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An anti-Islam protest and a counter-protest took place simultaneously in front of the residence of New York City Mayor Zoran Mamdani, a Muslim, resulting in clashes. A total of six people, including two men who threw explosives, were arrested during the protest.

According to US media outlets such as NBC News on the 8th, two protests with opposing themes took place simultaneously in front of the mayor’s residence on the Upper East Side of Manhattan the previous day. About 20 people participated in the anti-Islam protest, organized by far-right influencer Jake Lang, with slogans such as “Stop Islam from taking over New York City” and “End Muslim prayer services in public places in New York City.”

About 120 counter-protesters also gathered at the scene, chanting slogans such as “Get the Nazis out of New York” and “Stand up to hate.” Tensions escalated around noon as the two sides confronted each other. When one anti-Islam protester sprayed pepper spray at the other side, two men, aged 18 and 19, each threw an improvised explosive device in quick succession. The ignited devices struck a police barricade and fell onto the crosswalk. The devices, smaller than a soccer ball, were found to be contained in a bottle wrapped in black tape, along with nuts, bolts, screws, and a fuse for use as a fuse.

The New York City Police Department announced on Twitter that day, “Preliminary analysis has confirmed that the device is not a fake explosive or smoke bomb, but rather an improvised explosive device capable of causing serious injury or death.” Police have arrested six people, including the two who threw the explosives, on charges of pepper spray use, affray, and obstructing traffic.

One of the two suspects in the bombing reportedly directly mentioned the Islamic State (IS) during his statement to police. AFP also reported that the man was heard shouting “Allahu Akbar” (Arabic for “God is greatest”) at the scene. The incident is being investigated jointly by the New York City Police Department, the Southern District of New York Attorney General’s Office, and the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Lang, who organized the protest, was previously charged with assaulting a police officer and causing a disturbance but was released last year when President Donald Trump pardoned those involved in the January 6th Capitol riot. He has recently been organizing a series of Islamic protests and has also announced his candidacy for the Florida Senate, the Associated Press reported. Mayor Mamdani is New York City’s first Muslim mayor. The protest took place during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Police said Mayor Mamdani and his wife were staying at their residence at the time of the incident, but there were no injuries.

On that day, Mayor Mamdani criticized Lang at X, calling him a “white supremacist” and saying, “(He) organized a protest based on racism and bigotry,” and that “this kind of hate has no place in New York City.” Regarding the bombing, he wrote, “Violence at protests is absolutely unacceptable,” and “Attempting to use explosives and harm others is not only a crime, but also reprehensible and goes against who we are.”

The United States, a “nation of immigrants,” which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year, has experienced its first net population outflow since the Great Depression, according to estimates. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ), an analysis of data from 15 countries, including European countries, found that at least 180,000 Americans migrated to these countries last year.

An analysis by the Brookings Institution, a think tank, also found that the US saw a net population outflow of 150,000 last year. The net outflow is expected to increase this year. Immigration companies say the US government currently has a backlog of applications for Americans requesting to renounce their citizenship to obtain foreign passports or avoid taxation on their foreign income. The number of applications to renounce US citizenship has increased by 48% as of 2024 compared to the previous year, and the increase is expected to be even larger last year, the WSJ reported.

The last time a net outflow of US population occurred statistically was in 1935. The most popular country of choice for immigrants leaving the United States at the time was the Soviet Union, with over 100,000 people.

Pre-registration applications for the H-1B visa, a professional employment visa for the 2027 fiscal year, will begin on the 4th of next month, the first time a high-income priority system has been implemented. According to USCIS, the pre-registration application for the 2027 H-1B visa will be accepted for 15 days, from noon on March 4th to noon on March 19th, Eastern Standard Time. Individual notifications of selection results will be made by March 31st.

Starting this year, the H-1B visa issuance selection method will be significantly changed. According to the announcement by the Department of Homeland Security in December of last year, the selection of H-1B visa applicants will be changed from the previous random lottery to a lottery that gives weight to applicants classified as high-income. The new system sorts applicants into four categories based on wages, with the highest-wage category receiving four chances in the lottery and the lowest category receiving only one.

Previously, all applicants had an equal chance of being selected for the lottery, but the new rules significantly increase the chances of being selected for a visa. The Department of Homeland Security explains that while the selection probability for the lowest wage category, Category 1, is 15.29%, it will increase to 30.58% for Category 2, 45.87% for Category 3, and 61.16% for Category 4, the highest-wage category.

Another major change to H-1B issuance this year is the fee regulations. According to an executive order issued by President Donald Trump in September of last year, employers who hire foreign nationals who do not have an H-1B visa and reside outside the United States must pay a $100,000 fee when filing the H-1B petition (Form I-129). However, if an international student (F-1 visa holder) legally residing in the United States applies for a change of status, the $100,000 fee will be waived

US President Trump’s counterattack against the Supreme Court’s ruling that tariffs were unconstitutional, and his subsequent announcement of new tariff rates, are bound to introduce more uncertainty and further complicate the situation. Reports indicate that some White House officials were bewildered by the sudden tariff increases. The newly announced 15% tariff rate has a mixed impact on various countries. For countries like the UK, Australia, and Singapore, the new rate is higher than the previously agreed-upon 10% benchmark tariff. However, for countries that previously faced high US tariffs, such as China (20%), Vietnam (20%), India (18%), and Brazil (50%), the new rate is significantly lower.

Some trade experts have pointed out that the U.S. imposing uniform tariffs on imported goods from all countries in the world may ultimately benefit low-cost producers in China and other Asian countries, because even with a 15% import tax, these goods are still relatively inexpensive. However, U.S. Trade Representative Greer pointed out in a Fox News interview on Friday that despite Trump’s announcement of new tariffs, countries that have reached agreements with the U.S. will still be required to adhere to the tariff rates stipulated in those agreements.

Greer stated that although the new tariffs are lower, exports from countries like Malaysia and Cambodia to the U.S. will continue to be taxed at the negotiated 19% rate. Despite legal setbacks, Trump is determined to push through his tariff rates to the end. Trump announced a new 10% tariff immediately after the Supreme Court ruling; less than 24 hours later, on Saturday (February 21), he announced that he would raise the tariff rate to the legally allowed 15% cap, effective immediately.

On Saturday, Trump tweeted on his Truth Social media account that he would determine and enact new legal tariffs within the next 150 days. This move indicates that despite significant legal setbacks, Trump is determined to carry out his plan to impose high tariffs on global imports.

Trump said, “As President of the United States, I will immediately raise the 10% global tariffs imposed on many countries to a fully legal and legally tested 15%. These countries have been exploiting the United States for decades without any punishment.”

Countries are in disarray and are studying countermeasures. Sources revealed that White House staff were caught off guard by the sudden tariff increase. Other countries are also thrown into disarray, scrambling to study the potential repercussions of the US Supreme Court ruling and Trump’s new tariff rates. German Chancellor Merz said on Saturday that he would hold talks with European allies before his visit to the United States in early March to clarify Europe’s position and provide a collective response to the United States.

The Australian government is prepared to explore all options. Australian Trade Minister Farrell said in a statement on Sunday, “We have always opposed these unreasonable tariffs. Australia is working closely with its embassy in Washington to assess the impact of the new tariffs and explore all possible responses.”

Despite facing significant legal setbacks, US President Trump remains determined to implement his plan to impose high tariffs on global imports. (Reuters) Itsunori Onodera, a senior official of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party, said on Sunday (22nd) that Trump’s new tariffs were “outrageous” and he worried that they would only accelerate the estrangement of countries from the United States.

Although the Supreme Court ruled that President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs were unlawful, there are predictions that there will be no significant international action to overturn trade agreements concluded with the United States.

According to the Financial Times (FT) on the 21st, international trade and legal experts analyzed that it is unlikely that governments will attempt to reverse trade agreements concluded with the Trump administration. Regardless of legal issues in the United States, these experts note that the Trump administration still holds leverage in international negotiations. The US holds absolute influence in non-trade areas such as defense and security cooperation. Furthermore, countries should keep in mind that the Trump administration possesses the means to retaliate in the trade sector.

The Supreme Court’s ruling was limited to tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Tariffs on specific products, such as automobiles, steel, semiconductors, and medical supplies, based on Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act and Section 301 of the Trade Act remain in effect. Ultimately, this means that the Trump administration could retaliate against countries attempting to reverse trade agreements with the US by imposing high tariffs on key industries like automobiles. Therefore, experts generally believe that trade agreements with countries whose key industries are at risk of retaliation, such as the European Union (EU), Japan, and South Korea, are unlikely to result in renegotiation or termination.

The European Parliament is scheduled to discuss whether to postpone the ratification of the trade agreement with the US, but given the security situation, including the war in Ukraine and the impact on the auto industry, it is unlikely to escalate into a full-scale review. Simon Evernet, a professor at the International Institute for Management Development (IMD) in Switzerland, said the U.S. Supreme Court ruling did not weaken the Trump administration’s threat, but merely replaced it with another threat. He argued that concerns that the Trump administration could impose higher tariffs after 150 days still weigh on negotiating partners.

Immediately following the Supreme Court ruling the previous day, President Trump reimposed a 10% tariff on all Chinese imports under Section 122 of the Trade Act and announced a day later that he would increase it to 15%. This measure remains in effect for 150 days without further congressional approval. However, some countries may seek to leverage the Supreme Court ruling in negotiations with the Trump administration.

Pratik Dattani, founder of the think tank Bridge India, predicted, “This ruling will enhance the negotiating power of trading partners like India.” He argued that India may slow down negotiations to await not only the Supreme Court ruling but also the shift in power in the U.S. Congress following the midterm elections in November. India is currently in further negotiations following the interim trade agreement reached with the United States earlier this month. However, President Trump also insisted that “nothing has changed” regarding the trade agreement with India.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on the 15th that Generation Z (born between 1997 and 2012) in the United States is investing their money in the stock market instead of buying houses due to the burden of rising housing prices.

According to data from the JP Morgan Chase Institute cited by the WSJ, the proportion of young people (aged 25-39) transferring funds to investment accounts has more than tripled from 10 years ago to 14.4% as of 2023. In particular, the proportion of 26-year-olds who transferred funds to investment accounts after turning 22 has significantly increased from 8% in 2015 to 40% as of May 2025. This figure excludes investments in retirement pension (401(k)) accounts.

“We’ve seen surprisingly strong growth in personal investment in recent years among people who would otherwise be first-time homebuyers,” said George Eckerd, head of research at the JPMorgan Chase Institute.

Eckerd explained that this shift has shifted the wealth accumulation balance among younger generations away from real estate and toward financial markets. In the United States, as in Korea, homeownership has long been considered a key strategy for long-term wealth accumulation. However, with housing prices in some areas now unaffordable for average wage earners, a growing number of younger people are embracing the long-term growth potential of the stock market, leading to a shift in wealth accumulation strategies.

Research has also shown that those who invest their income in the stock market, rather than taking out a mortgage to own a home, are more likely to accumulate more wealth over the next 30 years. Moody’s compared two people in the United States, each earning $150,000 annually.

One purchased a $500,000 home, while the other rented a similar home and invested the remaining income in the stock market. They analyzed which buyer would have more wealth after 30 years. The homebuyer paid a lump sum of 20% of the home’s value and repaid the loan at an interest rate of 6.25% annually. Additionally, they spent $3,546 per month on insurance, property taxes, and various maintenance costs. They assumed an average annual home price appreciation rate of 4%. On the other hand, stock market investors were assumed to pay an initial rent of $2,500 per month (with a 3% annual increase) and invest the remaining difference in the stock market, earning an average annual return of 10%.

This reflects the historical performance of the U.S. stock market, which averages around 10% per year (assuming dividends are reinvested). Moody’s analyzed that after 30 years, the stock investor would have approximately $2.82 million in assets, approximately $1.19 million more than the homebuyer. However, the WSJ explained that this analysis requires caution as it is a simple comparison of hypothetical individuals and may differ from reality.

It can be overlooked that housing prices and stock market returns are highly volatile, and while it is realistically difficult to avoid mortgage interest payments, it is relatively easy to stop paying stock investments. Meanwhile, with housing prices rising so steeply that purchasing a home feels unattainable, the proportion of young people owning a home has declined as they have turned to stock investments.

According to an analysis by online real estate platform Redfin, the homeownership rate among 18–39-year-olds in the United States is projected to drop significantly from 51% in 1999 to 44% in 2025.

Former President Barack Obama strongly criticized the recent heavy-handed crackdown by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Minnesota, while also delivering a pointed rebuke to President Donald Trump’s racist attacks against him.

According to a CBS broadcast on the 14th, the former president mentioned the large-scale immigration raid in Minnesota and the shooting death that occurred during it in a podcast interview, saying, “The deviant behavior of federal agents is serious and dangerous,” and “This is not the America we believe in.”

The former president criticized ICE, saying, “They deployed more than 2,000 agents, but they operated without clear guidelines or training,” and that “there were instances of people being forcibly removed from their homes, young children being used to lure parents, and tear gas being used on crowds that were doing nothing illegal.”

Former President Obama also expressed his position on President Trump’s claim that the “Monkey Obama” video he posted, which he later deleted after public criticism, was a “staff error.” Earlier, on the 5th, President Trump posted a video on social media alleging election fraud, which included a scene depicting former President Barack Obama and his wife as monkeys at the end.

Former President Obama responded, “I’ve met many people across the country who still believe in decency, courtesy, and kindness,” adding, “I don’t think the American people support this kind of discourse.” He added, “The answer will come from the American people.”

As record-breaking cold weather continues this winter, heating bills for Washington area households have risen significantly due to increased heating usage. This, coupled with rising gas and electricity prices, has further burdened households.

According to energy industry and local media, gas bills this winter have seen double-digit increases compared to the previous year.

“I use Washington Gas for heating,” said Mr. A, a resident of a single-family home in Centerville, Virginia. “I paid $156 in January last year, but this year it’s gone up about 37%, to $214.”

Mr. B, a resident of a townhouse in Burke, said, “I use Dominion Energy for both heating and air conditioning, and I keep my room temperature at a constant 70 degrees Fahrenheit. I paid $214 in January last year, and this January it’s gone up about 60%, to $343.”

Person C said, “I kept the house cold to save on heating costs because it’s an electric-only home, but the amount came out to be similar to last year,” and added, “Even though my electricity usage in January was 1,466 kWh, which is less than last year’s 1,809 kWh, my cost was around $240, which is not much different. It seems like the cost of electricity itself has gone up.”

Electricity rates are also under upward pressure. Major electric utilities in Virginia are pushing for or gradually raising rates, citing increased electricity demand and rising facility investment costs. With the severe cold this winter, the actual increase in heating costs for each household is becoming even greater. The effect of the rate increase is compounded by the increased heating usage, significantly increasing the burden on households.

In Northern Virginia townhomes that use only electricity for both heating and air conditioning, the cost came out to be $250-$300. For single-family homes, the average cost was $350-$400. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), winter heating costs are significantly affected by temperature and fuel prices, and if the cold snap continues, the burden of home heating costs could increase significantly.

According to local media and news reports, residents of DC and Northern Virginia are experiencing significant utility bill increases due to rising electricity and gas rates during the winter, which, coupled with the cold snap, are making the increase more noticeable. Dominion Energy, which supplies electricity to Virginia and other areas, plans to increase its base rate this year, which will cost the average customer an additional $11.24 per month.

Washington Gas, a major gas supplier in the Washington, DC area, also saw its average monthly bill increase after new pipe service rates took effect on January 1st.

On the 8th, President Donald Trump called for the passage of the “SAVE (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility) Act,” saying, “The American election was rigged, stolen, and is a laughingstock around the world.”

President Trump introduced the main provisions of the SAVE Act, saying, “We will fix it. If we don’t, we can’t keep this country together. I’m asking every Republican to fight for these things.”

The SAVE Act would strengthen voter identification procedures in all states by requiring voters to present proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote and an ID when voting, while also prohibiting mail-in voting except in exceptional circumstances such as illness, disability, military service, or travel. President Trump called it the “SAVE AMERICA ACT.”

This Republican-led bill passed the House of Representatives last year. While it reflects President Trump’s perception that proxy voting by illegal immigrants has led to election fraud, some argue that it will lower voter turnout among Democratic voters, given that illegal immigrants are not eligible to vote in the first place and many lack proof of citizenship.

Ahead of the midterm elections in November, President Trump recently sparked controversy by advocating for nationalization, transferring election management responsibilities and authority, which are constitutionally under the jurisdiction of each state, to the federal government, saying, “I want to see the elections conducted honestly.”

Tensions are rising in the Baltimore area as unofficial reports of an imminent large-scale raid by federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents continue to surface.

State and local governments are conducting urgent monitoring and advising immigrant communities to develop emergency preparedness plans. According to a memo sent to community leaders by authorities, there are unofficial reports that a large-scale raid of undocumented immigrants could begin in the Baltimore area this weekend. The most concrete information confirmed so far is the deployment of approximately 60 new ICE vehicles to the Baltimore area. However, further operational plans and specific schedules remain unconfirmed, remaining unconfirmed.

Authorities stated, “While we have not yet received official operational notification from the federal government, we cannot rule out the possibility of unannounced raids. We are closely monitoring the situation as enforcement activities may increase in the future.”

Authorities are communicating the situation to immigrant-dense areas and communities, providing guidance on actions and family preparedness plans, including family contact information and childcare arrangements in the event of a raid. They are also strengthening collaboration with relevant organizations, particularly considering the analysis that vulnerable populations, such as asylum seekers and refugees, may be prime targets.

Authorities are operating a rapid response hotline (1-888-214-6016) to report raids and will provide updates as information becomes available. Authorities emphasized, “As much unconfirmed information remains, a cautious approach is necessary,” and added, “While there’s no need to be overly swayed by rumors, thorough preparation is essential for any eventuality.”