Middle East Crisis Reorders EU Priorities, Pushing Economic Agenda to the Sidelines Ahead of Key Summit

Escalating tensions involving Iran force European leaders to pivot from long-term budget and competitiveness plans to urgent geopolitical and energy security concerns.

BRUSSELS | Europe’s already fragile economic recovery is set to take a back seat as intensifying tensions in the Middle East—centered on Iran—reshape the agenda of next week’s European Council summit, underscoring the bloc’s growing vulnerability to external shocks.

Originally convened to address structural economic challenges and advance negotiations on the European Union’s €1.8 trillion Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the April 23–24 summit in Cyprus is now expected to focus heavily on geopolitical risk management, energy security, and potential spillover effects from the widening regional conflict.

Senior EU officials say the shift reflects mounting concern that instability in the Middle East could disrupt global energy markets, heighten inflationary pressures, and potentially tip major economies toward recession. “There are simply too many urgent issues competing for attention,” one official noted, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Economic strategy is being overtaken by crisis response.”

The reprioritization marks another setback for efforts to address Europe’s lagging competitiveness, a growing concern among member states as the bloc struggles to keep pace with the United States and China. High industrial energy costs and sluggish productivity growth have weighed on the EU’s economic outlook, prompting calls earlier this year for a comprehensive reform roadmap. While the European Commission has prepared detailed proposals, officials acknowledge they are unlikely to receive substantive discussion amid the current geopolitical climate.

Politicians Say Glyphosate Weedkiller Causes Cancer But Evidence Not Clear-Cut

Following an executive order from the Trump administration that promotes production of glyphosate, some Democrats have claimed that the herbicide causes cancer. The science, however, is nuanced. While there is some evidence linking glyphosate to cancers in lab animals or to the blood cancer non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers, the findings have been inconsistent.

Regulatory agencies around the world, including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, have concluded glyphosate is unlikely to pose carcinogenic risks.

In a Feb. 18 executive order, President Donald Trump promoted production of glyphosate-based herbicides — originated in 1974 by Monsanto as the weedkiller Roundup — as necessary for national security. The move was widely viewed as counter to the Make America Healthy Again, or MAHA, movement, which generally opposes pesticides, and prominently glyphosate. Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, is the only company that makes glyphosate in the U.S., although there are also imported generic versions.

The U.S. Treasury Didn’t Declare the Country ‘Insolvent’

Two economists — Steve Hanke at Johns Hopkins University and David Walker, a former comptroller general of the U.S. — published an opinion piece in Fortune last month advocating bills aimed at reining in the national debt. In support of this, they pointed to the U.S. Treasury’s financial report on fiscal year 2025, noting that the liabilities for the U.S. government far outweighed the assets and characterizing the government as “insolvent.”

The headline on the March 23 piece — “The Treasury just declared the U.S. insolvent. The media missed it” — became a viral claim on social media, suggesting that there’s been a major new development in the government’s financial position.

But there hasn’t been. One reader asked us about a post that suggested President Donald Trump was to blame.

“The U.S. Treasury did not declare the U.S. government insolvent,” said Kent Smetters, faculty director of the Penn Wharton Budget Model, who told us that he agreed with the larger point of the opinion piece — that the government’s fiscal policy is imbalanced and in need of change.

The writers cited the most recent annual report from the Treasury, released in March, that listed the government’s total assets for fiscal year 2025 — including cash on hand, federal land and loans owed — as just over $6 trillion. It listed the total liabilities as almost $48 trillion.

American Airlines Marks 100 Years of Aviation Leadership, Positioning Itself for the Next Century of Global Travel

From a single airmail route in 1926 to a global aviation powerhouse, American Airlines celebrates its centennial with nationwide activations and a renewed focus on innovation, customer experience, and future growth

American Airlines is celebrating a historic milestone in 2026, marking 100 years since its origins as a modest airmail operation and reaffirming its place as one of the most influential carriers in global aviation. The centennial comes as the airline seeks to balance its storied legacy with a forward-looking strategy centered on innovation, customer engagement, and international connectivity.

The airline traces its roots to April 15, 1926, when a DH-4 biplane departed Chicago for St. Louis carrying mail under Robertson Aircraft Corporation—a foundational moment that would ultimately lead to the creation of American Airlines. Over the past century, the company has evolved into the world’s largest airline, operating more than 6,000 daily flights to over 350 destinations across more than 60 countries and serving upwards of 200 million passengers annually.

“Michigan State Trio Set to Shine: Kellerman, Smith, Ortiz Eye NCAA Gymnastics Glory in Fort Worth”

Spartans send three elite competitors to NCAA Championships as individuals, led by all-around standout Nikki Smith and All-American Sage Kellerman.

The spotlight of collegiate gymnastics turns to Fort Worth this week, and Michigan State is sending a powerful trio ready to make noise on the national stage.

Seniors Sage Kellerman and Nikki Smith, alongside junior Gabi Ortiz, will represent the Spartans as individual qualifiers at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships, set for Thursday, April 16 at Dickies Arena. Competing in the first semifinal session at 4:30 p.m. ET, the trio carries both momentum and history into one of the sport’s most competitive arenas.

For Smith, this moment represents both a culmination and a new beginning.

A veteran presence making her third NCAA Championships appearance, Smith will compete in the all-around for the first time in her career — a testament to her resilience and elite consistency. Her path to Fort Worth was nothing short of dominant. At the Tempe Regional, she posted a 39.625 all-around score in the second round before elevating to a season-high-tying 39.725 in the regional final — tying the third-best score in Michigan State program history.

'TELL IT LIKE IT IS' “On The Plains: Alexia Tordoff’s Championship Ride — Auburn Star Leaves Lasting Legacy in Western Events”

From a childhood saddle to SEC dominance, Auburn senior Alexia Tordoff’s dual-discipline excellence and leadership define one of the program’s most decorated careers.

On the Plains, greatness isn’t given — it’s earned through grit, repetition, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Few embody that ethos better than Auburn senior equestrian standout Alexia Tordoff, whose journey from a three-year-old rider to one of the SEC’s most decorated Western competitors tells a story of persistence, passion, and purpose.

Tordoff’s introduction to riding came early, inspired by her older sister Olivia. What started as a shared activity soon evolved into something far deeper. By her early teens, the foundation of a lifelong pursuit had been cemented — one built on long days in the barn, lessons learned the hard way, and a relentless drive to improve.

Her path to Auburn wasn’t conventional. Recruiting during the COVID-19 pandemic limited in-person visits, but Tordoff found clarity through a unique lens — watching her sister compete for the Tigers. That firsthand exposure, combined with virtual connections with coaches and staff, ultimately solidified Auburn as home.

And once she arrived, Tordoff didn’t just fit in — she elevated the program.

Competing in both Horsemanship and Reining, Tordoff embraced one of the most demanding roles in collegiate equestrian. The dual-discipline workload requires exceptional balance, time management, and mental toughness — a challenge she transformed into a competitive advantage.

“It’s double the work,” Tordoff said, “but also double the opportunity.”

That mindset paid dividends almost immediately.