Author: Amanda Martinez

By enacting steel and aluminum tariffs, U.S. President Donald Trump heightened trade tensions, prompting Canada and the European Union to retaliatory action. Trump stressed that the United States would replicate any trade restrictions imposed by other countries and pledged to implement more tariffs in reaction to countermeasures.   His government increased taxes on Chinese commodities and imposed a 25% steel import tariff, ending earlier exemptions. Fearing economic slowdowns and rising consumer expenses, global markets responded with a jolt. Canada announced immediate retaliatory tariffs, imposing a 25% duty on $20 billion of U.S. imports, including steel, electronics, and sports equipment. Prime Minister-designate…

In a massive operation in Balochistan, Pakistani forces liberated more than 300 captives from a militant-held passenger train. The operation ended a more than 30-hour standoff, and the army reported that 33 insurgents were killed.  Officials claim that the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) murdered four soldiers and 21 civilians before military intervention. Security personnel are still scouring the area to ensure survivors are not in danger from lingering threats. The attack began when armed militants stormed the train near a mountain tunnel, blowing up a section of the tracks and opening fire. At least 440 passengers, including more than 100…

A widely discussed education funding bill, HB 69, has been extended to a third day of dialogue on the House floor. Rep. Rebecca Himschoot sponsors the bill, which aims to increase education funding. The bill needs a final House vote to advance to the State Senate. However, its progress has been slow due to lengthy discussions and proposed amendments. Rep. Himschoot expressed skepticism about meeting the scheduled introduction in the Senate Education Committee. Lawmakers are working diligently to address concerns and move the bill forward. The education funding bill has been a topic of discussion for several weeks. Rep. Himschoot…

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday after he returned from Hong Kong, and security forces arrested him at Manila’s main airport amid chaos as protesters and supporters gathered in response to his arrival. Prosecutor General officials filed an ICC notification for Duterte’s arrest, placing him in immediate government custody for further legal proceedings. Government officials confirmed that Interpol’s Manila office received the official ICC arrest warrant earlier that day, causing law enforcement to act quickly. Duterte, 79, questioned the legitimacy of his arrest, denying any wrongdoing in a video…

Militants from the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) stormed a passenger train in southwestern Pakistan, holding hundreds of people hostage. The train attack occurred in Balochistan’s remote Sibi district as the Jaffar Express traveled from Quetta to Peshawar.  Officials reported that the separatist group first bombed the railway track before stopping the train near a tunnel. Local authorities confirmed that 400 and 450 passengers were aboard the nine-carriage train when the attack occurred. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind stated that an emergency had been declared at a major hospital in Sibi. Security forces responded swiftly, deploying personnel to the mountainous region…

Recovery is challenging after hackers laundered $300 million from a historic $1.5 billion crypto crime. Two weeks ago, the Lazarus Group used sophisticated methods to modify Waller addresses to gain access to the ByBit cryptocurrency exchange and steal digital assets.  Authorities and cybersecurity specialists have been attempting to monitor and prevent their attempts to cash out the stolen money ever since. The criminals known as the Lazarus Group work around the clock, deploying sophisticated tools to erase their financial footprints. Dr Tom Robinson, the company’s co-founder, says these hackers operate in shifts, ensuring near continuous laundering of illicit funds. He…

Krissy Barrett, Australian Federal Police (AFP) Deputy Commissioner, has revealed that a shocking plot to detonate an explosive-laden caravan in Sydney was a hoax. The caravan, discovered in northwestern Sydney on January 19, contained enough explosives to produce a 40m-wide blast. However, investigators believed the plot was a hoax “almost immediately.” The ease of finding the caravan, the visibility of the explosives, and the lack of a detonator all raised suspicions. Meanwhile, police refrained from sharing their concerns with the public, citing an “abundance of caution” as they continued to receive tip-offs about related terror plots. These tip-offs have since…

In Ukraine, at least 25 people lost their lives as missile strikes devastated multiple regions, with Donetsk suffering the deadliest attack. Ballistic missiles struck eight residential structures and a retail center in Dobropillya on Friday night, according to officials, killing 11 people and injuring 40 more, including 6 children.  When Russian soldiers launched another strike against emergency staff, rescuers hurried to help survivors, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on social media. He denounced Moscow’s persistent aggressiveness, stressing that such assaults expose Russia’s real motivations. Other Russian strikes in Donetsk killed nine and wounded 13 between Friday and Saturday, while drone attacks…

A South Korean court overturned the Yoon Suk Yeol’s arrest, releasing him after 52 days in detention, despite his martial law trial. His supporters cheered as he walked free on Saturday, but his legal troubles were far from over.  Authorities arrested Yoon in January after he resisted being taken into custody for two weeks, leading to clashes between his security detail and police. Prosecutors charged him with attempting to impose martial law in December, a move that lasted about six hours but divided the nation. Yoon’s legal team successfully argued that keeping him in custody was unlawful, and the court…

According to SpaceX, the uncrewed spacecraft lost touch with the Earth following a rapid unscheduled disassembly during its ascent. The explosion occurred shortly after the starship launched from Texas on Thursday, stopping flights and causing warnings about falling debris.  The SpaceX starship, the largest rocket ever built, spiraled out of control shortly after liftoff before disintegrating mid-air. Images from the Caribbean show flaming debris flying across the sky, but no reports of damage or casualties have been reported. The 123-meter spacecraft was scheduled to return to Earth’s atmosphere over the Indian Ocean after a one-hour test flight. The main spacecraft…

A massive unexploded bomb from World War II halted Eurostar to London and disrupted all rail traffic to northern France on Friday. Workers found the explosive at 4 a.m. near the railway tracks in Saint-Denis, prompting an immediate security lockdown at Gare du Nord. Paris police secured the area while bomb disposal experts from the city’s demining unit assessed the situation. Authorities described the device as a serious threat, suspending all suburban regional and international trains departing from the station. After the WWII bomb discovery, an SNCF spokesperson described the unexploded ordnance as massive, forcing a complete shutdown of rail…

Target’s DEI boycott started Wednesday as customers protested the company’s recent decision to change diversity, equity, and inclusion policies. Rev. Jamal Bryant, a well-known Atlanta pastor, initiated the 40-day boycott to highlight Target’s move away from its DEI commitments.  The controversy began on January 24 when Target announced significant changes to its diversity programs, including eliminating hiring goals for minority employees. The company also dissolved an executive committee focused on racial justice, sparking outrage among longtime DEI supporters. Target insisted it remained committed to inclusivity under its new “Belonging at the Bullseye,” strategy introduced last year. Critics argue that Target…