A growing number of affluent Americans are booking overseas trips to purchase high-end goods in Europe, sidestepping the impact of rising tariffs on luxury imports. Items such as designer handbags, Swiss watches, and high-fashion apparel are in particularly high demand. According to travel advisors, clients are combining leisure travel with planned shopping experiences, turning what could be an additional cost into an opportunity for both savings and exclusivity. The trend has intensified since the United States imposed higher duties on luxury imports from Europe, part of a broader strategy to address trade imbalances. These tariffs have raised the cost of…
Author: Emily Harper
Read More
A Franchise-Altering Deal The Dallas Cowboys have traded four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Micah Parsons to the Green Bay Packers, shaking up the NFL landscape. In return, Dallas secured veteran defensive tackle Kenny Clark and two premium draft picks: a 2026 first-rounder and a 2027 first-rounder. The deal effectively ends what once looked like a career-long stay for Parsons in Dallas, while Green Bay adds one of the league’s most dominant pass rushers to an already promising defense. Parsons immediately agreed to a historic contract with the Packers, a four-year, $188 million deal that includes $120 million fully guaranteed. With…
Press Conference Remarks Spark Outcry During a press conference in Beirut this week, Tom Barrack, serving as the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey and Special Envoy to Syria, drew sharp criticism after remarks directed at members of the Lebanese press. When journalists asked him to approach the podium to speak more clearly, Barrack declined and told them they should “act civilized, act kind, act tolerant,” adding that if the situation became “chaotic, like animalistic,” his delegation would leave the room. The phrase struck a nerve in Lebanon, where reporters have long been at the forefront of political and social debates and…
The U.S. economy posted a stronger rebound in the spring of 2025 than initially believed, with the government’s latest estimate showing gross domestic product (GDP) growing at an annual rate of 3.3 percent in the second quarter. The figure, released on August 28 by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), is an upward revision from the previously reported 3.0 percent. It marks a sharp turnaround from the first quarter, when the economy contracted by 0.5 percent, a decline that was largely the result of a surge in imports before the implementation of new tariffs. That contraction raised concerns about…
Growth in STEM, but Chemistry Falls Behind The landscape of higher education in the United States has shifted dramatically over the past two decades. More students than ever are pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). However, chemistry has not kept pace with the explosive growth seen in other disciplines. While the number of bachelor’s degrees awarded in biology and engineering nearly doubled between the late 1990s and today, chemistry registered only a modest increase of about 15%. This trend reflects a concerning imbalance. In 1997, just over 400,000 students earned science-related bachelor’s degrees. By 2023, that figure…
BPCE, the parent company of French investment bank Natixis, has made history by issuing Europe’s first defence-focused bond, raising €750 million (about $878 million) through a five-year instrument. The deal attracted robust investor interest, with demand climbing to €2.8 billion, underscoring strong appetite for new financial tools tied to Europe’s expanding defence sector. The bond qualifies as the inaugural issuance under Euronext’s European Defence Bond initiative, a framework designed to encourage the growth of labelled securities targeted at the defence and security industries. According to Euronext, securities listed under this scheme will receive priority processing, making issuance faster and more…
A Rare Clash Between the White House and the Fed A legal showdown is unfolding in Washington after Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump over his attempt to remove her from the central bank’s board. Cook is challenging the firing order as unlawful, setting the stage for a case that could redefine the limits of presidential power over the Federal Reserve. The suit names both Trump and Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell as defendants. At its core, the case tests whether the president can dismiss a Fed governor without clear evidence of misconduct, an…
Ariana Grande has revealed plans for her long-awaited return to the stage with the Eternal Sunshine Tour, her first tour in seven years. Beginning in June 2026, the Grammy-winning artist will perform across North America and Europe, concluding with a five-night residency at London’s O2 Arena. The tour supports her seventh studio album, Eternal Sunshine, and its deluxe edition, Brighter Days Ahead. Tour Details The tour opens June 6 in Oakland, California, with multiple shows in Los Angeles and Brooklyn before heading to Austin, Atlanta, Boston, Montreal, and Chicago. Grande will wrap up in London with five performances between August 15 and August…
A Strategic Alliance in Berlin Canada and Germany have announced a plan to deepen cooperation in defense and critical minerals, reflecting a shared strategy to reduce reliance on Russia and China while responding to U.S. tariffs. The announcement followed a meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin, where both leaders emphasized their countries’ aligned interests and goals. Focus on Critical Minerals The centerpiece of the cooperation is a new agreement between the two nations’ economy ministers, focusing on critical minerals essential to advanced technologies and defense. The deal includes joint development and supply…
A Controversial Rebrand Cracker Barrel faced one of the toughest weeks in its history when it unveiled a new logo as part of a sweeping rebranding campaign. The change replaced the familiar rustic design — featuring a barrel and a man in overalls — with a modern shield and clean lettering. Instead of generating excitement, the redesign triggered widespread criticism. Loyal customers saw the update as an abandonment of the chain’s Americana identity, while online debates quickly transformed the decision into a culture war flashpoint. The backlash intensified as critics accused the company of discarding a cherished aesthetic in favor…
