A Familiar Strategy: Attack The Messenger President Donald Trump rejected July’s disappointing employment figures by casting doubt on the numbers and removing the official who oversees them. After the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a sharp slowdown in hiring and downward revisions to prior months, Trump called the figures “phony” and moved to oust the commissioner who supervised the process. The July report estimated 73,000 jobs were added, down from 147,000 in June, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, figures that the White House said could not be trusted. The reaction wasn’t a one-off. Trump has alternated between praising…
Author: Emily Harper
From Cult Favorite to Viral Meme Stardom Jet2 Holidays, a once quietly revered British tour operator, has unexpectedly shot to global attention thanks to a 30-second ad whose soundtrack has become a viral meme. The ad, originally promoting a £50-per-person discount on package holidays, now plays out on over a million TikTok videos. With its upbeat visuals and the catchy chorus of Jess Glynne’s “Hold My Hand,” the clip has taken on a life of its own—often ironically soundtracking travel mishaps, and even inspiring Jeff Goldblum’s parody “Jeff2 Holidays” video. Why Travelers Love Jet2 Holidays in Real Life Despite the…
Resilience After Early Struggles The United States swimming team finished first in the medal standings at the World Aquatics Championships, despite grappling with an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis that affected several athletes during the early days of competition. The team closed out the championships with a world record performance in the women’s 4x100m medley relay, securing its ninth gold and 29th total medal, edging ahead of Australia, which earned eight golds and 20 medals overall. The victory marked a comeback from a slow start, as Team USA claimed only five golds in the first six days. By the final weekend,…
Hong Kong Targets Exiled Activists Hong Kong authorities intensified their overseas clampdown on Monday, August 4, 2025, imposing sweeping restrictions on 16 activists accused of endangering national security. The orders prohibit anyone from providing them with funds or other economic resources and, for 12 of the 16 who hold Hong Kong passports, cancel those travel documents. Named individuals include Victor Ho, Keung Ka-wai, Australian academic Chongyi Feng, and U.S. citizen Gong Sasha, according to the government statement. Violations of the bans—such as offering financial support, leasing property, or entering joint ventures with those listed—carry penalties of up to seven years…
End of Duty-Free Shopping for Low-Cost Imports The Biden administration has moved to close a major trade loophole used by global e-commerce giants like Shein and Temu, eliminating the “de minimis exemption” that allowed duty-free entry for goods valued under $800. Originally scrapped for China and Hong Kong in May, the exemption will now end for all countries starting August 29. This regulatory shift is set to reshape how millions of low-cost packages enter the United States and could significantly raise prices for American consumers. The executive order cites national security concerns, specifically the risk of “evasion, deception, and illicit-drug…
A Celestial Event Ignites Curiosity Skywatchers across the United States are witnessing a striking red tint on the Moon tonight, a rare visual phenomenon that has captured public attention. Contrary to common assumptions, this event is not a lunar eclipse. Instead, the reddish glow is caused by a close celestial alignment between the Moon and Antares, a red supergiant star located in the Scorpius constellation. The Moon is currently in its waxing gibbous phase, meaning it appears more than half illuminated as it moves toward fullness. This phase repeats every lunar month, roughly every 29 and a half days. During…
A Strategic Push Into Direct Lending Citigroup has appointed Aashish Dhakad to head North America private credit origination, a role that formalizes the bank’s growing effort to connect its corporate clients with non-bank lenders. The internal memo, seen by Reuters, says Dhakad will join in October 2025 and be based in New York, underscoring Citi’s bid to convert its client coverage into fee income as private credit continues to win market share from syndicated loans. Private credit—loans from investment firms and other non-bank lenders—has evolved from a perceived rival to a frequent partner for big banks. Instead of carrying every…
Canadian Ministers Head to Mexico for Strategic Talks Two of Canada’s top cabinet officials are in Mexico for high-level meetings aimed at reinforcing trade cooperation and addressing regional challenges. Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne and Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand are leading the Canadian delegation in a series of discussions with Mexican authorities, including a scheduled meeting with President Claudia Sheinbaum. The visit comes at a critical moment. Both Canada and Mexico are recalibrating their trade strategies following failed negotiations with the United States. While the U.S. imposed a sharp tariff increase on Canadian goods, Mexico secured a 90-day extension to…
Italy Faces EU Legal Blow Over Migrant Transfers Italy’s controversial decision to process asylum seekers in Albania has come under fire after the European Union’s top court ruled against its current practices. The European Court of Justice (ECJ) concluded that Italy’s method of designating certain countries as “safe” for deportation—such as Bangladesh—does not fully protect the rights of vulnerable individuals seeking asylum. This verdict marks a significant legal challenge to Italy’s migration deal with Albania, where two offshore processing centres were set up to handle asylum applications outside Italian borders. These centres, although under Italian jurisdiction, limit access to asylum…
Jobs Growth Cools And Prior Months Revised Lower U.S. employers added 73,000 jobs in July, a sharp slowdown that undercut expectations and signaled a cooler labor market. Just as notable, the Labor Department’s revisions wiped out a combined 258,000 jobs previously reported for May and June, recasting the summer hiring picture as much weaker than believed. The unemployment rate rose to 4.2% from 4.1% in June. Economists had looked for roughly 100,000–110,000 new jobs, but the underwhelming print—paired with the big downward revisions—points to a softer trend.Sector Gains Narrow While Losses Broaden Hiring was highly concentrated. Health care accounted for…