Free Republic

China has warned countries against striking a broader economic deal with the United States at its expense, ratcheting up its rhetoric in a spiraling trade war between the world’s two biggest economies. The Asian country respects all parties resolving economic and trade differences with the United States through consultation on an equal footing, but it will firmly oppose any party striking a deal at China’s expense, its Commerce Ministry said. Chinese officials “will take countermeasures in a resolute and reciprocal manner” if any country sought such deals, a ministry spokesperson said, addressing a news report that the Trump Administration was...

A former Brazilian beauty queen was deported from the United States after customs agents deemed she was a threat to the country's national security. Francielly Ouriques was connecting at O'Hare International Airport in Chicago on April 10 for a flight to California to attend the 2025 Coachella festival when she was intercepted by U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents. In a video posted on social media earlier this week, Ouriques said that she was escorted to a room for a secondary inspection and underwent questioning. She revealed that one of the reasons that led to her removal was that she...

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski are cozier than ever, despite White House concerns about their relationship. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday night that Lewandowski is now working as a 'special government employee' under Noem at the Department of Homeland Security. Lewandowski had initially wanted to serve as Noem's chief of staff, but President Donald Trump and his top advisers reportedly felt 'uncomfortable' with the optics of such a placement. The president and Lewandowski settled on him becoming a special government employee to DHS so the pair would be more removed...

Four people have been charged with robbing a man at a local motel, in a case where the prostitute the victim had hired may not have been honest about her true intentions. In one case, Trevell Moore, 19, and Taza Thomas Jr., 20, were charged with second degree robbery for allegedly beating a man and stealing $2,000 from him. Both men were arrested earlier this month after detectives identified them as two of at least four suspects. In an earlier filed case, prosecutors charged Bianca Ashely — the 18-year-old woman who allegedly helped set up the victim — and 18-year-old...

The Trump administration plans to eliminate the IRS’ Direct File program, an electronic system for filing tax returns directly to the agency for free, according to two people familiar with the decision. The program developed during Joe Biden’s presidency was credited by users with making tax filing easy, fast and economical. But Republican lawmakers and commercial tax preparation companies complained it was a waste of taxpayer money because free filing programs already exist, although they are hard to use. The program had been in limbo since the start of the Trump administration as Elon Musk and the Department of Government...

There are a lot of interesting facts about Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme, the red-haired Manson follower who professed to loving him until his dying day. One of the most fascinating ones is that she attended high school with the late Phil Hartman, and they were very good friends. Her relationship with Hartman was something of interest to long-time CBS News producer Paul LaRosa, who exchanged numerous letters with Fromme while she was in prison. Hartman was murdered by his wife in May 1998, which was around the time LaRosa and Fromme were writing to each other. The producer asked the former...

According to UN estimates released last year, Europe already hit its peak population in 2021 and has slowly started its population decline. How did this happen, and can this trend reverse? To answer that question, we track the total fertility rate of every European country per UN estimates for 2025.

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Chinese state media outlets have urged people who weigh less than 110lb to stay indoors as the country braces for extreme winds this weekend. Typhoon-like gales are expected to sweep through northern China from Friday to Sunday, with Beijing postponing major sporting events, closing parks, suspending dozens of train services. The region's 22 million residents have been warned against non-essential travel, while those weighing less than 110lbs have been told they could be 'easily blown away'. The warning that those weighing less could be swept away has been trending on Chinese social media. Dozen of flights have been cancelled as...

The euro has what the dollar just gave away: trust. So it is high time for Europe to begin issuing joint debt — or Eurobonds, in bubble-speak. Advocates have long made their case plain: Eurobonds would not only finance European rearmament — or, in Mediterranean, “readiness” — they would give investors a safe haven for long-term investments as the world rearranges its trade furniture. The last few weeks can only have strengthened their case. Yesterday, the US genius-in-chief realised that his GPT-crafted penguin-tariffs may not have been the killer 5D chess move his yes-men first made them out to be....

Weezer bassist Scott Shriner's wife Jillian Lauren was shot by police officers in Los Angeles Tuesday after authorities say she pointed a gun at a hit-and-run suspect, and refused to obey orders from officers on the scene. The incident began with a hit-and-run in the LA neighborhood of Eagle Rock, police told TMZ Tuesday, noting that a trio of suspects exited their vehicle on foot and scattered. All three had been running from the scene, police said, adding that Lauren, 51, came out from one of the nearby homes with a weapon in hand, though 'it's unclear whether she fired'...

Christmas decoration suppliers should have received their first orders for trees and ornaments by now. But they haven't. Chinese producers of plastic Christmas trees and other festive decorations say orders from US clients, which are crucial for their business, have stopped amid a tariff tit-for-tat tariff announcements. President Donald Trump has raised tariffs on Chinese imports by 104 percent so far this year US retailers are almost completely reliant on China for Christmas decorations, where they source 87 percent of the holiday's goods — worth roughly $4 billion. Chinese factories are also heavily dependent on the US market, where they...

This is what the endgame of trans ideology looks like: an all-male final of a women’s pool championship. Last night, the UK’s Ultimate Pool Women’s Pro Series Event 2 in Wigan had its final match. This women’s pool event wouldn’t ordinarily have grabbed the headlines, except for one curious detail: this year, there were no women in the final. It was played between two transgender-identified men – Harriet Haynes and Lucy Smith. They had defeated four female opponents each before making it to the final, which Haynes ultimately won. Broadcaster Piers Morgan took to X to call the incident ‘preposterous’...

Democratic strategist James Carville said Friday his “Politicon” podcast that those who cooperate with President Donald Trump’s administration were comparable to Nazi collaborators in World War II. Carville said, “How disgraced must these law firms feel now? How disgraced must these companies that are sucking up to him – that are giving him tens of millions of dollars for access. Do you know what’s going to happen? Do you know how this ends? Do you know these collaborators, what the country is going to feel towards collaborators with this regime? Maybe you need to go in history and see what...

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is implementing a data privacy policy that allows people with private jets to hide travel information from the public. “Starting today, they can submit a request through the Civil Aviation Registry Electronic Services (CARES) to withhold this information from public display on all FAA websites.” In its statement, the FAA said the data protection decision was taken based on a privacy provision included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The provision allows aircraft owners to request that certain personally identifiable information not be made publicly available via FAA websites. “The FAA will publish a...

US President Donald Trump has shown a callous disregard for the checks and balances that have long protected American democracy. As the self-described ‘king’ makes a momentous power grab, much of the world watches anxiously, aware that his administration’s growing illegality and corruption is eroding not only the US Constitution but what remains of the post-1945 international order. A return to great-power spheres of interest looks increasingly likely. But foreign governments, businesses and civil-society groups have more power than they think in the face of a revisionist United States. They can take five steps to create external checks and balances...

O.J. Simpson’s bible, which was gifted to him by Kim Kardashian's father Robert Kardashian Sr, has been sold for an astounding amount. Just weeks after the late NFL star's estate turned down the 44-year-old reality star's $15,000 offer to buy it, the family heirloom officially sold at auction for $65,800 — or $80,276 with its buyer's premium, according to its listing on Goldin Auctions' website. The item received 49 bids total, 14 of which came on Sunday, March 30, the final day to make an offer. At this time, the identity of the winning bidder remains unknown, according to TMZ....

A genetically modified pig liver that was transplanted into a brain-dead patient appeared to function successfully inside their body for 10 days, according to the scientists who performed the groundbreaking procedure. The surgery, at a Chinese hospital last year, is thought to mark the first time a pig liver has been transplanted into a human. It raises the prospect of pig livers serving as a “bridging organ” for patients on the waiting list for a transplant or to support liver function while their own organ regenerates. The advance is the latest in a series of transplants involving pig organs since...

Democratic California Rep. Maxine Waters suggested President Donald Trump should investigate and potentially deport first lady Melania Trump during an anti-DOGE protest in Los Angeles over the weekend. “When he [Trump] talks about birthright, and he’s going to undo the fact that the Constitution allows those who are born here, even if the parents are undocumented, they have a right to stay in America. If he wants to start looking so closely to find those who were born here and their parents were undocumented, maybe he ought to first look at Melania,” Waters was seen saying from the stage of...

Ultra-wealthy Americans are rushing to open Swiss bank accounts amid fears of economic turmoil and concerns their cash will be targeted by Donald Trump. Increasing uncertainty and fears of potential restrictions on moving money overseas mean the rich are transferring hundreds of millions of dollars out of the US. Robert Paul, co-head of private clients at UK-based wealth management firm London and Capital, told The Telegraph: 'These are big chunks of money. We've had five cases in the last three or four weeks, and the sums have been $40m, $30m, $30m, $100m and $50m.' He added: 'I am expecting to...