Nikesh Chapagain

Senior Contributor
Nikesh Chapagain is a Texan native who has spent over five years as a journalist and political analyst. He graduated from the University of Texas at Dallas and has since been published by the Texas Observer, the Dallas Morning News, the Dallas Business Journal, and many other outlets. His first book is The People’s Candidate.
Trump expands access to cannabis in a major shift in drug policy.

Trump Expands Cannabis Access In Major US Drug Policy Shift

Is the US finally turning the page on cannabis? President Donald Trump thinks so — and he’s just taken a big step to prove it. With a stroke of a pen, Trump signed an executive order directing the justice department to downgrade cannabis from a Schedule I drug — alongside heroin. It was moved to

Search for long-missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 to resume.

Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 Search To Restart

More than a decade later, the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 is set to resume on 30 December. Can we finally get answers about what happened to the Boeing 777 that vanished with 239 people on board in 2014? The renewed 55-day hunt was initially launched in March but had to be paused due

Trump backs Cuomo for New York City mayor and threatens to cut funding if Mamdani wins.

Trump Backs Cuomo, Warns NYC Could Lose Funds If Mamdani Wins

So, Donald Trump just threw his weight behind Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral race — or did he? The president took to Truth Social, urging voters, “Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. He is capable of it. Mamdani is not!” Cuomo, running as an Independent

North Korea using crypto, IT workers to dodge UN sanctions: report.

North Korea Uses Crypto, IT Workers To Evade UN Sanctions, Reports Say

How do you fund a weapons program when the world’s watching your every move? If you’re North Korea, the answer seems to be: go digital. A new report by the Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team (MSMT) reveals Pyongyang has turned cryptocurrency into a lifeline. It has also turned covert IT work into one. These have become

Trump administration starts laying off thousands of workers.

Trump Administration Lays Off Thousands Amid Shutdown Standoff

What happens when a political standoff turns into a pink-slip parade? The Trump administration has begun laying off thousands of federal employees. Critics say it is weaponizing the government shutdown to pressure Democrats. “The RIFs have begun,” declared White House budget chief Russell Vought on X, using the bureaucratic term for “reductions in force.” His

Storm kills two in France; strong gusts hit coast.

Two Dead As Storm Batters France’s Coastline

Northern France is being battered by Storm Amy — a powerful system sweeping in from the British Isles. It’s already claimed two lives and left thousands without power. Meteo France issued an orange alert on Saturday, warning of “strong gusts of wind” hitting coastal and inland regions near the English Channel. Gusts reached a fierce

After fatal crash, Sikh truck drivers in the US fear blowback.

US Sikh Truck Drivers Brace For Backlash After Fatal Crash

Highway 99 in California hums with big rigs. Many of those rigs are driven by turbaned Sikh men whose dashboards carry portraits of Sikh Gurus and Punjabi pop stars. Sikhs from India’s Punjab region now power a massive slice of America’s trucking industry, hauling everything from strawberries to steel. But one deadly crash in Florida

Zelensky condemns 'ruthless attack' after Russia hits main government building in Kyiv.

Russia Strikes Kyiv Government Building, Zelensky Responds

For the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion began, Ukraine’s central government headquarters in Kyiv has been hit. A symbol of state power — the Cabinet of Ministers building — was set ablaze. An overnight wave of missiles and drones battered the capital and other cities. Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed the strike, saying the

Madagascar receives skull of former king beheaded by French troops.

Madagascar Receives Skull Of King Executed Under France

How do you heal the wounds of colonial history? For Madagascar, one step came this week with the long-awaited return of ancestral remains taken more than a century ago. On Tuesday, the country held a solemn ceremony to welcome home the skulls of three men killed by French troops 128 years ago. One is believed

Taiwanese vote against restarting nuclear plant.

Taiwanese Voters Reject Plan To Restart Nuclear Plant

What happens when the lights of a nuclear plant go out, but the debate burns brighter than ever? Taiwan just found out. Over the weekend, a referendum on restarting the Ma’anshan Nuclear Power Plant fell short. About 4.3 million voters said “yes,” while 1.5 million said “no.” But the law demands five million “yes” votes—and

British soldiers using sex workers in Kenya despite ban, inquiry finds.

UK Soldiers Used Sex Workers In Kenya Despite Ban, Inquiry Finds

Even after a ban, some British soldiers in Kenya are still paying for sex. That’s the blunt finding of a two-year army investigation into conduct at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk). A base already dogged by controversy. The probe, ordered in late 2024 after an ITV exposé, reviewed behaviour dating back to July

Trump fires lead official on economic data as tariffs cause market drop.

Trump Fires BLS Chief Following Weak Jobs Report And Market Decline

What happens when the job numbers don’t flatter the President? Apparently, someone gets fired. President Trump has sacked Erika McEntarfer, head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This came just hours after a weak jobs report rattled markets and sparked fresh fears about his trade policies. Trump claims she “rigged” the numbers to make