a que los aranceles frenen el crecimiento económico mundial.
ai,business news,east asian,industries,japanese
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