Author: Andrew Rogers

US consumers are starting to feel the effects of rising tariffs as prices climb across several key product categories. In June, inflation rose to its highest level in four months, pushed up partly by the growing costs tied to import duties. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 0.3% in June, bringing the annual inflation rate to 2.7%. This marked the fastest pace since February and matched expert forecasts. Economists expected rising gas prices and higher import costs to influence the data, which proved accurate. Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal Credit…

A small plane hijack on Vancouver Island led to flight delays and diversions at Vancouver International Airport on Tuesday. Police arrested the only person onboard, and no injuries occurred. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) confirmed they received a report about a stolen Cessna 172 flying into restricted airspace near Vancouver International Airport (YVR) at around 1:10 p.m. local time. The aircraft triggered immediate security actions. Multiple RCMP units, including officers from the Richmond detachment and members of the Lower Mainland Emergency Response Team, responded quickly. About 35 minutes later, the plane landed safely at the airport. Authorities arrested the…

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has introduced a controversial new policy that permits deporting some migrants to countries with which they have no prior ties. According to a July 9 memo, the agency may remove individuals even if there are no guarantees they will not face torture or persecution in the destination country. The memo, signed by acting ICE Director Todd Lyons, took immediate effect and outlines how officers may carry out removals without diplomatic assurances in place. In some cases, deportations could occur with as little as six hours’ notice. The policy allows ICE to send individuals…

Economic confidence in Germany and industrial production in the euro area will be the focus of key reports on Tuesday. At 2:30 a.m. ET, Hungary’s Central Statistical Office will release its final data on industrial production. This report will show how Hungary’s factories and manufacturing sectors performed recently. Half an hour later, at 3:00 a.m. ET, Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE) will publish the final inflation figures for June. Earlier estimates showed consumer prices rising by 2.2% in June, up from 2.0% in May. The most awaited report comes at 5:00 a.m. ET with the release of Germany’s ZEW economic…

Baton Rouge small businesses are turning to artificial intelligence to drive economic growth and improve their operations. This year’s local business event focused heavily on technology and how entrepreneurs can use AI tools to succeed. At the Renaissance Hotel, Lakeisha Robichaux, a business strategist and CEO of an organizational development firm, shared helpful advice with a room full of small business owners. She emphasized the importance of using AI in everyday business management. Howard White, owner of Top Choice, a retail shop serving Southern University fans and the Greek community, spoke about his own experience with AI. He said, “I’ve…

Asian shares mostly dropped on Tuesday as fears over new U.S. tariffs from President Donald Trump weighed on investors. Markets showed mixed moves with some gains, but overall cautious trading continued. Japan’s Nikkei 225 inched up 0.1% to 39,507.28 in early trading. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.4%, reaching 8,602.70. On the other hand, South Korea’s Kospi slipped 0.2% to 3,195.72. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng dropped 0.1% to 24,172.79, while China’s Shanghai Composite declined nearly 0.9%. The slide in China’s market followed government data showing slower growth amid the escalating U.S.-China trade conflict. China’s economy grew at a 5.2% annual pace…

Australia and China are working to strengthen their trade relationship, even though major differences remain on regional security and human rights. During a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday, both countries’ leaders agreed to focus on shared goals to benefit their nations. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese for wide-ranging talks. This marked a key step in rebuilding ties after years of strained relations. At the meeting, Xi said it was important to find common ground while respecting disagreements. He added that this method reflects the long-term interests of both countries. Albanese agreed with Xi’s message.…

The U.S. Attorney General, Pam Bondi, dismissed the Justice Department’s top ethics adviser on Friday. This move adds to a growing list of firings amid efforts by Donald Trump and his allies to target civil servants in the department. Joseph Tirrell, who led the Justice Department’s ethics office since 2023, announced his firing on LinkedIn. He posted the termination letter from Bondi, which misspelled his name and gave no reason for his dismissal. Tirrell and the Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment. In his LinkedIn post, Tirrell said, “My public service is not over, and my career…

A 25-year-old disabled U.S. Army veteran has been released without charges after being held for over three days following a federal raid in Ventura County. The man, identified as George Retes, was taken into custody during an immigration enforcement operation at a cannabis facility in Camarillo. Retes, who works as a security guard at Glass House Farms, was caught up in the raid that took place on Thursday. According to his family and the United Farm Workers Union, he is a U.S. citizen and had no legal reason to be detained. The situation unfolded as tensions rose between federal agents…

The family of Nathaniel “Nate” Fejerang is asking for justice after bodycam footage showed a police officer shooting him in the back of the head. The 19-year-old was killed during an arrest attempt in West Humboldt Park, Chicago, on May 29. His family is demanding that the officer responsible face charges. This week, the Civilian Office of Police Accountability released the bodycam video. It shows the moments before and during the fatal shooting. However, the footage does not clearly show who fired the first gunshot, which injured an officer and led to the shooting. Police claim Fejerang had a gun…