Tariff uncertainty could cause ‘modest recession,’ new summer outlook warns

Supercell, the Finnish studio behind hit mobile games like Clash Royale and Brawl Stars, is bringing its games to WeChat as mini games—no downloads required. This move taps into WeChat’s massive audience in China, where the app (called Weixin locally) is a one-stop platform for everything from messaging to payments. Brawl Stars is already live, and Clash Royale is coming in September.

Editor’s Note: This is a smart play by Supercell (owned by Tencent) to expand its reach in China, where WeChat’s billion-plus users can now play these games without the hassle of app stores. For gamers, it means instant access to popular titles; for Tencent, it’s another way to keep users glued to its ecosystem. It’s also a sign of how mini-games are becoming a bigger deal in mobile gaming—low friction, high engagement.

A series of earthquakes near Japan’s Tokara Islands and the sudden eruption of a long-inactive volcano in Kyushu have sparked fresh unease among the public—partly because a manga artist, who eerily foreshadowed the 2011 disaster, recently predicted another major catastrophe hitting Japan in early July. While scientists insist there’s no connection between the recent geological activity and the prediction, the timing has left many on edge.

Editor’s Note: Japan sits on the volatile Pacific "Ring of Fire," so earthquakes and volcanic activity aren’t unusual—but when a viral prediction overlaps with real events, it’s hard not to feel a chill. This story taps into deeper anxieties about unpredictability, the power of folklore, and how fear spreads faster than facts. Even if experts debunk the link, the emotional weight of past tragedies makes these moments feel ominously significant.

A Georgian woman working as a housekeeper on the Greek island of Chios has been charged with unintentional arson after allegedly sparking a wildfire by carelessly discarding a cigarette. The blaze is one of several that erupted simultaneously on Sunday, scorching around 40,000 hectares of land. Authorities say the fires have been relentless, straining resources and threatening the island’s landscape and communities.

Editor’s Note: Wildfires are becoming an increasingly urgent problem in Greece, often fueled by extreme heat and human negligence. This case highlights how a single careless act—like tossing a cigarette—can have devastating consequences, especially during dry, hot conditions. It also raises questions about accountability and prevention as climate change makes such disasters more frequent and severe. For locals and tourists alike, it’s a stark reminder of how fragile ecosystems can be in the face of human error.

Australia's Finance Minister Katy Gallagher is justifying the country's hefty defense spending, which aligns with NATO's push for members to allocate at least 5% of GDP to military budgets. Meanwhile, Deputy Liberal leader Sussan Ley is calling for the party to rebrand itself as more supportive of women, following recent electoral setbacks.

Editor’s Note: Defense spending is always a hot topic—especially when global alliances like NATO are pressuring members to ramp it up. Gallagher’s comments suggest Australia isn’t backing down, even as critics question priorities. On the flip side, Ley’s remarks highlight internal party struggles, showing how political factions are scrambling to adapt after losing ground with key demographics. Both stories reflect bigger debates: how much should nations spend on security, and how do political parties stay relevant in changing times?

Progressive underdog Zohran Mamdani has pulled off a stunning upset in New York City’s mayoral primary, forcing former Governor Andrew Cuomo to concede. Mamdani, a left-wing candidate, is calling it a "historic" win, signaling a potential shift in the Democratic Party’s power dynamics as it struggles to regroup after recent losses. Meanwhile, the abrupt resignations of two major labor union presidents add another layer of chaos to the party’s internal turmoil.