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US: Trump’s decision to propel increase in STDs, cancer, reduced access to birth control

Birth control, cancer screenings and other services for low-income people are set to suffer greatly in the US following the move by the Trump administration to cut federal family planning funding. The reproductive health provider, Planned Parenthood said that the Trump administration would cut federal family planning funding as of Tuesday, Planned Parenthood said that
US: Trump’s decision to propel increase in STDs, cancer, reduced access to birth control

Birth control, cancer screenings and other services for low-income people are set to suffer greatly in the US following the move by the Trump administration to cut federal family planning funding.

The reproductive health provider, Planned Parenthood said that the Trump administration would cut federal family planning funding as of Tuesday,

Planned Parenthood said that nine of its affiliates have been notified about the decision to withhold funding under a program known as Title X, which has supported healthcare services for the poor since 1970.

This is following an earlier report by the Wall Street Journal that the US Department of Health and Human Services planned an immediate freeze of $27.5m in family planning grants for groups including Planned Parenthood.

Planned Parenthood did not, however, say how much funding would be halted by the Trump administration.

Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood, said this move would lead to increase in undetected cancer, severe reduction in access to birth control and increase in sexually transmitted infections.

“President Trump and Elon Musk are pushing their dangerous political agenda, stripping health care access from people nationwide, and not giving a second thought to the devastation they will cause,” McGill Johnson said in a statement.

President Donald Trump put billionaire Elon Musk in charge of the initiative to target government agencies for spending cuts.

Conservatives have long sought to defund Planned Parenthood because it also provides abortions.

However, US government funding for nearly all abortions has been banned since 1977.

US: Trump’s decision to propel increase in STDs, cancer, reduced access to birth control

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US sanctions Hong Kong Police Commissioner, Siu Chak-yee, 5 others

The United States of America has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s Police Commissioner, Raymond Siu Chak-yee and five other officials. They were sanctioned for human rights reasons. The sanctions on the police commissioner and the others means any financial transactions with them in the US are now criminalised and any interests they hold in America
US sanctions Hong Kong Police Commissioner, Siu Chak-yee, 5 others

The United States of America has imposed sanctions on Hong Kong’s Police Commissioner, Raymond Siu Chak-yee and five other officials.

They were sanctioned for human rights reasons.

The sanctions on the police commissioner and the others means any financial transactions with them in the US are now criminalised and any interests they hold in America are blocked.

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said in a statement on Monday that the sanctions would send the right signal to the world that the Trump administration is committed to holding to account those responsible for depriving people of their protected rights and freedom.

He said also that those who commit acts of transnational repression on US soil or against US persons would not go unpunished.

Paul Lam, the Hong Kong’s secretary of justice, is among those targeted in the new sanctions.

Hong Kong’s top official, Chief Executive John Lee, is already under US sanctions.

The officials were targeted in line with a US law that champions Hong Kong democracy.

The State Department also pointed to some of the officials’ roles in efforts to “intimidate, silence and harass 19 pro-democracy activists” who fled overseas, including one US citizen and four US residents.

Rubio has been outspoken on China’s human rights record dating back to his time as a senator.

The Secretary of state earlier also imposed sanctions on officials in Thailand over their deportations back to China of members of the Uyghur minority.

Beijing promised a separate system to Hong Kong when Britain handed over the financial hub in 1997.

US sanctions Hong Kong Police Commissioner, Siu Chak-yee, 5 others

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Elon Musk-led DOGE finally gains access to highly sensitive Federal Personnel, Payroll System

The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, has finally gained access to a federal payroll system known as the Federal Personnel and Payroll System over the weekend. The New York Times reports that the payroll system processes salaries for about 276,000 federal workers across various government agencies. The newspaper said that insiders revealed to
Elon Musk-led DOGE finally gains access to highly sensitive Federal Personnel, Payroll System

The Elon Musk-led Department of Government Efficiency, DOGE, has finally gained access to a federal payroll system known as the Federal Personnel and Payroll System over the weekend.
The New York Times reports that the payroll system processes salaries for about 276,000 federal workers across various government agencies.

The newspaper said that insiders revealed to it that Elon Musk and his team at DOGE had spent about two weeks trying to obtain administrative access to the system.

However, they gained the access despite warnings from senior staff about the potential risks.

The senior career officials, who work for the interior department issued the warning in a memo towards the end of last week where they highlighted how risky it was and the unusual nature of Elon Musk-led DOGE’s request and the danger associated with granting it.

They had warned that granting such a level of access would allow them to be able to view highly sensitive personal information that is subject to controls under the Privacy Act. They also mentioned the risk of cybercrime.

They said that such access must not be granted to untrained individuals without formal qualifications, warning that the Department may experience significant failure.

On Friday, however, the federal employees reportedly asked the DOGE workers to deliver their memo to Doug Burgum, the interior secretary, for his signature, thereby assuming the legal responsibility for the associated risks.

However, Burgum reportedly never signed the memo.

An insider told the New York Times that the interior department officials granted at least two DOGE workers the access they had requested on Saturday.

Also, in a statement, a spokesperson for the interior department said: “We are working to execute the President’s directive to cut costs and make the government more efficient for the American people and have taken actions to implement President Trump’s Executive Orders.”

Elon Musk-led DOGE finally gains access to highly sensitive Federal Personnel, Payroll System

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China launches joint army, naval, rocket force drills around Taiwan after Hegseth’s promise

China’s military, on Tuesday, said it has kicked off joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force and rocket force around Taiwan as a stern warning. The drills mainly focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, assault on maritime and ground targets, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority and blockade on key areas and sea lanes to test
China launches joint army, naval, rocket force drills around Taiwan after Hegseth’s promise

China’s military, on Tuesday, said it has kicked off joint exercises involving its army, navy, air force and rocket force around Taiwan as a stern warning.

The drills mainly focus on sea-air combat-readiness patrols, assault on maritime and ground targets, joint seizure of comprehensive superiority and blockade on key areas and sea lanes to test joint operations capabilities of China’s troops.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theater Command said this in a statement on social media.

“It is a stern warning and forceful deterrence against ‘Taiwan Independence’ separatist forces, and it is a legitimate and necessary action to safeguard China’s sovereignty and national unity,” the statement added.

Meanwhile, secretary-general of Taiwan’s National Security Council, Joseph Wu, condemned the drills.

In a post on X, Wu said: “It came without justification, violates international laws and is totally unacceptable. Democracies need to condemn China for being a troublemaker.”

This is coming a few days after United States defense chief Pete Hegseth promised to counter “China’s aggression” on his first visit to Asia.

China is the second largest spender on the military behind the United States and has the world’s largest navy.

China launches joint army, naval, rocket force drills around Taiwan after Hegseth’s promise

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US tariffs: Japan to make strong push for exemption

Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that Japan will keep up a strong push for the United States to exempt it from auto tariffs. Ishiba vowed to take the necessary steps to alleviate the blow to the economy and jobs. It was gathered that Japan could take a severe hit from a planned
US tariffs: Japan to make strong push for exemption

Japanese Prime Minister, Shigeru Ishiba said on Tuesday that Japan will keep up a strong push for the United States to exempt it from auto tariffs.

Ishiba vowed to take the necessary steps to alleviate the blow to the economy and jobs.

It was gathered that Japan could take a severe hit from a planned tariff of 25% on automobile imports unveiled last week by U.S. President Donald Trump, who also promised to announce on Wednesday reciprocal tariffs targeting every nation.

According to Ishiba, measures such as offers of funding support to cash-strapped firms are among those the government could take to protect the economy from the higher tariffs.

“The government will negotiate with the ruling coalition at an early date specific measures we can take to respond,” Ishiba said, in case Japan is slapped with higher levies.

He added that government agencies were negotiating with the US counterparts to secure more details on Washington’s tariff plans, adding that he would not hesitate to visit the United States again to voice a direct call for exemptions.

Grappling with sliding approval ratings ahead of an upper house election expected in July, Ishiba is also under pressure to counter economic headwinds from US tariffs and protect households from rising living costs.

Japan’s headline inflation of 3.7% in February was said to be among the highest in advanced economies, fuelled largely by steady rises in food costs, including those of staple rice.

While big firms have offered bumper pay hikes in this year’s wage talks with unions, it is uncertain if smaller peers will follow suit, as Trump’s tariff threats cloud the business outlook.

Ishiba said the government would compile measures by May to push up Japan’s minimum wage, and a separate package by June to allow smaller firms to smoothly pass on rising costs.

“Achieving wage hikes is at the core of our growth strategy,” Ishiba said.

US tariffs: Japan to make strong push for exemption

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‘Friends forever, never enemies’ – China tells Russia

Chinese’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said on Tuesday that China and Russia are friends forever and never enemies. Wang stated this during a visit to Moscow in which he also welcomed signs of normalising ties between Washington and Moscow. “The principle of ‘friends forever, never enemies’ serves as a solid legal basis for advancing strategic
‘Friends forever, never enemies’ – China tells Russia

Chinese’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi said on Tuesday that China and Russia are friends forever and never enemies.

Wang stated this during a visit to Moscow in which he also welcomed signs of normalising ties between Washington and Moscow.

“The principle of ‘friends forever, never enemies’ serves as a solid legal basis for advancing strategic cooperation at a higher level,” Wang said.

DAILY POST reports that Wang is on a three-day visit to Moscow for strategic cooperation talks, a trip overshadowed by uncertainty around talks to secure a ceasefire in Ukraine and US President Donald Trump’s criticism of the Russian and Ukrainian leaders.

China and Russia declared a no limits strategic partnership days before Russian President Vladimir Putin sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

It was gathered that Chinese President Xi Jinping has met Putin over 40 times in the past decade and the two leaders have since agreed to deepen ties and cooperate on issues such as Taiwan, Ukraine and mutual rival the United States.

The Kremlin said on Monday that Putin would receive Wang, who will also hold talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

According to Wang, current global conditions obliged big powers to act as stabilising factors, so it was encouraging that Russia and the United States had moved to improve relations.

On Monday, the Kremlin said that Russia and the United States were working on ideas for a possible peace settlement in Ukraine and on building bilateral ties.

Trump, since taking office in January, has shifted the US to a more conciliatory stance towards Russia.

“This is good for stabilizing the balance of power between major powers and inspires optimism in a disappointing international situation,” Wang said.

He also debunked the notion that Trump was trying to support Russia to set it against China, condemning such ideas as a relapse of obsolete confrontational and bloc thinking.

‘Friends forever, never enemies’ – China tells Russia

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Trump thanks President Bukele for taking in criminals expelled from US, knocks Biden

US President Donald Trump on Monday publicly thanked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting criminals deported from the United States. Trump also strongly criticized the administration of former President Joe Biden for allowing criminals into the country in the first place. “Thank you, President Bukele, of El Salvador, for taking the criminals that were so
Trump thanks President Bukele for taking in criminals expelled from US, knocks Biden

US President Donald Trump on Monday publicly thanked Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele for accepting criminals deported from the United States.

Trump also strongly criticized the administration of former President Joe Biden for allowing criminals into the country in the first place.

“Thank you, President Bukele, of El Salvador, for taking the criminals that were so stupidly allowed, by the Crooked Joe Biden Administration, to enter our Country, and giving them such a wonderful place to live!” Trump stated in a post on Truth Social.

This is coming after a recent operation in which the United States transferred 17 criminals affiliated with the Tren de Aragua and MS-13 to El Salvador’s high-security prison, the Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Cecot).

US transfers more gang members to El Salvador’s maximum security prison

The group of alleged violent criminals, including rapists and murderers, tied to Tren de Aragua and MS-13, was transported by the US military on Sunday night.

Also, earlier in March, about 238 members of the Tren de Aragua had also been sent to the same facility as part of an agreement between both nations.

Trump thanks President Bukele for taking in criminals expelled from US, knocks Biden

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Hamas cause of everything happening in Gaza – US State Department

The United States, US, has blamed the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip on Hamas. US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce said “all parties on the ground” in Gaza should comply with international humanitarian law. Speaking with BBC, Bruce also refused to confirm if the department would probe Israeli military’s killing of 15 people including
Hamas cause of everything happening in Gaza – US State Department

The United States, US, has blamed the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip on Hamas.

US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce said “all parties on the ground” in Gaza should comply with international humanitarian law.

Speaking with BBC, Bruce also refused to confirm if the department would probe Israeli military’s killing of 15 people including paramedics, civil defence workers and a UN official.

When asked about the killings, Bruce said: “Every single thing that happens in Gaza is happening because of Hamas.”

This comes as the United Nations, UN, humanitarian agency said five ambulances, a fire truck and a UN vehicle were struck “one by one” on 23 March, adding that 15 bodies, including paramedics still in their uniforms, had been gathered and buried in a mass grave.

Disclosing this, Jonathan Whittall, the head of the UN’s humanitarian agency in Gaza, said the mass grave had been “marked” with an emergency light from one of the ambulances hit in the strike.

In a video on X, he said “It’s an absolute horror what has happened here,” adding that “healthcare workers should never be a target”.

In March, Israel had renewed its air and ground attacks in Gaza after negotiations over a ceasefire deal with Hamas failed.

More than 1,000 people have since been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.

Hamas cause of everything happening in Gaza – US State Department

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Sexual harassment allegation: Akpabio, Senate dodging – Ezekwesili

Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili has accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of dodging opportunities that would prove his innocence in the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. Ezekwesili said Akpabio and the Senate has continued to deny Natasha the right to a fair hearing and an impartial investigation.
Sexual harassment allegation: Akpabio, Senate dodging – Ezekwesili

Former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili has accused Senate President, Godswill Akpabio of dodging opportunities that would prove his innocence in the sexual harassment allegations leveled against him by suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan.

Ezekwesili said Akpabio and the Senate has continued to deny Natasha the right to a fair hearing and an impartial investigation.

The suspended Kogi Central Senator had accused Akpabio of sexual harassment.

She claimed that the Senate President denied her certain privileges for turning down his sexual advances even in the presence of her husband.

However, the former minister wondered why Akpabio was obstructing every opportunity for an impartial Senate inquiry into the sexual harassment allegations against him.

Posting on X, she wrote: “This morning, I again remembered the all-time quote of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan:

“This Injustice shall not be sustained.

“I agree. Societies that have kept sustaining injustice are the ones that are stuck in lowest economic growth, pernicious poverty and widespread inequality. So, we should all not agree for the injustice being inflicted on Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan to be sustained.

“Can the @NGRSenate and @Senator_Akpabio tell Nigerians why they have persisted in denying their courageous colleague, Senator @NatashaAkpoti, the right to fair hearing and impartial investigation of her Sexual Harassment petition against the Senate President?

“Why is Senator Akpabio obstructing every opportunity for an impartial Senate inquiry into this matter? Why is he dodging the opportunity that can help him prove his innocence of the serious allegation leveled by his female colleague?

“Why are Senator Akpabio’s colleagues in the Senate supporting such obstruction in gross violation of the same “Senate Rules” they used in illegally suspending Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan?

“The Senate cannot pretend to be “moving on” regarding this case. Not at all. This Injustice cannot be sustained at all.

“There’s no “moving on” possible without accountability, transparency and due process on this case of massive abuse of power by our country’s #3 top ranking public figure.

“Senator Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan is never walking alone on this case. Never.”

Sexual harassment allegation: Akpabio, Senate dodging – Ezekwesili