Author: Onu Akter

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer met with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Madrid on September 14 for the fourth high-level dialogue in as many months. The talks aim to stabilize US-China trade relations, strained by tariff conflicts during the Trump administration. China’s top trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, also attended the discussions. The last meeting, held in Stockholm in July, led to a 90-day extension of a truce that eased triple-digit retaliatory tariffs and reopened the flow of rare-earth minerals to the US. President Trump has approved keeping US tariffs on Chinese goods, totaling roughly 55%,…

Ricky Hatton, the former world boxing champion and one of Britain’s most popular sports figures, has died at the age of 46. He was found at his home in Greater Manchester early Sunday morning. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. “Officers were called by a member of the public to attend Bowlacre Road, Hyde, Tameside, at 6:45 a.m. today where they found the body of a 46-year-old man,” Greater Manchester Police said in a statement. Officials said they were working closely with the family during this difficult time. News of Hatton’s death sent shockwaves through the boxing community. Friends,…

The Gaza war entered another deadly phase on Sunday as Israeli strikes leveled a high-rise building in northern Gaza and killed at least 12 Palestinians, hours after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Israel for high-level talks. His two-day visit underscores Washington’s challenge in balancing support for Israel with global outrage over civilian casualties and strained relations with regional allies. Rubio, who traveled to Israel after meeting with Qatari leaders alongside President Donald Trump, said his focus would be on understanding Israel’s strategy in Gaza following last week’s controversial strike in Doha that targeted Hamas operatives. That attack,…

Political violence in the United States is once again dominating the national conversation after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, forcing political leaders across party lines to confront escalating threats to their safety and democracy itself. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, a leading Democratic figure and possible 2028 presidential candidate, revealed that the issue has struck deeply in his personal life. Just five months ago, his home was set on fire in an overnight arson attack while he and his family were inside. Shapiro, who has four children, said the most difficult part has been coming to terms with how…

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Saturday that the incursion of Russian drones into Polish airspace was “unacceptable and dangerous,” though it remains unclear whether Moscow deliberately targeted Poland. The incident has raised fears of direct escalation between Russia and NATO at a critical moment in the war in Ukraine. The confrontation unfolded earlier this week when Poland shot down drones that crossed its airspace, marking the first known instance of a NATO member firing on Russian drones since the conflict began. NATO announced on Friday that it will strengthen defenses along its eastern flank in response. “We think…

Charlie Kirk, the conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead Wednesday at a Utah university while engaging in a Q&A session. The fatal incident occurred moments after an attendee asked about transgender people and mass shootings. Kirk responded, “Too many,” a statement fact-checked as inaccurate by multiple sources. Kirk, 31, became a prominent figure in the MAGA movement, credited with inspiring young Republicans to engage in politics and support former President Donald Trump. Over the past decade, he cultivated a reputation as a provocateur, often mixing free speech advocacy with controversial statements on LGBTQ rights, immigration,…

Labor has claimed a decisive victory in the New South Wales Kiama byelection, with Katelin McInerney set to replace disgraced former MP Gareth Ward. Ward, who resigned in August ahead of a parliamentary expulsion, was convicted of sexual and indecent assault in July. His departure ended a controversial chapter in the Kiama electorate, which Labor had held for three decades until Ward captured the seat for the Liberals in 2011. McInerney’s win represents a significant electoral test for the Minns government. Initial results show the Labor candidate securing 60.6% of the two-party preferred vote, while Liberal candidate Serena Copley received…

At least 32 people, including 12 children, have been killed in a series of Israeli air strikes across Gaza City, according to local medical officials. The attacks come as Israel escalates its offensive, urging Palestinians to evacuate what it calls the largest remaining Hamas stronghold. High-rise buildings have been destroyed, and authorities accuse Hamas of placing surveillance equipment inside them. One of the strikes hit a house in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood, killing a family of 10, including a mother and three children. Smoke and debris were seen rising from the damaged building, highlighting the intensity of the bombardment. Hundreds…

Iran and France are reportedly nearing an agreement on a prisoner exchange that could include the release of an Iranian woman detained in France over her online posts linked to the Gaza conflict. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said late Thursday that Mahdieh Esfandiari is expected to be freed as part of the swap, which he hopes will occur “in the coming days.” Esfandiari, a translator who has lived in Lyon since 2018, was arrested in February on charges related to terrorism for posts she allegedly made on Telegram regarding the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which triggered…

The United Kingdom has rolled out 100 new sanctions against Russia, focusing on revenues and military supplies. The measures, announced by Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper during her visit to Kyiv, target Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of oil tankers and companies providing vital equipment for its war effort. The sanctions come as Moscow escalates its assault on Ukraine. In the largest air attack of the war so far, Russian forces launched more than 800 missiles and drones in one night. Strikes in recent weeks have damaged Ukraine’s cabinet of ministers’ offices, as well as buildings linked to the British Council and…