The often painful history of action sports brands like Quiksilver & Billabong. Born from riders, they battle authenticity vs. commerce. See how investors reshaped the scene and new brands rise.
Claudia Sheinbaum, Mexico’s first female president, brings a unique background as a physicist and environmental scientist to the nation’s highest office. Her political rise began alongside Andrés Manuel López Obrador and led her to become mayor of Mexico City. Sheinbaum focuses on social reforms, the fight against drug cartels, and pragmatic foreign policy. Despite strong popularity, she faces criticism over security challenges, human rights issues, and her close ties to López Obrador.
The U.S. lost millions of industrial jobs, but the growing service sector couldn’t replace them. Service jobs tend to be lower-paying, and many lost factory jobs were replaced by these lower-wage positions. Additionally, most new jobs are in low-skilled services, not high-skill jobs. The shareholder-focused capitalism of the 1980s led companies to offshore production and cut jobs to increase profits. Automation has also replaced many industrial jobs, and even if companies return to the U.S., they may not create many new jobs due to high-tech automation.
Trump’s three-phase strategy aims to reshape the global economic order in favor of the U.S. Initially, tariffs are used as a negotiating tool, followed by reciprocal tariffs to create fairer trade. The long-term goal is a new currency agreement that strengthens the U.S. dollar while allowing for its devaluation. This strategy carries significant risks: if it fails, it could lead to global fragmentation and a diminished role for the U.S. on the world stage.
Russia’s hybrid warfare, driven by the Gerasimov Doctrine, combines military and non-military means to destabilize its opponents. Through covert operations, cyberattacks, disinformation, and economic pressure, Russia seeks to undermine democracies and expand its influence. The GRU, especially its Unit 29155, plays a key role in sabotage, assassinations, and destabilization efforts worldwide. The West faces an undeclared war, and Russia’s aggressive tactics pose a severe threat to global security and democracy.
Donald Trump’s tariff policies in April 2025 caused a massive stock market crash, only for the tariffs to be suspended shortly afterward, leading to a sharp market rally. Critics claim that Trump may have manipulated the market for personal gain, with his company TMTG benefiting from a significant stock price surge. There are also concerns about potential insider trading, as Trump’s public post urging investors to “BUY” coincided with his tariff reversal. These events raise serious questions about conflicts of interest, market manipulation, and the abuse of political power for financial advantage.
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