Top World News
UK launches Yemen airstrikes, joining US campaign against Houthi rebels
RAF jets target buildings used to make drones, officials say, in Britain’s first involvement since Trump took officeMiddle East crisis – live updatesBritish fighter jets joined their US counterparts in airstrikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels overnight, the first military action authorised by the Labour government and the first UK participation in an aggressive American bombing campaign against the group.RAF Typhoons, refuelled by Voyager air tankers, targeted a cluster of buildings 15 miles south of the capital, Sana’a, which the UK said were used by the Houthis to manufacture drones that had targeted shipping in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden. Continue reading...
Company supplying critical EV metal ‘did not disclose’ Erin Brockovich pollutant in drinking water
Leaked documents indicate Harita, owner of key nickel mine in Indonesia, did not reveal water contaminationOne of Indonesia’s largest nickel-mining companies, which supplies a mineral critical to the global electric car industry, did not tell the public that local drinking water was polluted, according to documents seen by the Guardian.Indonesia has become the world’s biggest producer of nickel, used in the production of wind turbines, solar panels and electric vehicle batteries. But observers have voiced concerns that regulatory oversight in the country has failed to keep up with the rush to develop mines to satisfy booming global demand. Continue reading...
China manufacturing activity plummets amid Trump tariff war
Index of activity drops to lowest reading since December 2023 as a result of ‘sharp changes’ in international trading China’s factory activity slowed in April, with Beijing blaming “sharp changes” in the global economy as it fights a widening trade war with the US.Punishing tariffs introduced by Donald Trump that reached 145% on many Chinese products came into force in April, and Beijing responded with 125% duties on imports from the US. Chinese exports soared more than 12% last month as businesses rushed to get ahead of the punishing tariffs. Continue reading...
The white Afrikaners lining up to accept Trump’s offer of asylum
Thousands of South Africans are hoping to move to the US to escape crime – and what they say is discrimination against white peopleKyle believed God was looking out for him when he survived a violent farm robbery in South Africa eight years ago with only a black eye and broken ribs. The robbers failed to get the kettle and iron working, so were unable to burn anyone. Then the gun trigger jammed when they tried to shoot Kyle in the spine.“They specifically said they were coming back for this farm … [that] it was their land,” said the 43-year-old, who did not want to use his full name. “Only afterwards, we found out that the guy that stays on the plot was actually killed … the farmhand … I don’t know what his name was.” Continue reading...
India and Pakistan already sweltering in ‘new normal’ heatwave conditions
Temperatures south Asians dread each year arrive early as experts talk of ever shorter transition to summer-like heatThe summer conditions south Asian countries dread each year have arrived alarmingly early, and it’s only April. Much of India and Pakistan is already sweltering in heatwave conditions, in what scientists say is fast becoming the “new normal”.Temperatures in the region typically climb through May, peaking in June before the monsoon brings relief. But this year, the heat has come early. “As far as Asia and the Indian subcontinent are concerned, there was a quick transition from a short window of spring conditions to summer-like heat,” said GP Sharma, the meteorology president of Skymet, India’s leading private forecaster. Continue reading...
Celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City mark 50 years since end of Vietnam war
Thousands gather to see parade featuring marching troops and an air show of Russian-made fighter jets and helicoptersThousands of Vietnamese people have celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war, in what the country’s communist leader said was a “victory of justice over tyranny”.Celebrations culminated in a grand parade in Ho Chi Minh City with thousands of marching troops and an airshow featuring Russian-made fighter jets and helicopters, as Vietnamese waved red flags and sang patriotic songs. Continue reading...
CNN's Wolf Blitzer slaps down GOP senator as he claims Europe will thank Trump
CNN's Wolf Blitzer slapped down an eyebrow-raising claim made by Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) Tuesday as he spoke about President Donald Trump's first 100 days in office. Blitzer began, "One hundred days into President Trump's term, just 41% approve of the job he's doing in our new CNN poll, and just 37% approve of Republicans leading Congress. Are those serious warning signs for your party?" "It's hard to find the the honey in the rock and the water in the stone in 100 days," Kennedy said, using Biblical references. "But having said that, I think President Trump's done some things right in his first 100 days. He's secured the border. He's been very aggressive in abolishing racial quotas. He's deregulating the economy, getting rid of rules and regulations. He's changed the national conversation about the federal budget."Under President Biden, the question was, 'Who needs to pay more in taxes?' Now, thanks to Trump and Musk, I think the question in Washington and elsewhere is, 'What the hell happened to the money?'"Also read: 'Never so scared': Furious pastor berates cops after witnessing tasing of MTG constituent Kennedy then moved on to Trump's handling of foreign policy. "The final point I would make, you may find a little strange, but it has to do with Europe. President Trump, as we all know, exists loudly. And his his loud existence has awakened Europe, with respect to its economy and its national defense, national security. We're seeing dramatic changes there. And i think it's possible that a decade from now, the Europeans — they may not say it — but they'll look back and actually thank Trump for awakening them from their economic and national security slumber." As Kennedy spoke, a furrow-browed Pamela Brown indicated with a hand gesture that Blitzer should handle that assertion. "We'll see. We'll see how that unfolds, senator," Blitzer responded doubtfully. Watch the clip below via CNN.
'Pathetic': Jeff Bezos trashed as Amazon backtracks from tariff report
The White House lashed out at Amazon and its founder, Jeff Bezos, on Tuesday morning after reports that the site would outline the portion of price that comes from President Donald Trump's tariffs.But after a blistering attack from the White House that called the plan "hostile," Amazon responded swiftly that the reports are false.The Washington Post's Jeff Stein reported on X that a spokesperson from Amazon said, "This was never under consideration for the main Amazon website. Says Amazon Haul has considered listing import price duties on certain products."Amazon Haul is a website created to compete with sites like Temu and Shein, offering goods under $20. Critics were quick to accuse Amazon of backing down to Trump out of fear. ALSO READ: Trump is about to target something far more terrifying than tariffsMSNBC's Elise Jordan quipped, "For about thirty seconds it seemed like Amazon cared more about customers than the White House but nope.""Wow Jeff Bezos is more pathetic than Donald Trump is stupid. Real unstoppable force meets an immovable object territory here," said former Washington Post writer Matt O'Brien."In other news, Jeff Bezos last remaining testicle has disappeared. Foul play likely," said criminal defense lawyer Scott Greenfield."Alas. On the bright side, it elicited an insane response from the White House," Cato Institute VP of economics and trade, Scott Lincicome posted on X."Lol if Biden instituted tariffs the outside of the box would say $23.98 of $45 IS TARIFFS in capital letters," said The Bulwark's Adrian Carrasquillo. "Jeff Bezos is an invertebrate life form," wrote politics reporter Will Fritz. "Trump's economic policy is based on pressuring and bribing the elite to pass on hidden import taxes to the populace," wrote University of Massachusetts economics professor Arin Dube. "Oh cowards, the White House was terrified. But Amazon has also been paying the Trump family millions via the Melania doc and putting the apprentice on prime so was kind of surprising they would show some spine on tariffs instead of sucking up," said opposition researcher Tyson Brody.
Amazon decline trickles down to huge UPS layoff
UPS has announced that an anticipated drop in Amazon deliveries will impact the shipping company's workforce. The company announced Tuesday it was shedding 20,000 workers, CBS News reported. As tariffs take effect, Americans are showing a lack of interest in paying the 145% tax on goods imported from China — resulting in an expected decline in Amazon purchases. President Donald Trump introduced the tariffs as part of his hardball approach to persuade China to comply with his demand for lower tariffs on goods entering the U.S. from China. "Canceled freight orders and abandoned freight from China are quickly becoming the norm in the trade war between the U.S. and China, according to supply chain executives, as businesses across U.S. industries put a full stop on container exports, with the tariffs hitting like a ton of bricks," described CNBC news earlier in April. ALSO READ: 'We’ve made a mistake': Trump’s trade war sends GOP into frenzyAccording to CBS, the reduction of 20,000 employees is equivalent to a little more than 4% of its 490,000-person workforce. The company also announced it would be closing 73 of its buildings by the end of June 2025. There may be further building closures, the company said. The goal is to achieve higher profits, executives said during a Tuesday morning earnings call. "These actions will enable us to expand our U.S. Domestic operating margin and increase profitability," said Brian Dykes, the chief financial officer of UPS during the call. The company said that the consolidation plan is expected to save them $3.5 billion. UPS also gave a nod to Amazon in the Tuesday regulatory filing, saying that the cuts are in "connection with our anticipation of lower volumes from our largest customer." This isn't the first announcement of layoffs. The last round occurred in March, when the company announced that hundreds of workers in multiple states would be laid off. OPB reported that there would be 98 UPS workers in Charlotte, North Carolina, laid off by March 31. An additional 65 UPS workers in Hialeah, Florida, would be laid off by April 27, and an undisclosed number of UPS workers in Portland, Oregon, would be laid off by July 1.Read the full report here.
Amazon rushes to kill tariff story: 'Never under consideration'
After White House furor over reports that Amazon would be displaying price increases due to President Trump's tariffs, new reporting by The Washington Post claims the information isn't entirely true. In a morning press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazon's move "a hostile and political act by Amazon."But the Post's Jeff Stein posted on X shortly after, "Amazon Spox now saying this was never under consideration for the main Amazon website. Says Amazon Haul has considered listing import price duties on certain products."Stein included Amazon's statement on the issue: “The team that runs our ultra low cost Amazon Haul store has considered listing import charges on certain products. This was never a consideration for the main Amazon site and nothing has been implemented on any Amazon properties.”Amazon owner Jeff Bezos hasn't yet commented.
'Remarkable': CNN's Kaitlan Collins left in awe by 'aggressive' White House swipe
The White House's response to retail giant Amazon's plans to display price increases caused by President Donald Trump's tariffs drew robust commentary from CNN analysts Tuesday. In a morning press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Amazon's move "a hostile and political act by Amazon." "It was remarkable that Karoline Leavitt said she had just gotten off the phone with President Trump...and it was an incredibly aggressive response," CNN's Kaitlan Collins began. "The White House saying they believe that that is a hostile move by Amazon to do that and to list those prices and reflect basically what the impact of the president's tariffs are going to be." Collins said that Trump's response was "all the more notable" because of his relationship with Jeff Bezos, owner of Amazon and The Washington Post. Also read: 'Never so scared': Furious pastor berates cops after witnessing tasing of MTG constituent"If I had told you this was the response from the White House eight years ago, you might not have been as surprised," Collins continued. "That was when the president was openly feuding with Jeff Bezos, was highly critical of The Washington Post and its coverage of him. But Jeff Bezos came to the president's inauguration. He was seated there among him. He has had dinner with him. He's been here at the White House since then. And, so, it is remarkable to to hear what the White House's response to that was." Global economic analyst Rana Foroohar told CNN that the "powerful" transparency being offered by Amazon is "an amazing use of the incredible amounts of big data that these companies have." She continued by agreeing that it was a "very political" move on Amazon's part. "The White House "called it a hostile and political act, which did sound very threatening in terms of what the president was channeling to Jeff Bezos there," Foroohar said. "I think it's also very interesting in terms of where big tech and where some of the largest and most powerful CEOs in the country stand in relation to Trump, and I was wondering when this penny was going to drop. Because, yes, you saw, as Kaitlan said, them all sitting in the front row at the inauguration, it was the sort of parade of American oligarchs. On the other hand, boy, have their businesses been hit by liberation day. Watch the clip below via CNN.
Fears for health of Alaa Abd el-Fattah and mother as hunger strikes take toll
Activist jailed in Egypt receives medical treatment and family worry his mother Laila Soueif is ‘dying in slow motion’The family of the imprisoned British-Egyptian activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah say they fear for his health along with that of his mother, Laila Soueif, as both continued their hunger strikes to demand his freedom.Relatives of Soueif said they were worried she was “dying in slow motion” after eight months on full or partial hunger strike. “What are we supposed to do, just sit around and wait to die?” said Soueif. Continue reading...
