Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum launched “Mexico Canta,” a song contest aiming to counter the narcocorrido genre’s glorification of cartel culture. The contest, open to Mexican and U.S. artists aged 18-34, encourages songs on themes of love, despair, and Mexico, in contrast to narcocorridos’ violence and misogyny. Recent incidents, including visa revocations for a band displaying cartel imagery and violent fan reactions to a narcocorrido ban, underscore the initiative’s urgency. The contest runs from April 28th to May 30th, with submissions limited to three-minute songs.
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Temu and Shein, facing increased operating expenses due to new global trade rules and tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, will raise prices starting April 25th. The price hikes are a direct result of the 145% tariff on goods from China and the elimination of a duty-free exemption for goods under $800. This change significantly impacts the business models of these e-commerce giants, known for their ultra-low prices. Despite the price increases, both companies assure customers that they are working to minimize the impact and maintain service.
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Trump’s recent decision to close a loophole in China tariffs is sending ripples through the fast-fashion world, significantly impacting online retailers like Temu and Shein. The new tariff applies to international postal shipments valued under $800, imposing either a 30% levy on the item’s value or a minimum charge, whichever is higher. This means that smaller packages face a substantially increased cost.
Initially, the minimum tariff was set at $25, affecting packages up to roughly $83 in value. However, starting June 1st, 2025, this minimum charge doubles to $50, impacting packages valued up to approximately $167. For shipments exceeding these thresholds, the 30% tariff remains in effect.… Continue reading
Mexico, under President Claudia Sheinbaum, formally recognized Palestine as a state, a decision lauded by Palestinian Ambassador Nadya Rasheed. This courageous move, further solidifying Mexico’s commitment to global justice and peace, challenges existing geopolitical narratives. Sheinbaum’s action, notable given her Jewish heritage, signals a potential shift in international relations regarding Palestinian statehood. The recognition is anticipated to generate considerable international response.
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Forever 21, a pioneer of fast fashion, has filed for bankruptcy and will close its remaining US stores. The company cites intense competition from foreign fast-fashion retailers, leveraging pricing advantages, as a major factor in its demise. Rising costs, economic headwinds, and shifting consumer trends also contributed to the decision. While US stores will close, international locations and the company’s website will remain operational.
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Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum strongly rebuked U.S. President Donald Trump’s accusations of collusion between the Mexican government and drug cartels, countering that the U.S. harbors its own criminal networks and that numerous American citizens are involved in drug trafficking within Mexico. Sheinbaum cited an investigation revealing over 2,600 U.S. citizen arrests for organized crime offenses in Mexico since 2018, emphasizing the need for bilateral cooperation and U.S. action to curb domestic drug trafficking and consumption. Furthermore, she criticized Google’s renaming of the Gulf of Mexico for U.S. users, threatening legal action if the name change isn’t reversed. Sheinbaum and other Mexican officials maintain that Mexico is actively combating drug cartels and rejects any suggestion of complicity.
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Donald Trump’s FBI nominee, Kash Patel, holds between $1 million and $5 million in Shein stock, a Chinese e-commerce company facing intense scrutiny in Washington. Patel, who began consulting for Shein’s parent company, Elite Depot Ltd., in April 2024, plans to retain his shares despite Senate confirmation. This comes as Shein attempts to go public amidst allegations of unethical business practices and lobbying efforts. While no immediate conflict of interest exists, experts advise divestiture or recusal to improve public perception.
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Despite a temporary pause in trade negotiations, Canadian sports fans in Vancouver, Toronto, and Ottawa continued to express their disapproval of recent U.S. economic policies by booing the American national anthem before NHL and NBA games. This follows similar protests at games earlier in the week. The demonstrations coincided with a month-long delay in the implementation of new tariffs. While Canadian fans cheered loudly for “O Canada,” the jeering of “The Star-Spangled Banner” highlights the ongoing tension between the two countries.
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Effective immediately, the United States Postal Service has temporarily suspended the acceptance of packages originating from China and Hong Kong, excluding letters and flats. This action follows President Trump’s new tariffs on Chinese goods and China’s subsequent retaliatory tariffs, which also eliminated a duty-free exemption for low-value packages. The suspension, for an unspecified duration, impacts online retailers like Shein and Temu and may be related to increased difficulty screening packages for security risks. The timing coincides with planned discussions between Presidents Trump and Xi.
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Following a unilateral executive order from Donald Trump, Google altered the name of the Gulf of Mexico to “Gulf of America” on its maps, prompting outrage from Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum. Sheinbaum criticized Google’s compliance, highlighting the illegality of the name change under international law and the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. In response, Sheinbaum conversely requested Google to label parts of the United States as “América Mexicana” on its maps, mirroring Google’s actions. Google’s stated rationale was adherence to its policy of updating names based on official government sources, while it has yet to respond to Sheinbaum’s counter-proposal.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood