Author: Onu Akter

A new round of high-stakes US-China trade talks began this week in central London, as both nations seek to calm growing tensions over tariffs and technology controls. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick is leading the US team, joined by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. They met with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng at Lancaster House to address trade issues between the world’s two largest economies. Key topics include China’s control of rare earth metals—vital for making smartphones, electric cars, and military tech—and Beijing’s reduced access to US-made semiconductors and AI-related tools. The meeting follows a recent phone…

A new travel ban signed by President Donald Trump officially took effect in the United States on June 9, 2025. This new restriction blocks entry for citizens from 12 countries and imposes tighter visa rules for seven additional nations. The move, which aims to boost national security, has stirred both political and public debate. The ban affects citizens from the following 12 countries: Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen. These individuals are now fully restricted from entering the U.S. unless they meet strict exemption rules. Additionally, partial restrictions now apply…

Michigan State University is urging its international students to return to the U.S. before June 9 due to a new federal travel ban announced last week. The Office for International Students and Scholars (OISS) sent an email on Friday, warning that a recent presidential proclamation could prevent students from reentering the country. The ban, signed by President Donald Trump on Wednesday, blocks citizens from 12 countries and places tighter visa rules on seven others. The new U.S. travel ban impact will be felt across many universities, especially at MSU, which hosts more than 225 students and scholars from the affected…

A strong 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck central Colombia early Sunday morning, causing alarm but no immediate reports of casualties, according to local authorities. The tremor occurred at 8:08 a.m. local time, about 17 kilometers northeast of Paratebueno—a town located roughly 116 miles southeast of the capital, Bogotá. The quake had a shallow depth of 10 kilometers, making it more likely to be felt on the surface. Shortly after the main quake, the Colombian Geological Service recorded several aftershocks. These ranged in magnitude from 4.0 to 4.6 and occurred in the same region. While the ground shook in nearby towns and…

Tehran has strongly condemned the United States for imposing a new travel ban on Iranian citizens and nationals from 11 other countries, calling it a sign of racial and religious discrimination. The travel ban was signed into law on Wednesday by U.S. President Donald Trump and will take effect on June 9. Alireza Hashemi-Raja, the director general for the affairs of Iranians abroad at Iran’s foreign ministry, criticized the decision in a statement on Saturday. He called it “a clear sign of the dominance of a supremacist and racist mentality among American policymakers.” He said the decision reveals deep hostility…

British Columbia has launched a new advertising campaign to bring doctors and nurses from the United States to work in its public health-care system. The six-week campaign began on June 2 and is focused on Washington, Oregon, and California. It includes digital billboards, social media ads, and videos placed in areas close to health-care facilities. These include restaurants, ride-share screens, grocery stores, and city centers. The announcement was made at the Colwood Medical Clinic near Victoria. There, Dr. Muthanna Yacoub, who currently works in the U.S., shared his plans to move and practise in B.C. later this year. He said…

Christina Ness has introduced Evenigo, a new platform designed to automatically add users’ favorite concerts and sports events to their personal calendars. The launch aims to solve the problem of missing important event dates by providing a simple and automatic calendar integration for fans. Ness was inspired to create Evenigo after a mistake in manually adding the presale date for Beyoncé’s Renaissance Tour caused her and her friends to miss out on tickets. This personal experience led her to develop a tool that removes the hassle of tracking event dates. Evenigo allows users to connect with upcoming concerts and sports…

Taiwanese actor and singer Vic Chou recently addressed rumours about the possible reunion of the popular Mandopop group F4. The group is said to be planning a concert in 2026 to mark the 25th anniversary of their debut. This news comes after another Taiwanese pop group, Energy, made a comeback following a long break. Fans wonder if F4 will do the same. F4 is a Taiwanese pop boy band formed by Vic Chou, Jerry Yan, Ken Chu, and Van Ness Wu. They rose to fame after starring in the hit Taiwanese drama Meteor Garden in 2001. Their success led them…

The Trump administration visa fee is considering a new $1,000 fee for tourists and other non-immigrant visa applicants who want to speed up their interview appointments. This plan would allow some travelers to pay extra to get earlier visa interviews, adding to the current $185 processing fee all applicants already pay. The information comes from an internal State Department memo and a U.S. official. The premium service could start as a pilot program as early as December. However, government lawyers have raised legal concerns, warning that charging more than the cost of the service may violate U.S. law and Supreme…

Employees at The Health Plan offices in West Virginia walked a “Mountaineer Mile” on Wednesday to support healthier lifestyles and promote wellness in the workplace. The event took place at the company’s offices in Wheeling and Charleston, following Governor Patrick Morrisey’s statewide initiative that encourages people to walk regularly in local parks and communities. The Mountaineer Mile walk is part of a broader effort to improve physical health among West Virginia residents. The Health Plan adapted the program to fit within its own work environment by organizing group walks on company grounds. A total of 158 employees took part, with…