Author: Andrew Rogers

U.S. President Donald Trump has arrived in Tokyo for a high-profile Asia trip focused on trade, investment, and security cooperation. The visit includes meetings with Japan’s new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Emperor Naruhito ahead of a scheduled summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea. Trump’s journey marks his longest overseas trip since taking office in January. His itinerary began with successful stops in Southeast Asia, including Malaysia, where he oversaw the signing of a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia and secured multiple trade and rare earth deals. In Tokyo, Trump is expected to discuss new investment and…

A US Navy helicopter and fighter jet crashed separately on Sunday during routine operations over the South China Sea, with all crew members safely rescued, the Pacific Fleet confirmed. The Navy has launched investigations into both incidents. The first crash occurred around 2:45 p.m. local time when an MH-60R Seahawk helicopter, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 73, went down while operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz. Search-and-rescue teams successfully recovered all three crew members. Shortly after, at 3:15 p.m., an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet, assigned to the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter…

Japan’s new Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, faces her first major international challenge as she prepares to meet US President Donald Trump in Tokyo on Tuesday. The meeting will follow the ASEAN summit in Malaysia and the APEC meeting in South Korea, highlighting the strategic importance of the US-Japan alliance. Months before assuming office, Takaichi had declined an invitation to meet Trump, saying then-Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba should go first. Now, as Japan’s first female leader, she will engage with the US president for the first time, navigating a high-stakes relationship amid complex regional and economic challenges. Trump praised Takaichi ahead…

As New York City heads toward its mayoral election, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani held a powerful rally in Queens with Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The event marked a defining moment in the Zohran Mamdani mayoral race, with progressive leaders calling for unity and energy ahead of Election Day. At Forest Hills Stadium, thousands gathered as Mamdani urged voters not to take his lead for granted. “While billionaires think they can buy this election, we have a movement of the people,” he told the cheering crowd. His message was clear — the campaign’s success would depend on turnout…

President Donald Trump’s plan to push through mid-decade redistricting in Republican-led states has met unexpected resistance in the Midwest. Lawmakers in Indiana and Kansas are refusing to move forward with new congressional maps that would strengthen GOP control of the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 elections. For much of Trump’s second term, most Republicans have supported his political strategy. But in these two conservative states, many lawmakers say they lack the votes and political will to make redistricting happen now. The result is one of the few visible challenges to Trump’s efforts to secure long-term control in Congress. The…

Radiohead’s lead singer Thom Yorke has said he would “absolutely not” perform in Israel under its current government. The British musician made his comments eight years after the band last played in Tel Aviv, a concert that drew major backlash from pro-Palestinian activists. Yorke told the Sunday Times magazine that he would not appear anywhere near the government led by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “Absolutely not. I wouldn’t want to be 5,000 miles anywhere near the Netanyahu regime,” he said in the interview. The comments come as Radiohead prepares for its first tour in seven years. The group is…

British journalist Sami Hamdi has been detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at San Francisco International Airport. The incident occurred on Sunday morning and has drawn strong criticism from rights groups, who called it an attack on freedom of speech. The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) said Hamdi’s detention was a “clear act of retaliation” for his criticism of Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. Hamdi, a political analyst known for his commentary on Middle Eastern affairs, was on a public speaking tour across the United States. CAIR released a statement saying Hamdi was targeted simply for exercising…

Donald Trump has ordered that US military personnel be paid even as the federal government remains shut down. Experts warn this action may violate federal law and set a risky precedent for Congress’s power over spending. The move addresses the needs of a politically protected group. At the same time, it bypasses Congress, which has the constitutional authority to approve federal funding. Legal experts say the president’s action could undermine the normal budget process. Phil Wallach, a senior fellow who studies US government powers, said there is little legal justification for the president’s decision. He added that no congressional approval…

A new investment vehicle named Zafiri has been launched to expand electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa, with South Africa-based firm Inspired Evolution appointed as its investment manager. Zafiri is part of the African Development Bank’s Mission 300 agenda, which aims to provide energy access to 300 million Africans by 2030. The initiative brings together global partners, including the World Bank’s International Finance Corporation (IFC), The Rockefeller Foundation, Trade and Development Bank Group, and the Nordic Development Fund. Zafiri is initially capitalized at US$300 million by 2026 and is expected to grow to US$1 billion to accelerate energy access across the…

President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is increasing US tariffs on Canada by 10%, responding to an anti-tariff advertisement sponsored by the Ontario government. The move adds tension to one of the world’s largest trading partnerships. The statement, shared on Trump’s Truth Social account, follows days of public disputes over the ad, which used excerpts from a 1987 speech by former President Ronald Reagan supporting free trade. Trump described the ad as a “fraud” and accused Canada of attempting to manipulate US court decisions on tariffs. “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I…