USA ESTA Travel Pass News

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.”

Two foreign male models who were indicted on charges of smuggling a large amount of methamphetamine into Korea from overseas under the promise of receiving support for travel expenses, etc., were sentenced to heavy prison sentences.

According to legal circles, the 5th Criminal Division of the Busan District Court (Presiding Judge Kim Hyun-soon) sentenced German national A and Spanish national B, who were indicted on charges of violating the Act on the Aggravated Punishment, etc. of Specific Crimes (psychotherapy), to 11 years in prison each.

A and B are accused of smuggling two suitcases each containing 15.3 kg of methamphetamine into Gimhae Airport at approximately 1:30 PM on July 16, 2025. On June 20th of the same year, a month before the crime, they received an offer from an unidentified person using an online messenger in Germany: “Send two suitcases from Canada to Korea and I’ll pay for your travel expenses to Canada and compensation.” They picked up the suitcases on a road near their hotel in Toronto on July 14th, checked them in at Pearson International Airport, and then arrived at Gimhae International Airport via Hong Kong International Airport on July 16th.

The two planned to receive airfare and accommodation costs, as well as 20 million won in USDT (dollar-based stable coins), if they successfully smuggled the methamphetamine, worth over 3 billion won, into Korea. However, the smuggling attempt failed after they were caught by customs at the airport. The two claimed that they had only responded to an advertisement for a “free trip abroad” on social media and were completely unaware that the items inside the suitcases were drugs.

Chief Judge Kim stated, “Despite the significant amount of methamphetamine involved, the defendants consistently make incomprehensible excuses and continue to attempt to evade criminal punishment,” and ruled, “Severe punishment is necessary.”

A bill has been introduced in the House of Representatives that will strip naturalized citizens of their citizenship if they commit a felony or commit fraud against the government within 10 years of becoming a naturalized citizen.

On the 21st, Republican Representative Tom Emmer (Minnesota) introduced the “Suppressing Abuse and Misrepresentation of Citizenship Act (SCAM Act)” and emphasized the need for a strong response to large-scale welfare and subsidy fraud cases.

According to the bill, if a naturalized citizen is convicted of a crime of government fraud, an aggravated felony, or espionage within 10 years of becoming a naturalized citizen, the citizenship could be revoked and they could be deported.

In a statement, Rep. Emmer argued, “People who commit taxpayer fraud, have ties to terrorist organizations, are convicted of felonies, or have engaged in espionage are not eligible to retain their citizenship. This bill seeks to hold accountable those who have committed fraud in Minnesota while also restoring trust in our naturalization system.”

Under current law, deprivation of citizenship is limited to limited grounds, such as illegal acquisition, concealment or false statements of material facts, and membership in the Communist Party, totalitarian political parties, or terrorist organizations within five years of naturalization. Rep. Emmer recently sparked controversy by publicly calling for the deprivation and deportation of naturalized citizens in connection with allegations of large-scale fraud centered around childcare facilities in Minnesota.

New York and New Jersey are on high alert as an arctic cold wave and snowstorms are forecast to hit this weekend. According to the National Weather Service, the cold Arctic air is expected to rapidly move south starting in the afternoon of the 23rd, causing severe cold weather in the New York City area, with temperatures dropping to around 20 degrees Fahrenheit.

Temperatures are expected to plummet to 7 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 degrees Celsius) in the early morning hours of the 24th. Furthermore, the National Weather Service predicts that large snow clouds will move in as early as late at night on the 24th, dumping up to 16 inches of snow by late the next night.

Regionally, New York City is expected to see 3 to 16 inches of snow, coastal areas like Long Island are expected to see 6 to 12 inches, and northern New Jersey, including Bergen County, is expected to see 12 to 18 inches. Accordingly, New York City authorities have already activated a special emergency work system and entered a state of high alert in preparation for the damage caused by the upcoming arctic cold wave and heavy snow.

Mayor Zoran Mamdani held an emergency press conference at Woodhull Hospital in Brooklyn on the 22nd and declared a “Code Blue” for citizens vulnerable to the cold wave. Mayor Mamdani stated, “We are taking measures to evacuate vulnerable citizens, such as the homeless who are exposed to the cold, to shelters with heating facilities.”

New York City also plans to prevent snow and ice from accumulating on major roads through preemptive snow removal efforts in preparation for the snow bomb. To this end, more than 2,000 snow removal vehicles and calcium chloride spreaders have been put on emergency standby. Additional personnel have also been deployed to ensure the normal operation of public transportation, including subways, buses, and bridges, and 8,450 tons of calcium chloride have been deployed. Mayor Mamdani emphasized, “About 2,000 city employees will begin working 12-hour shifts starting the morning of the 24th, when heavy snow is expected,” and “As soon as the snow begins to pile up, snowplows and calcium chloride spreaders will be deployed throughout the city.” Measures have also been prepared for school closures expected due to heavy snow.

New York City Schools Superintendent Kamar Samuels said, “We will decide on whether to close schools on Monday (the 26th) after seeing how much snow actually falls this weekend,” and “However, even if school closures are decided due to inclement weather, it is highly likely that they will be converted to remote learning.” Meanwhile, New York State has also issued a statewide snow advisory and instructed each local government to prepare thorough measures.

On the 21st, the New York State Court in Manhattan ordered the redistricting of New York’s 11th Congressional District. The court’s ruling that the current district boundaries (maps) are set to favor a specific political party or politician, also known as “gerrymandering,” is expected to have an impact starting with the midterm elections to be held this year.

Judge Jeffrey Pearlman ruled on this day that “the boundaries of New York’s 11th Congressional District, which includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, were illegally drawn and must be redistricted,” and “this is unconstitutional, and a special independent redistricting commission must be convened to prepare new district maps within two weeks (by the 6th of next month).”

Judge Pearlman included in his ruling that “the hearings and the verification of empirical data clearly showed that discrimination against minority voters in the district persisted and that the district boundaries actually weakened the representation of minority voters.” In other words, the ruling explains that the state constitution must guarantee that minority voting rights are reflected in real politics. New York’s 11th Congressional District is currently occupied by Republican Representative Nicole Malliotakis.

Ed Cox, chairman of the New York Republican Party, strongly criticized the court ruling, saying, “This is a ruling by a biased judge in favor of a biased lawyer in a lawsuit filed by a biased lawyer.” He added, “In fact, in 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hokule and the Democratic Party had the opportunity but did not change the district map. However, trying to redraw the district map now is a ploy by the Democratic Party, which is currently underrepresented in the federal Congress, to gain even one more seat in New York.” The New York Republican Party announced that it would immediately appeal. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, a Democratic Party member, said, “New York voters deserve the fairest congressional districts possible,” and “This court ruling is the first step toward that goal.” The New York chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), also emphasized, “This ruling reaffirms what the state constitution requires,” and “District boundaries (maps) should not be drawn in a way that excludes certain communities from real-world politics.”

With the Virginia General Assembly convening on the 14th, state lawmakers gathered in Richmond began a 60-day session.

With control of both houses of the state legislature and the governorship, the Democrats have completed their “trifecta.” This means that Democratic bills, which were stymied by the Republican governor’s veto last year, will proceed without a hitch this year.

Democratic Governor Abigail Spanberger, who takes office on the 17th, emphasized “affordability” during the last election, and Democratic leaders are prioritizing this. While affordable housing and a minimum wage increase are expected to be key issues, there are also significant concerns about federal job cuts and the resulting economic instability.

Meanwhile, four amendments to the state constitution are expected to be addressed quickly in the early stages of the session. These include eliminating the ban on same-sex marriage, automatically restoring citizenship (voting rights) to those convicted of felonies, guaranteeing abortion access on par with Roe v. Wade, and allowing redistricting of federal House districts.

Democrats plan to pass these amendments within three days of the opening session. After passage by Congress, these amendments will be submitted to a referendum, with the redistricting amendment expected to take effect around April, and the others in November.

Senate Democratic Leader Scott Surovell said, “Redistricting is a response to the Trump administration and Republican states trying to rig the game,” adding, “Virginians are angry about what’s happening across the country.” Other topics expected to be discussed include legalizing retail marijuana, strengthening gun control, and regulating the construction of data centers.

The Virginia legislature will be deliberating a variety of bills over the next two months, including budget allocation.

While the Democrats, who control both the legislature and the executive branch, are pursuing ambitious reforms with Virginia’s first female governor, a cautious approach is required due to conflicts with the federal government, fiscal pressures, and internal conflicts between moderates and progressives. Governor Spanberger, who will be inaugurated on the 17th, is scheduled to address the state legislature on the 19th.

In New Jersey, eligible voters will be automatically registered to vote when they issue or renew a driver’s license. Governor Phil Murphy signed Bill S-1636 into law, which establishes this automatic voter registration system, on the 12th.

The bill changes the voter registration process conducted by the state Department of Motor Vehicles.

Currently, the Department of Motor Vehicles asks citizens who issue or renew their driver’s licenses if they wish to register to vote, but after the revised law takes effect, they will be automatically registered as voters. If a citizen who is 18 years of age or older and eligible to vote is not registered to vote when the Department of Motor Vehicles issues or renews a license, they will be automatically registered as a voter. They will then be notified individually to select a political party or decline to register altogether.

State Senator Andrew Zwalker expressed his hope that “automatic voter registration will increase voter registration and turnout and will be particularly beneficial for low-income and minority communities.”

The new law is scheduled to take effect two years after the governor signs it, but states can implement it sooner.