DHL Resumes High-Value Shipments to US After Reaching Deal on Customs Rules

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Business

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Image Source: Mitchell Labiak/Getty Images

DHL has lifted a suspension on deliveries valued over $800 (£603) to the United States after reaching an agreement with US customs authorities to ease newly imposed regulatory hurdles.

Earlier this month, the global logistics company halted such shipments indefinitely, citing a "significant increase" in customs red tape triggered by changes tied to former President Donald Trump's tariff policies. The move had caused concern among businesses and consumers relying on international shipments.

Following what DHL described as "constructive dialogue" with US government agencies, including Customs and Border Protection, the Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Commerce, the company announced on Monday that it would resume accepting high-value business-to-consumer shipments into the US.

A DHL spokesperson welcomed the outcome, stating, "We value this positive development and the support of the federal government in making these changes." The adjustments, the company added, would help ensure that critical goods continue reaching US businesses and consumers "in a timely, safe, and compliant manner."

The suspension had been triggered by a reduction in the threshold for simplified customs clearance. Previously, packages valued up to $2,500 could enter the US with minimal paperwork. However, new rules lowered the threshold to $800, creating a surge in formal customs clearances and resulting in significant delays.

DHL acknowledged last week that it was working around the clock to manage the increased workload and warned that shipments over $800 might face multi-day delays. The latest agreement aims to streamline customs processes to mitigate such issues.

Impact on Broader Trade Policies

The developments with DHL come amid a broader US government effort to tighten controls on low-value imports, particularly from China and Hong Kong. On 2 May, Washington plans to close a longstanding loophole under the "de minimis" rule, which allows goods valued under $800 to enter duty-free.

The closure of this loophole is expected to significantly impact major low-cost retailers like Shein and Temu, which have already warned of impending price hikes due to the new trade restrictions.

The debate over the "de minimis" rule highlights growing tensions between the business community and government authorities over the future of US trade policy, with companies navigating a rapidly evolving regulatory landscape.

As of now, DHL’s decision to lift the suspension offers some relief to businesses and consumers, even as wider trade challenges loom.

Kashmir’s Tourism Industry Reels After Deadly Attack as Tensions Escalate

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering Asia

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Image Source: Seraj Ali

One week after a devastating militant attack near the scenic mountain resort of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir claimed 26 lives, the region remains gripped by uncertainty and grief, even as tourists slowly trickle back.

The once-bustling high street of Pahalgam, abandoned in the immediate aftermath of the attack, is showing early signs of life. Shops are cautiously reopening, and a few visitors are returning, drawn by the town’s famed natural beauty, often likened to Switzerland.

On 16 April, militants opened fire on tourists visiting Baisaran, a popular mountain-top meadow near Pahalgam. The brazen attack, one of the deadliest in Kashmir in recent years, primarily targeted civilians and sent shockwaves across India, stirring anger and fear.

In its aftermath, tensions between India and Pakistan both of whom claim Kashmir have flared, with reports of cross-border skirmishes and retaliatory measures announced by both sides. Speculation over a possible military response from Delhi is mounting.

While Kashmir has endured violence since an armed insurgency erupted in 1989, attacks on tourists have been rare, making this incident particularly damaging to the region’s vital tourism sector.

Tourism Industry Faces Uncertain Future

Tourism, a mainstay of Kashmir’s economy, has been deeply shaken. Locals, like shawl-seller Rafi Ahmed, fear for their livelihoods if visitors stay away. After three days without business, Ahmed managed a few sales but worries the long-term impact could be devastating.

Despite lingering fears, some tourists have chosen to stay. Mumbai tourist Akshay Solanki described the panic that gripped his group on the day of the attack, but soaring flight prices and reassurances from locals and security forces convinced them to continue their trip.

Bollywood actor Atul Kulkarni, visiting Pahalgam in a show of solidarity, urged more tourists to visit, saying: "If the message from the militants was 'don’t come here,' we should respond by coming in even larger numbers."

Yet cancellations have surged. Mumbai-based tour operator Abhishek Sansare reported 80-90% cancellations from cities like Pune, Mumbai, and Bengaluru, with fears of escalating violence driving many to abandon their travel plans.

Heightened Security and Economic Uncertainty

In response to the attack, Indian authorities have launched widespread combing operations, detaining hundreds and demolishing homes linked to alleged militants. Increased security presence in tourist areas is aimed at reassuring visitors but has also contributed to a tense atmosphere.

The fallout extends beyond tourism. Major infrastructure projects, such as the inauguration of the world’s highest single-arch rail bridge linking Kashmir to the rest of India, now face delays. Business investments, which had only recently begun flowing into the region, are also at risk.

"People who were investing in logistics and other sectors will now think twice because of the security environment," said Ubair Shah, a prominent business owner in south Kashmir.

Political Leaders Express Anguish

In a heartfelt address to the Jammu and Kashmir assembly, Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Omar Abdullah paid tribute to the victims, reading out all 26 names. He expressed deep sorrow, acknowledging that tourists who had come at his invitation had suffered unimaginable losses.

"I had no words to apologise to them," Abdullah said emotionally. "What could I say to the children who saw their father drenched in blood? To the widow of the navy officer who was married barely a few days ago?"

He described the attack as having "hollowed out" Kashmir, leaving lasting scars on both the region and its people.

As Kashmir struggles to recover, the attack has cast a long shadow over hopes for peace and prosperity, with locals and authorities grappling with how to restore the confidence of a nation shaken to its core.

Contentious Second Week of Karen Read Retrial Centers on Cell Phone Data and Defense Witness Disputes

Hadisur Rahman, JadeTimes Staff

H. Rahman is a Jadetimes news reporter covering the USA

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Image Source: Karissa Waddick

The retrial of Karen Read, the Massachusetts woman accused of killing her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, entered its second week with critical expert testimony and mounting tensions over defense witnesses.

Read’s second trial follows a hung jury in July 2024 that was unable to reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors allege that Read, 45, struck O’Keefe with her SUV in a drunken rage and left him to die in the snow outside a Canton home in January 2022. The defense maintains that O’Keefe was beaten to death by a group of Boston police officers and that Read is being framed.

Digital Evidence and Expert Testimony

On Monday, prosecutors called Ian Whiffin, a digital intelligence expert from Cellebrite, who presented detailed cell phone data analysis. Whiffin testified that O’Keefe’s phone data showed no evidence that he entered the house at 34 Fairview Road, as Read’s defense team has suggested. Instead, data indicated O’Keefe’s phone remained near a flagpole across the lawn, consistent with where his body was later found.

Whiffin also analyzed O'Keefe’s phone battery temperature and Apple Health data, concluding that O’Keefe’s phone and likely O’Keefe himself remained outside throughout the night. Health data also showed "flight climbing events," which Whiffin said were likely due to the car moving uphill rather than O’Keefe climbing actual stairs.

Additionally, Whiffin testified about the internet search history from the phone of Jennifer McCabe, a friend of O’Keefe and a key figure in the case. McCabe’s phone recorded an early morning search regarding survival in cold temperatures, which the defense claims was made hours before O’Keefe’s body was foundpotentially undermining the prosecution’s timeline.

Disputes Over Defense Witnesses

Tensions escalated when court resumed without the jury to address disputes surrounding two defense expert witnesses: Daniel Wolfe and Andrew Rentschler, crash reconstruction specialists from ARCCA. Both previously testified during the first trial that O’Keefe’s injuries were inconsistent with being struck by an SUV.

Prosecutors argued that Read’s defense team failed to provide critical communications with the experts during the discovery process.

Wolfe admitted during cross-examination to deleting approximately 100 text messages related to the case and said he often communicated via the encrypted app Signal. He insisted that the deletions were routine and related to switching phone carriers.

Judge Beverly Cannone ultimately dismissed the jury early to resolve the ongoing disputes. She ruled that the defense had indeed withheld materials and criticized their handling of discovery obligations.

Supreme Court Declines Read’s Appeal

Meanwhile, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal from Read’s defense team, who had sought to dismiss two charges second-degree murder and leaving the scene of a crash causing injury or death arguing that a retrial would violate double jeopardy protections. The high court denied certiorari on April 28, allowing the retrial on all charges to continue.

Review of First Week Testimony

During the first week of testimony, six witnesses took the stand, including O’Keefe’s mother, two friends, a firefighter first on the scene, a pathologist, and a restaurant manager who provided surveillance footage. Much of the testimony focused on Read’s behavior and communications leading up to O’Keefe’s death, including evidence of a heated dispute between the couple.

The trial, expected to last up to eight weeks, continues this week with further cross-examination of digital evidence and debates over the admissibility of expert testimony.