Top World News
Israel is ‘seizing territory’ and will ‘divide up’ Gaza, Netanyahu says
Apr 2, 2025 - World
Prime minister says Israel will build a new security corridor to isolate parts of the strip in major escalation Benjamin Netanyahu has said Israel is “seizing territory” and intends to “divide up” the Gaza Strip by building a new security corridor, amid a major expansion of aerial and ground operations in the besieged Palestinian territory.“Tonight, we have shifted gears in the Gaza Strip. The [Israeli army] is seizing territory, hitting the terrorists and destroying the infrastructure,” the prime minister said in a video statement on Wednesday evening. Continue reading...

Collapse of China-built Bangkok tower raises concerns about Belt and Road construction practices
Apr 2, 2025 - World
China's global Belt and Road Initiative is under intense scrutiny here after just one structure in the Thai capital collapsed in last week's earthquake: a 30-floor building under construction by China.
'What in the world?' Farmers left bewildered by Trump demand
Apr 2, 2025 - World
U.S. farmers who are desperately awaiting congressionally appropriated funds to pay their bills have been told by the Trump administration that they first need to remove "diversity aspects or make other revisions to better align" their clean energy projects "with President Donald Trump’s agenda."A new report in The Washington Post said farmers received the confusing demand in a letter from the Agriculture Department last week urging farmers to make the changes in exchange for quicker payments.Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins wrote that "the department was issuing a course correction after the Inflation Reduction Act, President Joe Biden’s signature climate and health-care law, delivered more bureaucracy than benefits for rural families," according to the Post.ALSO READ: 'Not much I can do': GOP senator gives up fight against Trump's tariffs"But farmers said the announcement only created more confusion and another hurdle to receive funding they desperately need to pay off loans and replenish money they had already spent on projects," wrote reporter Daniel Wu.One farmer in Maryland, Michael Protas, who was expecting funds for solar panel installation, said he forwarded the letter to his USDA representative, asking, "What in the world does this mean? DEI has nothing to do with solar panels. I don’t know what they’re asking for.”Wu wrote that the Agriculture Department "declined to answer questions from The Washington Post about what changes to remove diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility from rural energy projects could entail."Hana Vizcarra, an Earthjustice attorney suing the Agriculture Department said the farmers “expect the government just to fulfill their obligations. And instead, as the new administration came in, they just froze all the funds and disrupted work that was already ongoing and put everything at risk.”Travis Forgues, who runs a creamery in Wisconsin, reportedly told The Post, “When you’re trying to talk about solar or energy independence, this is not a DEI issue. And quite frankly, if it was a DEI issue, who cares?”Read The Washington Post article here.

Judiciary must be protected, says Macron, as judge who sentenced Le Pen put under guard
Apr 2, 2025 - World
French president tells ministers that judges are independent and ‘all litigants have the right of appeal’Emmanuel Macron has said the French judiciary is independent and must be protected as a judge was put under police guard after sentencing Marine Le Pen to an immediate ban from running for office.Speaking on Wednesday, two days after the far-right leader’s conviction for the embezzlement of European parliament funds, the French president told ministers that “judges must be protected” and that “all litigants have the right to appeal.” Continue reading...
Norovirus outbreak strikes Queen Mary 2 transatlantic cruise
Apr 2, 2025 - World
The norovirus broke out on the Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2, leaving 224 cruise passengers and 17 crew sick with symptoms including diarrhea and vomiting.