Global Pulse

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  • Putin to visit China May 19-20, days after Trump trip

    Putin to visit China May 19-20, days after Trump trip

    In a move that underscores the steady deepening of Moscow-Beijing ties, the Kremlin announced Saturday that Russian President Vladimir Putin will embark on a two-day official visit to China starting May 19, arriving just days after U.S. President Donald Trump concluded his groundbreaking trip to Beijing — the first visit to China by a sitting U.S. president in almost a decade.

    According to an official statement from the Kremlin, the core agenda of Putin’s visit will center on advancing the comprehensive partnership and strategic cooperation between Russia and China. During high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the two leaders will exchange detailed perspectives on pressing international and regional issues of shared concern, with a joint declaration set to be signed at the conclusion of their discussions. Putin is also scheduled to hold a separate meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, where the pair will focus on expanding bilateral economic and trade cooperation, a cornerstone of the increasingly robust relationship between the two nations.

    The timing of Putin’s visit announcement comes immediately on the heels of Trump’s Friday departure from China, a trip marked by ceremonial grandeur that masked the persistence of unresolved trade disputes and geopolitical rifts, chief among them the lingering conflict between Russia and Ukraine. During his talks with Xi, Trump raised the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which has stretched into its fifth year, as well as the stalled U.S. standoff with Iran that began when hostilities broke out between the U.S.-Israeli bloc and Iran on February 28. However, Trump departed China without securing any visible breakthrough on either issue, despite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s pre-summit request that Trump push for progress on ending the conflict during his discussions with Beijing.

    Moscow has repeatedly made clear that it will not accept a ceasefire or enter into full negotiations with Kyiv unless Ukraine concedes to the Kremlin’s sweeping territorial and political demands. For its part, China has maintained a formal position of neutrality: it has consistently called for diplomatic negotiations to end the fighting, but has never condemned Russia’s 2022 full-scale incursion into Ukraine, and denies Western accusations that it supplies weapons or military components to Russia’s defense industry. Beijing has instead pinned blame for the conflict, the deadliest conflict in Europe since World War II, on Western nations, arguing that their ongoing arms shipments to Kyiv have prolonged the violence.

    As the world’s largest importer of Russian fossil fuels, China has emerged as Russia’s most critical economic partner, a role that has expanded dramatically since Western powers imposed sweeping sanctions on Russian oil and gas exports following the 2022 invasion. That close alignment has been repeatedly emphasized by top Russian officials, including Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, who spoke on the sidelines of an event in New Delhi just one day after the China-U.S. summit.

    Lavrov welcomed the outcome of the China-U.S. talks, noting that “if the agreements reached or to be reached by Beijing and Washington are in the interests of our Chinese friends, we can only be delighted.” But he was quick to underscore the unique strength of Moscow’s relationship with Beijing, emphasizing that Russia and China are “bound to China by ties… that are deeper and stronger than traditional political and military alliances.”

    The contrast between the outcomes of Trump’s Beijing visit and the upcoming Putin trip is already drawing attention from global observers. Following his departure, Trump claimed he had secured “fantastic” new trade deals with China, including a purported commitment from Beijing to purchase 200 Boeing aircraft along with increased volumes of U.S. crude oil and soybeans. But the details of these agreements remain sparse and vague, and Chinese officials have not released any formal public confirmation of the trade deals. Beijing’s overall response to the Trump-Xi summit was also far more muted than Trump’s own glowing descriptions of his interactions with Xi, whom Trump called a “great leader” and “friend.”

  • ‘My China Album’ interviewees anticipate new stories

    ‘My China Album’ interviewees anticipate new stories

    Against the backdrop of a landmark US presidential state visit to China, long-time advocates of people-to-people exchange between the two nations are sharing their hopeful outlooks on bilateral ties, their perspectives featured in a newly released collaborative book project between two leading Chinese publishing and media institutions.

    The collection, titled *My China Album*, published by Tsinghua University Press in partnership with China Daily, compiles firsthand stories from individuals who have dedicated years to building mutual understanding and cross-cultural friendship between the United States and China. As former US President Donald Trump concluded his official state visit to Beijing on a Friday, these contributors collectively expressed measured optimism about the future of the world’s most consequential bilateral relationship.

    Charles Foster, vice-chairman of the George H. W. Bush Foundation for US-China Relations, framed the visit as an unequivocally positive milestone for bilateral engagement. Echoing the long-held belief of the late former US president George H.W. Bush that China has been and will remain the United States’ most important bilateral partnership, Foster noted that while public messaging from Washington has often been inconsistent in recent years, direct, high-level dialogue between the two countries’ top leaders delivers far more value than empty rhetorical posturing.

    Foster emphasized that the visit signals a clear willingness from the US side to build a more productive, mature dynamic with China, one that opens space for ongoing honest, solution-focused dialogue on the core issues that matter to both nations. He also pointed to the unusually large, cross-sector delegation accompanying Trump, which included senior administration officials and leaders from major American corporations, as a particularly meaningful detail. After experiencing China firsthand, Foster said, these delegates will return to the US with a far deeper understanding of the sweeping transformation that has reshaped China since Richard Nixon’s groundbreaking 1972 visit. Echoing the old adage that a first-hand impression is worth more than thousands of secondhand accounts, he added that on-the-ground experiences create lasting mutual understanding that lays the groundwork for more durable, stable US-China relations.

    For Benjamin Renton, a research associate at Brown University’s School of Public Health, the Beijing summit could not have come at a more critical moment, and it has left him more hopeful than ever for the future of bilateral ties. “For those of us who care deeply about the US-China relationship, seeing the two leaders sit down together for substantive talks is incredibly encouraging,” Renton said. “It sends a strong positive signal for people-to-people exchange between our two societies.” He added that he hopes the summit will keep bilateral engagement moving in a constructive direction, noting that ordinary Chinese and American people share far more common ground than often is highlighted: both value hard work, prioritize family, and aspire to build better lives for future generations. It was encouraging, he said, that the summit’s leadership-level discussions acknowledged these shared priorities. Renton also called for the summit to translate into concrete expanded support for student exchange and study abroad opportunities, pointing out that current participation rates remain low, and increasing opportunities for young Americans to study and live in China would have a transformative impact on bilateral understanding.

    Kayla Raden, a high school biology educator from New Jersey and a self-described Chinese language enthusiast, said she feels optimistic that the two countries are working together to find collaborative solutions to shared global challenges. “It is absolutely essential that our two nations reach common ground and build frameworks to sustain positive relations long-term,” Raden said. “Our futures are deeply intertwined: our shared economic prosperity depends on cooperation between us.” Raden, who said she feels a personal connection to China every time she studies the Chinese language, argued that expanding cultural and linguistic exchange would go a long way toward defusing unnecessary tensions between the two countries. “If more Americans learned Chinese, many of the misunderstandings that currently feel insurmountable would become far easier to resolve,” she said. “Language and cultural exchange build the strong foundation of mutual understanding that strong bilateral relations need.”

    Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, said he was pleased to see the leadership summit go forward, noting that the meetings between the two heads of state were marked by clear sincerity and mutual interest in dialogue — two qualities that are indispensable for productive relations. As the world’s two largest economies, Greene noted, cooperation between the US and China is non-negotiable for global prosperity and stability, and the Beijing summit marked a welcome, positive step forward in that direction.

    Ren Ming, a professor at multiple California-based art institutions and a pioneering figure in US-China arts exchange, said he followed the summit closely and was encouraged by the clear, genuine willingness on both sides to deepen engagement. Ren echoed the widespread call for expanded people-to-people exchange, noting that these grassroots connections make a lasting contribution to global peace, the advancement of human civilization, and the building of a more harmonious shared future.

    Emmy Award-winning documentary producer Bill Einreinhofer added that people-to-people diplomacy is more critical today than it has ever been. “It is important that the two countries have more to talk about than just their differences,” Einreinhofer said. “We also need to intentionally explore the many things we share in common. That kind of connection often happens away from the spotlight of sensational media coverage — it happens one person at a time, through direct personal engagement.”

    The *My China Album* project, first launched in 2019 by the Chinese embassy and consulates across the United States in collaboration with China Daily, is now in its seventh year of operation. The initiative centers on documenting the personal journeys of Americans who have lived, worked, and built connections in China, with a core focus on highlighting the power of grassroots ties to bridge cultural and political divides.

  • Eurovision gears up for boycotted final, with fiery Finns favourites

    Eurovision gears up for boycotted final, with fiery Finns favourites

    The world’s most-watched live televised music competition is preparing to crown its 2025 champion this Saturday, as the 70th Eurovision Song Contest gets underway in Vienna against a backdrop of unprecedented political controversy and widespread boycott calls. Five nations — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain, one of the contest’s longest-standing and most generous financial backers — have withdrawn from this year’s event over organizers’ decision to allow Israel to compete, a protest against Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza. More than 1,000 music artists across Europe have also joined the call for audiences to boycott the broadcast.

    The historic 25-country final, scheduled to kick off at 9:00 pm local time (19:00 GMT) at Vienna’s iconic Stadthalle venue, will play to a sold-out crowd of 11,200 in-person spectators. Heading into the final, a fiery Finnish duo sits at the top of bookmakers’ rankings, with an Australian superstar close on their heels. Finnish violinist Linda Lampenius, 56, and pop vocalist Pete Parkkonen, 36, first captured global attention during Tuesday’s first semi-final, where their high-octane performance of the Finnish-language track *Liekinheitin* (Flamethrower) set the circular Stadthalle stage alight. In a rare exception to Eurovision’s rule that all on-stage instruments are pre-recorded, Lampenius won special permission to perform with her prized 1781 Galliano violin for the final. A veteran performer who has graced the cover of *Playboy* and appeared on the hit series *Baywatch*, Lampenius told Austria’s APA news agency ahead of the show: “I will never be a wallflower.”

    Trailing the Finnish pair by a narrow margin is 41-year-old Australian star Delta Goodrem, who has sold more than nine million albums worldwide. Goodrem’s performance of her original track *Eclipse*, which draws inspiration from planetary alignment and romantic connection, wowed crowds during Thursday’s second semi-final, where she performed while suspended above a glittering grand piano. Goodrem is vying to become Australia’s first Eurovision winner; the nation has competed as an invited guest since 2015. Eurovision specialist Fabien Randanne, a journalist with French outlet *20 Minutes*, told AFP that the 2025 title will almost certainly go to one of the two front-runners. “It’s going to come down to Finland and Australia,” he said. While Randanne noted that many European viewers still hold quiet reservations about voting for a non-European nation, he added that Goodrem’s iconic “star aura” could be enough to push her over the finish line.

    Goodrem’s rise in the rankings has pushed other early contenders, including entries from Greece, Israel, Denmark and France, down in pre-final predictions. Romania’s 22-year-old Alexandra Capitanescu has broken into the top five, however, drawing attention for her electrifying performance of the metal track *Choke Me*. Meanwhile, veteran Italian music star Sal Da Vinci, 56, is being tipped as a surprise dark horse by some analysts for his traditional ballad *Per sempre si* (Forever Yes). Sebastien Dias-das-Almas, a French journalist who has covered Eurovision since 2011, noted that Da Vinci could win over the large base of casual viewers who only tune in for the final itself. “He could appeal to the traditional audience, who only follow the contest on television on the night of the event,” Dias-das-Almas explained.

    Despite the political tensions, Eurovision fan enthusiasm remains undimmed. More than 75 countries are set to broadcast the final, and fans from across the globe have flocked to Vienna for the week of events. Undeterred by rainy weather, attendees have enjoyed Danube river musical cruises, open-air karaoke in the city hall fan zone, and impromptu singalongs on trams crossing the Austrian capital. “We have nothing like this in America, and I think Eurovision is phenomenal because it brings everybody together,” American fan Tory Huflar told AFP after Thursday’s semi-final. Organizers are hoping this year’s viewership matches the 166 million television audience that tuned in for 2024’s contest hosted in Switzerland.

    Political controversy has overshadowed much of the build-up, however. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended his country’s withdrawal Friday, saying he was certain Spain was on “the right side of history”. Pro-Palestinian activists held an alternative “song protest” concert in central Vienna on Friday, and the city has maintained tight security across all event venues throughout the week. “I’m Jewish, I support Palestine, and I don’t want a platform to be given to Israel at Eurovision,” 57-year-old attendee Dalia Sarig, who wore a Palestinian keffiyeh to the alternative event, told AFP.

  • Argentina’s beef consumption falls to lowest level in 20 years as prices soar

    Argentina’s beef consumption falls to lowest level in 20 years as prices soar

    BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — As dawn breaks at 6 a.m. over the Mataderos neighborhood of Argentina’s capital, workers haul sides of beef off delivery trucks outside a local butcher shop while a queue of customers already forms to grab discounted bulk cuts. Inside the shop, 73-year-old owner Jorge García and his small team have been prepping orders since before sunrise, but a quiet shift is visible across the space: alongside the stacks of beef boxes and hanging primal cuts, chicken and pork now take up far more shelf and hook space than they once did.

    For decades, Argentina has stood as one of the world’s most avid consumers of beef, a staple woven into the country’s cultural and culinary identity. Today, however, that longstanding tradition is shifting dramatically. New data from the Agricultural Foundation for Argentina’s Development shows that per capita annual beef consumption dropped to 44.5 kilograms (98 pounds) as of April 2026, down from 49.5 kilograms just one year prior, and a steep fall from the 63.4 kilograms recorded in 2006. This marks the lowest consumption level the country has seen in 20 years, a change directly tied to the harsh economic austerity measures implemented by libertarian President Javier Milei, who took office in December 2023.

    When Milei assumed office, Argentina was grappling with an annual inflation rate of 211%. The president campaigned on a promise to eliminate what he called “the cancer of inflation” via a drastic austerity adjustment plan, symbolized by his trademark chainsaw used to signal deep public spending cuts. His administration implemented cuts equivalent to nearly one-third of the country’s total public spending, a move that ultimately achieved a rare budget surplus — a milestone not seen in Argentina in recent decades. But the social cost of these policies has sparked widespread criticism, as millions of households have seen their purchasing power erode rapidly.

    Within the first few months of taking office, Milei’s government eliminated 13 federal ministries, laid off roughly 30,000 public sector employees, paused all new public works projects, and cut funding for core public sectors including education, healthcare, and scientific research. The administration also rolled back longstanding state subsidies for essential services including electricity, natural gas, water, and public transportation. Economist Camilo Tiscornia explained that these cuts directly hit household bottom lines: “That affects household income because families now have to pay more for services that were previously subsidized by the state. As a result, they have less disposable income and must give up certain more expensive goods, such as beef.”

    Wage growth has also failed to keep pace with rampant inflation. The latest available data shows that wages for formally registered workers rose just 1.8% in February, while monthly inflation hit 2.9% that same month. For working and retired Argentines alike, this gap has forced difficult trade-offs. “Before, I had the freedom to buy what I wanted,” said Alberto Brajin, a 61-year-old retiree who runs a street-side barbecue stall in Buenos Aires. Now, he said, he has to “trade down” to cheaper proteins like chicken to keep his business running.

    Multiple factors beyond shrinking disposable income have combined to push beef consumption down. Over the past 12 months, beef prices have surged more than 60%, hitting an average of 18,500 Argentine pesos (roughly $13) per kilogram in Buenos Aires this May, according to data from the Argentine Beef Promotion Institute.

    In July 2025, Milei’s administration rolled back decades of beef export restrictions put in place by former President Alberto Fernández to control domestic prices. The government cut export taxes on beef and poultry and eliminated production quotas to encourage overseas sales. The policy shift came at a time when Argentina’s domestic beef production had already dropped more than 10% due to severe droughts and flooding across major cattle-producing regions, according to CICCRA, a non-profit that represents Argentina’s beef producers.

    The opening of the export market came alongside a separate policy shift from the United States, which expanded Argentina’s tariff-free beef quota earlier this year to address domestic cattle shortages in the U.S. The combination of these changes has led to a boom in overseas sales: Argentina’s government reported this week that beef exports jumped 54% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2026, totaling nearly 200,000 tons valued at more than $1 billion. With more beef flowing overseas, domestic supply has tightened, and prices have risen to align with higher global market rates.

    “Previously, all meats had similar prices, which encouraged high beef consumption that did not reflect its real production costs,” agricultural consultant Iván Ordóñez explained. For meat distributor Juampi Quintero, 25, the change has been stark: he estimates that beef consumption among his local clients has fallen by more than half. “Beef moved into a completely different purchasing-power category. Workers’ wages fell far behind,” he said.

    As beef moves out of reach for many families, local butchers and food sellers have had to adapt to shifting consumer demand. Current price data shows chicken averages just 4,900 pesos ($3.50) per kilogram, while pork ribs run around 8,900 pesos ($6.30) per kilogram — far less than the $13 per kilogram average for beef. “We’ve chosen to buy pork and chicken because beef is too expensive,” said local shop owner Ruth Simon.

    García, the 73-year-old Mataderos butcher shop owner, added chicken and pork to his inventory less than a year ago, after he noticed consistent changes in what his customers were asking for. Like many small business owners across the country, he is adjusting to the new economic reality rather than resisting it. “You have to adapt,” he said. “We can’t just sit around crying. No crying. We have to work. We have to keep our dignity. We have to fight.”

  • Man killed by 13ft great white shark in Western Australia

    Man killed by 13ft great white shark in Western Australia

    A devastating fatal shark attack has shaken Western Australia, after a 4-meter great white shark killed a 38-year-old man at a popular recreational marine site off the state’s coast. Local law enforcement confirmed that the bite occurred shortly before 10 a.m. local time on Saturday, which translates to 3 a.m. British Summer Time, at Horseshoe Reef. This location sits northwest of Rottnest Island, a top tourist draw near Perth famed for its pristine white sand beaches and world-renowned surf breaks.

    Local public broadcaster ABC shared details of the immediate emergency response, releasing aerial footage that shows first responders rushing the injured man back to shore by private vessel. Emergency medical teams and police carried out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on the man at Geordie Bay’s jetty in a desperate attempt to save his life. In a formal statement confirming the tragedy, a police spokesperson said, “Sadly the man was unable to be revived.”

    Western Australia’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development confirmed to AFP that it had received official confirmation the attack was carried out by a great white shark. In the wake of the incident, the department issued a urgent public advisory urging all water users to exercise “additional caution” when entering the ocean along the entire stretch of coast surrounding the attack site.

    This event marks the first fatal shark attack recorded in Western Australia since March 2023, when a surfer was killed in a mauling at a remote outback beach. Australia has one of the highest rates of documented shark interactions globally: official records dating back to 1791 show nearly 1,300 confirmed shark attacks across the country, with more than 260 of those incidents ending in a fatality.

    Just earlier this year, in January, the east coast state of New South Wales saw a sharp spike in shark incidents, with four separate attacks reported across its coastline over just a 48-hour period. One of those victims was 12-year-old Nico Antic, who was attacked by a suspected bull shark after jumping from a rock outcrop into Sydney Harbour. The young boy died from his injuries a week after the attack, leaving his family devastated. In a joint statement released after his passing, his parents said they were utterly “heartbroken” by their loss.

  • China-US summit boosts focus on California-China trade ties

    China-US summit boosts focus on California-China trade ties

    In the lead-up to the high-profile 2026 China-US summit, business leaders, trade policymakers, and industry stakeholders from China and California gathered in Los Angeles for the 2026 China-Californian Business Forum on May 12, where they united in calling for expanded bilateral economic collaboration amid growing global economic uncertainty. The forum, held one day before the US president’s state visit to China, centered on unlocking new opportunities through free trade zones, targeted industrial partnerships, and streamlined investment facilitation — all measures participants framed as critical to stabilizing global supply chains and strengthening two-way trade ties between the world’s two largest economies.

    During a panel session focused on trade and investment opportunities in free trade ports and zones, Gene Seroka, executive director of the Port of Los Angeles, underscored the urgent need for sustained commercial engagement between China and the United States, even amid ongoing global headwinds ranging from geopolitical tensions to shifting tariff policies. “These are the two largest economies in the world, making sure that we continue to trade and build up business to new heights is my hope for this week’s dialog,” Seroka told reporters on site. “We have a lot of work to do around policy and tariffs.”

    As the busiest container port complex in the United States, the Port of Los Angeles and its neighbor the Port of Long Beach have long served as the primary gateway for US trade with Asia. Seroka highlighted that the ports’ existing Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) infrastructure and bonded warehouse facilities already help thousands of importers and exporters mitigate tariff-related cost pressures. Currently, the Port of Los Angeles manages roughly 5,400 acres of FTZ-designated land, with dozens of operational units and subzones strategically located near major transportation and industrial hubs surrounding Los Angeles International Airport. “In a very small way, the ports can assist in bringing down some of those tariff costs for importers,” Seroka explained. He added that demand for these specialized facilities has surged in recent years as companies reconfigure their supply chains to adapt to changing trade conditions, noting that “right now, these facilities are very highly subscribed.”

    Seroka also tied the need for stable bilateral relations to broader global challenges, including ongoing geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and soaring global fuel prices. “While there are many geopolitical issues happening around the world today, including the war in Iran, it is our goal that the two presidents, the two leaders of the world’s two largest economies, can make some progress,” he said.

    For California’s business community, the upcoming high-level summit between Beijing and Washington sends a much-needed positive signal to industries across the state that rely heavily on cross-border trade and investment. Stephen Cheung, president and CEO of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation and World Trade Center LA, emphasized that Los Angeles — one of America’s most vital international trade hubs — reaps substantial economic benefits from deep cooperation with China. “We’re so dependent on international trade and foreign direct investment, we see this opportunity between the US and Chinese government getting together as a positive step,” Cheung said.

    Cheung shared key data illustrating the deep economic ties between the region and China: Chinese-invested enterprises currently operate 756 business locations across California, supporting more than 23,500 local jobs and generating an estimated $4 billion to $5 billion in annual worker wages. These investments, he noted, are concentrated in sectors that form the backbone of California’s long-term economic growth, including advanced manufacturing, clean energy technology, logistics, trade, and technological innovation.

    Chinese trade officials and investment representatives at the forum highlighted a wealth of untapped collaboration opportunities created by China’s ongoing market opening reforms, the expansion of national pilot free trade zones, and the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Zhao Feng, vice-governor of China’s Hainan province, outlined deepening industrial collaboration between Hainan and US partners across high-growth sectors including the digital economy, healthcare, information technology, and high-end consumer goods. Over recent years, Zhao said, multiple leading US enterprises have set up local operations in Hainan, driving growth in digital services, data processing, and cross-sector technological innovation. In the healthcare space, cross-border medical projects have strengthened research and clinical cooperation between Chinese and American institutions, while leading US consumer brands have expanded access to the vast Chinese consumer market through the annual China International Consumer Products Expo. “These projects reflect the growing industrial synergy between Hainan and the United States and underscore the broad potential for mutually beneficial cooperation between the two sides,” Zhao said.

    Li Zhiping, deputy director-general of Hainan’s Department of Commerce, added that the Hainan Free Trade Port is intentionally positioned as a high-standard platform for international openness and cooperation at a time of global economic uncertainty. “Hainan is using institutional opening-up to offset uncertainties in the international landscape,” Li said, noting that the province has implemented consistent policy reforms to protect the legal rights and interests of American and all foreign investors operating within its borders.

    Representatives from Shanghai, another of China’s core economic hubs, also outlined ongoing reforms to improve market access and the business environment for overseas investors, pushing back against common misperceptions about operating in China. Wu Yiyuan, chief representative of the San Francisco Office of Shanghai Foreign Investment Development Board, noted that many California business leaders still hold outdated views of China’s market access rules. “One common misconception is that market access to China is still highly restricted,” Wu said. She explained that China’s modern negative list system allows foreign investment in all sectors except those explicitly restricted, and the scope of restricted sectors has shrunk consistently in recent years. Wu added that Shanghai’s latest round of opening-up measures is focused specifically on sectors that align with California’s core industrial strengths: healthcare, finance, artificial intelligence, telecommunications, and advanced manufacturing. She also pointed to recent upgrades to cross-border data governance frameworks and streamlined administrative processes that have made doing business in Shanghai far more efficient for foreign firms. “Once companies gain a clearer picture of the market and better local support, many of the initial concerns become much more manageable,” Wu said.

    Small and medium-sized enterprise (SME) representatives also emphasized the critical role that trade facilitation programs like FTZs play in supporting cross-border trade for smaller businesses. David Harlow, president and CEO of ITC Diligence International, explained that FTZ programs give California-based manufacturers significant operational flexibility when importing components from China for final production, while also supporting export-oriented business models. “The FTZ program offers a tremendous amount of flexibility,” Harlow said, adding that these structures allow businesses to minimize disruptive delays to manufacturing, assembly, and global distribution processes. Harlow shared the example of a California client that imports the vast majority of its production components from China, completes final manufacturing in Southern California, and exports finished goods to markets around the world. “Ninety-five percent of our consumers do not exist in the US, but exist around the world,” Harlow noted. “For US businesses to be able to compete globally, utilizing programs like the FTZ become essential.”

  • Tragic details emerge as couple found dead together at home

    Tragic details emerge as couple found dead together at home

    A quiet, tight-knit rural community in southern Tasmania is reeling from an unfathomable tragedy this week, after the bodies of an elderly married couple were discovered at their remote property in what investigators have classified as a murder-suicide linked to family violence.

    Emergency response teams were dispatched to the residence on Native Corners Road in Campania, a township of just 1,000 residents located roughly 40 minutes’ drive north of the state capital Hobart, early Friday morning. The call for assistance came after the dead male victim reached out to a close relative, who immediately alerted state police to the unfolding emergency.

    Speaking to media following the discovery, Tasmania Police Detective Inspector David Gill outlined the preliminary findings of the ongoing investigation. “A male person appears to have ended his own life and the female resident received injuries causing her death,” Gill stated. “Investigations thus far have indicated that it is a family violence case and we are treating this as a murder-suicide.”

    Autopsy and timeline assessments suggest the deaths took place shortly after the initial alert was placed to emergency services, Gill confirmed. Both victims, confirmed to be the couple who owned the property, are in their 60s. In a striking detail that has deepened the shock across the community, Gill added that the pair had no prior contact with law enforcement and were not known to police for any incidents before the tragedy.

    The detective also acknowledged the heavy toll the incident has taken on first responders, describing the scene inside the home as “extremely confronting” for the officers and paramedics who first arrived at the property. A major crime scene designation was put in place immediately after the bodies were found, to allow for forensic examination of the site.

    Out of respect for the couple’s surviving family, Gill declined to release further specific details about the incident or the victims. Investigators are now asking any members of the public who have information relevant to the case that they have not yet shared with police to contact the Tasmania Police non-emergency line on 131 444, referencing incident number ESCAD 114-15052026 to assist with the ongoing probe.

  • Spain’s Eurovision boycott over Israeli participation leaves contest fans torn

    Spain’s Eurovision boycott over Israeli participation leaves contest fans torn

    The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest grand final is unfolding in Vienna this week, but for millions of Spanish viewers and long-time fans, the beloved annual celebration of music looks drastically different this year. For the first time in seven years, Madrid resident Silvia Díaz will not gather her close group of friends for their traditional viewing party, complete with shared snacks, friendly banter and collective excitement over each competing performance. The annual gathering was canceled after Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE pulled out of the iconic contest, joining a growing boycott of the event over the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) decision to allow Israel to compete amid its ongoing military campaign against Hamas in Gaza. While Díaz plans to stream the final on YouTube if her schedule allows, she says the experience will never measure up to the group tradition. “It’s not the same watching it alone at home as it is with friends. That’s the only thing that upsets me,” she shared.

    Eurovision, a five-day international song competition that draws global audiences far larger than many major U.S. sporting events, recorded 166 million total viewers in 2024 – outpacing average viewership for the annual Super Bowl. For Spaniards, Eurovision has long been a deeply ingrained cultural tradition, even though the country has not claimed the top prize since 1969. In typical years, Spain’s competing entry gets months of heavy airplay on national radio and television, watch parties draw crowds in private homes and bars across the country, and the contestant’s performance dominates front-page news the day after the final. Fans who travel to the event famously show national pride by waving Spanish flags, dressing in the country’s iconic red colors, and even donning traditional bullfighting costumes for the crowd.

    Spain first announced its boycott in December, shortly after the EBU confirmed Israel would be permitted to participate in this year’s contest. Spain has since been joined by four other European public broadcasters: Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland. The boycott has triggered a full media blackout of the event on state-controlled airwaves in each boycotting nation, altering how fans can engage with the iconic contest.

    RTVE has repeatedly voiced its public opposition to Israel’s inclusion in this year’s lineup. During 2024’s semifinal round, RTVE commentators paired their introduction of Israel’s competing artist with a mention of Palestinian civilian casualties in the Gaza war. Ahead of last year’s grand final, the network also displayed a clear on-screen message reading “Peace and justice for Palestine” on a black background for hundreds of thousands of Spanish viewers tuning in. This year, instead of airing Eurovision’s final from Vienna, RTVE will broadcast a retrospective tribute to the network’s long musical history, headlined by the two artists it would have sent to represent Spain at the contest: Tony Grox and Lucycalys. Other boycotting nations have replaced Eurovision with alternate programming: Ireland’s public broadcaster will air a documentary following a couple’s quiet life in the Irish countryside, while Slovenian public television will broadcast an episode of a 10-part documentary series focused on Palestinian life. While frustrated fans can still access the contest via the EBU’s official YouTube channel, the absence of national broadcasters, homegrown competitors and native-language commentators has stripped much of the passionate, patriotic energy that draws casual and diehard fans alike each year.

    Israel has competed in Eurovision for 50 years, claiming four championship titles over that span. For Israeli audiences, participation in the contest is widely viewed as a marker of international acceptance and normalcy; each year’s competing artist becomes an instant national celebrity, and a strong showing – even one that stops short of a win – is a widely celebrated source of national pride.

    Across Spain, the boycott has deeply divided the country’s tight-knit community of Eurovision fans, splitting them between those who back the political stand and those who argue the beloved music event should remain separate from global geopolitics. For 42-year-old Madrid marketing executive Rebeca Carril, a lifelong fan who revisits classic contest performances from the 1960s and 1970s, the decision to support the boycott came after years of growing discomfort with Israeli sponsorship of the contest. “I have Palestinian friends and I began to understand a little better how things worked,” she explained, noting she did not want to support Israeli-linked marketing efforts by tuning in.

    On the other side of the divide is Guillermina Bastida, a 47-year-old communications professional from Asturias province who drove three and a half days with her two daughters in a van to attend last year’s contest in Basel – her third time attending the event in person. Bastida holds her own critical views of Israel’s military campaign, but argues politics have no place at a global music celebration. “It’s a song festival, period,” she said. “I also have my own stance, which is critical, but not to the point of boycotting the festival.” This year, she will watch the final on YouTube after making the difficult decision to skip the in-person event.

    Eurovision’s official motto is “United by Music,” and organizers have long framed the event as an apolitical space that brings diverse European nations together through art. But in recent years, that effort to keep politics out of the competition has repeatedly failed. Just months after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the EBU disqualified Russia from the contest, and the country has not been permitted to rejoin since. Official contest rules already ban overtly political lyrics or symbols, and organizers emphasize the competition is a contest between national broadcasters, not national governments.

    Jose García, co-director of a popular Spanish Eurovision news website with a combined social media following of nearly 100,000, notes that the boycott carries tangible costs for both sides. As one of Eurovision’s “Big Five” countries – the group of nations that provide the largest financial contributions to the contest – Spain’s withdrawal means the event loses not only substantial broadcasting rights revenue but also significant domestic publicity, which García argues erodes the contest’s credibility across the region. Even so, he says most diehard Spanish fans will still find a way to watch. “It has marked the television and personal history of many people, and fans will watch it via international channels or YouTube. But it’s one thing to be able to watch it and another to agree with what’s happening,” García explained.

    On the ground in Vienna, the absence of the boisterous, high-energy Spanish fan contingent is already noticeable to attendees. Vicente Rico, a 40-year-old Madrid perfumery owner who is attending his 18th consecutive Eurovision, said that Spanish fans are famously one of the most visible and lively groups at the annual event. “We’re a group that, just like at other events, makes its presence felt — we’re among the happiest, the loudest and the most fun,” he noted. Rico said he struggled deeply with his decision to make his annual pilgrimage to Vienna this year, even though he agrees the boycott is morally justified. He argues that Eurovision has become an unfair scapegoat for broader political inaction on the Gaza conflict, pointing out that no similar boycotts have been called for other major upcoming international events, including the FIFA World Cup scheduled to begin in just one month. With no Spanish competitor to root for, Rico says he and many other Spanish fans in Vienna have adopted a simple rule for this year’s contest: “This year, we’re rooting for everyone except Israel.”

  • Sister of Eurovision star bursting with pride

    Sister of Eurovision star bursting with pride

    As the 70th Eurovision Song Contest grand final prepares to kick off in Vienna this Saturday, the family of the UK’s representative is overflowing with excitement and pride for the hometown musician set to take the global stage. Performing under the stage name Look Mum No Computer, experimental electronic artist Sam Battle – originally named Sam Bartle and raised in the small Cambridgeshire village of Yaxley near Peterborough – will go head-to-head with 24 other competing acts from across the continent in one of the world’s most watched live music events.

    Battle’s older sister Jodie Bartle shared her overwhelming joy in an interview with BBC, saying she has long believed her brother was born for a massive break in the music industry. “Sam’s always been destined for something massive, and I’m so happy that he’s finally been given the opportunity for the world to see how unbelievably talented he is as an individual,” Bartle said. Even as the family celebrates his Eurovision selection, Bartle admitted that the opportunity to compete on the iconic contest stage came as a happy surprise.

    What sets Battle apart from many other contemporary pop acts is his distinctive artistic niche: he hand-builds one-of-a-kind, unconventional electronic instruments that blend vintage tech with unexpected playful elements. Some of his most famous creations merge the deep, resonant tone of traditional organ pipes with dozens of retired Furby interactive toys and retro handheld Game Boy consoles, creating a signature sound that has earned him a dedicated global fanbase.

    Battle’s journey to Eurovision began decades ago in his home county of Cambridgeshire, where he cut his teeth playing live gigs in the 2000s. Early in his career, he performed both as a solo artist and as a member of local bands Yellow Snow and Zibra, building a reputation for energetic, unpredictable sets that caught the attention of BBC Introducing, the network’s platform for emerging UK talent. That early recognition helped propel his career toward bigger opportunities, culminating in this year’s Eurovision selection.

    In a remarkable twist, Battle takes the Vienna stage just five weeks after welcoming his first child, a son named Max. Bartle says the milestone makes the moment even more special for the whole family: “He’s got a five-week-old baby at the moment that in the future is going to be able to say ‘my dad’s done Eurovision’, which is absolutely epic.”

    Speaking to BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Dotty McLeod, Battle shared that his competing entry, the upbeat electro-pop anthem *Eins, Zwei, Drei*, came together in roughly 12 days of writing and refining. For the artist, the contest is as much about personal joy as it is about competition: “I am just going to try my hardest for the UK, for me and my mates and family,” he said.

    Bartle echoed that sentiment, emphasizing that the family’s support does not depend on Battle’s final score. “All I want for him is to just enjoy it,” she said. “We’re proud of him no matter what, and he should be proud of himself as well. The song I think is good enough to get points, and just hopefully the world also agrees with that.”

  • Trump says Islamic State group leader was killed in a joint US-Nigerian mission

    Trump says Islamic State group leader was killed in a joint US-Nigerian mission

    In a targeted joint operation conducted Friday in Nigeria’s volatile Lake Chad Basin, U.S. and Nigerian security forces have eliminated Abu Bakr al-Mainuki, one of the highest-ranking leaders of the Islamic State West African Province (ISWAP), U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a late-night social media post. While Trump’s announcement offered few immediate operational details, it marked a major milestone in counterterrorism efforts across the Sahel region, where IS-affiliated militants have expanded their influence in recent years.