Category: World

  • China Limits Hollywood Films After US Tariff Dispute

    China Limits Hollywood Films After US Tariff Dispute

    China announced on Thursday that it will limit the number of Hollywood movies it imports. This decision is a response to President Trump’s increase in tariffs on Chinese goods. While this might seem like a big deal, experts say it won’t have much effect because Hollywood’s popularity in China has dropped a lot over the years.

    For many years, China allowed 10 Hollywood films to be shown each year. Now, American movies make up only 5% of the total box office earnings in China. In fact, domestic films have become much more popular, bringing in around 80% of the box office income.

    Chris Fenton, an expert in entertainment, commented that reducing U.S. films is a way for China to show its power without facing much risk. Although some big Hollywood movies like Disney’s “Thunderbolts” will still be shown this summer, it’s uncertain if more will follow.

    While this news might sound bad for Hollywood, some sources, like IMAX, believe the impact will be small. They say there are still chances for both Hollywood and Chinese films to succeed in the market. Overall, local films have been getting more attention, making it hard for American films to compete.

    Fenton also pointed out that in the past, movies like “Titanic” and “Avatar” did very well in China. However, nowadays, only one imported film, “Avengers: Endgame,” is in the top 20 highest-grossing films in China.

  • Sgamma Withdraws Nomination: Loyalty and Politics in Trump’s Administration

    Sgamma Withdraws Nomination: Loyalty and Politics in Trump’s Administration

    BILLINGS, Mont. — Kathleen Sgamma, President Trump’s choice to lead the Bureau of Land Management, has decided to step down from her nomination. This happened just before her confirmation hearing. The reason? In 2021, Sgamma publicly criticized Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

    During her comments, she expressed her disgust over the violence that occurred and how Trump spread misinformation that led to it. Former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt said Sgamma’s withdrawal was “self-inflicted” and suggested that people who don’t fully agree with Trump should avoid seeking political jobs.

    The Bureau of Land Management is in charge of overseeing 250 million acres of public land, including oil and gas development, mining, grazing, and recreation areas. Sgamma had a history in the oil and gas industry and seemed ready to support Trump’s plans to ease restrictions on energy projects, especially in the West.

    Sgamma’s departure highlights how the Trump administration has emphasized loyalty from those in power. Aaron Weiss, an advocate for environmental policies, noted that being honest and realistic with the White House can hurt your chances in politics.

    This agency plays a vital role in deciding how government-owned lands are used. Under President Biden, drilling and mining on federal lands were limited, while renewable energy projects were expanded. Now, Trump is reversing those changes. This week, officials announced they would not look closely at the environmental impacts of oil and gas leases in several western states, furthering energy development.

    Additionally, Trump signed an order to restart coal production, lifting Biden’s ban on new coal sales on federal lands. In Trump’s second term, the Bureau of Land Management had about 10,000 workers, but it saw long periods without a confirmed leader. Trump even moved its headquarters to Colorado before bringing it back to D.C. under Biden.

    The Senate energy committee Chairman, Mike Lee from Utah, announced Sgamma’s withdrawal and said he would help find a new nominee because the bureau’s work affects many Americans, especially in the West. Last year, Utah officials tried to gain control of the Bureau’s lands but were denied by the U.S. Supreme Court.

  • Pakistan Denies Connection to 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana

    Pakistan Denies Connection to 26/11 Accused Tahawwur Rana

    On Thursday, Pakistan stated that it has no connection to Tahawwur Rana, a man accused of being involved in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. Pakistan’s Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, explained that Rana is a Canadian citizen, born in Pakistan in 1961, and hasn’t updated his Pakistani documents in over 20 years.

    Rana was part of the Pakistan Army Medical Corps but moved to Canada in the 1990s and became a citizen there. Although he was born in Pakistan, his official papers are outdated. Rana is linked to David Coleman Headley, a Pakistani-American who was a key figure in planning the Mumbai attacks. Headley surveyed Mumbai while pretending to work for Rana’s immigration company.

    The 2008 Mumbai attacks were devastating, claiming 166 lives, including six Americans. Ten terrorists from Pakistan carried out the attack, which lasted more than 60 hours and targeted famous locations in the city. Rana faces accusations related to plotting the attacks and was extradited from the United States years later.

  • Saskatchewan MLA Apologizes for Calling Jagmeet Singh a Terrorist

    Saskatchewan MLA Apologizes for Calling Jagmeet Singh a Terrorist

    In Canada, a politician named Racquel Hilbert, who works for the government in Saskatchewan, said something very wrong about a leader named Jagmeet Singh from the New Democratic Party (NDP). On March 25, during a speech, she called Singh a “terrorist,” which upset many people.

    After realizing her mistake, she apologized and said she was sorry for her comment. She explained that she shouldn’t have said that, especially since Singh has never been charged with any crime in India, including terrorism.

    Singh was denied a visa to India in 2013, but there are no charges against him. In 2018, it was reported that he spoke at a 2015 event that had a poster of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a person linked to a violent movement in India during the 1980s.

    Singh mentioned that while he didn’t care much about the comments made about him, he was really concerned because they came from a member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA).

    It’s important to note that Saskatchewan has strong trade connections with India. In 2023, trade between Canada and India reached $5.1 billion, with Saskatchewan contributing 26% of that, which is over $1.3 billion. Much of this trade includes important goods like lentils and potash.

  • Sheikh Hasina and Daughter Face Arrest Warrant in Corruption Case

    Sheikh Hasina and Daughter Face Arrest Warrant in Corruption Case

    A court in Bangladesh has issued a new arrest warrant for former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her daughter, along with 17 others, in a case about corruption. The case involves claims that they obtained a piece of land wrongfully.

    On Thursday, Dhaka’s Senior Special Judge, Mohammad Zakir Hossain Galib, accepted the Anti-Corruption Commission’s (ACC) charges against them. Since Hasina and the others are not present to defend themselves, the court has ordered their arrest.

    The charges claim that Sheikh Hasina’s daughter, Saima Wajed Putul, used her influence to illegally get a residential plot instead of following proper procedures through the government agency RAJUK. This was wrong because Putul and her family already owned housing in Dhaka.

    Putul currently works as the Regional Director for the World Health Organization (WHO) in South East Asia, based in New Delhi.

    Earlier, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal had also issued arrest warrants against Hasina and some officials for serious crimes against humanity and enforced disappearance, but this new warrant is linked to corruption and financial misuse involving around Taka 4,000 crores, related to celebrations for the 100th birthday of Bangladesh’s founding leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, in 2020.

    The ACC is investigating this matter, as they believe the money was improperly spent from the national budget. The chairman of the ACC has stated that they will pursue justice for Hasina and others involved as they would for anyone else accused of corruption.

  • China Stands Strong in Trade War as Tariffs Soar Against the US

    China Stands Strong in Trade War as Tariffs Soar Against the US

    In the ongoing trade fight between China and the US, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, said that China will not be scared or back down from challenges. To make her point, she shared an old video of former Chinese leader Mao Zedong from 1953, during a time of war with the US. In the video, Mao Zedong says that it is not for China to decide how long the war will go on. Instead, it is up to the US presidents. He also claimed that no matter how long it takes, China will never give up and will keep fighting until they win.

    Recently, US President Donald Trump announced that tariffs on Chinese goods are going up by 125%. This decision came after China decided to raise its tariffs on American products from 34% to 84% starting on April 10. This back-and-forth started when the US first raised tariffs to 104%. Trump had even warned of more increases following China’s earlier move. China’s government called the US tariffs unfair and claimed they were just a form of bullying.

  • U.S.-China Trade War: Tariffs Rise to 125% – Impact on Americans Explained

    U.S.-China Trade War: Tariffs Rise to 125% – Impact on Americans Explained

    The trade war between the U.S. and China is getting worse, and it’s starting to hurt American families. President Donald Trump recently announced that tariffs—extra taxes on imports—on Chinese goods will jump from already high rates to an astonishing 125%. This means that American businesses and shoppers will feel the pain in their pockets.

    For example, a small business owner used to pay $26,000 in tariffs on his toys imported from China. With the new rate, his bill skyrocketed to an incredible $346,000—a 1,200% increase! A Fox News anchor pointed out that while many think China pays these tariffs, the reality is that it’s Americans who end up footing the bill.

    Interestingly, Trump has also paused tariff rates for countries that aren’t retaliating against the U.S. This is a rare move away from his usual tough approach. Tariff rates for these other countries will drop back to a standard 10%. However, Trump shows no sign of backing down on China, as they just retaliated with 84% tariffs on U.S. goods.

    China has been trying to team up with other countries against the U.S. and has refused to talk further, promising to “fight to the end” in this trade battle. It looks like the tensions are only going to continue growing.

  • Trump’s Fury: Investigating Critics and Punishing Law Firms

    Trump’s Fury: Investigating Critics and Punishing Law Firms

    On Wednesday, President Donald Trump took steps to punish people who have criticized him. He signed two orders telling the Justice Department to look into the actions of Miles Taylor and Chris Krebs, two officials from his first term. These orders may also remove their security clearances.

    Trump is unhappy with Taylor and Krebs because they spoke against him. Taylor, who used to work at the Department of Homeland Security, wrote a secret New York Times article in 2018, calling himself part of a “resistance” against Trump’s policies. He later revealed his identity and wrote a book. Trump called Taylor a “traitor” and said that his actions were like “spying.” Taylor replied, saying that speaking out against the government is not illegal.

    Krebs was in charge of cybersecurity, but Trump became angry when Krebs said the 2020 election was secure and there was no evidence of fraud. Krebs did not comment but shared a post he made when he left the government, saying he was proud of his work.

    Trump has repeatedly claimed he lost the 2020 election because of fraud, despite many facts showing that Joe Biden won fairly. Experts like David Becker found it strange for a president to investigate his own appointees.

    Trump also targeted a law firm called Susman Godfrey that represented Dominion Voting Systems in a case against Fox News, which falsely claimed that the election was rigged. Trump’s order restricts the firm’s access to government resources, and the firm vowed to fight this order in court.

    Trump has used his power to penalize critics. Some have settled, but others are challenging his actions legally.

  • Trump Increases China Tariffs to 125%: What’s Next

    Trump Increases China Tariffs to 125%: What’s Next

    US President Donald Trump has increased tariffs on Chinese products to 125%, up from 104%. He announced this on social media, explaining that he is pausing extra tariffs on other countries because they are willing to talk instead of fighting back. Trump criticized China for a “lack of respect.”

    In response, China has placed tariffs of 84% on US goods. Since he took office in January, Trump has raised tariffs on China five times.

    China has made it clear it won’t back down in this trade war, promising to fight hard. They have also filed a complaint with the World Trade Organization (WTO), accusing Trump of being a bully.

    What might China do next? They could limit exports of rare earth minerals used in computers and electric car batteries, as they control a lot of the world’s supply. China might increase tariffs on US agricultural products and high-profile companies like Apple and Tesla, but they want to keep attracting investments.

    Beijing could even ban American movies or products to retaliate. A recent editorial in China’s People’s Daily newspaper suggested turning this pressure into a chance to grow their own economy, focusing more on local sales.

  • Maryland Man, 23, Found Dead on Bahamas Trip – Family Seeks Justice

    Maryland Man, 23, Found Dead on Bahamas Trip – Family Seeks Justice

    A young man from Maryland died while he was on vacation in the Bahamas with his family. Dinari McAlmont, 23, was found dead at a private beach resort just hours after arriving on the island. His mother, Michelle McAlmont, believes he was “beaten to death.”

    Dinari was from Bowie, Maryland, and traveled to the Bahamas with his parents on April 4. They were staying at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort. Dinari was last seen having dinner with his family. He went out to get a jacket and explore the resort just before 9 pm, according to reports.

    Officials at the resort claimed that Dinari spat on some staff members in a restaurant. After they couldn’t find him, Michelle filed a missing person report since Dinari’s phone wasn’t working. She disagreed with the resort’s story about Dinari.

    Search teams found Dinari’s body on the beach on Paradise Island around 5:30 am on April 5. The police are investigating what happened. Michelle saw a photo of her son and said, “He was beaten; he was traumatized.” She described his face as damaged with foam on his teeth and sand in his hair. She believes he was attacked and is asking for justice for her son.

    Dinari’s parents are now looking for a lawyer who specializes in international cases. “I expect a complete investigation,” Michelle said. The resort expressed sadness over the event and said they are cooperating with the police investigation.

    The US Department of State had warned travelers about safety risks in the Bahamas as more crimes against tourists have been reported recently.