January 28, 2026
POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY & THE HUMANITIES Travel & Tourism

When Confidence Falls and Gold Rises: Why Economic Doubt Persists Despite Official Reassurances

U.S. consumer confidence fell again in early 2026, underscoring a growing disconnect between official assurances about economic stability and how households actually feel about their financial future. While the White House and President Donald Trump continue to insist that “the economy is strong” and that inflation is under control, new data from the Conference Board […]

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POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY & THE HUMANITIES SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Travel & Tourism

Global Energy Deal Ends — What It Means for U.S. Prices, Why It Collapsed, and the Long-Term Risks Ahead

According to recent BBC reporting, a major international energy agreement that helped stabilize global oil markets has come to an end, raising new uncertainty about fuel prices, inflation, and economic planning in the United States. While the deal had limited direct control over U.S. policy, its collapse underscores how interconnected global energy markets remain — […]

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Travel & Tourism

A Rare Fabergé Masterpiece Heads to Auction, Expected to Break £20 Million Record

A glittering relic of Russia’s imperial past is heading to the auction block, and experts say it could shatter every previous record for Fabergé artistry. Christie’s has announced the sale of the famed Winter Egg, an exquisitely carved crystal-and-diamond imperial treasure valued at more than £20 million (NZ$46 million). The Winter Egg, crafted in 1913, […]

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Humanity Travel & Tourism

The End of an Era: U.S. Mint Strikes Final Penny as America Phases Out the Cent

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The U.S. Mint in Philadelphia struck its final circulating penny Wednesday, officially ending the nation’s longest-running coin denomination after more than 230 years of production. President Donald Trump ordered the phase-out earlier this year, calling the penny “wasteful” as production costs rose to nearly four cents per coin. “For far too long […]

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POLITICS, TECHNOLOGY & THE HUMANITIES SDG 10: Reduced Inequality Travel & Tourism

Visa and Mastercard in $38B Settlement

Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a revised $38 billion settlement with U.S. merchants, aiming to resolve a two-decade antitrust dispute over so-called swipe fees—charges businesses pay every time customers use credit cards. The new agreement is designed to address concerns from a federal judge who rejected a smaller $30 billion proposal in 2024 as […]

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National USA Travel & Tourism

Shelter In Place Ordered For Those in Louisville After Plane Crash

On Nov 4, 2025, a UPS MD-11F cargo aircraft (Flight 2976) crashed shortly after takeoff from Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Kentucky, bound for Honolulu. The incident occurred around 5:15 p.m. local time. Video footage showed flames emanating from the left wing of the aircraft during its takeoff roll or initial climb, followed by […]

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Travel & Tourism

Airports Feeling The Shutdown As The U.S. Approaches Holiday Season

As the U.S. federal government shutdown entered its fourth week in late October and early November 2025, significant operational strains emerged within domestic air travel systems. According to ABC News, in the New York City region alone up to 80% of air-traffic-controller positions were absent at one point—while the FAA said roughly half of the […]

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