Global Pulse

标签： North America

北美洲

  • US witnessing reverse migration

    US witnessing reverse migration

    The United States is witnessing an unprecedented demographic shift as decades of positive net migration have reversed into negative territory, marking a significant departure from the nation’s historical identity as a land of opportunity for immigrants. According to analyses by the Brookings Institution, 2025 likely became the first year in at least half a century where more people left the country than arrived, with estimated net migration ranging between -10,000 and -295,000.

    This dramatic reversal follows substantial policy changes implemented by the administration, including intensified deportation efforts and stricter immigration controls. The Department of Homeland Security reported approximately 675,000 formal deportations last year, accompanied by an additional 2.2 million instances of ‘self-deportation’ where individuals left voluntarily.

    Economic experts are raising concerns about the potential consequences of this demographic shift. The Brookings Institution and independent economists warn that reduced migration could significantly dampen labor force growth, consumer spending, and overall GDP performance. This impact is particularly acute in major metropolitan areas like New York, where immigrant communities constitute substantial portions of the workforce.

    Emily Eisner, acting executive director and chief economist at the Fiscal Policy Institute, emphasized the broader chilling effect: ‘Deportations and the threat of deportation are problematic for the workforce. Our research shows it also decreases the amount of international immigration into the state, creating significant problems for labor force sustainability.’

    The enforcement approach has drawn criticism from policy experts. Mike Fox, a legal fellow at the Cato Institute, noted that Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations appear increasingly focused on meeting arrest quotas rather than prioritizing dangerous offenders. This shift in enforcement priorities has reportedly led to concerning incidents, including several high-profile civilian casualties during operations.

    Concurrently, legal immigration pathways are being constricted through regulatory changes. The Department of Homeland Security has implemented a $100,000 fee for certain H-1B applications and modified selection processes to favor higher-skilled, higher-paid applicants, further reducing immigration volumes.

    The combined effect of these policies represents the most substantial transformation of US immigration patterns since the COVID-19 pandemic disruptions, with potentially far-reaching implications for the nation’s economic and social fabric.

  • Colombian president calls for transparency, participation as legislative elections kick off

    Colombian president calls for transparency, participation as legislative elections kick off

    BOGOTA – As Colombia commenced its pivotal legislative elections on Sunday, President Gustavo Petro issued a compelling appeal for enhanced electoral transparency and robust citizen engagement. The president, accompanied by First Lady Veronica Alcocer, cast his ballot at a polling station within the Congressional building, using the occasion to champion significant reforms to the nation’s electoral oversight system.

    President Petro formally urged electoral authorities to transition election auditing responsibilities from private contractors to state-controlled mechanisms. This proposed shift aims to establish greater institutional accountability and reduce external influences in the electoral process.

    Emphasizing law enforcement’s critical role, Petro revealed that the National Police had intercepted approximately 4 billion pesos (over one million US dollars) allegedly intended for voter coercion among economically vulnerable populations. The president characterized this substantial seizure as merely ‘a tiny amount compared to what we know,’ suggesting widespread attempts to undermine electoral integrity.

    Petro directly connected electoral crimes to powerful criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and illegal mining operations, describing them as ‘mafias that take over institutions’ that threaten democratic foundations.

    The Colombian leader called upon citizens to actively participate as election observers nationwide, stating that genuine ‘democratic culture’ and ‘democratic soul’ must precede the establishment of truly democratic institutions. His remarks highlighted the philosophical underpinnings of his administration’s electoral integrity campaign.

    With over 41 million eligible voters participating across 13,746 domestic and international voting centers, Sunday’s elections carried significant weight beyond legislative representation. The simultaneous primaries conducted by Colombia’s three major political blocs—right, center, and left—would determine presidential candidates for the upcoming electoral cycle, making citizen participation particularly consequential for the nation’s political trajectory.

  • Trump says Iran’s new supreme leader won’t ‘last long’ without his approval

    Trump says Iran’s new supreme leader won’t ‘last long’ without his approval

    In a provocative statement that escalates tensions with Tehran, former U.S. President Donald Trump has declared that Iran’s newly appointed supreme leader would not remain in power without his personal approval. The remarks came during a televised interview with ABC News on Sunday, March 8, 2026.

    Trump asserted unprecedented influence over Iran’s internal governance, stating, “He’s going to have to get approval from us. If he doesn’t get approval from us he’s not going to last long.” The comments represent a significant escalation in rhetoric following recent military actions against Iran.

    The context for these statements stems from the February 28 joint U.S.-Israeli offensive that targeted Tehran and several other Iranian cities. The attacks resulted in the death of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with dozens of senior officials, military commanders, and hundreds of civilians.

    Iran’s semi-official Mehr news agency confirmed on Sunday that the Assembly of Experts had finalized their decision regarding the succession. Trump previously indicated that he expected to be personally involved in the selection process of Iran’s next leader.

    The former president justified his position by expressing concerns about nuclear proliferation, stating, “I don’t want people to have to go back in five years and have to do the same thing again or worse let them have a nuclear weapon.”

    The medical community in Tehran has been visibly affected by the recent hostilities, with healthcare workers rallying in front of a hospital damaged during the strikes, as documented in photographic evidence from March 7.

  • Rihanna’s Beverly Hills home hit by gunfire, police say

    Rihanna’s Beverly Hills home hit by gunfire, police say

    Pop icon Rihanna’s Beverly Hills residence became the scene of a security breach on Sunday when an unidentified individual opened fire on the property. According to the Los Angeles Police Department, officers responded to emergency calls reporting gunshots at approximately 13:15 local time (21:15 GMT).

    Law enforcement officials confirmed that a suspect was promptly apprehended at the scene and taken into custody without further incident. While the property sustained damage from the gunfire, no injuries were reported among the occupants or staff.

    The Los Angeles Times, citing anonymous law enforcement sources, revealed that Rihanna was present inside the mansion during the shooting. The Barbadian superstar, born Robyn Fenty, has maintained her primary residence in the exclusive Los Angeles neighborhood despite her global business commitments.

    This security incident occurs during a particularly significant period in the artist’s personal life. Last September, Rihanna welcomed her third child—a daughter—with partner A$AP Rocky. The couple, who already parent two sons named Riot and RZA, had previously announced the pregnancy during last year’s Met Gala celebrations.

    The shooting follows closely on the heels of legal proceedings involving A$AP Rocky, who was acquitted in February of charges related to allegedly firing a gun at a former associate. During that trial, Rihanna made headlines by bringing their young children to the courtroom in a show of support.

    Beyond her musical career that launched with early 2000s hits like “Pon de Replay” and “Umbrella,” Rihanna has evolved into a formidable business magnate. Her beauty empire Fenty Beauty and Savage X Fenty lingerie line have contributed significantly to her billionaire status, as recently documented by Forbes.

    The investigation remains ongoing as authorities work to determine the motive behind the targeted attack on one of music’s most influential figures.

  • Thousands face long security queues at Houston and New Orleans airports

    Thousands face long security queues at Houston and New Orleans airports

    Massive security delays crippled major U.S. airports on Sunday as thousands of spring break travelers faced hours-long queues stretching into parking lots, exposing the severe operational impacts of the ongoing partial government shutdown.

    The travel chaos emerged at critical transportation hubs including Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport and New Orleans’ Louis Armstrong International Airport, where security wait times exceeded three hours. Airport authorities urgently advised passengers to arrive four to five hours before scheduled departures to accommodate the unprecedented security bottlenecks.

    At the heart of the crisis stand Transportation Security Administration officers working without pay since funding lapsed for the Department of Homeland Security on February 14. Despite their essential role in national security, these employees face growing financial hardship as the political impasse continues between Congressional Democrats and the Trump administration.

    The shutdown stems from fundamental disagreements over immigration enforcement policies. Democrats have refused to authorize DHS funding without substantial reforms to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement practices, including demands for better officer identification, restrictions on face masks during operations, and stricter warrant protocols. These demands followed January protests in Minnesota where federal agents killed two residents demonstrating against immigration raids.

    While ICE operations continue unaffected due to previously allocated funding, TSA personnel bear the brunt of the political stalemate. Department of Homeland Security officials reported that staffing shortages have reached critical levels as unpaid workers struggle with financial pressures, leading to increased absences and operational challenges.

    The political rhetoric intensified as both sides traded blame through official statements and social media. DHS representatives characterized the situation as ‘Americans enduring the severe fallout from the Democrat shutdown,’ while Democratic lawmakers maintained they ‘won’t help Republicans cut a blank check’ for immigration enforcement without necessary reforms.

    With spring break travel volumes compounding the staffing crisis, the airport disruptions offer a troubling preview of potential nationwide transportation impacts should the funding deadlock persist into the coming weeks.

  • Starmer and Trump speak for first time since president’s Iran criticism

    Starmer and Trump speak for first time since president’s Iran criticism

    A carefully worded readout from Downing Street has revealed that British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held their first direct conversation following a public diplomatic rift over military strategy toward Iran. The discussion, described as covering Middle Eastern stability and bilateral defense cooperation, aimed to smooth over tensions sparked by President Trump’s social media criticism of the UK’s cautious military stance.

    The controversy emerged when President Trump publicly dismissed the potential deployment of British aircraft carriers to the Middle East, questioning their utility after initial combat operations and referring to Britain as ‘our once great ally.’ This remark came amid his expressed frustration with Prime Minister Starmer’s refusal to permit U.S. forces to utilize UK bases for offensive strikes against Iranian targets.

    While the UK government has authorized the use of British installations exclusively for defensive operations—such as intercepting missiles targeting allied nations—it has maintained a firm position against participating in offensive campaigns. This distinction has become the central point of transatlantic disagreement, with Trump previously comparing Starmer unfavorably to Winston Churchill and stating his dissatisfaction with UK policy.

    Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper emerged as the primary defender of the government’s position, emphasizing that Britain must independently determine its national interests rather than automatically aligning with U.S. foreign policy. ‘It is our job as the UK government to decide what’s in the UK national interest,’ she stated during a television appearance, acknowledging that the two nations would not see eye-to-eye on every issue.

    The diplomatic exchange occurred against a backdrop of heightened military preparedness. HMS Prince of Wales has been placed on advanced readiness status, though deployment remains unconfirmed. Meanwhile, HMS Dragon is scheduled to depart for the Mediterranean to enhance security around the RAF base in Akrotiri, Cyprus, where a recent drone strike caused minimal damage.

    The political response has cut across party lines, with Reform UK’s Robert Jenrick criticizing the government’s hesitation as damaging to bilateral relations, while former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair advocated for stronger alignment with U.S. strategy. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey went so far as to recommend canceling King Charles’s scheduled state visit to the U.S., calling it an inappropriate diplomatic honor given current tensions.

    As military assets are repositioned and diplomatic channels remain active, the UK government continues to walk a careful line between supporting allied defense efforts and maintaining its principled distinction between defensive and offensive operations in the region.

  • Unanswered questions as search for Nancy Guthrie enters a new month

    Unanswered questions as search for Nancy Guthrie enters a new month

    The mysterious disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, mother of prominent NBC ‘Today’ show host Savannah Guthrie, continues to baffle investigators and captivate a concerned nation more than a month after she vanished from her Tucson, Arizona home under circumstances resembling a true-crime thriller.

    According to official reports, Guthrie was allegedly ‘taken in the dark of night from her bed’ on January 31st, with evidence indicating a violent struggle including blood droplets found on her doorstep. Surveillance footage captured a masked, gloved individual tampering with her front-door camera before the abduction, though the device itself was stolen during the incident.

    The case has generated an unprecedented response from both law enforcement and the public, with over 3,000 tips submitted to authorities and widespread media coverage transforming the quiet suburban community into an investigative hub. The complexity of the case has been compounded by bizarre developments including cryptic ransom notes, Bitcoin payment demands, and interference from false leads.

    Despite initial optimism following the release of surveillance footage showing the suspected abductor, investigative breakthroughs have proven elusive. Several persons of interest—including a deliveryman detained for questioning and a California man arrested for sending fraudulent ransom notes—have been cleared of involvement. Most recently, black gloves discovered approximately two miles from Guthrie’s residence were DNA-matched to a local restaurant employee unrelated to the disappearance.

    Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos maintains that investigators continue to operate under the assumption that Guthrie remains alive, with a dedicated homicide team working alongside FBI agents pursuing thousands of leads. ‘Investigators are definitely closer to bringing this case to a close,’ Nanos told NBC News, though he emphasized that disclosing specific details could compromise the ongoing investigation.

    The emotional toll on the Guthrie family has become increasingly apparent, with Savannah Guthrie acknowledging the possibility that her mother ‘may be lost, may already be gone.’ Nonetheless, the family has increased their reward offer to $1.1 million combined for information leading to Nancy’s safe return or case resolution.

    Forensic experts note that the passage of time diminishes survival probabilities, particularly given Guthrie’s age and health considerations. Joseph Scott Morgan, a forensic analyst and professor at Jacksonville State University, observed that ‘hope is waning’ rather than interest, though he emphasized that a month-long investigation does not constitute a cold case from a professional standpoint.

    As the investigation continues with laboratory analysis of additional DNA evidence, the case has sparked broader discussions about media attention cycles and public engagement with missing persons cases, particularly those involving elderly victims.

  • Humanoid robots grab limelight on global stage

    Humanoid robots grab limelight on global stage

    China’s advanced humanoid robotics technology has taken center stage on the international platform, moving beyond television screens to demonstrate their capabilities across global venues during recent Spring Festival celebrations. These technological marvels have generated significant attention through viral social media content, particularly videos showcasing robots performing traditional kung fu moves during China’s Spring Festival Gala.

    From the United Nations headquarters in New York to public events across North America and the Middle East, Chinese robotic innovations have engaged international audiences through live performances and interactive demonstrations. At a prominent Chinese New Year gala held at the UN last month, attendees witnessed an impressive display featuring a robotic lion dancer, panda-shaped robots, and three sophisticated humanoid units.

    The technological exhibition garnered praise from international diplomats and officials. Yuri Gala Lopez, Cuba’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, acknowledged China’s leadership in technological development, expressing well-wishes for continued progress across technological, economic, and social domains. Similarly, Dima Al-Khatib, director of the UN Office for South-South Cooperation, described the demonstration as profoundly impressive and indicated interest in exploring technology transfer opportunities to benefit Global South nations.

    Canadian celebrations incorporated Chinese technological innovations through robotic performances and immersive augmented reality experiences that highlighted cultural heritage sites. Blur Wu, founder of the Toronto Spring Festival Fireworks Celebration, noted the seamless integration of tradition with modern technology, stating that technology has become an intrinsic component of contemporary Chinese cultural identity.

    Market research from Counterpoint Research indicates China’s dominance in the humanoid robotics sector, with the country accounting for over 80% of the approximately 16,000 humanoid robots installed worldwide last year. This global showcase during cultural celebrations demonstrates both China’s technological advancements and its soft power expansion through innovative cultural diplomacy.

  • Trump accuses Starmer of seeking to ‘join wars after we’ve already won’

    Trump accuses Starmer of seeking to ‘join wars after we’ve already won’

    A significant diplomatic rift has emerged between the United States and the United Kingdom regarding military strategy in the Middle East. Former US President Donald Trump publicly declared that American forces do not require British aircraft carriers, directly criticizing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership. The controversy stems from the UK’s initial refusal to permit US use of British bases for joint offensive operations with Israel against Iran, though London later approved defensive operations from RAF Fairford and Diego Garcia.

    The British Ministry of Defence confirmed one of the nation’s two aircraft carriers had been placed on advanced readiness, with HMS Prince of Wales crew members instructed to prepare for potential deployment within five days. Meanwhile, HMS Queen Elizabeth remains non-operational for the foreseeable future. The UK government has emphasized its commitment to protecting national interests while avoiding direct involvement in offensive campaigns, deploying HMS Dragon to bolster security around Cyprus’s Akrotiri base following drone attacks.

    Trump’s criticism extended beyond military logistics to personal remarks about Starmer’s leadership, comparing him unfavorably to Winston Churchill and accusing him of political timidity. The former president characterized UK involvement as belated, stating allies should have supported initial strikes rather than joining ‘after we’ve already won.’ Despite these tensions, Starmer maintains the special relationship remains intact, highlighting continuous intelligence sharing between the nations.

    The situation represents a notable deterioration in what Starmer previously touted as one of his premiership’s key diplomatic achievements. The conflict has drawn commentary from across the political spectrum, with Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the government of indecision and former Prime Minister Tony Blair emphasizing the enduring importance of the US-UK alliance regardless of presidential administration.

  • At least six dead after tornadoes sweep across Michigan and Oklahoma, officials say

    At least six dead after tornadoes sweep across Michigan and Oklahoma, officials say

    A devastating series of tornadoes and severe storms tore through multiple US states on Friday, resulting in significant casualties and widespread destruction. Official reports confirm at least six fatalities, with four occurring in southern Michigan and two in Oklahoma, while over a dozen individuals sustained injuries.

    The National Weather Service issued continuing warnings as the severe weather system threatened to persist through the weekend, potentially bringing additional thunderstorms and flash flooding from the Great Plains to Texas. The storms demonstrated tremendous destructive power, uprooting trees, snapping power lines, severely damaging buildings, and completely tearing roofs from residential structures.

    In Michigan’s Branch County, emergency services confirmed three fatalities and twelve injuries near Union City following a direct tornado strike. Approximately fifty miles away in Cass County, authorities reported one additional death with several injuries. Official statements described ‘multiple large structures – including homes and pole barns – sustaining damage ranging from major structural impacts to complete destruction.’ The storms left hundreds without power and necessitated anticipated road closures throughout the weekend.

    Social media documentation showed terrifying visuals of massive whirlwinds moving through Union City and substantial debris clouds sweeping across parking areas in Three Rivers. Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer activated state emergency protocols for Branch, Cass, and St Joseph counties, stating: ‘We are working with emergency teams to monitor the situation and coordinate resources for those impacted. My heart is with the families who lost loved ones and the Michiganders who were injured yesterday.’

    Simultaneously, Oklahoma faced similar devastation as a tornado carved approximately a four-mile path of destruction through Okmulgee County, located about thirty miles south of Tulsa. Emergency Manager Jeff Moore described intensive efforts to clear roads and reach affected areas. The Okmulgee County Sheriff’s Office confirmed two storm-related fatalities in Beggs. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt declared a state of emergency across eight counties to ensure adequate support and resources for recovery operations.

    Emergency management teams across both states continue search operations in damaged areas while initiating comprehensive recovery efforts.