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In early March 2025, amid rising trade tensions, President Trump imposed tariffs on imports from Canada, Mexico, and China, citing concerns over fentanyl trafficking and trade imbalances. These actions immediately triggered retaliatory measures from all three countries, raising fears of a global trade war and causing significant market volatility.

Canada swiftly responded with counter-tariffs on U.S. goods and denounced Trump's actions as an assault on Canadian sovereignty. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau vowed not to back down, accusing Trump of attempting to destabilize the Canadian economy to pave the way for potential annexation by the U.S.

Mexico also retaliated, with President Claudia Sheinbaum demanding respect from the U.S. Both nations engaged in negotiations with U.S. officials, who hinted at the possibility of partial relief for companies in compliance with the USMCA trade agreement.

In a bid to de-escalate tensions, Trump later announced a one-month exemption on auto tariffs for Canada and Mexico, provided they adhered to existing trade rules. The decision followed talks with leaders from Ford, General Motors, and Stellantis. Despite this temporary reprieve, the broader trade conflict remains unresolved, with economists warning of negative impacts on prices, economic growth, and employment if tariffs continue to escalate.

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Mickey 17," directed by Bong Joon Ho, is a darkly comedic sci-fi satire starring Robert Pattinson as Mickey Barnes, an "expendable" crew member on a space colonization mission. Tasked with deadly assignments, Mickey is repeatedly killed and reprinted with his memories intact, raising profound questions about identity, human worth, and exploitation.

As Mickey endures the brutal cycle of death and rebirth, he eventually encounters an unexpected complication—his own duplicate, Mickey 18. Together, they must challenge the expedition’s coldly ruthless leader, Kenneth Marshall, and his manipulative wife.

Critics have praised Pattinson’s nuanced performance in portraying multiple versions of Mickey, while Mark Ruffalo and Toni Collette add to the film’s surreal, satirical edge. Drawing thematic parallels to Bong’s previous works, such as Snowpiercer and Parasite, Mickey 17 tackles classism, political power, and social hierarchy with biting wit. While some reviewers applaud its bold vision and thought-provoking themes, others critique its pacing and narrative focus. Regardless, Mickey 17 stands as a unique and daring addition to Bong Joon Ho’s filmography.

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Two active-duty U.S. Army soldiers, Jian Zhao and Li Tian, alongside former soldier Ruoyu Duan, have been charged with conspiring to sell sensitive military information to individuals in China. Zhao and Tian were stationed at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state, while Duan resides in Oregon.

Zhao faces charges of conspiring to obtain and transmit national defense information, bribery, and theft of government property. He is accused of selling an encrypted military computer and classified hard drives, some labeled "secret" and "top secret," to a co-conspirator in exchange for money. Tian and Duan are charged with conspiring to commit bribery and theft of government property. Tian allegedly gathered sensitive data on U.S. weapons systems, including Bradley and Stryker armored vehicles, and sold it to Duan, who subsequently received payments from individuals in China.

The Justice Department and FBI have linked these thefts to Beijing, asserting that the accused individuals betrayed their country by undermining America's defense capabilities. Attorney General Pam Bondi condemned the actions, stating that the three men "are accused of betraying our country in an effort to empower China.

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The 97th Academy Awards, held on March 2, 2025, saw Conan O'Brien take the stage as host for a night full of unforgettable moments.

The evening's biggest winner was Anora, which dominated with five awards, including Best Picture, Best Director (Sean Baker), Best Actress (Mikey Madison), Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing. In her emotional acceptance speech for Best Actress, Madison paid tribute to the sex worker community, while Baker urged the audience to support local movie theaters.

Adrien Brody claimed his second Best Actor Oscar for his role in The Brutalist, having previously won for The Pianist. In his acceptance speech, Brody called for a more inclusive world.

Zoe Saldaña won Best Supporting Actress for Emilia Pérez, and Kieran Culkin took home Best Supporting Actor for his performance in A Real Pain.

The ceremony also featured tributes to iconic figures Gene Hackman and Quincy Jones, who were celebrated for their remarkable careers. Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo, stars of the upcoming Wicked adaptation, opened the show with a stunning musical performance. Additionally, the event honored first responders from the Los Angeles area for their heroic efforts during the recent devastating wildfires.

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Elon Musk, serving as a senior advisor to President Trump and leading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), introduced a controversial policy requiring all federal employees to submit a weekly productivity report or face resignation. Announcing the directive on X, Musk warned that failure to respond to an email request would be interpreted as a resignation. He downplayed the requirement, insisting the report should take less than five minutes to complete and that “the bar is very low.”

The policy sparked widespread confusion across federal agencies. While the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) confirmed its validity, agencies like the FBI and the State Department urged employees to wait for further clarification. Labor unions, including the American Federation of Government Employees, condemned the move and vowed to challenge any unlawful terminations. Critics, including union leaders, denounced the ultimatum as disrespectful and reflective of the administration’s disregard for federal employees. Legal experts have also questioned the policy’s legitimacy. Meanwhile, Musk has praised employees who complied, suggesting they should be considered for promotion.

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Pope Francis is currently in critical condition at a hospital in Rome, battling pneumonia and a severe lung infection. The 88-year-old pontiff has suffered a respiratory crisis and undergone blood transfusions, while doctors closely monitor him for sepsis, a life-threatening blood infection.

His deteriorating health has raised concerns about the future of the papacy and the potential need to elect a new pope. If necessary, the process follows a conclave, where cardinals under the age of 80 gather in secrecy to vote on a successor. After each vote, ballots are burned—white smoke signals a successful election, while black smoke indicates no decision. Once a new pope is elected and accepts the role, he chooses a papal name and is formally introduced to the world with the announcement: "Habemus Papam" (We have a Pope).

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The Ferrari F40, produced from 1987 to 1992, was a groundbreaking supercar celebrating Ferrari's 40th anniversary. Designed by Nicola Materazzi with Pininfarina styling, it was the last Ferrari model approved by Enzo Ferrari. With a 2.9-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 478 hp and 426 lb-ft of torque, the F40 could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.1 seconds, reaching a top speed of 324 km/h. Featuring lightweight Kevlar and carbon fiber body panels, it set a new standard for performance. Only 1,311 units were built, and it remains beloved for its raw, unfiltered driving experience.

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The iPhone 16e, announced in February 2025, is an affordable iPhone 16 model with pre-orders starting February 21 and availability on February 28. Powered by the A18 chip, it features Apple Intelligence, a 48MP 2-in-1 camera system, and a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display. It offers top-tier battery life, USB-C, and wireless charging. The Action button provides quick access to functions, and ChatGPT is integrated into Writing Tools and Siri. With storage options up to 512GB, it starts at $599. Water-resistant and durable, the iPhone 16e is built for power, efficiency, and Apple’s latest AI features.

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