Author: Press Room

WASHINGTON: The head of Taiwan’s National Security Council arrived in the United States for talks with President Donald Trump’s administration, a source familiar with the matter said on Friday (Apr 4), days after China’s military concluded war games around Taiwan. Joseph Wu was leading a delegation for a meeting known as the “special channel,” the Financial Times reported earlier. It marked Trump’s first use of the channel since returning to the White House on Jan 20. Earlier this week, China’s military concluded two-day war games around Taiwan in which it held long-range, live-fire drills in the East China Sea, marking…

More than 500 law firms in the United States have rallied in support of Perkins Coie LLP, one of several legal offices that have been targeted under the administration of President Donald Trump. In an amicus brief filed on Friday, the law firms accused the Trump administration of pursuing a campaign of “draconian punishment” against legal professionals who represent people and causes the president frowns upon. “Any controversial representation challenging actions of the current administration (or even causes it disfavors) now brings with it the risk of devastating retaliation,” the brief states. “Whatever short-term advantage an administration may gain from…

The New York State Education Department on Friday issued a defiant response to the Trump administration’s threats to pull federal funding from public schools over certain diversity, equity and inclusion programs, a remarkable departure from the conciliatory approach of other institutions in recent weeks.Daniel Morton-Bentley, the deputy commissioner for legal affairs at the state education agency in New York, wrote in a letter to federal education officials that “we understand that the current administration seeks to censor anything it deems ‘diversity, equity & inclusion.’”“But there are no federal or state laws prohibiting the principles of D.E.I.,” Mr. Morton-Bentley wrote, adding…

The U.S. Army is quietly considering slashing up to 90,000 active-duty troops — a massive reduction that could bring the force down to as few as 360,000 soldiers, according to a report from Military.com. The move comes as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushes for an 8% cut to the Pentagon’s budget and as the military shifts its focus away from Europe and counterterrorism missions.The potential cuts are in line with defense leaders’ goal to reshape the Army into a smaller, faster and more high-tech force better suited for future conflicts, particularly in the Pacific where China is seen as a growing…

Descrease article font size Increase article font size The Regional District of Central Okanagan (RDCO) is moving forward with plans to improve Kalamoir Park in West Kelowna, B.C., aiming to enhance accessibility and safety on its trails. The updated proposal has sparked a range of reactions from local community members.The district approved widening certain trails to a maximum of 2.4 metres, with upgrades to the Sunnyside Trail focusing on public safety. Originally, the plan included widening trails to 4.4 metres.RDCO Chairperson Loyal Wooldridge said that the goal of the upgrades was to enhance the experience for residents.“All upgrades that we…

Brian Harman has found the range with his iron shots and converted eight birdie putts for a six-under 66 that gave him a four-shot lead over Keith Mitchell going into the weekend at PGA Tour’s Texas Open.Harman has his first 36-hole lead since Bay Hill a year ago, and this is the largest lead he’s had at the midway point since he led by five at Hoylake in 2023 when he won the British Open.”Just know that I’ve done it before and that it is possible,” Harman said of his experience with a big lead.”Look, man, it’s just left foot,…

The Associated Press was first to report China’s disapproval. “The deal requires more work to ensure all necessary approvals are signed,” Trump said on social media, explaining why he was extending the deadline he set in January that was supposed to have expired on Saturday. “We hope to continue working in good faith with China, who I understand is not very happy about our reciprocal tariffs.” China now faces a 54 per cent tariff on goods imported into the United States after Trump announced he was hiking them by 34 per cent this week, prompting China to retaliate on Friday.…

A video recording, discovered on the cellphone of one of the paramedics who was found along with 14 other aid workers in a mass grave in the Gazan city of Rafah in late March and obtained by The New York Times, shows that the ambulances and fire truck that they were traveling in were clearly marked and had their emergency signal lights on when Israeli troops hit them with a barrage of gunfire.Officials from the Palestine Red Crescent Society said at a news conference on Friday at the United Nations moderated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red…

The Athletic has live coverage of Texas vs. South Carolina and UCLA vs. UConn in the 2025 Women’s Final Four.Start times matter in sports when it comes to championship game viewership. The World Series, the NBA Finals, the Stanley Cup Final, the NCAA men’s basketball title game and college football national championship game, just to name a few mega-events, all commence in a prime time (on the East Coast) television window. The Super Bowl airs slightly earlier (roughly 6:30 p.m. ET) but concludes in the middle of prime time. There is a reason television programmers have historically done this, and…

While senators Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., cited economists’ projections that President Donald Trump’s tariffs will cost American families an extra $5,000 per year, GOP Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., insisted, “We don’t know,” suggesting those who claim they do are making fools of themselves. “I followed what all these economists are saying. Most of them make these late-night psychic hotlines look respectable,” Kennedy told Fox News Digital at the Capitol. “They don’t know any more than anybody else. We’re in uncharted waters here.”According to Schumer and Luján, Americans can likely expect to see costs rise enough to equate…