News & Current Events

[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 […]

[ad_1] Representative image (Picture credit: AP) The Trump administration confirmed on Saturday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident mistakenly deported last month, remains confined in a notorious prison in El Salvador but did not provide the full scope of information demanded by a federal judge regarding efforts to bring him back.In a court filing submitted, US state department official Michael G Kozak said that Abrego Garcia is currently being held in the Terrorism Confinement Center in El Salvador, reported news agency Associated Press.“He is alive and secure in that facility. He is detained pursuant to the sovereign, domestic authority of El Salvador,” wrote Kozak, identified in the filing as a “Senior Bureau Official” in the Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.However, Kozak’s statement failed to address US district judge Paula Xinis’s additional directives. On Friday, the judge had ordered the […]

[ad_1] File photo: US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem (Picture credit: AP) Dozens of staffers at the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), including acting administrator Cameron Hamilton, have recently undergone lie detector tests as part of a widening department of homeland security (DHS) crackdown on alleged leaks of national security information, according to CNN.The polygraphs, roughly 50 administered in total, are part of a push by the Trump administration to trace leaks, some of which allegedly revealed internal discussions on plans to dismantle FEMA itself. According to CNN, Hamilton was tested just days after attending a high-level closed-door meeting with homeland security secretary Kristi Noem and Trump ally Corey Lewandowski about FEMA’s future, including options for scaling back or dissolving the disaster agency altogether.At least one FEMA official was reportedly placed on administrative leave and escorted out of agency […]

[ad_1] Prince Harry and Prince William’s once-close bond has been strained since Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in early 2020 and relations between the brothers have only deteriorated further following the release of Harry’s memoir ‘Spare’ in January 2023.In the book, Harry painted a raw and often unflattering picture of royal life, revealing personal grievances and detailing private moments, including a physical altercation with William. Since then, the brothers have reportedly not been on speaking terms. Harry’s recent visits to the UK, including this week and last September, have not included any private meetings with William, reflecting the depth of the ongoing estrangement.But in September 2022, just days after the death of Queen Elizabeth II, there was a brief and unexpected pause in the royal rift.According to The Express, Prince William sent Harry a last-minute text […]

[ad_1] Bill Gates revealed how much money his three children would inherit after his death. Bill Gates has revealed the amount of money his three kids will inherit after his death. In a recent podcast, the Microsoft co-founder said his three kids daughters Jennifer, 28, Phoebe, 22 and son Rory, 25, have a great upbringing and education and so his wealth would do no favour to them. “In my case, my kids got a great upbringing and education, but [they will get] less than 1 percent of the total wealth because I decided it wouldn’t be a favor to them," Bill said. Bill is currently worth $102.2 billion, according to Forbes' 2025 World's Billionaire List, which means his kids' inheritance would equate to over $1 billion each.Bill Gates and Melinda French announced their split in May 2021 after 27 years […]