Author: Andrew Rogers

Europe’s relationship with the United States is increasingly unmoored, and the continent has also lost clarity on China. Caught between competing forces, Brussels now faces strategic dilemmas with no easy answers. Historically, Europe’s China policy was shaped largely by Washington. During Barack Obama’s attempted pivot to Asia in 2011, Europe assumed it could pursue economic engagement with China while leaving security concerns aside. For years, initiatives like the Belt and Road were seen primarily through an economic lens, with limited strategic consideration. Tensions in the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, and the Taiwan Strait gradually shifted European thinking. Under…

Lindsey Halligan, a White House aide, was sworn in Monday as the interim US attorney for the eastern district of Virginia after former U.S. President Donald Trump removed her predecessor. The firing followed the previous attorney’s refusal to bring charges against former FBI director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James. Halligan, the most junior lawyer on Trump’s personal legal team, has no prior prosecutorial experience. Her appointment alarmed current and former prosecutors who warned it could signal political pressure to pursue charges against the president’s political opponents regardless of evidence. Federal prosecutors had investigated referrals from Trump…

President Trump’s decision to impose a $100,000 annual fee on new H-1B visa applicants marks more than just a shift in immigration policy—it could be a strategic misstep that accelerates America’s decline in the global race for talent while unintentionally benefiting China. Asian professionals, particularly from India, make up the vast majority of H-1B visa holders, meaning they are the primary audience affected by this policy. The $100,000 fee—unprecedented worldwide and roughly 25 to 30 times higher than visa costs in Canada or the UK—creates a stark two-tier system. Large corporations may absorb the cost, but startups and mid-sized firms…

President Donald Trump paid tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk at a large memorial in Arizona on Sunday, praising him as a “martyr” while weaving in pointed political remarks. The 45-minute speech combined personal stories with sharp attacks on political opponents. The memorial took place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, drawing tens of thousands of attendees. Top officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, also addressed the crowd during the more than five-hour event. Kirk, who was assassinated less than two weeks ago…

Young workers from the Philippines, South Africa, and Kosovo arrived in New York eager for a taste of America. They had saved money, borrowed from family, and joined a U.S. government program designed to promote cultural exchange. Their destination was Kurt Weiss Greenhouses, one of the largest plant nurseries in the nation. The reality was far from what they expected. Instead of mentorship and cultural experiences, the workers were thrown into long, exhausting shifts. They spent 10-hour days on assembly lines, filling pots with soil. Others woke before sunrise to plant flowers or worked past midnight loading heavy cartons of…

US President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Afghanistan, threatening unspecified consequences unless the country returns control of the Bagram Airbase to the United States. The warning came on Saturday, a day after the Taliban-controlled Afghan government rejected Trump’s demand to hand back the strategically located airbase, situated about 64 kilometers (40 miles) north of Kabul. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN!!!” Bagram Airbase was the main hub for US military operations in Afghanistan…

Odisha has approved 25 new investment projects worth Rs. 4,739 crore (US $ 538 million) across 13 priority sectors, aiming to create over 25,000 jobs. The state-level single window clearance authority, led by Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja, gave the green light to the projects on Friday. The approved projects span textiles, steel, chemicals, IT, infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, tourism, metal downstream, circular economy, cold storage, and capital goods. They will be set up across districts including Khurda, Jajpur, Cuttack, Sambalpur, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Mayurbhanj, Angul, and Gajapati. Textiles emerged as the leading sector, with nine projects worth Rs. 1,684.87 crore (US…

US-China trade talks are continuing at a pace not seen in recent years. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has become the most active US official engaging China, with multiple meetings held across the globe this year. Unlike previous structured dialogues, Bessent’s approach is flexible. Speaking after the latest round in Madrid, he described the meetings simply as “trade talks.” This follows discussions in Geneva in May, London in June, and Stockholm in July. Another round is expected before the end of the year. Bessent usually meets with Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and occasionally with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Despite the informal…

Gas prices in the Midwest region declined for the second week in a row, reaching an average of $2.98 per gallon of regular fuel on Monday, down from last week’s $3.06, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. The average price also fell slightly by one cent compared to last month. Over the past year, gas prices in the Midwest have fluctuated between $2.81 on December 9, 2024, and $3.10 on September 30, 2024. A year ago, the region’s average price was slightly higher at $3.00 per gallon. Last week, the average gas price across the United States was $3.17…

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal concerning tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump during his second term. If the court rules against Trump, businesses could receive refunds, and consumers might see some long-term price decreases. However, the decision may also bring economic uncertainty. The justices will hear arguments in November. Trump has warned that striking down these tariffs could lead to an “economic disaster.” Economists are more cautious, noting that the effects on prices may not be immediate. Rohit Tripathi, vice president of industry strategy at Relex, said refunds could help companies’ bottom lines, but consumers…