News & Current Events

[ad_1] China on Sunday called upon the US government to "completely cancel" reciprocal tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration which has taken the total levies to 145% on the Asian nation."We urge the US to... take a big step to correct its mistakes, completely cancel the wrong practice of 'reciprocal tariffs' and return to the right path of mutual respect", a commerce ministry spokesperson said in a statement.Reacting to the tariff exemption announced by Trump administration on consumer electronics, China said that it was a "small step" in correcting his "wrong practice" of imposing 145% tariffs."China is now evaluating the impact," the spokesperson said.The steep 145% US tariff and China’s retaliatory 125% levy have caused serious concern among businesses engaged in US-China trade. The move has made companies not only anxious about securing future orders but has also left […]

[ad_1] Chinese officials admitted to conducting cyber attacks on US infrastructure in an operation called "Volt Typhoon", according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. This came at a private meeting held between the US and Chinese officials last year in Geneva. According to the report, Chinese officials made remarks during the meeting that were "indirect and somewhat ambiguous", but the US delegation interpreted them as implying that the Volt Typhoon cyberattacks were a response to American support for Taiwan.This signaled a shift from China’s typical approach of outright denial, where it would usually blame such attacks on criminal organizations or dismiss them as overblown allegations.The report comes amidst deteriorating ties between the two nations with US increasing its tariff rates to 145% on China and the latter hitting back with 125% in retaliation. What is Volt Typhoon?The cyber […]

[ad_1] March 28 quake (AP photo) A 5.5 magnitude earthquake rattled central Myanmar early Sunday, making frightened residents rush out of their homes in towns near the epicentre. This new quake in the Southeast Asian nation hit just weeks after a powerful 7.7-magnitude temblor on March 28, as one of its strongest aftershocks.The quake struck near Meiktila, a small city in Mandalay Region, according to the US geological survey. Its epicentre lay roughly between Mandalay, Myanmar’s second-largest city, and the capital Naypyitaw—both of which were heavily affected by the quake of March 28.Two residents of Wundwin township, near the epicentre, told The Associated Press by phone that Sunday’s quake was strong enough to shake buildings and damage ceilings. “People rushed out of buildings,” one said. Another resident described cracked walls and minor debris falling indoors.However, in Naypyitaw, a resident told […]

[ad_1] A supporter stands in front of an American flag while listening Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., during a "Fighting Oligarchy" event in Los Angeles, Saturday, April 12, 2025. (AP) LOS ANGELES: Bernie Sanders is emerging as one of the most vocal opponents to US President Donald Trump, with the 83-year-old senator drawing tens of thousands of people to his "fighting oligarchy" rallies around the country.Supporters packed the Gloria Molina Grand Park in Los Angeles on Saturday as guests including politicians, union representatives and musical acts took to the stage before speeches by Sanders and Democrat representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez."There are some 36,000 of you, the largest rally that we have ever had," Sanders told the cheering crowd."Your presence here today is making Donald Trump and Elon Musk very nervous."The self-described socialist, an independent who has never been a member of the […]

[ad_1] This is a representational AI image American importers are finding it hard to cope with a wave of new tariffs on Chinese goods announced by US President Donald Trump, with some warning of dire consequences. Rick Woldenberg, CEO of Illinois-based educational toy company Learning Resources, called the situation "the end of days" after Trump abruptly raised tariffs on Chinese imports to 145 per cent, up from an already steep 54 per cent. The move, intended to punish China for alleged unfair trade practices, has blindsided business owners."When he announced a 20 per cent tariff, I made a plan to survive 40 per cent, and I thought I was being clever," said Woldenberg. "I never imagined 145 per cent."The impact on Learning Resources — a third-generation family-run business that has manufactured toys in China for decades — could be devastating. […]

[ad_1] <p>7.7 magnitude quake that struck Myanmar on March 28 (AP photo)<br></p> A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar on Sunday morning near Meiktila, a small city in the Mandalay region, according to the US geological survey (USGS).The tremor is one of the strongest aftershocks since the powerful 7.7-magnitude quake that devastated the region on March 28.The epicentre of Sunday’s quake was located roughly halfway between Mandalay—Myanmar’s second-largest city, which was hit hard in the earlier disaster—and the capital Naypyitaw, where government buildings also sustained damage last month.Myanmar’s meteorological department reported the quake struck in Wundwin township, about 97 kilometres (60 miles) south of Mandalay, at a depth of 20 kilometres (12 miles). However, the USGS placed the depth at just 7.7 kilometres (4.8 miles).There were no immediate reports of significant damage or casualties from the latest quake. Residents in […]

[ad_1] Debris floats in the water at the scene where a helicopter crashed into the Hudson River (AP photo) The ill-fated helicopter that plunged into the Hudson River on Thursday, resulting in six deaths, had reportedly already completed seven flights that day and lacked flight recording equipment.The Bell 206 L-4 aircraft had conducted seven tour excursions before embarking on its final Hudson River journey, which ended in tragedy, claiming the lives of five family members and the pilot, as reported by the NY Post quoting the National Transportation Safety Board on Saturday evening.Also read: Video shows tourist helicopter 'falling apart' midair, splashing into Hudson river in NYCOfficials confirmed the aircraft operated without flight recorders, and no video or camera equipment has been located at the crash site. Additionally, investigators have been unable to recover any audio recordings from the aircraft's […]

[ad_1] <p>A million mark: The number behind Trump's deportation push</p><p><br></p> As US President Donald Trump resumes his presidency, his administration is reportedly targeting an unprecedented immigration crackdown, with a goal of deporting up to 1 million immigrants within the first year, according to multiple federal officials familiar with internal planning.According to a report from The Washington Post, the figure, which far exceeds previous records, has become a frequent reference point in behind-the-scenes discussions, although the administration has yet to publicly detail how the numbers are being calculated. Under former President Barack Obama, annual deportations peaked at just over 400,000.Experts and former officials have cast doubt on the feasibility of the goal, citing significant legal, logistical, and financial hurdles. Most undocumented immigrants in the US have a legal right to court proceedings before removal, a process that often takes months or […]

[ad_1] Two faculty organisations at Harvard University filed a lawsuit on Friday against the Trump administration, claiming it is violating constitutional rights by threatening to cut billions in federal funding. The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and its Harvard chapter are challenging the administration’s decision to review nearly $9 billion in federal funds given to the university over alleged antisemitism on its campus, reported New York Times. The lawsuit, filed in the US district court in Massachusetts, argues that the move undermines free speech and academic freedom protected under the first amendment. The groups have also requested a temporary restraining order to prevent any immediate withdrawal of funds. “This is an unlawful misuse of federal authority,” the lawsuit says. The professors argue that the government is using funding as a tool to punish institutions that do not align with […]

[ad_1] Iran and the United States will continue negotiations next week over Tehran’s fast-developing nuclear programme, Iranian state television announced on Saturday. This update followed the first face-to-face talks between the two sides since the new Trump administration.Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi and US mideast envoy Steve Witkoff exchanged brief words in the presence of Oman’s foreign minister on the outskirts of Oman, marking a rare such communication between two nations with nearly five decades of strained ties.A statement from Washington described the talks as "very positive and constructive." Witkoff reportedly told Araghchi that he was under direct orders from president Trump to seek a diplomatic solution to the ongoing conflict."These issues are very complicated, and special envoy Witkoff's direct communication today was a step forward in achieving a mutually beneficial outcome," the statement said.Iran delegation holds 'indirect' nuclear talks […]