WASHINGTON — What began as a festive White House gathering quickly turned into a moment of personal announcements for several prominent figures in former President Donald Trump’s political orbit, as engagement news rippled through the crowd and lit up conservative social media. Donald Trump Jr., the former president’s eldest son, confirmed his engagement during the event, marking the third such milestone in his personal life. Trump Jr. married his first wife, Vanessa Trump, i

WASHINGTON — Standing beneath the bright lights of the White House on the evening of the 17th, U.S. President Donald Trump delivered an 18-minute nationally televised address aimed squarely at American voters uneasy about the economy. With midterm elections looming next year and inflation still weighing on household budgets, Trump cast himself as the architect of a dramatic turnaround — and his predecessor as the source of the nation’s troubles. “I inherited a country in chao

NEW YORK — On a gray weekday morning outside a federal loan servicing office in downtown Manhattan, recent graduates shuffled past with envelopes in hand, many of them unopened. “I already know what it says,” said 26-year-old Emily Rodriguez, who finished college two years ago and has yet to make her first student loan payment. “I don’t have the money.” Scenes like this are becoming increasingly common across the United States as student loan delinquencies spike following the

A Hong Kong court on Monday found jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai guilty under the city’s sweeping national security law, a verdict that could see the outspoken critic of Beijing spend the rest of his life behind bars. Lai, 78, the founder of the now-shuttered Apple Daily, has been held for more than 1,800 days despite sustained international pressure for his release. The High Court said sentencing will be announced as soon as possible, with final arguments expected in January.

As the year-end shopping season unfolds, American consumers are zeroing in on essentials—from home appliances to basic household goods—while pulling back on discretionary spending. Although headline inflation has cooled compared with earlier this year, many households say the economic squeeze still feels intense, reshaping how and where they spend. Shoppers are spending more time hunting for discounts, comparing rock-bottom prices, and scaling back both the size and scope of

Samsung Electronics of South Korea has introduced a new smartphone—the Galaxy S25 Edge—that makes a striking first impression with one standout feature: its thickness, or rather, the lack of it. Lee Ji-young, Executive Vice President of Samsung’s design team, described it in one sentence: “A model that strips away the unnecessary and completes the most essential form.” Its slim and lightweight appearance is further accentuated through harmony with color, material, and finishi

Travel habits among the younger generation are rapidly evolving. Moving beyond simple sightseeing, there is a growing trend of “purpose-driven travel” focused on specific interests such as watching sports events, wellness retreats, extreme adventures, and culinary exploration. After the COVID-19 pandemic, Millennials and Gen Z have redefined the meaning of travel—not just as a way to relax, but as a meaningful activity that reflects personal hobbies and passions. In particula

“Bravo! Madame Sumi!” Inside the Opéra-Comique in Paris, under the applause of French dignitaries, South Korean soprano Sumi Jo (61), elegantly dressed in a hanbok, slowly stepped onto the stage. Awaiting her was the Commandeur rank—the highest grade of France’s Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, awarded for significant contributions in the fields of arts and culture. On May 26, Sumi Jo will officially receive the honor—a rare distinction for a Korean national. The medal is expec

1. A Flame That Sparked a Wave of Change In December 2010, in the small town of Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia, 26-year-old Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire after repeated harassment by corrupt officials and an oppressive government. His tragic act was not simply a personal despair—it came to represent the cry of a generation of young people across the Middle East and North Africa who had lived under authoritarian rule for decades. But the flame he lit didn’t stop at the streets. I

Hungary’s ruling Fidesz party has introduced a bill aimed at restricting the activities of independent media outlets and NGOs that receive foreign funding. The proposed legislation would impose heavy fines on these organizations, ban them from receiving donations, and potentially prohibit their operations altogether. While the government has named the bill the “Law on the Transparency of Public Life,” critics argue it is effectively a crackdown on progressive, independent med