The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.3% annual pace from January through March, the first drop in three years, as President Donald Trump’s trade wars disrupted business. First-quarter growth was slowed by a surge in imports as companies in the United States tried to bring in foreign goods before Trump imposed massive tariffs.
A deadly attack on tourists in the disputed Kashmir region last week has spiked tensions between India and Pakistan. India accuses Pakistan of backing the massacre, a charge Pakistan denies.
The nuclear-armed neighbors have downgraded diplomatic ties, threatened to suspend key treaties and expelled each other’s nationals. It’s the biggest breakdown in relations since 2019, when a suicide car bombing killed 40 Indian soldiers in Kashmir.
More than 50,000 Los Angeles County workers demanding higher pay were on strike again Tuesday, and the walkout caused closures or disruptions at libraries, healthcare clinics and administrative offices across the nation’s most populous county.
The two-day strike that began Monday evening followed failed negotiations with the county for a new contract after the last one expired in March.
The union represents employees including public health professionals, social workers, parks and recreation staff, custodians, clerical workers and others serving a county of 10 million residents. It’s the first time all of its about 55,000 members are on strike, the union said.
Eli Bieker can be reached at biek1966@stthomas.edu.
