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The trade standoff between the United States and China, the world's two largest economies, is intensifying, with both sides facing significant challenges. As the US imposes increasing tariffs to pressure China into negotiations, experts warn that Beijing may possess greater leverage than anticipated. While the US remains a crucial market for Chinese manufactured goods, its dependence on China for electronics and machinery complicates the trade conflict. Recent exemptions for tech products from tariffs highlight this vulnerability. Additionally, China has been diversifying its trade routes, reducing reliance on the US market from 21% in 2016 to 13.4% last year, while increasing exports through Southeast Asian countries. President Xi Jinping's recent diplomatic efforts in the region further underscore China's strategic positioning. With control over a majority of global rare earth production, China holds critical leverage in this economic battle, complicating the US's ability to navigate the trade landscape without repercussions. 
Published: Apr 15 2025, 5 pmeznews.inThe US government's recent enforcement actions against international students have sparked significant concern, particularly among Indian nationals, who represent about half of the 327 visa revocations documented by the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA). The crackdown, which has seen the US State Department and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) monitoring foreign students' activities, has raised alarms over potential misuse of artificial intelligence in targeting students without criminal records. The "Catch and Revoke" program, announced by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, aims to identify visa holders based on their social media activity. Since late March, approximately 1,000 international students, primarily from India and China, have faced visa terminations, affecting their ability to work under the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program. The Indian government is actively addressing the issue, with officials in contact with affected students amid rising legal concerns surrounding these unprecedented actions.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inMichael Kratsios, the director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has sparked controversy after claiming that the Trump administration possessed technologies capable of "manipulating time and space" during a speech at the Endless Frontiers Retreat in Texas. Speaking to promote U.S. technological innovation, Kratsios stated, "Our technologies permit us to manipulate time and space. They leave distance annihilated," emphasizing a vision for a new American Golden Age driven by individual choice and scientific advancement. While the White House has not clarified his remarks, many interpreted them as metaphorical, leading to a flurry of social media reactions. Users speculated about the meaning of his statements, with some suggesting he was referencing advancements in areas like jets and smartphones rather than actual time travel or teleportation. Currently, no known technology exists that can literally manipulate time and space.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe British Transport Police (BTP) has announced a significant policy shift, stating that male officers will now conduct searches of trans women in custody, following a recent Supreme Court ruling that clarified the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010. This "interim position" dictates that trans individuals will be searched according to their birth sex, meaning trans women will be searched by male officers, while trans women officers will no longer be permitted to search female detainees. Previously, officers were instructed to conduct searches based on a detainee's acquired gender if they held a gender recognition certificate. A BTP spokesperson confirmed that the force is reviewing the implications of the ruling and will update its policies accordingly. The decision has sparked discussions about the treatment of transgender individuals within the legal system and the balance between legal definitions and personal identity.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 8 pmeznews.inTwo men, a father and son, tragically lost their lives in northern Italy while en route to assist with rescue efforts amid a severe spring storm that has wreaked havoc across the Alps. The storm, which dumped over a metre of snow in some areas, has resulted in three fatalities in Italy, including a 92-year-old man found in his flooded home. The intense rainfall, which turned to snow at higher altitudes, caused widespread disruption, shutting down roads, halting train services, and leaving thousands without power in Italy, France, and Switzerland. Avalanche risks have surged to maximum levels, prompting authorities to advise residents in affected regions, including Tignes and Sion, to remain indoors. With heavy snowfall occurring in a short time, concerns are mounting about potential flooding as temperatures rise. Local residents describe the situation as unprecedented, with many struggling to navigate the treacherous conditions.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 7 pmeznews.inA Japanese record company is facing significant backlash after announcing the release of a CD featuring the late singer Aki Yashiro, which will include two nude photographs of her taken privately. The governor of Kumamoto, where Yashiro was born, condemned the decision as "unforgivable," likening it to revenge porn due to the lack of consent. Yashiro, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 73, was a celebrated figure in Japan, known as the queen of enka music. A representative for Yashiro's website has labeled the release "extremely unpleasant and absolutely unacceptable," stating that legal action was taken to halt it, but no response was received from the record company. Social media users have rallied against the release, using the hashtag "Protect the dignity of Aki Yashiro," and an online petition has garnered over 7,000 signatures calling for its cancellation.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 5 pmeznews.inRussia launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least two fatalities and over 70 injuries, according to Ukrainian officials. The strikes, which occurred just days before Easter, provoked condemnation from President Volodymyr Zelensky, who described the assault as a "mockery" of the Ukrainian people. Amid escalating violence, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio indicated that Washington may abandon efforts to broker a ceasefire if progress is not made soon. President Donald Trump has been attempting to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv but has struggled to secure significant concessions from Russia. Meanwhile, a forthcoming visit by Ukraine's Prime Minister to Washington aims to finalize a minerals deal that would grant the U.S. extensive access to Ukrainian resources. Tensions also rose as Zelensky accused U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff of adopting a pro-Russian stance in peace negotiations.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 3 pmeznews.inA recent study in _Environmental Science and Technology Letters_ highlights significant air quality improvements following the switch from diesel to electric trains on the Caltrain commuter rail line in the San Francisco Bay Area. The research revealed an 89% reduction in riders' exposure to black carbon, a known carcinogen, and a notable decrease in ambient black carbon levels around the San Francisco station. Joshua Apte, a professor at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study, emphasized that this rapid transition over six weeks effectively matched the air quality benefits typically achieved over three decades of regulatory efforts. Caltrain, the busiest commuter rail system in the western US, completed the electrification project—costing $2.44 billion—by retiring its diesel locomotives and introducing 23 new electric trains. The study's findings suggest that such electrification could significantly reduce cancer risks for both riders and conductors, reinforcing the case for similar upgrades across the US rail systems.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA 30-day moratorium on strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure, announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18, has officially expired, according to the Kremlin. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that there have been no further directives from Putin following the expiration. The truce was established after a conversation between Putin and former US President Donald Trump, but both nations accused each other of violating the agreement. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Russia's commitment to the moratorium, asserting that strikes on Ukrainian energy targets continued despite Putin's assurances. The moratorium represented one of the few concessions Trump secured in his efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, which has persisted for three years. Prior to the moratorium, Putin had dismissed a joint proposal for an unconditional ceasefire from the US and Ukraine.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA former prison officer at HMP Frankland has raised alarming concerns about staff safety following a brutal attack by Hashem Abedi, brother of the Manchester Arena bomber, who reportedly assaulted officers with boiling urine and hot oil. This incident, which left one officer with third-degree burns and two others needing emergency surgery, has sparked fears among staff at the high-security facility. The anonymous ex-officer, who resigned after enduring multiple assaults during his four years in the prison system, emphasized that such violence is preventable if the government prioritizes staff safety. He described HMP Frankland as one of the safest prisons, questioning the effectiveness of security measures when severe attacks can occur. Abedi, previously separated from other inmates to prevent radicalization, has a history of violence, with the officer warning that he poses a significant threat to staff and could eventually kill someone if unchecked.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 4 pmeznews.inA psytrance festival in the UK, the Goa Cream Festival, has been cancelled due to local protests, with residents describing the music as "a form of torture." Scheduled to take place at Yewtree Farm near Thornbury from September 12 to 14, the event faced opposition from South Gloucestershire Council after complaints about last year's "non-stop heavy bass music," which resulted in 11 formal grievances. Environmental health officer Florence Fisher noted that the council received inadequate evidence regarding sound levels. Despite efforts from organiser Piers Ciappara, who proposed hiring a sound engineer and adjusting speaker placements to address noise concerns, the council ultimately deemed the venue unsuitable for such events. Ciappara later announced the cancellation on social media, appealing for alternative venues while highlighting that the festival supports local charities and typically attracts an older audience.
Published: Apr 18 2025, 4 pm
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