With an ailing economy, is China a stable global player?
Chinese leaders have unveiled their plans to revive the economy during the National People’s Congress. Confidence in the economy and projecting China as a stable global player, despite serious economic problems, were the messages delivered by the nation’s top leaders during the National People’s Congress. Beijing is asking consumers to spend more to hit a growth target of 5 percent and telling the US it is no longer relying on exports to power its slowing economy as a trade war with Washington escalates. China’s leaders also aim to transform the nation into a technological superpower to rival the US. The EU wants to spend big on defence. Plus, Trump’s strategic Bitcoin reserve. Adblock test (Why?)
Bank of Canada cuts interest rates, warned country faces ‘new crisis’
BoC also said it would ‘proceed carefully with any further changes’ to rates given inflationary pressures from tariffs. The Bank of Canada has trimmed its key policy rate by 25 basis points to 2.75 percent and raised concerns about inflationary pressures and weaker growth stemming from trade uncertainty and President Donald Trump’s tariffs. The bank on Wednesday also said it would “proceed carefully with any further changes” to rates given the need to assess both the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs and the downward pressures from weaker demand. The bank’s stance, which some economists said could be a signal that rates will not fall further, comes after months of inflation sitting at or around its 2 percent target. “We’re focused on weighing those downward pressures and those upward pressures. Our job is to maintain price stability, and that’s what we’re focused on,” Governor Tiff Macklem told a news conference. But he declined to give any forward guidance in terms of where rates might go. The cut marked the seventh consecutive time the central bank has eased monetary policy, shrinking the key rate by a total of 225 basis points in a space of nine months and making it one of the most aggressive central banks globally. Advertisement “We ended 2024 on a solid economic footing. But we’re now facing a new crisis,” he said in opening remarks to a news conference. Trump’s stop-start tariff policies and threats to a wide range of Canadian products have alarmed companies, shaken consumer confidence and hurt business investment. Trump imposed a 25 percent tariff on all steel and aluminium products on Wednesday and Canada said it will impose 29.8 billion Canadian dollars ($20.68bn) in retaliatory tariffs on the US effective Thursday. The bank said a protracted tariff war would lead to poor GDP growth and high prices, a challenging mix that makes it tough to decide on whether to raise or cut rates. The rate-setting Governing Council will focus on assessing the timing and strength of both the downward pressure on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressure from higher costs, Macklem said. The trade conflict would slow first-quarter GDP and could possibly disrupt the recovery in the jobs market, he said, adding that the fear of the impact of tariffs on prices had already pushed up short-term inflation expectations. Inflation is expected to be approximately 2.5 percent in March, up from 1.9 percent in January, as a short-term sales-tax break ends. The Canadian dollar extended gains after the decision and was trading stronger by 0.2 percent to 1.44 to the US dollar. Currency markets are betting that the chances of another rate cut of 25 basis points at the bank’s next announcement on April 16 are near 45 percent. Advertisement “The focus on rising inflation expectations in today’s release is somewhat hawkish,” said Royce Mendes, head of macro strategy for Desjardins Group. Slowdown The US is Canada’s biggest trading partner and takes almost 75 percent of all Canadian exports. A separate special bank survey of businesses and households conducted from late January until the end of February showed that many households were concerned about job security, especially in sectors exposed to US trade. The tariff threat has forced businesses to lower their sales outlook. Some businesses are finding it hard to get credit, and a weaker currency has made imports expensive, the survey pointed out. This means that firms are pulling back their hiring and investment plans, it said. The recent shift in consumer and business intentions is expected to translate into a marked slowing in domestic demand in the first quarter, Macklem said in his remarks. “Monetary policy cannot offset the impacts of a trade war. What it can and must do is ensure that higher prices do not lead to ongoing inflation,” he said. Adblock test (Why?)
Balochistan train hijacking: situation still “very complex”
Masood Akhtar, a national security analyst from Pakistan, examines the Balochistan train hijacking and its implications. Masood Akhtar, a Pakistan national security analyst, discusses the Balochistan train hijacking – what happened and what’s next. Adblock test (Why?)
Noida news: Thar driver held after his video of rash driving on busy road goes viral
The accused, who is from New Delhi, was seen in the video recklessly driving through the market.
Casinos and sports betting won’t win approval in Texas House, group of GOP members say
Gambling critics hope the net loss of more than a dozen votes for sports betting — and 10 votes for casinos — will be enough to block any action in the Texas House.
NM lawmakers warn sweeping gun control bill primed for passage shows Dems ‘are dead-set on disarming us’
New Mexico Republicans are warning the likely passage of a semiautomatic firearms prohibition law in Santa Fe will turn law-abiding citizens into potential criminals, citing the types of guns targeted and a new registry provision. The Gas-Operated Semi-Automatic Firearms Exclusion Act, or SB 279, will prohibit the import, sale and possession of such guns, as well as “large-capacity ammunition-feeding devices,” in the Land of Enchantment – and require certification of semi-auto weapons and “providing penalties.” A source familiar with the legislation also said the focus on gas-operated firearms allows proponents to target the AR-15 without naming it. The source added that “gas power” appeared intended to suggest added lethality when in reality it refers to the use of spent gas from a casing to reset the gun’s bolt for the next firing. One of the most vocal opponents of the bill told Fox News Digital that the bill is the hallmark of the “radical agenda of New Mexico Democrats” and that the left is “ignoring practical realities and constitutional protections given to all of us.” NEW MEXICO ADULT DIES OF MEASLES AMID OUTBREAK State Rep. Stefani Lord, R-Sandia Park, said the bill slaps a ban on typical magazines and arms already owned by many New Mexicans and that Democrats, including Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, are trying to “trample the Second Amendment under the guise of public safety.” “The ambiguous wording of the bill risks turning law-abiding gun owners into felons overnight,” Lord said. “It is clear this isn’t just about safety – it’s about control, driven by a liberal tide that’s swept through Santa Fe with unprecedented force in 2025.” The governor, however, defended the bill, telling Fox News Digital it is not an attack on Second Amendment rights but a responsible move to protect the populace. “It simply regulates the most dangerous firearms and accessories that are disproportionately used in mass shootings,” Lujan Grisham said. “The vast majority of handguns – what the Supreme Court has called the ‘quintessential self-defense weapon’ – aren’t regulated under this act. Current owners can keep their regulated gas-operated semiautomatic firearms and large-capacity magazines by filing a simple form with local dealers – not a ‘gun registry’ as critics have falsely claimed.” Lujan Grisham added that other laws around the country similar to the one matriculating through the Roundhouse in Santa Fe have been upheld by judges of all political inclinations. NM, AZ, CA UNITED AGAINST TRUMP DEPORTING DREAMERS, OFFICIAL SAYS “We are confident this legislation is likewise constitutional and necessary to protect New Mexicans,” she said. State Rep. John Block, R-Alamogordo, was unconvinced. Block said the gun control bill is par for the course in what he called the “most liberal legislative session this state has ever seen.” “This ban on gas-operated semiautomatic firearms is wrapped in vague language that hands unelected officials way too much power to decide which guns get outlawed,” he said. Block, who, along with Lord, unsuccessfully sought to impeach Lujan Grisham in 2024 when she enacted a temporary public health order restricting open carrying of firearms after a spate of Albuquerque gun violence, said the bill reminds him of that situation. “It is clear [Democrats] are dead-set on disarming all New Mexicans,” Block said. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Matthew Mammoser, an official with the National Association for Gun Rights, posted a video last week of himself delivering several Xerox-type boxes he said were full of “thousands” of petitions from New Mexicans opposed to the bill. Meanwhile, New Mexico House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Socorro, said her caucus was and is open to working with Democrats on “real solutions” to gun violence and other concerns the bill seeks to address. “This session, rather than take violent offenders off our streets, address our healthcare shortage and work on the unaffordability crisis our state is facing, Democrats have opted to pursue a radical agenda at the expense of our constitutional rights,” she said. Fox News Digital reached out for comment from the bill’s top-listed sponsor, state Sen. Micaelita O’Malley, D-Bernalillo, but did not receive a reply by press time.
Ohio college ‘illegally forcing students’ to share bathrooms with opposite sex: watchdog
A conservative legal watchdog group is urging both the Trump administration and the state of Ohio to investigate Kenyon College, which they allege is breaking the state’s recently passed bathroom bill categorizing restrooms by biological sex. America First Legal sent letters to Craig Trainor, the Department of Education‘s acting assistant secretary in the Office for Civil Rights, and Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost Thursday morning urging the agencies to open an investigation of the college. “Ohio law is clear: multi-occupancy restrooms must be designated for either men or women,” Will Scolinos, AFL legal counsel said. “Schools of higher education should focus more on educating students rather than re-educating them into radical gender policies that require students, men and women, to share the same restrooms. It is not normal.” In a statement to Fox News Digital, a spokesperson for the college said, “Kenyon fully complies with all state and federal laws.” OHIO TRANSGENDER BATHROOM LAW TAKES EFFECT AS TOP PROPONENT CALLS IT ‘VICTORY FOR SAFETY & COMMON SENSE’ “We are committed to ensuring that women on Kenyon’s campus do not experience discrimination or harassment of any kind, just as we do for all students and the faculty and staff who support them,” the spokesperson said. “We look forward to working with the Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights and the Ohio Attorney General to address any concerns they may have.” Kenyon College is being accused of violating Ohio law by allowing multi-occupancy restrooms in its administrative and academic buildings to avoid sex-based requirements. The law, which went into effect in February, designates student restrooms, locker rooms and shower facilities by biological sex. According to its policy update, Kenyon justifies its administrative multi-occupancy restrooms by stating that the restrooms are “not, and cannot be, designated for use exclusively by students” and students “are permitted to use these restrooms if they choose to do so, but the student restroom requirements outlined above do not apply to these facilities.” However, Ohio law states that any “restroom… accessible to multiple individuals at the same time” must adhere to sex-based entry restrictions, AFL argues. SPEAKER JOHNSON ANNOUNCES NEW CAPITOL BATHROOM POLICY IN RESPONSE TO DELAWARE LAWMAKER CONTROVERSY The letter points out that other Ohio schools comply by applying these restrictions to all multi-occupancy restrooms. AFL also alleges the policy doesn’t align with President Donald Trump’s executive order, “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government.” “The order establishes that it is the official policy of the United States to recognize two sexes, male and female, defining ‘sex’ as ‘an individual’s immutable biological classification as either male or female [and] is not a synonym for and does not include the concept of ‘gender identity,’” AFL’s letter to the DOE states. “Furthermore, Kenyon’s failure to provide separate restrooms for men and women in academic and administrative buildings appears to violate Title IX,” the letter reads. The Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is already investigating Denver Public Schools, a school district, for potentially violating Title IX by installing multi-stall, all-gender restrooms. “Let me be clear: it is a new day in America, and under President Trump, OCR will not tolerate discrimination of any kind,” Trainor said in a news release last month. TRANS INMATE IN PRISON FOR KILLING BABY MUST GET GENDER SURGERY AT ‘EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY’: JUDGE Kenyon, a private university, encouraged its students affected by the new law to “seek support” from its civil rights office, college chaplains, campus safety, the counseling center and its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) office. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The Department of Education, which Trump has indicated he wants to fully dismantle and where workforce reductions are already underway, is a key battleground in the new administration for overturning Biden-era DEI and woke policies. It also launched an investigation into 60 universities due to allegations of antisemitism and violence against Jewish students since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel.
Lindsey Graham to push ‘bone-breaking sanctions and tariffs’ to pressure Russia into peace with Ukraine
As the Trump administration seeks to mediate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., announced that he plans to propose “bone-breaking sanctions and tariffs” this week in a bid to goad Russia into making peace. The U.S. and Ukraine declared in a joint statement on Tuesday that Ukraine would be willing to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. “Ukraine expressed readiness to accept the U.S. proposal to enact an immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire, which can be extended by mutual agreement of the parties, and which is subject to acceptance and concurrent implementation by the Russian Federation,” the statement noted. RUSSIA HITS ZELENSKYY’S HOMETOWN AS UKRAINE SIGNALS IT’S READY FOR PEACE But Graham noted in a Wednesday post on X that he is “skeptical that Russia will accept the ceasefire” and is “very doubtful they want to end this war.” “In order to move toward peace, I will be introducing bone-breaking sanctions and tariffs against Russia before the end of the week. If they do not pursue the ceasefire with the same vigor as Ukraine, there will be hell to pay,” Graham warned. RUSSIA WAITING FOR US-UKRAINE CEASE-FIRE PROPOSAL DETAILS, KREMLIN SAYS “I expect overwhelming bipartisan support for my proposal,” he noted. The U.S.-Ukraine statement noted that America “will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace” and “immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine.” SEN. GRAHAM, ZELENSKYY TRADE BARBS AFTER SUGGESTION THAT UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT SHOULD RESIGN CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Graham has served the U.S. Senate for more than 22 years. Prior to that, he served eight years in the House.
US to require Canadians visiting for over 30 days to have fingerprints taken, register with authorities
The United States will require Canadians visiting for more than 30 days to register with authorities and have their fingerprints taken, according to a new interim final rule from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The new requirement, which takes effect on April 11, applies to all foreign nationals who cross the U.S.-Canada land border and are at least 14 years old who stay in the U.S. for 30 days or more. The rule was submitted to the Federal Registrar on Wednesday amid an escalating trade war between the United States and its northern neighbor. Canada, meanwhile, announced $21 billion in new U.S. tariffs on Wednesday. RUBIO PUSHES BACK AGAINST MAHMOUD KHALIL DEFENDERS: ‘NOT ABOUT FREE SPEECH’ The change will impact some Canadians who were previously exempt from this requirement, including many Canadian snowbirds – retirees who spend winter months in U.S. states – who now have to register with the government or face fines. The interim final rule confirms that children under age 14, whose parents or guardians must register them, will not be fingerprinted. Biometrics will also be waived for Canadian business and tourist visitors who enter by land, but they also must register if they remain in the country for 30 days or more. DHS recognized that the “affected population impacted by this rule are those who are currently unregistered and who would use the general registration form designated under this rule.” “DHS estimates the affected population to be between 2.2 million and 3.2 million,” the rule said. TRUMP THREATENS FURTHER TARIFFS ON CANADIAN STEEL, ALUMINUM, ELECTRICITY, VEHICLES DHS and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in February acknowledged their intention to follow President Donald Trump’s Inauguration Day executive order requiring all immigrants to register with the U.S. government. The Jan. 20 executive order directs DHS to ensure all immigrants are registered under the Immigration and Nationality Act. That law, which has not previously been fully enforced, mandates that noncitizens over 14 years old must register and be fingerprinted within 30 days of entry, and that all registered noncitizens over 18 years old must carry proof of registration at all times. “Once an alien has registered and appeared for fingerprinting (unless waived), DHS will issue evidence of registration, which aliens over the age of 18 must carry and keep in their personal possession at all times,” the February post to the USCIS website said. “Failure to comply may result in criminal and civil penalties, up to and including misdemeanor prosecution, the imposition of fines, and incarceration.” “Many aliens in the United States have already registered, as required by law,” the post said. “However, a significant number of aliens present in the United States have had no direct way to register and meet their obligation under INA 262. USCIS has established a new form, G-325R, Biometric Information (Registration), and an online process by which unregistered aliens may register and comply with the law as required by the INA.” USCIS added, “Registration is not an immigration status, and registration documentation does not create an immigration status, establish employment authorization, or provide any other right or benefit under the INA or any other U.S. law.”
New poll flashes warning sign on a top issue for Trump during campaign
President Donald Trump is pushing back against talk of a recession. “I don’t see it at all. I think this country is going to boom,” the president told reporters on Tuesday as he inspected a Tesla electric vehicle that was parked on the South Lawn of the White House, courtesy of top Trump adviser Elon Musk, the car company’s billionaire CEO. However, when it comes to the economy – the issue that more than any other arguably boosted Trump back into the White House in last November’s presidential election – Americans do not seem so pleased with the job he is doing. Trump stands at 44% approval and 56% disapproval for the job he is doing steering the economy, in a CNN national poll conducted March 6-9 by SSRS and released on Wednesday. PRESIDENT TRUMP’S POLLING POSITION 50 DAYS INTO HIS SECOND TOUR OF DUTY IN THE WHITE HOUSE The president was also underwater on the economy by 10 points in a Reuters/Ipsos survey in the field March 3-4. While a handful of national polls indicate Trump above water on the economy, most recent surveys put him in negative territory when it comes to the top issue on the minds of Americans. HEAD HERE FOR THE LATEST POLLING FROM FOX NEWS When it comes to his overall approval rating, Trump has seen his numbers edge down slightly since returning to the White House in late January, when an average of his polls indicated the president’s approval rating in the low 50s and his disapproval in the mid 40s. An average of the latest surveys indicates he is hovering slightly above water. While Americans are split on Trump’s performance, the approval ratings for his second term are an improvement from his first tour of duty, when he started 2017 in negative territory and remained underwater throughout his four-year tenure in the White House. However, when it comes specifically to his handling of the economy, CNN’s latest numbers are below where he stood at any point in their polling during his first term in office. The president’s rapidly shifting tariffs on goods from Canada and Mexico – America’s neighbors and top trading partners – have rattled the financial markets and raised concerns of further inflation and a possible recession. FOX BUSINESS: WHY INFLATION SLOWED LAST MONTH When asked on Fox News’ “Sunday Morning Futures” by host Maria Bartiromo whether he expected there would be a recession this year, the president responded, “I hate to predict things like that.” “There is a period of transition, because what we’re doing is very big,” Trump said as he referred to his agenda, which includes tariffs. “It takes a little time,” Trump said before predicting that his economic agenda “should be great for us.” While aking questions Tuesday amid another down day for the nation’s financial markets, Trump said “You’re going to have drops and markets are going to go up and they’re gonna go down.” Trump’s predecessor in the White House, former President Joe Biden, was dogged by inflation during his tenure. Biden’s approval rating hovered in the low-to-mid-50s during the first six months of his single term as president, with his disapproval in the upper 30s to the low- to-mid-40s. However, Biden’s numbers sank into negative territory in the late summer and autumn of 2021, in the wake of his much-criticized handling of the turbulent U.S. exit from Afghanistan, a surge of migrants crossing into the U.S. along the nation’s southern border with Mexico, and amid soaring inflation. Biden’s approval ratings stayed underwater throughout the rest of his presidency, as high prices for goods remained a top concern on the minds of American voters. “He just got crippled and never recovered,” said Daron Shaw, a politics professor and chair at the University of Texas who serves as a member of the Fox News Decision Team and is the Republican partner on the Fox News Poll. Trump received some good inflation news on Wednesday, with the consumer price index coming in at a lower-than-expected level last month, according to a new government report. The White House communications shop spotlighted the news in an email release titled “Inflation Eases as Job Creation Soars and Border Security Pays Off.” However, Shaw emphasized that inflation remains critical to Trump’s political fortunes. “If prices remain high, he’s going to have trouble,” Shaw warned.