'Fearing Future Without Babies', Students 'Race' Sperm In Los Angeles

A commentator yells excitedly as hundreds of spectators stand glued to a video of a racecourse -- but the athletes they are rooting for are actually tiny sperm cells.

The unusual sport was invented by 17-year-old high schooler Eric Zhu, who raised over a million dollars to organise the event to call attention to male infertility.

Zhu said he was inspired by social media posts that claim average sperm counts had halved over the past 50 years.

Fearing that "there could be this dystopian future where no one will be able to make babies," Zhu said he wanted to use the competition to highlight the importance of reproductive health.

Scientists have not reached a consensus on whether humanity has experienced a dramatic drop in sperm count, with studies showing conflicting results.

At the Los Angeles event on Friday night, a man in a lab coat used pipettes to place samples of semen -- collected from contestants ahead of time -- onto tiny two-millimetre long "tracks."

The race track was magnified 100 times by a microscope, then filmed by a camera that transferred the image to a 3D animation software before the final video was broadcast to the audience.

"There's no way to really tell if this is real, but I want to believe it is," Felix Escobar, a 20-year-old spectator, told AFP.

At the end of the brief race, the loser, 19-year-old University of California student Asher Proeger, was sprayed with a liquid resembling semen.

'Not Elon Musk'

Zhu's fears about fertility echo the talking points of many in the burgeoning pro-natalist movement, which include conservative and far-right political figures.

But Zhu distanced himself from the movement.

"I have nothing to do with this, I'm not like an Elon Musk, who wants to repopulate the Earth," the young entrepreneur told AFP.

Musk, a close ally of US President Donald Trump, has been vocal about his belief that population decline threatens the West and has fathered over a dozen children with multiple women.

Zhu insisted he simply wanted to raise awareness of how sperm quality goes hand in hand with overall health.

"It's your choice to sleep earlier. It's your choice to stop doing drugs. It's your choice to eat healthier, and all these different things have a significant kind of impact on your motility," Zhu said.

Shanna Swan, a reproductive epidemiologist at Mount Sinai's Icahn School of Medicine, co-authored a study that found the sperm count decline cited by Zhu.

She said the proliferation of "hormonally active chemicals" in recent years has had a negative impact on human fertility.

But beneath the scientific veneer, the sperm race may seem more like an opportunity for college students to display their adolescent humor and participate in a viral stunt.

Some attendees dressed in costumes, including one resembling male genitals, while the hosts made lewd jokes and roasted the competitors.

A YouTube livestream of the event attracted over 100,000 views.

"I can't say I learned stuff I didn't know before," 22-year-old student and audience member Alberto Avila-Baca told AFP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

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FBI Chief Kash Patel's 'Judge Arrested In Migrant Case' Post Vanishes From X

FBI chief Kash Patel finds himself in a spot after hastily posting about a judge's arrest on his social media handle on X. The case in question was about an undocumented migrant who was allegedly evading federal agents who were pursuing him.

The Trump administration has accused the sitting Judge of a federal court of allegedly "helping" the migrant. The judge's arrest comes amid growing struggle between the government and the judiciary in America.

President Trump's policy on immigrants, both legal and illegal - and the manner of their detention and deportation has been nothing short of being termed hardline, rights activists say.

'DELETED WITHIN MINUTES'

The tussle between the White House and courts saw a sharp escalation with the arrest of Hannah Dugan, a Milwaukee County circuit judge. She "intentionally misdirected federal agents away from the subject," claimed Mr Patel in a post on X, adding that agents were "intending to detain the migrant at the courthouse."

Mr Patel further wrote that "The FBI arrested Judge Hannah Dugan out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin on charges of obstruction - after evidence of Judge Dugan obstructing an immigration arrest operation last week." But the FBI Director deleted his post within minutes.

The migrant was arrested shortly afterwards. "Thankfully our agents chased down the perp on foot and he's been in custody since, but the Judge's obstruction created increased danger to the public," Mr Patel said.

JUDGES BEING ARRESTED

However, Judge Dugan's whereabouts remained unknown. Her arrest status also remained unclear.

On Thursday, a former county magistrate judge in New Mexico and his wife were also taken into custody after federal agents raided their Las Cruces home over their harboring of an alleged undocumented migrant who is believed to be a member of Venezuela's Tren de Aragua gang, US media reported.

Several federal and state judges across America have issued rulings that put many of President Trump's executive orders on hold, particularly those where he exercised unprecedented powers in deporting migrants.

TRUMP vs THE JUDICIARY

The Trump administration is at loggerheads with judges, activists, rights groups, academics, universities, and to say the least, Democrats, who all say that the US President has blatantly ignored rights enshrined in the US Constitution and trampled on the justice system in a rush to deport migrants, who he treats as enemies and hardened criminals.

They say that migrants are being chased out with such intensity and viciousness, that most are not even getting to exercise their right to a hearing. At a recent press briefing at the Oval Office, Donald Trump has even said that he believes not everybody deserves a court hearing.

"We're getting them out, and I hope we get cooperation from the courts because you know, we have thousands of people that are ready to go out, and you can't have a trial for all of these people," President Trump had said.

Considering all migrants being deported as criminals and killers, Mr Trump had said, "Look, we are getting some very bad people, killers, murderers, drug dealers, really bad people, the mentally ill, the mentally insane, they emptied out insane asylums into our country, we're getting them out", adding that "A judge can't say, 'No, you have to have a trial.'"

"We are going to have a very dangerous country if we are not allowed to do what we are entitled to do," Donald Trump had said.
 

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After Clash With Zelensky, Trump Says 'Crimea Will Stay With Russia'

The recent interview with US President Donald Trump by TIME magazine has caused debate regarding the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Trump stated that "Crimea will stay with Russia” as part of potential peace negotiations with Ukraine, adding that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky understands this reality. 

The Crimean peninsula has been a point of contention between Ukraine and Russia for years, with Russia annexing the region in 2014. Trump's comments suggest that he believes Crimea's fate is already sealed, with Russia maintaining control over the region. He pointed out that the people of Crimea largely speak Russian, implying that this demographic factor contributes to the region's ties with Russia. However, he also took a swipe at his predecessor, Barack Obama, saying, "But this was given by Obama. This wasn't given by Trump."

Zelensky has consistently maintained that recognising occupied territory as Russian is a red line for Ukraine, and Trump's comments may be seen as an attempt to push Ukraine towards negotiations.

In contrast to his comments on Crimea, Trump has also criticised Russian President Vladimir Putin for continuing to assault Ukraine. In a statement, Trump said, "I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Let's get the Peace Deal DONE!"

In response, Zelensky pointed out on Thursday that Ukraine had accepted a US ceasefire proposal 44 days ago as the first step toward peace talks, but Russian attacks have continued.

Trump also said that Ukraine will never join NATO and added, “From day one, that's what caused the war to start—talks of NATO membership".

Speaking to reporters Friday as he left the White House to attend the funeral of Pope Francis in Rome, Trump said there is no deadline for the conclusion of peace talks.

“I just want to do it as fast as possible,” Trump said. Negotiators are “pretty close” to a deal, he said.

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BluSmart Co-Founder Puneet Jaggi Detained From Delhi Hotel: Sources

EV cab service BluSmart co-founder Puneet Jaggi has been detained from a hotel in Delhi by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a case linked to Gensol Group, another company that he co-founded.

The ED also searched properties of Gensol in Delhi, Gurugram, and Ahmedabad, sources said. The action came in a case under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), they said.

Mr Jaggi had been staying in the Delhi hotel for the last one week, sources said.

Power Finance Corporation filed a complaint with the Delhi Police and the Economic Offences Wing some days ago, sources said, adding Mr Jaggi's brother Anmol Jaggi is in Dubai and has not yet returned to India.

This ED investigation began on the basis of a report by the capital markets regulator SEBI, which alleged fund diversion, transfer of money to shell firms, share price manipulation, and running personal expenses from loan funds.

Sources said the ED may start a fresh investigation for alleged money laundering.

The ED has traced the wives of the Jaggi brothers in Pune, and they are likely to be questioned too, sources said.

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Attari Border Shut: Government's Big Measure Against Pak After J&K Attack

The Attari Border between India and Pakistan, located in Punjab, will be closed from tonight as part of retaliatory measures against Pakistan following the shocking terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam - the worst since the 2019 Pulwama strike -- in which 26 people died. 

Besides closure of Attari border, suspension of Indus water treaty and refusal to issue SAARC visas were among the range of measures India will take against Pakistan, the Cabinet Committee on Security decided this evening. The committee chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had met to formulate India's response to the attack.

"The Integrated Check Post Attari will be closed with immediate effect. Those who have crossed over with valid endorsements may return through that route before 01 May 2025," the foreign ministry announced after the meeting. 

The suspension of Indus Water Treaty - a water sharing agreement that sends the waters of Indus to the parched heartland of Pakistan - is the strongest measure. This is the first time the water treaty is being suspended - the measure is seen as second only to cutting off diplomatic relations. 

The government will brief the political parties regarding the decisions, sources said. 

Around 2.30 pm yesterday, terrorists had opened fire at tourists traversing a meadow in Baisaran valley on ponies. A Nepali national, a man helping the pony riders, and 24 tourists from across 14 states had died. 

The terrorists had shot the men on the head, after apparently asking them to recite Islamic verses. Visuals of women in shock, sitting beside the bodies of their husbands, were widely circulated online, evoking outrage.

The Resistance Front (TRF) -- a terror group seen as proxy for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba -- has claimed responsibility for the attack, which has sent shock waves across the country.

Earlier today, Union defence minister Rajnath Singh made it clear that India will retaliate. Without naming Pakistan, he said, "I assure people that the Government of India will take every step that is necessary and appropriate. And we will not only get those who have carried out this incident, we will also reach out to those who, sitting behind the scenes, have conspired to commit such nefarious acts on the soil of India".

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"Brutal Crime, Has No Justification": Putin On Pahalgam Terror Attack

Russian president Vladimir Putin reached out to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi this evening, expressing condolences for the deaths in the massive terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. 

Twenty-six people -- most of them tourists -- died in Kashmir's Pahalgam today as terrorists struck. Several others were injured. 

"This brutal crime has no justification whatsoever. We expect that its organisers and perpetrators will face a deserved punishment," read the message from the Russian President.

"I would like to reiterate our commitment to further increasing cooperation with Indian partners in fighting terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. Please convey words of sincere sympathy and support to the near and dear ones of the deceased as well as wishes for a speedy recovery of all injured," he had added.

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Trump Issues 8-Pointer 'Non-Tariff Cheating' Warning Amid 90-Day Pause

US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued an eight-point 'non-tariff cheating' list, warning countries of non-tariff-related offences that could spoil relations with the US. The warning came days after Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China.

In the eight-point list, Trump mentioned currency manipulation - an accusation he has made previously on some countries for deliberately devaluing their currencies to make their exports more competitive while making US products costlier abroad. Another warning is about Value-Added Taxes (VATs) that are applied to imports but refunded on exports in many nations.

The Republican leader also warned countries of dumping below cost, export and other government subsidies, protective agricultural standards, counterfeiting, piracy, and IP theft, and transshipping to evade tariffs.

He also warned of protective technical standards, citing Japan's 'bowling ball test' - a claim Trump made first in 2018.

According to Trump, Japan uses a so-called "bowling ball test" to cheat US auto companies out of selling cars to Japanese consumers. "They take a bowling ball from 20 feet up in the air and drop it on the hood of the car. If the hood dents, the car doesn't qualify. It's horrible," he had said.

NON-TARIFF CHEATING:

1. Currency Manipulation
2. VATs which act as tariffs and export subsidies
3. Dumping Below Cost
4. Export Subsidies and Other Govt. Subsidies
5. Protective Agricultural Standards (e.g., no genetically engineered corn in EU)
6. Protective Technical Standards…

— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) April 20, 2025

Trump's 90-day pause on tariffs

On April 9, Trump announced a 90-day pause on his sweeping tariffs on all countries, barring China - a move that had seemed nearly impossible. According to Trump, who had introduced the slew of tariffs to address the alleged trade imbalance with the US, over 75 countries had negotiated and not retaliated against him - which led to the pause. During the 90 days, a significantly reduced reciprocal tariff of just 10 per cent would be in effect, he said.

A growing alarm inside the Treasury Department over the developments in the bond market was reportedly the only factor that made Trump hit a pause on his reciprocal tariff regime.

"The bond market is very tricky, I was watching it. The bond market right now is beautiful. But yeah, I saw last night where people were getting a little queasy. We didn't have access to lawyers, or it was just wrote up. We wrote it up from our hearts, right? It was written from the heart, and I think it was well written too, but it was written from the heart," the US President said while addressing reporters after tariff pause announcement.

US-China tariff war

Trump's administration is locked in a war of sky-high reciprocal tariffs with superpower rival China that has unnerved world markets.

While Trump put a pause on his tariffs on all countries, he announced an immediate increase in tariffs on China to 125 per cent, up from the previously declared 104 per cent, and later to a whopping 145 per cent after Beijing retaliated to his sweeping "Liberation Day" worldwide levies.

"Based on the lack of respect that China has shown to the World's Markets, I am hereby raising the Tariff charged to China by the United States of America. At some point, hopefully in the near future, China will realize that the days of ripping off the US and other countries, is no longer sustainable or acceptable. China wants to make a deal. They just don't know how quite to go about it...President Xi Jinping is a proud man. They don't know quite how to go about it, but they'll figure it out," Trump had said.

Amid the ongoing conflict, Trump said that he was confident the two countries could make a deal to end a bitter trade war.

"Yeah, we're talking to China. I would say they have reached out a number of times," he said.

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