Category: World

Beijing – China’s President Xi Jinping recently spoke at a special meeting focused on private businesses, according to the official news agency, Xinhua. This meeting is important since China is facing economic challenges and tensions with the United States. Xi listened to leaders from private companies and gave a speech afterwards, although details about who attended were not shared.

Sources reported before the meeting that Xi intended to encourage business leaders, including Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma, to strengthen their companies both in China and abroad. This move is seen as necessary, especially as China competes with the U.S. in technology.

In the past, Xi had promised things like tax cuts and financial support for private businesses at a similar meeting in 2018. Now, with new AI technology from a company called DeepSeek making waves, there are hopes that it could help China’s tech industry recover.

Xi has emphasized that it’s crucial for China to become self-sufficient in making computer chips. However, U.S. export controls on chips make this difficult, as the U.S. fears China could use advanced technology for military purposes. According to a China expert, this meeting shows that the Chinese government understands it needs private businesses to stand strong against the U.S.

Recently, tech stocks in Hong Kong have been rising, helped by excitement over DeepSeek’s AI advancements and a more friendly attitude from Chinese authorities towards internet companies. An index measuring these companies reached a three-year high recently, boosted by news of Xi’s meeting.

In Taiwan, bounty hunter Wu Cheng-hua, 25, is using a slingshot to help control the growing iguana population. These green lizards were brought to Taiwan from Central and South America over 20 years ago as pets. Many have escaped or been released, and now there are too many of them, harming gardens and crops.

Wu works with a team of hunters hired by the Pingtung County government. They can earn up to NT$500 for every iguana they catch. Some days they catch hundreds of iguanas, while other days, just a few. They often miss their targets, shooting at iguanas high in trees, trying to capture them with harpoon slingshots used for spearfishing.

Despite the hard work, experts say it’s almost impossible to rid Taiwan of these reptiles completely. The iguanas are also causing problems in other countries, including the United States. Estimates suggest there could be up to 200,000 iguanas in Taiwan. A female iguana can lay dozens of eggs each year, making their numbers keep rising.

Climate changes, like warmer winters and less rainy seasons, have helped iguana survival and reproduction, creating what experts call a “perfect storm” for their population to grow. Local farmers, like Cheng Hui-jung, struggle to protect their crops from these hungry lizards. Even with nets, it’s hard to catch them.

The local government is asking residents to help catch iguanas. Hsin Tseng-kuan, 58, says she was scared of iguanas at first but learned to catch them with training from the government. Many people are now learning how to deal with these creatures.

Animal rights group PETA has suggested that Taiwan should use non-lethal methods to control iguana numbers. Some hunters wish they could use air guns to make their hunting more effective and humane. After a long day of hunting, Wu and his team caught 14 iguanas, some still alive and in pain. They have to euthanize the iguanas and keep them frozen until the government can incinerate them.

Wu finds hunting tougher than his cooking job but enjoys helping farmers save their crops. “If we don’t help, everything they grow will be eaten,” he said.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Jerusalem to discuss how to stop Iran’s nuclear plans and its actions in the Middle East. Netanyahu emphasized that Israel and the U.S. are united against the threat posed by Iran. He stated, “The ayatollahs must not have nuclear weapons,” and highlighted the need to push back against Iran’s aggression in the region.

Rubio pointed out that Iran is behind many terrorist groups and acts of violence in the Middle East, which affect the safety of millions. Netanyahu mentioned that over the past 16 months, Israel has weakened Iran’s influence and dealt serious blows to its forces in the ongoing conflict with Hamas, which is based in Gaza. He assured that Israel won’t allow other countries to use Syria to attack them.

Netanyahu thanked Rubio for supporting Israel’s actions in Gaza and noted that both he and former U.S. President Donald Trump are working closely together on these issues. Rubio stressed that Hamas should not continue to act as a military or governing force, saying that peace will be impossible as long as they remain powerful.

On Valentine’s Day, a police officer in Peru surprised a drug dealer by wearing a funny capybara costume during a drug raid. This special operation was led by Peru’s Escuadron Verde, a team known for their unusual methods. They managed to seize over 1,700 packages of cocaine and marijuana.

Col. Pedro Rojas, the unit leader, explained that they chose to wear the capybara costume to celebrate Valentine’s Day, also known as “lover’s day.” This police team has a history of dressing up as superheroes like Spider-Man, Captain America, and Thor during similar operations, especially on festive days like Halloween and Christmas.

As the video of this unique arrest spread on social media, many people found it hilarious and joked about how strange it was for a drug dealer to be caught by a giant rodent. Last Halloween, the same police unit dressed up as Deadpool and Wolverine, successfully seizing large amounts of drugs too.

Peru is one of the top producers of coca leaf and cocaine in the world. Their strategy? If they can’t stop drugs in a typical way, they’ll at least make the arrests entertaining. Online users praised the capybara officer, saying things like, “I bet the drug trafficker lost all his respect after getting caught by a CAPYBARA

In a meeting in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio talked about their strong determination to stop Iran’s nuclear plans and its aggressive actions in the Middle East. Netanyahu described their discussion as very productive, stating, “Israel and America stand shoulder to shoulder in countering the threat of Iran.”

Rubio added, “Every terrorist group and act of violence in this region can be traced back to Iran.” Netanyahu explained that Israel has made significant progress against Iran over the last 16 months during the ongoing war in Gaza against Hamas. With support from President Donald Trump, he believes they can finish the job.

Israel has reduced the power of Hezbollah in Lebanon and has targeted many places in Syria to prevent new threats to Israel. Netanyahu warned that any group thinking they can use Syria against Israel is very mistaken.

He thanked Rubio for America’s strong support in Gaza, where there is currently a fragile ceasefire after 15 months of fighting. Netanyahu assured everyone listening that he and President Trump are working closely together. Rubio pointed out that Hamas must be dismantled to achieve lasting peace, saying, “As long as Hamas remains a military force, peace will be impossible.

California might be getting ready for a big earthquake soon, often called “The Big One.” This earthquake could happen along the San Andreas Fault, one of the state’s busiest and most famous fault lines. If it hits a strong 7.8 magnitude or more, it could cause serious damage in places like Southern California or the San Francisco Bay Area, depending on where the earthquake happens.

Growing Worries

California sits on many active fault lines, making it likely to have earthquakes. Right now, pressure is building along the San Andreas Fault and others, which makes experts worry that a big earthquake could happen soon, especially in the southern part of the state. If this earthquake does occur, it could hurt buildings and homes, making it really important for everyone to be ready.

In recent days, California felt at least nine earthquakes, which is raising alarm bells. The strongest one was a 4.3 magnitude quake near Avenal on February 13. There were also three smaller quakes in Hayward—a place known for faults—measuring 3.2, 3.3, and 2.6. The Hayward Fault had a major earthquake back in 1868, and it remains a big threat today.

Tremors ranging from 2.5 to 3.7 magnitudes were felt in Pleasant Hill, Petrolia, Anderson Springs, and Malibu. The Malibu quake was noticed across Los Angeles and Ventura counties, making people worry even more about a larger quake coming.

Expert Opinions

According to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), there is a 36% chance of a strong 7.5 magnitude or greater earthquake hitting Southern California in the next 30 years. Professor Jonathan Stewart from UCLA says that stress has been building on the San Andreas Fault, especially in the southern part, which hasn’t had a major quake since 1690.

A massive earthquake of 8 magnitude could lead to around 1,800 deaths, 50,000 injuries, and about $200 billion in damages, according to the California Earthquake Authority. Even though California is trying hard to stay safe with stronger buildings and preparation plans, there are still weak spots, especially in water and infrastructure systems.

Experts say a major quake isn’t guaranteed to happen right away, but they warn people not to ignore the risks. The state is keeping an eye on things and shares real-time updates through USGS to keep everyone informed.

On Sunday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar spoke at the 8th Indian Ocean Conference in Muscat. He explained how the Indian Ocean is very important for everyone around the world. Jaishankar said that the countries in this ocean should help each other and work together to improve development, connections, and security.

He described the Indian Ocean as a “global lifeline,” meaning it plays a crucial role in trade and travel. He mentioned that while the countries in the Indian Ocean region are different in many ways – like history, geography, and culture – they all care about the future of the ocean.

Jaishankar noted that right now, the world is facing a lot of changes and challenges. In the Middle East and West Asia, there are serious conflicts that could get worse. This situation affects global shipping, which can hurt economies, including those of Indian Ocean countries. At the other end, the Indo-Pacific region is also facing tensions.

He pointed out that many countries in the Indian Ocean are having trouble with their economies, dealing with debts, and trying to meet their Sustainable Development Goals. Some countries may have taken too many loans for projects that are not realistic.

There’s also a need to improve transportation and connections in the region that have been disrupted for many years. Jaishankar emphasized that any plans to work together should be open and involve everyone, rather than one country deciding on its own.

Another issue is managing the Exclusive Economic Zones for fishing and dealing with illegal activities like trafficking and terrorism. All these challenges have a strong impact on the sea.

He said India’s role is important in these challenges, as it is working hard to strengthen its capabilities, forming new partnerships, helping neighbors, and coming forward in difficult times.

Colombo, Sri Lanka, celebrated 50 years of the amazing Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on Sunday. This special place cares for elephants and is about 90 km from Colombo, in a town called Rambukkana. It opened its doors in 1975, starting with just five baby elephants. Today, it provides a safe home for 69 elephants of different ages.

Chandana Rajapaksa, the director of the Zoological Department, shared that they take care of baby elephants who have lost their families or have been hurt. More than 50 handlers work hard to look after these gentle giants. To celebrate the anniversary, the elephants enjoyed a special feast with lots of fruits. Videos showed officials cutting a giant cake and offering it to the elephants, while visitors were also able to feed them fruits.

“Join us as we celebrate 50 years of love and care for these incredible elephants. It’s been an amazing journey, thanks to our visitors, partners, and elephant lovers worldwide,” said the department in a message. Every day, thousands of visitors come to see the elephants. They enjoy watching the caretakers bottle-feed baby elephants, feed the adults, and guide them to the river for a bath.

Rajapaksa mentioned that the orphanage needs around 5,000 branches of coconut, sugar palm, and jackfruit to feed the elephants. The weaker elephants receive cereals, rice bran, and maize, along with large amounts of pineapples and bananas. The orphanage has seen over 75 baby elephants born there, including twin boys in 2021. The oldest elephant living there is 70 years old!

Toronto: The Canadian government has firmly stated that there is “no way” Russia will be allowed back into the G7, a group made up of seven wealthy countries. Canada is hosting the G7 meeting this year in Kananaskis, Alberta, from June 15 to 17.

During a press conference at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Canada’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Melanie Joly said there will be no invitation for Russia to return. When asked if this was discussed with other countries, she responded, “No, we didn’t. I am telling you Canada’s position: No way this will happen.”

Russia was kicked out of the G8 group back in 2014 after it took control of Crimea, a part of Ukraine. Recently, US President Donald Trump expressed that he wanted Russia to be part of the group again, saying, “I’d love to have them back. It was a mistake to throw them out.”

Canada first proposed that Russia leave the G8 during Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s time. Responding to Trump’s comments, the current leader of the Conservative Party, Pierre Poilievre, said on social media, “Russia should not be welcomed back into the G7. Their illegal actions in Crimea still stand.”

Canada is facing political changes as well. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced plans to resign once a new party leader is chosen, which should happen by March 9. This means he will not be the Prime Minister during the G7 summit.

India, which was invited to past G7 meetings since 2019, might not be invited this year due to current tensions. These tensions escalated after Trudeau alleged that Indian agents might be linked to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a pro-Khalistan activist in Surrey, British Columbia, three months earlier. New Delhi has denied these claims and reduced its number of Canadian diplomats in India.

As of now, Canada hasn’t announced which countries will be invited to this year’s G7, marking the 50th anniversary of the group.

Elon Musk has finally spoken out after Ashley St. Clair, a conservative influencer, said she gave birth to his child just five months ago. She shared this surprising news on X (formerly Twitter), and Musk responded to a post suggesting that she had been planning this for years.

On Friday, St. Clair, who is 26 years old, announced that she has a five-month-old baby with Musk. Her representative, Brian Glicklich, confirmed this and mentioned that they were trying to agree on how to co-parent without making it public. Glicklich added that it was unfortunate that a reporter made it hard for them to keep things private.

St. Clair wants Musk to acknowledge that he is the baby’s father and to finalize an agreement that is best for the child’s well-being.

Musk reacted to the situation with just one word—“Whoa”—after someone suggested that St. Clair had a plan to trap him. St. Clair replied by saying that Musk should focus on truth, rather than talking about rumors. She mentioned that they have been trying to reach him for days but he hasn’t replied.

St. Clair said she shared the news because she felt pressure from the media to do so. She wants reporters to respect her child’s privacy and not invade their lives.

If St. Clair’s claim is true, this would make Musk a father for the 13th time. Musk has already had multiple children with three other women. His children include five from his first wife Justine, three with musician Grimes, and twins with Shivon Zilis, who works at Neuralink. Musk was seen with his children recently during a meeting with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.