Global financial markets are experiencing turbulence as technology sector disappointments combine with escalating international conflicts to create investor uncertainty.
Despite impressive quarterly results from artificial intelligence leader Nvidia, the performance failed to meet sky-high expectations in a technology sector where investors demand flawless execution.
Market analyst Rocky Swift reports that investor anxiety over tech company values has created a defensive trading atmosphere that continues to worsen amid growing geopolitical tensions.
Safe-haven investments including Japan’s yen and U.S. Treasury bonds gained ground while oil prices climbed higher.
International tensions are mounting on multiple fronts. While President Donald Trump threatens military action against Iran, an Omani negotiator involved in nuclear discussions between the U.S. and Iran offered encouraging comments about recent talks, though significant disagreements persist between the nations.
Regional conflicts are intensifying elsewhere. Pakistan has exhausted its patience with Afghanistan, conducting nighttime bombing campaigns against Taliban government facilities while declaring “open war.”
Meanwhile, China’s military has criticized the Philippines for “disrupting” regional peace by conducting joint maritime patrols with nations from outside the area.
In an unusual incident over Texas, American military forces used laser technology to destroy a drone that was actually operated by the U.S. government itself.
Political troubles also emerged for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whose Labour Party lost an election in a Greater Manchester district they had controlled for nearly 100 years.
European stock market futures showed mixed signals heading into Friday trading. The Euro Stoxx 50 futures climbed 0.03% to 6,172, German DAX futures remained unchanged at 25,314, while FTSE futures rose 0.21% to 10,856.5.
American market futures pointed downward, with S&P 500 e-mini contracts falling 0.24% to 6,903.3.
Economic data releases scheduled for Friday include U.S. Producer Price Index figures for January and Chicago PMI data for February. European markets will watch for French consumer spending and inflation data, German unemployment numbers, and remarks from Bank of England chief economist Huw Pill.
Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime maintained his impressive momentum Thursday, defeating Czech player Jiri Lehecka 6-3, 7-6 (2) to secure his spot in the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships semifinals in the United Arab Emirates.
The tournament’s top seed has now captured victory in 11 of his 12 matches this month while pursuing his third consecutive tournament final appearance. The Canadian player aims to surpass his 2025 performance in Dubai, where he was defeated in the title match.
Thursday’s match saw Auger-Aliassime dominate the service game, delivering 16 aces compared to Lehecka’s seven. The Czech competitor failed to break his opponent’s serve throughout the entire contest.
Auger-Aliassime will face Russia’s third-seeded Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after Medvedev overwhelmed American Jenson Brooksby 6-2, 6-1 in his quarterfinal match.
The tournament’s second semifinal will pit Russia’s fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev against Netherlands player Tallon Griekspoor. Rublev defeated France’s Arthur Rinderknech 6-2, 6-4, while Griekspoor eliminated sixth-seeded Czech player Jakub Mensik 6-3, 3-6, 6-2.
BCI Seguros Chile Open
Argentina’s Sebastian Baez, the third seed and three-time tournament finalist in Santiago, Chile, advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating Chilean player Cristian Garin 7-6 (2), 1-6, 7-5.
The Argentine claimed the Santiago championship in 2024 but suffered final defeats in both 2022 and 2025. Thursday’s victory came largely through his defensive prowess, successfully defending seven of Garin’s eight break point opportunities.
Fellow Argentine Francisco Cerundolo, the tournament’s top seed, easily dispatched Denmark’s Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-2. Chile’s eighth-seeded Alejandro Tabilo rallied to defeat Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, while American Emilio Nava overcame Paraguayan qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo 7-5, 6-3.
Abierto Mexicano Telcel
Italy’s fifth-seeded Flavio Cobolli survived a challenging first set against Chinese qualifier Yibing Wu, ultimately prevailing 7-6 (4), 6-1 in Acapulco, Mexico’s quarterfinal round.
Cobolli demonstrated exceptional defensive skills, successfully saving all eight of Wu’s break point attempts, including two that could have claimed the opening set and two additional opportunities in the match’s closing game.
American Frances Tiafoe, seeded eighth, progressed past Italy’s Mattia Bellucci 6-3, 6-4, while Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 6-3, 6-3. The evening’s final contest featured Monaco’s sixth-seeded Valentin Vacherot against American Brandon Nakashima.
President Trump’s choice for the nation’s top doctor faced questions from lawmakers Wednesday about the administration’s pesticide policies during her Senate confirmation hearing.
Dr. Casey Means, nominated to serve as U.S. Surgeon General, fielded inquiries regarding the Trump administration’s executive order concerning glyphosate and its broader strategy on agricultural chemical regulation during the Wednesday session.
The confirmation hearing comes as the new administration moves forward with policy changes affecting the agricultural sector and public health oversight.
Health experts are stressing the importance of careful food label examination as Alpha-Gal Syndrome cases continue to climb. The condition triggers red meat allergies that can be hidden under various product descriptions on packaging.
Eden Stewart, who works as an educator with the University of Missouri Extension, emphasizes that shoppers must stay alert when checking ingredient lists. The syndrome’s associated red meat sensitivity can appear under multiple different terms on food labels, making thorough inspection crucial for consumer safety.
To address the growing number of Alpha-Gal syndrome diagnoses, the University of Missouri Extension has developed multiple educational materials to help guide affected individuals through safe food shopping practices.
MOSCOW – Russia’s space agency announced Thursday it will assist Myanmar in choosing and preparing the Southeast Asian nation’s inaugural astronaut, marking another step in strengthening diplomatic relationships between the two countries.
The commitment came during a Myanmar visit this week by Dmitry Bakanov, who leads Russia’s space organization Roscosmos. Bakanov formalized an agreement with Myanmar officials focused on advancing collaboration in human spaceflight programs.
According to Roscosmos, Bakanov also conducted meetings with Min Aung Hlaing, who leads Myanmar’s ruling military government.
As part of the space cooperation deal, Myanmar will establish a ground station to support Russia’s GLONASS satellite positioning network and will host facilities designed to monitor dangerous debris and objects orbiting near Earth, the Russian space agency announced.
The space partnership builds on recent diplomatic exchanges, including Min Aung Hlaing’s Moscow visit last year for discussions with President Vladimir Putin. Following those talks, both nations finalized an investment agreement that Russia anticipates will create new opportunities for its energy sector companies in Myanmar.
Russia has additionally committed to constructing a compact nuclear power facility in Myanmar, where military leaders overthrew the democratically elected administration of Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021.
WASHINGTON – A Federal Reserve official is advocating for significant interest rate reductions this year, even after January showed encouraging employment gains.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran described January’s robust job creation as “a really good thing” during an appearance on Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria” on February 26. However, he maintains the central bank should implement four quarter-point interest rate reductions throughout the year, totaling a full percentage point decrease from current policy rates.
Miran emphasized that employment concerns persist despite recent positive data. “I think it’s way too early to sort of sound an all clear that the labor market doesn’t need more support from the Federal Reserve. I definitely think the labor market can be supported by the Federal Reserve further,” he stated, advocating for the four cuts.
The Fed governor also downplayed current inflation concerns, stating “I really do not think that we have an inflation problem.” He noted that while recent inflation measurements remain about one percentage point higher than the Federal Reserve’s target, he expects this trend to decelerate.
Miran’s position suggests continued monetary policy support is necessary to maintain economic stability, balancing employment support against inflation management.
Delaware State University’s women’s basketball team put on a dominant display Wednesday night, overwhelming South Carolina State 71-38 in what proved to be a complete team effort.
The Hornets controlled the game from start to finish, with their defensive intensity setting the tone throughout the contest. DSU’s ability to limit South Carolina State’s offensive opportunities proved to be the difference-maker in the lopsided victory.
The 33-point margin of victory demonstrates the significant gap between the two teams on this particular evening, as Delaware State executed their game plan effectively on both ends of the court.
This commanding performance continues to build momentum for the Hornets’ program as they advance through their season schedule. The team’s balanced approach and defensive focus were key factors in securing such a decisive outcome against their conference opponent.
BRUSSELS – European Union officials announced Thursday that member countries can utilize current EU social funding to provide cost-free pregnancy termination services for women who must travel from nations with restrictive reproductive healthcare laws.
The announcement from the European Commission came as a response to the “My Voice, My Choice” advocacy campaign, which had called for establishing a dedicated EU budget fund. The proposed fund would cover abortion procedure expenses for women from countries with nearly complete prohibitions like Malta and Poland, or nations where reproductive services remain difficult to obtain, including Italy and Croatia.
Though the Commission stopped short of establishing the new funding mechanism requested by advocates, officials indicated that member nations could voluntarily redirect resources from current EU social programs to ensure access to safe reproductive healthcare services.
The decision represents the EU executive body’s effort to address reproductive healthcare disparities across member states while working within existing financial frameworks.
The Biden administration has given potential buyers of Russian oil giant Lukoil’s worldwide holdings an additional month to complete their purchases, moving the deadline from February 28 to April 1, according to government documents obtained by Reuters.
Four sources with knowledge of the situation say Washington is deliberately slowing down the sale process to leverage these valuable assets during ongoing Ukraine peace negotiations.
The US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control will announce the extension on Thursday, marking the fourth time officials have pushed back the original deadline since sanctions were imposed on Russia’s two largest oil companies last October.
Recent diplomatic meetings in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Miami between American, Russian, and Ukrainian representatives have failed to produce any major agreements on ending the conflict in Ukraine. Three sources briefed on these discussions revealed that sanctions against state-owned Rosneft and Lukoil were part of the negotiation topics.
Another round of trilateral talks is scheduled for March.
The sanctions mandate forced Lukoil to sell its international business empire, worth approximately $22 billion and spanning oil fields, refineries, and gas stations across multiple countries from Iraq to Finland. More than a dozen companies have expressed interest in purchasing these assets, including major American oil company ExxonMobil and even the former owner of Pornhub.
While OFAC initially managed the asset sale process, senior officials from the White House, Treasury Department, and State Department have now become directly involved, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent taking a more hands-on role, according to three sources.
Government agencies declined to provide comments when asked about connecting the deadline extension to peace negotiations. Lukoil representatives also did not respond to requests for comment.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy revealed earlier this month that his intelligence agencies informed him of a $12 trillion economic proposal from Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev to the Trump administration. One source familiar with the matter indicated this deal includes Lukoil assets, potentially creating additional complications for any sale.
Several major firms have already reached preliminary agreements with Lukoil, including American private equity company Carlyle Group, Saudi Arabia’s Midad Energy, and American billionaire Todd Boehly partnering with investment bank Xtellus Partners and UAE-based Alliance Investment Partners.
A joint venture between Chevron and Texas-based Quantum Capital Group remains in active negotiations for the asset portfolio but has not yet reached final terms with Lukoil.
The journalism industry finds itself racing toward an AI-driven future, wrestling with fundamental questions about technology integration, transparency with audiences, and the fate of displaced workers.
These concerns took center stage as ProPublica reporters organized picket lines this month, moving closer to what experts believe could be the first newsroom strike primarily focused on artificial intelligence policies.
Industry observers predict this won’t be an isolated incident.
Artificial intelligence has certainly benefited journalists by streamlining complicated processes and reducing time spent on routine tasks, especially for data-heavy reporting. News outlets are deploying AI to analyze documents like the Epstein files, generate headline suggestions, and create story summaries. Automated transcription has nearly eliminated manual interview typing, and even basic Google searches now incorporate AI technology.
However, the rush to implement AI solutions in a financially struggling industry has led to multiple embarrassing corrections and retractions.
Over the past year, Bloomberg published several corrections for errors in AI-created news summaries. Business Insider and Wired were compelled to pull articles attributed to a fictional writer named Margaux Blanchard. The Los Angeles Times encountered problems with AI-generated opinion content. Ars Technica discovered AI had invented quotes, and the publication—which regularly covers AI risks—compounded its embarrassment by failing to follow its own disclosure policies.
The ProPublica labor dispute stands out because it addresses issues sparking debates across the industry. The union representing ProPublica’s journalists is negotiating its first contract with the investigative news organization and seeks commitments about transparency and human oversight in AI implementation—demands echoing throughout the profession.
Beyond organizing informational pickets, union members voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike if negotiations fail, according to Jen Sheehan, spokesperson for the New York Guild representing the journalists.
“It feels to me pretty monumental when we think about the trajectory of AI and journalism,” said Alex Mahadevan, an expert on the topic at the Poynter Institute journalism think tank.
ProPublica has declined the union’s requests, according to labor representatives. The company’s position reflects arguments made in a widely circulated essay titled “Something Big is Happening” by author and investor Matt Shumer, who spent six years developing an AI startup. Shumer wrote that technology advances so rapidly that “if you haven’t tried AI in the last few months, what exists today would be unrecognizable to you.”
This rapid evolution explains why news executives hesitate to commit to written guarantees that could quickly become obsolete.
Instead of making potentially unkeepable promises, ProPublica is investigating how technology might expand opportunities for investigative journalism, company spokesman Tyson Evans explained. Should AI-related layoffs occur—which Evans called unlikely—ProPublica proposes enhanced severance packages for affected employees.
“We’re approaching AI with both curiosity and skepticism,” Evans said. “It would be a mistake to freeze editorial decisions in a contract that will last years.”
Among 283 contracts at American news organizations negotiated by NewsGuild-USA, 57 include artificial intelligence language, according to union president Jon Schleuss, whose organization represents more journalists than any other nationwide. These provisions first appeared in 2023, with The Associated Press among early adopters. Schleuss advocates for expanding such contract language.
Progress faces obstacles, given many outlets’ reluctance to accept binding restrictions. Trusting News, an organization encouraging news companies to develop and publicize AI policies, estimates fewer than half of U.S. outlets have done so.
“I think it is becoming harder,” Schleuss said, “because too many newsrooms are being run by the greedy side of the organization and not by the journalism side of the organization.”
The guild pushes for contracts guaranteeing AI won’t eliminate positions—an unsurprising stance for organizations designed to protect employment. Schleuss frames proposals requiring human journalist involvement in AI use as error prevention measures that build reader trust.
“Humans are actually so much better at going out, finding the story, interviewing sources, bringing back the relevant pieces, asking the hard follow-up questions and putting that in a way that people can understand and see, whether it’s a news story or a video,” he said. “Humans are way better at doing that than AI ever will be.”
Not all journalism professionals share this perspective. Chris Quinn, editor of Cleveland’s Plain Dealer, recently expressed frustration with a college graduate who rejected a job offer after being taught that AI harms journalism.
Quinn’s publication sends reporters to gather quotes and information from interviews, then feeds that material to computers for article writing. While humans edit the computer output, reporters lose a crucial element—using professional judgment to craft storytelling—from their responsibilities. Quinn justified this approach as optimal resource management.
Research indicates most American consumers consider it extremely important for newsrooms to disclose AI use in writing stories or editing photographs, said Benjamin Toff, director of the Minnesota Journalism Center at the University of Minnesota. The catch: such transparency decreases rather than increases reader trust in the outlet’s content.
A substantial minority—30% in Toff’s recent study—opposes any AI use in journalism.
Informing readers about AI involvement proves more complicated than it appears. “There are just so many, many uses of AI in journalism, from the very beginning of the reporting process to when you hit publish, that just broadly declaring that when AI is used in the newsgathering process that you have to disclose it, just seems like it is actually a disservice to the reader in some cases,” Poynter’s Mahadevan said.
Two New York state legislators—representing the nation’s publishing hub—introduced legislation this month mandating clear disclaimers when artificial intelligence contributes to published content. Passage prospects remain unclear, though both Democratic sponsors serve in a Democrat-controlled legislature.
Mahadevan supports policies requiring human involvement—such as editing to prevent mistakes. However, even these requirements invite interpretation, he noted. When outlets deploy chatbots for reader inquiries, do humans edit those responses?
“Speaking realistically, the newsroom of the future is going to look completely different than it does today,” he said. “Which means people will lose jobs. There will be new jobs. So I think it’s important that we are having these conversations right now because audiences do not want a newsroom completely taken over by AI.”
CAIRO (AP) — When Enas Arbab escaped Sudan’s Darfur region, she carried only her infant son and the painful memory of losing her father — a volunteer killed for his work at a community kitchen feeding war-displaced families.
Arbab’s father, Mohamed, was among the victims of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a paramilitary organization that has battled Sudan’s military since April 2023. The RSF besieged el-Fasher in western Darfur, cutting off food supplies before capturing the city.
United Nations officials report that several thousand civilians died when the RSF seized el-Fasher last October. Of the city’s 260,000 inhabitants, only 40% successfully escaped the assault, with thousands suffering injuries. The whereabouts of remaining residents remains unclear.
According to Arbab, RSF soldiers removed her father from their residence after assaulting him before his family, then demanded payment for his release. When relatives couldn’t provide the ransom, the fighters claimed they had executed him. The family still doesn’t know his burial location.
After her husband vanished a month afterward, Enas Arbab chose to journey north toward Egypt. “We couldn’t stay in el-Fasher,” she explained. “It was no longer safe and there was no food or water.”
Her father represents one of over 100 community kitchen volunteers who have lost their lives since hostilities commenced, based on information from aid workers who contacted The Associated Press and the Aid Workers Security database, an organization monitoring global incidents affecting humanitarian personnel.
In regions experiencing heavy combat — particularly throughout Darfur — hunger is expanding while food and essential items become increasingly rare. These community-operated public kitchens serve as crucial survival resources, yet many volunteers face kidnapping, theft, detention, physical violence or death.
Salah Semsaya, a volunteer with the Emergency Response Rooms — an organization that started as a grassroots effort and now functions across 13 provinces in Sudan with 26,000 volunteers — recognizes the hazards confronting charity kitchen staff.
The actual count of murdered workers probably exceeds the estimated 100, he notes, as ongoing warfare has hindered dependable information gathering and documentation.
Semsaya provided documentation indicating that 57% of confirmed charity kitchen worker deaths happened in Khartoum, primarily during RSF occupation of Sudan’s capital before military forces reclaimed it last March. Darfur accounted for at least 21% of the fatalities.
Over 50 Khartoum victims worked alongside his organization, Semsaya reported.
Sudan’s conflict began when disputes between military and RSF forces intensified into combat that originated in Khartoum before expanding countrywide, causing thousands of deaths and creating widespread displacement, disease outbreaks and critical food shortages. Humanitarian workers frequently became targets.
Dan Teng’o, communications director for the U.N. humanitarian affairs office, explains it remains uncertain whether charity kitchen volunteers are attacked due to their humanitarian activities or suspected connections to either warring faction.
These kitchen volunteers maintain high community visibility through their service, making them easy targets, according to activists. Ransom requests usually span $2,000 to $5,000, often increasing after families make partial payments.
“A clear deterioration in the security context … has significantly affected local communities, including volunteers supporting community kitchens,” Teng’o stated.
Farouk Abkar, a 60-year-old el-Fasher resident, distributed grain bags at a charity kitchen in Zamzam camp, located 15 kilometers south of the city, for one year. He endured drone attacks and recalls when RSF fighters assaulted his kitchen. One soldier struck his face, dislodging several teeth.
Abkar said he escaped el-Fasher during nighttime with his daughter, traveling on foot for 10 days. During their journey, RSF fighters shot birdshot that struck his head, causing persistent headaches.
Currently residing in Egypt, he shares living space with at least 10 other Sudanese refugees and cannot afford medical treatment. Disturbing memories from his hometown continue to trouble him.
“Many things happened in el-Fasher,” he recalled. “There was death. There was starvation.”
Mustafa Khater, a 28-year-old charity kitchen volunteer, departed with his expecting wife to Egypt just days before el-Fasher fell to RSF control.
Throughout the 18-month blockade, some el-Fasher residents cooperated with the RSF by identifying kitchen workers to paramilitary forces, Khater explained. Many subsequently disappeared.
“They would take you to an area where there is a dry riverbed and kill you there,” Khater described.
A volunteer working with Semsaya’s humanitarian organization in Darfur reported that some colleagues faced beatings, arrests and interrogation, with attackers claiming they received “illicit funds” for kitchen operations. This volunteer requested anonymity due to retaliation concerns.
Despite these obstacles, numerous charity kitchens remain the sole dependable food source in conflict areas and provide locations where people can gather for mutual support, Semsaya noted.
The community of Khazan Jedid in East Darfur province operates three charity kitchens that feed approximately 5,000 individuals daily, according to Haroun Abdelrahman, spokesperson for the local Emergency Response Rooms branch.
Abdelrahman reports experiencing interrogation by RSF fighters while several colleagues have suffered knife-point robberies. Despite fear and intimidation, many kitchen workers continue volunteering and serving, he said.
In Kassala, located in eastern Sudan, military officials questioned a local branch volunteer and his associates in January 2024 after their kitchen began providing meals and shelter to people who fled nearby Wad Madani when RSF captured that community. He also requested anonymity for safety reasons.
Khater, the 28-year-old who left el-Fasher, learned from hometown contacts that following RSF occupation, all charity kitchens in the city shut down and his former colleagues were either “killed or fled.”
Teng’o explains these closures in combat zones have left “vulnerable households with no viable alternatives” and forced residents to purchase from local “markets where food prices are unaffordable.”
Arbab, the 19-year-old expecting mother who fled with her infant son, hoped to restart her life in Egypt, according to friends and a humanitarian worker who spoke anonymously about the young woman.
However, while traveling to the northern city of Alexandria last month, Egyptian authorities stopped her and her child and deported them back to Sudan.
During the week of February 20-26, 2026, dramatic scenes unfolded across Latin America and the Caribbean.
Military personnel maintained security positions near destroyed vehicles that had been torched across several Mexican states including Michoacán and Jalisco. The violence erupted after Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, who led the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, died.
Meanwhile, Bolivia’s vibrant Carnival celebrations came to a close during the same period.
In Buenos Aires, Argentina, an unusual gathering took place as individuals who call themselves “therians” – those who believe they identify as non-human animals – met in a city park where they spent time jumping and barking.
The photo collection showcasing these events was assembled by photographer Juan Karita, who works from La Paz, Bolivia.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Thousands of missing person flyers cover every available surface throughout Mexico’s second-largest city, creating a haunting reminder of the country’s disappearance crisis.
Messages reading “We miss you,” “have you seen her?” and “we’re looking for you” blanket buildings, monuments, streetlights, parking meters, planters and transit stops across Guadalajara. Daily commuters walk past them in crowds, basketball players compete on courts encircled by them, and vehicles drive by them continuously.
These posters have become part of everyday existence in Jalisco state, the epicenter of Mexico’s forced disappearance emergency. The region, which experienced a surge of violence this week after the death of Mexico’s most influential cartel boss known as “El Mencho,” records among the nation’s highest numbers of missing individuals with 12,500 confirmed cases.
Families who post these flyers while searching for missing relatives now claim they face government pressure to remove the images before the FIFA World Cup arrives, with Guadalajara serving as a host location in June. As battles between criminal organizations and Mexican security forces have suspended search operations for the missing throughout Jalisco, several local legislators are advancing legislation that would simplify removing the signs.
“They don’t want people coming to the World Cup, people coming from abroad, to see” the fliers, said Carmen López, a woman looking for her brother and nephew, who went missing in two separate incidents. “It’s not in their interest, because they would get their hands dirty. It makes the government look bad in front of the entire world.”
Mexico records nearly 131,000 missing individuals, sufficient to populate a small municipality. Criminal organizations have historically used forced disappearances as a strategy to establish dominance through fear while hiding murder statistics.
Many view the forced disappearance emergency as representative of inadequate justice systems and extensive corruption that persist throughout Mexico, particularly evident in states such as Jalisco.
Families such as López’s frequently handle investigations independently, coordinating searches for remains and displaying flyers to maintain their efforts and pressure local officials.
“Little-by-little it kills a part of your soul. They don’t only disappear your loved one, but also you as a father, or as a mother along with them,” said Héctor Flores, a leader of one of Jalisco’s many search groups, Luz de Esperanza, or Light of Hope.
Flores began posting flyers throughout Guadalajara following his 19-year-old son’s forced disappearance by officers from the Jalisco state prosecutor’s office. A Mexican court later acknowledged the 2021 forced disappearance, motivating Flores to establish the organization representing 500 families investigating missing relatives.
His organization ventures into Jalisco’s capital streets and posts between 2,000 and 5,000 flyers each weekend. The notices display smiling photographs of individuals ranging from teenage girls to middle-aged men, including identifying characteristics such as tattoos plus the date and location where they vanished.
Search organizations continuously post signs because the materials are routinely removed.
“This is an act of searching in real time, with the hope that people who see these ID cards, they can provide us with information that will help us locate our families,” Flores said. “It’s also an act of visibility.”
Families now express concern about facing additional obstacles following this week’s cartel violence that has heightened security worries before the summer’s World Cup.
In December, legislators proposed changes to legislation originally designed to protect the flyers from removal. Local politicians attempted to alter the law in ways families believe would create forbidden public areas for posting the materials.
Carmen López, Flores and other relatives claim the local administration is attempting to sanitize the missing persons issue before the international sporting competition. They argue this continues years of official efforts to minimize Mexico’s disappearance crisis.
“We’re aware that the city doesn’t look beautiful because of the search IDs, but they’re not trash,” said López, who wore a shirt with the faces of her two missing family members. “But what are we supposed to do? We’re doing everything in our power to find them.”
State legislator Norma López, a member of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Morena party, along with other lawmakers promoted the modification.
The state representative denied the accusation during a Thursday interview with The Associated Press, calling it a “bad interpretation” of the proposal by search groups. She stated her intention to support families searching for missing relatives and mentioned that one of her own family members also disappeared.
She explained that if approved, the law would permit poster removal from locations including public universities, the state legislature, the Supreme Court, museums, churches and similar venues without penalties. She noted they would remain permitted in other areas.
“My proposal is not a basis for banning them,” she said. “We are all concerned about what is happening in Jalisco. The disappearances also pain me.”
Mexican officials have faced questions regarding Guadalajara’s capacity to host World Cup games.
Sheinbaum declared this week there was “no risk” for visitors, but Thursday brought the cancellation of the Diving World Cup scheduled for a Guadalajara suburb in March due to security concerns. Earlier this week, the Portuguese soccer federation announced it was “closely monitoring the delicate situation” before a friendly match against Mexico’s national team in Mexico City.
Meanwhile, some Jalisco search groups report suspending investigations of potential secret burial sites because Mexico’s federal government informed them that security forces providing team protection cannot assist temporarily due to the violence.
Mexico’s National Search Commission for the disappeared did not respond to requests for comment.
Flores’ group and others have reported canceling search operations at grave sites around Guadalajara, leaving many feeling justice is more distant than previously.
The count of missing persons continues increasing hourly. City residents passing signs during daily travels barely notice them.
“Now, it’s just normal,” said Jacinto González, 47, walking past hundreds of signs covering a wall Wednesday.
After several minutes of conversation, he mentioned casually that his sister-in-law disappeared six years ago.
BUENOS AIRES — A public square in Argentina’s capital recently became an impromptu animal habitat as teenagers engaged in an emerging cultural phenomenon that has captivated social media.
During the weekend gathering, Sofia donned a realistic beagle costume and crawled through the grass on her hands and knees. Meanwhile, 15-year-old Aguara jumped over barriers while mimicking the behavior of a Belgian Malinois dog. Additional participants climbed trees while dressed as felines and foxes, maintaining distance from spectators who watched with curiosity.
This meetup represents the growing ‘therian’ community — young people who believe they connect with animals on mental, spiritual, or psychological levels. The movement has exploded across Argentina’s social platforms in recent months, particularly on TikTok where #therian content has exceeded 2 million posts, with Argentina showing the highest participation rates among Latin American nations. The phenomenon has captured attention from content creators and news organizations, generating responses ranging from amusement and confusion to hostility.
Mental health professionals are now examining this trend and its broader cultural implications.
Aguara, who believes she embodies a Belgian Malinois and calculates her age as two years and two months in canine terms, describes her daily routine as typical for someone her age.
‘I wake up like a normal person and live my life like a normal person,’ she explained. ‘I simply have moments when I like being a dog.’
Leading what she describes as her ‘pack,’ Aguara has accumulated over 125,000 TikTok subscribers and organizes frequent gatherings throughout Buenos Aires.
Sixteen-year-old Aru attended the park event wearing a seal costume and identifies with the ‘otherpaw’ subset of therians — participants who don animal accessories or move like animals purely for enjoyment. ‘It’s not necessarily about identifying as an animal,’ she clarified.
Aru believes Argentina’s ‘fairly free’ cultural atmosphere has allowed the therian movement to flourish. Many young Argentines have found the community offers genuine acceptance and belonging.
Mental health expert Débora Pedace, who directs Buenos Aires’ Integral Therapeutic Center, recognizes that this trend creates complicated reactions including bewilderment, humor, and frustration.
‘From a psychological standpoint, this is a symbolic identification with an animal,’ Pedace explained. ‘It becomes pathological or alarming only when it turns into a deeply rooted belief and the person fully assumes the role of an animal, potentially leading to self-harm or hurting others.’
Anti-corruption prosecutors in Panama conducted document seizures Thursday at multiple locations tied to a Hong Kong-based corporation that recently lost its rights to operate crucial Panama Canal ports following a Supreme Court ruling last month.
Azael Samaniego, a public prosecutor specializing in anti-corruption cases, confirmed to local news organizations that authorities visited three Panama City locations belonging to Panama Ports Company. The Maritime Authority of Panama and officers from the National Directorate of Judicial Investigation joined the operation. Panama Ports Company serves as the regional arm of Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison.
According to Samaniego, his department has received information suggesting potential criminal activity occurred, though he declined to elaborate on the specific nature of any suspected crimes. He emphasized that the probe remains in preliminary phases.
Neither Panama Ports Company nor Panamanian law enforcement responded to media inquiries seeking additional details.
These investigative actions follow closely behind the Maritime Authority’s recent takeover of the Balboa and Cristobal port facilities from Panama Ports Company. The corporation has disputed the court decision, while Chinese officials have claimed Panama succumbed to pressure from Washington.
Since 1997, the company has maintained control over these strategic ports, which became entangled in legal challenges amid escalating U.S.-China rivalry for regional dominance.
During the Trump presidency, American officials criticized Chinese oversight of the ports and alleged China was effectively controlling canal operations – claims that both Panama and China have consistently rejected.
For 26-year-old Benson Lu, Pokémon isn’t just a hobby—it’s his entire world.
Lu dedicates time daily to playing Pokémon Go on his phone, watches the animated series weekly, visits his local Los Angeles card shop regularly to participate in trading card tournaments, and owns an impressive card collection valued at over $70,000.
“I don’t remember when was the last day I did not think about Pokémon at all,” he said.
Three decades have passed since Pokémon first appeared in Japan through the 1996 launch of “Pokémon Red” and “Pokémon Green” on Nintendo Game Boy, yet the brand continues dominating worldwide entertainment through animated programming, smartphone applications, and sought-after collectible cards that appeal to multiple generations.
According to Heather Cole, a teaching assistant professor specializing in game design and interactive media at West Virginia University, Pokémon demonstrates exceptional character development that explains its lasting appeal.
“I think the longevity of it has to do with the characters and world-building it does with the characters,” she said.
The attraction extends beyond adorable designs to include merchandise demand, especially trading cards. The collectibles market has reached extraordinary heights, with social media personality Logan Paul recently selling a single card for a record-breaking $16.5 million. However, this valuable market has attracted criminal activity, with Southern California experiencing multiple break-ins at trading card retailers resulting in hundreds of thousands in losses and armed robberies targeting collectors.
Card business owner Adam Corn of Overdose Gaming Inc credits his Pokémon collection with enabling him to purchase a home last year.
“Pokémon almost always appreciates in value over time,” Corn said. “So it’s just a really good place to put your money in my opinion, better than a a lot of other assets.”
Authentication companies such as Beckett Grading Services and Professional Sports Authenticator evaluate and rate Pokémon card condition using a 1-10 system, where perfect 10-rated cards command premium prices. Paul’s record-setting purchase was a PSA Grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card, previously acquired for $5.3 million, which he famously wore as jewelry in online videos. The artwork shows Pikachu with drawing tools.
Criminal targeting continues affecting businesses, with Do-We Collectibles in Anaheim suffering its second theft last Tuesday when criminals made off with more than $80,000 in Pokémon merchandise. Similar incidents have struck shops throughout Los Angeles and New York.
Store owner Duy Pham believes the financial motivation driving thieves and resellers has permanently changed the collecting landscape.
“It’s rougher for collectors and players,” Pham said. “It’s hard for us to get anything.”
Enthusiasts face two purchasing options: buying standard randomized card packs at retail for approximately $5 containing 10 cards, or purchasing specific desired cards through secondary markets at higher costs. Similar to gambling, pack opening doesn’t guarantee profits—collector Aiden Zeng discovered this when $1,000 worth of purchased packs yielded only $60 in resale value.
Seventeen-year-old Zeng traces his passion back to elementary school fascination with character reference books. His collecting focus centers on obtaining every available card featuring his preferred character, Black Kyurem.
“I memorized every single Pokémon’s specific move set, what region they come from, some of the lore behind it,” Zeng said.
Beyond serious collectors, Zeng observes renewed Pokémon interest at his Toronto high school, where classmates use special artwork or holographic cards as phone case decorations.
Franchise creator Satoshi Tajiri drew inspiration from his childhood passion for capturing insects and small creatures in natural areas surrounding his Tokyo suburban home. These experiences influenced his development of the colorful, imaginative Pokémon universe now featuring thousands of different species.
Despite the profitable nature of his collection, Lu emphasizes that nostalgia for childhood characters and community connections remain his primary motivations. He avoids selling individual cards due to concerns about replacement difficulty.
Lu recently dedicated an entire Saturday to walking through Pasadena’s Rose Bowl area, searching for Pokémon through his augmented reality mobile application during a massive gathering of thousands of participants.
“I’ve liked Pokémon ever since I was a kid,” he said. “And I still like it the same amount.”
ATLANTA — A massive budget crisis has left Georgia’s child welfare system in disarray after officials discovered an enormous $85.7 million funding gap that forced widespread service cuts affecting the state’s most vulnerable children and families.
The financial emergency prompted Candice Broce, who leads the Department of Human Services and oversees the state’s child welfare operations, to implement sweeping cost-reduction measures last November. These emergency cuts have resulted in canceled visits between children and their biological parents — meetings essential for family reunification — reduced support for foster families caring for children with special needs, and delayed court hearings when children lack transportation to attend.
Foster parent Pamela Bruce described her emotional struggle with the situation. “I’m just stuck. I’m stressed out. Emotionally, I’m exhausted,” Bruce explained, adding that her foster son “can’t grow in survival mode” while she fears having to return him to state custody as support services disappear.
State legislators have approved emergency funding to address the shortfall, but families have already endured months without essential services, and recovery delays are expected to continue. Several lawmakers view the emergency funding as a temporary solution and are calling for a comprehensive investigation to understand how the system reached this breaking point.
While child welfare experts acknowledge Georgia’s budget crisis was unusually severe, the state isn’t alone in facing these challenges. A significant factor contributing to Georgia’s financial strain — an unexpected surge of children requiring intensive behavioral health services — represents a nationwide problem. Broce has received recognition for reducing the number of high-needs children housed in hotels, a concerning practice many states employ when other options aren’t available. However, providing appropriate care and placement for children with complex behavioral needs comes with substantial costs.
In response to the deficit, which analysts believe stems from multiple contributing factors, Broce — a long-time supporter of Republican Governor Brian Kemp — ended agreements with underperforming service contractors and instituted new approval requirements for all contracted services beginning in November. Families, legal advocates, legislators, placement agencies, and service providers statewide report dramatic reductions in service referrals and describe operations that have slowed to a crawl.
Ann Flagg, who directs the Office of Family Assistance for the National Association of Counties advocacy organization and previously served in the Biden administration, emphasized the urgency of the situation. “Every day that a family or kid is not receiving the kinds of support that they need, the situation only compounds,” Flagg stated.
In response to criticism, Broce told The Associated Press that service requests “are approved within hours unless we ask for more information.” These contracted services encompass transportation, mental health counseling, psychological evaluations, behavioral support specialists, and numerous other critical supports.
The child welfare division serves as a crucial safety net for children facing dangerous situations. Operating within the broader state Department of Human Services, which manages a $1.06 billion state budget this year, the agency works to protect children from harm, provide healing support for troubled families when possible, and facilitate safe reunification. Georgia’s Division of Family and Children Services maintains a workforce of approximately 7,500 employees.
During legislative testimony, Broce explained that her agency lacks sufficient resources to address the “magnitude” of behavioral and mental health needs among children entering state care. She attempted to reduce expenses by eliminating what she characterized as redundant or unnecessary services, or those that could be covered through the state-federal Medicaid program instead.
“I am being forced to make decisions that nobody wants to make,” Broce informed lawmakers during the hearing.
Despite these cost-reduction efforts, the projected budget gap remained just under $49 million.
Family court attorney Jessica Hall questioned the logic of the cuts, asking, “How in the world are we supposed to reunify the families if we don’t have services in place?”
Broce acknowledged in her statement that some requests “are not being escalated to the State Office for review.”
The human impact of these cuts is evident in Bruce’s foster son’s own words to his caseworker, describing how he had developed a “brotherly relationship” with his behavioral aide — the first such connection the teenager had experienced after moving between multiple homes. That meaningful relationship ended when funding for the aide’s services was eliminated last fall.
The teenager wrote about how missing in-person school with friends due to lack of transportation took a “toll on my mind.” He also observed the financial strain on Bruce, who now pays for ride-sharing services to maintain his family visits and stays home to provide care, making it difficult for her to pay household bills. Bruce remains determined to prevent his placement in a group home facility.
Broce explained that the agency gradually reduces services like behavioral aides for older teenagers who show potential for independence, particularly those involved with the juvenile justice system. She also emphasized her efforts to eliminate “cookie cutter” case plans that don’t address individual family circumstances.
Brittney Kleuger, who serves as CEO of Family Menders — a northwest Georgia organization providing transportation, counseling, and behavioral support services — testified at a recent hearing that her agency typically received 80 to 100 new referrals weekly before the November policy changes. Currently, they receive fewer than 10 referrals each week.
During a conference call with child welfare officials, service providers challenged Broce’s assertions about rapid service approvals and questioned whether the state would continue contracting with their organizations. Kristen Toliver, the agency’s director of delivered services, acknowledged that “the approval process will look different” moving forward but indicated some relaxation of requirements for certain services.
According to Broce, the division has lost over 800 placement beds for children since 2019, and psychiatric facility availability remains severely limited. She noted that transportation and behavioral aide services represent significant expenses and said she’s working to ensure Medicaid covers services that fall under its purview rather than using child welfare funds.
Broce has maintained ongoing disagreements with family court judges, whom she accuses of requesting unnecessary services or removals that increase costs. However, Judge Nhan-Ai Simms, who testified to legislators in 2023 that Broce asked judges to violate state law by inappropriately detaining children with mental and behavioral issues in juvenile detention facilities, disputes this characterization.
“The idea that courts are ordering above and beyond what DFCS has recommended, I think those cases are very few and far between,” Simms responded.
Recent changes to federal regulations have made it more difficult for Georgia and other states to access federal child welfare funding.
Melissa Carter, executive director of the Barton Child Law and Policy Center at Emory University, sees broader systemic issues at play. “The budget instability that we see here to me is just signaling this insufficient long-term fiscal strategy,” Carter observed, suggesting the state should increase investments in family preservation services to qualify for additional federal funding.
Multiple legislators remain unsatisfied with Broce’s explanations for the crisis.
State Representative Mary Margaret Oliver, a Democrat, expressed her concerns about the unprecedented nature of the shortfall. “I’ve been in the budget world a long time, and I’ve never seen a deficit like this,” Oliver said. “I don’t think we can blame the providers for that. I think that’s a management issue.”
Juanita Stedman, a former juvenile court judge who now serves as executive director of Together Georgia, defends Broce against criticism regarding the budget crisis.
“Historically, we have not paid for the complexity of the kids,” Stedman explained.
Regardless of the underlying causes, Bruce worries about the possibility of future budget crises. She described feeling more unsupported by child welfare services during her two and a half years as a foster parent than ever before, but said her greatest heartbreak came from watching her foster son miss regular visits with his biological family.
In his own words to his caseworker, the teenager wrote: “My visits are very important to me because I really love my family.”
Economic experts are cautioning that while artificial intelligence may deliver productivity gains, it won’t serve as a cure-all for the mounting debt challenges facing wealthy nations around the world.
The financial pressures are immense. Government debt has surpassed 100% of economic output in most developed countries and continues climbing due to costs associated with aging populations, rising interest payments, and increased spending demands for defense and climate initiatives.
American officials have expressed optimism about AI’s potential to drive economic expansion, and researchers believe the technology could help reverse the productivity decline that has persisted since the 2008 financial crisis by enhancing worker efficiency and allowing employees to concentrate on higher-value activities.
Stronger economic growth could make government expenditures and debt burdens more sustainable while reducing concerns from bond market investors.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, along with three prominent economists, provided preliminary projections to Reuters regarding AI’s potential impact on government finances if the technology does enhance worker productivity over time.
Filiz Unsal, who serves as the OECD’s deputy director of economic policy and research, indicated that an AI-driven productivity increase that boosts employment could reduce debt levels across OECD member nations, including the United States, Germany, and Japan, by 10 percentage points from the approximately 150% of economic output the organization anticipates by 2036.
However, this would still represent a significant increase from the current 110% level.
The outcome will largely depend on whether new job creation ultimately exceeds job losses from automation, whether companies share higher profits through wage increases, and how governments handle their overall expenditures.
For the United States specifically, two economists projected debt would climb more gradually to roughly 120% over the coming decade from the current 100% of output in their most optimistic scenarios. A third economist anticipated minimal change.
“Productivity is like magic… It helps the fiscal dynamics dramatically,” stated Idanna Appio, a former New York Federal Reserve economist who now works as a fund manager at First Eagle Investment Management.
“But our fiscal problems are well beyond what productivity can fix,” Appio added.
Currently, credit rating agency S&P expects no significant public finance impact by decade’s end.
“The one (path) that the (U.S.) administration is hoping for would be you get saved by the bell,” explained Mark Patrick, who leads macro and country risk at Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association of America, while noting this isn’t “something we can set our clocks by.”
While the economists didn’t provide projections for other nations, OECD research suggests AI could enhance productivity in Britain at levels similar to the United States, but would have roughly half the impact in Italy and Japan due to slower adoption rates and smaller sectors that could benefit from AI technology.
Demographic trends represent the most significant obstacle to AI’s potential fiscal benefits.
“The root of the debt issue is with ageing demographics and the entitlements that are tied to that,” said Kevin Khang, who directs global economic research at Vanguard, the world’s second-largest asset management firm.
Tackling this challenge “requires getting the fiscal house in order and (AI is) just buying us the time,” he explained.
Khang considers a scenario where AI helps U.S. growth average 3% through 2040 as the most probable outcome. The Federal Reserve estimates potential growth at around 2%.
He calculates that enhanced growth and tax collections would slow U.S. debt expansion to approximately 120% of output by the late 2030s. This compares favorably to the 180% he predicts if AI fails to deliver, growth weakens, and market pressures increase borrowing costs.
Bond market participants have rapidly penalized governments for excessive spending since bond yields spiked following the pandemic across developed economies.
Appio noted that declining U.S. immigration compounds the demographic challenge.
“The labour shock offsets any (AI) productivity growth,” she observed, while adding she would be significantly more concerned without AI’s potential.
Broader productivity improvements should boost government revenues. However, if AI decreases employment or competition, with profits and capital receiving most benefits instead of labor, tax collections could fall short of expectations.
Regarding government spending, public sector efficiency improvements could help control costs, but there’s risk that expenditures will increase alongside economic growth.
This explains why Kent Smetters, who directs the University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model analysis group, anticipates minimal impact on U.S. debt within a decade.
Even with higher-than-expected growth, this would have limited effect on social security spending, which comprises one-fifth of federal expenditures, because benefits are tied to average wage levels, Smetters explained. Other government labor costs would also rise if productivity gains increase private sector wages, he added.
“It’s very important to see whether wages are going to increase,” the OECD’s Unsal commented, noting that wage growth becomes more likely if AI doesn’t boost employment levels.
Debt servicing costs will depend on whether productivity gains raise real interest rates, a discussion already underway at the Federal Reserve, and how long growth can outpace any increases, economists noted.
Obviously, economic forecasters cannot predict the future with certainty. An unexpected shock could rapidly change this entire discussion.
A recession might mean “the AI boom may not come quick enough before the market gets nervous about the fiscal trajectory,” warned Christian Keller, Barclays’ global head of economics research.
Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer encountered a crushing political setback Friday when his Labour Party lost a parliamentary seat in Greater Manchester that had been under party control for nearly a century, highlighting the crumbling foundation of the UK’s traditional two-party system.
The electoral upset in one of Labour’s most secure districts represents the most significant voting challenge in nearly twelve months, intensifying demands on Starmer to justify his leadership amid weeks of political chaos and mounting resignation calls.
Hannah Spencer of the left-leaning Green Party secured victory in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary race, while Nigel Farage’s anti-immigration Reform UK claimed second position, relegating Labour to a humiliating third-place finish.
Labour party chair Anna Turley acknowledged the outcome was “clearly disappointing.”
Starmer had invested significant political capital in securing this seat, going so far as to prevent popular Manchester mayor Andy Burnham from running and personally campaigning in the district this week—a move British leaders typically avoid when facing potential losses.
This electoral blow follows Starmer’s most precarious period as prime minister earlier this month, when several party legislators suggested he step down over his controversial choice to name Labour veteran Peter Mandelson as Washington ambassador, given Mandelson’s connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
During the 2024 general election, Labour captured more than half the votes in Gorton and Denton. However, Starmer’s declining popularity, stagnant economic performance, and multiple scandals and policy reversals led to a dramatic collapse in party support.
Friday’s special election, called after a sitting parliamentarian stepped down due to health issues, saw the Green Party capture 40.7% of votes. Farage’s Reform Party secured 28.7%, while Labour managed only 25.4%.
Labour legislators indicated before the vote that Starmer wouldn’t face immediate leadership challenges if defeated. However, they suggested he could encounter opposition following May elections, when Labour anticipates poor performance in local and regional contests, including parliamentary races in Wales and Scotland.
This marks the Green Party’s first victory in a special parliamentary election and their first win in northern England. The party, which advocates for NATO withdrawal and recreational drug legalization, now holds five of the 650 House of Commons seats.
BEIJING – Chinese military officials are pointing fingers at the Philippines following recent naval activities in the contested South China Sea waters, claiming Manila is destabilizing the region through international partnerships.
Beijing announced Friday that its forces carried out standard patrol operations in the disputed maritime area between February 23 and 26. Military spokesman Zhai Shichen from the Southern Theatre Command stated the nation will “resolutely safeguard China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and firmly uphold regional peace and stability.”
The Chinese criticism comes as Philippine naval forces joined American and Japanese military units for collaborative training exercises in the same waters this week. According to Philippine armed forces officials, the joint operations were designed to strengthen military cooperation between the allied nations.
The timing of China’s patrol announcement and accusations suggests heightened tensions over the strategically important waterway, where multiple nations maintain competing territorial claims.
WASHINGTON – Three intelligence sources are disputing President Donald Trump’s recent assertion that Iran is close to developing missiles capable of striking the United States, saying current intelligence assessments don’t support this timeline.
During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Trump told Congress that Tehran was “working on missiles that will soon reach” American soil as he built his argument for potential military action against the Islamic Republic.
However, two sources indicate that a 2025 Defense Intelligence Agency evaluation remains unchanged, projecting Iran could require until 2035 to create a “militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile” using its current satellite-launching technology.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the president’s position, stating: “President Trump is absolutely right to highlight the grave concern posed by Iran, a country that chants ‘death to America,’ possessing intercontinental ballistic missiles.”
One intelligence source suggested that even with technological help from China or North Korea – both Iranian partners – the country would likely need at least eight years to produce “something that is actually ICBM level and operational.”
The sources, speaking anonymously due to the classified nature of intelligence matters, acknowledged they weren’t aware of any assessments showing Iran’s imminent missile threat to the U.S. homeland, though they couldn’t dismiss the existence of newer reports they hadn’t seen.
The New York Times previously reported that intelligence agencies believe Iran remains years away from missiles capable of reaching American territory.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio used more cautious language Wednesday, describing Iran as being “on a pathway to one day being able to develop weapons that could reach the continental U.S.”
Trump’s missile claims emerge as American and Iranian representatives continue nuclear program negotiations without apparent progress, while the U.S. maintains a significant military presence in the region.
In his Tuesday speech, Trump cited Tehran’s support for militant organizations, its crackdown on protesters, and its missile and nuclear programs as regional and American threats.
Without offering proof, Trump claimed Iran was starting to reconstruct nuclear facilities he said were “obliterated” in U.S. airstrikes last June targeting uranium enrichment sites.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected claims of expanded missile development in a Wednesday interview with India Today TV.
“We are not developing long range missiles. We have limited range to below 2000 kilometers intentionally,” Araghchi explained. “We don’t want it to be a global threat. We only have (them) to defend ourselves. Our missiles build deterrence.”
Iran maintains its uranium enrichment serves purely civilian purposes, denying any nuclear weapons ambitions.
Both U.S. intelligence agencies and the International Atomic Energy Agency, the UN’s nuclear monitoring body, report that Iran ended its nuclear weapons development in 2003.
The IAEA notes, however, that Tehran has continued uranium enrichment in recent years, including to levels approaching weapons-grade purity.
Trump has warned of attacks on Iran if it executes protesters arrested during January’s anti-government demonstrations or fails to reach a nuclear agreement.
Iran operates the Middle East’s largest ballistic missile arsenal, with weapons capable of hitting Israel, regional U.S. installations, and portions of Europe.
The country has also created space-launch vehicles for satellite deployment that specialists say could potentially be converted into ICBMs for nuclear warhead delivery.
David Albright, a former UN nuclear inspector and president of the Institute for Science and International Security, emphasized Iran’s limitations in developing functional warhead delivery systems.
“Iran can launch a very long-range missile because of its space launch program,” Albright noted. “But it needs lots of work to develop an adequate RV (re-entry vehicle).”
Albright and other experts pointed out that Israeli airstrikes in recent years significantly damaged Iranian facilities producing liquid and solid-fuel ballistic missiles.
Two Ohio State defenders made a strong impression during Thursday’s workout sessions at the 2026 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, posting impressive athletic numbers that caught the attention of professional scouts.
Linebackers Sonny Styles and Arvell Reese both clocked identical 4.46-second times in the 40-yard dash. Styles, who played middle linebacker for the Buckeyes, and Reese, who announced earlier this week that he’s preparing for a pass-rushing role in the NFL, demonstrated exceptional speed for their position.
Styles delivered a standout performance across multiple drills at Lucas Oil Stadium. The 6-foot-5, 244-pound defender recorded a remarkable 43.5-inch vertical jump, surpassing the previous combine record of 43 inches set by safety Nick Emmanwori in 2025. His broad jump exceeded 11 feet, marking the day’s best result, while he completed the three-cone drill in 7.09 seconds and the short shuttle in 4.26 seconds. Reese chose not to participate in the vertical jump or broad jump events.
Among defensive ends, Texas Tech’s David Bailey posted the fastest 40-yard dash at 4.50 seconds. Bailey, who measures 6-foot-4 and 251 pounds with a 35-inch vertical jump, is anticipated to be chosen within the first 10 picks.
Draft analysts currently project both Styles and Reese to be selected among the top 15 overall picks when the draft takes place in April.
Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez, viewed as a potential second-round selection, led all linebackers in agility drills with a 6.90-second three-cone time and a 4.19-second short shuttle performance.
Government regulations will determine the trajectory of American ethanol sales to Canada, which continues to be the United States’ primary ethanol market. According to Fred Ghatala, who leads the Advanced Biofuels Canada Association, the biofuels industry operates as a “policy game.”
“Renewable fuels exist because policy makes room in the market, and then creates structures that encourage carbon intensity reductions over the long-term,” Ghatala explained during his participation on a discussion panel.
The industry executive’s comments highlight how government decisions and regulatory frameworks will shape the ongoing trade relationship between American ethanol producers and their largest international customer.
A teenage boy from Wilmington is facing serious felony charges after authorities connected him to a Christmas Eve armed robbery at a Claymont pharmacy.
Delaware State Police have arrested the 16-year-old suspect in connection with the December 24, 2025 holdup at Darley Pharmacy on Darley Road. According to investigators, the incident unfolded around 9:50 in the morning when a white male entered the store brandishing a firearm and ordering an employee to hand over cash from the register. The gunman also forced a customer inside the pharmacy to surrender their belongings before escaping with an unknown amount of money and stolen items. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the robbery.
Police say the perpetrator concealed his face with a covering to hide his identity during the crime. The case was transferred to Delaware State Police’s Criminal Investigations Unit for further examination.
The breakthrough in the case came through collaboration between law enforcement agencies. Detectives discovered that New Castle County Police’s Major Crimes Unit was already investigating the same teenager in a separate matter. During their investigation, county officers uncovered evidence tying the youth to the pharmacy robbery and passed that information along to state police. State investigators then gathered additional proof linking the suspect to the Christmas Eve crime.
Further investigation revealed the teenager had previously been convicted of armed robbery in 2024, making this a repeat offense.
On February 24, 2026, authorities secured an arrest warrant for the suspect, who was already being held at the Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families on different charges. The teen appeared before New Castle County Family Court for arraignment and remains in custody on a $106,000 cash bond.
The charges against the suspect include two counts of first-degree robbery, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, possession of a firearm by someone previously convicted of a violent felony, wearing a disguise during commission of a felony, and receiving stolen property valued over $1,500 – all felony offenses.
Google announced Thursday the launch of Nano Banana 2, an enhanced version of its widely popular artificial intelligence image creation technology, as the tech company works to draw more users to its AI platform offerings.
The updated tool is now being integrated into multiple Google services, including the Gemini application, AI Mode and Lens capabilities within Search, and Flow, the company’s artificial intelligence video platform, according to the Alphabet subsidiary.
This release represents Google’s continued effort to establish dominance in the artificial intelligence sector, allowing the company to better challenge OpenAI’s ChatGPT following some initial setbacks. These advances have contributed to a 47% increase in Google’s stock value over the last half year.
The original Nano Banana AI image editing technology debuted in August and became an internet phenomenon, bringing 13 million new users to the Gemini application within just four days in September. The tool had created over 5 billion images by mid-October.
Google subsequently launched the enhanced Nano Banana Pro version in November.
The newest Nano Banana 2 utilizes Gemini’s more efficient and cost-effective Flash models, enabling faster image creation and modification capabilities, Google explained, while also offering improved command interpretation and producing more detailed results.
Google’s November release of its Gemini 3 AI system achieved such success that competitor OpenAI reportedly declared an internal emergency status, pushing their development teams to accelerate their work pace.
The Gemini 3 platform has dramatically increased user activity, with the Gemini application reaching over 750 million monthly active users by December’s end.
Officials in South Africa and Kenya are grappling with evidence that their citizens are being lured into combat roles in the Ukraine conflict, with deadly consequences emerging on Thursday.
Pretoria confirmed that two South African nationals lost their lives while fighting on Ukrainian battlefields. These fatalities are distinct from a separate group of 17 South Africans who were deceived into military service for Russia and have since been brought home, according to the nation’s foreign affairs department.
Details about when and how these two individuals perished were not disclosed by officials.
Moscow has rejected allegations that it unlawfully recruits African nationals for combat in Ukraine.
“The government continues to investigate the networks involved in these recruitment efforts to ensure that those who exploit vulnerable citizens face the full might of the law,” South Africa’s foreign ministry said.
Meanwhile, in Kenya’s capital, legal proceedings began against Festus Arasa Omwamba, who heads a recruitment firm accused of human trafficking. Nairobi prosecutors allege he transported 25 Kenyan victims to “Russia for the purpose of exploitation by means of deception,” according to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Authorities rescued 22 of these individuals from a residential facility in Athi River, located in Machakos County near Nairobi, last September before their planned departure to Russia, prosecutors stated.
The remaining three had already traveled to Russia and reportedly ended up in active combat zones during the Russia-Ukraine conflict, later returning with battle wounds, the prosecutor’s office revealed. Omwamba has entered a not guilty plea to all charges.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated Wednesday that more than 1,700 African fighters are currently serving with Russian forces in Ukraine, claiming Moscow uses fraudulent tactics to recruit them.
A recent intelligence report from Kenya’s National Intelligence Service revealed that recruitment organizations worked with corrupt Kenyan airport personnel, immigration officers, other government officials, and staff from both the Russian Embassy in Nairobi and Kenya’s Embassy in Moscow to arrange travel for fighters. The report estimates over 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited.
Russia’s diplomatic mission in Nairobi has disputed claims of illegal recruitment of Kenyan fighters for Ukraine, while acknowledging that foreign nationals may voluntarily enlist in Russian military forces.
The court has ordered Omwamba to remain in police detention while awaiting a bail determination, prosecutors announced.
Kenya’s foreign ministry reports that 27 Kenyan nationals have been rescued after becoming stranded in Russia. Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi has announced plans to travel to Russia in March for discussions on this matter.
The tech giant Apple is pushing back against a major shareholder lawsuit, asking a federal court to throw out claims that the company misled investors on two fronts: exaggerating what its Siri voice assistant could do with artificial intelligence and failing to properly follow court orders about App Store fees.
According to court documents filed Wednesday in San Jose, California, Apple argues there’s no evidence the company knowingly made false statements about AI capabilities during a June 2024 conference, even though Siri upgrades were later delayed and took longer than anticipated to roll out.
The delays became apparent when Apple postponed certain Siri improvements the following March. Two months after that, CEO Tim Cook acknowledged that creating a “more personal” Siri was “taking a bit longer than we thought.”
The lawsuit also targets Apple’s handling of a 2021 court order stemming from the Epic Games case, which required the company to allow app users to pay developers directly instead of going through Apple’s commission system. Apple maintains it never promised its compliance procedures would be perfect.
“It is no secret that Apple faced challenges and weathered ups and downs in its stock price in 2025, like many major companies,” Apple stated in its filing. “But plaintiff takes a massive and unsupported leap by claiming that securities fraud caused the temporary price drops.”
The legal action represents Apple investors who may have lost hundreds of billions of dollars in stock value between May 3, 2024, and May 1, 2025. That end date coincides with when a judge determined Apple was not properly following the court injunction.
Leading the shareholder group is South Korea’s National Pension Service, which manages nearly $1 trillion in assets and ranks as the world’s third-largest pension fund. Legal representatives for the shareholders have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The court order in question was designed to reduce Apple’s control over app purchases by requiring the company to provide external payment links, allowing developers to avoid the standard 30% commission on App Store transactions.
However, the judge overseeing the original case criticized Apple for establishing a new system that still charged developers a 27% commission on some external sales. A federal appeals court later partially overturned her sanctions in December.
Two West African nations responsible for producing half of the world’s cocoa supply are facing a severe financial crisis that threatens both local farmers and the global chocolate industry.
Ivory Coast and Ghana are experiencing significant difficulties selling their cocoa beans and compensating farmers this year, as global harvests have increased while cocoa prices have dropped dramatically and chocolate manufacturers have reduced their demand for the key ingredient.
The crisis stems from how these nations manage their cocoa trade. Unlike free market systems, both countries operate through government-appointed regulatory bodies that pre-sell approximately 80% of their cocoa beans to international traders one year ahead of harvest. Based on these advance sales, officials establish a guaranteed price for farmers when the growing season begins each October.
The system works through a chain where farmers sell their harvested beans to local collectors at the predetermined price. These collectors then transfer the beans to licensed buyers, who either sell directly to international traders or work through local intermediaries.
This October, Ivory Coast established its main crop price at approximately $5,000 per metric ton, while Ghana set theirs at nearly $5,300 per metric ton. However, global cocoa futures have plummeted to roughly $3,100 per ton, representing a 50% decline in value this year alone.
This dramatic price difference has created substantial losses for international cocoa traders who purchased beans from these countries at the higher rates but must sell them at current market prices. Consequently, most traders have ceased purchasing from Ivory Coast and Ghana entirely.
The impact on farmers has been devastating. Ghanaian farmers reported last month that they haven’t received payment for their beans since November, while industry sources indicate Ivorian farmers face similar circumstances. Unsold cocoa inventory continues to accumulate throughout Ivory Coast.
Both governments have implemented emergency measures to address the crisis. Ivory Coast launched a program late last month to purchase 100,000 tons of unsold main crop cocoa directly from farmers, investing half a billion dollars to provide immediate cash relief.
Ghana’s cocoa regulatory authority took action on February 12 by reducing the guaranteed farmer price by nearly one-third to around $3,580 per ton, after determining the country held approximately 50,000 tons of unsold cocoa inventory.
Ivory Coast plans to implement similar price reductions starting March 1, lowering their guaranteed farmer price by roughly one-third to encourage international sales. Government officials announced they will reveal new farmer pricing by the end of February, one month earlier than their typical schedule.
The global price collapse follows a period where cocoa prices nearly tripled to record levels in 2024 before losing approximately three-quarters of their value. Several factors contributed to this dramatic decline.
High prices led chocolate manufacturers to reduce product sizes, increase non-cocoa ingredients like wafers and nuts, and replace cocoa butter with alternative fats, resulting in decreased demand. Simultaneously, favorable weather conditions produced larger, healthier crops, creating a global market surplus of approximately 300,000 to 400,000 tons this season, according to international traders.
Much of this surplus exists in Ivory Coast and Ghana, which lack the financial resources and storage capacity that international traders and processors possess for warehousing beans long-term.
The economic implications are substantial for both nations. Cocoa represents nearly 40% of Ivory Coast’s export revenue and approximately 15% of Ghana’s export income, making it a crucial source of foreign currency for these West African countries.
Ghana faces additional challenges as it continues recovering from its most severe economic crisis in decades, having defaulted on and restructured much of its $30 billion international debt. This financial instability has made obtaining financing for cocoa purchases significantly more difficult and expensive for Ghana’s regulatory authority.
Nearly 2 million cocoa farmers and their dependents in both countries, most living below the poverty line, depend on chocolate ingredient production for their survival. The crisis directly threatens their livelihoods and economic stability.
Industry experts note that there’s typically a one-year delay between cocoa futures market prices and any resulting impact on chocolate prices for retail consumers.
A recent survey suggests that Edouard Philippe, France’s former Prime Minister, faces an unexpected challenge that could derail his presidential aspirations for 2027 – losing his current role as mayor of Le Havre in upcoming municipal elections.
Philippe, who held the position of Prime Minister under President Emmanuel Macron through 2020, has emerged in polling as the centrist politician with the strongest chance of defeating far-right National Rally candidates in France’s next presidential contest.
The OpinionWay survey, conducted for the Hexagone Institute and published Wednesday evening, indicates Philippe would secure 37% of votes in the initial round of mayoral voting, placing him first. However, the poll predicts Communist Party candidate Jean-Paul Lecoq would ultimately prevail in a runoff election.
The potential mayoral loss carries significant implications for Philippe’s national political future, something he has openly acknowledged. Speaking to LCI television in December, Philippe stated his concerns about the connection between local and national electoral success.
“If I fail to convince the people of Le Havre, despite the fact I have been their mayor since 2010 and they know me well…, I wouldn’t be in a good position to convince the French,” Philippe explained during the television interview.
Polling data has consistently shown Philippe as the mainstream candidate best positioned to defeat far-right contenders, including Marine Le Pen and her political ally Jordan Bardella, though recent surveys show increasingly competitive races.
An Ifop survey from last April demonstrated the tight nature of these potential matchups, showing Philippe and Bardella tied at 50% each. Even more concerning for Philippe’s supporters, an Odoxa poll from November showed Bardella ahead with 53% support.
Federal aviation authorities announced Wednesday they have mandated new safety procedures for Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 8200 aircraft following reports of electrical malfunctions that can cause dangerous overheating in passenger cabins and cockpits.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s new airworthiness order gives airlines 30 days to update flight manuals with emergency procedures pilots must follow when specific electrical components fail, triggering air conditioning system breakdowns. Aviation officials say the mandate affects 2,119 aircraft globally, with 771 of those planes registered in the United States.
Boeing expressed support for the regulatory action, which enforces guidance the aircraft manufacturer distributed last month. “We are advancing an engineering solution to eliminate the possibility of this electrical fault,” the company stated.
Federal regulators revealed that two recent in-flight episodes involved rapid temperature spikes aboard affected aircraft. Boeing identified the source as faulty ground wiring within the air conditioning systems.
According to the FAA, the air conditioning malfunction can trigger uncontrolled temperature increases that “could lead to injury or incapacitation of flightcrew and passengers, which could result in the inability to maintain safe flight and landing.”
Boeing officials indicated they anticipate having repairs ready for the 737 MAX 7 and 10 models prior to their certification approval and don’t expect the issue to delay that process.
Southwest Airlines, which experienced one of the reported incidents, confirmed it maintains ongoing communication with federal regulators and Boeing regarding the matter and has informed its pilots about proper response procedures for this particular electrical malfunction.
Ford Motor Company announced Thursday it’s issuing a major recall affecting 4.3 million pickup trucks and SUVs across the United States due to a computer glitch that could disable critical trailer safety systems.
The recall encompasses popular Ford models from 2021 through 2026, including the F-150, along with 2022-2026 F-250 Super Duty trucks, Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, Maverick, and select Ranger and E-Transit models.
According to Ford, the problem stems from a malfunction in the Integrated Trailer Module that can disrupt communication between the vehicle and any attached trailer. This breakdown could result in the failure of trailer brake lights, turn signals, or even complete brake system malfunction while towing.
The automaker plans to resolve the defect through wireless software updates sent directly to affected vehicles.
Federal safety regulators at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration warned that malfunctioning trailer lights or brakes significantly compromise a driver’s ability to safely control their trailer, substantially raising crash risks.
Ford has documented 407 incidents potentially linked to this safety issue, though the company states it has not confirmed any actual crashes resulting from the defect.
The software problem typically occurs during vehicle startup, causing the trailer to lose its connection with the towing vehicle. Ford and federal safety officials discussed this concern during a routine December meeting, prompting Ford to reopen its internal investigation in January based on NHTSA recommendations.
American pork producers enjoyed a particularly successful week in international markets during the period ending February 19th, according to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Export figures showed pork sales surpassing normal weekly volumes, with Mexico emerging as the dominant buyer by purchasing over half of all exported American pork. This substantial demand from Mexico demonstrates the ongoing strong trade relationship between the two countries in agricultural products.
The positive pork export numbers stood in contrast to other major agricultural commodities, which experienced declining sales compared to previous weeks. The USDA attributed these decreases across other farm products to various market factors affecting U.S. agricultural trade.
Los Angeles FC has locked up their star striker Denis Bouanga with a new contract that will keep him with the team through the 2028 season.
The club made the announcement Wednesday, revealing the agreement also contains a team option for the 2029-30 campaign for the 31-year-old forward.
Since joining LAFC in 2022, Bouanga has earned MLS All-Star honors and Best XI recognition for three consecutive seasons. The prolific scorer has netted a club-record 105 goals while adding 43 assists across 155 matches in all competitions.
Bouanga played a key role in LAFC’s championship run in 2022, helping the team capture both the Supporters’ Shield and MLS Cup. He holds the unique distinction of being the only MLS player to record three consecutive seasons with 20 or more goals.
LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington praised the extension, stating: “At this club, performance matters. Denis has delivered at an elite level with historic consistency since the day he arrived, and he has helped us win multiple trophies. This new contract reflects that. We’re proud of what he’s accomplished here and are motivated to continue building on that success together.”
The forward wasted no time making his mark this season, contributing one goal and one assist in LAFC’s commanding 3-0 victory over reigning MLS Cup champions Inter Miami in their season opener last Saturday.
Bouanga expressed his appreciation for the new deal, saying: “I’m grateful to LAFC for the trust they’ve shown in me. From the beginning, my family and I have felt at home in Los Angeles. It’s an honor to represent this club and our supporters every time I put on the jersey. I believe in what we are building here, and I’m motivated to keep improving, winning more trophies, and helping this club reach even higher.”
The French-born player represents Gabon on the international stage, where he has scored 17 goals in 53 appearances for his country.
Federal wildlife officials have officially removed two distinct populations of the lesser prairie chicken from endangered species protections, completing the delisting process on Thursday.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced the completion of regulations that strip Endangered Species Act protections from the two prairie chicken populations, representing a major shift in the conservation approach for these birds.
The life of New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes remains far from ordinary weeks after his historic overtime goal delivered the United States its first Olympic men’s hockey championship in nearly five decades at the Milan Cortina Games.
The 24-year-old athlete continues to navigate the overwhelming attention that followed his gold medal-winning shot against Canada, still sporting a gap-toothed grin from injuries sustained during the Olympic finals.
Even playing away from home in Pittsburgh Thursday evening, Hughes was met with thunderous applause from the crowd at PPG Paints Arena. The reception came during a pre-game tribute that also honored members of the U.S. women’s Olympic team and Pittsburgh’s own Sidney Crosby, who captained Team Canada.
The 18,288 fans in attendance began chanting his name before breaking into patriotic “U-S-A” cheers, creating an unexpected moment for the visiting player wearing number 86.
“I was thinking going into the game, I knew they’d do something, but obviously, you know, Crosby’s the biggest athlete here,” Hughes explained after contributing an assist in New Jersey’s 4-1 defeat. “So I’m sure they were cheering for Canada as well, but obviously a lot of proud Americans in the crowd tonight. And that was something I’ll always remember.”
The scene echoed a similar tribute Pittsburgh supporters gave Buffalo Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller sixteen years earlier, after Miller’s Team USA fell to Crosby’s golden goal in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Unlike Miller’s squad that earned silver, Hughes carved his name into American Olympic history by delivering the championship-clinching goal in Italy. His recent schedule has included prestigious visits to the White House and an appearance during President Trump’s State of the Union address.
Following celebrations in his home state of New Jersey on Wednesday, Hughes expressed surprise at receiving similar recognition on enemy ice, with another potential tribute awaiting when the Devils travel to St. Louis this Saturday.
“Obviously, it’s not going to last forever, but just really cool,” he remarked.
Hughes acknowledged the relentless pace has prevented him from fully absorbing the magnitude of his achievement. While transitioning back to regular NHL competition has proven difficult after what he described as “probably the best moment of my life,” returning to the rink provides welcomed normalcy.
“The best thing that’s happened to me is getting back on the ice and playing,” Hughes shared. “Just so I have like four or five hours of no distractions.”
ISLAMABAD — Following a series of cross-border attacks and retaliatory strikes, Pakistan’s Defense Minister has declared that his nation is now engaged in “open war” with Afghanistan, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two countries.
Defense Minister Khawaja Mohammad Asif took to social media platform X to announce that Pakistan’s tolerance has reached its breaking point. He explained that Pakistan had anticipated peace would come to Afghanistan following the departure of NATO forces, and believed the Taliban would prioritize Afghan citizens’ well-being and regional peace.
However, Asif accused the Taliban of transforming Afghanistan “into a colony of India,” recruiting extremists from across the globe, and engaging in “exporting terrorism.”
“Our patience has now run out. Now it is open war between us,” he stated.
This surge in hostilities between the two nations casts doubt on the stability of a ceasefire agreement that Qatar helped broker. Notably, the Pakistani defense minister made no reference to the existing ceasefire arrangement in his statements.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team delivered a thrilling comeback performance, overcoming a deficit in the final quarter to secure a 58-55 victory over North Carolina Central University.
The dramatic win brought the Hawks’ conference record to an impressive 9-3 for the season, showcasing their resilience and determination in crucial moments.
The game remained competitive throughout, with both teams battling for position in the conference standings. However, it was UMES that found the extra gear when it mattered most, executing key plays in the closing minutes to pull ahead of their opponents.
The Hawks demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure, turning what could have been a disappointing loss into a statement victory that strengthens their position in conference play.
Motorists traveling on northbound Route 141 should expect delays this evening as construction crews continue road work that requires periodic lane closures.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the affected stretch runs from Kirkwood Highway to Milltown Road, where workers are implementing intermittent lane restrictions to complete necessary roadway improvements.
The construction activity and associated lane closures are expected to wrap up by 5 AM, according to DelDOT’s traffic management system.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when passing through the work zone area.
ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif announced Friday that his nation has entered into an “open war” with Afghanistan, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between the neighboring countries as both sides reported substantial casualties from overnight fighting.
Speaking from Islamabad on February 27th, Asif declared that Pakistan’s tolerance for the situation had reached its breaking point.
“Our cup of patience has overflowed. Now it is open war between us and you (Afghanistan),” he stated.
The minister’s stark announcement comes amid deteriorating relations between the two countries, with tensions reaching a boiling point following recent cross-border incidents that resulted in heavy losses on both sides.
WASHINGTON – Intelligence officials are questioning the accuracy of President Donald Trump’s recent statements about Iran’s missile capabilities, with three sources saying his claims lack backing from current U.S. intelligence assessments.
During his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, Trump told lawmakers that Iran was “working on missiles that will soon reach” American soil, using this assertion as part of his argument for potential military strikes against the Middle Eastern nation.
However, intelligence sources indicate Trump’s timeline appears overstated. Two officials confirmed that current Defense Intelligence Agency projections remain unchanged from their unclassified 2025 report, which estimates Iran would need until 2035 to successfully create a “militarily viable intercontinental ballistic missile” using technology from their current space launch programs.
The discrepancy raises questions about the intelligence foundation supporting Trump’s public statements regarding Iran’s weapons development progress and potential military responses.
White House officials chose not to provide comment on the matter when contacted by reporters.
A major Japanese technology company announced Tuesday it will significantly expand its workforce in India by adding 5,000 new positions throughout 2024.
NTT Data, owned by telecommunications giant NTT Group, will fill these roles across multiple areas including software development, business consulting, and information technology support services, according to company leadership.
Sudhir Chaturvedi, who serves as the company’s chief growth officer and North America CEO, revealed that major technology contracts worth over $100 million have seen a twofold increase during the past year. These lucrative deals are coming from the manufacturing sector, logistics companies, and government agencies.
“North America is back to growth, and we expect strong growth next financial year,” Chaturvedi stated.
The technology firm is simultaneously developing four new data centers throughout India as part of a massive $1.5 billion investment initiative. The company already maintains a workforce of 40,000 employees in the country.
This expansion reflects a broader trend of international and domestic companies working to increase their data center infrastructure in India, which ranks as Asia’s third-largest economy.
Despite India storing 20% of global data, the nation currently maintains less than 6% of worldwide data center capacity, according to research from ratings agency ICRA. This gap makes the sector particularly appealing for investment opportunities. India’s government has sweetened the deal by offering tax breaks to foreign companies that utilize domestic data centers.
Chaturvedi projected that client technology spending will increase between 7% and 9% this year, driven by investments extending beyond artificial intelligence. This represents growth from the 6% to 7% increase seen in the previous year.
The video game company behind Super Mario is reportedly moving forward with a massive stock divestiture plan that could reach approximately $1.9 billion, according to insider sources familiar with the matter.
Three individuals with knowledge of the situation indicate that Nintendo is preparing to dissolve strategic shareholding arrangements, which would allow MUFG Bank and Bank of Kyoto to offload their stakes in the gaming powerhouse. Sources suggest the Kyoto-headquartered company may finalize this decision by Friday and is also considering implementing a stock buyback program.
The anticipated sale would total around 300 billion yen, marking a significant financial move for the entertainment company. Nintendo has not provided any response to inquiries regarding these reports, and the sources requested anonymity due to the confidential nature of the information.
Following news of the potential sale, Nintendo’s stock price moderated earlier gains, closing up 2.4% for the day.
This wouldn’t mark the first time these financial institutions have reduced their Nintendo holdings. In 2019, both banks participated in a similar divestiture totaling approximately 71 billion yen, aligning with their established policies to decrease cross-shareholding arrangements.
Current ownership data from September shows Bank of Kyoto, a regional financial institution, maintaining a 4.19% ownership stake in Nintendo. MUFG Bank, Japan’s largest financial institution, holds a 3.62% stake through its trust banking division.
Neither Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group nor Kyoto Financial Group provided responses to requests for comment. However, Kyoto Financial’s stock price surged 9% following the reports.
This development aligns with broader regulatory pressure from Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Stock Exchange, who have been pushing domestic corporations to eliminate cross-shareholding practices. Toyota recently announced similar plans involving approximately $19 billion in share sales by banks and insurance companies.
Cross-shareholding arrangements, where companies maintain ownership stakes in each other to strengthen business relationships, have faced criticism from corporate governance advocates and international investors. Critics argue these practices shield company leadership from shareholder accountability. While such arrangements have been standard practice in Japan for many years, they remain uncommon in Western business practices.
WASHINGTON – Scientists have uncovered new details about prehistoric relationships between our ancestors and Neanderthals, revealing a surprising pattern in how these ancient species interacted tens of thousands of years ago.
Fresh genetic research examining X chromosomes indicates that when early humans migrated from Africa and encountered Neanderthal communities across Europe, Asia and the Middle East, the resulting interbreeding predominantly involved male Neanderthals pairing with female Homo sapiens.
This discovery comes from analyzing genetic material in modern populations and ancient Neanderthal remains, providing fresh perspective on these prehistoric encounters that left their mark in our DNA today.
“The preferences of either or both parties could produce these kinds of patterns, with or without the consent of the other,” explained geneticist Alexander Platt from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine, who co-led the study published Thursday in Science journal.
The research team examined X chromosomes – one of two sex chromosomes that determine biological sex. Women inherit two X chromosomes while men receive one X from their mother and one Y from their father.
Nearly all modern humans outside certain sub-Saharan African populations carry trace amounts of Neanderthal DNA – typically 1% to 4% throughout their genome. However, their X chromosomes contain little to no Neanderthal genetic material. Africans lack this ancestry because their forebears remained on the continent and never encountered Neanderthals.
Conversely, when researchers examined genetic material from three Neanderthal specimens, they discovered elevated levels of Homo sapiens DNA on X chromosomes – the reverse pattern seen in contemporary humans, supporting the theory of male Neanderthal-female Homo sapiens partnerships.
The scientists also studied genetic information from present-day Africans without Neanderthal heritage to better understand gene transfer between the species. This interbreeding began as early as 250,000 years ago, with a significant wave occurring around 47,000 years ago during a major human migration.
Previously, researchers believed Neanderthal genes were absent from modern X chromosomes because they caused biological incompatibilities and health issues, leading natural selection to eliminate them over generations.
However, finding abundant Homo sapiens DNA in Neanderthal X chromosomes challenges this theory. Instead, mathematical modeling confirms that the observed genetic patterns align with predominantly male Neanderthal-female Homo sapiens mating.
The two species shared common ancestors until roughly 600,000 years ago before diverging, with Neanderthals developing in Europe while Homo sapiens evolved in Africa.
Neanderthals vanished approximately 40,000 years ago but shared remarkable similarities with early humans beyond physical traits. Despite their more robust build and prominent brow ridges, they demonstrated intelligence through artistic expression, sophisticated group hunting techniques, symbolic artifacts, and possibly spoken communication.
Determining the exact nature of these interactions proves challenging based solely on archaeological and genetic evidence, including whether conflicts like raiding expeditions occurred.
“We have no way of knowing if this was a conflict scenario,” noted University of Pennsylvania geneticist Sarah Tishkoff, the study’s senior author, emphasizing interactions could have been peaceful.
“But we also don’t know why this pattern happened of more modern human (Homo sapiens) females mating with Neanderthals – whether it was due to choice or they were forced. This is what makes it so fascinating, and hopefully someday perhaps there will be archaeological and fossil data that will shed further light on the interactions between Neanderthals and modern humans.”
Eventually, Homo sapiens populations significantly outnumbered Neanderthals across Eurasia.
“If you consider that there may have been 10 to 20 times as many Homo sapiens in the area as Neanderthals, the observation that we had as much as 5% Neanderthal ancestry 30,000 to 40,000 years ago suggests it’s entirely reasonable to guess that there was simply so much interbreeding that we swamped the gene pool – that Neanderthals didn’t actually disappear at all, they just became some of us,” Platt explained.
“It’s kind of fun to think that there are currently some six billion people walking around with about 2% Neanderthal genomes,” Platt added. “To the extent that that’s equivalent to 120 million Neanderthals’ worth of genomes, they’re doing better than ever.”
The Utah Jazz will be without star forward Lauri Markkanen when they host the New Orleans Pelicans on Thursday night, as the team announced he’s dealing with both a right hip impingement and a right ankle sprain.
The Finnish forward sustained both injuries during Wednesday’s practice session and was initially considered questionable for the contest before team officials made the decision to hold him out.
Markkanen put up 29 points in Utah’s most recent outing, a 125-105 defeat at the hands of the Houston Rockets on Monday. This season, he’s been a consistent offensive force, posting averages of 26.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 2.1 assists across 42 appearances, starting every game for the Jazz.
The 27-year-old secured a lucrative four-year deal worth $195.9 million and made significant waves during his debut campaign with Utah in 2022-23, capturing the NBA’s Most Improved Player award while also earning his maiden All-Star nod.
Selected seventh overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 2017 NBA Draft, Markkanen has compiled career statistics of 18.9 points and 7.1 rebounds per game over 492 total appearances (466 as a starter) during stints with Chicago (2017-21), the Cleveland Cavaliers (2021-22), and currently with Utah.
BERLIN – German lawmakers on Thursday authorized their nation’s military to take enhanced action against unauthorized drones, marking a significant policy shift amid growing aerial security concerns linked to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
The legislative body known as the Bundestag passed changes to existing aviation security regulations with backing from ruling party members and opposition groups, including the Alternative for Germany party, designed to streamline defensive responses against unmanned aircraft.
Drone encounters above German territory have multiplied since Moscow launched its military campaign against Ukraine, with many operators remaining unidentified. Security analysts believe Russian operatives may be responsible for numerous flights.
The updated regulations permit Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, to actively engage threatening drones when civilian agencies request military assistance, including deployment of electronic disruption technology or direct weapon systems.
Military involvement had been severely limited under previous rules.
Defense officials may now initiate counter-drone missions without waiting for other authorities, enabling quicker responses during urgent situations, legislative documents indicate.
While state police agencies handle drone enforcement duties, they frequently lack appropriate technological resources.
Federal law enforcement capabilities have been recently enhanced, and officials established a specialized drone response facility in the capital to coordinate these operations.
The new law also establishes tougher criminal penalties for operating drones within airport zones, specifically addressing environmental protesters who have caused repeated flight disruptions.
These violations will now result in criminal charges punishable by imprisonment up to two years, replacing previous monetary fines.
An expert in organic agriculture is raising concerns that the widely-used term “regenerative farming” has become so broadly interpreted that it’s losing its original significance.
Thomas Manley, who serves as climate and conservation director for the organic farming organization Marbleseed, argues that the agricultural concept is facing what he calls “an identity crisis.” According to Manley, while farmers and industry professionals once shared a common understanding of what regenerative practices meant, that clarity has disappeared over time.
“I think the word regenerative has been hijacked,” Manley stated, suggesting that the term’s widespread adoption has led to confusion rather than clarity in the farming community.
The debate over regenerative agriculture’s definition comes as more farmers and food companies embrace practices aimed at improving soil health and environmental sustainability.
A traffic collision has forced authorities to shut down Delaware Route 1 in both directions, creating significant travel disruptions for motorists in the area.
According to DelDOT officials, the highway closure extends from Spring Hill Road to Exit 83, affecting both northbound and southbound traffic lanes. The complete roadway shutdown indicates the serious nature of the incident.
Transportation officials have not yet released information regarding the cause of the accident, the number of vehicles involved, or potential injuries. No timeline has been provided for when the busy corridor might reopen to traffic.
Drivers are advised to seek alternate routes and expect significant delays in the surrounding area as traffic is diverted around the closure.
Drivers in the area will need to find alternate routes as a portion of Holly Lake Road remains blocked off for construction activities.
According to DelDOT officials, the roadway between Route 24 and Phillips Branch Road is currently inaccessible to motorists due to ongoing construction work in the area.
The road closure is scheduled to remain in effect until 6:00 PM on February 26, 2026, transportation officials report.
Motorists are advised to plan alternative travel routes and allow extra time for their commutes while the construction project continues.
The leader of a major biofuels trade organization says he remains confident that federal regulators will follow through on proposed record-setting requirements for renewable fuel blending.
Geoff Cooper, who serves as President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, expressed his positive outlook regarding the Environmental Protection Agency’s commitment to unprecedented biofuel-blending mandates currently under consideration.
The biofuels sector continues to monitor developments as the EPA prepares to finalize its renewable volume obligation regulations.
Agricultural producers are being encouraged to capitalize on current favorable conditions in the soybean marketplace. Matt Bennett, who co-founded AgMarket.net and operates a farm in Illinois, emphasizes that farmers should pay attention to the recent upward movement in soybean prices.
“Three weeks ago, you would have swore that you’d sell beans at $11 or better,” Bennett noted. He stressed the importance of acting on current market conditions, stating, “Now you’ve got the opportunity, so if you don’t take that opportunity, it’s on” producers themselves to make that decision.
Bennett’s advice comes as soybean markets have shown positive momentum, creating what he sees as a window for farmers to secure better returns on their crops.
South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has given the green light to a $1.72 million project that will expand the pig research and education center at South Dakota State University.
The university’s swine extension specialist Bob Thaler spoke with Brownfield about the long-awaited funding decision, saying his team has been anticipating this approval for more than a year and expressed appreciation for the state’s support.
“Just like everything else good, oftentimes, it takes time,” Thaler said regarding the extended wait for the financial backing of the Swine Education and Research Facility expansion.
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning men’s basketball team staged an impressive comeback Tuesday night, overcoming double-digit deficits in both halves to defeat Holy Family University 80-73 on the road in Philadelphia.
The victory was crucial for the Lightning, as it locked up their position among the top four teams in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference standings. This achievement guarantees Goldey-Beacom will host at least one game during the upcoming CACC tournament.
The Lightning faced an uphill battle early, trailing by as many as 13 points during the first half of play. Even after regrouping at halftime, the team found themselves down by 11 points again in the second half before mounting their successful rally.
The comeback performance demonstrates the resilience of the Lightning squad as they head into the postseason. By securing their spot in the conference’s top tier, Goldey-Beacom has positioned themselves favorably for a potential tournament run on their home court.
Florida guard Liv McGill delivered a dominant performance Thursday night, dropping 28 points to power the Gators past 19th-ranked Ole Miss 74-67 in Southeastern Conference action at Gainesville, Florida. McGill was particularly effective early, netting 19 of her points before halftime while also contributing eight assists and six rebounds.
The Gators (17-13, 5-10 SEC) received additional scoring from Laila Reynolds, who chipped in 14 points in the victory. Florida connected on an impressive 59.1 percent of their field goal attempts and built leads as large as 14 points throughout the contest. The triumph marked the Gators’ first success against a ranked opponent after eight previous failed attempts this season, and their fourth victory in their last six outings.
Ole Miss got a career-high 25 points from Tianna Thompson, who also set a personal record by drilling seven three-pointers. The Rebels (21-9, 8-7) also received 15 points from Cotie McMahon and 10 from Christeen Iwuala, but couldn’t overcome their recent struggles. The loss extended Ole Miss’s losing streak to three games and marked their fifth defeat in seven contests.
The Rebels made a push in the final period, cutting Florida’s advantage to just five points. However, the Gators responded with authority as Reynolds converted two field goals and McGill connected on a three-pointer during a decisive 9-0 surge that stretched the lead to 65-51 with 6:08 left on the clock. Although Ole Miss managed to trim the deficit to five on three separate occasions down the stretch, they couldn’t mount a complete comeback.
In other Top 25 action, sixth-ranked LSU dominated Tennessee 89-73 behind Mikaylah Williams’ double-double of 20 points and 10 rebounds, plus five assists. MiLaysia Fulwiley contributed 18 points, six rebounds and four blocks off the bench as the Tigers (25-4, 11-4 SEC) captured their third consecutive victory.
ZaKiyah Johnson recorded 14 points and eight rebounds for LSU, while Grace Knox posted 13 points and nine boards. Flau’jae Johnson rounded out the scoring with 10 points for the Tigers.
Tennessee (16-11, 8-7) got 17 points from reserve Jaida Civil, but couldn’t avoid their fifth straight defeat and eighth loss in their past 10 games. Nya Robertson scored 14 points and Talaysia Cooper added 13 for the struggling Volunteers.
Meanwhile, 10th-ranked Louisville cruised past Georgia Tech 69-50 in Atlantic Coast Conference play in Atlanta. Elif Istanbulluoglu paced the Cardinals with 18 points, while Imari Berry provided 13 points off the bench.
Tajianna Roberts contributed 12 points and reserve Reyna Scott added 10 for Louisville (25-5, 15-2 ACC), which secured its fourth victory in five games. The Cardinals established control early, taking a 36-24 halftime advantage and extending their largest margin to 20 points.
Georgia Tech (12-17, 7-10) was led by Talayah Walker’s 20 points but suffered their second consecutive loss. The Yellow Jackets struggled offensively, shooting just 38.3 percent from the floor while turning the ball over 21 times.
A major Malaysian healthcare company has filed official documents for a public stock offering that could bring in as much as $735.98 million, potentially becoming the country’s biggest market debut in close to a decade.
Sunway Healthcare Holding released its offering prospectus on Friday, outlining plans to sell shares at a starting price of 1.45 ringgit each. The company intends to offer nearly 2 billion shares total, with 575 million being newly created stock and 1.39 billion coming from current shareholders. Both everyday investors and large institutions will have the opportunity to purchase these shares.
The total value of the offering could reach 2.86 billion ringgit in Malaysian currency. At current exchange rates, one U.S. dollar equals approximately 3.89 ringgit.
Naval forces from three allied nations conducted collaborative training exercises in the contested South China Sea waters this week, according to an announcement from Philippine military officials on Friday.
The maritime training operation brought together warships and aircraft from the Philippines, United States, and Japan as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen military partnerships in the region.
The Philippine military has been actively partnering with various nations since 2023 to defend its territorial claims and maritime boundaries in the South China Sea. Beijing maintains sovereignty over the majority of this resource-abundant waterway, dismissing a 2016 international tribunal ruling that invalidated its historical territorial assertions.
According to Philippine military officials, the collaborative exercise “underscores the sustained commitment of partner forces to enhance interoperability, reinforce maritime security, and improve Maritime Domain Awareness in the region.”
The Philippines contributed its Antonio Luna frigate along with helicopter and fighter aircraft support for the training mission. Japan participated by deploying a P-3 Orion surveillance aircraft, while American forces brought the guided-missile destroyer USS Dewey and a Poseidon reconnaissance plane to the operation.
Training activities encompassed various maritime operations including at-sea refueling procedures, coordinated aerial patrols, aircraft flyover demonstrations, and communication system testing between the participating forces.
This exercise follows similar joint training operations that the Philippines conducted with Australian and American forces on February 15 and 16.
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — Early Friday morning, Pakistani military forces launched airstrikes targeting Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul along with two additional provinces, according to Afghanistan’s government spokesperson. The strikes came just hours following Afghanistan’s overnight cross-border military operation against Pakistan, marking a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations that puts a Qatar-brokered ceasefire in serious jeopardy.
Residents in Kabul reported hearing at least three explosions, though immediate details about the precise strike locations within the capital or potential casualties remained unavailable. Government spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed that Pakistani forces also conducted aerial attacks in the southern province of Kandahar and the southeastern region of Paktia.
Two high-ranking Pakistani security officials, speaking anonymously to The Associated Press because they lacked authorization for public statements, confirmed their military targeted what they characterized as Afghan military installations across Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces. These officials claimed the strikes successfully destroyed two brigade headquarters but provided no casualty information.
Afghan military forces launched their cross-border offensive into Pakistan late Thursday evening, which they described as retaliation for deadly Pakistani airstrikes that hit Afghan border regions on Sunday. Afghanistan claims its forces successfully seized more than a dozen Pakistani army positions during the assault.
Pakistani leadership characterized last Sunday’s airstrikes as operations against militants operating in the border area, while dismissing Thursday’s Afghan military action as an unprovoked assault. Pakistani officials also rejected Afghan claims about captured army positions.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres called on both nations to safeguard civilian populations as mandated by international law and “to continue to seek to resolve any differences through diplomacy,” according to U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.
“In response to the repeated rebellions and insurrections of the Pakistani military, large-scale offensive operations were launched against Pakistani military bases and military installations along the Durand Line,” Mujahid stated in a Thursday night social media post. Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry reported conducting retaliatory operations along border areas spanning six provinces.
The disputed 2,611-kilometer (1,622-mile) boundary between the nations is called the Durand Line, which Afghanistan refuses to officially acknowledge.
Both countries provided dramatically different casualty reports from the fighting.
Afghanistan’s Defense Ministry claimed 55 Pakistani soldiers died in the clash, including some whose remains were brought into Afghan territory, while “several others were captured alive.” The ministry reported eight of its own fighters killed with 11 additional wounded. Afghan officials said they demolished 19 Pakistani army positions and two bases, with combat ending at midnight approximately four hours after operations began.
However, Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar stated only two Pakistani soldiers were killed with three others injured. He reported 36 Afghan fighters had died. In a social media statement, he said Pakistan was delivering a “strong and effective response” to what he termed unprovoked Afghan aggression.
Mosharraf Ali Zaidi, spokesperson for Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, rejected claims that Pakistani soldiers had been taken prisoner. He later posted that at least 133 Afghan fighters were killed with over 200 wounded, claiming 27 Afghan positions were destroyed and nine fighters captured. He did not specify casualty locations, adding there would be “many more casualties estimated in strikes in Kabul, Paktia and Kandahar military targets.”
Both nations also documented gunfire exchanges in the Torkham border region.
Afghan officials began evacuating a refugee settlement near the Torkham crossing after multiple refugees sustained injuries, according to Qureshi Badlon, director of Torkham’s Information and Public Awareness Board. The Defense Ministry reported 13 civilians wounded in a missile attack on the camp, including women and children.
On Pakistan’s side of the frontier, police reported residents fleeing to safer locations, while Afghan refugees awaiting return to Afghanistan were relocated to secure areas. Pakistan initiated an extensive migrant crackdown in October 2023, expelling hundreds of thousands of people.
Pakistani police confirmed mortars launched from Afghanistan struck nearby villages, though no civilian casualties were reported.
“Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens,” Pakistan’s Information Ministry declared in a social media statement.
Afghanistan’s military distributed nighttime video footage showing military vehicles in motion and sounds of intense gunfire, though the footage could not be independently confirmed.
Relations between the neighboring countries have remained strained for months, with deadly border confrontations in October resulting in dozens of military, civilian and suspected militant deaths. That violence followed Kabul explosions that Afghan authorities attributed to Pakistan. Islamabad subsequently conducted deep strikes inside Afghanistan targeting militant strongholds.
A Qatar-facilitated ceasefire between the nations has generally held, though both sides have periodically exchanged fire across the border. Multiple peace negotiations in November failed to achieve a formal agreement.
On Sunday, Pakistan’s military executed strikes along the Afghan border, claiming they eliminated at least 70 militants.
Afghanistan disputed this assertion, stating dozens of civilians died, including women and children. The Defense Ministry said “various civilian areas” in eastern Afghanistan were targeted, including a religious school and multiple residences. The ministry characterized the strikes as violations of Afghanistan’s airspace and sovereignty.
Militant activity has increased dramatically in Pakistan recently, with much of the violence attributed by Pakistan to the Pakistani Taliban, known as TTP, and banned Baloch separatist organizations. The TTP operates independently from but maintains close ties with Afghanistan’s Taliban. Islamabad accuses the TTP of conducting operations from Afghan territory, which both the group and Kabul reject.
FORT HANCOCK, Texas — Congressional representatives revealed Thursday that military forces deployed laser technology to destroy a Customs and Border Protection surveillance drone, leading federal aviation officials to expand airspace restrictions near El Paso, Texas.
The reason behind the laser deployment remains unclear, marking the second such incident in the region over a two-week period.
The previous laser activation occurred near Fort Bliss, approximately 50 miles northwest, when CBP personnel fired the weapon without hitting any target. That earlier event forced the FAA to temporarily halt all air traffic at El Paso’s airport and surrounding airspace. Thursday’s incident resulted in a more limited closure that did not disrupt commercial aviation.
Congressman Rick Larsen, along with other senior Democrats on the House Transportation and Infrastructure committee, expressed shock upon learning of the most recent event.
“Our heads are exploding over the news,” the legislators stated collectively. They condemned the Trump administration for “sidestepping” bipartisan legislation designed to enhance drone operator training and strengthen coordination between the Pentagon, FAA, and Department of Homeland Security.
“Now, we’re seeing the result of its incompetence,” they declared.
Both the Defense and Transportation departments directed inquiries to the FAA, which issued a concise statement confirming the expanded airspace closure around Fort Hancock. Border Protection officials have not yet provided responses to media questions.
The El Paso airport shutdown two weeks earlier lasted several hours but caused significant concern and resulted in multiple flight cancellations in the border city of nearly 700,000 residents.
During that previous incident, CBP deployed anti-drone laser technology near Fort Bliss without coordinating with aviation authorities, prompting the FAA to close El Paso airspace as a safety precaution, according to sources with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Following that event, congressional members characterized it as another instance of government dysfunction, with various agencies failing to maintain proper coordination.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced plans to brief Congress members this week regarding the incidents. Speaking at an unrelated press conference last Friday, Duffy defended the FAA’s decision to close El Paso airspace and dismissed suggestions that communication failures contributed to the problems.
The investigation into last year’s fatal midair collision near Washington, D.C., which killed 67 people when an airliner struck an Army helicopter, revealed ongoing coordination challenges between the FAA and Pentagon.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that both the FAA and Army failed to share critical safety information about the concerning frequency of near-miss incidents around Reagan National Airport and did not adequately address associated risks.
Investigators in Panama conducted a search Thursday at offices belonging to a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based conglomerate CK Hutchison, according to someone with knowledge of the operation.
The search at CK Hutchison’s Panama Ports Company (PPC) was not connected to the government’s recent decision to cancel contracts that allowed the company to manage two key port terminals along Panama’s canal system, the source indicated.
The individual requested anonymity since details of the investigation have not been released publicly.
CK Hutchison has not yet provided a response to requests for comment on the matter.
“This is an independent investigation carried out exclusively by the Public Ministry of Panama in the exercise of its legal powers,” Panama’s government stated, though officials did not specifically identify CK Hutchison as the focus of the search.
Trading of CK Hutchison stock dropped 0.9% during early Friday sessions in Hong Kong markets.
Panamanian news outlets first reported the investigation. Local television network TVN broadcast footage showing approximately twelve individuals, several wearing jackets marked with Panama’s investigative police unit (DIJ) insignia, working in an underground garage in Panama City’s upscale Albrook district.
The footage captured personnel placing cardboard containers into a police vehicle.
Building identification was not clear in the broadcast images, and Reuters was unable to confirm the location independently.
A court official speaking on local television verified that a search operation had occurred but would not identify the targeted business or specify what evidence was collected.
Panama’s highest court ruled recently that CK Hutchison’s agreements to manage port facilities at Panama Canal entrances violated the constitution, prompting government officials to void those contracts.
The ruling has created tensions involving both China and the United States, following pressure from former U.S. President Donald Trump for Panama to limit Chinese control over the Panama Canal, which handles approximately 5% of worldwide shipping traffic.
CK Hutchison has characterized the court decision as illegal and indicated it may pursue legal remedies.
The Chicago Bears moved closer to securing a new stadium deal Thursday as lawmakers in both Indiana and Illinois took significant steps forward on competing proposals to lure the NFL franchise.
In Indiana, state senators approved financing for a stadium and entertainment complex in Hammond, located in the state’s northwest region within the Chicago metro area. Governor Mike Braun quickly signed the legislation, which creates a stadium authority to oversee the project.
“We made it clear from the beginning that Indiana is open for business,” Braun posted on social media. “I’m thrilled to sign Senate Bill 27 to create the framework to build a new world-class stadium in Northwest Indiana. Now let’s get this across the goal line.”
Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers made their own move when a House committee approved legislation designed to reduce property tax burdens for a potential stadium development in Arlington Heights. This represents a significant change in Illinois’ approach, as previous attempts at similar “megaprojects” legislation had stalled in committee proceedings.
The Bears currently own property in the Arlington Heights area, where high property taxes have been the primary barrier to constructing a new facility.
However, uncertainty remains for the Illinois proposal, as it’s unclear whether the measure has sufficient support to pass when the full House reconvenes March 18.
Indiana’s plan also faces potential obstacles, with environmental assessments of the Hammond location near Wolf Lake still pending completion.
Despite these challenges, the Bears expressed satisfaction with the developments in both states.
“Indiana has taken important steps over the last few months, and we are grateful for the leadership reflected by Gov. Braun signing SB27, establishing the framework for a stadium development in Northwest Indiana,” the team stated. “We continue to work on the necessary due diligence and appreciate the ongoing engagement with Indiana state and local leaders.”
The proposed Hammond site sits approximately 26 miles southeast of the Bears’ current home at Soldier Field, while Arlington Heights is roughly 30 miles northwest of downtown Chicago.
This situation mirrors recent developments with the Kansas City Chiefs, who decided earlier this year to abandon their Missouri stadium plans in favor of a new facility in Kansas, citing better revenue opportunities and shared funding arrangements that Missouri declined to offer.
The Bears have played at Soldier Field since 1971, with the exception of the 2002 season when they temporarily relocated to Memorial Stadium at the University of Illinois in Champaign during Soldier Field’s major renovation.
Cross-border violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan reached dangerous new levels overnight Friday, with Pakistani forces conducting airstrikes against Taliban positions in several major Afghan cities, according to officials from both nations.
Pakistani security sources confirmed their military launched coordinated air and ground operations targeting Taliban command centers, weapons storage facilities, and military outposts across multiple border sectors.
The escalation represents the most significant military confrontation between the neighboring countries in recent months, jeopardizing a delicate ceasefire along their extensive 1,615-mile shared boundary and intensifying ongoing disputes over Pakistan’s claims that Afghanistan shelters Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) fighters—allegations Taliban leadership consistently rejects.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid confirmed Pakistani aircraft struck locations within Kabul, Kandahar and Paktia provinces.
“Pakistani counterstrikes against targets in Afghanistan continue,” Pakistani government spokesman Mosharraf Zaidi posted on social media platform X, characterizing the military action as retaliation for “unprovoked Afghan attacks.”
Residents in Kabul reported hearing numerous ambulance sirens racing through the capital after powerful explosions echoed across the city.
Pakistani military officials released footage showing nighttime combat operations along the frontier, including artillery fire lighting up the darkness and flames engulfing what they identified as a Taliban command facility in Paktia province.
Casualty reports from both sides varied dramatically and remain unverified. Zaidi claimed Pakistani forces eliminated 133 Afghan Taliban fighters, wounded over 200 others, demolished 27 military positions and seized control of nine additional posts.
Meanwhile, Mujahid reported 55 Pakistani troops killed and 19 positions captured by Taliban forces, while acknowledging eight Taliban casualties, 11 wounded fighters and 13 civilian injuries in Nangarhar province.
The current violence follows earlier Pakistani airstrikes this week that Islamabad claimed targeted TTP and Islamic State militant training camps in eastern Afghanistan. Afghan authorities reject accusations they permit militant operations within their borders and had threatened retaliation.
Border clashes erupted Thursday evening when Taliban forces launched what they termed retaliatory assaults on Pakistani military installations, with both armies claiming successful destruction of enemy border positions during that initial fighting.
South Korean automotive giant Hyundai Motor Group announced Friday a massive investment agreement worth approximately $6.26 billion to develop cutting-edge technology facilities along the nation’s western coastline.
The comprehensive development plan, valued at 9 trillion won, was formalized through an agreement between Hyundai and the South Korean government, according to the country’s land ministry.
The investment breakdown includes several major components. Hyundai will allocate roughly 5.8 trillion won toward constructing an artificial intelligence data center equipped with 50,000 graphics processing units. Additionally, the company plans to spend 400 billion won on establishing a robotics manufacturing facility that will produce various types of robots, including wearable technology.
The project also encompasses significant renewable energy investments, with 1 trillion won designated for hydrogen production facilities and an additional 1.3 trillion won earmarked for solar power generation infrastructure.
The development will take place in the Saemangeum region, an ambitious land reclamation initiative that launched over two decades ago along South Korea’s western shoreline. Originally designed to create additional agricultural land, the project later evolved to attract industrial development to an economically disadvantaged area.
The Jeolla provinces, where this massive development will occur, have historically served as a political stronghold for South Korea’s liberal parties, including the Democratic Party led by President Lee Jae Myung.
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – The University of Delaware men’s basketball squad battled through regulation time Thursday evening but came up short in the extra period, losing to Jacksonville State 80-70.
The Blue Hens managed to push the contest into overtime but couldn’t capitalize on the opportunity. With the defeat, Delaware’s record now stands at 9-19 overall and 5-12 in Conference USA competition.
Jacksonville State improved their season record to 14-14 and moved to 9-8 in CUSA standings with the victory over the visiting Blue Hens.
The loss continues a challenging season for Delaware as they work through Conference USA play in their ongoing campaign.
Another target date has passed without resolution on year-round E15 ethanol fuel availability, leaving agricultural stakeholders expressing frustration over the ongoing delays. The missed deadline represents another setback for corn producers who have been advocating for expanded access to the higher ethanol blend.
Bradley Schad, who serves as CEO of Missouri Corn, voiced his concerns about the continued postponements. “It’s definitely disappointing for our growers after working this so long and so hard,” Schad stated, reflecting the sentiment shared by many in the agricultural community who have been pushing for this policy change.
The delay adds to mounting uncertainty surrounding the E15 fuel decision, which would allow gas stations to sell the 15 percent ethanol blend throughout the entire year rather than being restricted during summer months.
The American Soybean Association is intensifying its commitment to the biofuels sector as a strategy to accelerate market expansion, according to the organization’s vice president. Dave Walton, who farms in Iowa, believes this approach represents the most rapid method to increase demand while providing protection against possible trade interruptions.
“We can keep those soybeans at home, find the value add here,” Walton stated, emphasizing the potential benefits of domestic processing and value-added production rather than relying heavily on export markets.
WASHINGTON – Kevin Warsh, nominated by President Donald Trump to head the Federal Reserve, may find his ability to quickly implement interest rate reductions increasingly constrained as positive economic indicators emerge and central bank officials adopt a more cautious stance toward monetary policy.
The International Monetary Fund announced Wednesday that with anticipated U.S. economic expansion reaching 2.4% this year compared to 2.2% in the previous year, joblessness expected to remain around 4%, and price increases declining slowly, the central bank would have “only modest scope to lower the policy rate over the coming year” with just one quarter-point reduction.
Additionally, a recent Conference Board survey of chief executives revealed a significant increase in optimism regarding both the broader economy and individual industry prospects, with minimal expectations of major workforce reductions and companies planning to transfer costs from the Trump administration’s trade tariffs to consumers – factors that could complicate arguments for lowering borrowing costs.
Market participants have adjusted their predictions for when Warsh might initiate his first rate reduction, now anticipating action at the Fed’s July 28-29 session rather than the June 16-17 meeting. While his nomination awaits formal Senate submission, Warsh is anticipated to receive confirmation before the June gathering, as current Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s leadership term concludes in May.
The strengthening economic picture may benefit overall growth but could place Warsh in a similar predicament as Powell, with economic data and fellow policymakers favoring one approach while the administration advocates for another.
“The Fed’s reaction function has shifted slightly more hawkish,” wrote Natixis CIB economists Christopher Hodge and Selin Aker in their analysis, predicting the central bank might implement only two quarter-point rate reductions this year instead of their previously forecasted three.
The Federal Reserve’s upcoming meeting is set for March 17-18, when the Federal Open Market Committee is projected to maintain the benchmark interest rate within the 3.50%-3.75% range. Updated quarterly economic forecasts and rate projections will also be published following that session.
In December, Fed Governor Stephen Miran, formerly Trump’s Council of Economic Advisers leader, was the sole central bank official whose rate outlook aligned with the significant cuts Trump desires. Miran anticipated the Fed’s policy rate dropping to potentially the 2.00%-2.25% range by 2026, while his colleagues’ median projection suggested only one quarter-point reduction would be suitable.
Nearly three months afterward, following a robust January jobs report, Miran told Fox Business’s “Mornings with Maria” program Thursday that he maintains rates could decline by a full percentage point this year through four 25-basis-point reductions, preferably implemented quickly.
His perspective stems partly from expectations of a “profoundly disinflationary” artificial intelligence-driven productivity surge, a “supply shock” that Warsh has similarly indicated should permit lower rates.
“I really do not think that we have an inflation problem,” stated Miran, despite recent inflation measurements running one point above the central bank’s 2% objective. His governor term has technically concluded, but he may continue serving until a successor is appointed. Without another Board of Governors departure, Miran’s position would be required for Warsh’s eventual appointment.
Minutes from the Fed’s January 27-28 meeting revealed limited support for restructuring monetary policy based on AI optimism. Staff presentations indicated a small potential economic boost might be emerging – the “supply shock” Miran referenced, though in moderate amounts – while demand remains sufficient to maintain price pressures.
The minutes also noted surprising remarks that several policymakers considered the possibility that the next rate adjustment could be an increase. Furthermore, Fed Governor Christopher Waller, who joined Miran in dissenting for a cut during January’s meeting, stated this week that if recent strong employment growth continues, “it may be appropriate to hold the FOMC’s policy rate at current levels.”
The February U.S. employment report is scheduled for release on March 6.
A scenario combining persistent inflation, stable unemployment, and ongoing economic expansion would largely comfort Fed officials. Policymakers generally concur that inflation will decrease and expect the combination of modest job creation and minimal layoffs will maintain relatively steady unemployment. As long as this trajectory persists, and without indications that public inflation expectations are rising, there would be little incentive to take action beyond waiting.
This situation could create challenges for Warsh, who has presented arguments supporting rate reductions and must now work with a determined president who has publicly expressed expectations based on his nominee’s statements. Trump mentioned earlier this month that while he hadn’t requested rate cuts from Warsh, he believed his nominee’s intentions were clear.
Trump has repeatedly confronted Powell over presidential demands for substantial rate cuts, but said regarding Warsh last month: “I don’t want to ask him that question. I think it’s inappropriate … I want to keep it nice and pure. But he certainly wants to cut rates.”
The president also informed NBC News he had “not much” doubt rates would decrease. “We’re way high,” he stated. Trump, who has connected his lower rate advocacy to hopes of reducing federal debt financing costs and home mortgage expenses, has expressed minimal concern about inflation he believes has vanished.
Nevertheless, with current economic growth exceeding potential estimates and inflation showing minimal recent movement toward the Fed’s target, the central bank feels no urgency to reduce rates, especially not as dramatically as Trump or Miran have proposed.
Trump’s recent State of the Union address to Congress emphasized this contradiction, as he celebrated positive developments he attributes to his leadership and those anticipated ahead. Many analysts agree that combining fiscal stimulus through tax reductions, continued deregulation, and favorable credit conditions supported by last year’s Fed rate cuts could boost the economy – making additional borrowing cost reductions even less probable.
Currency markets experienced major fluctuations in February as shifting interest rate expectations dominated trading, with the Australian dollar climbing while the Japanese yen weakened significantly.
Despite broader market volatility caused by geopolitical tensions, a key U.S. Supreme Court decision on Trump’s tariffs, and uncertainty in artificial intelligence investments, currency movements were primarily influenced by changing rate forecasts.
“The rates are reflecting the changing macro situation,” said Sim Moh Siong, a currency strategist at OCBC.
“Last year was about which central banks will cut rates and by how much. This year, the focus has shifted towards which central banks will lead in terms of hiking rates.”
The Australian dollar held steady at $0.7106 on Friday and appeared set for approximately a 2% monthly increase. Having risen more than 6% year-to-date, Australia’s currency leads all G10 currencies as the nation’s robust economy continues driving expectations for a more aggressive Reserve Bank of Australia.
“It is conceivable that the Aussie dollar can put on one or two more (U.S.) cents from here,” said Carol Kong, a currency strategist at Commonwealth Bank of Australia.
“We are still of the view that there will be just one more 25-basis-point rate hike from the RBA this year.”
Japan’s central bank also appears positioned to raise rates, though this hasn’t benefited the yen as domestic political developments complicate the outlook, despite Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda indicating potential for near-term increases.
The yen gained 0.2% to 155.78 in Asian trading but remained down 0.4% for the week and 0.6% for the month.
Japan’s government this week appointed two academics viewed by markets as strong supporters of economic stimulus to the BOJ’s board. This unexpected decision signals Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s opposition to higher interest rates, raising questions about future policy tightening.
“Ueda flagging a possible March/April hike did little to support the yen because the guidance remains conditional on incoming data, and the political optics around appointments make markets question the pace and conviction of policy normalisation,” said Saxo’s chief investment strategist Charu Chanana.
The British pound remained flat at $1.3484, positioned to end three consecutive months of gains with a 1.5% February decline. Sterling has been weakened by dovish signals from the Bank of England, with traders now pricing an 83% probability of a March rate cut.
Meanwhile, the dollar was set for a 0.6% monthly gain, supported by a slightly more hawkish Federal Reserve after “several” policymakers expressed openness to rate hikes if inflation stays elevated during January’s meeting.
However, investors continue expecting two additional Fed cuts this year.
“I think because there’s still lingering concerns about what the Fed would be like under new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh,” said OCBC’s Sim.
The Supreme Court’s decision overturning Trump’s tariffs also strengthened checks on presidential authority, providing dollar support, analysts noted.
“It suggests that the long-term prospects for the U.S. dollar might not be as grim as previously imagined,” said Macquarie Group’s FX and rates strategist Gareth Berry.
Euro movements remained subdued, with the common currency unchanged at $1.1796 Friday and heading for a monthly decline just above 0.4%. The European Central Bank is expected to maintain current rates for the foreseeable future.
China’s central bank announced Friday it would eliminate foreign exchange risk reserves for certain forward contracts, reducing dollar purchasing costs. This follows the yuan’s 4.4% climb against the dollar in 2025, its largest annual increase since 2020.
The offshore yuan declined 0.2% to 6.8585 per dollar ahead of onshore trading.
Markets across Asia experienced another day of negative sentiment Friday, with investors pulling back from technology stocks despite seemingly strong earnings reports and remaining cautious about escalating Middle East tensions.
Stock exchanges in Japan mirrored Thursday’s decline on Wall Street, even after artificial intelligence leader Nvidia delivered earnings that exceeded expectations. Meanwhile, the Japanese yen and U.S. Treasury bonds gained value as investors sought safer investments, while gold prices remained stable following two consecutive days of increases.
Despite an encouraging update from an Omani official mediating discussions between the United States and Iran regarding nuclear negotiations, energy markets remained volatile with concerns about potential military action still looming.
“AI and geopolitics remained front and centre for financial markets, prompting a retreat from risk assets and a shift towards safe havens,” Mantas Vanagas, senior economist at Westpac Group, wrote in a note.
“With no major breakthroughs announced in the U.S.–Iran talks, crude markets remained in wait-and-see mode, continuing to price in a significant risk of military escalation between the two countries,” he said.
The MSCI Asia-Pacific index excluding Japan dropped 0.4%, while Tokyo’s Nikkei fell 0.8%.
Despite Nvidia reporting stronger-than-anticipated January quarter results Wednesday and projecting current quarter revenue above analyst predictions, U.S. markets closed lower and the chip maker’s shares remained unchanged in extended trading.
American stock futures continued sliding during Asian hours, with S&P 500 contracts down 0.41% and technology-focused Nasdaq 100 futures falling 0.36%.
“It seems ‘the Street’ simply wanted more, or perhaps just isn’t prepared to chase the stock at its current lofty valuation,” IG market analyst Tony Sycamore said about Nvidia’s results in a note.
The dollar index measuring the greenback against major currencies edged up 0.04% to 97.77, with the euro holding steady at $1.1797.
Japan’s currency gained 0.2% to 155.86 per dollar, while the British pound remained unchanged at $1.3482.
Following meetings in Switzerland, Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi announced on X that the United States and Iran would continue nuclear program discussions after consulting with officials in their respective capitals.
Significant progress in these talks could reduce the likelihood of President Donald Trump following through on threatened military strikes against Iran, which many experts worry could trigger broader regional conflict.
U.S. Treasury yields declined, with the benchmark 10-year note falling 1.5 basis points to 4.002% and the 30-year bond dropping 1.3 basis points to 4.6565%.
Japanese economic data revealed slowing inflation in Tokyo and manufacturing output below forecasts, creating challenges for the central bank’s interest rate policy decisions. This information follows Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s nomination of two Bank of Japan board members who support her accommodative fiscal approach.
China’s central bank announced Friday it would eliminate foreign exchange risk reserves for certain forward contracts, a policy change designed to make dollar purchases less expensive.
The Chinese yuan achieved its strongest annual performance against the dollar since 2020 last year, breaking through the significant 7-per-dollar threshold, with this upward trend continuing into 2025.
In the United Kingdom, observers will closely monitor a special election that could increase pressure on Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, which has faced criticism over recent policy changes.
Polling indicates the contest in Gorton and Denton, located in Greater Manchester in northwestern England, remains highly competitive between Labour, Reform UK, and the Green Party.
Gold prices dipped 0.23% to $5,175.03 per ounce, while U.S. crude oil gained 0.09% to $65.27 per barrel.
Digital currencies also declined, with bitcoin falling 0.3% to $67,290.45 and ethereum dropping 0.68% to $2,016.78.
A major artificial intelligence company is locked in a high-stakes battle with the U.S. Defense Department over the military use of advanced AI technology, with hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts hanging in the balance.
Anthropic, one of the leading AI developers in the world, is refusing to bow to Pentagon pressure to strip away built-in safety measures from its artificial intelligence systems. The company’s resistance has created a significant rift between the private tech sector and military officials seeking unrestricted access to some of the planet’s most sophisticated AI capabilities.
The ongoing dispute highlights growing tensions over how artificial intelligence should be deployed in military and defense applications. While the Pentagon pushes for fewer limitations on AI tools, Anthropic maintains its position that certain protective measures must remain in place.
The standoff puts at risk not only substantial financial agreements but also the military’s access to advanced AI systems that could potentially transform defense operations and surveillance capabilities.
INDIANAPOLIS — Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel etched his name in NBA history Thursday evening, setting a new record for most three-pointers by a first-year player during the team’s matchup with the Indiana Pacers.
The former Duke standout, selected fourth overall in the draft, sank his record-breaking 207th three-pointer of the season, surpassing the previous mark held by Keegan Murray. What makes Knueppel’s achievement even more impressive is the speed at which he accomplished it — needing only 59 games compared to Murray’s 80 games during the 2022-23 campaign.
Knueppel found his rhythm early against Indiana, draining five three-pointers in the opening half before making history in the third quarter. The milestone shot came courtesy of an assist from teammate Sion James, who also played alongside Knueppel at Duke.
Coming into Thursday’s contest, the Milwaukee native was shooting an outstanding 43.6% from long range while pacing the entire league in made three-pointers. For perspective, Stephen Curry of Golden State holds the overall NBA single-season record with 402 three-pointers.
The rookie sensation has emerged as a strong candidate for NBA Rookie of the Year honors, competing against his former Duke teammate and roommate Cooper Flagg, who was selected first overall by the Dallas Mavericks. Knueppel’s stellar play has also helped lift the struggling Hornets into playoff discussions with 22 games remaining in the regular season.
Charlotte hasn’t reached the postseason since the 2015-16 campaign, making their current success even more meaningful for the franchise.
“It’s what elevates our whole culture when you have a guy that’s that good, but that humble, no ego — it becomes contagious throughout your whole organization,” Hornets head coach Charles Lee shared with CGTN Sports Scene following Knueppel’s 200th three-pointer earlier this week.
The young sharpshooter has meshed seamlessly with second-year coach Lee’s offensive system, working effectively alongside star point guard LaMelo Ball. Knueppel credits his basketball intelligence and ability to find open areas on the court to his early experience playing in his father’s men’s league in Milwaukee, where he competed against older, taller players starting in eighth grade.
Statistics show that Knueppel excels as a catch-and-shoot specialist, with 93% of his three-point attempts this season coming off passes from teammates, according to Cleaning the Glass data entering Thursday’s game.
His remarkable shooting accuracy has garnered attention from veterans across the league, including Curry himself, who owns the NBA’s career three-point record. During his rookie season with Golden State in 2009-10, Curry connected on 166 three-pointers in 380 attempts over 80 games. By comparison, Knueppel had attempted 461 three-pointers entering Thursday’s contest.
“He can obviously shoot the ball at a high level,” Curry commented after a recent matchup against Charlotte. “You can’t really leave him open at all as he has such a quick release and shoots with confidence. And his playmaking is very underrated. His game just suits the NBA style, whether it’s fast-paced or a slowed-down possession game.”
Earlier this season, on February 20, Knueppel moved past Donovan Mitchell into third place on the rookie three-pointer list during a loss to Cleveland. Mitchell learned about being surpassed from Cavaliers teammate Tyrese Proctor, another former Duke player who shared the court with Knueppel in college.
“He’s talented,” Mitchell said regarding Knueppel. “For him to be a rookie and be able to go out there and make it look effortless. … We know he can shoot the ball, right? But I think him getting to the mid-range and play develop in the small pick-and-roll that is something I think is really unique about his game is being able to do that and create advantages for himself.”
Mitchell concluded, “It’s going to be interesting with him and Coop for rookie of the year.”
TENEJAPA, Mexico (AP) — In a groundbreaking move, Mexico’s highest judicial body conducted its inaugural session away from its traditional neoclassical headquarters in the capital city on Thursday, choosing instead a mountainous community in southern Chiapas state as part of an initiative to make the nation’s top court more accessible to remote regions.
Approximately 2,000 residents gathered beneath a large tent erected in Tenejapa’s main plaza to witness the court’s proceedings firsthand.
Following constitutional changes, the court’s justices were chosen through popular vote for the first time last year. Leading the court is Chief Justice Hugo Aguilar, an Indigenous attorney from the adjacent state of Oaxaca.
“Frequently in our communities, we only experience the consequences of decisions” made from distant locations, Aguilar explained on Thursday. The new approach aims to ensure “that you observe our deliberation process, understand our statements, and see how we evaluate and reach our conclusions.”
Several attendees, including Indigenous community leaders and officials, displayed banners reading “right to self-determination,” while others simply came to witness and participate in this unprecedented event.
“I’m pleased that this new minister (Aguilar) visits towns and cities to administer justice because we truly need to hear from the people,” stated María de la Cruz Velasco, who leads an organization supporting femicide victims.
Representatives from La Candelaria community in San Cristobal de las Casas municipality were among the attendees. This group has sought self-governance for years, and their case reached the Supreme Court as one of Thursday’s discussion topics.
While court proceedings are typically lengthy and challenging for non-legal professionals to understand, Indigenous populations and violence victims have historically found support from the court. The institution has generally championed human rights from a progressive standpoint, though enforcement of some rulings has been inconsistent.
Velasco shared that when her daughter was murdered, local judicial systems refused to categorize the crime as femicide, but the Supreme Court ultimately determined it wasn’t ordinary homicide due to its gender-based nature. “Currently, my daughter’s murderer is imprisoned for 55 years,” she stated.
This represents the first popularly elected court, with supporters arguing this approach increases responsiveness and accountability. Critics condemned the move as politicizing the nation’s highest judicial body. Voter participation was remarkably low, and candidates affiliated with the ruling party secured most positions.
However, during Thursday’s session in mountainous Tenejapa, such political debates were absent. Instead, residents expressed appreciation that the court had traveled to their community.
MEXICO CITY — The final hideout of notorious Mexican cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as ‘El Mencho,’ contained surprising religious artifacts that revealed an unexpected spiritual side to the violent drug kingpin, according to Mexican authorities.
Inside the upscale home in southern Jalisco state, investigators discovered a crucifix and an improvised shrine featuring religious statues of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Saint Jude Thaddeus, and Saint Charbel Makhlouf, surrounded by prayer candles bearing saint imagery. The property’s backyard featured carvings of the Virgin Mary and Saint Jude etched into large stones.
Mexican special forces surrounded and captured Oseguera Cervantes following a gun battle near Tapalpa on Sunday. The head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel succumbed to his injuries while being transported to a medical facility, officials reported.
Media photographs from inside the residence revealed a hand-copied version of Psalm 91, a biblical passage frequently recited by Catholics seeking divine protection from harm, fear, and hardship.
Investigators also found personal correspondence apparently sent to Oseguera Cervantes that referenced St. Jude, a saint particularly revered by criminals, drug addicts, and society’s outcasts throughout Mexico.
Throughout nearly twenty years leading the Jalisco cartel, Oseguera Cervantes kept a secretive lifestyle. While his organization gained notoriety for brutal violence and explosive expansion, details about his private existence remained largely unknown.
Mexican law enforcement officials revealed they located the safe house by following one of his romantic partners.
Fabián Acosta Rico, a scholar at the University of Guadalajara and the Center of Religious Studies in Mexico who specializes in drug culture, expressed little shock at the apparent spiritual devotion.
‘We cannot disentangle religion from violence,’ Acosta Rico explained, pointing to historical parallels from the Buddhist-influenced Bushido traditions of Japanese samurai to Italy’s notorious Cosa Nostra, which frequently incorporated Virgin Mary imagery and patron saints into membership ceremonies.
According to Acosta Rico, Oseguera Cervantes’ situation represents less conventional Christian faith and more ‘popular religiousness, a religiousness of the immediate, of everyday life.’
‘Man goes to God not expecting forgiveness of sins, or salvation of his soul, but rather because he’s hungry, because he’s cold, because he feels attacked or threatened by danger,’ he stated.
The connection between drug trafficking organizations and religious symbolism has deep roots in Mexico, where Catholicism dominates the religious landscape.
Mexico’s Catholic Bishops Conference has previously criticized criminal organizations’ adoption of religious imagery and formally denounced the Santa Muerte, or ‘Holy Death,’ cult figure—a skeletal representation combining pre-Hispanic and Catholic elements that lacks Vatican recognition.
Historical examples include drug trafficker Édgar Valdez Villarreal, nicknamed ‘La Barbie,’ who according to journalist Anabel Hernández’s publication ‘Emma and Other Narco Women,’ showed intense devotion to Mexico’s patron saint, Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Ovidio Guzmán López, son of imprisoned Sinaloa Cartel chief Joaquín ‘El Chapo’ Guzmán, was photographed during his 2019 arrest wearing a scapular featuring the Holy Infant of Atocha, a beloved representation of the Christ Child.
Acosta Rico noted the Roman Catholic Church has limited ability to control how drug traffickers use religious symbols in today’s climate of religious liberty. Any individual ‘can, without a problem, use religious symbols as they please and according to their idea,’ he observed.
‘The church already lost its power to be able to implement standards and regulations on the use of religious symbols,’ he concluded.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s women’s basketball team delivered a commanding performance Thursday evening, demolishing Regent University 108-37 in the Coast-to-Coast Conference Tournament Quarterfinals at Maggs Gymnasium.
The Sea Gulls established a new program milestone by connecting on 15 shots from beyond the arc, achieving an impressive 44 percent success rate from three-point range throughout the dominant victory.
The lopsided win advances Salisbury deeper into the conference tournament as they continue their postseason campaign on home court.
The company behind ChatGPT revealed Thursday that the individual responsible for a devastating school shooting in Canada managed to bypass their security measures by establishing a second user account after being banned from the AI service.
OpenAI disclosed this information in correspondence with Canadian government officials, detailing new safety measures the San Francisco-based technology firm is implementing following the tragic incident. Company executives stated that had these enhanced protocols existed earlier, law enforcement would have been notified about concerning user activity.
Ann O’Leary, OpenAI’s vice president for global policy, explained that the company only uncovered the duplicate account after authorities identified Jesse Van Rootselaar as the shooter. Van Rootselaar took the lives of eight individuals before dying by suicide in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, on February 10th.
According to O’Leary, Van Rootselaar managed to circumvent the platform’s systems designed to stop previously banned individuals from establishing new accounts. The company immediately shared information about the second account with law enforcement upon discovering it.
The correspondence indicated OpenAI is dedicated to enhancing its detection capabilities to better stop users from bypassing safety measures and will focus on “prioritize identifying the highest risk offenders.”
Van Rootselaar’s initial ChatGPT account was terminated in June 2025 following a policy violation, the letter revealed. OpenAI’s automated monitoring flagged the account, which was then reviewed by human moderators to assess whether the content violated terms of service and warranted law enforcement notification.
“Based on what we could see at that time the account was banned in June 2025, we did not identify credible and imminent planning that met our threshold to refer the matter to law enforcement,” O’Leary stated.
During a Thursday press conference, British Columbia Premier David Eby announced that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has committed to meeting with him directly about the incident.
Eby reported that OpenAI informed his administration that revised protocol thresholds would have triggered police notification regarding Van Rootselaar’s ChatGPT usage if they had been active before the shooting occurred.
However, this information provided “cold comfort” for the grieving families in Tumbler Ridge, he noted.
In her official communication, O’Leary also pledged the company would improve procedures for alerting authorities “when conversations cross the line into an imminent and credible risk.”
“With the benefit of our continued learnings, under our enhanced law enforcement referral protocol, we would refer the account banned in June 2025 to law enforcement if it were discovered today,” she explained.
O’Leary confirmed OpenAI plans to establish a dedicated communication channel with Canadian law enforcement agencies.
“The events in Tumbler Ridge are an unspeakable tragedy, and our hearts remain with the victims, their families, and the entire community,” O’Leary wrote in her letter.
O’Leary expressed gratitude to Canada’s Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon for organizing Tuesday’s meeting to explore ways to prevent similar tragedies.
“In our meeting, you and the other Ministers stressed that no community should have to face this tragedy,” O’Leary stated. “We agree.”
Solomon summoned OpenAI officials to Ottawa to provide explanations about their safety protocols and how they make critical decisions regarding user content.
Solomon indicated “all options are on the table” as government officials work to create comprehensive policies addressing online dangers and broader digital safety concerns.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police reported that Van Rootselaar initially killed her mother and stepbrother at their residence before targeting the local school. Authorities noted Van Rootselaar had previous interactions with police related to mental health issues.
Investigators have not yet determined what motivated the shooting.
This attack represents Canada’s most deadly mass violence incident since 2020, when an individual in Nova Scotia shot and killed 13 people and set fires that claimed nine additional lives.
Federal authorities announced Thursday they will pay up to $10 million for information that leads to capturing two brothers who allegedly oversee Sinaloa cartel operations in Mexico’s Baja California region, including the border city of Tijuana.
The State Department’s bounty announcement coincided with prosecutors filing additional charges against 42-year-old Rene Arzate Garcia, nicknamed “La Rana” or “The Frog.” Beyond his original drug trafficking charges filed in San Diego, Garcia now faces accusations of conspiracy, narcoterrorism and providing material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Federal officials are offering $5 million rewards for both Rene Arzate Garcia and his 52-year-old brother Alfonso Arzate Garcia, who goes by “Aquiles” or “Achilles.” Authorities do not know where either brother is currently located.
According to the State Department, the brothers’ strategic position makes them invaluable to cartel operations. “As controllers of a critical trafficking node in Tijuana at the U.S. border, the Arzate-Garcia brothers have become key essential components of the cartel’s command-and-control structure,” officials stated. “Their control of the Tijuana Plaza offers the Sinaloa Cartel a tactical advantage in maintaining dominance over rival organizations, ensuring no interruption to the busiest border crossing in the Western Hemisphere.”
The California-Mexico border region has become a violent contested territory between the Sinaloa organization and the Jalisco New Generation cartel.
This reward announcement follows by four days the Mexican military’s killing of Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” effectively eliminating the head of what had grown into Mexico’s most influential cartel. His death represented the Mexican government’s most significant victory in demonstrating to the Trump administration its commitment to dismantling cartel networks.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — A federal judge in Minnesota delivered a forceful ultimatum Thursday to both the state’s top federal prosecutor and Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, declaring they must follow court directives or face potential criminal contempt proceedings.
Chief Judge Patrick Schiltz, a conservative jurist nominated by former President George W. Bush, responded sharply to a February 9th email from U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen. In that message, the prosecutor challenged the judge’s characterization of ICE’s failure to comply with judicial orders stemming from recent immigration enforcement actions across Minnesota.
This latest judicial rebuke represents another chapter in ongoing tensions between federal courts in Minnesota and other states versus the current administration’s approach to mass deportation efforts, with judges frequently citing due process violations and inadequate treatment standards.
A separate judge also scheduled a contempt hearing for Tuesday, requiring Rosen, his civil division chief, and ICE representatives to appear over their failure to return detained individuals’ personal belongings as ordered.
Previously, Schiltz had labeled ICE as repeatedly violating court directives related to enforcement activities. In a January 28th ruling, he voiced “grave concerns” after Minnesota federal judges documented 96 order violations across 74 different cases. Thursday’s filing revealed that rather than improving compliance, “the government’s response was not to do a better job complying with court orders, but instead to attack the Court.”
Rosen pushed back against the judge’s assessment, informing Schiltz that his office’s examination of 12 cases from the original 74 showed strong compliance rates. The prosecutor argued the judicial tally “was far beyond the pale of accuracy for an order that would be wielded so publicly and so sharply. The lawyers in my civil division didn’t deserve it.”
In Thursday’s new filing, Schiltz revealed he directed his judicial colleagues and clerks to re-examine the data. Though they found some errors on both sides, their review confirmed ICE violated 97 orders across 66 of the referenced cases.
“Increasingly, this Court has had to resort to using the threat of civil contempt to force ICE to comply with orders,” Schiltz stated. “The Court is not aware of another occasion in the history of the United States in which a federal court has had to threaten contempt — again and again and again — to force the United States government to comply with court orders.”
The chief judge included documentation of 113 additional violations spanning 77 more cases, most occurring after the initial count.
“The judges of this District have been extraordinarily patient with the government attorneys, recognizing that they have been put in an impossible position by Rosen and his superiors in the Department of Justice,” Schiltz noted, referencing widespread resignations that have depleted Rosen’s staff. “What those attorneys ‘didn’t deserve’ was the Administration sending 3000 ICE agents to Minnesota to detain people without making any provision for handling the hundreds of lawsuits that were sure to follow.”
Neither Rosen nor ICE representatives provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
During Wednesday’s news conference — his first since assuming office in October — Rosen confirmed his prosecutor ranks have been severely reduced. He showed frustration when questioned about at least two criminal cases recently dismissed partly due to staffing shortages. Rosen reported having 64 assistant U.S. attorneys when his predecessor left office, 47 on his first day, and currently just 36. However, he maintained he was recruiting new prosecutors rapidly and insisted his office retained capacity for handling serious crimes.
Schiltz concluded with an unambiguous warning:
“This Court will continue to do whatever is required to protect the rule of law, including, if necessary, moving to the use of criminal contempt,” he declared. “One way or another, ICE will comply with this Court’s orders.”
A 56-year-old refugee from Myanmar with severe vision problems died on the streets of Buffalo after federal Border Patrol agents abandoned him at a coffee shop, sparking outrage from local officials and a police investigation.
Nurul Amin Shah Alam was taken into custody by Border Patrol on February 19th following his release from county jail, but federal authorities determined the same day that he could not be deported.
Federal agents then transported him to a Tim Hortons coffee shop in north Buffalo and left him there, according to officials and advocacy groups. His family, who had been waiting at the jail expecting his release, were never notified that he had been freed. Shah Alam’s attorney contacted Buffalo police on February 22nd to report him missing after discovering he wasn’t being held at any local immigration facility.
Authorities discovered Shah Alam’s body Tuesday evening near the downtown arena where the Buffalo Sabres play hockey. Officials haven’t determined how he traveled the several miles from the Tim Hortons location or established when he died.
The county medical examiner is working to determine what caused his death, health department officials announced Thursday. Buffalo Police initially told media that the medical examiner had determined the death was “health related” and eliminated exposure or murder as causes, but the Erie County Health Department later contradicted that statement, clarifying that no official determination had been reached. Investigators are examining the circumstances that led to Shah Alam’s death, which was initially reported by the Investigative Post.
Buffalo’s Democratic mayor partially attributed the death to federal agents’ “dereliction of duty,” arguing they should never have abandoned him alone, far from his residence.
“A vulnerable man — nearly blind and unable to speak English — was left alone on a cold winter night with no known attempt to leave him in a safe, secure location. That decision from U.S. Customs and Border Protection was unprofessional and inhumane,” Mayor Sean Ryan stated in an online post.
Ryan revealed Thursday that Shah Alam was still wearing orange jail-issued footwear instead of appropriate winter shoes when he was left at the restaurant.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a statement defending their officers’ conduct.
“Border Patrol agents offered him a courtesy ride, which he chose to accept to a coffee shop, determined to be a warm, safe location near his last known address, rather than be released directly from the Border Patrol station,” the agency’s statement read. “He showed no signs of distress, mobility issues, or disabilities requiring special assistance.”
Buffalo experienced below-freezing temperatures and light snowfall during the period Shah Alam went missing.
Shah Alam came to America in December 2024 with his wife and two children seeking better opportunities for his family, according to Imran Fazal, a family acquaintance who established the Rohingya Empowerment Community organization. He had previously spent many years working construction jobs in Malaysia.
Buffalo police took Shah Alam into custody a year earlier following an incident that left two officers with minor injuries. He initially faced indictment on assault, burglary and criminal mischief charges, Erie County District Attorney Mike Keane confirmed. Authorities said he was carrying two metal rods when he encountered the officers.
Fazal described the arrest as a misunderstanding caused by language barriers and cultural differences, explaining that Shah Alam had been seeking shelter from snow near a residence at the time. He added that Shah Alam required a cane to walk properly. Shah Alam eventually entered a guilty plea on February 9th to reduced misdemeanor charges of trespassing and weapon possession, with sentencing scheduled for March.
District Attorney Keane said he offered Fazal the reduced plea “in the interest of justice.” He noted that avoiding a felony conviction was one consideration, as it would have triggered automatic deportation proceedings.
Fazal said the family posted bail and arrived at the county jail Thursday anticipating Shah Alam’s release.
“The family was waiting in the waiting room,” Fazal explained. “They were thinking he was just coming out.”
However, because federal Border Patrol had filed an immigration hold following his arrest, the Erie County Sheriff’s Office followed standard procedure by notifying the federal agency about his upcoming release.
Ryan said Shah Alam was first brought to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, which refused to accept him.
Shah Alam’s family began searching after his lawyer learned about the Thursday evening drop-off at Tim Hortons, but were unable to find him, Fazal said.
“He should not be dropped off in a location where he doesn’t know anybody,” Fazal stated. “He doesn’t speak English.”
Fazal described the situation as “a complete failure of the system.”
Democratic U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand wrote to federal officials requesting a comprehensive review of the agents’ actions.
NEWARK, Del. – A close battle at the Bob Carpenter Center ended in disappointment for the University of Delaware women’s basketball squad Thursday evening, as they lost a nail-biting contest to Western Kentucky University by a score of 73-71.
The narrow defeat brings the Fightin’ Blue Hens’ record to 12-16 for the season and 6-10 in Conference USA competition. Meanwhile, the visiting Lady Toppers improved their standing to 8-18 overall and 4-11 in league play with the victory.
The game marked another competitive outing for Delaware as they continue their Conference USA campaign at their home venue in Newark.
Crude oil prices dropped Friday as diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran continued over the Middle Eastern nation’s nuclear activities, reducing market fears about potential military action that could affect global energy supplies.
Brent crude decreased 28 cents to $70.47 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate crude dropped 29 cents to $64.92 per barrel on Friday trading.
Both oil benchmarks were positioned for weekly losses, with Brent down 1.8% and WTI declining approximately 2.2% for the week, giving back some gains from the prior week.
The two nations conducted indirect diplomatic discussions Thursday in Geneva regarding their ongoing nuclear disagreement, following President Donald Trump’s decision to increase military presence in the region.
Energy markets initially surged more than a dollar per barrel during the negotiations after news reports suggested the talks had reached an impasse over American demands for Iran to halt uranium enrichment completely and transfer all highly enriched uranium to the United States.
Oil prices subsequently retreated when Oman’s diplomatic representative announced that both countries had achieved meaningful progress in their discussions.
According to Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi’s social media statement following the Geneva meetings, technical-level negotiations are scheduled to continue next week in Vienna.
ANZ analyst Daniel Hynes noted, “While this initially allayed concerns of imminent U.S. military action, it leaves little time to reach a deal before President Trump’s deadline of 1–6 March.”
Denver’s mayor took a bold stance against federal immigration enforcement Thursday, issuing an executive order that directs city police to shield peaceful demonstrators during ICE operations while blocking immigration agents from accessing municipal facilities.
Mayor Mike Johnston’s directive comes as the Trump administration intensifies its immigration enforcement efforts through ICE operations that civil rights organizations have strongly criticized, particularly following the deadly shooting of two American citizens by federal agents in Minnesota last month.
The fatal Minnesota incident has prompted Democratic city and state leaders across the country to take action against Trump’s policies.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey recently implemented his own restrictions, forbidding federal agencies from utilizing city-owned parking structures, lots, and vacant properties for immigration enforcement staging areas.
Johnston’s executive order mandates that when federal immigration operations occur, including situations involving increased ICE personnel, Denver’s police departments must implement their standard de-escalation procedures to safeguard peaceful demonstrators while maintaining public safety and protecting First Amendment rights.
During a press briefing discussing the new order, Johnston made his position clear: “If we see any ICE officer using excessive force against a Denver resident, we will step in to detain that officer and remove them from the situation.”
“We hold our own officers to that standard, and we will hold any ICE agent to the same,” Johnston continued.
The White House responded by urging local authorities to cooperate with ICE rather than oppose it. White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson stated, according to Politico, “Anyone doing otherwise is simply doing the bidding of criminal illegal aliens.”
President Trump has defended his administration’s enforcement actions as necessary measures to reduce unauthorized immigration and enhance national security. He has also warned Democratic-controlled cities and states of potential federal funding cuts.
Civil rights organizations argue that the current enforcement approach has fostered an atmosphere of fear among both citizens and immigrants, while undermining constitutional protections including due process and freedom of speech.
A biotechnology company focused on artificial intelligence-powered drug development successfully completed its public stock debut Thursday, securing $400 million through its initial public offering by setting share prices at $16 each.
Generate Biomedicines launched its stock offering during a turbulent period for new public companies, as the IPO market continues to experience instability due to fluctuations in technology stocks and concerns about artificial intelligence’s potential to transform various business sectors.
Market analysts have observed that recent downturns have caused multiple companies to postpone their public offering plans, emphasizing that successful stock launches typically require positive investor confidence.
The biotechnology firm, which receives backing from venture capital company Flagship Pioneering, distributed 25 million shares during the offering, staying within its projected price range of $15 to $17 per share, with the company retaining all proceeds from the sale.
Established by Flagship in 2018, Generate Biomedicines employs artificial intelligence-based technology to advance beyond conventional trial-and-error methods in drug discovery, focusing on creating innovative protein-based treatments with emphasis on immunology and cancer research.
The company’s primary experimental treatment, GB-0895, designed for severe asthma patients, is currently undergoing advanced clinical testing, with complete patient enrollment anticipated to occur during the first six months of 2028.
Trading on the Nasdaq stock exchange will commence Friday using the ticker symbol ‘GENB.’
Investment banking firms Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Piper Sandler, Guggenheim Securities and Cantor served as the underwriters managing the public offering.
Aviation authorities have implemented flight restrictions around Fort Hancock, Texas following an incident where Pentagon officials reportedly used laser-based anti-drone technology to mistakenly destroy a U.S. government aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced the airspace closure Thursday, referencing “special security reasons” for the ban on flights in the border region with Mexico. Neither the FAA nor Pentagon provided immediate statements regarding the incident.
Three prominent Democratic legislators – Representatives Rick Larsen, Bennie Thompson, and Andre Carson – issued a joint statement condemning what they described as inadequate communication between agencies. The lawmakers, who lead committees focused on aviation and homeland security matters, confirmed that Pentagon forces had reportedly destroyed a Customs and Border Protection drone.
Sources within Congress told reporters that military personnel accidentally targeted the CBP aircraft using high-powered laser weaponry in a region frequently penetrated by cartel-operated drones from Mexico. The White House and Customs and Border Protection have not yet responded to media inquiries.
This incident follows similar disruptions earlier this month when aviation officials temporarily suspended operations at El Paso’s airport for what was initially planned as a 10-day closure, only to lift the restriction within eight hours. Fort Hancock sits approximately 50 miles from El Paso.
Media outlets previously reported that the El Paso airport closure resulted from safety concerns surrounding the military’s laser-based drone defense system. The FAA reportedly agreed to remove El Paso restrictions after the Pentagon committed to postponing additional testing while safety evaluations are conducted.
Congressional staff members highlighted the communication breakdown between aviation regulators and military officials. Government representatives briefed legislative offices about both the El Paso situation and the Fort Hancock event late Thursday.
The current flight ban covers all aircraft in the Fort Hancock vicinity, though emergency medical and search-and-rescue missions may receive authorization through the Joint Task Force-Southern Border. These aviation restrictions will remain active through June 24.
Cloud security company Zscaler saw its stock price tumble 9% in after-hours trading Thursday following the release of second-quarter earnings that showed dramatically increased losses despite strong revenue growth.
The cybersecurity firm reported net losses of $34.3 million for the quarter ending January 31st, a sharp increase from the $7.7 million loss recorded during the same period last year. The expanded losses stem from significantly higher expenditures on sales initiatives, marketing campaigns, and research and development efforts as the company navigates an increasingly competitive marketplace.
These financial results emerge during a period when information technology departments are operating under constrained budgets, with clients taking a more cautious approach to major purchases due to ongoing economic uncertainties. However, cybersecurity investments typically face less scrutiny than other technology spending categories.
The San Jose-based company specializes in cloud-based zero trust security solutions, technology designed to replace traditional firewall systems and virtual private networks by requiring authentication for each individual connection instead of providing broad network access.
Recent market volatility has affected multiple cybersecurity stocks, including both CrowdStrike and Zscaler, as investors evaluate how artificial intelligence startup Anthropic’s new Claude Code Security tool might impact the broader industry landscape.
Operating in direct competition with established players like Palo Alto Networks and Cloudflare, Zscaler’s total operating costs climbed to $676.3 million during the second quarter, representing a substantial increase from the $539.5 million spent during the comparable period in the previous year.
“While CIOs (chief information officers) care about the budget, but they’re doing two things: they do want to embrace AI and they want to do it securely. So, AI is driving demand for security,” explained Zscaler CEO Jay Chaudhry during earnings discussions.
Corporate spending on cybersecurity solutions has intensified following a series of prominent cyberattacks affecting major companies, including technology firm F5, driving increased demand for protective services offered by companies like Zscaler.
Despite the larger losses, Zscaler delivered strong financial performance in key metrics. Second-quarter revenue climbed 26% to reach $815.8 million, surpassing analyst projections of $798.8 million according to LSEG data. The company’s adjusted earnings per share of $1.01 also exceeded Wall Street expectations of 90 cents.
Looking ahead, Zscaler provided optimistic guidance for the upcoming third quarter, projecting adjusted earnings per share between $1.00 and $1.01, above analyst estimates of 95 cents. The company also forecasts revenue ranging from $834 million to $836 million, beating expectations of $831.9 million.
A top Federal Reserve official indicated Thursday that interest rates could drop multiple times during 2026, though he cautioned against implementing cuts too rapidly.
Austan Goolsbee, who leads the Chicago Federal Reserve, described his outlook as more “optimistic” compared to other Fed officials during a Thursday Fox News interview. However, he emphasized the central bank should proceed with caution to avoid reigniting economic overheating and rising prices.
“I have some confidence rates can come down several more times this year in 2026,” Goolsbee stated. “I just don’t want to front load it too much before we actually have the evidence that the inflation is headed” back down to the Fed’s 2% goal.
The remarks signal potential relief for borrowers facing high interest rates on mortgages, credit cards, and business loans, though Goolsbee stressed the importance of waiting for clear signs that inflation continues declining before acting.
Federal authorities announced Thursday they are willing to pay substantial rewards for information that helps capture two brothers believed to be high-ranking leaders within Mexico’s powerful Sinaloa Cartel.
The State Department revealed it will offer up to $5 million for each brother – René Arzate-García and Alfonso Arzate-García – bringing the total potential payout to $10 million for tips that result in their arrests or criminal convictions.
According to the federal announcement made Thursday, both men are suspected of holding leadership positions within the notorious Mexican criminal organization known for drug trafficking operations.
According to SNY TV, the New York Giants are actively entertaining trade proposals for linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux, with the report surfacing Thursday from Indianapolis.
“The belief from teams here at the combine is that he will eventually get dealt,” the report stated.
The 25-year-old defender has accumulated 23.5 sacks across 53 career games after New York selected him fifth overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
This past season proved challenging for Thibodeaux, who managed just 2.5 sacks in only 10 appearances before a shoulder injury ended his campaign prematurely.
The linebacker is set to collect $14.75 million in 2026 under the fifth-year option from his original rookie deal.
Thibodeaux’s most productive campaign occurred in 2023, when he tallied 11.5 sacks, 50 tackles, and three forced fumbles while starting all 17 games.
Federal authorities have taken into custody a retired U.S. Air Force pilot accused of working with China’s military to train their aviators, according to the Department of Justice.
Gerald Eddie Brown Jr., 65, who previously served as an F-35 Lightning II training instructor and led classified operations involving nuclear weapon systems, was taken into custody Wednesday in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Federal prosecutors have filed charges alleging he conspired to deliver military training services to pilots serving China’s People’s Liberation Army Air Force.
Court documents reveal that Brown started discussions in August 2023 regarding a training agreement with Su Bin, a Chinese citizen who served four years in federal prison after being convicted in 2016 for his role in cyber attacks targeting Boeing and other major American defense companies.
According to the Justice Department’s statement, Brown made a trip to China in December 2023 and remained in the country until his return to the United States this past February.
FBI Assistant Director Roman Rozhavsky of the Counterintelligence and Espionage Division condemned Brown’s actions, stating he “betrayed his country by training Chinese pilots to fight against those he swore to protect.”
Chinese embassy officials in Washington have refused to provide any statement regarding the charges.
This arrest comes as President Donald Trump prepares for an upcoming diplomatic visit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping, with both nations working to ease trade tensions between the economic superpowers.
Despite efforts to improve trade relations, military and technological competition between the United States and China continues to intensify, with many experts characterizing the situation as a modern version of the Cold War.
Intelligence officials from the United States and partner nations have issued warnings about China’s ongoing campaign to recruit Western military veterans and active personnel, particularly experienced pilots, to provide training that helps the PLA develop countermeasures against Western air combat strategies. These recruitment efforts often involve attractive financial packages and chances to pilot advanced Chinese military aircraft.
In 2023, the Commerce Department imposed sanctions on more than a dozen organizations across China, Kenya, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates for their involvement in recruiting Western military expertise for Chinese aviation training programs.
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Salisbury University’s men’s basketball squad pulled off an impressive comeback victory Wednesday, overcoming a halftime deficit to secure their spot in the tournament semifinals.
The Sea Gulls found themselves down 38-30 at the break against Warren Wilson, but completely transformed their offensive performance in the final 20 minutes of play. Salisbury erupted for 53 second-half points, outscoring their opponents by 21 points after intermission to claim an 83-72 win.
The fourth-seeded Sea Gulls improved their season record to 11-14 with the victory over the fifth-seeded Warren Wilson squad. Salisbury will now prepare for semifinal competition, scheduled for Thursday.
The dramatic turnaround showcased the team’s resilience and ability to adjust their game plan between halves, turning what appeared to be a potential upset into a convincing tournament advancement.
The worldwide shortage of gaming semiconductors will likely continue through the remainder of 2024, according to a top Nvidia executive, potentially adding more difficulties for an already struggling video game sector facing declining sales and reduced consumer interest.
During Wednesday’s quarterly earnings conference call, Nvidia’s Chief Financial Officer Colette Kress indicated that supply limitations will continue to impact the company’s gaming division this quarter and in upcoming months, despite robust consumer demand for their products.
“As much as we would love to have more supply, we do believe for a couple quarters it is going to be very tight,” Kress said.
“If things improve by the end of the year, there is an opportunity to think about what that is from a year-over-year growth. But it’s still too early for us to know at this time.”
The semiconductor shortage has intensified as technology companies rush to expand their artificial intelligence infrastructure, creating demand for memory chips that far exceeds available supply. This situation has driven up costs and led manufacturers to focus on producing components for more profitable data center applications.
The supply crunch has affected consumer technology products including mobile phones and computers, along with gaming systems. Nvidia’s processors power many PC gaming setups and Nintendo’s Switch gaming device, while Sony’s PlayStation and Microsoft’s Xbox systems rely on AMD components.
Industry analysts have painted a grim picture for gaming console sales. Research company TrendForce projected in December that console sales will drop 4.4% this year, a worse outlook than their previous estimate of a 3.5% decrease.
Agricultural commodity markets wrapped up February 26, 2026 trading with a mixed performance across grain and livestock futures contracts.
In grain markets, March corn futures finished at $4.33¼ per bushel, gaining 2¾ cents from the previous session. March wheat contracts on the Chicago exchange also posted gains, closing up 5 cents at $5.71¾ per bushel.
Soybean complex showed varied results, with March soybean futures declining ½ cent to close at $11.47¾ per bushel. Soybean meal contracts dropped significantly, falling 70 cents to settle at $317.60, while soybean oil moved higher, adding 103 points to reach 61.29.
Livestock futures faced selling pressure across the board. April live cattle contracts decreased $3.37 to finish at $236.90 per hundredweight. March feeder cattle dropped $4.65 to close at $361.65, while April lean hog futures declined 47 cents, settling at $95.72 per hundredweight.
The trading session highlighted continued volatility in agricultural markets as various factors influence commodity pricing heading into spring planting season.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting overnight roadwork that has resulted in the closure of the right lane on northbound Interstate 95 near Chapman Road.
The lane restriction began earlier and is scheduled to continue until 5:00 AM, according to DelDOT’s traffic incident reporting system.
Motorists traveling northbound on I-95 through this area should expect potential delays and are advised to merge left to avoid the construction zone. Drivers are encouraged to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when approaching the work area.
The Goldey-Beacom Lightning women’s basketball squad traveled to Philadelphia where they encountered a challenging opponent in the form of 23rd-ranked Holy Family, ultimately falling 69-53 in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action.
The Lightning struggled against the nationally-ranked Tigers during their road contest in Pennsylvania, unable to overcome the talent and depth of their highly-regarded opponents. The 16-point margin represented a difficult afternoon for Goldey-Beacom as they faced one of the conference’s top programs.
The loss adds another challenging result to the Lightning’s season as they continue competing in the competitive Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference landscape.
Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent over seven hours answering questions from House Oversight Committee members during a private session Thursday as part of the panel’s ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein.
The lengthy closed-door deposition took place as congressional investigators continue examining connections to the convicted sex offender. Clinton characterized the committee’s line of questioning as ‘repetitive’ following the extended session.
The House Oversight Committee has been conducting its probe into Epstein-related matters, with Clinton’s testimony representing a significant development in the investigation. The former presidential candidate and secretary of state faced hours of questioning from committee members behind closed doors.
Following her testimony, Clinton spoke briefly outside the Chappaqua Performing Arts Center in New York, where she addressed the nature of the committee’s inquiries during the marathon session.
Drivers using Spring Lake Drive are encountering periodic lane restrictions today as construction work continues in the area.
According to DelDOT, the lane closures are affecting the stretch of Spring Lake Drive that runs between Old Harmony Road and Greenridge Road. The restrictions are expected to remain in place until 6 p.m. this evening.
Motorists are advised to plan for possible delays and consider alternate routes if traveling through the area during the construction period.
The parent company behind TurboTax delivered disappointing profit projections Thursday, citing plans to boost marketing expenditures as tax season reaches its peak period.
Intuit announced its third-quarter earnings forecast would likely miss analyst expectations as the software company ramps up spending to capture more customers during the busy filing season.
Tax season traditionally represents Intuit’s most profitable period, driving strong demand for its popular financial software including TurboTax, Credit Karma, and QuickBooks platforms.
This year’s federal tax filing period launched January 26 when the IRS opened its systems to accept returns, with taxpayers facing an April 15 deadline to submit their forms.
Chief Financial Officer Sandeep Aujla explained to Reuters that the company is strategically investing more in marketing campaigns and customer assistance during the third quarter to maximize tax season opportunities and expand its assisted tax preparation and QuickBooks business lines.
For the quarter ending April 30, Intuit projected adjusted earnings between $12.45 and $12.51 per share, falling below the $12.95 average analyst prediction compiled by LSEG.
Revenue growth expectations remain solid at approximately 10%, closely matching analyst forecasts of 9.9% growth for the period.
These projections emerge as technology markets grapple with concerns that artificial intelligence tools could diminish demand for conventional software products, particularly as consumers increasingly want personalized financial advice and automated solutions for accounting tasks.
In response to competitive pressure from companies like H&R Block, Oracle’s NetSuite division, and Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 Platform, Intuit has established long-term partnerships with AI companies Anthropic and OpenAI to incorporate advanced AI capabilities into its software offerings.
“We’re paying OpenAI and Anthropic for the capabilities. We’re not paying them revenue share,” Aujla stated, noting that over 3 million customers currently interact with the company’s artificial intelligence features.
The company maintained its fiscal 2026 outlook and reported second-quarter revenue increased 17% to reach $4.65 billion, surpassing the $4.53 billion analyst consensus.
The popular language-learning platform Duolingo announced Thursday it’s changing direction, choosing to focus on attracting more users rather than maximizing profits — a strategic shift that will impact the company’s financial performance throughout the year.
Following the announcement, the company’s stock price dropped more than 15% during after-hours trading.
As part of this new approach, Duolingo will make its AI-powered “Video Call with Lily” feature available to Super Duolingo subscribers instead of restricting it exclusively to the higher-priced Max subscription tier.
In recent years, the language app had concentrated on increasing revenue through additional advertisements and subscription prompts, successfully boosting earnings per user. However, this strategy coincided with a slowdown in new user acquisition, leading to the company’s decision to refocus on user engagement.
“If we’re seeing faster user growth than we’re expecting, and what we are expecting is about 20%, then that means the strategy is working,” CEO Luis von Ahn told Reuters.
The Pennsylvania-based company also intends to provide more AI-powered speaking features to users at no cost, eliminating barriers that previously encouraged learners to upgrade to paid subscriptions.
According to Von Ahn, the AI video call feature now costs more than ten times less to operate compared to its initial launch, and as expenses continue decreasing, Duolingo plans to make it available to all users to enhance the learning experience.
The company reported that daily active user growth has slowed throughout 2025 and is projected to drop to approximately half the rate maintained in previous years.
Wall Street analysts have been closely examining the company’s slowing expansion as it grows larger, especially following several quarters of rapid growth.
Revenue bookings are now projected to increase approximately 11% in 2026, compared to the roughly 20% growth the company indicated it could have achieved with its former strategy.
The adjusted core profit margin is expected to decrease to around 25% this year as Duolingo invests in wider access to AI capabilities and increases marketing spending.
For the upcoming first quarter, Duolingo projected bookings of approximately $301.5 million, falling short of analyst estimates of $329.7 million, based on Visible Alpha data.
For the complete year, the company anticipates bookings between $1.27 billion and $1.30 billion, below analyst projections of $1.39 billion.
Duolingo expects annual revenue to range from $1.20 billion to $1.22 billion, trailing analyst expectations of $1.26 billion, according to LSEG compiled estimates.
Texas education officials have authorized nearly 2,000 corrections to a controversial religious curriculum that was rolled out in public schools this academic year, following the discovery of numerous mistakes by educators and administrators.
The instructional materials, part of what’s called the “Bluebonnet” program, represent one of several Republican-driven initiatives across the country aimed at bringing more faith-based content into public education. While school districts aren’t required to use the curriculum developed by Texas’ education department, they receive extra state money for doing so.
The program faced opposition before its approval, with religious experts arguing the reading materials showed bias toward Christian beliefs while minimizing other faiths, and advocacy organizations claiming the content emphasized religious messaging rather than educational instruction.
During a Wednesday meeting, the State Board of Education approved the extensive revisions by an 8-6 margin. The changes address factual mistakes, grammar problems, punctuation issues, and image replacements needed for licensing and copyright compliance. Several board members expressed concern about the substantial number of errors discovered.
Democratic board member Tiffany Clark voiced her worries, stating: “My concern is that we have failed students this school year who have been utilizing this product.”
Republican board chair Aaron Kinsey questioned Clark’s assessment, asking whether she believed that addressing seemingly minor issues like copyright problems could mean “we failed our students and they are not going to pass” the state’s yearly standardized testing.
Clark responded that even small mistakes can have significant impacts. “If we have been teaching incorrectly this is going to have an impact,” she explained, noting that something as basic as a typographical error in mathematical formulas could cause problems.
Republican board member Pam Little acknowledged the varying severity of the issues but maintained that accuracy matters. “I understand that some of these errors are minimal, some of them are for clarity and some of them are for accuracy. But still, an error is an error,” Little said.
Colin Dempsey, who oversees the instructional material evaluation process for the Texas Education Agency, admitted to the “high number of updates” required while maintaining that factual mistakes were “minimal,” though he didn’t specify an exact count.
Board members indicated that more than 4,000 corrections were necessary. However, Texas Education Agency spokesperson Jake Kobersky clarified to The Associated Press that roughly 1,900 modifications were actually implemented, explaining that the higher number included repeated corrections across teacher guides, student materials, and other documents.
According to Kobersky, most revisions were “proactive in response to teacher feedback or grammatical fixes, not a result of factual errors.”
The exact number of school districts using the curriculum during its inaugural year remains uncertain. By August, over 300 districts and charter schools had expressed interest in adopting the materials, representing approximately one-fourth of Texas’ 1,207 educational districts and charter schools.
Following Wednesday’s approval of the modifications, the education agency announced that digital curriculum resources would be refreshed within a month. Officials did not specify timelines for printing and distributing updated physical materials or estimate associated costs.
Little, who supported the proposed corrections, expressed concern that the board has “set a precedent for sloppy publishing.”
Dempsey announced that the agency has expanded its review team from five to eight members for future material assessments.
“I’m hopeful that will improve our process, where these are caught in the summer and not later on,” he stated.
The estate of Henrietta Lacks has reached a settlement agreement with pharmaceutical company Novartis over the unauthorized use of her cells, which were harvested without consent in 1951 and later became fundamental to major medical breakthroughs.
The settlement terms remain confidential after being completed in Maryland federal court this month.
Both the Lacks family and the Switzerland-based pharmaceutical company issued a joint statement saying they are “pleased they were able to find a way to resolve this matter filed by Henrietta Lacks’ Estate outside of court” while declining to provide additional details.
This marks the second legal resolution for the estate, which has filed multiple lawsuits against biomedical corporations for profiting from what they describe as a discriminatory healthcare system that exploited African American patients like Lacks. The agreement concludes the legal battle between one of the world’s major pharmaceutical manufacturers and the family of a woman who succumbed to cervical cancer at 31 years old and was laid to rest in an unmarked burial site.
The 2024 legal action demanded Novartis pay “the full amount of its net profits obtained by commercializing the HeLa cell line,” referring to what the lawsuit characterized as “stolen cells.”
Medical professionals at Johns Hopkins Hospital extracted Lacks’ cervical tissue in 1951 without her awareness, and these cells from her cancerous tumor became the first human cells capable of indefinite growth and division in laboratory conditions. The HeLa cell line revolutionized modern medicine, facilitating numerous scientific breakthroughs and medical developments, from genetic research to COVID-19 vaccine creation, yet the Lacks family received no financial benefit despite the immeasurable contributions to scientific progress.
Johns Hopkins maintains it never commercialized or earned money from the cell lines, though numerous corporations have secured patents for their applications.
Last year, the Lacks estate secured a confidential settlement with biotechnology firm Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. Family attorneys argued that company continued profiting from the cells long after the HeLa cell line’s origins became widely recognized, unfairly benefiting from Lacks’ biological material.
Additional legal cases filed by the estate remain ongoing. Shortly after resolving the Thermo Fisher Scientific matter, estate lawyers initiated litigation against Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical in Baltimore federal court. Legal proceedings against both Ultragenyx and pharmaceutical company Viatris continue.
Family attorneys have suggested more lawsuits may be forthcoming.
Lacks grew up as an impoverished tobacco farmer in southern Virginia before marrying and relocating with her spouse to Turner Station, a predominantly Black neighborhood near Baltimore. The couple was raising five children when physicians found a cervical tumor and preserved a portion of her cancer cells obtained during a medical procedure.
Unlike typical cell samples that quickly deteriorated after removal from the human body, her cells continued living and multiplying in laboratory settings. Scientists named them the first immortalized human cell line because researchers could grow them continuously, allowing scientists worldwide to conduct identical experiments using the same cellular material.
The extraordinary scientific implications and the effects on the Lacks family, several of whom suffered from ongoing health conditions without medical coverage, were chronicled in Rebecca Skloot’s bestselling 2010 book “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.” The story was later adapted into an HBO film featuring Oprah Winfrey as her daughter.
The Trump administration scored a legal win when a federal appeals court overturned a lower court ruling that had blocked an executive order affecting union rights for federal workers.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a preliminary injunction that had stopped the implementation of the executive order, which would limit collective bargaining rights for approximately 800,000 federal employees across the nation.
Among those affected by the court’s decision are workers employed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service, which oversees food safety regulations and inspections nationwide.
Motorists will need to find alternate routes as a portion of Thompsons Bridge Road stays closed for tree clearing operations.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the roadway is impassable between Woodlawn Road and Guyencourt Road while crews remove trees that have fallen across the street.
Officials expect the cleanup work to continue until 10 PM this evening, when the road should reopen to traffic.
Drivers are advised to use alternative routes and allow extra travel time while the closure remains in effect.
Digital extremism experts are sounding the alarm about dangerous trends emerging in online communities following the recent release of documents related to Jeffrey Epstein. According to specialists who monitor internet radicalization, the absence of meaningful public accountability connected to these latest file disclosures has created a troubling blend of distrust and hopelessness across various digital platforms.
The concerning development highlights how high-profile cases without clear resolution can become breeding grounds for conspiracy theories and extremist thinking, researchers warn.
