U.S. Allies Seek Trade Deals with China Amid Trump Tariff Threats
President Trump's tariffs and rhetoric have spurred some longtime U.S. allies to diversify their trade ties away from the U.S., according to NPR News. Some are reportedly seeking deals with Asian superpowers China and India. The shift comes as the U.S. administration continues to impose tariffs on various goods, prompting concerns among its allies about the stability of trade relations.
The move to diversify trade relationships highlights a growing unease among U.S. allies regarding the current administration's trade policies. The specific countries seeking deals with China and India were not named in the report.
Billionaire Ross Stevens Donates $100 Million to U.S. Olympians
In other news, billionaire financier Ross Stevens is set to provide significant financial support to U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes. Starting with the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics, Stevens will donate $200,000 to every U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athlete, even if they do not win a medal, according to Hacker News. Half of the donation will be distributed 20 years after their first qualifying Olympic appearance or at age 45, whichever comes later. The other $100,000 will be in the form of a guaranteed benefit for their families. The U.S. government does not pay athletes for medaling in the Olympics.
CBO Reports Nearly Half a Billion Dollars Spent on Deploying Federal Troops in 2025
A new report by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) revealed that the federal government spent approximately $496 million deploying federal troops to U.S. cities between June and December 2025, Fortune reported. The nonpartisan analysis, released January 28, was in response to a request for information from Senate Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.). The report provides the first comprehensive accounting of the federal government's push to utilize military assets for domestic law enforcement. If the administration maintains the troop levels present at the end of 2025, the CBO estimates the recurring cost to the federal budget will be $93 million per month.
UK Government Spent £4.1 Million on AI Skills Hub
The UK government recently unveiled its AI Skills Hub, aiming to provide 10 million workers with AI skills by 2030. However, the site, delivered by PwC, cost £4.1 million ($5,657,000), according to Hacker News. The site's UI has been criticized, and PwC did not write any of the course content. The Skills Hub primarily links out to external pages, such as Salesforce's free Trailhead learning platform.
Discussion
Join the conversation
Be the first to comment