Trump signs executive order to begin dismantling Education Department
特朗普正式签署行政令推动教育部的关闭
2025-03-21
| US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order to formally begin the process of dismantling the Education Department, saying that his administration is returning education back to the states.
Beyond the "core necessities, my administration will take all lawful steps to shut down the department," Trump said in a speech at the White House. "We're going to shut it down and shut it down as quickly as possible," Trump said. Noting that the Education Department is "doing us no good" -- citing low proficiency in reading and math among students in US elementary, middle and high schools -- Trump said his administration is returning education to the states. The US president noted that the department's functions such as Pell Grants, Title I, and funding resources for children with disabilities and special needs, will be "fully preserved" and be "redistributed to various other agencies and departments." Pell Grants are a form of federal financial aid that helps low-income undergraduate students pay for college. Title I provides federal funding to school districts and schools that serve a high percentage of students from low-income families, focusing on improving educational opportunities for disadvantaged students. "The Trump administration is denying the next generation the resources they need to succeed in order to pay for tax breaks for billionaires. It is a betrayal to students, parents, and educators," Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus Chair Rep. Grace Meng and Education Task Force Chair Rep. Mark Takano said in a joint statement. "This is an unlawful decision and Congress must not cede its authority in the face of this order," according to the statement. The establishment and dismantling of federal agencies generally require Congressional approval through legislation. If Trump wants to shut down the Education Department, it must go through the legislative process in Congress. It is still unclear how he will proceed with this executive order. Trump has long criticized the Education Department, arguing that despite significant federal investment in education, the quality of education has not met expectations, citing deficiencies in American students' skills in reading, math, and other areas. At the same time, Trump has accused the department of being filled with individuals who hold left-wing ideologies, even describing it as a hotbed of "radicals, zealots and Marxists," believing that these individuals have expanded their power through excessive guidance and regulation. He advocates for returning educational authority to the states to avoid excessive federal intervention. The Education Department previously initiated a large-scale layoff. According to earlier US media reports, the department, which originally had 4,000 employees, would cut nearly half of its workforce. Trump said Thursday that the "reduction in force" was successful. "We've cut the number of bureaucrats in half, 50 percent," he said. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
US releases final trove of secret Kennedy assassination files
美国公布肯尼迪遇刺案记录
2025-03-19
| The US National Archives on Tuesday released the final batch of files related to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy — a case that still fuels conspiracy theories more than 60 years after his death.
The move follows an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in January directing the unredacted release of the remaining files related to the assassinations of Kennedy, his brother, former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, and civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. "In accordance with President Donald Trump's directive... all records previously withheld for classification that are part of the President John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection are released," the Archives said in a statement on its website Tuesday evening. The National Archives has released millions of pages of records over the past decades relating to the assassination of then-President Kennedy in November 1963, but thousands of documents had been held back at the request of the Central Intelligence Agency and Federal Bureau of Investigation, citing national security concerns. The Warren Commission that investigated the shooting of the charismatic 46-year-old president determined that it was carried out by a former Marine sharpshooter, Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone. But that formal conclusion has done little to quell speculation that a more sinister plot was behind Kennedy's murder in Dallas, Texas, and the slow release of the government files has added fuel to various conspiracy theories. Kennedy scholars have said the documents that were still held by the archives were unlikely to contain any bombshell revelations or put to rest the rampant conspiracy theories about the assassination of the 35th US president. Oswald was shot by a strip club owner, Jack Ruby, on November 24, 1963 — two days after the Kennedy assassination — while being moved to a county jail. Many of the records already released were raw intelligence, including scores of reports from FBI agents following up leads that led nowhere. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
卢旺达宣布与比利时断交
2025-03-18
| Rwanda on Monday severed its diplomatic relations with Belgium and ordered all Belgian diplomats to leave the country within 48 hours.
"The government of Rwanda today notified the government of Belgium of its decision to sever diplomatic relations, effective immediately," the Rwandan foreign ministry said in a statement. "Rwanda's decision has been taken after careful consideration of several factors, all linked with Belgium's pitiful attempts to sustain its neocolonial delusions." "Belgium has consistently undermined Rwanda, both well before and during the ongoing conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), in which Belgium has a deep and violent historical role, especially in acting against Rwanda," the statement said. "Today's decision reflects Rwanda's commitment to safeguarding our national interests and the dignity of Rwandans, as well as upholding the principles of sovereignty, peace, and mutual respect," the statement said. "All Belgian diplomats in Rwanda are required to leave the country within 48 hours. In compliance with the Vienna Convention, Rwanda will assure the protection of the premises, property, and archives of the Belgian diplomatic mission in Kigali," the statement added. In response, Belgium described Kigali's move as "disproportionate" and said it will take similar measures. "Belgium regrets the decision of Rwanda to cut off diplomatic relations with Belgium and to declare Belgium's diplomats persona non grata," Maxime Prevot, deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, European affairs and development cooperation of Belgium, said on social media. "This is disproportionate and shows that when we disagree with Rwanda, they prefer not to engage in dialogue," he said. "Belgium will take similar measures: the convocation of the Rwandan charge d'affaires a.i., declaring Rwanda's diplomats persona non grata and denouncing our governmental cooperation agreements," Prevot said. Belgium has been critical of Rwanda's alleged involvement in the conflict in the eastern DRC, particularly its reported support for the M23 rebel group, an accusation Kigali denies. After resurfacing in late 2021, the M23 has taken control of territories in the eastern DRC, including regional hub Goma. On Monday, the European Union announced sanctions on Rwandan military commanders over the country's alleged support for the M23 rebellion, a move endorsed by Belgium at the EU level. In February, Rwanda suspended its development cooperation with Belgium. Uncertainty looms over a planned direct negotiation between the DRC government and M23 rebels, scheduled for Tuesday in Luanda, the Angolan capital. Although Kinshasa has claimed it will send a government delegation to Luanda, DRC presidential spokesperson Tina Salama said the government has yet to publicly acknowledge sitting at the same negotiation table with the M23 rebels, something Kinshasa has long considered a red line. The negotiation is being brokered by Angolan President Joao Lourenco, a key figure in the Luanda Process, a peace initiative backed by the African Union aimed at easing tensions between Rwanda and the DRC. The DRC has accused Rwanda of supporting the M23, while Rwanda, in turn, claims that the DRC's military has allied with the Rwandan rebel group Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda, which is accused of involvement in the 1994 genocide. For its part, the M23 has confirmed its attendance at the talks in Luanda and announced that it is sending a five-member delegation to Angola on Monday at the government's request. The Angolan Foreign Ministry has yet to provide an update on the planned negotiations, including details on the agenda and confirmed attendees. On Monday, two regional blocs, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the East African Community, held a ministerial meeting in Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, to discuss peace efforts in the eastern DRC. Last week, the SADC confirmed its decision to end its military mission in the DRC and ordered a phased withdrawal of its troops. Deployed in December 2023, the SADC mission comprises military personnel from Malawi, South Africa, and Tanzania, who have been assisting the DRC's military in fighting armed groups in the eastern region. However, the mission has suffered casualties, raising concerns about its effectiveness amid escalating violence. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Trump to speak with Putin Tuesday on Russia-Ukraine ceasefire
特朗普与普京周二会晤讨论俄乌停火
2025-03-17
| US President Donald Trump said he plans to talk with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday about settling the conflict in Ukraine, US media reported.
"We're doing pretty well, I think, with Russia...I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend," Trump told reporters on board Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday evening. Trump, who is working to finalize a 30-day ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine, said that land and power plants will be part of his conversation with the Russian leader. "We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," Trump told reporters. "I think we have a lot of it already discussed very much by both sides, Ukraine and Russia." "We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance," he said. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
No room for any "Taiwan independence" separatist activities: mainland spokesperson
外交部:台湾作为中国的一个省没有独立地位
2025-03-14
| A Chinese mainland spokesperson on Thursday said that no individual or force will be allowed to split Taiwan from China, and that there is no room for "Taiwan independence" separatist activities in any form.
"If the separatist forces dare to cross the red line, resolute actions will be taken in response," said Chen Binhua, a spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office. Chen made the remarks when slamming the latest separatist words of Taiwan's leader, Lai Ching-te, who claimed that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are "not subordinate to each other." In response, Chen stressed that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China. It has never been and will never be a country. "Taiwan belongs to all the Chinese people. This is an indisputable historical and legal fact, and it is the status quo across the Strait that cannot be changed," he said. He also denounced Lai for instigating separatist sentiment on the island and for blocking cross-Strait exchange, warning that anyone seeking "Taiwan independence" is doomed to fail. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Putin says Russia "in favor" of ceasefire, but nuances exist
普京称俄罗斯“愿意”停火，但还有问题需要解决
2025-03-14
| Russia is "in favor" of the 30-day ceasefire plan proposed by the United States and Ukraine, but nuances exist, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
"We agree with the proposals to stop hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this cessation should be one that would lead to long-term peace and eliminate the original causes of this crisis," Putin said at a press conference with visiting Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. Putin noted the difficulty in monitoring ceasefire violations along the 2,000 km contact line of the conflict and raised the issue that Ukraine might use the temporary ceasefire for mobilization and weapons supplies. He mentioned the nuance regarding the Kursk region, where Russian forces have been pushing back Ukrainian forces following their surprise cross-border attack in August 2024. "As for the situation on the ground..., it is changing rapidly," Putin said, noting Russian forces' recapture of the key town of Sudzha in Kursk on Thursday. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier in the day that the Russian operation in Kursk had entered its final stage. Putin said he might call Trump to discuss the issues. Russia will negotiate the next steps to end the conflict and reach acceptable agreements based on the situation "on the ground," the president said. Ukraine on Tuesday signaled its readiness to accept a US proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, according to their joint statement. The statement also said the truce could be extended by mutual agreement, adding that "the United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace." |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
More wait for stranded astronauts after replacement crew delayed
两名滞留太空的宇航员归家再延期
2025-03-13
| A pair of astronauts stuck aboard the International Space Station (ISS) for over nine months may have to wait a little longer to return home after the launch of their replacements was postponed.
The Falcon 9 rocket propelling the NASA-SpaceX Crew-10 mission was set to blast off from Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday at 7:48pm (11:48pm GMT). But with around 45 minutes left on the countdown clock and the four member team strapped in, the launch was scrubbed because of a technical issue. "There was an issue with the hydraulic system on the ground side," NASA launch commentator Derrol Nail said, adding that "everything was fine with the rocket and the spacecraft itself." A Federal Aviation Administration space advisery showed the next launch opportunity is on Thursday, with a backup on Friday. NASA duo Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have been stranded aboard the ISS since June after their Boeing Starliner spacecraft developed propulsion issues and was deemed unfit for their return. It came back empty. Wilmore and Williams were initially slated for an eight-day mission but were reassigned to Crew-9 after its astronauts arrived in September aboard a SpaceX Dragon. The spacecraft carried only two crew members instead of the usual four to make room for Wilmore and Williams. That Crew-9 spacecraft now docked at the ISS can only return to Earth after the one carrying Crew-10 arrives. "We came up prepared to stay long, even though we plan to stay short," Wilmore said in a recent news conference. "That's what your nation's human space flight program is all about, planning for unknown, unexpected contingencies." Crew-9 was set to depart on Sunday, weather permitting, for an ocean splashdown off the Florida coast. It was not immediately clear if that timeline was still feasible. Along with Wilmore and Williams, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov will also be aboard the returning Dragon capsule. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
Ukraine agrees to 30-day ceasefire during talks with US in Saudi Arabia
乌克兰在沙特与美国会谈上同意30天停火
2025-03-12
| Ukraine on Tuesday signaled its readiness to accept a US proposal for an "immediate, interim 30-day ceasefire" following talks with a US delegation in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, according to a joint statement.
The statement, issued after hours of consultations between senior officials from the two countries, said the truce could be extended by mutual agreement, adding that "the United States will communicate to Russia that Russian reciprocity is the key to achieving peace." Washington has agreed to "immediately lift the pause on intelligence sharing and resume security assistance to Ukraine," the statement said, adding that both sides discussed the importance of humanitarian relief efforts, particularly during the ceasefire period. Negotiators also agreed to appoint teams to begin talks aimed at reaching a lasting peace. The United States reaffirmed its commitment to engaging with Russian representatives, while Ukraine emphasized the need for European partners to be involved in the process, the statement said. Additionally, both nations' leaders agreed to finalize "as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine's critical mineral resources to expand Ukraine's economy," it added. The announcement followed a high-level meeting attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz. The Ukrainian delegation included President Volodymyr Zelensky's Chief of Staff Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, and others. Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud and National Security Adviser Musaed bin Muhammad Al-Aiban also took part in the discussions. At a press conference following the talks, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope that Russia would accept the proposal for a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine. He said Ukraine's commitment will "be delivered to them directly through multiple channels," "through our diplomatic channels, through conversations, and other methods." "The ball is in their court," said Rubio, noting that if Kremlin rejects the proposal, "then we'll, unfortunately, know what the impediment is to peace here." Zelensky described the meeting as "good and constructive" on social media platform X. "If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately," Zelensky said. US President Donald Trump said he expects to speak to Russian President Vladimir Putin later this week and hopes Russia also agrees to the terms. When asked how close he thinks Ukraine and Russia are to a total ceasefire, Trump said, "I hope it'll be over the next few days." Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian state news agencies, "We do not rule out contacts with US representatives within the next few days." According to Russian media reports, Dmitry Peskov, press secretary for Putin, said Moscow expected Washington to inform about the talks with Ukraine, stressing that there should not be premature celebration. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on X that the European Union welcomes the US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah, including the proposal for a ceasefire and the resumption of US intelligence sharing and security assistance. French President Emmanuel Macron called on European and NATO military chiefs to draw up a plan "to define credible security guarantees" for Ukraine as peace negotiations accelerated. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
美国对加拿大输美钢铝产品关税加码25%
2025-03-12
| The United States on Tuesday reversed its plan to impose extra 25 percent tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, after the Canadian province of Ontario dropped tariffs on electricity exports to three US states.
"After President Trump threatened to use his executive powers to retaliate with a colossal 50 percent tariff against Canada, Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke with (Commerce) Secretary (Howard) Lutnick to convey that he is backing down on implementing a 25 percent charge on electricity exports to the United States," White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement. Earlier on Tuesday, US President Donald Trump said on social media that he would impose an additional 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum from Canada, raising the total tariff to 50 percent, in response to tariffs on electricity exports from the Canadian province of Ontario. Shortly after, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to three US states. According to a joint statement from Ontario Premier Doug Ford and US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Ford will travel to Washington on Thursday to meet with Lutnick and discuss "a renewed USMCA ahead of the April 2 reciprocal tariff deadline." Previously, Trump announced the imposition of a broad 25 percent tariff on Canada and Mexico, which took effect on March 4. However, just two days later, Trump reversed his position and adjusted the tariff measures, exempting goods that meet the "United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement" (USMCA) preferential conditions from the tariffs, effective until April 2. According to NBC News, a senior US government official estimated that about 38 percent of goods imported from Canada to the United States qualify for the exemption. On March 4, the Canadian government announced that it would implement a 25 percent tariff on US goods worth 155 billion Canadian dollars (about 107 billion US dollars) in phases, with the first round of tariffs on goods worth 30 billion Canadian dollars already in effect. In retaliation to the broad tariffs on Canadian goods, Canada's Ontario government on Monday officially applied a 25 percent surcharge on all electricity exports to three US states: Michigan, Minnesota and New York. Desai also said in the statement that pursuant to Trump's previous executive orders, a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum "with no exceptions or exemptions" will go into effect for all trading partners at midnight, March 12. On February 10, Trump signed proclamations to raise tariffs on aluminum from 10 percent to 25 percent, aligning them with the existing tariff rate for steel. He also decided to eliminate duty-free quotas, exemptions, and exclusions for steel and aluminum tariffs. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
沙特王储兼首相会见乌克兰总统泽连斯基
2025-03-11
| Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met with visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, late Monday evening, the official Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.
The SPA said on social media platform X that the Saudi crown prince received the Ukrainian president at the Al-Salam Palace in Jeddah, where an official reception ceremony was held. The two leaders also held formal talks. Zelensky arrived in the Saudi coastal city earlier on Monday, ahead of US-Ukraine talks. "On Monday, I am scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia to meet with the Crown Prince (Mohammed bin Salman). After that, my team will remain in Saudi Arabia to work with our American partners," the Kiev-based Ukrainian News Agency quoted Zelensky as saying on Friday. Also on Monday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Jeddah and met with the Saudi crown prince. According to a previous statement by the US State Department, Rubio will stay in Jeddah from Monday to Wednesday and meet with a Ukrainian delegation "to advance the President (Trump)'s goal to end the Russia-Ukraine war." The upcoming Ukraine-US meeting, reportedly on Tuesday, follows a rare shouting match at the White House between US President Donald Trump and Zelensky in late February, which led to the cancellation of a bilateral minerals agreement and the subsequent suspension of US military aid to Ukraine. |
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| 来源: Shanghai Daily |
