Posts by Amelia Frost
As Trump Cuts Foreign Aid, What Does It Mean for the Gates Foundation?
[ad_1] On Dec. 27, Bill Gates, the billionaire philanthropist, made a trip to Mar-a-Lago for dinner with Donald J. Trump. Some people around him were surprised that he had decided to go, but Mr. Gates wants to talk to whoever will listen. The dinner lasted three hours, and Mr. Trump seemed to enjoy himself, a…
Read MoreTrump’s Cuts to Science Funding Could Hurt U.S. Economy, Study Shows
[ad_1] Cutting federal funding for scientific research could cause long-run economic damage equivalent to a major recession, according to a new study from researchers at American University. In recent months, the Trump administration has sought to cancel or freeze billions of dollars in grants to scientists at Columbia, Harvard and other universities, and has moved…
Read MoreNew Zealand, Phillippines Sign Troops Deal In ‘Deteriorating’ Strategic Environment
[ad_1] The Philippines and New Zealand signed an agreement on Wednesday allowing the deployment of troops on each other’s territory, a move aimed at bolstering security in a “deteriorating” strategic environment. The visiting forces pact is the latest in a series Manila has secured in the face of ongoing confrontations with Beijing in the South…
Read MoreSevere Thunderstorms Expected In Southern Plains, Flood Warnings Up In 6 States
[ad_1] KEY POINTS The risk of excessive rainfall has been increased from slight to moderate Flash flood warnings and flood watches are up in six states, including Oklahoma Forecasters also warned that tornadoes are possible amid the thunderstorms A series of severe thunderstorms is projected to hit the southern Plains Wednesday, the National Weather Service…
Read MoreTrump Administration to Use Federal Lands for Affordable Housing
[ad_1] During his presidential campaign, Donald J. Trump pledged to quickly bring down prices for American households, including making housing more affordable. “We’re going to open up tracts of federal land for housing construction,” Mr. Trump said in August. “We desperately need housing for people who can’t afford what’s going on now.” The Trump administration…
Read MoreChina’s Shenzhou-19 Astronauts Return To Earth
[ad_1] Three Chinese astronauts returned to Earth on Wednesday after six months on the country’s space station, state media footage showed, as Beijing advances towards its aim to become a major celestial power. China has ploughed billions of dollars into its space programme in recent years in an effort to achieve what President Xi Jinping…
Read MoreChinese Factories Slow in Early Sign of Trade War’s Toll
[ad_1] President Trump’s tariffs are already taking a toll on China’s factories. Three weeks into a trade war that pushed import tariffs of Chinese-made goods to 145 percent, an official report on manufacturing activity signaled that in April, Chinese factories experienced the sharpest monthly slowdown in more than a year. The report, a survey of…
Read MoreBelgium’s Green Light For Red Light Workers
[ad_1] A police station in the historic sailors’ quarter of the Belgian port of Antwerp is surrounded by sex workers’ neon-lit red-light windows. The station in the Villa Tinto complex is a symbol of the push to make sex work safer in Belgium, which boasts some of Europe’s most liberal laws — although there are…
Read MoreJapan Tariff Envoy Departs For Round Two Of US Talks
[ad_1] Tokyo’s tariffs envoy departed Wednesday for a second round of negotiations in Washington, where Japan could offer concessions such as tweaking vehicle import procedures to secure relief from Donald Trump’s trade levies. Ryosei Akazawa may also reportedly offer to buy more US corn and soybeans, or continue discussions on developing liquefied natural gas (LNG)…
Read MoreRetailers Fear Toy Shortages at Christmas as Tariffs Freeze Supply Chain
[ad_1] President Trump’s China tariffs are threatening Christmas. Toy makers, children’s shops and specialty retailers are pausing orders for the winter holidays as the import taxes cascade through supply chains. Factories in China produce nearly 80 percent of all toys and 90 percent of Christmas goods sold in America. The production of toys, Christmas trees…
Read MoreTunics & Turbans: Afghan Students Don Taliban-imposed Uniforms
[ad_1] Since the start of the school year in March, Afghan boys have been required to wear new uniforms of turbans and long tunics, following an order to adopt outfits reflecting Taliban rule. The Taliban government’s education ministry cites strengthening discipline, masking social inequalities and promoting what the authorities see as true Islamic attire as…
Read MoreTrump Signs Executive Order Walking Back Some Auto Tariffs
[ad_1] President Trump signed a pair of executive orders on Tuesday that walked back some tariffs for carmakers, removing levies that Ford, General Motors and others have complained would backfire on U.S. manufacturing by raising the cost of production and squeezing their profits. The changes will modify Mr. Trump’s tariffs so carmakers that pay a…
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