Kennebec cabinets

REUTERS: The anti-China trade mood has reached US kitchens, where a battle is being waged over competing visions of where and how cabinets should be made. On one side are America's traditional cabinet companies, employing an estimated 100,000 people in factories across the country, often in small towns close to forests supplying the wood. On the other is a new breed of "ready-to-assemble" firms that grabbed a hefty slice of the business over the last five years by importing disassembled cabinets from China in flat boxes and selling them at unbeatable prices. In March, the International Trade Commission ruled unanimously in favor of a coalition of 50 US firms fighting to stop the influx. The ITC concluded the imports charged unfairly low prices and slapped on big anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties that will last five years. "We did this for the American worker," said Mark Trexler, chief operating officer of Cabinetworks Group, the nation's second-largest cabinet maker and a … [Read more...] about Trade war? US battle over kitchen cabinets really a domestic dispute

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday stood by an unnamed Cabinet member after an allegation that a senior minister in his Cabinet raped a 16-year-old girl more than 30 years ago. Morrison rejected calls to suspend the minister, saying the unnamed official "vigorously denied" the allegations, which have now been referred to police. The prime minister, who is already under mounting pressure to tackle what has been described as sexist culture within Australian politics, said the minister was innocent until proven guilty. The identity of the minister has not been released owing to Australia's standards on defamation. Sixteen members of Morrison's 22-minister Cabinet are men. 'Matter for the police' "Allegations of criminal conduct should be dealt with by competent and authorized agencies," Morrison said, calling the case a "matter for the police." The accusation came to light after an anonymous letter was sent to Morrison's office and to three female lawmakers … [Read more...] about Australia PM stands by Cabinet minister accused of rape

SINGAPORE - The Cabinet, top civil servants and public service as a whole do not make policy decisions that favour their religious groups, said Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam on Monday (March 1). Responding to Leader of the Opposition Pritam Singh, who had broached the possibility of religious bias in top civil servants either now or in the future, Mr Shanmugam stressed that neutrality and fairness are essential, otherwise the Government will lose the trust of the people quickly. If there is evidence of such a lack of integrity among current senior civil servants, that should be stated and dealt with, he added. Mr Singh (Aljunied GRC) had cited the recent example of the 16-year-old Christian youth who planned terror attacks against two mosques in making the point that Singaporeans may need reassurance that government policy is strictly secular, and neither favours nor is influenced by religious beliefs from any quarter. The Workers' Party chief also asked about the risk … [Read more...] about Cabinet, public service do not make policy decisions based on religion, says Shanmugam in response to Pritam

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, along with several Cabinet ministers, will deliver a series of national broadcasts from Jun 7 to Jun 20. In a press release on Saturday (Jun 6), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said that the national broadcasts will see the ministers explain "what a post-COVID-19 future looks like for Singapore, and lay out plans to see the country through the storm and emerge stronger". READ: Parliament passes Fortitude Budget, 4th package of COVID-19 relief measures this year The broadcasts will be delivered by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, Senior Ministers Teo Chee Hean and Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Trade and Industry Minister Chan Chun Sing and National Development Minister Lawrence Wong. The ministers will talk about: What Singaporeans must do to live with COVID-19 for the long haul to go about their daily lives safely How Singaporeans can maintain relevance on the world stage as the geopolitical … [Read more...] about PM Lee, Cabinet ministers to deliver series of national broadcasts on Singapore’s post-COVID-19 future

Republicans are attacking White House chief of staff Ron Klain Ron Klain Democrats scramble to rescue minimum wage hike Biden 'disappointed' in Senate parliamentarian ruling but 'respects' decision The Memo: Biden faces first major setback as Tanden teeters MORE as “the guy behind the curtain” and “Prime Minister Klain” as they try to push back on someone they see as formidable opponent in the battle over President Biden Joe Biden Biden offers support to union organizing efforts Senate Democrats nix 'Plan B' on minimum wage hike Kavanaugh dismays conservatives by dodging pro-Trump election lawsuits MORE ’s agenda. The GOP blames Klain for Biden’s refusal to negotiate the price down on his $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, an approach they say conflicts with Biden’s campaign pledges. “We’ve gotten the impression from our members that have been in meetings down there that he’s kind of the guy behind the curtain,” said Senate … [Read more...] about GOP says Ron Klain pulling Biden strings