Fargo workers laid off from CNH Industrial jobs
CNH Industrial has confirmed that they will be laying off 35 of their employees permanently in their Fargo location, according to KVRR. The job layoffs come as there has been a decreased demand for products manufactured in Fargo. ValleyNews Live reported that the layoffs came as a surprise to the employees and union workers when they found out about the layoffs on Feb. 20. CNH Industrial sells agricultural and construction equipment along with trucks, buses and specialty vehicles.
Dakota Access Pipeline expansion approved
Fox News reported that an all-Republican board of government regulators voted to approve a permit allowing the expansion of the Dakota Access Pipeline on Feb. 19. Texas-based company, Energy Transfer, works with the pipeline as they transport oil from North Dakota to a shipping point in Illinois. The company started proposing an expansion of the pipeline last year because of the growing demand for oil shipments from North Dakota. With the expansion approved for the pipeline, many environmentalists have shared their thoughts. Allison Two Bears, the director of environmental regulations for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, told Fox News she was disappointed but not surprised by the decision.
Russian interference in 2020 election
On Feb. 13, intelligence officials in Washington D.C. briefed House of Representative members about Russia’s intention to interfere in the 2020 elections. According to The New York Times, intelligence officials briefed that Russia had intentions to interfere in the 2020 general election as well as 2020 Democratic primaries. Russians are moving away from impersonating Americans on social media platforms like Facebook. Instead, they will rely on Americans to spread false information. Russia is also using servers found in the United States. This limits U.S. intelligence agencies’ ability to interfere, being they can’t operate within the US.
US and Taliban begin reduction of violence
The US State Department announced Friday, Feb. 21 that the US and Taliban have agreed on a seven-day “reduction of violence.” According to Axios, the US and Taliban are projected to officially sign an agreement on Feb. 29 according to a statement from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. President Ashraf Ghani recently won re-election in Afghanistan on Feb. 18. Tensions remain between the Taliban and the official government of Afghanistan. The Taliban has refused in the past to meet with President Ghani saying he is a “puppet of the U.S.”