Author: Emily Harper

New Plan Targets Buyers, Not Just Russia President Donald Trump has unveiled a high-stakes strategy aimed at ending the war in Ukraine — not by targeting Russia directly, but by threatening punitive economic measures on countries that continue to purchase Russian oil. Chief among them are China and India, two of the world’s largest energy consumers and most critical markets. Trump’s plan, announced this week, includes a 50-day deadline for Moscow to accept peace terms. If not, the U.S. could impose secondary sanctions, including tariffs, on nations that keep buying Russian oil. While the move is intended to choke off…

A New Variant Gains Ground Across the Globe A new subvariant of Omicron, labeled XFG and nicknamed “Stratus,” is rapidly spreading across countries like the United States, United Kingdom, India and Spain. Recently added to the World Health Organization’s watchlist, XFG has shown significant growth in its global presence, displacing earlier variants such as Nimbus. This rise comes amid a global context of declining testing and weakened public health monitoring, making the spread harder to track in real time. Genetically, XFG is the result of a recombination between two existing Omicron lineages, which gives it characteristics that help it evade…

The U.S. House of Representatives cleared a major procedural hurdle on July 16, 2025, allowing debate to proceed on a series of high-profile cryptocurrency bills. The legislative push had initially stalled after a group of 13 conservative Republicans joined Democrats to oppose the original rule governing the debate. Their objections centered on the bundling of three distinct proposals into a single procedural vote. The impasse was resolved after former President Donald Trump stepped in, urging unity in a meeting with dissenting lawmakers at the White House. The intervention proved decisive, and the House narrowly passed a revised rule with a…

Ongoing Negotiations Reach a Critical Stage After months of intense back-and-forth, the United States and India are nearing the conclusion of a wide-reaching trade agreement. High-level talks have continued on both sides, with optimism growing steadily as negotiators inch closer to final terms. The main objective: securing American access to one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing markets, while addressing long-standing imbalances and tensions in trade policy. The deal is viewed as a pivotal move for both governments. Washington aims to secure more favorable conditions for American exporters, particularly in sectors like agriculture and manufacturing. Delhi, por su parte, is…

A Historic Budget Shift for a New Era The European Union is preparing to enter a new financial chapter, as Commission President Ursula von der Leyen unveiled a €2 trillion budget proposal covering the period between 2028 and 2034. Marking a major departure from previous frameworks, this budget aims to reshape the bloc’s financial priorities in response to years of unprecedented challenges including the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and economic pressure from global rivals. Compared to the €1.21 trillion approved in 2020, this new figure reflects a significant increase and is being presented as the most ambitious proposal…

At the China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang took a cautious stance when asked about the resumption of H20 chip exports to China. Speaking to reporters, Huang made it clear that the decision to lift restrictions on Nvidia’s high-performance AI chip was not a result of his lobbying, but the outcome of government-level negotiations between the United States and China. “We can only influence them, inform them … and then beyond that is out of our control,” Huang stated. He emphasized that Nvidia offered technical context to the U.S. government, particularly about the H20 chip’s…

Spain’s Tourism Push Meets Local Resistance In recent years, Spain has seen a growing backlash against mass tourism. In cities like Barcelona and islands such as Mallorca and Ibiza, residents have taken to the streets to express their frustration over overcrowding, rising housing costs, and strained public infrastructure. Despite tourism contributing over 12% to Spain’s GDP, the seasonal influx has sparked protests and policy debates across the country. Yet the solution may not lie in reducing visitors but redistributing them. According to the Spanish Tourist Office, more than 80% of tourists visit the same regions — the Mediterranean coast and…

From Childhood Dreams to Reality at Truist Park The 2025 T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Truist Park in Atlanta delivered an unforgettable night for baseball fans, none more so than for CNN analyst Kyle Feldscher, who found himself directly in the path of a screaming home run ball. A lifelong baseball fan and former high school player, Feldscher recounted how his experience from the press terrace became far more personal—and intense—than expected. Sitting in the Hank Aaron Terrace above the left field stands, Feldscher realized early on that his location placed him firmly in home run territory. The terrace, enclosed…

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on July 13, 2025, that he has suspended Police Minister Senzo Mchunu and established a judicial commission of inquiry to investigate explosive allegations. The move follows public claims by Lt‑Gen. Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, provincial police commissioner in KwaZulu‑Natal, who accused Mchunu and Deputy Commissioner Shadrack Sibiya of obstructing critical investigations into politically motivated killings. During a televised national address, Ramaphosa emphasized the seriousness of the allegations and the potential for collusion between criminal syndicates and high-ranking officials. Mchunu is now on immediate leave, and law professor Firoz Cachalia has been named acting police minister. Claims of Collusion and Interference…

White House Eases Restrictions Following CEO’s Push Nvidia announced it will restart sales of its advanced H20 artificial intelligence chip to China, signaling a shift in U.S. trade policy that could have major implications for the global tech industry. The decision follows a meeting between Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and President Donald Trump, where Huang argued that continued restrictions on AI chip exports could jeopardize America’s position as a global tech leader. The move comes after months of regulatory uncertainty. In April, the White House informed Nvidia that it would need special licenses to sell the H20 chip to China,…