World

BEIRUT, Lebanon, April 18 (UPI) — Leadership changes in Syria and Lebanon, driven by the ouster of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and the weakening of Hezbollah‘s influence, have created a rare opportunity for the two neighboring countries to repair their relations and move beyond decades of political domination and military interference.

The stunning collapse last December of the Syrian Baath regime at the hands of Islamist rebels, led by Ahmad Sharaa — now Syria’s new ruler — has created a new reality in the country and across the region.

Just a month later, Lebanon began to show signs of its own transformation with the election of Joseph Aoun as president and the appointment of Nawaf Salam to lead the new government.

The once-powerful Hezbollah, long accustomed to dictating national policy and hand-picking key officials, was forced to compromise and endorse these new leadership choices.

Leaders in both countries were quick to offer assurances to one another, expressing a willingness to move beyond their troubled, tense and often hostile past, and to open a new chapter in relations based on mutual respect.

The road to recovery will be far from easy, burdened by long-standing and complex disputes, deeply rooted historical grievances and a rapidly shifting Middle East landscape ravaged by years of destructive conflicts.

However, the visit by Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam to Damascus earlier this week, where he met with Syria’s ruler, Ahmad Sharaa, laid the groundwork for dialogue aimed at resolving key points of contention between the two countries.

The visit marks “a watershed moment” in Lebanon-Syria relations, according to Imad Salamey, a senior Middle East policy adviser and associate professor of political science and international affairs at the Lebanese American University in Beirut.

Salamey explained that for the first time, both states are engaging on equal sovereign footing, signaling a departure from decades of Syrian tutelage over Lebanon.

“This diplomatic shift recognizes Lebanon’s independence and Syria’s need to recalibrate its regional posture post-Assad’s ouster,” he told UPI.

The Sharaa-Salam talks, Salamey added, suggest that both parties are now willing to talk as peers, with mutual interests in securing sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The emerging approach emphasizes non-interference in each other’s affairs, with Syria committing to refrain from aggression against Lebanon and Lebanon ensuring it will not serve as a base for launching attacks against Syria.

“This process would pave the way for consolidating stability between the two countries,” a well-informed Lebanese source told UPI.

Lebanon has suffered from decades-long Syrian military presence, political domination and manipulation that greatly impacted its governance, political life, economy and stability.

The Syrian Army first entered Lebanon in 1976 to stop the then-raging civil war and remained until it was forced to pull out after the assassination of Lebanon’s former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri in a powerful explosion that targeted his convoy in Beirut on Feb. 14, 2005.

Syria, which imposed itself as the main power broker after having been granted guardianship over Lebanon when the civil war ended in 1990, was accused of being behind Hariri’s assassination and numerous other such killings during the civil war and in peace.

But its influence on Lebanon began to wane rapidly starting in 2011, when anti-Assad peaceful protests broke out and soon turned into a bloody civil war.

Syrians, on their part, hold grudges against Hezbollah — and its patron, Iran — for siding with the Assad regime and joining the bloody battles against the opposition fighters in 2012. The Hezbollah-Iran involvement in Syria ended with Assad’s fall.

Last month, three soldiers in Syria’s new army and seven Lebanese were killed when clashes erupted near the border town of Al-Qasr in northeastern Lebanon — one of several key smuggling and supply routes long used by Hezbollah. The fighting ended after two days, with the Lebanese Army deploying in the area.

“No attacks or smuggling will be allowed from the Lebanese side,” the source said. “The army now has control of the border to prevent any drug and weapons smuggling, as well as any cross-border interaction or interference.”

Smuggling has been a main problem since the establishment of the border between Syria and Lebanon, which extends for approximately 230 miles from the east to the north, with no clear demarcation in many areas.

Land and sea border demarcation, security coordination, preventing smuggling, closing illegal crossings, and adopting security and military measures to prevent the recurrence of the cross-border clashes were at the top of the Salam-Sharaa discussions, according to the Lebanese source.

He said the discussions also covered gas and oil exploration, boosting trade and potential joint projects that would bring mutual benefits in the fields of economy, agriculture and investment.

Both countries, he added, agreed to form a joint committee that included the ministers of justice and defense to address lingering issues, such as uncovering the fate of Lebanese detainees and missing persons in Syria, as well as Syrians held in Lebanese prisons.

“The committee will also work to shed light on the dozens of political assassinations that took place in Lebanon during the Assad regime’s rule,” the source said.

While historical grievances are “deeply embedded,” Lebanon and Syria have a shared interest in securing and demarcating the borders, especially in compliance with U.N. Security Council Resolution 1680, Salamey said.

“This provides an achievable starting point,” he said. Controlling illegal crossings, which has cost Lebanon some $5 billion annually due to smuggling, per the World Bank’s estimates, and halting currency outflows from Syria “are pragmatic, mutually beneficial goals.”

Salamey said border control could encourage greater economic cooperation and mutual stabilization, but emphasized the need for international guarantees, technical support and “political insulation from spoilers — particularly Hezbollah and other non-state actors who benefit from open borders.”

Encouraged by the recent political shifts, Saudi Arabia stepped in to bring Syria and Lebanon closer, playing a key mediating role in helping the two countries address their long-standing disputes.

The Lebanese source revealed that land and maritime border demarcation talks will proceed with the support of Saudi Arabia, which believes that there is “a serious opportunity” for both countries to emerge from their successive crises and embark on a new process aimed at consolidating stability.

Besides the disputed territories, securing the return of 1.5 million Syrian refugees from Lebanon represents a major challenge. While crisis-ridden Lebanon can no longer host them, war-ravaged Syria is not yet ready to take them back because of its limited resources.

Salamey also noted that their divergent political systems — Lebanon’s consociational democracy versus Syria’s Islamist autocratic trajectory — also pose “enduring risks.”

He said that without broader regional reconciliation and internal reforms, progress may be limited to “transactional arrangements” rather than leading to “transformational peace.”

“The road to healing is long and fraught, but the current moment offers a window for engagement that didn’t exist in recent decades,” he said.

April 18 (UPI) — South Korea’s Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced earlier this month that the country’s first-quarter food exports surged 9.6% year-on-year to reach $2.48 billion.

With this pace, annual exports are highly likely to surpass $10 billion for the first time, beating the previous record of $9.98 billion last year.

“This year’s food exports hit a record high for the first quarter. The growth is expected to continue throughout 2025,” Deputy Agriculture Minister Kang Hyoung-seok told UPI. “To deal with some external risks, the Korean government will work as one team with our exporters.”

Supporting the success of Korean foods are such unique brands as Fire Noodle of Samyang Food, Bibigo of CJ Group, and Choco Pie of Orion.

Fire Noodle, also known as Buldak, single-handedly carried Samyang Food over the past few years as it has become a food phenomenon.

Launched in 2012, Fire Noodle was originally regarded as a niche Korean product. But its bold, intensely spicy flavor is now a global sensation.

Boosting its popularity has been the Fire Noodle Challenge, a viral trend where participants eat the ultra-spicy noodles as fast as they can, often without drinking water.

Originating on YouTube in the middle of the 2010s, the challenge exploded across the world, thanks to its intense heat, humorous facial expressions, and dramatic coughing fits.

Last year, the brand faced a crisis as the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration issued a recall of three Fire Noodle products, citing potential health risks posed by their high capsaicin content. Capsaicin is the chemical compound in chili peppers that creates a burning sensation.

However, the measure was a blessing in disguise for Samyang Food, which was established in 1961 to roll out Korea’s first instant noodle products.

“The recall piqued the curiosity of people about Fire Noodle products. It actually helped drive sales,” a Samyang Food spokesperson said in a phone interview. “In addition, members of K-pop groups also contributed to its rising profile.”

BTS member Jimin and Blackpink’s Rose are known to be big fans of Fire Noodle products.

The brand’s success underpinned Samyang Food’s performance in 2024 when its global sales soared 65% over the previous year. As a result, exports accounted for 77% of total revenue and the proportion is projected to hit 85% this year.

The corporation is also performing well in the stock market as its share price jumped more than 26% on the Seoul bourse in 2025. Its market capitalization approaches $5 billion.

“Exports are predicted to sustain the company’s growth, with first-quarter outbound shipments estimated to have increased over 40%,” Yuanta Securities analyst Son Hyun-jeong said.

Other notable Korean food names are Bibigo and Choco Pie.

Based on the brisk sales of its Bibigo line, including steamed dumplings, white rice, and kimchi, CJ Cheiljedang’s international sales neared $4 billion last year.

Orion sold 4 billion units of its signature product Choco Pie, its marshmallow-filled snack, in 2024. Riding on that momentum, the company disclosed a $585 million investment Tuesday to expand its overseas business.

However, there are downside risks such as rising trade tensions and uncertainty as the Trump administration threatens to levy high tariffs on imports to the United States.

“Most Korean food exporters manufacture here and one of their biggest markets is the U.S.,” Seoul-based business tracker Leaders Index CEO Park Ju-gun said in a phone interview.

“If higher tariffs are imposed, it would weigh on their sales in the American market. They have to prepare for these uncertainties,” he said.

April 18 (UPI) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that the Russian invasion of Ukraine is “not our war” and that if it’s not possible to reach a peace deal within days “we’re done.”

Rubio said the United States needs to determine very quickly — in a matter of days — whether or not ending the war “is doable” over the next few weeks.

“If it’s not possible — if we’re so far apart that this is not going to happen,” Rubio said, ” Then I think the president’s probably at a point where he’s going to say, well, we’re done.”

“I think it’s important to remind everybody that the Ukraine war is a terrible thing, but it’s not our war. We didn’t start it. The United States has been helping Ukraine for over the last three years, and we want it to end. But it’s not our war.”

Rubio did not spell out whether his comments mean the United States will also be done with supporting Ukraine as it defends against the Russian invasion and occupation.

“We’ve spent three years, billions of dollars supporting the Ukrainian side, and — but now we’ve reached the point where we have other things we have to focus on,” Rubio said. “We’re prepared to be engaged in this as long as it takes, but not indefinitely, not without progress. If this is not possible, we’re going to need to move on.”

U.S. and Ukrainian officials, including Rubio, met Thursday in Paris for talks on the war as Russia continued to attack Ukraine.

Rubio told reporters Friday that “we had positive meetings yesterday.”

He said he thought the French, the British and Germans were “very constructive, very helpful.”

He said there will hopefully be another meeting next week “where we’ll have some more definitive answers about how close we are to actually making progress.”

Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenkor said on X Thursday that progress was made toward a minerals deal with the United States.

“We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine,” she said.

She said there has been significant progress on details of the deal indicating the final deal “will be very beneficial to both countries.”

The two countries intend to finalize the deal as soon as April 26.

The Chair of Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada parliament said on X that Trump administration special envoy Steve Witkoff “may be inadvertently trying to push pro-Russian narratives” during the peace talks.

The Trump administration has made overtures to Russia while criticizing Ukraine in the peace talk process.

Responding to reporter questions, Rubio said if progress toward peace is being made the United States is prepared to engage as long as it takes but won’t be involved indefinitely without progress.

He said he spoke with Russian foreign minister Lavrov and told him that the United States proposed an outline for peace to Ukraine but didn’t specify to Lavrov what the outline details were.

SEOUL, April 18 (UPI) — Lee Jae-myung, the polarizing former head of South Korea’s opposition Democratic Party, is maintaining a strong lead among potential candidates for a June snap election to replace impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol, a new survey said Friday.

The poll, conducted by Gallup Korea, found Lee with 38% support — his highest rating among Gallup surveys this year. He remains well ahead of potential opponents from Yoon’s People Power Party, which will pick its candidate on May 3.

Former Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo and former Labor Minister Kim Moon-soo both received 7% in the poll, as did current acting President Han Duck-soo. Han has not announced his intention to run, but the 75-year-old prime minister is seen by some conservatives as the candidate with the broadest appeal.

A handful of other potential PPP candidates polled in the low single digits. Overall, the Democratic Party had an approval rating of 42%, compared to the PPP’s 34%.

The election will be held on June 3.

Lee, who lost to Yoon in the 2022 presidential election by a razor-thin margin, rose to national fame as a progressive firebrand. As the mayor of Seongnam, a satellite city of Seoul, and then governor of Gyeonggi Province, he built a reputation as a hard-charging populist who was able to implement some of the country’s most ambitious social welfare programs.

While he inspires fierce loyalty from his core base of supporters, Lee draws equally impassioned contempt from conservative opponents and has long been shadowed by legal troubles. Last month, a court overturned Lee’s earlier conviction on an election law violation, but he is still facing criminal trials on charges including bribery and corruption.

In the wake of the Yoon martial law and impeachment saga that embroiled the country for four months, the political atmosphere in South Korea has grown even more divisive, and experts are calling for the next president to focus on unity and reconciliation.

“Lee Jae-myung is a polarizing figure,” Kang Won-taek, professor of political science and international studies at Seoul National University, said during a meeting with international media this week. “Without inclusive politics, the next administration may face renewed political conflict.”

Kang said he thought Lee’s campaign would work to target the moderate voters who are “getting lost in the political landscape.”

“I believe he will focus more on policy platforms to solve the immediate problems in our society rather than focusing on ideologies,” Kang said.

So far, Lee appears to be steering clear of further inflaming tensions. During his presidential bid announcement last week, he focused on economic recovery, saying that his administration would prioritize investments in science and technology aimed at helping small businesses.

On Friday, Lee campaigned in the Yeongam region — a conservative stronghold in the southeastern part of the country — where he outlined a number of plans to boost local development, such as moving the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries to the port city of Busan.

The 61-year-old also vowed to revitalize the region’s traditional manufacturing industries, making the city of Ulsan a “hub of eco-friendly mobility” and transforming the surrounding areas into a “mecca of space, aviation, defense and smart shipbuilding industries.”

In a separate announcement Friday, Lee said he would increase government investment in South Korea’s culture industry, aiming to boost the value of hugely popular exports such as K-pop and K-dramas to $35 billion by 2030.

“We will give wings to the K-content boom created by those in the arts and culture industry,” he said.

April 17 (UPI) — Handbags, scarves and other goods sold in the United States by French luxury brand Hermes will cost more in May due to tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump.

Representatives of the brand announced Thursday they are hiking prices only in the United States due to the impact of the 10% tariff that Trump imposed on goods produced by European Union members, including France.

“The price increase that we’re going to implement will be just for the U.S. since it’s aimed at offsetting the tariffs that only apply to the American market,” Eric du Halgouet, Hermes’ executive vice president for finance, said while announcing first-quarter results to analysts Thursday.

Hermes products include popular Birkin and Kelly handbags, prices for which often start at $20,000 for a clutch and go well over $100,000 for larger, high-end bags, the New York Post reported.

The 10% price hike would take effect on May 1 and add $2,000 to the cost of a $20,000 handbag and $10,000 for luxury items that cost $100,000.

The Paris-based luxury brand is the world’s largest producer of luxury goods based on market capitalization. Its scarves generally cost hundreds of dollars, and Hermes also produces watches, jewelry, perfume, shoes and make-up.

Hermes reported an 11% increase in sales in the Americas during the first quarter of 2025. The Americas accounted for about 17% of Hermes’ global market share during the first three months of the year.

The luxury brand reported a 7% increase in revenue growth, which is less than an anticipated increase of between 8% and 9% and down from a 17.6% revenue growth rate during the last three months of 2024.

Analysts estimate the luxury goods market will experience less of an impact from Trump’s tariff policy than other retailers because Hermes customers have greateer wealth.

Trump on April 2 announced a global tariff of at least 10% on foreign-produced goods sold in the United States but on April 9 paused implementation for most nations for 90 days after numerous requests from countries to negotiate trade terms.

The president said he imposed the tariffs to improve the nation’s economy and add more jobs by addressing trade deficits and high tariffs on U.S.-produced goods that are sold in other nations.

April 17 (UPI) — Officials from Ukraine will meet with American representatives in Paris Thursday to discuss the war with Russia less than a day after the latest Russian attack on Ukraine.

Ukraine’s presidential Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak said in a social media post they “are working in Paris,” with Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha and Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov.

Delegates from Britian, France and Germany are already present, and President Donald Trump‘s special envoy Steve Witkoff and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are expected to join the conference later in the day.

“We exchanged views on the next steps toward achieving a just and lasting peace,” Yermak said of the talks that have already occurred, which include “the implementation of a full cease-fire, the involvement of a multinational military contingent, and the development of an effective security architecture for Ukraine.”

There have been some concerns about how the United States will seek peace, as Chairperson of the Verkhovna Rada parliament of Ukraine Oleksandr Merezhko said Wednesday on X that Witkoff “may be inadvertently trying to push pro-Russian narratives.”

The cease-fire conversation continues as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced Thursday morning that a Russian drone struck the city of Dnipro, with claims that “They targeted ordinary residential buildings, ordinary civilian infrastructure.”

Zelensky says 28 people were injured, with four children among those who were hurt. Three people were reportedly killed in the incident, including a 17-year-old girl.

Zelensky also says Odessa was struck by drones Wednesday night. That attack left three injured, and residential buildings were damaged.

“The Sumy region came under aerial bomb attacks, while Kharkiv and Donetsk regions were hit by Russian ballistic missiles,” Zelensky said.

He continued that every defense package they receive is “is literally the protection of lives.”

Zelensky concluded with “Russia uses every day and every night to kill. Pressure must be applied to the killers, and life must be helped to stop this war and ensure a reliable peace.”

WHS was brought in to help make golf more inclusive. Players do not have to be a club member to acquire a handicap which can then be used at any course in the world.

In line with scores submitted, golfers are given a ‘handicap index’ which will provide the appropriate number of shots for the difficulty of the course they are playing. This should enable players of all abilities to play against each other.

Under the new system, scores from ‘general play’, rather than solely from rounds in formal competitions, can be submitted. The arrangement depends on the honesty of golfers to enter scores that reflect their true ability.

“The rules of golf and handicapping rely on the integrity of players,” Moir added. “And we all need to be prepared to challenge any behaviour that lacks that integrity.

“We want golfers to take the same view on the rules of handicapping as they would on the rules of golf.

“We know that it is very, very rare for people to seek to play other than in accordance with the rules of golf and we need people to view the rules of handicapping in exactly the same way.”

Golfers and club committees are receiving reminders on how the system should be implemented.

“We’ve got a social media and e-newsletter campaign,” Moir said. “We at the R&A are collaborating with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf to address some of these concerns.

“The principle purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness among golfers, but also with handicapping committees as to what their own responsibilities are within the rules.”

Officials insist the new system works well and point to growing participation numbers, which are expected to be further boosted by McIlroy’s dramatic and inspirational play-off win in Augusta.

Last year, 14 million handicap cards were submitted in Great Britain and Ireland – up 1.4 million on 2023 – while nine million of those came from competition play.

“We want people to return as many general play scores as possible,” Moir said. “That’s when the new handicap system comes into its own and reflects current form and ability.”

SEOUL, April 17 (UPI) — North Korea warned Thursday it would respond with “overwhelming deterrence” against the United States following Washington’s deployment of B-1B strategic bombers to the Korean Peninsula for a joint air exercise with South Korea this week.

The allies’ drills represent an “open threat to the security of our state and a grave provocation that raises the military tension in the region to an extreme dangerous level,” a spokesperson for North Korea’s Defense Ministry said in a statement carried by state-run Korean Central News Agency.

“The DPRK will exercise the overwhelming deterrence and continue to make the U.S. recognize that its unannounced deployment of strategic means is a reckless and unnecessary abuse of strength,” the spokesperson said, using the official acronym for North Korea. “The higher the level of provocation against the DPRK is, the greater the level of danger returning to the U.S. will be.”

The United States sent a pair of B-1B strategic bombers to participate in joint drills on Tuesday, which was a holiday in North Korea marking the birthday of founder Kim Il Sung. The exercise was intended to “respond to the continuous threat of North Korea’s increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile programs,” Seoul’s Defense Ministry said.

Pyongyang has frequently objected to the deployment of U.S. strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula and condemns the allies’ joint military exercises as rehearsals for an invasion.

The ministry spokesperson said Thursday that the latest exercise was a “process of increasing the skillfulness in tactics and procedures for attacking the DPRK, and completing preparations for going into real action at any time.”

North Korea “will never tolerate the slightest sign of threat of the hostile forces against the security sovereignty of the state,” the spokesperson added.

The drills marked the second deployment of U.S. B-1B bombers to the peninsula since President Donald Trump returned to office. Days after a February joint air exercise, Pyongyang test-fired strategic cruise missiles in what it called a demonstration of its nuclear deterrence capabilities.

North Korea’s statement came as the United States and South Korea kicked off a two-week joint air exercise, called Freedom Flag, on Thursday.

The exercise, which runs until May 2, involves some 1,100 troops and 90 aircraft from both militaries, South Korea’s air force said in a press release. Assets mobilized for the drills include South Korean F-35A, F-15K and KF-16 fighter jets and American F-16 and F-35 B fighters.

The allies “plan to strengthen interoperability and cultivate capabilities for wartime joint mission execution,” the release said. “In addition, they will intensively review and master the latest tactical and operational procedures that reflect the changes in the operational environment of modern warfare.”

The winning photo depicts nine-year-old Mahmoud Ajjour, whose arms were severed in an Israeli attack in Gaza last year.

The solemn portrait of a nine-year-old Palestinian boy, whose arms were severed and mutilated during an Israeli attack on Gaza City, has won the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year award.

The picture, given the accolade on Thursday, was taken by Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times newspaper, and depicts Mahmoud Ajjour.

“One of the most difficult things Mahmoud’s mother explained to me was how when Mahmoud first came to the realisation that his arms were amputated, the first sentence he said to her was, ‘How will I be able to hug you’?” said Abu Elouf.

Ajjour was evacuated to Doha, Qatar, following the Israeli explosion in March last year, an attack in the continuing war that has killed at least 51,025 Palestinians, wounded about 116,432 others and reduced much of the enclave to rubble.

The photographer is also from Gaza and was herself evacuated in December 2023. She now takes photos of badly wounded Palestinians based in Doha.

“This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly. It tells the story of one boy, but also of a wider war that will have an impact for generations,” said Joumana El Zein Khoury, World Press Photo’s executive director.

The jury praised the photo’s “strong composition and attention to light” and its thought-provoking subject matter, especially questions raised over Mahmoud’s future.

It also lauded how the photo depicts “the dehumanisation of a region, and about the relentless targeting of journalists in Gaza alongside the continued denial of access to international reporters seeking to expose the realities of this war”.

The boy is now learning to play games on his phone, write, and open doors with his feet, but still needs special assistance for most daily activities, such as eating and dressing, the jury said.

“Mahmoud’s dream is simple: he wants to get prosthetics and live his life as any other child,” said the World Press Photo organisers in a statement.

The statement cited the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA)’s recent estimation that by December last year, Gaza had more child amputees per capita than anywhere else in the world.

“Children are disproportionately impacted by the war,” the jury stated.

Runner-up prize

The jury also selected two photos for the runner-up prize.

The first, entitled “Droughts in the Amazon” by Musuk Nolte for Panos Pictures and the Bertha Foundation, shows a man on a dried-up river bed in the Amazon carrying supplies to a village once accessible by boat.

The second, “Night Crossing” by John Moore shooting for Getty Images, depicts Chinese migrants huddling near a fire during a cold rain after crossing the US-Mexico border.

The jury sifted through 59,320 photographs from 3,778 photojournalists to select 42 prize-winning shots from around the world.

Nairobi-based Luis Tato won in the “Stories” category for the Africa region for a selection of photos depicting Kenya’s youth uprising.

Jerome Brouillet won in the “Singles” category Asia Pacific and Oceania for his iconic picture of surfer Gabriel Medina seemingly floating above the waves.

Clarens Siffroy won in the “Stories” category North and Central America for his coverage of the gang crisis in Haiti.

Finally, Anselmo Cunha won in the “Singles” category for South America for his photo of a Boeing 727-200 stranded at Salgado Filho International Airport in Brazil.

April 16 (UPI) — Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Ambassador Steve Witkoff are in France to talk to European leaders about ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

They will be in Paris from Wednesday through Friday “to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

She said Rubio also will “discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region.”

Politico Europe reported Witkoff will meet with French President Emmanuel Macron and Rubio with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

On Friday, Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin for almost five hours in St. Petersburg about ending the war with Ukraine.

Witkoff told Fox News on Monday: “This peace deal is about these so-called five territories. But there’s so much more to it. I think we might be on the verge of something that would be very important for the world at large.”

Those territories appear to be Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, and the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

If there is a truce, the French president wants Ukraine to receive security guarantees, including the deployment of a so-called reassurance force in Ukraine.

The force is backed by a “coalition of the willing” involving some 30 countries, six of which voiced readiness to commit their troops.

On Wednesday, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said he doesn’t back that idea.

“These are red lines for us – recognizing any temporarily occupied territories as anything other than Ukrainian is unacceptable,” Zelensky said during a news conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Odesa. “Once again, the representatives involved are discussing issues beyond their authority.”

A source told Politico that Iran and trade relations in the wake of Trump’s tariff threats will be discussed.

Trump has imposed a 10% tariff on most trading partners but paused for 90 days a reciprocal one of 20% on the worst offenders, including the 27 European Union nations.

Next, Rubio intends to travel to Africa.

Also Wednesday, Rubio announced the closure of the State Department’s office that deals with countering foreign disinformation.

“It is the responsibility of every government official to continuously work to preserve and protect the freedom for Americans to exercise their free speech,” he said in a statement. “That is why today I am announcing the closure of the State Department’s Counter Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (R/FIMI), formerly known as the Global Engagement Center (GEC).”

Under the previous administration, this office “cost taxpayers more than $50 million per year, spent millions of dollars to actively silence and censor the voices of Americans they were supposed to be serving. This is antithetical to the very principles we should be upholding and inconceivable it was taking place in America.”

Funding for the center was stripped out of the final government funding deal signed into law by President Joe Biden in December,

Last year Repiublicans on the House Foreign Affairs Committee said conservative voices were being silenced to clear up disinformation and misinformation online. Elon Musk, who now heads up the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, said the office in 2023 was “the worst offender in U.S. government censorship.”

Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the office plays a critical role in combating Russian and Chinese disinformation.

MATTHEW SELT apologised on live TV to Jimmy Robertson after their clash at the World Championships.

The Romford cueman beat his Bexhill rival 10-9 after pulling off a remarkable comeback to qualify for The Crucible.

2

2

Selt, 40, had fallen 8-3 and 9-6 behind before snatching a 10-9 victory on the black.

Robertson could have won the tie if he had potted the pink but a mis proved costly as Selt cleared the final two balls.

The win sees him become the final player to qualify for the World Championship in what will be his 5th appearance.

However, after the match he revealed that Robertson told him that he was “distracting” him during the game.

He told TNT Sports: “You know I have to apologise and say sorry to Jimmy.

“After one of the frames I won, he told me I was distracting and putting him off.

“So this win, there is no good feeling towards it.

JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS

“Ultimately for Jimmy, is and was one of my closest friends, so for him to feel so strongly, to pull me to one side and say something as we were both walking to toliet, you know I feel absolutely dreadful.

“I’m gutted for him that he didn’t win. I’ll be happy tomorrow that I have won but I just want to apologise.

“Everyone knows that I not so much wear my heart on my sleeve, but you know do a lot of commenting when I’m playing.

“But he felt strongly enough to say something so I would have definitely been in the wrong.

“So apologies to Jimmy.”

Selt was able to speak about his performance and the manner in which he was capable of coming from behind to win.

He added: “Great achievement to come back from 8-3 down, you know.”

List of all-time Snooker World Champions

BELOW is a list of snooker World Champions by year.

The record is for the modern era, widely considered as dating from the 1968-69 season, when the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association (WPBSA) took control of the sport.

The first World Championships ran from 1927 – with a break from 1941-45 because of World War II and 1958-63 because of a dispute in the sport.

Joe Davis (15), Fred Davis and John Pulman (both 8) were the most successful players during that period.

Stephen Hendry and Ronnie O’Sullivan share the record for the most titles in the modern era, with seven each.

• 1969 – John Spencer
• 1970 – Ray Reardon
• 1971 – John Spencer
• 1972 – Alex Higgins
• 1973 – Ray Reardon (2)
• 1974 – Ray Reardon (3)
• 1975 – Ray Reardon (4)
• 1976 – Ray Reardon (5)
• 1977 – John Spencer (2)
• 1978 – Ray Reardon (6)
• 1979 – Terry Griffiths
• 1980 – Cliff Thorburn
• 1981 – Steve Davis
• 1982 – Alex Higgins (2)
• 1983 – Steve Davis (2)
• 1984 – Steve Davis (3)
• 1985 – Dennis Taylor
• 1986 – Joe Johnson
• 1987 – Steve Davis (4)
• 1988 – Steve Davis (5)
• 1989 – Steve Davis (6)
• 1990 – Stephen Hendry
• 1991 – John Parrott
• 1992 – Stephen Hendry (2)
• 1993 – Stephen Hendry (3)
• 1994 – Stephen Hendry (4)
• 1995 – Stephen Hendry (5)
• 1996 – Stephen Hendry (6)
• 1997 – Ken Doherty
• 1998 – John Higgins
• 1999 – Stephen Hendry (7)
• 2000 – Mark Williams
• 2001 – Ronnie O’Sullivan
• 2002 – Peter Ebdon
• 2003 – Mark Williams (2)
• 2004 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (2)
• 2005 – Shaun Murphy
• 2006 – Graeme Dott
• 2007 – John Higgins (2)
• 2008 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (3)
• 2009 – John Higgins (3)
• 2010 – Neil Robertson
• 2011 – John Higgins (4)
• 2012 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (4)
• 2013 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (5)
• 2014 – Mark Selby
• 2015 – Stuart Bingham
• 2016 – Mark Selby (2)
• 2017 – Mark Selby (3)
• 2018 – Mark Williams (3)
• 2019 – Judd Trump
• 2020 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (6)
• 2021 – Mark Selby (4)
• 2022 – Ronnie O’Sullivan (7)
• 2023 – Luca Brecel
• 2024 – Kyren Wilson

Most World Titles (modern era)

• 7 – Stephen Hendry, Ronnie O’Sullivan
• 6 – Ray Reardon, Steve Davis
• 4 – John Higgins, Mark Selby
• 3 – John Spencer, Mark Williams
• 2 – Alex Higgins

As United States President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping face off in an escalating trade war that has roiled global markets and businesses big and small, the question on countless minds is who will blink first.

Trump has pummelled China with a 145-percent tariff. Beijing has retaliated with a duty of 125 percent.

On Tuesday, Trump ramped up his trade salvoes by ordering a national security review of imports of critical minerals, most of which come from China.

Earlier, Bloomberg News reported that China had ordered its airlines not to take deliveries of Boeing jets and halt purchases of aircraft-related equipment and parts from US companies, while Hong Kong’s postal service announced it would no longer handle US-bound mail.

“A 145-percent tariff will make it impossible for China to sell to the US – the costs on both economies will be exceptionally high,” Vina Nadjibulla, vice president of research and strategy at the Asia Pacific Foundation of Canada, told Al Jazeera.

“A complete decoupling is almost impossible to contemplate.”

“Who will blink first depends on who can stand more pain and who is better prepared,” she added.

While Trump has long accused China of ripping off the US on trade, analysts have questioned whether his administration has a clear goal of what it wants to achieve with its tariffs.

Harry Broadman, a former US assistant trade representative and one of the chief negotiators of the WTO, said it is not clear whether Trump wants to close the trade deficit with China or end business with the country outright.

“How does Trump deal with US firms that need their goods from China for their factories to work? It’s not black and white,” Broadman told Al Jazeera.

“Markets are layered through the different stages of production, you’ve got components coming from all over the world. The global economy is finely chopped up vertically, so it’s not obvious who the winners and losers are.”

Broadman said Trump’s approach to trade has been simplistic and unrealistic.

“He’s obviously a deals guy in real estate, but not international markets … How he thinks is, ‘How can I win and how can I make the opponent lose?’” he said.

“It’s not more sophisticated than that. He’s not interested in splitting the spoils. But you don’t get very far with that.”

Miscalculations

Trump has made it clear that he believes it is up to China to come to the negotiating table.

In a statement on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt quoted Trump as saying that “the ball is in China’s court.”

“China needs to make a deal with us, we don’t have to make a deal with them,” Leavitt told a media briefing in remarks that she said came directly from Trump.

While the US economy entered the trade war in a relatively strong position compared with China – which is facing headwinds including high unemployment and low domestic demand – Beijing has been preparing for a trade war since at least since Trump’s first term, according to analysts.

“The Trump administration has miscalculated that China would quickly come to the negotiating table and would respond to threats,” Dexter Tiff Roberts, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, told Al Jazeera.

Last week, the People’s Daily, a mouthpiece of China’s Communist Party, said the country was prepared for the tariffs after accumulating “rich experience” during the past eight years of trade tensions with the US.

“For China, this is an almost existential struggle both on trade and security,” Roberts said, referring to repeated statements from Xi that the East is on the rise while the West is in decline.

China has been diversifying its trade away from the US for years, including by reducing its dependence on US agricultural products such as soya beans, which it now mostly sources from Brazil.

In 2024, 14.7 percent of China’s exports went to the US, down from 19.2 percent in 2018.

On Monday, Xi began a five-day tour of Southeast Asia aimed at buttressing China’s self-styled image as a champion of free trade and a more reliable partner to the region than the US.

There are also political considerations for China.

Xi has built an image of a strong man and capitulating to the US quickly would damage this image, something he cannot risk both domestically and in China’s dealings with other countries, Roberts said.

“It is likely they’ll find some MO where both sides declare victory, otherwise it’s like going nuclear and it will shut down entire trade between US and China and I don’t even understand how that works and it will have shocking global implications,” Roberts said.

‘Misguided obsession’

Robert Rogowsky, a professor of trade and economic diplomacy at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in Monterey, California, said he expects Trump to blink first.

“There’s so much blinking going on in Washington that it’s almost hard to believe there won’t be more,” Rogowsky told Al Jazeera.

“Trump has this misguided obsession with tariffs and he blinks because he comes under pressure from special interests – the wealthy class that has been losing huge amounts of wealth in stock and bond markets,” Rogowsky said, adding that recent turmoil in the financial markets had damaged his support base.

On Friday, the Trump administration announced it would exempt technology imports from the 145-percent levy on China, although later White House officials said that was a temporary reprieve and sectoral tariffs were in the pipeline.

Trump on Monday suggested he was also considering exemptions from his 25-percent auto tariffs.

“Every public policy negotiation has layers of negotiation: the negotiation with those across the table and the many with those behind you [who helped you] to get to the table,” Rogowsky said, adding that in this case, Trump had “negotiated” with special interests in the tech and auto sectors and “given in right away”.

It is possible Trump was driven by fear of losing the support of industry executives, he added.

“The process [of giving in] begins and will continue before anyone ever gets to Beijing. And Beijing can sit back and watch,” Rogowsky said, describing Trump as “clueless.”

“The Apprentice worked because he was a mid-level host with no power, being managed by others,” he said, referring to Trump’s hit reality television show.

Trump’s lack of policy coherence is also damaging the US on other levels, according to Wei Liang, an expert in international trade at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.

Former US President Joe Biden’s focus on China was “strategic and with its allies, but Trump is alienating everyone,” Liang told Al Jazeera.

“In the short run, MNCs and countries have to do adjustments and crisis management. But in the long term, the US has damaged its relationships, especially in security,” Liang said.

While most countries do not have a real alternative to the US – a fact that will buy Washington time – countries will, over the longer term, try to develop a “US+1 strategy as the US is no longer the most reliable market for security treaties,” she said.

April 16 (UPI) — The Supreme Court of the United Kingdom ruled Wednesday that trans women are not legally women under the British Equality Act.

The court ruled that the “meaning of the terms ‘sex,’ ‘man’ and ‘woman’ in the [Equality Act 2010] refer to biological sex, as any other interpretation would render the [Equality Act 2010] incoherent and impracticable to operate.”

It also concluded that someone with a Gender Reassignment Card in the female gender does not come within the definition of a woman under the Equality Act 2010.

The EA 2010 legally protects people in British society from discrimination.

The Scottish campaign group For Women Scotland had filed a lawsuit against the Scottish government, which had argued in court that trans people with a Gender Reassignment Card are entitled to the same sex-based protections as biological women.

The Scottish Parliament had previously decided in 2018 that in its Gender Representation on Public Boards Act, the definition of a woman included people “with the protected characteristic of gender reassignment,” people “living as a woman” and those “proposing to undergo, undergoing, who have undergone a gender reassignment process.”

For Women Scotland, whose website states that it believes “that there are only two sexes, that a person’s sex is not a choice, nor can it be changed,” went to Britian’s Supreme Court in order to solidify a concrete interpretation of the 2010 Equality Act, which would apply across all of the United Kingdom.

The court ruled in their favor, and that “a person with a GRC in the female gender does not come within the definition of a woman under” Britain’s Equality Act, and that “the statutory guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers is incorrect.”

This interpretation of the EA 2010 does not remove protections from trans people, and does say that “trans people are protected from discrimination on the ground of gender reassignment,” and they are also “able to invoke the provisions on direct discrimination and harassment, and indirect discrimination on the basis of sex.”

The court added that “a trans woman can claim sex discrimination because she is perceived to be a woman.”

The result of this decision now means that across Britian, a trans woman can no longer sit on public boards in places officially set aside for women. It could also potentially lead to more in the way of restrictions against trans people when it comes to anything officially reserved for women, and lead to the rewriting of Britian’s laws on gender recognition.

Two years ago this week, a conflict erupted in Sudan that few anticipated would escalate so rapidly or persist for so long. What began as a violent power struggle has become one of the worst and most neglected humanitarian crises of our time.

The country has been plunged into a state of devastation marked by mass displacement, hunger, violence and disease.

The numbers are staggering. More than 30 million people need humanitarian aid. At least 15 million people are currently displaced. Some 11.3 million are displaced inside Sudan and 3.9 million people have fled to neighbouring countries, making this the world’s largest displacement crisis. More than 20 million people urgently need access to healthcare.

Behind these numbers are millions of individual stories. Parents fearing for the life of their child suffering from severe malnutrition. Families stranded in areas with no food, safe water or medical care. Women, men and children dying because it is too dangerous to go to a health centre. A whole generation of children missing out on routine vaccinations.

When I visited Sudan last September, I met Soueda, a bright nine-year-old girl who fled her hometown and was living in a displacement camp in Port Sudan, where the World Health Organization (WHO) is supporting primary healthcare services. She left everything she knew behind and told me she hadn’t been to school in two years.

In Port Sudan, WHO colleagues spoke with Ashwa and her youngest child, who was being treated for severe acute malnutrition at one of the WHO-supported stabilisation centres operating there. “When my baby stopped taking any food or drink, and stopped moving, with swelling in his arms, I knew his life was in grave danger,” she said, while holding her son. “I feared I would lose him until we came to this hospital where he is getting special milk and medicines. He is now able to move, has resumed breastfeeding and can even smile. Without the care at this stabilisation centre, I would have lost him.”

Yet, too few of these stories reach the headlines. This silence is dangerous. It breeds indifference and will cost more lives.

The war has left Sudan’s health system devastated, especially in hard-to-reach areas. In assessed states, 62 percent of health facilities are partially functional and the remaining 32 percent are not functional, with a lack of clarity from other hard-to-reach areas like the Darfurs and Kordofans. Patients can’t access basic treatments due to ongoing fighting and repeated attacks on health facilities and health workers.

Two-thirds of all states in Sudan are experiencing more than three different disease outbreaks, including cholera, measles, malaria, dengue and diphtheria. Cholera alone has killed at least 1,500 people.

Malnutrition is widespread among children, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers. Famine has been confirmed in five areas and is projected to expand to 17, with tens of thousands of lives at immediate risk.

With our partners, WHO is in Sudan, working to ensure people can access the required care. Despite severely restricted access to people in need and ongoing attacks on healthcare facilities, we deliver life-saving medical supplies, support hospitals and health centres, and run vaccination campaigns.

Since the conflict started, with WHO’s support, over one million patients have received treatment in hospitals, health centres and mobile clinics. Some 11.5 million children have been vaccinated against polio and measles, and 12.8 million people have received cholera vaccines.  WHO is supporting stabilisation centres, where during the last two years, 75,000 children suffering from severe acute malnutrition with medical complications have received treatment.

WHO’s response to this crisis has been made possible by generous contributions from partners like the Central Emergency Response Fund, the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center, the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, the United States and others. Yet, continuous support is critical in 2025 for WHO’s $135m response plan, 79 percent of which is unfunded.

WHO is determined to continue supporting Sudan’s people but we need access to and protection of civilians, humanitarians and medical personnel. Since the conflict started, WHO has verified 156 attacks on health facilities, ambulances, staff and patients, resulting in 318 deaths and 273 injuries. Health workers and facilities must never be targets. In fact, they are protected under international humanitarian law. But there has been blatant disregard for these obligations.

Sudan’s crisis is no longer a national tragedy, it has become a regional threat. The conflict threatens to destabilise neighbouring countries and risks fuelling further displacement, disease and insecurity.

A week after my mission to Sudan, I was in Chad, which is hosting over 750,000 Sudanese. I met families who had walked for days to cross the border in search of safety. Some said their homes had been burned, crops destroyed and animals stolen. They left, and arrived with nothing. When I asked what they needed most, the awful answer I heard again and again was: “Food. We are hungry.”

We can’t say we don’t know what’s happening. The facts are clear and the stories are harrowing. What is missing is more action. We need sustained, unhindered humanitarian access to reach those in greatest need, adequate funding to supply life-saving aid, and above all, a high-level commitment to ending the war.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance.

A British woman visited the biggest McDonald’s in the world while on a solo holiday in America and gave her honest verdict. The restaurant spans across three floors and offers unique menu items

McDonald’s is one of the most popular global fast food chains and one woman ventured to the company’s biggest site.

For many people in the world, McDonald’s is an easy option when looking for an affordable burger and chips meal. The brand is also known for its range of wraps, sides and treats.

One woman Ellie Grady ate at the biggest McDonald’s restaurant in the world, located in Orlando, Florida, and she gave her honest opinion on the branch in a video posted on TikTok.

The Brit, who is currently on a solo holiday in the US, explained: “I was going to take myself for a fancy meal until I researched and saw this.” Pointing the camera at the large Ronald McDonald figure on the building of the restaurant near the entrance she exclaimed: “Look at the size of that Ronald!”

Walking up to the door, she said: “Apparently it’s got three floors, it’s got pizza, it’s got pasta. Let’s check it out.” As Ellie walked into the McDonald’s restaurant she was amazed to find a whole arcade on one of the floors and a “huge play area.”

She then turned her attention towards the menu and ordered a pizza with pizza sauce, mozzarella cheese and pepperoni. There are various toppings you can choose for your pizza, including pizza sauce, alfredo sauce, olive oil, mozzarella cheese, ‘Cheddar Jack’, crumbled sausage, bacon bits, pepperoni or ‘silvered onions.’

The pizza cost $9.79 (£7.38) and when she opened the box, she remarked: “That looks good.” Ellie took a bite and was visibly impressed with the taste of her McDonald’s pizza.

She washed it down with a frozen Sprite which she also enjoyed. The Brit holidaying in America gave her final verdict, declaring: “That was so much better than a fancy restaurant.”

This McDonald’s restaurant, named the World’s Largest Entertainment McDonald’s, is conveniently located to Disney World in Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando. The location spans 19,000 square feet (1,765 square metres), according to How Stuff Works.

It stands out from other McDonald’s venues in America thanks to its unique menu items, including pizza, pasta with garlic bread, cheesecake, chocolate cake and even a dessert bar. The arcade, filled with plenty of games, and the children’s play area are two other significant features of the restaurant.

The fast food site is open 24/7 and you can eat inside or collect your food from the drive-thru. Ellie’s TikTok video, uploaded on Tuesday, April 15, has garnered 179,700 views, 5,980 likes and more than 60 comments, at the time of writing.

One user said: “McDonald’s sells pizza what!! My mind is blown.” Another added: “Can’t believe it, I’ve eaten here and had no idea it was the biggest and obviously didn’t get past the ground floor because had no idea the floors above had an arcade. Of all the reasons to go back…”

A third commented: “We are in Orlando now and my kids can’t wait to go there.” However, not everyone had positive views as someone else shared: “I personally went to this in February and it was so disappointing.”

April 16 (UPI) — South African authorities said Wednesday they have rescued a 45-year-old American pastor who was kidnapped last week.

The pastor has been identified by his Tennessee-based Fellowship Baptist Church as Josh Sullivan. He was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men during church service on Thursday.

The South African Police Service said in a statement Wednesday that Sullivan was rescued by its Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation team known as Hawks following a “high-intensity shootout” with three unidentified suspects who who were fatally shot at scene.

According to authorities, the shootout occurred as police arrived at the suspected safe house in the southeastern South African city of Gqeberha.

The suspects opened fire on the officers as they attempted to flee.

“The officers responded with tactictical precision,” Lt. Col. Avele Fumba said.

Sullivan was discovered inside the vehicle “miraculously unharmed,” Fumba added.

The American missionary was assessed by medical personnel and is considered to be “in an excellent condition,” according to the lieutenant colonel.

“Praise the Lord!” the Fellowship Baptist Church said on Facebook following the news of Sullivan’s rescue.

According to his personal website, Sullivan considers himself “a church planting missionary to the country of South Africa.”

The U.S. State Department advises Americans traveling to South Africa to exercise “increased caution … due to crime, civil unrest and kidnapping.”

“There is a threat of kidnapping across South Africa,” the advisory, updated in November, states. “In the past kidnappers have targeted U.S. citizens and other foreign travelers. Criminals kidnap individuals for financial gain, often forcing victims to withdraw money and provide passwords for online accounts before releasing them.”

Kidnappings in South Africa have surged by 264% over the last decade, according to statistics from the national authorities.

April 16 (UPI) — Hong Kong’s postal service announced Wednesday it will suspend the handling of U.S.-bound packages, due to President Donald Trump‘s tariff hikes targeting China.

The suspension of U.S.-bound packages by sea went into effect immediately on Wednesday, with U.S.-bound packages by air to be suspended April 27, Hongkong Post said in a statement.

The postal service explained that the decision was in response to Trump’s order earlier this month to end duty-free de minis treatment for China and Hong Kong starting May 2, which had waived duties for international shipping valued at $800 or less.

“The U.S. is unreasonable, bullying and imposing tariffs abusively,” Hongkong Post said. “Hongkong Post will definitely not collect any so-called tariffs on behalf of the U.S. and will suspend the acceptance of postal items containing goods destined to the U.S.”

The postal service is warning the public to “be prepared to pay exorbitant and unreasonable fees” for sending items to the United States, though other postal items, such as documents, will not be affected.

Trump has used tariffs as a tool to reduce trade deficits and as a negotiation tactic to force concessions from trading partners.

He has imposed tariff hikes of 145% on Chinese exports and, earlier this month, was set to impose so-called reciprocal tariffs on dozens of other countries before flip-flopping and issuing a 90-pause the tax increase as stock market took a beating.

The tariffs on China have taken effect, and Beijing has responded with its own.

On April 2, Trump signed an executive order to eliminate China’s de minimis treatment, with the White House stating it was “closing loopholes in the tariff system.”

In February, Hongkong Post suspended the acceptance of U.S.-bound goods after Trump initially announcing a 10% tariff on Chinese exports. Days later, the postal service said it had resumed accepting U.S.-bound packages after Washington clarified that the additional tax would not apply to postal items.

April 15 (UPI) — Hamas has reportedly rejected a six-week Israeli cease-fire proposal that would have required the armed group to surrender its weapons while Israel continues military assaults on Gaza.

The peace plan reportedly didn’t offer a commitment for an Israeli troop pull-out or end to combat, but did ask for Hamas to release half of the hostages it currently holds in addition to a required disarmament.

It is currently believed that only 24 of the 59 hostages held in Gaza remain alive.

As this time, Israel has not allowed any humanitarian supplies into Gaza for six weeks, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said was intended to force Hamas to release hostages and extend the previous cease-fire that ended March 1. Israel resumed attacks on March 18.

The BBC reported Tuesday that Israeli warplanes struck near the gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in al-Mawasi Tuesday, a tented area that holds displaced people in southern Gaza near Khan Younis in southern Gaza. A security guard was reported to have been killed, and nine were injured.

Israel Defense Forces posted to X Tuesday that it killed Muhammad al-‘Ajlah, who the IDF identify as the “commander of a combat support company in the Shejaiya battalion throughout the war.” The IDF allege al-‘Ajlah had armed “the battalion’s terrorists with weapons used to carry out terrorist attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF troops.”

U.N. Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric confirmed Monday that it has been six weeks since any supplies have been permitted into Gaza, and the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, or OCHA, said a surge in attacks that caused “mass civilian casualties” has been reported by U.N. partners present.

The U.N. also announced Monday in a press release that one of its warehouses in Gaza City and a community food distribution point in Khan Younis were both “hit and damaged by Israeli strikes over the weekend.”

French president Emmanuel Macron posted to social media that he spoke with Netanyahu Tuesday, and that, while he reaffirmed France’s “commitment to the security of Israel and its people, the top priority remains the release of all hostages and the disarmament of Hamas,” he also said that a cease-fire would be the only way to secure the release of any hostages.

He also said, “Opening all crossings that allow the delivery of humanitarian aid is vital for the people of the Gaza Strip. I saw firsthand in Arish the blockade of aid on the other side of the border. It must reach civilians as quickly as possible. The plight of the people of the Gaza Strip must end.”

Macron further said that the political idea of a two-state solution must be restored. Netanyahu responded with a post that said “President Macron is gravely mistaken when he continues to promote the idea of a Palestinian state in the heart of our country, whose sole ambition is the destruction of the State of Israel.”

He added: “We will not jeopardize our existence because of illusions disconnected from reality, and we will not accept moral sermons for the establishment of a Palestinian state that would endanger the existence of Israel.”

Five years ago, America was listening.

That was the year in which George Floyd and Breonna Taylor were killed by police officers.

That was also the year in which the Dodgers refused to take the field for a late August game to protest racial injustice in the wake of a police shooting of a 29-year-old Black man in Wisconsin.

The summer of racial reckoning, and the Dodgers’ modest role in it, feels like something from the distant past.

Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts and Max Muncy kneeled before a game against the Giants in July 2020 to protest racial injustice.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Rather than continue to stimulate important conversations, the Dodgers are back to whistling past America’s graveyard, pretending there is nothing hypocritical about visiting President Trump one week and celebrating Jackie Robinson Day the next. Conservative Fox News commentator Laura Ingraham wanted athletes to “shut up and dribble,” and the Dodgers are doing the baseball equivalent of just that.

The opportunity for the Dodgers to regain their stature as agents of change has come and gone, their salute to Robinson on Tuesday reverting to its previous form as a cynical exercise in stealing the valor of a previous generation.

This shift in social climate was subtly pointed out by Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts earlier this month when he explained his decision to visit the Trump White House after declining to do so with the Boston Red Sox in 2019.

“At the time,” Betts told reporters, “the world was a different place.”

The world was in even more of a different place in 2020. Most of the country was in lockdown because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Major league teams played 60-game regular seasons in which no fans were allowed in stadiums.

Baseball clubhouses are traditionally white and politically conservative spaces. The pandemic didn’t change that. What changed in the Dodgers locker room was a willingness to listen.

On Aug. 23 of that year, a Black man named Jacob Blake was shot by a police officer in Kenosha, Wis., leading to demonstrations around the country. Two days later, at a protest in Kenosha, white 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse shot three people.

The Dodgers were at Oracle Park on Aug. 26 when they received word of boycotted games in the NBA, as well as Major League Baseball. The only African American player on the team knew what he had to do.

“In my shoes,” Betts said at the time, “I couldn’t play.”

Manager Dave Roberts and third base coach George Lombard also ruled themselves out.

Betts told his teammates he would support them if they played the San Francisco Giants that day. They wouldn’t hear it. They joined his protest.

Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw said: “As a white player on this team … how can we show support? What is something we can do to help our Black brothers on this team? Once Mookie said he wasn’t going to play … we felt the best thing to do to support him was not playing.”

Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw stood by Mookie Betts, joining his boycott of a game in 2020.

(Associated Press)

Betts was moved by the gesture.

“I’ll always remember this day,” he said. “I’ll always remember this team just having my back.”

Five years later, as Betts said, the world is a different place. Civil rights violations don’t inspire the same amount of outrage as they once did, particularly in baseball clubhouses. Trump’s casual racism has become normalized to such a degree that even former outspoken critic Snoop Dogg was convinced to perform at a pre-inauguration event.

Still the Dodgers’ lone African American player, Betts said earlier this month about his decision to join his team at the White House: “It comes with the territory, being Black in America in a situation like this. It’s a tough spot to be in.”

Tough, presumably, because he didn’t know how his teammates would react if he shared his thoughts. Tough, presumably, because he wondered if he would divide the team by taking a stand.

Reflecting on his refusal to visit Trump with the Red Sox, Betts said, “I regret that because I made it about me. This isn’t about me.”

In other words, this time around, he prioritized the well-being of his team over his personal convictions. The choice was understandable. Betts is a baseball player before he is an activist. His primary objective at this stage of his life is to win another World Series, and creating the perception of a divided team would be counterproductive to that.

Which was why Dodgers owner Mark Walter or president Stan Kasten should have stepped in and told the players they wouldn’t visit the White House, that something more important than baseball was in play. They didn’t, of course. Kasten saying the Dodgers accepted Trump’s invitation because the players wanted to is the kind of spineless buck-passing that has become standard procedure for this front office.

Walter and Kasten had the power to restart a necessary dialogue at a time when the Trump administration not only sent a brown-skinned man without a criminal record to a Salvadoran prison by mistake but also defied a Supreme Court order to facilitate his return. They didn’t. Their silence was a betrayal, both to the Dodgers and their history.

It was found that Google paid advertising revenue to Android makers as part of its contract deals. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo

April 15 (UPI) — The Japanese Fair Trade Commission on Tuesday issued Google a cease-and-desist order for violating anti-monopoly law by allegedly striking deals with Android manufacturers to preinstall Google apps.

“By binding smartphone manufacturers and telecommunication carriers, Google has made it difficult for other competing search engine applications to be used on Android phones,” stated Saiko Nakajima, a JFTC senior investigator for digital platform operators.

It’s the first time Japan has ever issued such an order on any major U.S.-based tech giant like like Google with its other contemporaries like Apple, Meta, Amazon or Microsoft.

According to Japan’s FTC, Google allegedly struck deals with at least six Android smartphone manufacturers that produce about 80% of Android’s in Japan to install Google Play and Google Chrome apps and put them in home screen locations easy for users to access.

In addition, it was found in the investigation starting October 2023 that Google paid advertising revenue to Android makers as part of its contract deals.

“In the process of this investigation, the JFTC exchanged information with overseas competition authorities that investigated Google LLC’s act similar to this case,” the commission’s cease-and-desist order states.

The commission says this took place at least from July 2020 to the present day.

“Google’s conduct in this case has created a risk of impeding fair competition concerning transactions — thus, we have determined that this is an act in violation of the Antimonopoly Act,” added the JFTC’s Nakajima.

The Japanese authority’s cease-and-desist order bars Google from asking companies to preinstall its apps, calls for a compiling of guidelines for compliance action and instructs the global tech leader to stop committing acts in violation of Japanese anti-monopoly laws.

The commission previously said Google already owns about a 90% share of the search market.

JFTC officials hope it will encourage greater competition in Japan’s search engine market for its more than 123 million citizens.

Google is liable to a fine if it does not adhere to the order.

In August, U.S. District Court Judge Amit Mehta called Google a “monopolist” in a similar ruling, saying it “has acted as one to maintain its monopoly.”

Meanwhile, the order comes as a Japanese delegation led my Economy Minister Ryosei Akazawa is set to visit Washington to talk over U.S. President Donald Trump‘s sweeping global tariffs.