Author: Andrew Rogers

China has rejected a new United States investigation into its trade deal compliance, calling the probe “false accusations” and urging Washington to adjust its approach. The Chinese embassy in Washington made the statement on Friday in response to an investigation announced earlier by the U.S. Trade Representative. Officials emphasized that Beijing strongly opposes the accusations and the measures tied to the inquiry. A spokesperson for the embassy said China “firmly opposes the U.S.’s false accusations and related investigation measures” and encouraged the United States to “promptly correct its wrong practices.” The investigation marks the latest point of tension in U.S.-China…

Consumer prices in the United States rose at an annual rate of 3% in September 2025, slightly above economists’ expectations. The increase was mainly driven by a 4.1% jump in gasoline prices, according to the latest government inflation report. The September Consumer Price Index (CPI) was released later than usual due to a federal government shutdown, which paused operations at the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Staff were called back to complete the report, which the Social Security Administration uses to determine cost-of-living adjustments for retirees. As a result, US retirees will see a 2.8% increase in social security payments starting…

Tension is rising across Cameroon after at least two people were killed and dozens arrested during protests linked to the country’s disputed presidential election. The unrest follows reports suggesting that long-time leader Paul Biya is on track to secure another term in office. According to local media and preliminary results from the electoral commission (Elecam), Biya, 92, appears set for victory. The ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement (CPDM) leader has been in power since 1982, making him the world’s longest-serving head of state. His apparent re-election has sparked anger among opposition supporters who accuse authorities of widespread fraud. Clément Atangana,…

Palestinian factions have announced that they reached an agreement to let an independent committee of technocrats take charge of Gaza’s administration. The decision follows claims by Hamas that it received “clear guarantees” from mediators confirming the war’s end. A joint statement released after meetings in Cairo said the groups would “hand over the administration of the Gaza Strip to a temporary Palestinian committee composed of independent technocrats.” The committee will manage essential services “in cooperation with Arab brothers and international institutions.” The factions also called for talks to form a shared national strategy and revive the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)…

A federal judge in Portland, Oregon, has denied a request from U.S. President Donald Trump to immediately lift a block on deploying federalized National Guard troops to the city. Judge Karin Immergut said she will decide by Monday whether to lift or modify her earlier order. The ruling came after a hearing on Friday, marking another chapter in a growing legal clash over Trump’s push to send military forces into cities led by Democrats. Similar disputes are ongoing in Washington, D.C., and Chicago, where court orders have also halted troop deployment. Judge Immergut had previously issued two restraining orders stopping…

A recent remark by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani has turned into a viral sensation. A popular wagering platform, Kalshi, used Mamdani’s own words to create an online ad that quickly gained massive attention. During his appearance on the comedy podcast Flagrant this week, host Andrew Schulz told Mamdani that his odds of becoming the next mayor of New York City had reached “93% on Kalshi.” The lighthearted exchange, originally meant as a casual comment, ended up taking on a new life online. More than an hour into the same interview, Mamdani shared a personal story that added…

The second and final debate before early voting in New York City’s mayoral race was tense, with sharp exchanges and little policy clarity. Democratic frontrunner Zohran Mamdani defended his lead against former governor Andrew Cuomo, now running as an independent, and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Cuomo repeatedly attacked Mamdani, 34, calling him inexperienced and claiming Donald Trump could easily outmaneuver him. Mamdani countered that his older opponents “speak only in the past because that is all they know.” The candidates clashed on education reform, transportation funding, Israel policy, and whether to close Rikers Island. Yet few proposals emerged that could shift…

The United States has reached a new record in its gross national debt, surpassing $38 trillion during the ongoing federal government shutdown. This milestone marks the fastest accumulation of $1 trillion in debt outside the COVID-19 pandemic, with the nation hitting $37 trillion just in August 2025. The Treasury Department’s latest report tracks the country’s daily finances, confirming the new peak. Experts warn the rising debt could have long-term economic consequences. Kent Smetters, a University of Pennsylvania economist who previously served in President George W. Bush’s Treasury Department, said higher debt can lead to greater inflation. “This erodes Americans’ purchasing…

The final New York City mayoral debate saw frontrunner Zohran Mamdani face off against former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. The debate highlighted personal attacks over policy solutions as the election nears. The most intense exchanges occurred between Cuomo and Mamdani. Cuomo accused Mamdani of lacking new ideas and relying on recycled policies from Bill de Blasio’s administration. Mamdani countered that Cuomo focused more on pushing other candidates out than offering solutions, citing delays in housing projects during Cuomo’s governorship. Tensions escalated when Mamdani was questioned about his political ideology. He blamed Cuomo for slow housing progress,…

New York City mayoral candidate Andrew Cuomo is facing widespread criticism after his official X account posted an AI-generated ad depicting “criminals for Zohran Mamdani.” The post was deleted shortly after it went live, but not before it was widely reshared. The ad appeared during the second mayoral debate and ran for just over two minutes. It opens with an AI-generated image of Mamdani running through New York streets and eating rice with his hands. The video then showed a series of negative stereotypes, including a Black man in a keffiyeh shoplifting, a man abusing a woman, a sex trafficker,…