Author: niyidaram

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has indirectly rebuked a racist video shared on social media by Donald Trump, saying that the sense of “shame” and “decorum” once expected of public officials has eroded. The video, posted to Trump’s Truth Social account, included a clip depicting Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama as apes, set to the song The Lion Sleeps Tonight. It appeared at the end of a longer video repeating unproven claims about voter fraud in the 2020 election. The post triggered bipartisan criticism before being deleted, with the White House initially dismissing backlash as “fake outrage” and…

China will begin implementing a zero-tariff policy for nearly all African countries from May 1, President Xi Jinping announced on Saturday, February 14, according to state media. Beijing had already eliminated tariffs on imports from 33 African nations and previously signalled that the policy would be expanded to cover all 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties. The only exception will be Eswatini, which recognises Taiwan diplomatically rather than Beijing. China remains Africa’s largest trading partner and has played a major role in financing large-scale infrastructure projects across the continent under its expansive “Belt and Road” initiative. From…

Cardi B got into a war of words with Homeland Security on X (formerly Twitter) after she made her stance on Immigration and Customs Enforcement clear. Kicking off her “Little Miss Drama” tour in California’s Coachella Valley on Wednesday, Feb. 11, the rapper suggested that concertgoers would “jump” any ICE agents if they showed up to her shows. “I got some bear mace in the back. It’s like the mafia in this,” she told the crowd at Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert, video shared on social media shows. The Department of Homeland Security later responded to the rapper’s remarks on…

The Trump administration cut $600 million in funding for HIV and sexually transmitted disease prevention in 4 states. The administration cut grants for CDC programs supporting HIV and STD prevention and HIV surveillance. The funding cuts will affect minority communities in California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota. A spokesperson for the Trump administration said, “These grants are being terminated because they do not reflect agency priorities.” Americans in those 4 states are urged to practice safe sex through abstinence. Health officials say the funding cuts will impact Black women the most. “Black women in Illinois are 16 times more likely to…

The Trump administration has put on hold several major technology security measures targeting Beijing ahead of an expected April meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping, according to sources familiar with the decisions. The paused measures reportedly include a ban on China Telecom’s U.S. operations, restrictions on Chinese-made equipment used in American data centers, and proposed bans affecting routers from TP-Link. Other actions placed on hold involve the U.S. businesses of China Unicom and China Mobile, as well as a proposed prohibition on Chinese electric trucks and buses in the United States. The move follows an October trade truce between…

Kathryn Ruemmler, former White House counsel under Barack Obama, will step down as general counsel at Goldman Sachs following renewed scrutiny over her ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Ruemmler confirmed she will leave the firm on June 30, stating that media attention surrounding her past legal work had become a distraction. Emails recently released by the U.S. Department of Justice revealed exchanges between Ruemmler and Epstein, including messages from 2014 through 2019. Goldman Sachs executives had previously maintained that Ruemmler’s relationship with Epstein was strictly professional and that she neither represented nor advocated for him. Ruemmler has said…

U.S. President Donald Trump’s border czar Tom Homan announced that a major immigration enforcement surge in Minnesota is being scaled back, stating he proposed ending the operation and that the president agreed. Under “Operation Metro Surge,” roughly 3,000 armed agents were deployed by late January to carry out deportations across the state. The operation triggered protests in Minneapolis, where residents demonstrated against masked agents in tactical gear. During the enforcement actions, two U.S. citizens were fatally shot by immigration agents. Homan said about 700 agents had already been withdrawn and that many of the remaining personnel deployed from other states…

Nottingham Forest have dismissed head coach Sean Dyche after just four months in charge. The decision follows a goalless home draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers, leaving Forest 17th in the Premier League table, three points above the relegation zone with 12 matches remaining. Dyche, 54, was appointed in October on a contract running until 2027, replacing Ange Postecoglou, who had lasted only 39 days after succeeding Nuno Espírito Santo earlier in the campaign. In a statement, the club confirmed Dyche had been relieved of his duties and thanked him and his staff for their efforts. No further comment was provided. Dyche…

Ticket prices for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have surged on FIFA’s official resale platform, with some seats listed at multiples of their original face value just weeks after the main sales phase closed in January. For the opening match between Mexico and South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11, a Category Three upper-tier ticket was listed at $5,324, compared with its original price of $895. Prices for the July 19 final at MetLife Stadium were even more extreme. A Category Three seat was advertised at $143,750, more than 41 times its face value of $3,450. The lowest resale…

Canadian authorities have identified the suspect in Tuesday’s mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar. Police confirmed the suspect died by suicide after carrying out one of the deadliest mass killings in Canadian history. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police revised the death toll to nine, including the shooter, down from the initially reported 10. Deputy Commissioner Dwayne McDonald said the suspect had a history of mental health interventions and had previously been apprehended under the provincial Mental Health Act. Police had responded multiple times to the family residence over concerns related to mental health. Investigators…