International and National News with Maisie Strader

Vietnam Marks 50th Anniversary of War’s End with Emphasis on Peace and Unity

Today, Vietnam commemorates the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War with a grand military parade in Ho Chi Minh City, reflecting on peace, unity, and national development. The fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975 marked the unification of the communist North and U.S.-allied South, culminating a 30-year struggle for independence. 

Communist Party General Secretary To Lam emphasized reconciliation and nation-building, acknowledging support from allies such as the Soviet Union, China, Laos, and Cambodia. The event included participation from international troops and veterans. Around 13,000 people joined the celebrations, which included parades, fireworks, and cultural floats.​

Pham Ngoc Son ( FAM—-ING-UH-CP—-SON) a 69 year old veteran says, “The war is over a long time ago.”

Tensions Escalate Between India and Pakistan Following Deadly Attack in Kashmir

Tensions between India and Pakistan have sharply escalated following a deadly attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir that killed 26 people, mostly Indian tourists. India has blamed Pakistan for supporting the attackers, a claim Pakistan denies.Pakistan announced it had “credible intelligence” that India plans imminent military action, potentially within 24 to 36 hours. In response, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given its military complete operational freedom to retaliate.

AP News says, “On Wednesday, India and Pakistan accused each other of initiating the gunfire. Pakistan’s state-run media said Indian forces violated the ceasefire agreement along the Line of Control by initiating fire with heavy weapons. According to Pakistan Television, Pakistani troops returned fire after coming under attack overnight in the Mandal sector of Pakistan-controlled Kashmir. Meanwhile, the Indian army said it responded to ‘unprovoked’ small arms fire from Pakistan in the Naushera, Sunderbani and Akhnoor sectors of Indian-controlled Kashmir.”

India’s cabinet committee met wednesday, this was the second meeting to de-escalate the situation

Political News with Dan

Liberals win in Canada

Monday night, Canada’s Prime Minister, Mark Carney, led the Liberal Party to victory in the federal election against the Conservative Party. The Liberals won 169 seats to the Conservatives’ 144. The Bloc Québécois party, which advocates for Quebec nationalism, won 22 seats, while the New Democratic Party, which sits to the left of the Liberals, won 7 seats, down from their previous total of 24. Because they didn’t win at least 12 seats, they will lose official party status in Canada for the first time since 1993. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre lost his riding of Carleton to Liberal Bruce Fanjoy. Poilievre had held that seat for over 20 years. Carney is the former leader of both the Bank of Canada and the Bank of England, and his message of financial experience and stability resonated with voters as US President Donald Trump continues his trade war and calls to annex Canada as the 51st state.

Economy shrinks in first quarter

According to Reuters, the U.S. economy contracted in the first quarter, weighed down by tons of goods imported by businesses eager to avoid higher costs. Gross domestic product fell by 0.3% in the first quarter of the year, down from 2.4% in the last quarter of 2024. According to The Guardian, the contraction – the first since the start of 2022 – puts the US on the brink of a technical recession, defined by two quarters of negative growth. Days into the second quarter of 2025, President Trump ordered higher tariffs on much of the world, before pulling them back on all countries except China. Currently, Trump is charging a 10% universal tariff on imported goods from much of the world, along with a 145% tariff on imports from China. 

Ukraine and US set to sign minerals deal

According to Politico and a top official in Kyiv, the US and Ukraine are set to announce a new minerals deal today. As published in Politico this morning, U.S. President Donald Trump has previously described such a deal as reimbursement for the billions in American aid funneled to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. The terms of the deal include assurances that Ukraine will not need to pay back prior aid as debt and that the U.S. will contribute to a reconstruction fund. Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were previously set to sign a rare minerals deal in February, before breaking off negotiations after a heated argument in the Oval Office.