Just when you thought all the talk about tariffs was over, Trump announced a 50% tariff on a wide range of Canadian goods, reopening a trade war with the country that began last year.

The White House said that Canada has unfairly restricted American products (particularly cars, dairy, and alcohol) and continued to retaliate against earlier tariffs the president imposed. Over the past year:

The Trump administration announced the new 50% tariff to gain back some capital, which impacts more than a few products:

What’s Trump’s angle here? The new tariffs are seemingly intended to pressure Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government during ongoing negotiations over the future of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (see overview).

Looking forward: Prime Minister Mark Carney argues the US has violated its trade commitments but also said that he is willing to negotiate. The tariff is set to begin on August 19.

🌎 How does this affect you? Once the duties take effect, shoppers could pay more for certain products and US businesses that rely on Canadian materials could pass their higher costs along to customers. Further retaliation could also spread the costs to more goods and hurt American businesses that sell products in Canada.

See what's changed, recent data, what we're watching next, and every other major story that affects you on our Watchlist… completely free.

OpenAI said its AI models went rogue during security testing last week and hacked into rival AI platform Hugging Face, marking what is believed to be the first cyberattack by an autonomous AI agent.

OpenAI was testing its GPT-5.6 Sol model alongside an even more advanced unreleased model to see whether the two could work together to launch a cyberattack. They passed with flying colors:

How much damage did they do? It’s still being determined. Hugging Face said last week that a complex system had breached their digital libraries, datasets, and company credentials and is still investigating if consumer data was stolen. Read OpenAI’s blog post confirming the hack here.

This has never happened before: OpenAI says the breach was unlike anything seen before, calling it "unprecedented." Researchers argue it demonstrates why stronger AI safety rules are needed before the technology becomes even more capable.

🌎 Why does this matter? The incident could speed up new AI safety rules and force companies to put more safeguards in place as AI agents become increasingly popular. However, as businesses spend more to defend against these threats, consumers could eventually face higher prices or fees to help cover those costs.

Track the latest updates on cybersecurity, AI adoption, digital privacy, and more with our Technology index.

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump announced a multibillion-dollar deal to develop Saudi Arabia's civilian nuclear program over the next 30 years, with US companies building and overseeing the project.

But before any ground is broken, the agreement will need to pass through Congress for approval.

The agreement would allow US companies to transfer nuclear tech to Saudi Arabia over the next 30 years and, if a joint US-Saudi study concludes one is needed, permit the US to build a uranium enrichment facility in the kingdom.

If the US decides not to move forward with enrichment after the study, Saudi Arabia would have to wait 10 years before building a facility on its own or with another country.

While the US has similar nuclear agreements with 26 countries (see here), this one is missing two key stipulations found in the others:

That’s pretty controversial: Some lawmakers and nuclear experts worry the agreement could encourage a nuclear arms race in the Middle East if Saudi Arabia pursues its own, further destabilizing the region.

So, will Saudi Arabia make one? It’s not clear. But in 2018, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said that he would develop a nuclear bomb if Iran did. It comes as the US is currently at war with Iran to prevent it from creating its own nuclear arsenal.

🌎 Why is this important? The agreement could generate new contracts, exports, and jobs for American nuclear-energy, engineering, and construction companies. It also aims to keep Saudi Arabia from turning to China or Russia for nuclear tech, preserving US influence in a strategically important region.

See live updates, timelines, previous briefings, and more on other geopolitical conflicts with our World index.

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For decades, people moved from New York to South Florida in search of sunshine, lower taxes and a cheaper lifestyle. That's no longer the case.

For the first time ever, the Miami metro area has become more expensive than greater New York in overall cost of living, making it the second-most expensive major metro area in the country behind only San Francisco.

According to newly released government data:

What’s driving higher prices? Mainly housing. Home prices in South Florida have jumped 79% since the pandemic, fueled by an influx of wealthy buyers, while soaring insurance costs have left Florida with the nation's highest home insurance premiums. Overall, housing costs are now about 5% higher in South Florida than in the New York metro area.

To make things even worse: Bloomberg reports that Miami workers earn about $1,000 less each year than the median American, with white-collar wages also falling below those in New York.

🌎 Why should you care? Miami’s historic housing prices combined with low wages could make it harder for young professionals, families and service workers to afford living in the region, while forcing businesses to pay higher wages to attract employees.

We’re tracking a wide range of topics on our Watchlist. Click below for new developments on the housing market, housing affordability, inflation, and more.

For years, Gen Z earned a reputation as the generation most likely to skip alcohol in favor of other alternatives. Now, new research suggests that perception is changing.

As social life has normalized and incomes have risen, more young adults are drinking than they were just a few years ago. Data from alcohol industry tracker IWSR shows:

Why the sudden catch-up? Industry analysts say the pandemic interrupted the years when many young people would have been attending college parties, happy hours, and other social experiences where older generations typically began drinking. Rising living expenses and a challenging job market also may have limited alcohol spending among younger adults, while older Gen Zers are beginning to have more disposable income.

While they may be drinking more, they’re not drinking more: One data trend showed that Gen Z drinks less alcohol by volume than previous generations, despite participating more frequently. Instead of housing massive quantities of bottom-shelf liquor (like your parents probably did), many young adults are choosing premium cocktails, ready-to-drink beverages, and other, higher-quality products.

🌎 Why is this important? The finding could reshape how restaurants, bars, and alcohol companies cater to young adults, leading to more traditional drink options and new product launches. It also suggests alcohol will remain a bigger part of social life for Gen Z than many expected, influencing everything from nightlife to workplace culture.

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> Defense tech company Anduril unveiled Thunder, a massive autonomous attack rotorcraft that can carry at least 38 various missiles on board and is designed to fly alongside military helicopters.