Month: April 2025

Amazon pushed back against a news report on Tuesday, claiming it planned to visibly break down the costs of former President Donald Trump’s newly implemented tariffs on its product listings. The rebuttal came after the White House harshly criticized the online retail giant, and Trump personally reached out to Amazon founder Jeff Bezos over the matter.

The controversy was sparked by a report from PunchBowl News, which cited an anonymous source alleging that Amazon intended to start showing what portion of a product’s price was tied to the steep tariffs introduced by Trump earlier in the month. Amazon, along with many major retailers, has been critical of the sweeping tariffs Trump introduced at the start of April. The administration’s new tariff on Chinese imports stands at 145%, a dramatic increase that economists warn could lead to higher prices for American consumers.

According to a senior White House official, Trump responded to the report by calling Bezos directly to express his disapproval; with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stating during a briefing with journalists on Tuesday: “I just spoke with the president about Amazon’s supposed move. This is clearly a hostile, politically motivated step by the company.”  Leavitt also suggested that the move was ideologically motivated and accused Amazon of aligning with Chinese state interests, citing a 2021 Reuters article which reported that Amazon had blocked customer reviews of a book authored by Chinese President Xi Jinping on its Chinese platform in compliance with government demands: “Why is Amazon taking this step now, especially when inflation under the Biden administration is at its highest point in four years?”

Amazon spokeswoman Rachael Lighty later clarified that no such policy was being enacted, stating that the idea had been briefly considered by a team managing Amazon Haul, a section of the site focused on deeply discounted products, but it was never authorized and will not be implemented: “The team overseeing our budget-friendly Amazon Haul storefront explored the concept of showing import-related costs on select items. However, the idea was never given the green light, and we have no plans to move forward with it.”

Bezos has engaged with Trump’s administration and met with the president on several occasions since his election. As the owner of The Washington Post, he broke with tradition in 2024 by choosing not to endorse a candidate in the presidential election—its first time doing so in over three decades. When asked about the nature of Trump’s current relationship with Bezos, Leavitt declined to comment. “I won’t be addressing the president’s personal ties to Jeff Bezos.”

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On Tuesday, the Florida House passed a sweeping bill that would prevent local governments from adding fluoride to public water systems and tighten restrictions on how plant-based food products can be labeled.

With an 88-27 vote, the Republican-majority House approved the measure (SB 700), which touches on multiple areas overseen by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. SB 700, also known as the Florida Farm Bill, doesn’t mention the word “fluoride,” but would effectively ban the chemical compound by preventing “the use of certain additives in a water system.”  Since the Senate had already passed the bill on April 16, it now heads to Governor Ron DeSantis for his signature.

Governor DeSantis and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo have both expressed support for removing fluoride from water systems. If DeSantis signs the bill, Florida will become the second state to ban fluoride from water supplies. Utah’s Gov. Spencer Cox signed a bill in late March that prohibits any person or government entity from adding the cavity-fighting mineral from the state’s water systems, making it the first state to do so (going into effect on May 7).

The legislation was introduced against a backdrop of growing discussions in several Florida communities about whether to end the long-standing practice of fluoridating drinking water, a public health effort aimed at improving dental health. Rep. Danny Alvarez, a Republican from Hillsborough County and one of the bill’s sponsors, argued that the issue goes beyond dental care: “This isn’t just about fluoride — it’s about personal freedom. People should have the right to decide what substances enter their bodies, and that includes chemicals added to drinking water.”

However, critics countered that fluoridation is a scientifically backed public health measure that helps prevent tooth decay, particularly in children. Rep. Daryl Campbell, a Democrat from Fort Lauderdale, dismissed the bill as pandering to misinformation, saying “this bill is a gift to conspiracy theorists.”  In addition, Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat from Orlando, emphasized fluoride’s positive impact, calling it a “game-changer” for dental health.

One provision in the bill would set the stage for the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop rules restricting the use of terms like “milk,” “meat,” “poultry,” and “eggs” on plant-based products. However, these rules would only take effect if at least 11 out of 14 specific states — including Florida — enact similar laws. The other states named are Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

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Millions of people in Spain, Portugal and parts of southern France lost power on Monday following a “severe disruption” in the European electrical system, bringing much of the Iberian Peninsula to a halt. The outage disrupted subway and rail services, disabled phone networks, and shut down traffic signals and ATMs, affecting millions across the region. Both countries’ capitals, Madrid and Lisbon, were heavily impacted, however Spain’s Canary Islands, Balearic Islands, and the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla were not impacted.

Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE reported that the outage struck several regions just after noon, even cutting power at the national parliament and various Madrid subway stations. Data from the national electricity grid showed a dramatic demand drop around 12:15 p.m., plunging from about 27,500 megawatts to 15,000 megawatts. In Lisbon, airports faced significant delays, with many travelers stranded outside terminals in the sun, awaiting updates on their flights.

Eduardo Prieto, who leads operations at Red Eléctrica ( the corporation that operates the national electricity grid in Spain) refrained from speculating about the origins of the incident but described it as “extraordinary and exceptional.” By the afternoon, Red Eléctrica reported that electricity was gradually returning across northern, southern, and western regions.

Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in remarks on Monday evening that they attribute the outage to a “strong oscillation” within the European grid but noted that the exact cause was still under investigation. He urged the public to avoid jumping to conclusions, stating that no possible explanation had yet been ruled out: “We are working on knowing the origins and the reason of this incident. We are using all of our resources to solve the issue.”

Spain’s Interior Ministry has declared a state of emergency after a nationwide power blackout hit most of the Iberian Peninsula, Portugal’s main grid operator REN pointed to an unusual atmospheric event in Spain caused by extreme temperature fluctuations as the likely cause, according to Reuters.  Portugal’s National Cybersecurity Center also clarified that there were no signs the blackout was the result of a cyberattack.

The Madrid Open tennis tournament was disrupted as well, with three matches suspended when the power failed. Reuters also reported that parts of southern France were briefly affected. French grid operator RTE was working to help supply electricity to northern Spain.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral three-day pause in hostilities in Ukraine on Monday, a move that was immediately met with skepticism by Ukraine, who reiterated that Putin accept a broader ceasefire proposal backed by the United States (which he has so far refused). The Kremlin stated that “all military operations” would be halted from midnight on May 8 through midnight on May 11, citing “humanitarian reasons” for the decision.

Putin announced the ceasefire in Moscow to mark the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Soviet Union and its allies in World War II. The Kremlin said the 72-hour ceasefire would run for three days either side of May 9, when Putin will be hosting international leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping for lavish celebrations to commemorate victory over Nazi Germany.  The Kremlin said in a statement:  “All military actions are suspended for this period [from midnight on May 8 through midnight on May 11]. Russia believes that the Ukrainian side should follow this example. In the event of violations by the Ukrainian side, Russia’s armed forces will give an adequate and effective response.”

Putin’s new announcement follows the Kremlin’s recent declaration of a 30-hour Easter truce, which Kyiv accepted;  however, Ukraine’s military later accused Russian forces of violating that agreement, reporting over 2,900 attacks across the frontlines during the ceasefire window. Russia has also claimed that Ukraine breached that truce.

Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters at the White House that President Trump has said he wants a permanent end to Russia’s war on Ukraine, and he is “losing patience: with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy: “he wants to see a permanent cease-fire and I understand Vladimir Putin this morning offered a temporary ceasefire. The president has made clear he wants to see a permanent cease-fire first, to stop the killing, stop the bloodshed. While he remains optimistic he can strike a deal, he also is being realistic as well. Both leaders need to come to the table to negotiate their way out of this.”

National Security Council spokesman Brian Hughes added on Monday: “President Trump welcomes President Putin’s readiness to pause fighting, but the president has made it very clear that he expects a permanent ceasefire to bring a peaceful resolution to the conflict.” 

In response to Putin’s temporary ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine believes there is “no reason to wait” until May 8 for a ceasefire: “Russia has consistently rejected everything and continues to manipulate the world, trying to deceive the United States. Now, yet again, another attempt at manipulation: for some reason everyone is supposed to wait until May 8 before ceasing fire — just to provide Putin with silence for his parade … The ceasefire should not be just for a few days, only to return to killing afterward,” he said. “It must be immediate, full, and unconditional — for at least 30 days to ensure it is secure and guaranteed. This is the foundation that could lead to real diplomacy. All the Russians’ statements about peace without ceasing fire are just plain lies.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire early in March; however, Putin has repeatedly rejected the offer. Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak expressed gratitude to Trump for supporting a complete ceasefire, posting on X that “only a full, unconditional, and lasting ceasefire — not a temporary one like Putin suggests — can truly end the war.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha echoed that sentiment, responding to Putin’s announcement by saying, “If Russia genuinely wants peace, it should stop hostilities immediately. Why wait until May 8? Ukraine remains committed to a stable, enduring, and comprehensive ceasefire, and that’s what we continue to propose — for a minimum of 30 days.”

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At least nine people were killed and 20 were injured when a man drove into a crowd during a block party celebrating Filipino culture in Vancouver, Canada.

The tragedy unfolded Saturday night after the vehicle entered the street at 8:14 p.m. and struck people attending the Lapu Lapu Day festival, the Vancouver Police Department said on X. A damaged black SUV, believed to be the vehicle involved, was seen stationary in the middle of the roadway after colliding with food trucks set up for the pedestrian-only event, which just moments earlier had been filled with lively celebrations. Vancouver police confirmed that attendees of the annual Lapu-Lapu Day block party apprehended the suspect before handing him over to officers.

In an update posted Sunday, police confirmed the death toll had reached nine. “Our hearts go out to everyone impacted by this heartbreaking event,” the department wrote, adding that they had the suspect in custody: “a 30-year-old suspect, a Vancouver man, was arrested at the scene. At this time, we are confident that this incident was not an act of terrorism.”  Interim Police Chief Steve Rai added that an extensive investigation was now underway to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said in a statement: “I am shocked and deeply saddened by the horrific events at today’s Lapu Lapu Day celebration. Our thoughts are with everyone impacted and with Vancouver’s Filipino community during this extremely difficult time.”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney shared on X: “I am devastated to hear about the horrific events at the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver earlier this evening. I offer my deepest condolences to the loved ones of those killed and injured, to the Filipino Canadian community, and to everyone in Vancouver. We are all mourning with you. We are monitoring the situation closely, and thankful to our first responders for their swift action.”

Carney later addressed the nation on Sunday, calling the tragedy “every family’s worst nightmare” and praised the strength and resilience of Filipino-Canadians, citing a Tagalog word reflecting the Filipino tradition of community and unity, emphasizing the need for solidarity during this sorrowful time:  “We will stand together, comfort those who grieve, and support one another.”

British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023 to commemorate the Battle of Mactan, fought in what is now the Philippines in 1521. Lapu-Lapu, an Indigenous leader, is remembered for resisting Spanish colonization and defeating Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan. Today, Lapu-Lapu stands as a symbol of anti-colonial resistance, celebrated both in the Philippines and among Filipino communities worldwide.

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Palestinian authorities reported that more than 52,000 people have died in Gaza, as Israel intensifies its military operations following the collapse of a ceasefire with Hamas in March.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported Sunday that hospitals across the Gaza Strip received the bodies of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli air raids over the past day, which brings the total number of Palestinian fatalities in the 18-month-long conflict between Israel and Hamas to 52,243. This includes nearly 700 additional victims whose deaths were recently verified. Search and rescue crews, along with local residents, continue to comb through the wreckage after Israeli forces bombarded areas west of Khan Yunis in southern Gaza on Sunday, April 27.

Israel resumed heavy airstrikes across Gaza after abruptly ending its truce with Hamas (which is recognized as a terrorist organization by both the U.S. and Israel) on March 18.  Israeli ground forces have expanded a buffer zone and encircled the southern city of Rafah, now claiming control over roughly half of Gaza’s territory.

In addition to the military campaign, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on Gaza’s 2 million residents, cutting off supplies of food, medicine, and other essentials for nearly two months. Humanitarian organizations warn that resources are dwindling, leaving thousands of children severely malnourished, with most families merely surviving on limited supplies such as canned vegetables, rice, pasta, and lentils.

Israeli officials have stated that the renewed offensive and tightened blockade are designed to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the group’s October 7, 2023, assault, which sparked the ongoing war. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged to continue the fight until Hamas is dismantled and all hostages are freed.

Hamas, for its part, has insisted that it will only release the 59 remaining captives — 24 of whom are believed to still be alive — in exchange for a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and a permanent ceasefire. These demands mirror the terms outlined in a now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached earlier this year.

The Gaza Health Ministry claims that women and children represent a majority of the Palestinian fatalities, though it does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties. It also reports that around 117,600 people have been wounded during the conflict.

Israel claims its forces have eliminated roughly 20,000 Hamas fighters but has not publicly shared evidence to support this figure. Israeli military officials emphasize that they aim to minimize civilian casualties and accuse Hamas of endangering civilians by operating within densely populated urban areas.

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