U.S. ESTA Travel Pass News

According to reports from US media outlets such as Today and Supermarket News, a large-scale recall of frozen food has recently occurred in the United States, involving approximately 37 million pounds of products and affecting multiple chain retailers, including Trader Joe’s and Kroger.

The food recall has expanded to nearly 10 million pounds of frozen vegetable fried rice, which has been urgently removed from shelves due to the potential presence of glass shards in the product. This recall was initiated by food manufacturer Ajinomoto Foods North America because some products may have contained glass shards. Regulatory agencies stated that the problem stems from foreign object contamination in the ingredients, and they have received related consumer complaints.

Affected products include various ready-to-eat foods such as frozen fried rice, and ramen, including Trader Joe’s chicken fried rice, vegetable fried rice, Japanese fried rice, and chicken shumai. The report indicates that there have been no reports of personal injury, but the affected products have been removed from shelves nationwide.

Analysts believe that this incident is not only large in scale but also highlights the risks of “contract manufacturing + multi-brand sales” in the US food supply chain. Once a problem occurs at the source, it often quickly affects multiple retail channels, amplifying safety hazards.

An American couple, unable to afford their high rent, decided to move into hotels, unexpectedly finding their lives more stable and saving approximately $12,000 annually – a surprising and ingenious way to save money.

According to the New York Post, 47-year-old Maranda Bowers and her 40-year-old husband, John Bowers, originally lived in Florida, renting a two-story, three-bedroom house for $2,300 a month. However, in 2023, John was injured at work, causing a sharp drop in income and leaving the family without their main source of income. Maranda, who runs a cleaning company, couldn’t afford the rent.

The couple initially stayed with relatives, but later decided to move into hotels permanently, beginning their “hotel life.” Currently, they pay $307 a week for a double room, a fee that includes utilities, internet, and parking. This translates to a monthly expense lower than their previous rent, and they don’t even need to pay a security deposit.

Maranda says the best thing about staying in hotels is the “fixed cost and no variables.” She usually books for six months at a time, knowing exactly how much she’ll spend each week. “It’s much easier to prepare weekly expenses than to rack up a huge monthly rent bill.”

The room has a kitchenette with two stove-tops and a full-size refrigerator, allowing them to cook their own meals. The hotel also provides bi-weekly housekeeping and daily linen changes. Since checking into the hotel, Maranda has even prepared Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for other guests.

Although the space is small, Maranda has used partitions to create a work area, making the room feel more like an apartment. She admits that although their lifestyle is simple, “the freedom and savings they’ve gained are well worth it.”

Over the past two years, the couple has saved an average of $1,000 per month. They plan to use this money to buy land and build a small house for a simpler, more comfortable life.

“Our children are all grown up and don’t need a big house,” Maranda says. “Rather than spending all our money on rent, we want to travel and enjoy life.”

Kwang Lee Construction (President Lee Myung-soon), based in Manassas, Virginia, donated $20,000 to the Washington Korean Community Center. At the donation ceremony held on the 9th, President Lee Myung-soon stated, “I decided to make this donation to carry on the legacy of my husband, President Lee Kwang-man (founder, pictured), who passed away 12 years ago,” adding, “Please use this for the underprivileged in the community.” Kwang Lee Construction has donated a total of $61,500 to the Community Center from 2023 to this year.

Kim Jin-ah, Chairperson of the Community Center, said, “As the Center celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year and focuses its efforts on developing support programs for the next generation, this donation serves as a great encouragement.”

The Fairfax County Board of Education is reviewing a restructuring of the school calendar to reduce school holidays and early dismissal days. At its regular meeting on the 9th, the Board is scheduled to discuss proposals including designating Monday, October 12, 2026, as a school day, converting Veterans Day into an annual school day, and limiting early dismissal days to a maximum of four per grade level.

These measures represent the first step toward reorganizing the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) academic calendar in the long term, and some board members shared their views on the matter during an online community meeting held on the 7th.

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 8th that the Donald Trump administration is considering a plan to transfer U.S. troops stationed in NATO member states deemed uncooperative with the war against Iran to member states that did cooperate. Given that President Trump has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of cooperation from South Korea and Japan in addition to NATO, attention is focused on whether this plan will materialize and whether it will affect the deployment of U.S. forces in South Korea and Japan.

Citing Trump administration officials, the WSJ reported that the U.S. is considering sanctions against certain NATO member states deemed uncooperative with military operations against Iran. The plan centres on withdrawing U.S. troops stationed in member states deemed unhelpful by the Trump administration and redeploying them to countries that are more supportive of a war against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported that this is one of several measures being discussed by the Trump administration for NATO sanctions; while still in the early stages, the proposal has circulated among senior officials and gained support in recent weeks. The number of U.S. troops stationed across Europe is approximately 84,000, with troop numbers fluctuating due to military exercises and rotational deployments. The WSJ noted that U.S. military bases in Europe serve as key hubs for global operations and provide significant economic benefits to host nations.

U.S. forces stationed in Eastern Europe also function as a deterrent against Russia. In addition to troop redeployment, the Trump administration is reportedly considering closing a U.S. military base in at least one European country. Bases in Spain or Germany are said to be potential targets for closure. There are concerns that if the Trump administration pursues retaliatory measures, including the redeployment of U.S. troops, citing a lack of cooperation from NATO allies, it may also consider measures against South Korea and Japan.

President Trump reportedly became furious in mid-last month after his request to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz was met with refusals and calls for careful consideration from various countries; since then, he has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction, publicly naming NATO member states as well as South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

New Jersey Transit has launched a “free shuttle van” ride-hailing service connecting passengers’ residences with bus stops, focusing on Korean-dense towns within Bergen County such as Tenafly, Englewood, and Teaneck. Transit authorities announced that they began a pilot operation of a new public transportation ride-hailing program called “MicroLink” on the 6th.

Funded by the federal government and operating for the next two years, this program allows passengers to directly hail a van via a mobile application to travel from their residences to nearby bus stops or transfer parking lots. This pilot service is initially available only in parts of Bergen County and Monmouth County within New Jersey. The service areas within Bergen County include four towns with large Korean populations: Tenafly, Englewood, Teaneck, and Bergenfield. The service is available on weekdays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM and is free of charge during the pilot period.

Passengers can conveniently travel from near their residences to bus stops by booking a vehicle in real-time via the ‘Microlink’ app. The Transit Authority emphasized, “This service was established for passengers who experienced inconvenience using public transportation due to the long distance from their homes to bus stops,” adding that it “will play a role in dramatically improving public transportation accessibility for local residents.” Residents wishing to use the service can download the ‘Microlink’ app on their smartphones.

Elderly individuals and others unfamiliar with using apps can also request a ride by phone (973-233-4047). However, as the service operates on a demand-based basis, reservations must be made 20 to 30 minutes in advance to ensure a smooth experience. The vehicles deployed for the Microlink service are 6-seater vans equipped with wheelchair boarding facilities to accommodate those with mobility impairments.

New York City’s high school graduation rate has declined for two consecutive years.

According to data from the New York City Department of Education, the graduation rate for 2025 was 81.2%, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from the previous year. The graduation rate had steadily increased for over a decade, reaching 83.7% in 2023 after falling 0.8 percentage points from 65.5% in 2011 to 64.7% in 2012. However, following a 0.4 percentage drop to 83.3% in 2024, the downward trend continued in 2025.

The 2.1 percentage point decline recorded last year is the largest drop in the past 20 years, since 2005 when it fell by 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. Education officials link the significant decline in graduation rates to the fact that high school graduates in 2025 are students who began ninth grade in September 2021, just as the pandemic was ending. They analyze that the chaotic post-pandemic educational environment, where students attended classes remotely during the pandemic but began in-person schooling in the fall semester of 2021, likely influenced the drop in graduation rates.

Furthermore, they interpret the renewed tightening of exemptions and lowered passing standards for certain Regent exams, which had been in place during the pandemic, as having had a considerable impact on graduation rates.

“Golf Emperor” Tiger Woods (USA) is expected to have difficulty competing in the Master’s in early April or serving as captain of the 2027 Ryder Cup due to a traffic accident on the 28th. On the 29th, the Associated Press published an article titled “Woods’ Future Becomes Uncertain After Being Arrested and Released for Drunk or Drug-Related Driving in Florida,” predicting that Woods’ returns scenario would effectively come to a “complete halt.”

Woods was driving on a two-lane road in Jupiter Island, Martin County, Florida, the previous day when he collided with another vehicle. After the accident, Woods exited the vehicle through the passenger-side window and sustained no major injuries. Although he tested negative on a breathalyzer, he refused a urine test. Local police stated that “Woods was in a state of typical impaired driving ability,” placing weight on the possibility that he was driving under the influence of drugs. Woods was released on bail, but his participation in the Masters, the season’s first major tournament in early April, has become virtually impossible. Woods, born in 1975 and 50 years old, last competed in an official tournament held on a golf course at The Open in July 2024.

The Associated Press reported that “Woods will be charged with drunk driving or drug-impaired driving, property damage, and refusing a urine test,” adding that “neither Woods’ management company nor the PGA Tour commented on the matter.” The Associated Press reported, “Woods’ chances of playing in this year’s Masters were not high (even before this incident), and he was also in a situation where he had to give an answer by the end of March regarding whether he would serve as the captain of the U.S. team for the 2027 Ryder Cup.”

Woods has revealed that he is considering an offer to serve as the U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup, the men’s golf competition between the U.S. and Europe to be held in Ireland in 2027. He is also scheduled to attend the unveiling of a municipal course designed by his design team in Augusta, Georgia, in early April, alongside Augusta National President Fred Ridley.

The Associated Press explained, “Woods’s latest accident is similar to when he was arrested in Florida in 2017 on charges of drunk driving or drug-impaired driving.” The report noted, “At that time, Woods was asleep in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with the engine running and the right turn signal on, and two tires were flat.”

It was revealed that Woods was not driving under the influence of alcohol at the time, but had taken a mixture of painkillers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants. Given that Woods underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon and back last year, there is a possibility that he caused this traffic accident again using drugs such as painkillers.

It was found that three out of four New York City residents experienced financial hardship last year due to rising food costs. According to a survey released on the 24th by the New York City anti-hunger organization “No Kid Hungry New York,” 74% of New York City residents stated that their financial situation had worsened, including increasing debt, due to rising food costs.

84% of all respondents said that the problem of rising food costs had not improved compared to the previous year and that food expenses were increasing faster than their income. Furthermore, more than half of the respondents (52%) stated that their debt had increased last year due to rising food costs.

74% of households with children reported having to make a difficult choice between food expenses and essential living costs, such as utilities, rent, mortgages, and medical bills. For all households, 67% faced a difficult choice between the two. To cover food expenses, more than one in four people (28%) were found to have used interest-bearing “Bought-Now-Paying” (BNPL) plan apps, such as Afterpay or Klarna. Four out of ten people (39%) used BNPL plan apps, reaching nearly half (48%) of households of color.

This survey was conducted from February 3 to 10 with 1,512 participants, and the margin of error is ±2.5%.

Bills aimed at restricting indiscriminate immigration enforcement in New Jersey have passed the state legislature in large numbers, bringing them to the brink of enactment. On the 23rd, the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly each held plenary sessions and successively passed three bills designed to protect New Jersey immigrants from the Trump administration’s large-scale immigration crackdowns.

With this, only the signature of New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill remains for final legislation. Governor Sherrill’s office has stated that it intends to sign the bills, indicating that the countdown to legislation has begun. These bills had previously passed the state legislature last January but were discarded after former Governor Phil Murphy exercised his veto power. However, they were passed this time after the legislature revised certain provisions and resumed discussions.

The immigrant protection bills passed this time include:

▲ legislation of “Immigrant Trust Guidelines” prohibiting cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities (A-4071);

▲ a bill prohibiting government agencies and medical facilities from requesting or collecting residents’ immigration status, birthplace, and Social Security numbers (A-4070); and

▲ a bill banning law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks while on duty in New Jersey (A-1743).

Among these, Korean-American State Assemblywoman Ellen Park co-sponsored the legislation of Immigrant Trust Guidelines and the bill prohibiting public agencies from requesting and collecting residents’ personal information. Regarding these bills, some Republican state legislators are pushing back, arguing that they disregard the authority of the federal government and prioritize politics over public safety.

Meanwhile, Governor Cheryl is actively pushing forward with immigrant protection policies, having already expressed support for banning ICE agents from wearing masks and enacting immigrant trust guidelines into law. Governor Cheryl filed a lawsuit in federal court on the 20th to block the Trump administration’s plan to convert a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, into a large-scale immigrant detention facility.