Author: Anna Reynolds

China has appointed a new chief trade negotiator as tensions escalate in its ongoing tariff dispute with the United States. Li Chenggang has been named as the replacement for Wang Shouwen, who played a prominent role in negotiating the 2020 U.S.-China trade agreement. The move comes as both countries continue to raise tariffs on each other’s exports, risking further disruption to global trade flows. The Chinese government has not officially provided a reason for the leadership change. However, it coincides with renewed pressure on Beijing to manage intensifying economic headwinds and complex diplomatic relations. With over 145% tariffs now imposed…

Lionel Xu stands amid stacks of unsold mosquito repellent kits—once bestsellers at Walmart—now collecting dust in a warehouse. His company, Sorbo Technology, which employs 400 workers in Zhejiang province, is one of many Chinese manufacturers feeling the pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump’s 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. “Trump is crazy,” says Xu. “This is very hard for us.” Half of Sorbo’s products were bound for the U.S., but those exports have ground to a halt. With the tariffs still in effect, the once-steady stream of orders has dried up. “We’re worried,” he adds. “If Trump doesn’t change his mind,…

With just two weeks remaining before the federal election, the Liberal Party continues to lead the race—though with a slimmer margin than before. Recent polling shows that 43% of Canadians would currently vote for the Liberals, while 38% support the Conservative Party, led by Pierre Poilievre. This 5-point lead has narrowed from a previous gap of 7 points, indicating that momentum may be shifting as election day approaches. Despite the tighter competition, the Liberal campaign appears to retain a solid core of support. At the same time, the Conservative base is showing stronger commitment, with 76% of its voters saying…

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), one of the world’s leading professional services firms, has formally closed its operations in nine Sub-Saharan African nations, marking a significant contraction of its footprint on the continent. The firm made this announcement via a statement published on its website on March 31, noting that the decision followed an extensive internal strategic review. According to the statement, PwC has ended its partnerships in Ivory Coast, Gabon, Cameroon, Madagascar, Senegal, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Republic of Guinea, and Equatorial Guinea. All nine were previously operating as member firms within PwC’s global network of locally…

A newly leaked federal budget draft reveals that NASA’s science division could face a dramatic reduction in funding, signaling a major pivot in the United States’ space priorities. The White House’s preliminary proposal would slash NASA’s science budget by nearly half—dropping it from approximately $7.5 billion to $3.9 billion—placing at risk a wide array of scientific programs focused on Earth, solar, planetary, and astrophysical research. The proposed cuts come as part of a broader initiative to reallocate funding toward crewed space missions. Projects that aim to send astronauts to the Moon and eventually to Mars are expected to be spared,…

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has been sworn in for his seventh term, reaffirming his grip on power despite widespread opposition and international condemnation. The ceremony, held at the Independence Palace in Minsk, was attended by thousands of supporters, while critics denounced his continued rule as illegitimate. Disputed Election and Tightened Control Lukashenko, who has ruled Belarus with an iron fist since 1994, secured nearly 87% of the vote in the tightly controlled election on January 26. The result was widely rejected by opposition groups and human rights organizations, which described the vote as a predetermined outcome rather than a fair…

San Francisco-based genetic testing company 23andMe has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, raising concerns about the future of its 15 million customers’ genetic data. The company, which has struggled to find a sustainable business model, is now pursuing a sale, potentially placing sensitive genetic information in the hands of new owners. Despite reassurances that data privacy will be considered in any transaction, consumer advocates and state officials are urging users to take action. Many worry that a new owner could alter privacy policies and change how genetic data is handled, opening the door for potential misuse. Why Customers Should Be…

Billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, widely recognized for his role at Tesla and SpaceX, has increasingly inserted himself into European political affairs, leveraging his social media platform, X, to challenge prominent leaders. His criticisms have extended across multiple nations, with the United Kingdom being a primary focus, particularly in his attacks on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Musk’s statements have heightened political tensions, sparking debates over whether his involvement is aimed at shaping European politics or defending his business interests against stricter regulations. His reach extends beyond the UK, as his attacks have also affected leaders in France, Germany, and the European…

The Nasdaq Composite has entered correction territory, dropping over 10% from its all-time high in March. This downturn has created an opportunity for investors looking to capitalize on two AI-related stocks that have experienced significant declines: Arm Holdings (ARM) and Upstart Holdings (UPST). While both companies have faced recent setbacks, Wall Street analysts see strong potential for recovery, with projected upside of 42% for Arm and 57% for Upstart. Arm Holdings: A Leader in Mobile and AI Computing Arm Holdings has long been at the center of mobile computing, designing CPU architectures and subsystems that power billions of devices. The…

Greenland’s coastline has grown by approximately 1,620 kilometers (~1,000 miles) in just two decades, but this expansion is not a sign of progress—it is a stark consequence of climate change. Unlike countries that typically gain land through territorial treaties or reclamation projects, Greenland’s newly exposed land has emerged due to the rapid retreat of its glaciers. As global temperatures continue to rise, Greenland’s glaciers are shrinking, uncovering thousands of kilometers of previously ice-covered terrain. A team of international scientists analyzed satellite imagery of marine-terminating glaciers, which are ice masses that extend into the ocean, to measure the extent of this…