Author: Emily Harper

Economic indicators show rising costs are hitting consumers and businesses. More than 100 days into Donald Trump’s new term, the economic promise of lower prices is facing a stark reality: tariffs are pushing costs up — and businesses can no longer hide it. Leading the charge in confirming this trend is Walmart, which announced it will begin raising prices due to mounting pressure from import taxes. Speaking during an earnings call on Thursday, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon made it clear: “The higher tariffs will result in higher prices.” Despite its ability to use massive scale to pressure suppliers and cushion…

On May 16, 2025, the World Bank announced a significant breakthrough in Syria’s economic future: the country’s arrears of approximately $15.5 million have been fully cleared. This clearance was made possible through payments facilitated by Saudi Arabia and Qatar, marking an important milestone in Syria’s path toward regaining access to international financial support. For years, Syria’s outstanding debt had barred it from receiving grants and loans from the International Development Association (IDA), the World Bank’s fund dedicated to the poorest and most fragile countries. As of May 12, the World Bank confirmed that Syria now holds zero outstanding balances with…

In the face of major research budget cuts in the United States, European institutions are actively stepping up to offer a new home for displaced scientific talent. The European Commission has launched a strategic effort to attract U.S.-based researchers seeking greater stability, academic freedom, and better funding opportunities. At the heart of this plan is a push to accelerate visa processing across EU member states, making it easier and faster for scientists to relocate and integrate into the European research ecosystem. This initiative isn’t just a policy tweak—it signals a significant realignment in the global research landscape. As U.S. priorities…

Tensions between South Africa and the United States have reached a boiling point in recent months, prompting an official visit from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to Washington. The visit comes at a critical time, as Pretoria aims to rebuild a fragile relationship with the US administration following a series of controversial policy decisions and public statements that have shaken diplomatic ties. Rising Diplomatic Tensions The South African government has expressed increasing concern over the deterioration of its relationship with the United States. The turning point came after the US government granted refugee status to dozens of white Afrikaners, citing…

A major power outage that recently affected both Spain and Portugal has been traced back to a series of incidents at three key substations. An abrupt loss of power generation originating at the Granada substation triggered a cascade of events that led to the disconnection of various elements of the electricity grid. This initial disruption caused the loss of 2.2GW of electricity generation, a significant impact that extended far beyond Spain’s borders. Following the issues in Granada, additional failures occurred in Badajoz and Seville. These combined incidents set off a chain reaction that disconnected key parts of the electrical infrastructure,…

Walmart has reported solid first-quarter performance despite an increasingly challenging economic environment. The retail giant posted net sales of $165.88 billion, representing a 2.7% increase compared to the same quarter last year. However, its net income fell by 9% to $4.64 billion, a decline largely attributed to rising import costs driven by newly imposed U.S. tariffs on key trading partners including China, Mexico, and Canada. The company maintained its full-year sales forecast of 3% to 4% growth, with projected adjusted earnings per share in the range of $2.50 to $2.60 for fiscal year 2026. Executives remain confident that Walmart’s scale…

Tassili n’Ajjer and new policies put Algeria on the tourism map. In the heart of the Algerian Sahara, one of the most remote and captivating regions on Earth is finally opening its doors to international visitors. Tassili n’Ajjer National Park — a vast, rocky wilderness filled with prehistoric art, desert silence, and spiritual depth — has long been inaccessible to most travelers. That is rapidly changing. Thanks to new visa policies and government investment, Algeria is embracing tourism like never before. In 2023, the country saw a record 3.3 million visitors, including 2.2 million foreigners. With a goal of reaching…

Golf legend Walter Hagen’s century-old secret resurfaces at PGA Championship. As the PGA Championship returns this week at Quail Hollow in North Carolina, all eyes are once again on the Wanamaker Trophy — one of the most iconic and prestigious awards in professional golf. But few may realize that this legendary piece of silverware was once lost under mysterious circumstances, nearly a century ago, by none other than Walter Hagen, one of the greatest golfers in history. At 28 inches tall and weighing 27 pounds, the Wanamaker Trophy is not easy to misplace. Yet that’s exactly what happened after Hagen’s…

José “Pepe” Mujica, former president of Uruguay and one of Latin America’s most unique political figures, died at the age of 89 after a long battle with cancer. His life was a journey of radical transformation, from an armed revolutionary in the 1960s to a beloved president and moral icon by the 2010s. Born in Montevideo, Mujica became active in politics as a member of the Tupamaros, a leftist urban guerrilla group that sought to challenge the Uruguayan state through armed struggle. The group carried out high-profile operations, including bank robberies and kidnappings, as part of a broader push for…

Tariffs, AI Features, and Subtle Tweaks Could Mask Cost Increases Apple could be preparing to raise the effective price of its next iPhone lineup this fall—without officially changing the sticker price. While the company hasn’t confirmed any such move, analysts and recent reports suggest Apple is weighing strategies to offset mounting tariff costs and shifting production realities, potentially without triggering public backlash or political scrutiny. The upcoming iPhone 17 series may include pricing changes driven by new features, premium models, or adjustments to storage options, rather than a direct increase in base price. According to a Wall Street Journal report,…