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Wall Street struggles for direction amid tariff uncertainty, Nvidia slips
The Nasdaq Composite slipped 0.4 percent, pressured by a 3 percent drop in Nvidia, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 229 points, or 0.54 percent, supported by strength in financials and defensive sectors.
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Democrats mobilise against Trump's budget cuts as public backlash grows
Democrats are intensifying their opposition to Trump’s budget cuts through protests, lawsuits, and town halls, as public backlash grows ahead of a looming government shutdown, according to The Washington Post.
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Tulsi Gabbard orders firing of over 100 intelligence officers for explicit chats
Over 100 intelligence officers have been fired for engaging in explicit chats on an NSA platform, with US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard framing it as part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to restore accountability and depoliticize intelligence agencies.
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Trump administration’s deep cuts to USDA and CDC spark concerns over food and animal safety
With fewer agricultural inspectors at ports, the risk of pests infiltrating American crops has risen. Experts warn that foreign markets may refuse US agricultural products if contamination concerns grow.
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Trump confirms tariffs on Mexico, Canada to resume March 4; additional 10% levy on China
The 25 percent tariffs on Mexico and Canada, originally set to be implemented last month, were temporarily delayed on February 3.
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US jobless claims jump to 242,000, highest level since December
According to the latest data from the Department of Labor, an estimated 242,000 Americans filed for unemployment benefits in the week ending February 22.
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Putin dangles rare earths deal for Trump as Zelenskyy heads to US, China tightens control
The Russian President's offer comes as his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s heads to Washington to sign what Donald Trump has described as 'very big deal' on minerals
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DOGE’s savings claims unravel as Musk’s cost-cutting drive faces backlash
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) faced backlash after removing misleading savings claims from its "wall of receipts," revealing errors and discrepancies in its cost-cutting figures.
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Ukraine seeks security guarantees through natural resources deal with the US
Ukraine's President Zelensky hopes a draft deal with the US on natural resources will help secure future security guarantees, though the agreement stops short of explicit commitments.
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Chinese manufacturers ramp up overseas production in response to new US tariffs
In response to US tariffs, Chinese manufacturers are rapidly shifting production to Southeast Asia, aiming to maintain access to the US market while reducing costs.
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Ukraine’s looming weapons crisis: How the end of US military aid could impact the war effort
Ukraine can continue fighting through mid-2025 with existing supplies, but may face significant challenges if US military aid is cut off afterward.
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Taiwan detains Chinese-owned freighter amid subsea cable damage investigation
Taiwan’s coastguard detained a Chinese-owned freighter suspected of damaging a subsea communications cable, amid increasing concerns over China’s "greyzone" operations.
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Trump administration reverses stance on Musk's mandate for federal workers
The Trump administration reversed Elon Musk's mandate requiring federal employees to submit bullet-point work summaries, causing confusion and backlash across various agencies.
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Trump shuts down police misconduct database amid concerns over public safety
President Trump has shut down the federal police misconduct database created under Biden, raising concerns over public safety and law enforcement accountability, according to The Washington Post.
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US federal judge clears path for Trump's mass staff reductions amid union challenge
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Will US companies return to Russia? The impact of sanctions and market changes
Amid ongoing sanctions and market shifts, Western companies that exited Russia after its invasion of Ukraine may consider returning, though reputational risks and restrictions remain significant obstacles.
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Putin unlikely to engage in serious Ukraine peace talks, say intelligence sources
US and Western intelligence officials believe Putin remains focused on controlling Ukraine and is unlikely to engage in peace talks that don’t align with his goals, despite Trump’s optimism, according to CNN.
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Trump administration seeks to remove protections for administrative law judges
The Trump administration argues that President Trump has the constitutional power to fire administrative law judges without cause, challenging existing protections against political interference.
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Senate’s vote-a-rama highlights partisan divides as Republicans push through Trump’s budget plan
The Senate's vote-a-rama session highlighted the deep partisan divide as Republicans pushed through Trump's budget plan, despite Democratic opposition, according to The New York Times.
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Concerns rise over autonomous vehicle safety as NHTSA cuts workforce overseeing emerging technologies
Workforce cuts at NHTSA, including staff overseeing autonomous vehicle safety, raise concerns about the government's ability to regulate emerging technologies like Tesla’s Autopilot and ensure road safety.
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White House, Treasury agree to limit DOGE’s access to IRS data amid security concerns: Report
Gavin Kliger, a software engineer affiliated with Elon Musk’s DOGE initiative and assigned to the IRS, will now have only read-only access to anonymized tax data.
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Donald Trump reportedly seeks control of US postal service, board prepares legal fight
Trump is expected to issue an executive order as soon as this week to dismiss the members of the Postal Service’s governing board and shift oversight of the agency to the Commerce Department under Secretary Howard Lutnick.
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Moralistic Garbage: JD Vance hits back at historian in fierce defense of Trump’s Ukraine stance
Vance’s response was detailed and methodical, in contrast to Trump’s more direct approach. He argued that Trump’s stance was rooted in realism rather than outdated historical comparisons.
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CIA to see largest firing since 1977 as diversity officers face dismissal
The agency reportedly started informing officers on administrative leave that they must resign or face termination.
