President Trump pardoned Ross William Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road dark web marketplace, criticizing his sentence as excessive. Ulbricht had been serving a life sentence for running the internet's most advanced criminal marketplace, facilitating global drug trades and associated fatalities.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping has designated Vice President Han Zheng to represent China at Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20. This decision signals China’s desire for stable relations with the US while avoiding the spotlight at Trump’s swearing-in ceremony. Han’s presence is a calculated diplomatic gesture amidst ongoing tensions.
Celinda Levno, a 71-year-old American Airlines flight attendant, died after being stabbed during a layover in Denver. She began her career in 1989 with America West which later merged with American Airlines. She was attacked in a pedestrian area near downtown Denver. Levno was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her injuries.
In a notable shift, the US under Trump aligned with Russia at the UN, refusing to condemn the Ukraine invasion. This has caused concerns among European allies, alarmed by potential US-Russia negotiations excluding them and Ukraine. Trump's transactional approach with Putin, focusing on economic deals, hints at redefined transatlantic relations and a possible realignment in global geopolitics.
The US Air Force Academy has eliminated race, gender, and ethnicity from its admissions process following a lawsuit alleging discriminatory diversity practices. This policy shift, formalised in early February, aligns with a recent executive order by President Trump mandating all branches of the US armed forces to be free from identity-based preferences.
The University of Michigan School of Nursing rebranded its DEI resources following Trump's executive orders, with pages renamed and the diversity office's main page removed. Investigations revealed the content remained largely unchanged under new titles. Similar actions were noted at other universities, like Tennessee and Colorado, as institutions navigated the crackdown on diversity programmes.
US Treasury Secretary Bessent advocated for international cooperation and criticised the IMF and World Bank for straying from their core missions, signaling a nuanced approach to global finance. However, this message was immediately countered by the White House, which reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining tariffs on China until a new deal is reached.
Orthodox priests from Russia are facing repression for opposing Russian policies and the invasion of Ukraine. Many have fled, facing difficulties in resettling, such as finding jobs and learning new skills. Organizations like Peace unto All provide financial support. Some priests have found new roles in European countries, but challenges remain significant.
The World Food Programme said Tuesday that it was suspending aid for 650,000 malnourished women and children in Ethiopia because of a lack of funding. "WFP is being forced to halt treatment for 650,000 malnourished women and children in May due to insufficient funding," it said in a statement. It comes as several Western countries have also reduced aid spending.
"I think Elon is doing a good job. He's a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won't agree with it. It will not go where he wants to go. But he is doing a great job. He’s a smart guy… he's very much into cutting the budget of our federal government," Trump said. Elon Musk also made some public comments about Donald Trump in the first-ever X Space on DOGE & Mars, which he hosted at midnight yesterday. The more I’ve gotten to know President Trump, the more I like him. I love the guy; he’s... Expand
A severe lack of medical supplies is hampering efforts to respond to the deadly earthquake in Myanmar, the United Nations said Saturday, adding that those affected needed urgent humanitarian aid. "As the full scale of the disaster unfolds, urgent humanitarian assistance is needed to support those affected," the UN humanitarian agency OCHA said in a statement.