WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a round of tariff letters to six countries, including Algeria, Brunei, Iraq, Libya, Moldova and the Philippines. The letters call for tariffs of 30% on Algeria, 25% on Brunei, 30% on Iraq, 30% on Libya, 25% on Moldova and 25% on the...
Trump Says US Interest Rate Is at Least 3 Points Too High
WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on the Federal Reserve to lower the federal benchmark interest rate by at least 3 percentage points, renewing his call for the U.S. central bank to lower rates to help reduce the cost to service the nation's debt. "Our Fed Rate is...
Netanyahu and Trump Prioritize Hostages as Gaza Military Campaign Grinds On
WASHINGTON/GAZA - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Wednesday his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump focused on freeing hostages held in Gaza, as Israel continued to pound the Palestinian territory amid efforts to reach a ceasefire. Netanyahu said on X that the leaders also discussed the consequences and possibilities...
California Protester Pulls Mask from ICE Agent During San Diego Clash
A confrontation between protesters and federal agents in San Diego turned physical last week, with new video showing a woman removing an ICE agent’s mask during the altercation, Newsweek reported. ICE said the protest was in defense of Denis Anderson Chicoj Yacon, a Guatemalan national under investigation. The agency claimed...
iPhones Now Eligible for Starlink Satellite Texting
Apple's iPhones are now eligible to test SpaceX’s Starlink direct-to-cell network, according to T-Mobile, which is partnering with SpaceX on the satellite texting program, Reuters reported. The trial, approved by the FCC in November, currently supports text messaging, with voice and data expected later. T-Mobile initially included only select Android...
Nvidia-Backed Perplexity Launches AI-Powered Browser to Take on Google Chrome
Nvidia-backed Perplexity AI said on Wednesday it has launched Comet, a new web browser with AI-powered search capabilities, as the startup looks to challenge the dominance of market leader Alphabet's Google Chrome. The launch marks Perplexity AI's entry into the competitive browser market, aiming to replace traditional navigation with agentic...
X CEO Yaccarino to Step Down in Surprise Move
Linda Yaccarino, CEO of Elon Musk-owned social platform X, said on Wednesday she would step down from the top role in a surprise move. Yaccarino took the top job at X in 2023 to help Musk execute his vision to transform the platform. Prior to becoming the CEO of X,...
TikTok Prepares US App With Its Own Algorithm and User Data
NEW YORK - TikTok is preparing to launch a standalone app for U.S. users that is expected to operate on a separate algorithm and data system from its global app, laying the groundwork for a potential sale orchestrated by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to people familiar with the matter....
Los Angeles Joins ACLU Lawsuit Against Trump’s Immigration Raids
The city of Los Angeles and other Southern California municipalities are joining a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's administration aimed at halting immigration raids that have spread panic among immigrant communities and sparked widespread protests. The lawsuit, filed last week by the American Civil Liberties Union, accuses federal agents of...
Tulare County Task Force Uncovers Chop Shop During Stolen Vehicle Investigation
A stolen vehicle investigation led authorities to a suspected chop shop operation in Ivanhoe, where a man was arrested following a one-hour standoff, the Visalia Police Department said in a statement. Around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, the Tulare County Regional Auto Theft Task Force located a red 2020 Hyundai Elantra that...