Author: Emily Harper

Vietnam and Russia have established a covert financial arrangement to facilitate defense transactions while evading U.S. and Western sanctions. This mechanism leverages profits from their joint oil venture, Rusvietpetro, to settle military debts without engaging in international financial systems like SWIFT. The arrangement underscores Vietnam’s strategic balancing act between its defense ties with Russia and its growing relations with the United States. Covert Financial Mechanism Internal Vietnamese documents obtained by the Associated Press reveal that Vietnam has purchased Russian military equipment—including fighter jets, tanks, and ships—on credit. These purchases are made without violating international sanctions by using profits from the…

Mercuria, a leading commodity trading firm based in Switzerland, has ventured into uranium trading, marking a significant step in its expansion into the energy sector. This move aligns with the global shift towards nuclear energy as a vital part of the energy transition. By entering the uranium market, Mercuria aims to tap into the potential growth that is expected to result from the increasing demand for nuclear fuel in the coming decades. Mercuria’s Strategic Foray into Uranium Trading In early 2025, Mercuria took its first steps into the uranium market, becoming the first major commodity house to establish a presence…

Khan’s Direct Challenge Donald Trump’s arrival in the United Kingdom has been overshadowed by sharp criticism from London mayor Sadiq Khan. Khan accused the US president of emboldening far-right movements worldwide, citing the use of military force in American cities and the targeting of minority communities as tactics resembling authoritarian regimes. His intervention was seen as a direct challenge to Prime Minister Keir Starmer, urging the government to take a stronger stance rather than offering Trump the pomp of an unprecedented second state visit. Trade Talks Collapse Adding to the tensions, a planned announcement of a deal to eliminate tariffs…

What Scientists Found Astronomers have identified a supermassive black hole, RACS J0320 35, that appears to be growing far faster than theory says it should. Located about 12.8 billion light years from Earth, this object weighs roughly a billion solar masses. Fresh data from NASA’s Chandra X ray Observatory indicate it is accreting material at about 2.4 times the Eddington limit, which is the customary ceiling on how quickly a black hole can feed. The radiation from gas, dust, and stellar debris falling in is so intense that it lights up the surroundings in X rays that Chandra can detect.…

Tourism Disrupted in Cusco Travel to one of the world’s most famous heritage sites has been thrown into chaos after protests in Peru’s Cusco region left at least 900 tourists stranded near Machu Picchu. The suspension of passenger train services, the main route connecting visitors to the site, came after residents blocked tracks with rocks and dug into sections of the railway, creating safety risks and halting transportation. Authorities confirmed that more than 1,400 visitors were evacuated earlier, but hundreds remain stuck in Aguas Calientes, the gateway town at the foot of the 15th-century citadel. The disruption underscores the vulnerability…

The Federal Reserve lowered its benchmark interest rate by 0.25 percentage points, the first reduction in more than a year. Policymakers also signaled that two additional cuts could be made before the end of the year, underscoring the central bank’s concern about a softening U.S. labor market. This shift marks a significant change in strategy, as the Fed has been focused on fighting persistent inflation over the last two years. Recent Fed Action And Economic Signals Inflation remains above the Fed’s long-standing 2 percent target, yet recent data suggests that consumer price growth is easing, though not as quickly as…

Royal Caribbean International is moving forward with a significant expansion of its Icon Class, the cruise line’s most ambitious ship series to date. The first vessel, Icon of the Seas, entered service in January 2024, marking a milestone as the world’s largest cruise ship at the time. New Ships Joining the Icon Class Building on that momentum, the company officially launched Star of the Seas in August 2025, and plans to introduce the Legend of the Seas in 2026. Industry reports also indicate that a fourth Icon-Class vessel is on order, with the possibility of further additions as demand grows.…

A Unique NFL Journey Minnesota Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz is about to enter the league’s record books. When he starts against the Cincinnati Bengals this Sunday, he will become the first NFL player to start for six different teams in six consecutive seasons. Wentz’s path has taken him through the Philadelphia Eagles, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and now the Vikings. Wentz described his career as a rollercoaster that has forced him to adapt constantly. Moving from a franchise quarterback role to a backup behind future Hall of Famers, he has experienced every side of…

The Trump administration has placed Colombia on its official list of countries failing to meet international obligations in the fight against drugs, a process known as decertification. This is the first time in roughly three decades that Colombia, a long-standing U.S. ally in anti-narcotics operations, has been designated in this way. The decision underscores Washington’s mounting concern over the steep rise in coca cultivation, the raw material for cocaine production, inside Colombian territory. U.S. Decertifies Colombia After Surge In Coca Cultivation In 2023, the U.S. government reported an unprecedented, nearly threefold increase in land used for coca cultivation over the…

StubHub, one of the world’s largest secondary ticket marketplaces, has officially launched its initial public offering (IPO), pricing shares at $23.50 each. The stock began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “STUB.” Through the sale of just over 34 million shares, the company raised close to $800 million, setting its total market capitalization at approximately $8.6 billion. Offer Details and Market Valuation The company has announced that the funds raised will primarily be used to reduce debt and for general corporate purposes, including investments in technology and operations. According to StubHub, its platform has become…