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In a stunning move, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has axed 22 federal contracts worth nearly $500 million for mRNA vaccine development, calling the technology ineffective against respiratory infections like COVID and flu. The decision, affecting giants like Pfizer and Moderna, marks a sharp turn in U.S. vaccine strategy.

Kennedy plans to shift funding toward “broader, safer” platforms—but scientists are sounding the alarm. Experts warn the cancellation could cripple pandemic readiness, calling it a “self-inflicted vulnerability” with life-threatening consequences. Critics also point to Kennedy's wider overhaul of vaccine policy, including the controversial dismissal of CDC advisers and restrictions on vaccine-related research.

[affairsmastery]

At the World Economic Forum, President Donald Trump stated that the US doesn't need Canadian energy, vehicles, or lumber, reiterating his threat of imposing tariffs on Canadian imports—potentially up to 25% by February 1.

Trump suggested Canada could avoid tariffs by "becoming a state," sparking gasps in the Davos audience. The threat has caused unease in Canada, which exports 75% of its goods to the US. Canadian leaders, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have vowed a "dollar-for-dollar" countermeasure if tariffs are enacted, while pitching Canada as a secure and reliable trading partner.

[affairsmastery]

Tensions between the US and Colombia have exploded after President Gustavo Petro openly dared Donald Trump to come after him, just days after the US military captured Venezuela’s deposed leader Nicolás Maduro. In a fiery statement, Petro warned he would even “take up arms again” for his country, accusing the Trump administration and US Senator Marco Rubio of being misled by Colombian mafia-linked interests trying to sabotage US–Colombia relations.

Trump, meanwhile, lashed out, calling Colombia “very sick” and accusing Petro of running cocaine operations. With Petro already hit by visa revocation and US sanctions, the war of words now feels dangerously close to becoming something far more real.

[affairsmastery]

US President Donald Trump has openly threatened military action against Colombia, calling its leadership “very sick” and accusing President Gustavo Petro of enabling cocaine trafficking into the United States.

Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump said a military operation “sounds good to me,” linking his remarks to rising tensions after the US captured Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro and amid Petro’s sharp criticism of Washington’s actions in the region. The exchange has pushed already strained US–Colombia relations into even more volatile territory.

[affairsmastery]

Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has slammed Donald Trump’s steep 50% tariffs on Indian goods, calling them an “enormous mistake” that risks driving New Delhi closer to Russia and China. He warned the move undermines decades of US efforts to woo India as a strategic counterbalance to Beijing.

Bolton’s caution comes as India deepens ties with BRICS nations, holds high-level talks with Moscow, and prepares for a landmark visit to China later this month. With Trump set to meet Putin soon, Bolton fears the tariffs—meant to punish Russia—could instead strengthen a united front against Washington.

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Reacting to the dramatic US operation that captured Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted that Washington “knows what to do next” when dealing with dictators.

Speaking after meeting European security advisers, Zelenskyy smiled as he praised the bold move, subtly linking it to Ukraine’s own long fight against authoritarian aggression—without naming Russia or Vladimir Putin.

[affairsmastery]

President Donald Trump fired Joint Chiefs Chairman General C.Q. Brown and five other top military leaders in an unprecedented Pentagon overhaul. Breaking tradition, Trump nominated retired Lieutenant General Dan "Razin" Caine to replace Brown, marking the first time a retired officer has been chosen for the role.

The shakeup also includes replacing Navy Chief Admiral Lisa Franchetti, the first woman to lead a military branch, and other senior officials. Critics, including Democratic lawmakers, called the move a dangerous politicization of the military, warning it undermines trust and national security. This dramatic shift signals a major transformation in U.S. military leadership under Trump's "America First" agenda.

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Russia’s economy, once overheated by war spending, is teetering on a slowdown. High interest rates, surging inflation, and relentless Western sanctions have pushed Moscow to a crossroads. But Washington may have just handed Putin a way out.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a swift peace deal—excluding Ukraine and European allies—could deliver Moscow both political and economic gains. With military costs straining Russia’s budget and inflation eroding living standards, experts say peace is now an economic necessity. Sanctions relief and Western firms’ return could ease pressure, but Russia must carefully balance its military ambitions with economic stability.