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Giant panda Fu Bao returns to Sichuan nature reserve after health scare
BEIJING (China Daily/ANN) -- After more than 100 days of rest, giant panda Fu Bao returned to public display at the Shenshuping base in Wolong National Nature Reserve in southwest Sichuan province, according to the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. In December, she was observed trembling while foraging and was immediately subjected to a physical examination and close monitoring by keepers and veterinarians. After undergoing a series of medical tests, including blood wor
April 10, 2025 -
Trump signs order to review rules of US weapons exports
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday for a review of rules governing exports of military equipment, as he seeks to make it easier for US defense firms to sell their products abroad. "We're unable to provide weapons systems in a reliable, effective way to key allies of ours, and the key driver of that is inefficiencies and inconsistencies with the process by which we approve foreign military sales," White House aide Will Scharf said at the signing ceremony in the Oval
April 10, 2025 -
US restores urgent food aid, except in Afghanistan and Yemen, two of the world's poorest countries
CAIRO (AP) — US President Donald Trump's administration has reversed new cutoffs in emergency food aid to several nations but maintained them in Afghanistan and Yemen, two of the world's poorest and most war-ravaged countries, according to the State Department and officials who spoke to The Associated Press. It marks the latest round of abrupt cancellations of foreign aid contracts run through the US Agency for International Development and equally sudden reversals. The whipsawing moves come as
April 10, 2025 -
In stunning U-turn, Trump walks back some tariffs, triggering historic market rally
WASHINGTON (Reuters) — In a stunning reversal, US President Donald Trump said he would temporarily lower the hefty duties he had just imposed on dozens of countries while further ramping up pressure on China, sending global stocks rocketing higher. Trump's turnabout on Wednesday, which came less than 24 hours after steep new tariffs kicked in on most trading partners, followed the most intense episode of financial market volatility since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The upheaval eras
April 10, 2025 -
Israeli strike on Gaza apartment building kills at least 23, officials say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli aircraft struck a residential block in war-ravaged northern Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 23 people, health officials said, as the renewed fighting in the devastated Palestinian enclave showed no signs of slowing. The Al-Ahly hospital said at least 23 people were killed in the strike, including eight women and eight children. The territory's Health Ministry confirmed the figures. The strike hit a four-story building in the Shijaiyah neighborhood of
April 10, 2025 -
Ukraine says more than 150 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for Russia
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine on Wednesday expanded on its claim that significant numbers of Chinese nationals are fighting for Russia's invading army, saying it had gathered detailed intelligence on more than 150 mercenaries Moscow allegedly recruited through social media. In China, officials called the allegations "totally unfounded." The Ukrainian accusation and Chinese denial come as the US strives to secure a ceasefire in the more than three-year war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced
April 10, 2025 -
Trump signs executive order seeking to revitalize US shipbuilding
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Wednesday aimed at reviving US shipbuilding and reducing China's grip on the global shipping industry, vowing to boost funding for the effort in coming years. Republican and Democratic US lawmakers for years have warned about China's growing dominance on the seas and diminishing US naval readiness. Senators Mark Kelly, a Democrat, and Todd Young, a Republican, welcomed the executive order and said they would reintrodu
April 10, 2025 -
Trump tariffs worry US shoppers who buy groceries at Asian supermarkets
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- Loyal customers of Asian supermarkets and other grocery stores that specialize in selling imported food heaved a collective sigh of dismay when President Donald Trump announced extra-high US tariffs on goods from dozens of countries. What would happen to prices at 99 Ranch Market and H Mart?, wondered Asian Americans and immigrants who shop at the two American chains for preferred brands like Japan’s Kewpie mayonnaise and China’s Pearl River light soy sauce. “We’re all going
April 10, 2025 -
Mixed team golf event confirmed for LA 2028
AUGUSTA, Georgia (AP) — Mixed teams are coming to golf at the Los Angeles Olympics. The International Olympic Committee made it official Wednesday when it released the official program for the 2028 Games, in which female athletes are expected to have a slight majority for the first time. Golf only returned to the Olympic program at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games after a 112-year absence, and it has awarded medals to only one competition — 72 holes of stroke play — for men and for women. The Inter
April 10, 2025 -
Trump pauses 'reciprocal' tariffs for 90 days, applies 10% baseline tariff to S. Korea
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday paused the implementation of "reciprocal" tariffs for 90 days and applied a 10 percent baseline tariff to South Korea and other countries, while increasing duties on China to 125 percent following Beijing's retaliatory move. In a social media post, Trump made the announcement as reciprocal tariffs went into effect on the day, with dozens of countries striving to negotiate deals over new levies. Last week, his administration unveiled 25 percent tariffs on So
April 10, 2025 -
What to know on the roof collapse at the Jet Set club in the Dominican Republic
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — The roof of an iconic nightclub in the capital of the Dominican Republic collapsed nearly an hour after a merengue concert began, killing at least 98 people and injuring at least 160. Politicians and athletes were among those at Jet Set in Santo Domingo when disaster struck Tuesday. Officials said it's too early to determine why the roof fell. Rescue crews searched for survivors in the rubble through the night as a crowd of people awaiting word from their loved ones
April 9, 2025 -
Trump's new tariffs take effect, with 104% on Chinese goods
WASHINGTON (AFP) -- US President Donald Trump's punishing tariffs on dozens of economies came in force Wednesday, including over 100 percent in levies against Chinese goods, dramatically ramping up a devastating global trade war. Following the imposition of sweeping 10 percent tariffs have rocked the global economy since coming into force over the weekend, rates on imports to the United States from exporters like the European Union or Japan rose further at 12.01 a.m. Wednesday. China -- Washingt
April 9, 2025 -
3 dead and 3 injured in mass shooting at town house complex in Virginia
SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY, Virginia (AP) — Three people were killed and three others were injured in a shooting in northeastern Virginia Tuesday evening, authorities said. At about 5:30 p.m., 911 calls came in about a shooting at a town house complex in Spotsylvania County, just outside Fredericksburg and about 105 kilometers southwest of Washington, said Maj. Elizabeth Scott, spokesperson for the Spotsylvania Sheriff's Office. Officials urged people to avoid the area and those near the scene to stay
April 9, 2025 -
Trump administration moves to restore some terminated foreign aid programs, sources say
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- US President Donald Trump's administration on Tuesday moved to reinstate at least six recently canceled US foreign aid programs for emergency food assistance, six sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. The quick reversal of decisions made just days ago underscored the rapid-fire nature of Trump's cuts to foreign aid. That has led to programs being cut, restored then cut again, disrupting international humanitarian operations. USAID Acting Deputy Administrator Jere
April 9, 2025 -
US to take back Panama Canal from Chinese influence, visiting Pentagon chief says
PANAMA CITY (Reuters) -- The United States will take back the Panama Canal from Chinese influence, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday during a visit to the Central American nation. Hegseth, following talks with Panama's government, vowed to deepen security cooperation with Panama's forces and said China would not be allowed to "weaponize" the canal by using Chinese firms' commercial relationships for espionage. "Together, we will take back the Panama Canal from China's influence,"
April 9, 2025