New York’s top prosecutor has taken legal action against gaming giant Valve, accusing the company of operating an illegal gambling scheme through virtual prize containers in popular video games.
Attorney General Letitia James filed the lawsuit Wednesday in state court, targeting the company’s use of digital prize boxes in major gaming titles including Counter-Strike 2, Team Fortress 2, and Dota 2. The legal action alleges these virtual containers force players to pay money for random chances at winning rare digital items.
According to James’ office, the Counter-Strike system particularly mimics casino-style gambling, featuring animated spinning wheels that eventually land on prize selections.
“Valve has made billions of dollars by letting children and adults alike illegally gamble for the chance to win valuable virtual prizes,” James stated. “These features are addictive, harmful, and illegal.”
The Bellevue, Washington-based gaming company has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations.
While these digital prize containers typically contain decorative items like character accessories or weapon designs that don’t affect gameplay, James’ office notes they can command substantial prices in online marketplaces.
The lawsuit reveals that some of the scarcest items have sold for thousands of dollars online, with one particular Counter-Strike AK-47 weapon design recently fetching over $1 million.
James’ legal filing accuses Valve of violating New York’s constitution through its gambling promotion practices. The state seeks to halt these operations and demands the company provide user compensation, damages, and penalties totaling three times the profits earned from these features.
The attorney general’s office points to research indicating that children exposed to gambling activities face four times greater risk of developing gambling addictions in adulthood compared to those without such exposure.
“Loot boxes, like other forms of gambling, can lead to addiction and result in real harm,” the lawsuit states. “But Valve’s loot boxes are particularly pernicious because they are popular among children and adolescents, who are lured into opening loot boxes by the prospect of winning expensive virtual items that convey status in the gaming world.”
James’ office reports that the popularity of these virtual prizes has attracted not only online investors and speculators driving up values, but also criminals who target third-party marketplaces where these digital items are sold for real money.
The company both enables these external trading platforms and operates its own Steam Community Market, where players can sell their virtual items and use the earnings to purchase additional games, gaming equipment, or other digital content.
GUADALAJARA, Mexico — Terror gripped Mexican citizens as they turned to their phones for updates following the death of the nation’s most notorious drug kingpin, only to encounter a torrent of fabricated social media content portraying widespread devastation.
Following a massive military operation on Sunday that resulted in the death of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known as “El Mencho,” his Jalisco New Generation Cartel unleashed brutal retaliation across approximately 20 states, claiming over 70 lives through roadblocks, bombings, and shootouts.
However, alongside legitimate reports of carnage and official shelter-in-place orders, the web became saturated with false information — including AI-created videos and photos intended to amplify terror, according to Mexican authorities.
“We didn’t know what was true and what was false,” expressed Victoria Elizabeth Peceril, 31, as she strolled through Guadalajara’s now-peaceful streets Wednesday with her three children. “We were really scared.”
Among the fabricated content was a doctored image supposedly showing an aircraft ablaze at Guadalajara’s airport, accompanied by false claims that armed groups had captured the facility and held tourists captive.
Government analysis revealed between 200 and 500 problematic and false posts circulated since Sunday’s military action, with as many as 30 garnering over 100,000 views each.
During President Claudia Sheinbaum’s Wednesday press conference, officials shared research from Tecnologico de Monterrey, a private institution, showing that 35% to 40% of these posts contained misleading context, at least 25% were deceptive, and nearly 25% involved AI manipulation or complete fabrication.
False narratives included claims that an American operative had killed Oseguera Cervantes by strangulation, that President Sheinbaum was concealing herself aboard a Pacific naval ship, and theories connecting the cartel leader’s death to former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s potential capture.
The research institution stopped short of identifying the source behind this content creation.
“There was a lot of badly intentioned news Sunday, looking to generate terror,” Sheinbaum had stated the previous day.
Mexican communities frequently rely on messaging app groups and X platform accounts for local updates. In northern border regions controlled by criminal organizations, these communications often function like traffic advisories, alerting residents to criminal convoy locations for safety purposes.
Given the Jalisco organization’s history of dramatic violence — including destroying military aircraft and targeting Mexico City’s police leadership — social media claims of extreme cartel brutality seemed credible to many.
“At first, we believed everything,” admitted Nicolás Martín, 28, a Mexico City resident who was vacationing near Puerto Vallarta when the violence erupted. He described the circulated imagery as resembling “what you see in movies.”
Martín noted his surprise at the professional quality of early Sunday posts, including apparent drone recordings of explosions and fires in Puerto Vallarta. He observed that genuine footage from such chaotic moments would typically appear more unsteady and amateur.
According to Vanda Felbab-Brown, a Brookings Institution organized crime specialist from Washington, the Jalisco cartel may have orchestrated at least portions of the disinformation campaign.
This particular criminal organization has notably prioritized developing its digital capabilities among Mexico’s various crime groups.
“The criminals are becoming very tech-savvy,” Felbab-Brown observed.
“It was impressive to see the level of misinformation,” she continued, referencing the fake airport takeover images. She characterized these “impressive and sophisticated” posts as likely AI-generated content from Jalisco Nueva Generación-controlled chatbots.
These posts “certainly added to the aura of chaos and meltdown in Mexico,” Felbab-Brown concluded.
Despite efforts by Mexican officials and the U.S. Embassy to counter circulating falsehoods on Sunday, Sarai Olguín, a 22-year-old Guadalajara university student, found distinguishing truth from fiction challenging.
As she and neighbors sheltered indoors, friends forwarded videos and images discovered online. She partially credits these posts with keeping civilians off dangerous streets.
One message warned that “after a certain hour they were going to kill everyone,” she recalled. “In a way it’s good, because all of this false news helped take care of people even though they sowed immense fear.”
SEOUL, South Korea — During the conclusion of a major ruling party gathering, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his nuclear-equipped nation has the capability to “completely destroy” South Korea should its security face threats, according to state media reports released Thursday. While maintaining his hardline stance against Seoul, Kim signaled potential openness to renewed discussions with Washington as he outlined policy objectives for the coming five years.
According to state media reports, Kim also emphasized expanding his military’s weapons capabilities, specifically calling for the creation of submarine-launched intercontinental ballistic missiles and a broader collection of tactical nuclear weapons, including artillery and short-range missiles designed to target South Korea.
The North Korean leader stated that his country’s rapid nuclear and missile development has “permanently cemented” its position as a nuclear weapons state, while demanding the United States abandon what he views as “hostile” policies toward his nation before any diplomatic talks can resume.
The Workers’ Party gathering, which started last Thursday in Pyongyang, occurs as Kim establishes a more aggressive regional stance, utilizing his growing nuclear military capabilities and strengthening ties with Moscow that have intensified tensions with both Washington and Seoul.
The Korean Central News Agency reported that North Korea conducted a military parade in the capital Wednesday as the congress concluded, marking Kim’s third such gathering after previous ones in 2016 and 2021.
Kim’s statements during the congress were widely expected, as he has adopted increasingly aggressive positions toward South Korea throughout 2024, abandoning the North’s historical pursuit of peaceful reunification between the divided Koreas and designating the South as a permanent adversary. However, analysts predicted Kim would maintain a more cautious approach toward Washington to keep future diplomatic possibilities alive, ultimately seeking sanctions relief and implicit acceptance as a nuclear state.
Kim has recently focused on strengthening ties with Russia, deploying thousands of soldiers and substantial military equipment to assist Moscow’s Ukraine conflict, likely receiving aid and military technology in return. Experts suggest maintaining flexibility makes strategic sense as the Ukraine war could conclude, potentially reducing North Korea’s value to Moscow.
In his congress summary, Kim stated his administration maintained the “toughest stance” toward Washington, but noted there was “no reason we cannot get along” with Americans if they abandoned their allegedly “hostile policy” toward the North. North Korea frequently uses this terminology to describe U.S.-led pressure and sanctions targeting Kim’s nuclear program. His remarks reflected North Korea’s established position demanding Washington drop denuclearization requirements before resuming negotiations.
North Korea has consistently refused Washington and Seoul’s diplomatic overtures aimed at dismantling its nuclear program, which stalled in 2019 after Kim’s second summit with then-U.S. President Donald Trump collapsed during his initial presidency.
The future of U.S.-North Korea relations “depends entirely on the U.S. attitude,” Kim stated. “Whether it’s peaceful coexistence or permanent confrontation, we are ready for either, and the choice is not ours to make.”
Scientists studying moon rocks brought back by Apollo astronauts more than 50 years ago have made surprising discoveries about the lunar magnetic field, according to research published Wednesday.
The findings could become even more significant as NASA prepares for its upcoming Artemis missions, with four astronauts scheduled to orbit the moon in a test flight launching as early as April from Kennedy Space Center following recent postponements.
Research conducted by scientists at the University of Oxford reveals that although the moon’s magnetic field remained relatively weak throughout most of its history, it experienced dramatic surges that actually surpassed Earth’s magnetic strength during very brief windows between 3 and 4 billion years ago. The study was published in Nature Geoscience.
These magnetic fields serve as crucial protection from harmful cosmic radiation and, for Earth specifically, dangerous solar particles.
According to lead researcher Claire Nichols, the moon experienced “incredibly short spikes in high magnetic field strength” that lasted at most 5,000 years and potentially as briefly as several decades. These surges resulted from the melting of titanium-heavy rocks located deep beneath the lunar surface.
Earlier scientific theories suggested the moon maintained a consistently strong magnetic field for extended periods, based on analysis of materials collected by Apollo crews between 1969 and 1972. Since Artemis astronauts will explore the moon’s southern polar areas rather than the equatorial lava fields visited during Apollo missions, these new samples are expected to provide additional insights into the moon’s ancient magnetic properties.
The Oxford research team reexamined previous measurements from Apollo specimens and discovered that elevated titanium concentrations matched with preserved evidence of strong magnetic activity. Materials from both the initial and final lunar landings — Apollo 11 and Apollo 17 — contained significant titanium levels.
“We have found a missing link,” Nichols explained via email. She noted that magnetic field strength can be “intermittently really strong and may fluctuate far more than we have traditionally thought.”
The scientists believe Apollo samples don’t accurately represent the moon’s overall composition since they originated from comparable locations rich in titanium that reached the surface through volcanic activity. Upcoming Artemis crews intend to examine ancient rock formations near the south pole, where permanently dark craters are believed to hold frozen water.
According to Nichols, learning about the moon’s magnetic protection throughout history “is critical for thinking about planetary habitability.”
The Trump administration is preventing Venezuela from covering legal defense expenses for their former leader Nicolás Maduro, who faces drug trafficking charges in New York, according to his attorney who argues this could violate his constitutional right to legal representation.
Defense lawyer Barry Pollack informed a federal judge in Manhattan through an email last week that the U.S. Treasury Department had prevented authorization for legal fees that Venezuela’s government is obligated to cover for Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores according to their nation’s laws and traditions. This correspondence became part of the public court file on Wednesday.
Both Maduro and his spouse have been detained in New York without the possibility of bail since their capture from their Venezuelan residence on January 3 during a covert nighttime operation conducted by U.S. military personnel. Both individuals have entered not guilty pleas.
This dramatic arrest, which came after months of military preparation in the Caribbean region, has enabled the Trump administration to wield significant control over Maduro’s successor, Vice President and current acting President Delcy Rodriguez. Facing U.S. pressure, Rodriguez has quickly moved to welcome American investment in Venezuela’s petroleum sector, release political detainees, and restore direct diplomatic contact with Washington — a relationship that had been severed when the first Trump administration closed the U.S. embassy in Caracas during 2019.
According to Pollack’s email, the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which oversees Venezuela-related sanctions, had initially approved payment of legal expenses by the Venezuelan government on January 9.
However, the Trump administration withdrew this approval in under three hours “without explanation,” while maintaining authorization for the first lady’s legal representation costs, Pollack stated.
This legal fee controversy is directly connected to American foreign policy objectives. The initial Trump administration severed diplomatic relations with Maduro in 2019, instead recognizing the opposition leader of the National Assembly as Venezuela’s rightful president. The Biden administration followed a similar approach.
Nonetheless, permitting Rodriguez’s administration to fund Maduro’s defense could undermine prosecutors’ courtroom efforts to challenge the former leader’s claims that his arrest was unlawful and that he enjoys immunity from U.S. prosecution as a foreign head of state under domestic and international law.
A 25-page criminal indictment charges Maduro and co-conspirators with collaborating alongside drug cartels and military officials to enable the transportation of thousands of tons of cocaine into the United States. Both defendants could receive life sentences upon conviction.
The alleged conspiracy included Maduro and his wife ordering kidnappings, physical assaults, and murders of individuals who owed drug money, according to the indictment. This reportedly included executing a local drug leader in Caracas.
The Treasury Department, White House, and Justice Department did not respond to requests for comment.
Pollack indicated he requested the Office of Foreign Assets Control on February 11 to restore the original authorization and allow Venezuela to fulfill its responsibility for Maduro’s defense expenses.
The attorney noted that Maduro “cannot otherwise afford counsel” and will seek judicial assistance to fund his defense.
Pollack argued the United States was “interfering with Mr. Maduro’s ability to retain counsel and, therefore, his right under the Sixth Amendment to counsel of his choice.”
WASHINGTON — Federal officials confirmed Wednesday they are examining whether certain documents from the Jeffrey Epstein investigation were improperly excluded from public release, following media reports that key records were missing from the files.
The review comes after multiple news outlets discovered that FBI interview summaries were absent from the extensive collection of Epstein-related documents the government made public. These missing records reportedly involve unverified allegations made by an unnamed woman against President Donald Trump.
According to news reports, the woman contacted authorities following Epstein’s 2019 arrest, claiming she had been sexually assaulted by both Trump and Epstein during the 1980s when she was underage. Trump has consistently rejected any wrongdoing connected to Epstein.
“Several individuals and news outlets have recently flagged files related to documents produced to Ghislaine Maxwell in discovery of her criminal case that they claim appear to be missing,” the Justice Department stated on social media. “As with all documents that have been flagged by the public, the Department is currently reviewing files within that category of the production.”
Maxwell, who served as Epstein’s long-time associate, is currently serving two decades in prison following her conviction on sex trafficking charges.
Federal officials indicated that any document determined to have been wrongfully withheld and required under the law mandating the files’ public release would be published accordingly.
The controversy centers on a series of 2019 FBI interviews with the accuser. While authorities reportedly spoke with the woman four times, only one interview summary appeared in the publicly available documents, according to recent news coverage.
Journalist Roger Sollenberger first reported the missing records on Substack, with NPR also covering the issue. Subsequently, major outlets including The New York Times, MS Now, and CNN have documented the omissions.
Democratic Representative Robert Garcia, who holds the ranking position on the House Oversight Committee, announced his panel would examine the withheld documents. Garcia stated he had examined unredacted evidence logs and could “confirm that the DOJ appears to have illegally withheld FBI interviews” with the woman making the accusations.
Last month, the Justice Department announced it was making public over 3 million pages of Epstein-related materials. Epstein died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019 while facing sex trafficking charges. Officials explained they aimed for transparency while reserving the right to withhold certain materials, including those that could expose victims, duplicate records, legally privileged information, or documents tied to active investigations.
“Some of the documents contain untrue and sensationalist claims against President Trump that were submitted to the FBI right before the 2020 election. To be clear, the claims are unfounded and false, and if they have a shred of credibility, they certainly would have been weaponized against President Trump already,” the department stated when initially releasing the records.
The document redaction process quickly showed problems, with officials pulling back materials flagged by victims and their attorneys, plus a “substantial number” of additional documents the government identified on its own.
Legal representatives for Epstein accusers informed a New York federal judge last month that nearly 100 victims had their lives “turned upside down” due to inadequate redactions in the government’s latest document release. The exposed materials included nude photographs showing victims’ faces, along with names, email addresses, and other personal details that were either left unredacted or inadequately concealed.
The publicly released files contained other unsubstantiated allegations against Trump and additional public figures. In Wednesday’s social media statement, the department did not explain why documents related to this particular accuser might have been excluded.
TUCSON, Ariz. — Officials in Pima County are expanding parking restrictions around the residence of Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old mother of Today show host Savannah Guthrie, following three weeks of neighbor complaints about media presence since her disappearance.
County authorities report that residents have expressed frustration over crowded streets, people entering private property without permission, and debris scattered along roadways where news teams and online content creators have set up camp.
Officials attempted to implement one-way traffic patterns this past weekend near Nancy Guthrie’s residence, but the measure failed to resolve the situation, prompting broader parking limitations.
Beginning Thursday, the enhanced restrictions will remain in place, though media personnel and streamers may continue accessing the area by parking in other locations and arranging transportation into the community. Those who violate the new rules will receive $250 citations.
The continuous presence of television crews, online bloggers and curious spectators has generated divided opinions among local residents. While some neighbors welcome the publicity surrounding the case, others have positioned traffic barriers and warning signs on their land to prevent unwanted visitors.
County officials state that camping equipment, power generators and broadcasting vehicles positioned throughout the street have caused traffic problems and raised safety issues.
Nancy Guthrie was last observed at her residence near Tucson on January 31 and reported as missing one day later. Law enforcement suspects she was forcibly taken from her home. Investigators discovered blood evidence on her front entrance but have released limited details about their findings.
Volunteer search efforts have persisted despite sheriff’s department requests for civilians to avoid independent searches. One small volunteer team discovered a dark-colored backpack on Sunday, though it did not match the brand shown in FBI surveillance footage featuring a masked individual at Guthrie’s property on the evening she vanished.
Media representatives and content creators are not the only visitors to the area. Family supporters have arrived at the home to leave floral arrangements, yellow memorial ribbons, religious crosses and written prayers.
Extremist organizations with ties to al Qaeda and ISIS are dramatically escalating their violent campaigns along the borders of Niger, Benin and Nigeria, transforming previously quiet transit routes into dangerous war zones, a new study reveals.
Research from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED) project, released Thursday, shows that terror incidents involving Islamic extremist factions in this three-nation border region jumped 90% from 2024 to 2025, while fatalities more than doubled, surpassing 1,000 deaths as violence escalated.
The data highlights how jihadist organizations continue to gain ground throughout West Africa, despite more than ten years of efforts by regional governments and international military forces to stop their advancement.
According to the study, fighters connected to al Qaeda and ISIS have strengthened their foothold across Benin’s Alibori and Borgou departments, Niger’s Dosso region, and Nigeria’s Sokoto, Kebbi, Niger and Kwara states. These operations now demonstrate “continued spread, growing lethality, and rising risks to civilians,” the report stated.
Military officials from Nigeria and government representatives from Niger and Benin did not provide responses when contacted for comment.
Nigeria has been fighting Islamic insurgents for more than 15 years, primarily battling Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) in the country’s northeastern regions. However, cells affiliated with al Qaeda and ISIS have intensified their activities in northwestern areas, where extensive forest cover and limited government control provide ideal conditions for their operations.
West Africa is home to numerous jihadist factions, with many functioning under the broader organizations of al Qaeda-connected Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin (JNIM) or Islamic State in the Sahel Province (ISSP).
This territorial expansion has contributed to widespread political upheaval throughout the region. Military forces in Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have overthrown governments since 2020, claiming that democratically elected leaders failed to address the growing violence. Military personnel who attempted an unsuccessful coup in Benin last December also cited security concerns as justification.
The United States conducted airstrikes in northwestern Nigeria in December and has started positioning a limited number of military personnel to provide training support for Nigerian forces confronting these militant groups.
Cooperation between regional governments has deteriorated in recent years as Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali—now controlled by military leadership—have pulled out of regional partnerships, making coordinated security efforts more difficult.
ACLED researchers noted that jihadist organizations have increased their public communications regarding activities in the tri-border area, potentially indicating rivalry between competing groups. This type of “outbidding,” according to the report, will likely lead to increased violence.
Limited government oversight and poorly secured borders have historically made frontier areas throughout the Sahel and coastal West Africa attractive targets for Islamic extremist groups looking to avoid security forces, resupply their fighters and gain control over local populations.
On Wednesday, the Tennessee Titans made the decision to part ways with two key players from their roster, cutting center Lloyd Cushenberry and safety Xavier Woods.
During his time with Tennessee, Cushenberry took the field as a starter in 15 contests during what marked his second campaign with the franchise. Meanwhile, Woods appeared in 11 games for the team, earning starting duties in 10 of those matchups during his inaugural season wearing a Titans uniform.
The 28-year-old Cushenberry became a member of the Titans organization in 2024 following a four-year tenure with the Denver Broncos to begin his professional career. Throughout his NFL journey, he has taken the field in 80 contests, earning a starting role in every single game. When healthy and available during the 2025 season, he participated in 99% of Tennessee’s offensive plays.
The 30-year-old Woods contributed 39 tackles while also recording two interceptions and one sack during his time with the Titans. Prior to joining Tennessee on a two-year deal last offseason, the veteran safety had played for multiple franchises, including four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys from 2017 through 2020, one year with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021, and three seasons with the Carolina Panthers spanning 2022 to 2024.
A major chip design software company experienced a significant stock decline Wednesday evening after delivering a revenue outlook that disappointed Wall Street investors.
Synopsys saw its stock price drop more than 5% during after-hours trading following the release of its financial forecast, which cited ongoing challenges from Chinese trade restrictions and broader economic headwinds.
The California-based technology firm has encountered difficulties in the Chinese market, where trade limitations have blocked clients from launching new semiconductor design initiatives. Additionally, the company has seen weaker demand from a key foundry partner.
Industry experts point to another factor impacting the business: the semiconductor industry’s pivot toward artificial intelligence chips is reducing manufacturing of traditional consumer electronics like mobile phones and personal computers. This shift has particularly affected Synopsys’ intellectual property division, which provides ready-made circuit blueprints to manufacturers.
The IP segment’s revenue dropped by more than 6% during the first quarter, falling from $435.1 million in the previous year to $407 million this period.
Chief Financial Officer Shelagh Glaser addressed the China situation during the company’s earnings conference call, stating: “Excluding Ansys, China revenue declined slightly year‑over‑year, consistent with our outlook.” She noted that the Ansys acquisition contributed roughly $886 million to first-quarter earnings.
Looking ahead to the second quarter, Synopsys projects revenue between $2.23 billion and $2.28 billion, which falls below the $2.24 billion consensus forecast from financial analysts surveyed by LSEG.
However, the company’s earnings per share projection of $3.11 to $3.17 on an adjusted basis slightly exceeded analyst expectations of $3.09.
The first quarter showed mixed results, with total revenue reaching $2.41 billion, surpassing the anticipated $2.39 billion. Adjusted earnings of $3.77 per share also beat the consensus estimate of $3.56.
Synopsys is currently managing substantial debt obligations stemming from its massive $35 billion purchase of engineering simulation software company Ansys, a deal that was completed in July 2025.
To address financial pressures, the company announced a corporate restructuring initiative in November, which includes eliminating approximately 10% of its workforce while reallocating resources to more promising business opportunities.
WASHINGTON – A leading House Democrat is charging that the Justice Department has deliberately concealed FBI interview records involving sexual abuse allegations against President Donald Trump by an underage victim.
Rep. Robert Garcia, who serves as the top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee, stated Wednesday that he has verified news reports indicating DOJ held back more than 50 pages of documents concerning the woman’s claims. These materials were excluded from the over 3 million Jeffrey Epstein-related documents the department has made public.
According to Garcia, the concealed records demonstrate that federal investigators treated the allegations with seriousness, conducting four separate interviews with the accuser. However, authorities only made public the initial interview, which did not contain specific details about her accusations involving Trump.
“The fact that DOJ is suppressing documents alleging President Trump’s commission of sexual abuse of an underage victim only heightens my genuine concerns about a White House cover-up,” Garcia stated in his correspondence to the department.
Justice Department officials responded that they are conducting a review to determine whether any Epstein-connected documents were inappropriately withheld, promising to make them available to the public if deemed suitable.
DOJ officials have cautioned that some previously released materials contain unsubstantiated allegations and sensational claims targeting Trump.
The department maintains it has kept certain materials confidential to protect the identities of Epstein’s victims and avoid compromising active investigations.
Among the materials DOJ has made public are photographs showing Trump alongside several women with obscured faces, plus a provocative message to Epstein featuring the silhouette of an unclothed woman that appears to carry Trump’s signature.
Court records and witness testimony from Ghislaine Maxwell’s 2021 prosecution reveal Trump used Epstein’s aircraft on multiple occasions. In one electronic message, Epstein stated that Trump “knew about the girls,” though the meaning remains unclear.
White House representative Abigail Jackson maintained that Trump has been “totally exonerated on anything relating to Epstein.”
Trump maintained close social connections with Epstein throughout the 1990s and 2000s but has consistently denied awareness of the financier’s criminal activities. He claims their relationship ended prior to Epstein’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. Trump disputes ever using Epstein’s aircraft and maintains the suggestive note is fraudulent.
Digital banking company Chime announced Wednesday that it anticipates 2026 revenues will surpass Wall Street projections, boosted by robust customer interest in its online banking services and steady consumer spending patterns.
The financial technology sector has transformed traditional banking by introducing digital-first platforms, user-friendly interfaces, and reduced fees, creating intense rivalry for established financial institutions.
Following the announcement, Chime’s stock price jumped 9.4% during after-hours trading, with the company projecting it will reach profitability by 2026.
Digital banking platforms like Chime have gained ground against major financial institutions by focusing on younger demographics and underbanked populations, resulting in significant user growth and transaction volume.
For the full year, Chime projects revenues ranging from $2.63 billion to $2.67 billion, surpassing analyst predictions of $2.61 billion based on LSEG data.
“We’re in the business of acquiring primary account relationships. Those exist at the incumbent banks, Chase, BofA and Wells and so that is our primary competition,” Chief Financial Officer Matt Newcomb stated during a Reuters interview.
“We continue to extend our lead over traditional banks,” he added.
The company reported that artificial intelligence implementation has reduced its service costs by approximately 30% while boosting average revenue per active customer by 23% during the previous three years. Market observers are monitoring AI-powered improvements across various sectors as the technology advances.
Current quarter revenue projections fall between $627 million and $637 million, exceeding analyst estimates of $624.8 million.
These financial results demonstrate continued strength in U.S. consumer spending, with Americans maintaining purchases of daily necessities, which benefits the payments industry.
Transaction volume, including outbound instant transfers, rose 16% to reach $35.3 billion during the quarter, while active membership increased 19% to 9.5 million users.
“We’re seeing very consistent trends in the consumer, and that’s true across income levels,” Newcomb noted.
Chime’s banking approach focuses on typical American consumers, providing various services for clients with minimal credit backgrounds who depend more heavily on debit rather than credit cards. The company plans to broaden its offerings in 2026 with membership levels and investment options.
Fourth quarter revenue reached $596 million for the period ending December 31, surpassing analyst forecasts of $577.7 million.
A complete road closure is affecting drivers in Sussex County after a tree fell and brought down power lines across Sandy Landing Road.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that Sandy Landing Road is impassable in both directions between Falling Point Road and Sussex Road due to the fallen tree and downed electrical wires blocking the roadway.
Motorists are advised to find alternate routes while crews work to remove the debris and restore safe passage through the area. DelDOT has not provided an estimated timeline for when the road will reopen to traffic.
Delaware transportation officials have shut down a section of Birch Knoll Road after a tree fell across the roadway, blocking traffic in both directions.
The road closure is in effect at the intersection of Birch Knoll Road and Stone Crop Road, where the fallen tree is preventing vehicles from passing through the area.
Motorists are advised to find alternate routes while crews work to remove the tree and reopen the roadway. No timeline has been provided for when the road will be cleared and traffic can resume normal flow.
DelDOT continues to monitor the situation and will update drivers once the obstruction has been removed and the road is safe for travel.
Drivers traveling on Estates Drive should plan for potential delays this afternoon as road crews conduct intermittent flagging operations in the area.
The flagging work is taking place along Estates Drive between Appleby Road and Conlin Court, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
Traffic control personnel will be directing vehicles through the work zone on an as-needed basis until 6 p.m. today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route and to exercise caution when approaching the work area.
The nation’s highest court showed signs of division during arguments in a case that weighs homeowners’ constitutional protections against local governments’ power to collect overdue property taxes.
The legal battle focuses on a fundamental question: Can municipalities lawfully take possession of residents’ homes when property taxes go unpaid, then sell those properties through public auctions that may yield far less money than homeowners could receive through private market sales?
The case has drawn attention from property rights advocates who argue that forced sales at below-market prices violate constitutional protections, while local government officials maintain they need effective tools to collect tax revenue that funds essential public services.
During oral arguments, the justices appeared uncertain about how to balance these competing interests, suggesting the final ruling could significantly impact how communities across the country handle delinquent property tax situations.
South Korean e-commerce powerhouse Coupang will release quarterly earnings Thursday, with investors closely watching for signs of damage from a major security incident that compromised customer information for millions of users.
The online retail giant is confronting challenges on multiple fronts following a November cyber incident that exposed personal details of approximately 34 million customers, including names, telephone numbers, and delivery addresses. While financial information and account passwords remained secure, the breach has created opportunities for competing platforms.
Government investigators concluded this month that internal management failures, rather than sophisticated external attacks, were responsible for the security lapse. In response, Coupang stated it would “take all necessary steps to prevent further harm and continue strengthening safeguards to prevent a recurrence.”
“Consumer trust in Coupang has been shaken,” commented Lee Kwang-lim, an executive director at the Korea Chainstores Association, which represents major retailers including E-mart and Lotte Mart.
Data analytics show the breach’s measurable impact on user engagement. Mobile app usage dropped 3.5% between November and January, while competitor Naver saw usage surge 23% during the identical timeframe, according to WISEAPP research.
Financial metrics also reflect customer migration, with daily consumer spending declining 6.3% to roughly 139.2 billion won ($97 million) in January compared to November, based on IGAWorks Mobile Index tracking.
Wall Street analysts have reduced their revenue projections for Coupang’s fourth quarter by 2.2% and lowered core earnings estimates by 6.7%, according to LSEG information. The company’s New York Stock Exchange shares have tumbled approximately 34% since the breach announcement, while traditional retail and shipping companies have seen stock gains.
The timing proves particularly challenging as proposed policy changes threaten Coupang’s competitive foundation. The company built its market leadership through “Rocket Delivery,” enabling customers to place orders until midnight for pre-dawn arrival.
South Korean regulations have prohibited large physical retailers from overnight operations for over ten years, designed to shield small local businesses from competition. However, online platforms like Coupang, established in 2010 by Harvard alumnus Bom Kim, operated outside these restrictions, fueling their rapid growth.
Government officials announced plans earlier this month to relax nighttime limitations for large-format stores, creating new opportunities for delivery service competition.
Coupang declined to provide comment when contacted by reporters.
Competing platforms including E-Mart, Kurly, and Naver are accelerating their rapid-delivery programs to capitalize on Coupang’s vulnerabilities.
Naver CEO Choi Soo-yeon recently highlighted “meaningful” increases in both online traffic and customer spending during January.
CJ Logistics, which serves Naver among other clients, reported overnight and same-day delivery volumes jumped 120% in the fourth quarter compared to the previous year.
Despite these headwinds, some market observers believe Coupang’s established advantages may limit competitor gains.
“There is still nothing quite as convenient as Coupang,” noted Seo Jung-yeon, a senior analyst at Shinyoung Securities.
“The key question is … how effectively competitors seize this opportunity to gain share.”
Housing sector stocks experienced significant losses Wednesday after major home improvement chains delivered sobering assessments about the current state of America’s real estate market.
Lowe’s shares plummeted 5.6% as the retail giant projected annual sales and profit figures that fell short of analyst expectations. The company, valued at approximately $150 billion, attributed its cautious outlook to ongoing challenges from elevated borrowing costs and market uncertainty.
The housing sector’s troubles dragged down multiple companies, with homebuilder Lennar closing down 4.9%, PulteGroup falling 4.5%, and D.R. Horton declining 4%. Building materials supplier Builders FirstSource saw the steepest drop at 6.4%. The broader S&P 1500 Homebuilding index tumbled 3.7% to reach its lowest point in three weeks.
During Lowe’s earnings call, CEO Marvin Ellison painted a challenging picture of consumer sentiment, describing it as “subdued given inflationary pressures and overall economic uncertainty.” Ellison explained that “a persistent lock-in effect remains in place, keeping housing turnover and new home starts under pressure,” leading the company to anticipate that “improvement in housing and home improvement markets to be gradual.”
Home Depot’s chief financial officer Richard McPhail echoed similar concerns during Tuesday’s earnings discussion, characterizing the current market as a “frozen housing environment” that has persisted since 2023 without meaningful signs of recovery. Home Depot’s stock declined 2.3% Wednesday.
The real estate market faces multiple headwinds including scarce inventory, elevated mortgage rates, and increased building expenses. January data showed existing home sales dropped to their weakest performance in over two years.
Investment expert Jake Dollarhide from Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma, offered his perspective on the market dynamics. “You would think given the president’s remarks on outlawing big corporations from buying homes that that would be a boon to the homebuilders,” Dollarhide noted, referencing President Trump’s State of the Union comments about restricting corporate home ownership.
However, Dollarhide suggested the stock declines reflect “the warped situation” currently affecting housing. “Interest rates are too high. People are stuck in their homes, a prisoner to their one-, two- or three-percent mortgage rates, and they’re not moving,” he explained.
Despite mortgage rates showing a slight decrease to 6.09% for 30-year fixed loans, demand for home purchase loans actually dropped 4.7%, indicating continued weakness in one of the housing market’s key forward-looking indicators.
These housing sector losses occurred even as the broader S&P 500 managed to gain 0.8% for the day, highlighting the specific challenges facing real estate-related businesses.
WASHINGTON – The Central Intelligence Agency has rolled out new Persian-language guidance on social media platforms, providing Iranians with secure methods to reach out to American intelligence officials.
This recruitment campaign unfolds as President Donald Trump has significantly increased U.S. military presence across the Middle East, positioning forces for potential strikes against Iran should nuclear negotiations scheduled for Thursday collapse without an agreement.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump began building his argument for potential military intervention, declaring he would never permit the Islamic Republic – which he labeled as the globe’s leading terrorism supporter – to obtain nuclear weapons. Iranian officials continue to deny pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities.
The intelligence agency distributed its Persian-language instructions across multiple platforms on Tuesday, including X, Instagram, Facebook, Telegram and YouTube.
This latest outreach represents part of an ongoing CIA initiative targeting potential informants within Iran, China, North Korea and Russia.
The agency advised interested Iranians to “take appropriate action” for personal safety before making contact and warned against using workplace computers or personal mobile devices.
“Use a new, disposable device, if possible” and “be aware of your surroundings and who may be able to see your screen or activity,” the instructions stated, requesting that contacts share their locations, names, professional roles and “access to information or skills of interest to our agency.”
The guidance recommended using reliable Virtual Private Networks “not headquartered in Russia, Iran or China,” or utilizing the Tor Network, which provides data encryption and conceals users’ IP addresses.
CIA officials refused to provide additional comments. Iran’s United Nations representatives have not yet responded to requests for comment.
American negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to engage with Iranian representatives headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Geneva on Thursday for continued discussions regarding Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Trump has warned of military intervention should negotiations fail to produce results, or if Tehran proceeds with executing individuals detained during January’s nationwide anti-government protests.
Human rights organizations report that government forces killed thousands during their suppression of the demonstrations, marking Iran’s most severe internal upheaval since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
The U.S. Defense Department is conducting an investigation into major defense contractors Boeing and Lockheed Martin regarding their use of artificial intelligence technology from Anthropic, according to a report from Axios published Wednesday.
Military officials have requested that both aerospace giants provide detailed information about how extensively they depend on Claude, which is Anthropic’s artificial intelligence system. This inquiry represents an initial move that could potentially result in the AI company being classified as a “supply chain risk” by defense officials.
The investigation highlights growing concerns within the Pentagon about the security implications of artificial intelligence systems used by companies that handle sensitive military contracts and defense projects.
A federal jury has found Thomas Goldstein, a renowned Washington attorney known for arguing Supreme Court cases, guilty on multiple tax and financial fraud charges connected to his secret career as a professional poker player.
The 12-member jury delivered their decision Wednesday following three days of deliberations in Greenbelt, Maryland, after a lengthy seven-week trial. Goldstein faced conviction on 12 out of 16 criminal charges, though jurors cleared him of several counts related to helping prepare fraudulent tax documents.
Federal prosecutors had accused the prominent lawyer of concealing millions of dollars earned through poker gambling, providing false information on mortgage applications, and making unauthorized payments through his former legal practice, Goldstein & Russell. His sentencing date has not yet been scheduled.
Before retiring from legal practice in 2023, Goldstein had established himself as one of the nation’s premier appellate lawyers, presenting more than 40 cases before the Supreme Court and helping create the legal news platform SCOTUSblog. His criminal charges shocked Washington’s legal establishment.
The trial exposed Goldstein’s extensive participation in international high-stakes poker competitions. Government lawyers revealed that he earned more than $26 million during a single tournament series in late 2016, money they claim he illegally hid from tax authorities and financial institutions.
The case centered on whether Goldstein deliberately broke federal tax and mortgage regulations. He maintained his innocence throughout the proceedings, attributing any financial reporting mistakes to excessive dependence on his professional advisors and accounting staff.
Taking the witness stand in his own defense, Goldstein acknowledged he should have been more vigilant about his tax filings and law firm’s financial matters, but denied any criminal intent. “The mistakes, responsibility for those tax years is mine. I may end up continuing to pay for this for a long time,” he told the jury. “That’s my responsibility. It’s just very different from whether I committed a crime.”
Prosecutors painted a different picture, describing Goldstein as a detail-oriented attorney who fully understood his legal obligation to report gambling earnings and losses. Lead prosecutor Sean Beaty challenged Goldstein’s testimony, characterizing him as dishonest and accusing him of hiding the extent of his poker activities from his spouse and others.
Beaty highlighted Goldstein’s extravagant purchases of luxury timepieces, vehicles, and real estate for the jury. “Poker. Travel. Cars. Watches. All while you owed millions of dollars to the IRS,” the prosecutor stated.
Goldstein admitted to having second thoughts about his spending choices but maintained that purchasing property while owing back taxes wasn’t against the law.
The trial featured testimony from several notable witnesses, including Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire, famous for his role in 2002’s “Spider-Man” and other major films. Maguire, who faces no criminal allegations, explained how he retained Goldstein’s legal services in 2020 to collect more than $7 million that a Texas businessman allegedly owed him from poker games.
Goldstein successfully helped Maguire recover the debt. The actor testified that Goldstein instructed him to send his $500,000 legal fee to a third party instead of paying him directly.
The original criminal charges included allegations about payments to women involved in extramarital affairs with Goldstein, but the presiding judge dismissed those particular accusations before trial.
Zambian officials have declined to move forward with a major health assistance agreement from the United States worth over $1 billion, stating Wednesday that portions of the deal conflict with their national priorities.
The comprehensive funding package was designed to address HIV, malaria, disease preparedness, and maternal health initiatives across a five-year period. Under the proposed terms, Zambia would have contributed approximately $340 million in matching funds during the same timeframe, according to draft documents obtained by Reuters.
Originally scheduled for completion in November, the agreement stalled when updated versions contained concerning provisions, according to a Zambian Health Ministry representative who spoke with Reuters Wednesday.
The problematic section “did not align with the position and interests of the government of Zambia… We have therefore requested further revisions to the content in question,” the official explained, though they would not specify the nature of the disputed content.
Last December, American officials announced they had reached “a plan that aims to unlock a substantial grant package of U.S. support in exchange for collaboration in the mining sector and clear business sector reforms” with Zambian leadership.
The African nation ranks as the continent’s second-largest copper producer behind the Democratic Republic of Congo, while also possessing significant deposits of cobalt, nickel, manganese, graphite, lithium and rare-earth materials.
When contacted this month, a State Department representative told Reuters via email that specific details of active diplomatic discussions would remain confidential. “Secretary [of State Marco] Rubio has consistently been clear that foreign assistance is not charity; it is designed to further the national interests of the United States,” the spokesperson stated.
Zambian authorities maintain the health agreement stands separate from resource extraction issues. “It has no relation whatsoever to minerals, mining, or any natural resources,” their spokesperson emphasized, adding they welcome productive discussions “but only within terms that are clear, mutually agreed upon, and fully aligned with Zambia’s national interests.”
Nevertheless, the draft documentation examined by Reuters indicates the arrangement would end and financial support would cease if both nations cannot reach consensus by April 1 regarding a “bilateral compact” that Secretary Rubio presented to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema on November 17, 2025. Three informed sources confirmed this compact involves mining cooperation.
Public health organizations in both countries have raised objections to the proposed data-sharing components, which would extend for a decade, while expressing concern about the secretive nature of the discussions.
“The data sharing will be one way from Zambia to the U.S. and the information will benefit the U.S.,” explained Owen Mulenga, who works with the Treatment, Advocacy and Literacy Campaign, a local organization advocating for HIV/AIDS treatment access. “We need support from the U.S. but there should be transparency,” Mulenga told Reuters, noting widespread speculation about mining connections that government officials refuse to address with advocacy groups.
Asia Russell, who leads Health GAP, a worldwide HIV advocacy organization monitoring the negotiations, criticized the arrangement: “This deal would slash U.S. government funding to life-saving programs… while prioritizing the interests of mining corporations over the needs of Zambians with HIV.”
This development represents part of a broader shift in how the Trump administration structures international health assistance after dissolving its primary aid agency last year, reducing global funding and contracts, and implementing an “America First” approach to health diplomacy.
On the same day, Zimbabwe withdrew from its own $367 million agreement, citing data privacy issues and describing the terms as unfair. Kenya’s larger $1.6 billion arrangement with Washington remains on hold due to ongoing legal challenges, though Nigeria and Uganda have completed their agreements.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates discussed his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a Gates Foundation staff meeting this week, with the organization confirming he accepted accountability for his decisions.
According to a foundation representative, Gates openly discussed the matter and provided detailed responses to multiple inquiries during Tuesday’s town hall session.
The tech billionaire’s name appears throughout recently released Justice Department documents related to the investigation of the deceased financier. These records contain email exchanges between Gates and Epstein regarding charitable initiatives, scheduling records showing their meetings, and photographs from shared events.
No criminal allegations have been made against Gates regarding Epstein, and Gates maintains he was unaware of Epstein’s illegal activities. Gates has previously stated their meetings focused on charitable work and his belief that Epstein could assist with fundraising for causes including global health initiatives. “Every minute that I spent with him I regret and I apologize that I did that,” Gates recently told Australia’s 9News.
The renewed focus on Gates’ connection to Epstein intensified after the Justice Department made millions of related documents public last month. This scrutiny led Gates to withdraw from giving the main presentation at New Delhi’s India AI Impact Summit last week “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”
Melinda French Gates, who departed the Gates Foundation in 2024 to pursue her own charitable work through Pivotal Ventures, has stated her former husband needs to address questions about his Epstein connections. Both have acknowledged that his association with Epstein contributed to difficulties in their marriage.
WASHINGTON — Conservative critics believe they may have found the controversy that could finally bring down the Clinton political dynasty. After initially resisting calls to appear before Congress, the former first couple now faces another major political battle as they prepare to use their decades of experience to challenge their opponents.
Bill and Hillary Clinton are returning to a familiar 1990s-style political warfare.
The former president and secretary of state are scheduled to appear before a House committee Thursday and Friday as part of an ongoing Jeffrey Epstein investigation. This arrangement came after Republicans made it clear they would pursue contempt charges if the Clintons continued to refuse cooperation. For this politically seasoned duo, it represents yet another Capitol Hill confrontation featuring the same elements that have defined their careers: questionable decisions, sexual misconduct allegations, financial dealings, and power struggles.
When Bill Clinton ran for president in 1992, he described his candidacy as offering voters “two for the price of one,” signaling a presidential partnership unlike any previous administration, featuring a first lady with professional achievements matching her husband’s. This partnership has enabled the Clintons to survive numerous controversies, including deeply personal scandals that might have destroyed other marriages. As his political career wound down, hers gained momentum with her election to represent New York in the U.S. Senate, followed by her role as secretary of state and her 2016 Democratic presidential nomination.
Long-time Clinton observers note that this latest controversy demonstrates how the couple — shaped by the political upheaval of Vietnam and Watergate — has consistently found itself at the center of cultural battles. With the Epstein investigation continuing to develop globally, the Clintons once again find themselves caught up in a major scandal.
“It’s kind of a sad but fitting coda to extraordinary political lives,” said David Maraniss, who has written two biographies of Bill Clinton.
Neither Clinton has been accused of any criminal activity related to Epstein, the convicted sex offender who died by suicide in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.
However, Epstein maintained connections with Bill Clinton over many years, including multiple White House visits during the 1990s according to official records. Following Clinton’s presidency, Epstein became involved in his charitable work, and the former president took several trips aboard Epstein’s private aircraft.
“Traveling on Epstein’s plane was not worth the years of questioning afterward,” Bill Clinton wrote in his 2024 memoir. “I wish I had never met him.”
The Republican-controlled House Oversight Committee issued subpoenas for both Clintons last summer. The 79-year-old former president and 78-year-old former secretary of state mostly avoided public discussion of the matter for months, but maintaining silence became more difficult in December when Bill Clinton appeared prominently in the initial release of Epstein documents.
The thousands of released documents included photographs showing him aboard a private aircraft, including one image with an unidentified woman whose face was obscured sitting next to him with her arm around him. Another photograph depicted Bill Clinton in a swimming pool alongside Ghislaine Maxwell, Epstein’s longtime associate and British socialite, with another person whose face was redacted. A third image showed Bill Clinton in a hot tub with an unidentified woman whose face was also obscured.
Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer of Kentucky warned he would pursue contempt charges against the Clintons if they failed to comply with the subpoenas, which would mark an unprecedented action since no former president has ever been forced to testify before Congress. Donald Trump cited this precedent between his presidential terms to resist a subpoena from the committee investigating the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
Although the photographs of Bill Clinton lacked context, they highlighted how his political potential has consistently been overshadowed by personal misconduct.
The same 1992 campaign that symbolized the Baby Boom generation’s political emergence was also plagued by allegations of an extramarital affair with Gennifer Flowers. A presidency largely characterized by economic growth nearly collapsed when Clinton faced impeachment in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice after denying a sexual relationship with Monica Lewinsky.
In each instance, many Republicans believed they had finally gained an advantage over the Clintons. Yet each time, the Clintons managed to escape the pressure.
Former Republican congressman Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, who served as a House manager during Clinton’s impeachment proceedings, characterized the couple as “a smart lawyer and brilliant communicator.”
A consistent strategy emerged with each crisis: the Clintons would vehemently deny accusations and frequently discredited women making claims against them. They would portray the Republican Party as villainous while redirecting public focus toward more positive topics like the era’s strong economy.
Bill Clinton, famous for telling voters “I feel your pain,” consistently maintained public connection. He actually achieved some of his highest presidential approval ratings during his impeachment investigation and trial, with approximately 70% of Americans approving of his job performance.
Hillary Clinton similarly outmaneuvered Republicans who saw opportunity in her response to a 2012 attack on a Libyan compound that resulted in four American deaths. She emerged from an 11-hour televised congressional hearing in 2015 appearing composed. Even the Republican committee chairman investigating the attack acknowledged uncertainty about whether she had revealed new information about what many in his party viewed as scandalous.
That experience is shaping the Clintons’ approach to this week’s testimony. Hillary Clinton has been particularly outspoken about demanding public hearings rather than the private sessions Comer currently plans.
“We have nothing to hide,” she told the BBC earlier this month.
Bill Clinton’s communications team has adopted an aggressive approach reminiscent of the political “war room” strategy popularized during the 1992 campaign to counter negative coverage.
One statement accused Comer of “lying in every appearance he’s made this week.” Another mockingly presented GOP Representatives Scott Perry of Pennsylvania and Andy Biggs of Arizona with a “hypocrisy award of the day,” pointing out how these Oversight committee members ignored subpoenas from the January 6 panel.
The Clintons also published a four-page letter to Comer on social media defiantly criticizing a process they described as “literally designed to result in our imprisonment.”
Echoing their 1990s strategy of redirecting attention, the letter criticized the White House for dismantling institutions, implementing severe immigration enforcement, and pardoning Capitol riot participants.
The Clintons’ political ascent coincided with talk radio’s emergence as a political force, with Rush Limbaugh using his daily program to constantly attack the White House. Today, conservative podcast hosts like Benny Johnson have assumed Limbaugh’s role and celebrated when the House panel moved to hold the couple in contempt last month.
“Do you understand Donald Trump made good on his oldest promise arguably which is he told all of us 10 years ago that Hillary Clinton would be going to jail?” Johnson said last month.
However, some circumstances have shifted.
The unwavering Democratic support the Clintons previously enjoyed in Congress has weakened as newer lawmakers have taken office — nine Democrats joined Republicans on the House committee to advance the contempt resolution. Trump, who faces his own scrutiny regarding Epstein connections and may be concerned about establishing a precedent for compelling former presidents to testify, has shown unusual sympathy for the Clintons.
He told NBC News that it “bothers me that somebody is going after Bill Clinton.” He has called Hillary Clinton “a very capable woman.”
Even Hutchinson, who helped build the case for Bill Clinton’s impeachment, expressed compassion for the couple.
“It’s frustrating and disappointing that President Clinton and Secretary Clinton are having to go through this fact-finding ordeal,” he said. “That’s difficult for them.”
During Tuesday evening’s State of the Union speech, President Donald Trump orchestrated what many are calling a calculated political ambush targeting Democratic lawmakers. Midway through his address to Congress, Trump issued a direct challenge: rise to your feet if you believe safeguarding American citizens, rather than ‘illegal aliens,’ should be the government’s primary obligation.
The orchestrated confrontation may become the defining moment of what was already an exceptionally lengthy presidential address. Trump’s Republican supporters are certainly hoping it will be.
Democratic members of Congress who chose to attend the speech found themselves trapped in an impossible scenario. They could either show support for a president their party opposes, or risk appearing unpatriotic in what was clearly designed as campaign material.
‘One of the great things about the State of Union is how it gives Americans a chance to see clearly what their representatives really believe,’ Trump declared. He then issued his ultimatum: ‘If you agree with this statement, then stand up and show your support: The first duty of the American government is to protect American citizens. Not illegal aliens.’
The president’s words immediately created visible battle lines throughout the congressional chamber, reflecting the broader divisions across America.
Trump’s entire speech demonstrated the unique theatrical power available to any sitting president, particularly one with his background in entertainment. He honored military veterans while connecting their service to America’s upcoming 250th birthday celebration. He highlighted the U.S. men’s hockey team’s Olympic victory and delivered emotional moments, including introducing the widow of murdered activist Charlie Kirk.
However, no other segment of the address generated the impact of Trump’s sit-or-stand ultimatum.
Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson immediately jumped up behind the president. Republican legislators throughout the chamber followed suit with enthusiastic applause. Nearly every Democratic lawmaker remained in their seats, some appearing uncomfortable while others stared ahead stoically.
‘Isn’t that a shame?’ Trump responded. ‘You should be ashamed of yourself, not standing up.’
The confrontation exemplified Trump’s signature style as a former reality TV personality who has incorporated dramatic moments into his political leadership. His next test will be using this divisive approach to help Republicans in upcoming midterm elections, as the party works to maintain congressional control.
The moment seemed tailor-made for Trump supporters to share across social media platforms and preserve for future campaign advertisements. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller posted on X: ‘The entire Democrat Party disqualified itself from government service in this one exchange. Nothing like it in U.S. history.’
Fox News host Lawrence Jones commented Wednesday morning: ‘This is your Democratic Party right here. The entire speech was riddled with test questions for Democrats.’ He argued Democrats don’t view people ‘with different stripes’ as legitimate Americans.
CNN analyst Van Jones dismissed the moment as pure theatrics. ‘If he would have said ‘Stand up if you like puppies,’ they would have said, ‘We like kittens.’ I mean, there was no way they were going to stand up. He was just trying to make Democrats look bad.’
While gathering reactions from Saginaw, Michigan residents, Jones questioned a panel member about what he would have done as a Democrat in that situation. The man avoided directly answering initially. When pressed again, he replied: ‘I would have respected our country and I would have stood to my standards. I would have stayed to who I am.’
During a Fox News interview Wednesday, host Bill Hemmer asked Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman whether he stood during that particular moment.
Fetterman explained he stood when Trump recognized a crime victim’s mother, a freed Venezuelan political prisoner, and Erika Kirk. He also stood for military veterans. However, he avoided directly answering Hemmer’s specific question about the controversial challenge.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer deflected when CNN asked about the moment. ‘We agree we need to protect Americans,’ Schumer said. ‘He’s not. By his reckless ICE agency in Minnesota, two Americans were killed. Americans are being pulled out of their car and beaten.’
The confrontation showcased Trump’s television communication abilities, developed during his years starring in ‘The Apprentice’ before entering politics, according to Robert Thompson, director of Syracuse University’s Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture. ‘However we feel about the politics and craziness,’ Thompson explained, ‘he has a real sense of rhetorical timing. He can play a room.’
Thompson noted that Democrats were caught unprepared, forced into a role they never agreed to play. With more time to consider their response, he suggested, they might have simply rolled their eyes and stood up anyway.
That approach might have worked if Trump had only mentioned the government’s duty to protect American citizens, said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania.
But Trump went further than that. By framing the choice as citizens versus ‘illegal aliens’ — terminology many find offensive — he changed the entire dynamic, Jamieson explained. While the challenge may have energized Trump’s base supporters, she predicted independents and Democrats would recognize it as a trap.
‘I don’t think the Democrats had any choice,’ Jamieson concluded. ‘But here’s a potential implication: You may see a higher number of Democrats not attending future State of the Union addresses.’
Democratic strategist Xochitl Hinojosa argued her party couldn’t participate in characterizing any immigrant as subhuman. While Trump achieved a visual moment ‘that might end up being on Fox News all day,’ she said it doesn’t alter negative public opinion about his immigration policies and the ICE operation in Minneapolis where two Americans died.
David Axelrod, former President Barack Obama’s communications director, said Trump’s objective was provoking a reaction. He dismissed concerns that Democrats made a lasting error, even if Trump achieved his immediate goal.
‘He’s on the defense now’ regarding the economy and immigration issues, Axelrod observed. ‘It will be interesting to see how it plays out.’
Democratic strategist Antjuan Seawright from South Carolina, who occasionally advises House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, characterized the sit-or-stand challenge as a ‘distraction moment’ for Trump.
‘I think,’ Seawright concluded, ‘the members who ignored the president did our party a favor.’
BOSTON — A married couple from Massachusetts has resolved their legal battle with eBay following a terrifying harassment ordeal that involved former company workers sending them live bugs, death threats, and other disturbing items to their home.
David and Ina Steiner, residents of Natick who operate EcommerceBytes, an online publication covering the e-commerce sector, filed their federal lawsuit in Boston back in 2021. The couple alleged that eBay orchestrated a campaign designed to “intimidate, threaten to kill, torture, terrorize, stalk and silence them” as retaliation for their news coverage of the online marketplace giant.
According to court documents, the Steiners endured digital stalking, threats on their lives, and physical surveillance conducted by former eBay staff members. The harassment campaign included anonymous packages containing live cockroaches and spiders, a funeral arrangement, and a bloodied pig mask delivered to their residence.
Boston federal Judge Patti Saris officially closed the case Wednesday following the settlement agreement, though either party has 60 days to reopen proceedings if the deal falls through. The financial terms of the resolution remain confidential.
eBay representatives declined to provide additional comment beyond referencing the court’s dismissal order. However, when the lawsuit was initially filed, the company acknowledged that “the misconduct of these former employees was wrong” and pledged to “do what is fair and appropriate to try to address what the Steiners went through.”
The harassment scheme came to light in 2020 when federal authorities brought charges against seven ex-eBay workers. Prosecutors alleged the group launched their intimidation campaign after becoming upset over the couple’s newsletter reporting. The majority of those charged entered guilty pleas to conspiracy and cyberstalking charges, resulting in prison sentences or home detention.
Beyond the disturbing deliveries, investigators revealed that the former employees also had adult magazines sent to a neighbor’s address with the husband’s name attached and plotted to secretly place a tracking device on the couple’s vehicle by breaking into their garage.
eBay Corporation agreed to pay $3 million in criminal penalties to federal prosecutors in 2024 as part of a deferred prosecution arrangement.
A Texas grand jury declined Wednesday to issue criminal charges against a federal immigration officer who shot and killed an American citizen during a traffic encounter last March, according to local prosecutors.
Ruben Ray Martinez was fatally shot by a Homeland Security Investigations agent on March 15, 2025. The Department of Homeland Security kept the incident under wraps until news organizations including The Associated Press brought it to light last week.
Cameron County District Attorney’s Office released a brief statement confirming the grand jury’s decision not to pursue indictments after reviewing the case. Officials provided no further explanation for the determination.
According to DHS officials, Martinez “intentionally ran over a Homeland Security Investigation special agent,” prompting another officer to discharge “defensive shots to protect himself, his fellow agents, and the general public.”
This incident represents the first in a series of at least six fatal encounters involving federal law enforcement since President Donald Trump’s administration began its intensified immigration enforcement efforts.
However, a passenger traveling with Martinez has challenged the government’s version of events. Joshua Orta, who witnessed the shooting, provided a conflicting account in a preliminary sworn statement prepared last year, according to lawyers representing Martinez’s relatives. Tragically, Orta died in an automobile accident over the weekend.
The two men were visiting South Padre Island when they approached an intersection where local police and federal agents were managing traffic flow around a vehicle collision, based on Orta’s preliminary statement.
According to the draft testimony, Orta maintained that Martinez never struck any officer with their vehicle, describing their car as moving at a crawl when a federal agent opened fire through the driver’s window without issuing any verbal warnings or commands for compliance.
Legal representatives for Martinez’s family have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the grand jury’s decision.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un declared that the future of diplomatic ties between Pyongyang and Washington rests completely on how the United States chooses to approach his regime, according to reports from state-controlled media KCNA released Thursday.
The hermit kingdom staged a military parade Wednesday evening as part of celebrations marking the conclusion of a significant party gathering, state media reported.
Kim brought North Korea’s Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party to a close on Wednesday, announcing that the assembly had established major policy objectives for the nuclear-armed nation over the coming half-decade.
According to KCNA, Kim stated: “We have a prospective plan to strengthen our national nuclear force, and will focus on projects to increase the number of nuclear weapons and expand nuclear operational means and space for use.”
The North Korean leader suggested diplomatic possibilities with Washington, telling state media: “If the U.S. withdraws its policy of confrontation with North Korea by respecting our country’s current status… there is no reason why we cannot get along well with the U.S.”
Kim has yet to respond to diplomatic approaches from U.S. President Donald Trump, despite the two leaders holding three face-to-face meetings during Trump’s previous presidency.
In stark contrast to his measured tone regarding America, Kim delivered harsh words about South Korea, branding it the “most hostile enemy” and dismissing any possibility of negotiations with Seoul. He warned that North Korea “can initiate arbitrary action” should South Korea engage in “obnoxious behaviour” while facing the nuclear-armed North.
Kim went further in his threats against the South, declaring that “South Korea’s complete collapse cannot be ruled out,” according to KCNA’s reporting.
Telecommunications company AT&T has reached a settlement agreement with four New York City public pension funds, resolving a dispute over shareholder voting rights on workforce diversity disclosure.
The Dallas-based company will now allow its shareholders to vote on whether AT&T should publicly reveal demographic information about its 133,000 employees, including breakdowns by race, ethnicity, and gender.
New York City Comptroller Mark Levine made the settlement announcement on Wednesday, just over a week after the pension funds filed legal action. The lawsuit aimed to prevent AT&T from excluding their diversity-focused proposal from the company’s 2026 annual shareholder meeting.
The pension funds involved include the New York City Employees’ Retirement System along with retirement funds for police officers, teachers, and other educational workers. These groups argued that AT&T’s resistance to their proposal came after the Securities and Exchange Commission changed its policies in November, making it easier for corporations to exclude shareholder proposals by claiming a “reasonable basis” for doing so.
“Today’s settlement is a major win for investors amid ongoing attempts to undermine transparency and accountability,” Levine stated. “AT&T shareholders will now have the responsibility to vote on our proposal that requests disclosure of clear and detailed data to help investors better assess its efforts to advance equal opportunity.”
AT&T has not yet provided a response to requests for comment following the settlement announcement.
The case highlights a broader trend where corporations frequently petition the SEC for permission to exclude shareholder proposals from voting ballots. Companies typically receive approval for such requests approximately half the time, with hundreds of these requests submitted annually.
This settlement occurs during a period when numerous corporations have scaled back their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives following President Donald Trump’s announcement of a federal crackdown on such programs shortly after beginning his second presidential term.
President Donald Trump launched a social media attack Wednesday against two Muslim Democratic congresswomen following their disruptive outbursts during his State of the Union speech the night before.
Representatives Ilhan Omar from Minnesota and Rashida Tlaib from Michigan interrupted Trump’s address Tuesday evening as he highlighted his administration’s strict immigration policies and enforcement measures. The lawmakers yelled “you’re killing Americans” at the president, with Omar also shouting “liar” during the speech.
Trump responded with harsh criticism on his Truth Social platform Wednesday, describing the two representatives as having “the bulging, bloodshot eyes of crazy people, LUNATICS, mentally deranged and sick who, frankly, look like they should be institutionalized.”
“We should send them back from where they came — as fast as possible,” Trump wrote, despite both Omar and Tlaib being United States citizens.
The confrontation stemmed from the lawmakers’ opposition to Trump’s immigration crackdown, which has faced scrutiny after two deadly incidents in January where federal agents fatally shot U.S. citizens in Minnesota. Immigration detention facilities have recorded at least eight deaths since early 2026, adding to 31 fatalities documented last year.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries condemned Trump’s remarks as “xenophobic” and “disgraceful.” Tlaib responded on social media platform X, saying Trump’s comments demonstrated “he is crashing out.”
The Council on American-Islamic Relations labeled the president’s statements as racist. “It’s racist and bigoted to say two Muslim U.S. lawmakers should be sent to the country they were born in or where their ancestors came from based on their criticism of the gunning down of Americans by ICE,” stated CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell.
During Tuesday’s address, Trump repeated accusations against Somali communities regarding fraud and claimed “Somali pirates” had damaged Minnesota. His administration has deployed armed federal immigration officers to Minnesota citing these fraud allegations.
The White House has not provided comment on the latest controversy. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt previously stated that media outlets have unfairly “smeared” the president with racism accusations.
Civil rights organizations argue Trump’s enforcement actions have fostered an atmosphere of fear and that he exploits individual fraud cases to justify broader immigrant targeting. Critics also question his commitment to fighting fraud, pointing to his past pardons of individuals with fraud convictions.
This incident follows recent criticism of Trump after his social media account shared a video containing racist portrayals of former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama.
WASHINGTON – Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday that American intelligence has detected indicators suggesting Iran is working to restore its nuclear capabilities following strikes conducted by U.S.-led forces on Iranian nuclear facilities in June.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly stated that the June military operations successfully eliminated Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and has vowed to prevent Tehran from rebuilding the program.
“The principle is very simple: Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon,” Vance stated during a press briefing on Wednesday, speaking one day before scheduled diplomatic discussions in Geneva involving American and Iranian representatives.
According to Vance, U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner are set to conduct meetings with an Iranian delegation in Geneva on Thursday to determine if a diplomatic solution can be achieved, while American military forces maintain a substantial presence throughout the region.
The University of Delaware men’s basketball squad is making the journey south to Alabama for an upcoming game against Jacksonville State University.
The Blue Hens will take their talents on the road as they prepare to face the Gamecocks in what promises to be an important matchup for the team’s continued progress this season.
Delaware’s starting lineup will be looking to build momentum as they venture into hostile territory for this interstate competition.
Federal regulators announced Wednesday they are examining the increasing trend of live sporting events moving away from traditional free television to paid streaming platforms and subscription services.
The Federal Communications Commission is seeking public feedback on potential actions the agency “could take to ensure continued access by viewers to live sports through free over-the-air broadcast TV.” Officials are also questioning whether existing sports broadcasting contracts interfere with television stations’ obligations to serve the public interest.
The commission highlighted the dramatic financial evolution in sports broadcasting, noting that the National Football League signed a two-year deal with CBS in 1961 worth $9.8 million, while current NFL media agreements exceed $10 billion annually.
“Broadcast television stations used the popularity of live sports and the advertising revenues from the programming to support their own industry and operations, including funding the local news and reporting that are so important to our country,” the agency stated.
When contacted for response Wednesday, the NFL defended its distribution approach, stating that more than 87% of games appear on free broadcast television, with all games available on free TV in the home markets of competing teams.
“The NFL has the most accessible, fan-friendly distribution model across all of sports and entertainment,” the league responded in an official statement.
Representatives from Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and major television networks did not provide immediate responses to requests for comment.
A 1961 federal law provides major sports leagues with antitrust exemptions, enabling them to combine individual team television rights and market those rights collectively.
The FCC pointed out that the NFL maintains broadcasting agreements with multiple companies including Walt Disney (ABC’s parent company), Paramount (CBS owner), Fox Corporation, NBCUniversal, NFL Network, Amazon, and Google. These contracts are expected to generate over $100 billion in rights fees throughout their duration.
According to the commission, numerous sporting events that were previously accessible through free broadcast television or standard cable packages are now exclusively available through individual streaming subscriptions, creating frustration among sports fans.
The FCC reported that NFL games appeared across 10 different platforms last year, with estimates suggesting consumers might spend more than $1,500 annually to access all games.
Venezuela’s top prosecutor has stepped down from his position after nearly a decade of service, according to an announcement from the country’s National Assembly on Wednesday.
Attorney General Tarek Saab, 63, submitted his resignation letter along with the nation’s ombudsman, ending a tenure that began in 2017. During his time in office, Saab oversaw the government’s handling of significant corruption investigations and the detention of numerous opposition leaders and demonstrators, many of whom human rights organizations claim were wrongfully imprisoned.
The distinctive prosecutor, known for his extensive tattoos and background as a published poet, has consistently rejected claims that Venezuela detains political prisoners. In a recent interview with Reuters, Saab expressed optimism that a newly enacted amnesty law would create a “100% pacified” nation.
“I call them prisoners, I don’t give anything any additional label,” Saab stated to Reuters earlier this month. “They are detainees for actions that at the time were documented.”
These comments echoed previous statements Saab made in 2024, prior to mass arrests following protests surrounding a disputed presidential election that resulted in thousands of detentions.
Assembly secretary Maria Alejandra Hernandez formally announced the resignations during Wednesday’s session. “The National Assembly received communications addressed to lawmaker Jorge Rodriguez Gomez, president of this legislature, signed by: first, citizen Tarek William Saab, by which he submits his resignation from the post of Attorney General of the Republic; and second, citizen Alfredo Ruiz Angulo, by which he submits his resignation from the post of Ombudsman,” Hernandez stated.
Rodriguez, who is the brother of acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez, indicated that temporary officials will be appointed to fill both positions while permanent successors are selected. Saab did not respond to requests for comment regarding his departure.
The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission announced Wednesday that it possesses complete authority to investigate and prosecute illegal activities within prediction markets, after a major trading platform reported discovering insider trading violations.
The federal agency stated it maintains “full authority” to address such violations in event market contracts, referencing Kalshi’s disclosure that the company had identified and suspended trader accounts connected to two separate insider trading incidents.
Worries about insider trading within these emerging but expanding markets have been increasing, with a senior Justice Department official recently identifying them as a prime target for enforcement actions. State gaming authorities have also attempted to regulate these markets, which directly compete with casinos and established betting companies.
In a recent court document, the CFTC asserted it holds exclusive oversight over these markets, intensifying its conflict with state regulators.
Firms registered under CFTC oversight, including Kalshi, are generally required to help monitor misconduct within their platforms and report violations to the federal agency.
Both the CFTC and Kalshi declined to provide immediate responses when contacted for further details.
Video conferencing company Zoom Communications announced Wednesday that its upcoming quarterly earnings will likely miss Wall Street projections, as the firm faces mounting pressure from competitors and cautious corporate spending habits.
The company’s stock dropped almost 3% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Zoom finds itself under increasing pressure from competing platforms like Microsoft’s Teams and Google Meet from Alphabet, both of which are packaged with comprehensive workplace software suites that frequently offer more cost-effective solutions for business clients.
Even with efforts to expand its product lineup, Zoom continues to struggle with declining growth rates as the pandemic-driven remote work trend fades and workers head back to traditional office settings.
Although the company’s enterprise division has maintained stability, its online division, which caters to individual users and smaller companies, continues to underperform.
During the fourth quarter, Zoom’s online division generated $489.7 million in revenue, while customer turnover rates saw a slight uptick compared to the previous year.
The entire software industry has faced challenges in recent months as investors wait for clearer understanding of artificial intelligence’s effects and possible disruptions to existing business models.
Although Zoom has introduced numerous AI-powered features to boost growth, the company’s technology investments may put strain on its operating profit margins.
The company projects first-quarter revenue will range from $1.22 billion to $1.23 billion, matching analysts’ average prediction of $1.22 billion based on LSEG data.
Adjusted earnings per share are expected to fall between $1.40 and $1.42, which is lower than the estimated $1.45.
Motorists traveling through the Phillips Hill Road area will need to find alternate routes as Jones Store Road remains blocked due to a fallen tree.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report the roadway is currently impassable in the vicinity of Phillips Hill Road as crews work to remove the tree obstruction.
Drivers are advised to avoid the area and use alternative routes until the roadway can be safely reopened. No timeline has been provided for when the road closure will be lifted.
Wall Street continued its upward momentum Wednesday, marking the second straight day of solid gains as technology stocks led another market rally and investors showed renewed interest in assets that had recently fallen out of favor, including precious metals and digital currencies.
The market’s attention focused heavily on quarterly earnings from Nvidia, the world’s most valuable company with a market capitalization exceeding $4 trillion. The chip manufacturer’s financial reports have become as closely watched as major economic indicators like employment and inflation data.
Nvidia exceeded expectations once again, reporting fourth-quarter revenue of $68.13 billion that surpassed analyst predictions. The company projected revenue would climb to $78 billion in the current quarter, well above the average analyst forecast of $72.6 billion. Nvidia shares jumped 4% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
The technology sector as a whole gained 1.8%, while other standout performers included Coinbase, which surged 13.5%, and Super Micro Computer, up 8%. However, Lowe’s declined 5.5% after issuing cautious guidance, pulling the real estate sector down 0.7%.
International markets also showed strength, with Taiwan, South Korea, Brazil, and Japan’s Nikkei all reaching new record highs. South Korean stocks have been particularly impressive this year, climbing 45% year-to-date, while broader emerging market indices have posted double-digit gains.
Currency markets saw notable movement as well. China’s onshore yuan extended its winning streak to nine consecutive days, its longest rally since 2010. The Korean won emerged as the top-performing major currency, gaining 1%, while the dollar weakened and the Japanese yen continued to struggle among major currencies. Bitcoin added 8% to its value.
In commodities, oil prices edged slightly higher, while precious metals showed strong performance with silver climbing 4% and platinum advancing 6%.
Meanwhile, Japan made surprising policy moves as the government nominated two academic economists to the Bank of Japan’s board, both considered policy doves who favor accommodative monetary conditions. This development may disappoint those expecting the central bank to continue normalizing its ultra-loose monetary policy.
Looking ahead, several key events could influence market direction, including South Korea’s interest rate decision, speeches from European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde and Federal Reserve Vice Chair Michelle Bowman, and the release of U.S. weekly unemployment claims data.
The current market environment reflects what Goldman Sachs describes as the loosest financial conditions in emerging markets in four years, creating what analysts call a self-reinforcing cycle of strong domestic equity performance, dollar weakness, and stable Treasury markets.
Australia’s national airline Qantas Airways exceeded Wall Street expectations Thursday when it announced first-half earnings that outperformed analyst predictions, driven by continued strength in passenger travel demand.
The carrier’s financial success stemmed from steady customer demand across both its premium services and low-cost options, according to company reports released February 26th.
Strong passenger numbers on both domestic Australian routes and international flights, expanded service to overseas destinations, and the addition of new planes to its fleet all contributed to Qantas’s positive performance during the first six months of its fiscal year.
Company executives indicated they anticipate reservation levels to remain steady throughout their route network for the remainder of 2024.
The airline’s domestic operations saw revenue climb 5% due to increased flight capacity, while Jetstar, Qantas’s budget subsidiary, experienced a significant 38% increase in core operating profits for its domestic services.
These strong results enabled Australia’s primary airline to achieve underlying pre-tax earnings of A$1.46 billion (equivalent to $1.04 billion USD), surpassing the Visible Alpha analyst consensus forecast of A$1.42 billion and exceeding the A$1.39 billion earned during the same period last year.
In addition to the earnings announcement, Qantas revealed plans for a share repurchase program worth up to A$150 million and declared an interim shareholder dividend of 19.8 Australian cents per share.
NEW YORK – Federal officials are preventing Venezuela’s government from covering the legal costs for Nicolas Maduro as the ousted leader battles drug trafficking charges in a New York courtroom, according to his defense attorney.
Both Maduro and his spouse Cilia Flores entered not guilty pleas on January 5 to narcotics charges that could result in lengthy federal prison sentences. The pair remains in custody in New York while awaiting their trial proceedings.
Defense attorney Barry Pollack informed U.S. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein in court documents that Treasury officials initially approved an exemption to Venezuela sanctions on January 9, permitting the country to cover Maduro’s attorney fees. However, authorities withdrew that approval just hours afterward without providing any justification.
According to Pollack, “Venezuelan law and custom” requires the government to cover presidential and first lady expenses.
“The government of Venezuela has an obligation to pay Mr. Maduro’s fees, Mr. Maduro has a legitimate expectation that the government of Venezuela would do so, and Mr. Maduro cannot otherwise afford counsel,” Pollack stated in his February 20 letter that became public Wednesday.
Representatives from the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office handling the prosecution refused to provide comment. Treasury Department officials have not yet responded to inquiries about the matter.
American special operations forces apprehended Maduro and Flores during a nighttime operation in Caracas on January 3, culminating months of pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration demanding the socialist leader resign. Federal prosecutors allege Maduro misused his authority to assist drug trafficking operations throughout his 13-year rule.
Following Maduro’s arrest, former Vice President Delcy Rodriguez has assumed control of Venezuela’s government. During his January 5 court hearing, Maduro maintained his claim as the nation’s rightful president.
Pollack indicated that Flores may still be eligible to receive government funding for her legal representation. Her attorney Mark Donnelly has not yet commented on the situation.
Pollack gained prominence representing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, who admitted guilt to charges of conspiring to obtain and reveal classified military information.
Computer chip manufacturer Nvidia announced Wednesday it anticipates first-quarter sales will exceed Wall Street expectations, as major technology companies continue their heavy investment in artificial intelligence processors despite growing questions about these massive expenditures.
The company’s stock price climbed more than 3% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
The world’s most valuable corporation projects sales of approximately $78 billion for the upcoming fiscal first quarter, with a margin of error of 2%. This figure surpasses the average analyst prediction of $72.60 billion, based on LSEG research data.
Market watchers are closely examining Nvidia’s performance to determine if the hundreds of billions being invested by major tech firms in data center infrastructure is generating returns.
“Our customers are racing to invest in AI compute — the factories powering the AI industrial revolution and their future growth,” stated CEO Jensen Huang.
Financial markets have been anticipating strong sales figures for Nvidia’s premium AI processing units, supported by substantial capital investments from technology leaders including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon.com, and Meta Platforms. These companies are projected to spend at least $630 billion by 2026, with the majority allocated to data centers and processors.
Companies and government entities worldwide are investing heavily in the competition to create the most advanced AI technology, fearing they might otherwise fall behind.
However, potential threats to Nvidia’s long-standing leadership in AI chip manufacturing are beginning to surface. Competitor AMD plans to introduce a new premier AI server this year and has secured contracts with some of Nvidia’s major clients, including Meta.
Additionally, Alphabet’s Google has become a significant competitor through an agreement to supply Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, with its proprietary chips known as TPUs. Media sources indicate Google is also negotiating to provide chips to Meta.
Major technology companies are increasingly developing their own solutions for enhanced computing capabilities, investing in creating proprietary chips for deployment in their data facilities.
For the January quarter, Nvidia reported revenue of $68.13 billion, surpassing projections of $66.21 billion according to LSEG information. The company announced adjusted earnings of $1.62 per share, exceeding the estimated $1.53 per share.
In the highly anticipated earnings report, released approximately 10 minutes behind schedule, Nvidia indicated its current quarter projections do not account for anticipated revenue from data center chip sales to China.
Nevertheless, the company disclosed it obtained permits this month from the U.S. government to deliver “small amounts” of its H200 processors to Chinese customers.
Market analysts and investors had been anticipating the possible resumption of Nvidia’s AI chip sales to China, which were previously limited due to U.S. government export restrictions.
Last month, Huang expressed optimism that China would permit the company to market its advanced H200 AI processor in the country, noting that licensing was in final stages.
Competitor AMD has reintroduced AI chip sales to its current quarter outlook after obtaining authorization to ship modified processors to China.
Nvidia announced it has obtained sufficient inventory and production capacity to satisfy demand for multiple upcoming quarters.
The company also revealed it will incorporate stock-based compensation costs in its non-GAAP financial reporting, departing from standard industry practices during a period when technology companies are competing intensely for leading AI engineers and researchers.
“Stock-based compensation is a foundational component of Nvidia’s compensation program to attract and retain world-class talent,” the company stated.
Following a deadly avalanche incident, how do authorities go about examining the specific circumstances and extracting valuable lessons from the tragedy?
The investigation process extends well beyond simply examining snow and weather conditions, as officials work to piece together the complex factors that contributed to the fatal event.
FBI Director Kash Patel is coming under fire from Democratic lawmakers and other critics who are questioning his use of government-funded aircraft for official travel.
The controversy surrounds concerns about whether taxpayer dollars are being properly utilized for the director’s transportation expenses on federal jets.
Critics are calling for greater transparency and accountability regarding how public funds are being allocated for high-ranking officials’ travel arrangements.
Federal energy officials announced Wednesday they have approved a historic $27 billion loan package for electric utility companies in Georgia and Alabama, with officials claiming the massive funding will help reduce customer costs while companies expand their power infrastructure to meet growing demand from computer data centers.
Georgia Power will receive $22.4 billion while Alabama Power gets $4.1 billion from the loan package. Both companies operate under Southern Company, an Atlanta-based utility giant that ranks among the country’s largest power providers. The utilities plan to spend the money constructing new natural gas power facilities, building additional transmission infrastructure, and modernizing current power plants.
According to Energy Secretary Chris Wright, the loan arrangement will generate more than $7 billion in customer savings over multiple decades through reduced, government-subsidized interest rates.
“We’re focused on driving down costs,” Wright stated. He emphasized that the loan would guarantee Southern Company customers “have access to affordable, reliable and secure energy for decades to come.”
Both Wright and President Donald Trump have consistently promoted their fossil fuel-supporting policies as essential for maintaining electric grid reliability nationwide. This includes recent directives over nine months to prevent coal plant closures beyond their scheduled shutdown dates.
Wright claims these directives have protected utility customers from millions in costs and maintained power during January’s winter storm. However, opponents argue the orders are unwarranted and have increased electric bills by forcing utilities to operate older, costlier facilities.
“These loans will help lower the cost of investments in our grid that will enhance reliability and resilience for the benefit of our customers,” stated Chris Womack, Southern Company’s chairman, president and CEO.
The loan announcement comes during increased examination of rising utility costs, as electricity rates have climbed faster than inflation across numerous states. Additionally, widespread resistance has emerged against new artificial intelligence data centers.
During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, Trump unveiled a “ratepayer protection pledge” targeting higher utility costs linked to AI development. He indicated technology companies would supply their own electricity when constructing data centers, though Trump offered no specifics while promising price reductions.
While no confirmation exists regarding tech company commitments to construct independent power facilities, Wright told reporters Wednesday that “every name you know that’s developing a data center has been in dialogue with us.”
He mentioned “cooperation” from major corporations including Microsoft, Google and Meta, though he provided no details about formal written commitments.
Government utility loans have a long history, including $12 billion in loan guarantees from both the initial Trump administration and President Barack Obama’s administration for two expensive nuclear reactors at Georgia’s Plant Vogtle, which Georgia Power partially owns.
Trump’s recent tax and budget legislation modified the loan program to emphasize expanding electricity generation and transmission capacity. Under President Joe Biden, loan guarantees prioritized environmental energy objectives.
Gregory Beard, who leads the recently renamed Office of Energy Dominance Financing, said Wednesday that reducing interest rates while abandoning Biden’s approach “will get us back on the right track in terms of affordability.”
The loan office will examine individual projects for financial viability, he explained. “We’re not going to build this plant or deploy this capital until we are sure that it’s the right thing to do for the local community, for the local ratepayer,” Beard said during an interview.
However, these requirements appear absent from loan documents Southern Company released Wednesday. Jennifer Whitfield, a Southern Environmental Law Center attorney who represented opponents of Georgia Power’s expansion, acknowledged the loans would benefit Georgians financially but questioned their prudence.
“As a taxpayer, it’s hard to avoid the fact that this is a bailout paid for by every taxpaying citizen of the United States,” she commented.
Customer savings require approval from elected Public Service Commissions in both Alabama and Georgia. Commissioners approved a three-year rate freeze for Georgia Power last July, while Alabama commissioners authorized a two-year freeze in December. Company representatives highlight these freezes amid record rate increase requests by utilities nationwide. Critics argue company-supportive regulators have maintained elevated prices and utility profits.
Georgia voters removed two Republican commission incumbents in November over concerns about increasing bills.
Commissioner Peter Hubbard, among two newly elected Democrats, recently attempted unsuccessfully to reverse approval for Georgia Power’s expansion plans. He argued Wednesday that decreasing costs for solar, wind and battery technologies could render new natural gas facilities economically unfeasible over time.
“It’s locking us into a costlier option,” he said regarding the federal loan. “And so I think it just is not meeting the moment of affordability.”
Cuban authorities announced Wednesday that their military personnel fatally shot four individuals traveling on a speedboat registered in Florida after those aboard the vessel fired weapons at Cuban forces in territorial waters.
The Caribbean nation’s Interior Ministry released a brief statement regarding the deadly encounter, specifying that the confrontation took place approximately one mile northeast of Cayo Falcones along Cuba’s northern coastline.
Authorities have not confirmed whether any American citizens were among those on the watercraft.
While Cuban officials disclosed the vessel’s registration information, The Associated Press could not immediately confirm boat ownership details since Florida does not make watercraft registration records available to the public.
According to the ministry’s account, the incident resulted in injuries to one Cuban military member, four fatalities among the boat’s occupants, and six additional people wounded.
The purpose behind the boat’s presence in Cuban territorial waters remains unknown.
In their official statement, ministry representatives said Cuba’s administration was “safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance confirmed Wednesday evening that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had briefed him regarding the incident. Vance noted that the White House was keeping watch over developments but refused to share additional information.
“Hopefully it’s not as bad as we fear it could be,” Vance said.
Florida’s attorney general, James Uthmeier, announced he has directed prosecutors to collaborate with federal, state and law enforcement agencies to launch an investigation.
“The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable,” he wrote on X.
Florida Representative Carlos A. Gimenez condemned the four deaths and labeled the Cuban administration as murderers.
“This regime must be relegated to the dust bin of history!” he wrote on X.
Confrontations between Cuba’s maritime forces and American-flagged speedboats operating in Cuban waters occur regularly, though recent incidents involving gunfire from passengers or resulting in deaths have not been documented.
Historically, some American-registered vessels have carried unspecified cargo toward the island nation or attempted to transport Cuban nationals illegally into United States territory.
U.S. Coast Guard representatives did not respond immediately to requests for information. Both the Pentagon and Department of Homeland Security referred inquiries to the State Department, which has not yet provided a response.
This confrontation unfolds amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana following increased pressure from the Trump administration. The two nations previously worked together on anti-drug trafficking efforts and other criminal matters but have discontinued such cooperation.
WASHINGTON — On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance declared that the Trump administration will “temporarily halt” certain Medicaid payments to Minnesota due to suspected fraudulent activity, marking part of what he characterized as an intensive campaign against the abuse of taxpayer dollars.
The Medicaid program serves as America’s healthcare lifeline for individuals with low incomes. By the end of 2025, approximately 70 million Americans were participating in the program across the nation.
Speaking alongside Dr. Mehmet Oz, who heads the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Vance explained the administration was implementing this measure “in order to ensure that the state of Minnesota takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people’s tax money.”
This Wednesday action represents one component of the Trump administration’s broader initiative to expose fraudulent activities nationwide. The push follows accusations of fraudulent behavior involving daycare facilities operated by Somali residents in Minneapolis, which led to an extensive immigration enforcement operation in the Minnesota city and sparked widespread demonstrations.
Last month, Oz released a social media video claiming billions in fraudulent hospice and home healthcare activities in Los Angeles. California Democratic leaders criticized Oz for the video, where he appeared outside an Armenian bakery while alleging, without supporting documentation, that much of the fraudulent activity was “run by the Russian Armenian mafia.”
During a Wednesday interview on Fox News Channel, Vance revealed that both the Justice Department and Treasury Department would participate in the anti-fraud efforts, including examining tax documentation to identify fraudulent schemes.
“There’s a whole host of tools that we have never used,” Vance stated.
NEW YORK (AP) — Disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein has assembled a new defense team featuring attorneys who represent Luigi Mangione and Sean “Diddy” Combs as he prepares for his third New York rape trial.
Court documents filed Tuesday confirmed that attorneys Jacob Kaplan, Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos will now handle Weinstein’s defense. They are replacing his previous attorney Arthur Aidala, who will shift his focus to handling the former studio executive’s appeals and civil litigation matters.
Kaplan previously served on Weinstein’s original defense team in 2018 and is anticipated to play a key role in the upcoming trial. The case centers on allegations that the Oscar-winning producer sexually assaulted hairstylist and actor Jessica Mann at a Manhattan hotel in 2013.
During a January court appearance, Weinstein maintained his innocence, stating he “never assaulted anyone” and expressing that his “spirit was breaking” after spending nearly six years in prison.
The trial was originally scheduled to begin March 3 but has been delayed without a new date set. Weinstein is scheduled to appear in court March 4 for a status update. The legal team changes were first disclosed by Law360.
Kaplan and Agnifilo currently serve as defense counsel for Mangione in both state and federal proceedings related to the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. The attorneys successfully had terrorism charges dismissed in the state case and prevented the death penalty from being sought in federal court.
Agnifilo and Geragos previously defended Combs, securing a mixed verdict with acquittals on sex trafficking and racketeering counts. They are currently among the legal team defending wealthy siblings Alon, Oren and Tal Alexander in their Manhattan federal sex trafficking case.
All three attorneys work as partners at the Manhattan-based firm Agnifilo Intrater.
“Harvey believes that, after two prior trials on this matter, a recalibrated outlook and strategic approach offers the most effective path forward,” stated Weinstein spokesperson Juda Engelmayer.
Last June’s retrial produced a complicated outcome: Weinstein was found guilty of forcing oral sex on Miriam Haley, cleared of similar charges involving Kaja Sokola, while jurors failed to reach a decision on the rape charge concerning Mann. The deliberation process collapsed when the jury foreman declined to continue participating.
The Associated Press typically withholds the names of alleged sexual assault victims unless they provide consent, which Haley, Sokola and Mann have all granted.
Weinstein’s legal team contended that the retrial outcome was compromised by conflicts and intimidation among jury members. However, Judge Curtis Farber, who will preside over the third trial, dismissed these claims and told Weinstein during the January hearing: “You had a fair trial.”
Weinstein’s initial 2020 trial resulted in convictions for raping Mann and sexually assaulting Haley, but New York’s top court reversed those verdicts and mandated last year’s retrial. The Court of Appeals determined that Weinstein’s case was compromised by testimony regarding accusations not directly related to the charges.
The transition between Weinstein and Aidala, who handled the appeal and represented him in both previous trials, appears to have been mutually agreed upon and cordial.
“Our work does not end here,” Aidala commented. “We will continue to advocate forcefully on his behalf in the appellate courts, where we are confident that serious legal errors will be addressed and his most significant conviction will ultimately be overturned.”
The timing of Weinstein’s trial may be influenced by his new attorneys’ busy schedules, including Mangione’s state trial set to commence June 8. Prosecutors estimate that even with only Mann as an accuser, the proceedings could extend up to five weeks.
Weinstein could receive up to 25 years in prison for his conviction on first-degree criminal sex act charges involving Haley. The pending third-degree rape charge related to Mann carries a maximum sentence of four years — less time than he has already served.
The Academy Award-winning producer has remained incarcerated since his original 2020 conviction and received an additional prison sentence in a California case that he is currently appealing.
WASHINGTON – Federal officials are withholding portions of Medicaid payments to Minnesota following allegations that federal money earmarked for social welfare programs has been stolen, Vice President JD Vance announced Wednesday.
The suspension of funding comes as the Trump administration investigates suspected fraudulent activity involving federal dollars meant to support the state’s Medicaid program.
Vance made the announcement from Washington on Wednesday, though additional details about the scope of the investigation or the specific amount of funding being withheld were not immediately provided.
A defense lawyer representing the man accused of fatally striking NHL player Johnny Gaudreau and his brother Matthew is seeking to have certain charges dismissed, claiming his client was not legally intoxicated at the time of the crash.
During a Tuesday hearing in Salem County Superior Court, defense attorney Richard F. Klineburger told Judge Michael Silvanio that blood alcohol testing procedures were flawed because they analyzed Sean Higgins’ plasma rather than his blood directly, leading to an artificially elevated BAC reading. According to the defense team’s expert analysis, Higgins’ actual blood alcohol content measured 0.075 percent – falling short of the legal driving threshold.
Prosecutors maintain the defendant’s BAC registered 0.087 percent, exceeding the legal limit.
Higgins faces charges in connection with the deaths of Johnny Gaudreau, age 31, and Matthew Gaudreau, age 29, who were struck while cycling near their family’s New Jersey residence in August 2024. The brothers had returned home to attend their sister’s wedding celebration.
The tragedy has gained renewed attention as Johnny Gaudreau was recently in the spotlight during the U.S. hockey team’s Olympic gold medal victory. The Columbus Blue Jackets player would likely have earned a spot on the national squad.
Throughout the Olympic tournament, Team USA honored the memory of both Gaudreau brothers and invited Johnny’s children to join their celebratory team photograph on the ice.
Klineburger stated that what he considers faulty blood testing procedures “impacted the grand jury” during their decision to indict Higgins. The charges include first-degree aggravated manslaughter, reckless vehicular homicide, fleeing the scene of a fatal collision, and evidence tampering.
Should Higgins receive convictions on all charges, he faces a potential sentence of up to 70 years behind bars.
According to ESPN reports on Wednesday, the Denver Broncos have stayed within Colorado borders to fill a key coaching vacancy, bringing aboard University of Colorado defensive coordinator Robert Livingston for their defensive passing game coordinator and lead defensive backs coach positions.
The 40-year-old Livingston steps into the role previously held by Jim Leonhard, who departed Denver earlier this month to take over as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator.
This marks Livingston’s comeback to professional football following a two-year stint with the Buffaloes. His NFL background includes nine years with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2015 through 2023, where he primarily served as the secondary coach for eight seasons. His Bengals tenure began in 2014 as a scout before moving to special teams assistant duties in 2015, working alongside current Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph, who was coaching Cincinnati’s defensive backs at the time.
Under Livingston’s guidance in 2024, Colorado’s defense showed remarkable transformation during his inaugural season working with head coach Deion Sanders. The Buffaloes made a stunning leap from 121st place in scoring defense during 2023 to 43rd nationally in 2024, surrendering just 23.1 points and 351.9 yards per contest while posting a 9-4 record with a 7-2 Big 12 Conference mark.
The previous season told a different story, as Colorado struggled to a 3-9 overall record and 1-8 conference performance after losing key players including Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, safety Shilo Sanders, quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and other core starters to the NFL. During that campaign, the Buffaloes allowed 30.5 points per game, ranking 111th nationally, while giving up 425.7 yards per contest, placing them 121st in the country.
ESPN’s reporting indicates that Colorado linebackers coach Chris Marve will step up to fill Livingston’s former role as the university’s defensive coordinator.
Cloud data analytics company Snowflake announced Wednesday that its revenue projections for fiscal 2027 will exceed Wall Street expectations, as businesses increasingly turn to artificial intelligence applications and cloud-based services.
The Montana-based company, which went public in 2012, provides a platform that allows businesses to store and analyze their data in one centralized location for generating insights and building AI applications.
Business customers are ramping up their investments in moving operations to cloud-based systems while simultaneously developing artificial intelligence capabilities, creating higher demand for services like those Snowflake provides.
Chief Executive Officer Sridhar Ramaswamy revealed to Reuters that the company recently closed its biggest contract to date. “We also signed the largest deal in our history of over $400 million,” Ramaswamy stated, though he did not identify the customer.
The company’s Snowflake Intelligence platform, which became available to customers last November, has already been implemented by more than 2,500 clients, according to Ramaswamy.
For the fiscal year concluding January 31, 2027, Snowflake projects product revenue will reach $5.66 billion, surpassing the $5.50 billion average forecast from financial analysts tracked by LSEG.
The company’s first-quarter product revenue outlook of $1.26 billion to $1.27 billion also topped analyst predictions of $1.23 billion.
Snowflake operates on a consumption-based pricing model that depends on how much customers use its storage and computing services. The company faces strong competition from rivals like Databricks, which recently secured $5 billion in funding this month.
Despite the positive financial outlook, Snowflake’s stock price dropped approximately 3% in after-hours trading.
The company has established separate multi-year partnerships worth $200 million each with AI companies OpenAI and Anthropic to incorporate their advanced technology into Snowflake’s platform, aimed at helping more businesses adopt artificial intelligence.
In a recent acquisition move, Snowflake purchased app-monitoring company Observe for an undisclosed sum to improve its capabilities in identifying and resolving software and data performance problems.
With a customer base exceeding 13,000 clients, including notable companies like Figma and BlackRock, Snowflake reported fourth-quarter product revenue increased roughly 30% to $1.23 billion, beating analyst estimates of $1.18 billion.
The company’s adjusted earnings per share of 32 cents also surpassed expectations of 27 cents per share.
Federal investigators secretly collected phone records belonging to two individuals who now hold top positions in the Trump administration, according to revelations made Wednesday by current FBI Director Kash Patel.
Patel disclosed to Reuters that the FBI issued subpoenas for his phone records and those of current White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles during 2022 and 2023, when both were private citizens. The collection occurred during Special Counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents and alleged election interference.
The FBI director characterized the record seizure as government overreach under the previous administration, claiming the files were deliberately hidden from oversight.
“It is outrageous and deeply alarming that the previous FBI leadership secretly subpoenaed my own phone records – along with those of now White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – using flimsy pretexts and burying the entire process in prohibited case files designed to evade all oversight,” Patel stated.
Smith received his appointment as special counsel in November 2022 to oversee the investigation examining whether Trump interfered with the 2020 election results and improperly retained classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago resort.
The phone record collection focused on what investigators call “toll records,” which show call timing and recipients but not conversation content. Federal authorities can obtain such records through subpoenas without requiring judicial approval.
According to Patel, investigators gathered the records during the period when Smith was examining allegations that Trump illegally removed classified documents to his Florida property after leaving office in 2021 and subsequently obstructed federal recovery efforts.
Both Patel and Wiles maintained close relationships with Trump during this timeframe. Patel had publicly stated in 2022 that Trump had declassified the Mar-a-Lago documents, though prosecutors challenged this assertion and Trump’s legal team never presented this argument in court proceedings.
Patel received a grand jury summons in connection with the case after being granted limited immunity from criminal prosecution. Both he and Wiles underwent questioning by investigators as part of Smith’s document retention probe.
The FBI director revealed that the phone records were stored in files marked “Prohibited,” making them difficult to locate within the bureau’s computer systems. He announced that he has recently eliminated the FBI’s ability to use this classification system.
Smith brought felony charges against Trump related to the classified documents investigation in 2023, though a federal judge later dismissed the case. Smith abandoned his appeal following Trump’s election victory. Trump has consistently denied any wrongdoing in connection with Smith’s investigations.
Congressional Democrats have previously supported Smith’s investigative methods, arguing that subpoenaing phone records and collecting other evidence was appropriate for thoroughly examining allegations of misconduct by Trump and his associates.
Phone record collection represents a standard investigative practice, even involving prominent individuals, as authorities work to establish case facts and identify potential participants in alleged incidents.
The record collection continued into Wiles’ tenure as Trump’s co-campaign manager, though Patel did not specify exact start and end dates for the surveillance period.
Republican leadership has previously criticized Smith’s investigative approaches, particularly his collection of phone records from U.S. senators and other GOP officials during his examination of alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
During previous testimony, Smith defended his record collection practices, stating they helped investigators confirm the timeline surrounding the January 6 Capitol riot and that prosecutors “followed all legal requirements in getting those records.” He assured lawmakers that the collected records did not include conversation content.
A federal judge issued a permanent order Monday preventing the Justice Department from releasing Smith’s report on the documents investigation. Smith has informed Congress that court orders prohibit him from discussing investigation aspects not previously revealed in court documents.
Smith previously told congressional members that his investigators had significant concerns about obstruction of justice during their probes. He informed lawmakers that his office “followed Justice Department policies, observed legal requirements and took actions based on the facts and the law.”
Representatives for Smith declined to provide comments regarding Patel’s allegations. Former Attorney General Merrick Garland, who appointed Smith as special counsel, former FBI Director Chris Wray, and President Biden have not responded to requests for comment. The White House and Wiles also have not issued statements.
London Stock Exchange Group finds itself at a crossroads as CEO David Schwimmer prepares to deliver the company’s 2025 financial results this Thursday, facing mounting pressure from declining stock values and an influential activist investor demanding changes.
The exchange and financial data company has seen its share price tumble approximately 30% over the past twelve months, while activist investment firm Elliott Management has recently taken a stake in the business and is pushing for operational improvements.
Schwimmer, a former Goldman Sachs executive who assumed leadership in 2018, faces several challenging options to turn around the company’s fortunes, according to industry analysts and investors. These potential strategies include implementing multi-billion pound share buyback programs, demonstrating the value of LSEG’s data offerings in an artificial intelligence-dominated marketplace, reducing operational expenses to improve profit margins, and potentially divesting certain business units.
ACTIVIST INVESTOR ENTERS THE PICTURE
Under Schwimmer’s leadership, LSEG completed a massive $27 billion acquisition of financial data provider Refinitiv in 2019, transforming the company from primarily operating London’s stock exchange into a comprehensive data and markets enterprise. Three years later, the company forged a decade-long artificial intelligence and cloud computing alliance with Microsoft.
Despite these strategic moves, LSEG’s stock performance has fallen behind competing exchanges and data companies. Recent weeks have brought additional selling pressure as investors worry that AI technology could undermine the company’s core business operations. Elliott Management, known for its aggressive activist approach, recently disclosed its shareholding position while seeking performance enhancements.
“The management team needs to demonstrate that they have the credibility to take LSEG to the next stage,” stated Stephen Yiu, chief investment officer of the Blue Whale growth fund, which holds LSEG shares. Yiu mentioned he’s maintaining his position, established in December 2023, while monitoring progress indicators and Elliott’s influence.
LSEG responded in a company statement: “LSEG maintains an active and open dialogue with our investors, while remaining focused on executing our strategy.” Elliott Management, recognized for its persistent activist campaigns, refused to discuss specific demands made to LSEG or confirm details about its share acquisition.
It’s worth noting that LSEG serves as Reuters’ primary customer, with the news service supplying content for LSEG’s Workspace terminals and additional products.
Several major shareholders continue supporting Schwimmer’s strategic direction. Lindsell Train, among LSEG’s top five investors, wrote in a February communication that the company’s stock decline reflected broader weakness in software and data sector stocks, stating they could “point to no operational failings to account for the recent share price falls.” All sixteen analysts covering LSEG currently recommend purchasing the stock, with several suggesting AI-related concerns are excessive.
Last October, Schwimmer argued that artificial intelligence cannot replace LSEG’s services. “For those who think AI models can scoop up so-called public data from the internet and displace us, that just does not reflect how this industry works and fundamentally ignores the non-replicable nature of the vast majority of our data,” he explained.
Financial analysts project LSEG will report adjusted pretax profits of 3.3 billion pounds, representing an increase from 2.97 billion pounds recorded in 2024, based on company-compiled forecasts.
ELLIOTT TARGETS PROFIT MARGIN IMPROVEMENTS
LSEG’s annual subscription value growth, which measures subscription revenue expansion across primary business segments, has stagnated in recent years.
The company initially boosted this metric by reducing customer departure rates, according to analyst observations. Annual subscription value growth surged from 4.6% to 6.2% between 2021 and 2022 but subsequently declined to 5.6% in the latest quarterly report, partially due to one-time impacts from Credit Suisse’s account consolidation.
Elliott believes LSEG’s profit margins trail industry competitors and has prioritized margin improvement in its demands, according to a source with knowledge of the situation. While Reuters couldn’t confirm specific steps Elliott is advocating, internal AI implementation to enhance operational efficiency represents one possibility, the source indicated.
The activist investor is also urging Schwimmer to more aggressively counter suggestions that AI threatens LSEG’s business model and provide clearer explanations of the Microsoft partnership’s advantages, the source revealed.
Schwimmer has characterized the Microsoft agreement as “transformative” and predicted “meaningful” revenue benefits beginning in 2025.
However, some analysts and investors remain unconvinced by the partnership’s results. “The partnership has failed to deliver so far and other companies are moving much faster,” Blue Whale growth fund’s Yiu observed.
Microsoft declined to provide commentary on the matter.
POTENTIAL ASSET SALES AND SHARE BUYBACKS
Elliott, which oversees approximately $80 billion in assets, is encouraging LSEG to evaluate its business portfolio and believes the company can support a 5 billion pound share buyback program, the source disclosed. LSEG did not respond to Reuters’ inquiry regarding this information.
UBS analysts estimate that if LSEG were valued using similar metrics as industry peers, the company could be worth around 47 billion pounds. Wednesday’s closing market valuation stood at 39 billion pounds.
Elliott views FTSE Russell, LSEG’s indexing division, and LCH, its clearing operations, as undervalued within the larger organization, the source explained. The company could also consider selling portions or all of its 51% ownership in Tradeweb, currently valued at nearly $13 billion based on market prices, the person added.
Breaking up the company would essentially represent Schwimmer acknowledging his strategy’s shortcomings, according to someone who has collaborated with him. Schwimmer has characterized LSEG’s divisions as “great trophy assets on their own” that become more valuable through integration, emphasizing the company’s efforts to connect its products more closely.
Multiple analysts and a shareholder told Reuters they favored increased buyback programs but expressed caution regarding significant asset sales.
“We think it would be the wrong decision,” said Ben Needham, portfolio manager at Ninety One, ranking among LSEG’s top-20 shareholders. “You get a higher share price because of it; it would no doubt be accretive to where the market is today. But instant gratification isn’t a way of creating long-term value.”
France’s Culture Minister Rachida Dati has stepped down from her government role to dedicate her efforts to campaigning for mayor of Paris in the upcoming March 15 election.
Dati submitted her resignation letter to President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday, according to her statements during a television interview with BFMTV.
The French president has accepted her departure from the cabinet position, his office confirmed.
“The head of state thanked her for the useful action she has carried out in service to the French people over the past two years and offered her his full support in the fight she is waging,” Macron’s office stated.
During her tenure as Culture Minister, Dati recently managed leadership transitions at the renowned Louvre Museum following several institutional challenges. Polling data from Ifop indicates she leads the mayoral race, though victory would likely require a runoff election scheduled for March 22.
Salisbury’s Infrastructure and Development Department has announced that work will commence today, Wednesday, February 25, 2026, on a new combined restroom and pavilion facility at Waterside Park on Parsons Road.
The construction site at 1001 Parsons Road will have parking restrictions in effect throughout the building process. Officials warn that heavy construction equipment will be moving in and out of the work zone regularly, potentially causing traffic slowdowns along both Parsons Road and Marine Road.
City officials estimate the building project will require approximately 150 days from start to finish.
Salisbury city leaders expressed gratitude for residents’ understanding and patience while the new park amenities are under construction.
Commercial fishermen and seafood lovers are celebrating as Apalachicola Bay in North Florida has resumed limited wild oyster harvesting operations following a five-year closure.
The bay, located along Florida’s Gulf Coast, had suspended oyster harvesting activities for half a decade before authorities determined conditions were suitable for a cautious return to operations.
The restoration of harvesting rights in select areas of the bay marks a significant milestone for the local fishing industry and restaurants that depend on fresh, locally-sourced oysters.
Federal environmental officials have moved forward with establishing renewable fuel requirements for the next two years, sending their proposed volume standards to Washington budget reviewers.
During Tuesday’s National Ethanol Conference held in Orlando, EPA’s Aaron Szabo, who serves as assistant administrator for air and radiation, delivered what he called breaking news to attendees. Szabo announced that the agency’s renewable fuel standards final rule for the upcoming years was being transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget for consideration.
The renewable volume obligations represent federal requirements for how much renewable fuel must be blended into the nation’s fuel supply. These standards are part of the Renewable Fuel Standard program, which mandates the use of biofuels like ethanol in gasoline.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Electrical outages, towering snow drifts reaching waist-deep levels, and additional flurries continued to plague Northeast communities Wednesday following a historic winter storm that blanketed the region from Maryland through Maine with massive accumulations of snow and ice.
The storm’s impact continued to disrupt daily life throughout the area: Rhode Island residents faced their third consecutive day trapped in homes as neighborhood roads stayed impassable, garbage collection services were delayed across multiple communities, and educational institutions shifted to remote learning after receiving 3 feet of snowfall that exceeded records established during the legendary 1978 blizzard.
Electrical service remained disrupted for over 138,000 customers Wednesday afternoon, with Massachusetts bearing the brunt of outages, especially throughout Cape Cod, data from poweroutage.us showed. Energy company workers maintained 18-hour work schedules to reconnect service while residents sought refuge in emergency warming facilities to stay warm and charge electronic devices.
Anny Enos brought her three grandchildren to a warming facility in Barnstable, Massachusetts, Wednesday to power up their electronics and escape their cold home. Without electricity since Sunday afternoon, she worried restoration might not occur until Friday.
After discarding most refrigerated items Tuesday, she remained hopeful for the best outcome.
“I hate to say it but it doesn’t seem like they were ready,” she said.
The winter weather event generated “thousands” of locations requiring repair work that demanded crews use heavy machinery to clear massive snow accumulations before installing replacement utility poles or fixing existing infrastructure, explained Doug Foley, president of electric operations for Eversource in Massachusetts. Additional repair teams from neighboring states arrived Wednesday to assist recovery efforts.
Adding to difficulties, an unwelcome additional 3 inches of snow accumulated early Wednesday, worsening hazardous travel conditions before rising temperatures created slushy road surfaces.
This week’s enormous snowstorm has municipal crews working extended hours to remove towering accumulations.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani implemented innovative solutions: beyond distributing 143 million pounds of road salt by Tuesday evening, city officials recruited approximately 3,500 individuals as temporary snow removal workers, paying $30 hourly to clear transit stops and roadways.
Authorities reported that carbon monoxide exposure claimed the life of a man in a Rhode Island community that had lost electrical service. Joseph Boutrous, 21, had informed a Salve Regina University classmate about plans to charge his phone inside his vehicle, Newport Police Capt. Joseph Carroll stated. Snow blocking the exhaust system caused the accidental death of the sophomore from Bohemia, New York, who played offensive line for the football team. Social media messages indicated his teammates were devastated by the loss.
Significant cleanup work remained ahead. New York areas have residents feeling isolated, according to Jeff Peters, spokesperson for the Center for Independence of the Disabled, New York.
“You’ll find a portion of a sidewalk that is clear, and then there’s maybe a 6-inch pathway that can only be walked with one foot in front of the other and no room for a stroller, rollator, walker or crutches,” Peters said. “Then you get to the corner and not only is it unshoveled, but you have basically a glacier at the end of it.”
Tina Guenette, who relies on a motorized wheelchair, spent time this week clearing snow from her property after more than 33 inches accumulated in Harrisville, Rhode Island, located approximately 17 miles northwest of Providence.
“I really have no choice if my service dog wants to go outside,” Guenette said. Harrisville’s volunteer snow-shoveling program hasn’t had volunteers for years, she said.
Monday’s weather system covered the region with heavy snowfall, grounded aircraft, interrupted public transportation, and toppled electrical infrastructure.
Analyzing the storm’s scope, meteorologist Ryan Maue, former chief scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, determined the total snowfall contained approximately 2.5 trillion gallons of water equivalent.
If all accumulation from Maryland to Maine had fallen exclusively on Manhattan, it would have created a pile exceeding one mile in height. Concentrated solely on Rhode Island, the hardest-hit state, the snowfall would have buried the entire Ocean State under more than 92 feet, The Associated Press calculated.
In liquid form, the amount could fill the Empire State Building with water over 9,000 times. New York State received water equivalent to 680 billion gallons, Pennsylvania accumulated 410 billion gallons, and Massachusetts collected 28 billion.
Eventually, the melting snow will help address drought conditions affecting Northeast regions, Maue noted, though currently it’s compounding difficulties during an already challenging winter season.
“I think this storm took a severe winter and turned it into an extreme winter or a record extreme winter,” he said.
New York City crews established large heated water basins where substantial amounts of snow and ice will be deposited for melting, acting Sanitation Commissioner Javier Lojan announced. These facilities processed 23 million pounds of snow during last month’s winter storm.
Snow-covered Providence, Rhode Island, is transporting accumulations to five designated sites, with additional disposal locations potentially being established, according to Josh Estrella, communications director for city government.
Several major school districts resumed classroom instruction Wednesday, including Philadelphia, which had conducted online education during the week’s first two days. Boston schools reopened following closure since last week’s winter vacation period. However, in severely affected Rhode Island, Providence schools remained closed for a third day as the district implemented “virtual learning” Wednesday.
New York City maintained regular school operations for more than 900,000 students in the nation’s largest public education system, though many students and families navigated enormous snow barriers and avoided salt-spreading vehicles during morning arrival.
Thousands of flights throughout the United States faced cancellation in recent days. By Wednesday, travel disruptions appeared to decrease, with nearly 200 flights grounded, flight tracking website FlightAware reported. Rhode Island’s T.F. Green International Airport resumed operations Tuesday. Some Wednesday flights departed while others were canceled.
When Jamie Meyers’ flight touched down in New York from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday evening, the cabin filled with relieved passengers who broke into applause. The Manhattan resident had originally planned to arrive home Sunday but experienced a cancellation and substantial delay.
Several established NFL quarterbacks may be switching uniforms this offseason, as teams face a challenging market with limited options at the position.
Kirk Cousins is expected to become a free agent within two weeks when Atlanta releases him. Meanwhile, Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa and Arizona’s Kyler Murray could also be on the move as their respective franchises evaluate their futures.
The quarterback position has always been crucial in professional football, but teams are finding it increasingly difficult to achieve long-term stability at the spot. Even after investing heavily in a franchise signal-caller, organizations often reconsider their commitment due to financial constraints, injury concerns, or underwhelming performance.
Teams looking to make changes this offseason face challenging circumstances. Beyond Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, who captured both the national championship and Heisman Trophy and is projected as Las Vegas’s top draft selection, the incoming rookie class lacks depth.
The free agent market offers limited bargain alternatives. Green Bay’s backup Malik Willis will draw interest despite having just six career starts under his belt. However, teams willing to invest significantly in salary cap space or trade assets should find some worthwhile options.
Minnesota exemplifies the quarterback uncertainty plaguing many franchises, entering this period with questions following J.J. McCarthy’s inconsistent and injury-plagued first season.
Despite coach Kevin O’Connell’s continued support for McCarthy’s abilities and character, the organization plans to add a veteran for both depth and competition heading into 2026.
“We’re going to explore every opportunity, and I don’t think there’s anything specifically we’re looking for,” explained executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, who serves as interim general manager after Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s departure. “We can’t manufacture anything that’s not there. What are the options? Is it reciprocal? Is it financially doable? There are a lot of things that go into it.”
Cousins represents the most reliable choice when Atlanta releases him next month, allowing the Falcons to fully commit to 2024 first-round selection Michael Penix Jr., who lost his starting role due to a knee injury. The 38-year-old quarterback’s history with O’Connell and positive relationship with Minnesota could facilitate a return, potentially serving as a transitional starter while McCarthy continues developing.
Tagovailoa’s status in Miami remains uncertain under new leadership, despite signing an extension less than two years ago. His approximately $56 million salary cap impact, combined with fresh faces in management and coaching, puts his future in question. After six seasons marked by injuries and inconsistency, including a career-high 15 interceptions in 2025, the 27-year-old former fifth-overall pick from 2020 could attract interest from other clubs.
“Everything’s on the table, including the potential of a trade,” stated general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. “We don’t know which way that’s going to go. There’s a lot of different factors in play, a lot of conversations being had.”
Murray’s situation in Arizona appears equally uncertain after a foot injury limited him to five games during the Cardinals’ disappointing 3-14 campaign. The former top overall pick from 2019 carries a roughly $52 million cap hit for a franchise also implementing new coaching leadership. General manager Monti Ossenfort echoed familiar language at this week’s NFL combine: “All options are on the table.”
Throughout his career, Murray has never achieved more than nine victories in a single season and has yet to win a playoff game.
“When you had the kind of year that we had, there’s a lot of room for improvement,” Ossenfort acknowledged. “We’ve got to find a way to do that.”
Daniel Jones appeared poised for success with Indianapolis after signing a prove-it deal last season, mirroring Sam Darnold’s breakout performance with Seattle. However, a December Achilles injury derailed those plans and reduced league-wide interest. General manager Chris Ballard has expressed interest in re-signing the former sixth-overall pick from 2019, who continues rehabilitating from the injury.
At 42, Aaron Rodgers seems unlikely to change teams again, as reuniting with coach Mike McCarthy in Pittsburgh offers an appealing alternative to retirement.
While Lamar Jackson and Baltimore have experienced some challenges recently, the two-time MVP appears headed toward a new contract. His involvement in the coaching search suggests the Ravens aren’t considering a trade. “I have spoken to Lamar about a lot of different things over the last month,” said general manager Eric DeCosta. “He’s been very engaged.”
Any speculation about Houston’s commitment to C.J. Stroud following three consecutive divisional playoff losses was quickly dismissed by general manager Nick Caserio during combine interviews.
“He’s our quarterback,” Caserio declared about the 2023 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. “He isn’t going anywhere. We have a lot of confidence, a lot of belief.”
Agricultural education programs across the nation are receiving a boost through the National FFA Foundation’s annual fundraising initiative. The organization is currently conducting its 11th annual Give FFA Day campaign designed to provide financial support to Future Farmers of America chapters throughout the United States.
According to Kristy Meyer, a representative from the National FFA Organization, contributors have the flexibility to designate where their money goes. “When someone donates, they can indicate if they want it to go to their local chapter, to their state, or nationally,” Meyer explained. “These donations help fund the programs that we know” are essential to the organization’s mission.
The foundation emphasizes that every dollar contributed through this campaign flows directly into supporting FFA activities and educational opportunities for young people involved in agriculture.
Agricultural commodity markets saw upward movement today as soybean prices climbed higher driven by technical purchasing activity and investors covering short positions. The weakening U.S. dollar also provided additional support for grain prices.
South American harvest updates show Brazil has completed collection of roughly 2 billion bushels of soybeans from their current growing season. Meanwhile, recent rainfall in Argentina is primarily helping crops that were planted later in the season.
Market participants are closely monitoring Thursday morning’s export sales report, scheduled for release at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time, to determine whether Chinese buyers will increase their purchasing activity. There have been some reports of U.S. soybean transactions, though details remain limited.
The combination of short covering by traders and weakness in the dollar has created a supportive environment for both soybean and corn futures as agricultural markets continue to react to global supply and demand factors.
During a recent conference call with state election administrators, a Department of Homeland Security official provided clear assurance that Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel will not be stationed at voting sites during the upcoming midterm elections.
The official made the definitive statement while addressing concerns from top state voting officials about potential immigration enforcement activities at polling locations. The clarification comes as election officials work to ensure all eligible voters feel safe participating in the electoral process.
The assurance was delivered during a briefing designed to coordinate security measures and address questions about federal agency involvement in election operations.
A tragic incident in Rhode Island serves as a deadly reminder of winter weather dangers after a college football player lost his life to carbon monoxide poisoning while trying to charge his phone during a power outage.
Joseph Boutros, a 21-year-old student at Salve Regina University, was discovered unresponsive in his vehicle Monday outside a campus building in Newport, Rhode Island. Emergency responders determined the young man died accidentally from carbon monoxide exposure after snow from a major winter storm blocked his car’s exhaust system.
The massive storm had left hundreds of thousands without electricity throughout the Northeast region. Newport Police Captain Joseph Carroll explained that Boutros had informed another student he planned to use his vehicle to charge his phone since the area had lost power. The university’s football program expressed being “heartbroken” over Boutros’ passing in a social media announcement.
Rhode Island residents continued dealing with storm aftermath Wednesday, with many facing a third consecutive day trapped at home due to unplowed neighborhood streets.
While winter storms bring obvious dangers like icy conditions and freezing temperatures, one of the deadliest threats from heavy snowfall remains invisible to human senses.
Understanding carbon monoxide dangers becomes crucial during power failures and frigid weather conditions.
Winter months and periods following significant snowfall create elevated carbon monoxide poisoning risks, according to Centers for Disease Control data. Cold temperatures lead people to rely more heavily on heating equipment and furnaces that produce this deadly gas.
Various equipment failures can block adequate ventilation systems, with accumulated snow frequently obstructing exhaust outlets and air vents.
Medical professionals call carbon monoxide the “silent killer” since people cannot smell, see, or taste this dangerous substance. Extended contact with carbon monoxide prevents blood from delivering oxygen to vital body organs.
Initial symptoms include severe headaches, confusion, and fatigue, which progress to loss of consciousness, seizures, and ultimately death.
Dangerous carbon monoxide accumulation occurs when individuals operate heating equipment without adequate airflow or ventilation systems — including running vehicles in enclosed garages, moving outdoor grills indoors, or using gas cooking appliances for warmth. Tragic situations similar to Monday’s fatal incident often involve people waiting in vehicles for extended periods without realizing blocked exhaust systems.
A significant historical example occurred during 1978, when a severe snowstorm dumped two feet of snow across New England within approximately 30 hours. The rapid snowfall stranded about 3,000 automobiles and 500 commercial trucks along an eight-mile stretch of Massachusetts highway, according to New England Historical Society records.
During that storm, 14 individuals died from carbon monoxide exposure while trapped in their snow-covered vehicles.
Vehicle-related incidents represent just one danger source. A devastating 2022 storm claimed more than three dozen lives, including at least one person who died when snow covered heating system vents and sent carbon monoxide into their New York residence.
Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports’ senior director of automotive testing, notes that sitting in running vehicles typically poses minimal risk under normal circumstances. However, drivers should watch for warning indicators and schedule annual vehicle inspections. Automobiles become more susceptible to exhaust system leaks following accidents and require professional evaluation before returning to service.
“Engines emit a lot of very dangerous chemicals and gases,” Fisher said. “If your car is not running right and you hear it sounding funny, you really do need to get it checked out.”
MADISON, Wis. — Following seven years of courtroom battles, energy giant Enbridge has commenced construction work to redirect an aging oil pipeline away from a tribal reservation in northern Wisconsin, even as fresh legal challenges threaten to halt the project.
The current route sends approximately 12 miles of Enbridge’s Line 5 pipeline through the Bad River Band of Lake Superior’s reservation near Lake Superior’s shoreline. In 2019, the tribe initiated legal action against Enbridge to force removal of the pipeline section, contending that land use agreements had lapsed six years prior and the 73-year-old infrastructure posed risks of a major environmental disaster.
A court ruling in 2023 established a June deadline for the company to extract the pipeline segment from tribal lands. The Bad River tribe and environmental advocates have pushed for complete shutdown of the line while pursuing ongoing legal strategies to block the rerouting effort. On February 13, an administrative law judge validated Enbridge’s state wetlands authorization, eliminating the final legal obstacle and allowing construction to proceed.
Company representative Juli Kellner confirmed that work crews began tree removal along the proposed new corridor on Tuesday.
This month, the Bad River tribe and a group of environmental organizations submitted separate legal actions in Iron County Circuit Court requesting immediate suspension of the wetlands authorization, claiming officials failed to properly assess construction-related environmental harm.
“The Bad River watershed is not an oil pipeline corridor that exists to serve Enbridge’s profits. It is our homeland. We must protect it,” Elizabeth Arbuckle, the Bad River tribal chair, said in a statement announcing the tribe’s filing.
Both cases await judicial decisions, with a hearing in the Bad River matter set for Thursday.
Enbridge representative Kellner argued that requesting a construction halt lacks justification considering the extensive review process and public energy needs. She emphasized that the pipeline supplies 10 refineries and propane facilities serving millions throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes area.
The Calgary, Alberta-based company has operated Line 5 to move crude oil and natural gas liquids from Superior, Wisconsin, to Sarnia, Ontario, since 1953.
Line 5 faces additional controversy in Michigan, where environmental groups and tribal nations worry about a 4.5-mile underwater section beneath the Straits of Mackinac that could fail. The straits connect Lake Michigan and Lake Huron, where a rupture could create an environmental catastrophe.
Enbridge has suggested installing the underwater segment within a protective tunnel. Construction requires approvals from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Michigan’s Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Neither agency has granted permission, though the corps has expedited its review process following President Donald Trump’s 2025 energy emergency directive.
Separately, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel have pursued legal action to invalidate the agreements permitting pipeline operations in the straits.
A federal judge dismissed Whitmer’s case in December, but the governor has filed an appeal with the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering whether Nessel’s case should proceed in state or federal court.
A veteran Associated Press journalist who spent nearly four decades reporting on fashion and Vatican affairs has passed away in Rome at age 80.
Daniela Petroff died Tuesday at her residence while recovering from a recent fall, according to her husband Victor Simpson, who previously served as AP’s Rome bureau chief.
Before joining the Associated Press, Petroff worked as a correspondent for The Chicago Tribune and Time magazine in Rome. She later became a cornerstone of AP’s cultural reporting, establishing comprehensive coverage of Milan’s fashion weeks that included both men’s and women’s collections throughout the year.
The Simpson family faced devastating loss in 1985 when their 11-year-old daughter Natasha was killed in the December 27 terrorist attack at Rome’s airport, which also injured their son Michael. Two years later, when their youngest daughter Debbie was born, Pope John Paul II personally called to offer congratulations to Petroff.
Simpson announced his wife’s passing, writing that she had fallen asleep after lunch and chose not to wake up, “to finally embrace again her beloved Natasha.”
Speaking four languages fluently – Italian, German, French, and English – Petroff pioneered AP’s Milan fashion reporting during Giorgio Armani’s emergence as a global designer. Her approach emphasized factual, concise reporting while avoiding personal opinions and critiques.
“She had a gift for putting the facts into kind of a very artful context,” said Lisa Anderson, who reported on Milan fashion for The Chicago Tribune starting in the mid-1980s. “She looked at that industry, which often takes itself too seriously, with a lot of amusement as well as respect, which is probably the right combination of qualities to approach fashion reporting.”
Petroff’s final AP article appeared in September – an authoritative piece about Armani following the designer’s death.
“Starting with an unlined jacket, a simple pair of pants and an urban palette, Armani put Italian ready-to-wear style on the international fashion map in the late 1970s, creating an instantly recognizable relaxed silhouette that has propelled the fashion house for half a century,” Petroff wrote.
Throughout her career, she documented the emergence of major fashion figures including Gianni Versace, Gucci during Tom Ford’s leadership, Karl Lagerfeld’s work at Fendi, and the Missoni fashion family. She frequently applied her fashion expertise and writing skills to Vatican coverage as well.
In a 2014 article about Pope Francis’ newly appointed cardinals, she wrote: “But with the ‘slum pope’ now calling the sartorial shots, fashionistas and Vaticanistas are wondering how his new cardinals — who hail from some of the poorest places on Earth, including Haiti, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast — will dress themselves for their new role.”
Beyond fashion and Vatican news, Petroff reported on major Italian cultural events, including the 2003 reopening of Venice’s La Fenice opera house following a devastating fire. “True to its namesake the phoenix, La Fenice has risen up from the ashes,” she wrote for the reopening coverage.
Born in 1945 in Mecklenburg, Germany, Petroff spent her childhood in Paris before moving to New York, where she attended the Convent of the Sacred Heart Catholic school. As an only child, she relocated with her parents to Rome for her final two high school years, graduating from Marymount International School.
Following studies at Manhattanville College in New York, Petroff returned to Rome and earned a degree in modern languages from La Sapienza University. She met Victor Simpson, then AP’s new news editor, shortly after returning to Rome. The couple married in 1973.
Gail Willett Bejarano, a childhood friend from New York, remembered ice-skating adventures in Central Park, after-school treats at Schrafft’s, and testing boundaries with the Sacred Heart nuns. Despite being an excellent student, Petroff joined other girls in sneaking looks at boys from nearby Loyola school, “hike your uniform up and put lipstick on, all forbidden,” Bejarano recalled.
Following her 2017 retirement from AP, Petroff devoted her time to Marymount, her former school, where she served as board chair.
A private funeral service is set for Thursday, with a memorial service planned for Monday at Marymount.
Petroff leaves behind her husband Simpson, son Michael, and daughter Debbie.
BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota judge announced this week he will require Greenpeace to pay damages totaling approximately $345 million related to protests against the Dakota Access oil pipeline that occurred nearly ten years ago. The environmental organization maintains it lacks the financial resources to cover such an enormous sum.
Court documents filed on Tuesday show Judge James Gion plans to sign an order mandating multiple Greenpeace organizations pay the judgment to pipeline operator Energy Transfer. The judge established the $345 million figure last year after cutting a jury’s original damage award roughly in half, though his recent filing did not specify the exact final total.
This anticipated order is expected to trigger appeals from both parties to the North Dakota Supreme Court.
A nine-member jury previously determined that Netherlands-based Greenpeace International, Greenpeace USA, and their funding organization Greenpeace Fund Inc. were responsible for defamation and additional claims filed by Dallas-headquartered Energy Transfer and its Dakota Access subsidiary.
The jury held Greenpeace USA accountable on every charge, including conspiracy, trespassing, creating a public nuisance, and tortious interference. The remaining two organizations were found responsible for portions of the allegations.
The legal action originated from pipeline demonstrations during 2016 and 2017, when thousands of activists gathered and established camps close to where the project crosses the Missouri River above the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe’s territory. The tribe has consistently fought the pipeline, viewing it as a danger to their water resources.
The original damage award reached $666.9 million, split among the three Greenpeace groups in varying amounts before the judge lowered the total. Greenpeace USA faced $404 million of that judgment.
Energy Transfer has stated it will challenge the reduced damages, describing the jury’s initial verdict and award as “lawful and just.” The company did not respond to requests for comment regarding Tuesday’s court action.
In financial documents filed recently, Greenpeace USA disclosed it lacks sufficient funds to cover the $404 million jury award “or to continue normal operations if the judgment is enforced.” The organization reported having $1.4 million in cash and equivalent assets, with total resources of $23 million as of December 31, 2024.
While Greenpeace refused to comment on Tuesday’s court filing, interim general counsel Marco Simons for Greenpeace USA confirmed the organization cannot afford the judgment.
“As mid-sized nonprofits, it has always been clear that we would not have the ability to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in damages,” Simons stated Wednesday.
Simons emphasized the case remains far from concluded and expressed confidence about their planned appeal.
“These claims never should have reached a jury, and there are many possible legal grounds for appeal – including a lack of evidence to support key findings and valid concerns about the possibility of ensuring fairness,” Simons explained.
Greenpeace argues the lawsuit represents an attempt to use courts to silence activists and critics while suppressing First Amendment freedoms. The pipeline company counters that the case concerns Greenpeace’s failure to follow legal requirements, not issues of free speech.
During trial proceedings, Energy Transfer’s legal team argued that Greenpeace coordinated efforts to halt pipeline construction, including organizing demonstrators, providing blockade materials, and spreading false information about the project.
Lawyers representing the Greenpeace organizations maintained there was insufficient evidence supporting the company’s accusations and argued that Greenpeace staff had minimal involvement in the protests, with the organizations bearing no responsibility for Energy Transfer’s construction delays or refinancing issues.
Emergency responders in South Florida are working around the clock to control a massive blaze that has consumed more than 25,000 acres within Big Cypress National Preserve as of Wednesday. The fire is located approximately 20 miles from the controversial immigration detention center dubbed ‘Alligator Alcatraz.’
Smoke and reduced visibility from the flames have forced authorities to temporarily shut down lanes along Interstate 75, the major highway known as Alligator Alley that links Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts through the expansive Everglades region. Such fires typically occur during the state’s dry winter months.
Despite the fire’s proximity, the immigration detention facility faces no immediate danger, according to Stephanie Hartman, communications director for the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
‘The fire is situated 20 miles to the west of the facility and is burning in the opposite direction. Thanks to the increased humidity levels, we are seeing faster fire recovery and containment,’ she said.
The detention center, which began operations last July at a remote airstrip located deep within the Everglades, has drawn significant attention amid the current administration’s immigration enforcement efforts. The facility houses individuals facing federal deportation proceedings.
Hartman confirmed that emergency officials maintain constant communication with firefighting teams and would receive 24-hour advance notice if evacuating the detention center becomes necessary. She emphasized that evacuation plans have been thoroughly practiced to ensure rapid deployment.
When pressed about the current number of people held at the facility, Hartman did not provide an immediate response.
State authorities initially announced that ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ could accommodate 3,000 detainees when it opened in July 2025, with potential expansion to house 5,000 individuals. Court proceedings held in Fort Myers during late January revealed the facility currently holds approximately 1,500 people.
A powerful cold front that moved through the region Sunday introduced dry atmospheric conditions, prompting the National Weather Service to issue red flag fire warnings throughout much of Florida, explained Anthony Reynes, a senior meteorologist with the Miami office.
Rising humidity levels on Wednesday helped improve conditions that had been feeding the blaze, Reynes noted. However, he warned that southerly winds combined with parched vegetation and soil continue to create favorable conditions for additional fires.
Weather forecasters predict minimal rainfall for the remainder of the week, meaning the severe drought affecting the entire state will persist, he added.
Environmental advocates have been denied their request to examine the financing behind Meta’s massive $27 billion data center project in Louisiana, according to an announcement Wednesday from the legal organization Earthjustice.
The environmental law firm had petitioned the Louisiana Public Service Commission last month, seeking an investigation into how the project’s funding structure might eventually burden everyday utility customers with unfair costs.
The controversy surrounds Meta’s planned data center facility in Richland Parish, Louisiana, which requires the construction of three new natural gas power plants to support its operations.
According to Earthjustice’s petition, Meta modified its financial commitment to the project around the same time state regulators gave approval for the power plants. Under this revised agreement, the tech giant can walk away from the entire project after just four years instead of the original 15-year commitment, while also removing its financial guarantee for the venture.
Environmental lawyers argue that if Meta exits early, the local utility company won’t have enough time to recover the construction costs for the power plants. Those expenses would then be passed along to regular customers – including households and local businesses – through increased utility rates.
“By dismissing this motion, the PSC is giving the green light to more tech companies to use this kind of financial maneuvering to maximize profits while evading public accountability,” said Susan Stevens Miller, senior attorney at Earthjustice.
Officials with the Louisiana utility commission could not be reached for immediate comment on their decision.
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden sustained a right thumb injury during Tuesday night’s victory over the New York Knicks, leaving his status uncertain for Wednesday’s matchup.
The Cavaliers are set to face the Milwaukee Bucks at home on Wednesday evening.
Team officials announced that X-rays conducted on Wednesday revealed a “non-displaced fracture of the distal phalanx” in Harden’s thumb.
Medical experts note that this particular bone is situated at the tip of the finger.
Cleveland’s medical staff indicated that the 36-year-old veteran will receive ongoing treatment while his condition is monitored.
The former league MVP from 2017-18 and six-time All-NBA first-team honoree is now playing for his sixth franchise. Cleveland obtained Harden on February 4th through a deal with the Los Angeles Clippers, sending guard Darius Garland and a 2026 second-round selection in return.
Since joining Cleveland, the Cavaliers have posted a 6-1 record with Harden on the court. During his time with the team, he’s contributed 18.9 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 8.0 assists per contest.
This season across 51 games, Harden has posted averages of 24.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 8.1 assists.
Throughout his 17-year career spanning 1,202 games with 988 starts, the veteran guard maintains career averages of 24.1 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 7.3 assists.
Selected third overall in the 2009 NBA Draft, Harden’s professional journey has included stops with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets, Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers, Clippers, and now the Cavaliers.
Should Harden be unable to suit up Wednesday evening, Cleveland would be missing both starting backcourt players, as Donovan Mitchell has already been ruled out due to a right groin injury.
A Chinese artificial intelligence company that shocked global markets last year with its cost-effective technology has now shut out major American chip manufacturers from accessing its newest AI model before its public release, according to two industry sources.
DeepSeek, the AI laboratory behind the disruptive low-cost model, has denied Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices early preview access to its anticipated V4 update, departing from typical industry protocols, sources familiar with the situation revealed.
The Chinese firm has instead granted domestic technology companies, including Huawei Technologies, exclusive early access to the forthcoming model, giving them a multi-week advantage to fine-tune the software for their processing systems.
This approach contradicts established industry standards where AI companies routinely provide pre-launch versions of significant models to major chip manufacturers like Nvidia and AMD. This collaboration ensures optimal software performance on commonly used hardware platforms. DeepSeek had maintained close working relationships with Nvidia’s technical teams in previous projects.
The anticipated V4 model was originally scheduled for release during the Lunar New Year celebrations. While Chinese chip companies received weeks of advance optimization time, American manufacturers were completely excluded from the process, sources indicated.
Both Nvidia and AMD representatives declined to provide statements regarding the situation. DeepSeek and Huawei did not respond to inquiries seeking comment.
The specific reasoning behind DeepSeek’s decision remains unclear, according to available information.
Ben Bajarin, CEO of Creative Strategies research firm, assessed the situation’s impact, stating: “The impact to Nvidia and AMD for general data accelerators is minimal – most enterprises are not running DeepSeek, which serves as a benchmarking model more than anything else.” He noted that emerging AI programming tools are accelerating software-hardware optimization timelines “from months to weeks.”
Bajarin suggested this decision likely reflects a wider Chinese government initiative “to try to keep U.S. hardware and models disadvantaged” within China’s market.
These developments coincide with revelations from a senior Trump administration official who told reporters that DeepSeek’s newest AI system was developed using Nvidia’s cutting-edge Blackwell processor through a mainland China-based cluster, potentially violating American export restrictions.
According to the US official, DeepSeek may attempt to conceal technical evidence of American AI chip usage and publicly assert that Huawei processors were used for model training.
Since DeepSeek emerged prominently in January 2025, its models have been downloaded over 75 million times through the Hugging Face open-source platform, contributing to a surge of Chinese open-source models challenging American AI laboratories. Chinese model downloads have exceeded those from all other nations on the platform among models released in the past year.
The growing prominence of Chinese open-source AI models has heightened Washington discussions regarding advanced US AI chip exports to China. Last year, US officials permitted resumed shipments of Nvidia’s H20 and AMD’s MI308 processors – designed for AI inference operations – to China, while maintaining restrictions on more sophisticated processors. Whether DeepSeek has obtained authorization to purchase these American chips remains uncertain.
The H20 and MI308 processors focus on inference operations, which involve running completed AI models. The MI308 generated substantial demand, with AMD reporting $390 million in chip sales during its latest quarterly period.
DeepSeek joins several other Chinese AI companies planning to introduce new models this month.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Wednesday it plans to put its historic South Building headquarters on the National Mall up for sale while moving remaining staff to facilities nationwide before 2025 ends.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins described the decision as a necessary cost-saving measure, pointing to expensive upkeep requirements and sparse occupancy levels in the decades-old facility.
The announcement comes after thousands of USDA workers accepted voluntary departure packages and left their positions during the past year as part of President Donald Trump’s initiative to streamline federal government operations and reduce its overall size.
Speaking at a Wednesday news conference held outside the building, Rollins reflected on the facility’s decline. “At one time, the South Building was the beating heart of USDA, alive with research and teeming with activity decades ago. But today, it is a shell of what it once was,” she stated.
The property will be transferred to the General Services Administration for the sales process, Rollins explained, while Iowa Senator Joni Ernst displayed a “For Sale By Owner” sign during the announcement.
According to GSA Administrator Edward Forst, the landmark USDA building constructed during the 1930s faces $1.6 billion in overdue maintenance expenses, with approximately 80% of its office space currently unoccupied.
Department officials have indicated plans to relocate most Washington-based personnel to regional centers in North Carolina, Missouri, Indiana, Colorado and Utah.
The Salisbury University Sea Gulls men’s basketball squad is making final preparations for the 2026 Coast-to-Coast Conference Championships tournament.
The upcoming tournament represents a significant opportunity for the Sea Gulls to showcase their skills against conference rivals in what promises to be competitive championship play.
Tournament organizers have released promotional materials highlighting the anticipated matchups and championship format for the 2026 competition.
Additional details regarding specific game times, matchups, and venue information are expected to be announced as the tournament date approaches.
Recent federal data presents a nuanced picture for ethanol production across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, daily ethanol output reached an average of 1.113 million barrels, representing a decrease of 5,000 barrels compared to the previous week.
Despite the weekly decline, production levels remain consistent with recent patterns and demonstrate notable improvement over the past year. Annual figures show an increase of 32,000 barrels as manufacturing facilities work to satisfy consumer demand.
The Iowa State University Center for Agricultural and Rural Development has also weighed in on the ethanol market trends, though their complete analysis was not immediately available.
INDIANAPOLIS — Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel is pushing the NFL to boost personnel at its replay review headquarters, arguing that all games deserve equal treatment when it comes to official reviews.
Speaking at the NFL scouting combine on Wednesday, Vrabel responded to recent statements from league executive Troy Vincent, who acknowledged that several replay review errors occurred last season during early Sunday afternoon games when up to nine contests run simultaneously.
“We need to make sure every game is treated the same — from the prime-time game on Sunday night to the prime-time game on Monday or Thursday or whether it’s one of those one o’clock games that is the lifeblood of our league,” Vrabel stated. As a competition committee member, he emphasized the importance of addressing staffing concerns during the offseason.
“So if it’s something we need to take care of in the offseason, staffing issues that need to be taken care of so that those things are looked at, we need to be really good at replay because there’s going to be mistakes on the field,” Vrabel continued. “We have to get to a system in replay that’s as close to 100% accurate as possible.”
Vincent revealed earlier this week that among 171 plays reviewed through replay or replay assist, only a small number were mishandled. Most of these errors occurred during the 1 p.m. Eastern time slot when multiple games compete for attention.
“There were five after we kind of took a step back and breathed — four of them (were) in the 1 o’clock window,” Vincent explained. “Just volume and you go, ‘Ah, if we had to do that one again, just looking at it.’”
One significant error impacted playoff positioning during a Week 14 matchup. Vincent highlighted a replay decision that reversed an on-field interception call against Pittsburgh’s Aaron Rodgers. This ruling cost Baltimore 46 yards of field position, and the Ravens ultimately fell 27-22 after a potential winning touchdown pass from Lamar Jackson to Isaiah Likely was deemed incomplete upon review.
While that particular call wasn’t among the five mistakes Vincent mentioned, he noted it sparked additional debate about catch definitions. A Baltimore victory in that contest would have secured the AFC North championship for the Ravens instead of the Steelers.
However, adding replay center staff during busy game windows wouldn’t address all disparities compared to marquee matchups, which benefit from significantly more broadcast cameras.
San Francisco 49ers general manager John Lynch, a former broadcaster and new competition committee member, believes this camera issue also requires attention.
“I do think that’s something we want to strive for as a league,” Lynch said. “I think there’s some uniformity you can get by requiring teams to have fixed cameras and things. I know all those things are being discussed, but that is a reality that the one o’clock games, there’s multiple games going on at the same time. So, the New York headquarters, they’re not going to have all their attention on that game. And then within that, the element that I talked about just not having the amount of cameras and angles. That’s a reality and something that we have to figure out because every game is important in our league, not just the prime-time games.”
Veteran astronaut Mike Fincke broke his silence Wednesday, revealing that he was the crew member whose health emergency led to NASA’s unprecedented medical evacuation from the International Space Station last month.
The 58-year-old space veteran disclosed his identity in a written statement, though he declined to specify the nature of his medical issue. Fincke explained that his condition improved rapidly with assistance from his fellow crew members and medical professionals monitoring from Earth.
The astronaut reported that he has fully recovered from the incident.
“Spaceflight is an incredible privilege, and sometimes it reminds us just how human we are,” Fincke stated.
Fincke had traveled to the space station with three other astronauts aboard a SpaceX mission launched last summer. Their assignment was cut short on January 15, just one week after Fincke suffered what he described as a “medical event that required immediate attention” from his colleagues. The health scare also led to the scrapping of a scheduled spacewalk involving Fincke and another NASA crew member.
After their capsule landed in the Pacific Ocean, all four astronauts were transported to a medical facility in San Diego. The crew returned to Houston the following day.
During a press briefing one week after their return, while the affected astronaut’s name remained undisclosed, Fincke mentioned that the space station’s ultrasound equipment proved valuable during the medical situation.
In his Wednesday statement, Fincke provided additional context, emphasizing that while the situation wasn’t classified as an emergency, the team decided “to take advantage of advanced medical imaging not available on the space station.”
A former Air Force colonel who joined NASA’s astronaut program in 1996, Fincke has accumulated 549 days in orbit across four space missions.
NEW YORK (AP) — Construction on the final office building at the World Trade Center complex is set to begin this spring, with American Express serving as the anchor tenant for what will become the company’s new corporate headquarters, Governor Kathy Hochul and the financial services giant announced Wednesday. The milestone comes nearly a quarter-century after the September 11 terrorist attacks devastated the original site.
The planned 2 World Trade Center structure will complete the lengthy and challenging reconstruction of the original 16-acre complex. While a residential tower to replace another building damaged in the 9/11 attacks still lacks a construction timeline, this office building announcement marks significant progress in the symbolic rebirth of ground zero.
Hochul and other state leaders highlighted the development as evidence of New York’s enduring appeal to major corporations, particularly as states like Florida actively court businesses to relocate from the Empire State.
“Building 2 World Trade Center will bring another iconic skyscraper to Lower Manhattan, create thousands of good-paying union jobs and provide billions in economic benefits to New Yorkers,” the Democratic governor stated.
Stephen Squeri, American Express’s chief executive, described the new skyscraper as “an investment in our company’s future, our colleagues and the Lower Manhattan community.” The credit card company has maintained its presence in the area for nearly two centuries, with its existing headquarters located just west of the trade center complex.
The original World Trade Center was destroyed when terrorists affiliated with al-Qaida flew hijacked aircraft into the twin towers on September 11, 2001, as part of coordinated attacks that also targeted the Pentagon and resulted in a crash in Pennsylvania. The attacks claimed nearly 3,000 lives, with the majority of casualties occurring at the trade center.
Reconstruction efforts faced numerous obstacles including engineering challenges, funding difficulties, political disputes, and extensive public discussions about appropriate development plans. Despite these setbacks, the site now features the prominent 1 World Trade Center tower, additional office buildings, the September 11 memorial and museum, a transportation and retail complex, and a cultural performing venue, all situated on property managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The proposed 55-floor building will span approximately two million square feet and rise at the northeast section of the site. Currently, the location houses a temporary low-rise structure decorated with colorful street art and an outdoor drinking establishment.
While American Express refused to disclose construction costs for the tower — which the company will purchase while leasing the land beneath — officials confirmed no tax breaks are involved in the arrangement. Requests for additional financial details were sent to relevant authorities.
Earlier proposals called for a structure reaching 80 stories, with media companies News Corp. and the former Twenty-First Century Fox among those previously considering relocation to the building. Similar to other trade center developments, securing adequate funding and a primary tenant proved challenging over many years. The COVID-19 pandemic further complicated matters in 2020 as office buildings emptied and companies reconsidered their space requirements.
Developer Larry Silverstein consistently maintained confidence the project would move forward despite obstacles.
Lisa Silverstein, chief executive of Silverstein Properties and daughter of the 94-year-old developer, praised American Express as “an iconic institution embodying the strength, resilience, and global significance of the project.”
The financial services company intends to occupy the entire Norman Foster-designed structure, featuring a modern design with glass facades, outdoor terraces, and landscaped areas throughout. The building is designed to house up to 10,000 employees, though American Express declined to compare this capacity to their current facility.
The City of Lewes has postponed its monthly community meeting originally planned for Wednesday due to winter weather conditions.
Officials announced that the Coffee With Council session set for February 26, 2026 will not take place as scheduled because of the snowstorm that recently hit the area.
Residents will have another opportunity to meet with city leadership when the program returns on March 5, 2026. Mayor Amy Marasco is expected to attend that rescheduled session.
A former Spanish military officer who orchestrated one of Europe’s most dramatic failed coups has passed away at the age of 93.
Antonio Tejero died Wednesday night in Alzira, a town in eastern Spain, according to a statement from legal representatives of his family.
Tejero became infamous for his role in leading approximately 200 armed civil guards in a brazen assault on Spain’s parliament building on February 23, 1981. The attack represented the final and most significant effort to derail Spain’s democratic transformation following the 1975 death of dictator Francisco Franco.
In a remarkable coincidence, Tejero’s death occurred on the exact same day Spanish authorities released previously classified government documents concerning the 1981 coup attempt.
The takeover ultimately collapsed when Spain’s then-King Juan Carlos I appeared on national television to condemn the action, urging military forces to reject the coup and honor the nation’s new constitution.
The dramatic 18-hour siege, during which Tejero and his fellow guards held parliament members and government ministers captive, remains etched in Spanish national memory. Television cameras captured the entire ordeal as it unfolded, allowing Spanish citizens to witness the crisis in real time.
Broadcast footage showed military personnel discharging weapons inside the parliamentary chamber while elected officials dove for cover beneath their desks.
Wearing the distinctive patent leather tricorn hat of Spain’s civil guard police force, Tejero brandished a pistol and commanded “Everyone, freeze!” as he took control of the building. The raiders disrupted proceedings as lawmakers were preparing to confirm Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo as the country’s new prime minister.
Following his conviction for military rebellion, Tejero completed 15 years and nine months of a 30-year prison term.
Upon his release, he split his time between his hometown of Málaga in southern Spain and the capital city of Madrid, according to a 2011 report by Spanish newspaper El País.
Madrid law firm A. Cañizares Abogados announced Wednesday that Tejero died “peacefully, surrounded by his entire family and after receiving the holy sacraments.”
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday that the Trump administration has begun taking steps to put the USDA South building up for sale by handing control of the property over to the General Services Administration.
The move represents the opening phase of what officials describe as an effort to dispose of the government-owned facility and relocate the Food and Nutrition Service office currently housed there.
By transferring oversight of the building to GSA, the administration is setting in motion the formal process that could eventually lead to the sale of the federal property.
Soybean producers in Brazil’s Mato Grosso region are launching a campaign to showcase their environmental efforts and transform their image from climate destroyers to sustainability champions. However, experts are concerned that the potential breakdown of a major deforestation prevention initiative could reverse the gains they’ve made in recent years.
The latest federal agriculture data reveals mixed trends in chicken production, with weekly figures showing a slight decline while annual comparisons remain positive.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 254.065 million eggs intended for meat chicken production were placed in incubators during the reporting period. This represents a decrease of 321,000 eggs compared to the previous week, though the total still exceeds last year’s figures by 2 percent.
The report also noted that hatching success rates dropped below 79 percent during this period. Meanwhile, roughly 194 million newly hatched chicks destined for meat production were transferred to growing facilities, marking a decline of 1.717 million birds from the week prior.
These statistics provide insight into the poultry industry’s production patterns, which can influence future meat supplies and pricing in the coming months.
Two public restroom facilities in Lewes are now available for residents and visitors following temporary closures due to winter weather conditions.
The restrooms at Mary Vessels Park and the Trail Head located at the Lewes Public Library have been reopened to the public as of February 25, 2026.
According to city officials, they will continue to evaluate conditions on a daily basis to determine when additional public restroom facilities can safely resume operations as winter ice and snow continue to clear from the area.
SÃO PAULO — A historic soccer jacket once worn by legendary player Pelé during the 1966 World Cup has gained renewed attention after Puerto Rican pop sensation Bad Bunny borrowed it for his debut concerts in Brazil.
The reggaeton star donned the iconic piece during his São Paulo performances, marking his first shows ever held on Brazilian territory. Bad Bunny’s homage to the soccer icon, who passed away in 2022 at 82 years old, extended beyond just wearing the jacket — he also modified lyrics in his song MONACO, replacing “Messi and Maradona” with “scoring a goal after Pelé and Maradona.”
The valuable garment belongs to Cássio Brandão, who runs Alambrado Futebol e Cultura, a specialty shop focused on historic soccer collectibles and uniforms. His collection spans more than 7,000 pieces, with 115 items specifically connected to Pelé. Brandão played a role in selecting the jacket for Bad Bunny’s tribute.
“He took very good care of the piece. It came back only with sweat, wet with sweat, but it was perfect, in the same condition. They were very careful. It returned in the same suitcase,” Brandão said.
The tribute resonated beyond the concert venue, with Pelé’s official Instagram account expressing gratitude to the artist. The post noted that when someone of Bad Bunny’s stature honors “the King on Brazilian soil, it means the crown is still shining.”
Brandão believes the crossover moment will introduce Pelé’s legacy to a new generation of fans worldwide.
“I think that today, when I see Bad Bunny doing this, it warms my heart to imagine that many kids across Brazil and around the world are going on YouTube trying to learn more about Pelé, watching his goals and better understanding the magnitude and greatness of this figure, who is the greatest football player in history and, to me, the greatest Brazilian who has ever lived,” Brandão said.
WASHINGTON — The nominee selected to oversee a newly established Justice Department fraud unit promised Wednesday to conduct investigations “without fear or favor” amid growing concerns about potential political interference in the division’s operations.
Colin McDonald’s appointment to head the proposed National Fraud Enforcement Division has drawn scrutiny because fraud cases are already handled by the department’s existing Criminal Division, and because the White House has indicated it will play an unprecedented role in supervising the new unit’s activities.
The nomination comes as the Trump administration has intensified focus on alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota. During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance would spearhead the administration’s “war on fraud,” making accusations that Minnesota’s Somali community members have “pillaged” billions in taxpayer funds.
When questioned during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing about whether he would comply with presidential directives to launch specific investigations, McDonald avoided giving a direct response. The experienced prosecutor, who currently serves in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office, stated only that he bases decisions on evidence and legal standards.
“The vision that we have is a division that is large enough where no fraud is too big, and no fraud is too small, so that we can reach all actors within the chain of criminal culpability and no one more than that,” McDonald testified. “Those are the ones that we are going to be looking after, investigating and following the facts — without fear or favor.”
Vance’s January announcement that the new fraud division chief would answer directly to the White House surprised many Justice Department officials, even within an administration that has dismantled traditional barriers between the department and executive branch.
The administration has since modified its position, stating that McDonald would report to the deputy attorney general like other division leaders, though questions remain about Vance’s specific involvement in overseeing cases and prosecutions.
Federal investigators have been examining extensive fraud allegations in Minnesota for several years, with dozens of defendants — primarily of Somali heritage — facing charges under both the Biden and Trump administrations. The alleged fraud gained heightened attention during the current administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. A federal prosecutor has estimated that potentially half of approximately $18 billion in federal program funding distributed in Minnesota since 2018 may have been fraudulently obtained.
If confirmed, McDonald may immediately encounter staffing challenges as the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office has experienced mass resignations following controversial fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents during recent immigration raids. Joseph Thompson, the prosecutor overseeing the extensive Minnesota fraud investigation, is among those who have resigned amid tensions over the Justice Department’s handling of the shootings.
Skeptics have questioned the necessity of creating the new division when the department’s Criminal Division already handles fraud prosecutions effectively. The existing fraud section filed charges against 265 individuals last year, representing a more than 10% increase from the previous year. These cases involved over $16 billion in attempted fraud losses, setting a record for the section and more than doubling 2024’s total.
Despite these achievements, McDonald told committee members that significant additional work remains “to ensure that our taxpayer funded programs are free of fraud.”
“The problem is massive,” McDonald stated. “And so President Trump and the attorney general were right to identify this as a place where we needed to put significantly more focus.”
A winter snowball battle in New York City has sparked tension between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the police department after officers were targeted and injured during the chaotic event.
The mayor has characterized the incident at Washington Square Park as young people enjoying themselves after a major snowstorm. However, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and the NYPD view the situation much more seriously.
Authorities are now hunting for four individuals and have released their photographs after officers sustained injuries from thrown snow and ice during Monday’s gathering, which social media influencers had promoted online.
Mamdani has indicated he doesn’t think criminal prosecution is necessary in this case.
“I’ve said time and time again that, having seen these videos, to me it was a snowball fight that got out of hand and it should be treated accordingly,” he told reporters Wednesday when asked if anyone should be prosecuted.
Commissioner Tisch condemned the events as “disgraceful” and “criminal.” The police officers’ union immediately pointed to the incident as proof that officer respect has eroded under the new mayor’s leadership.
“This was not just a ‘snowball fight.’ This was an assault,” the Police Benevolent Association said in a statement.
The controversy could potentially develop into a significant political challenge for Mamdani, who entered office facing criticism from multiple directions due to his previous statements about law enforcement.
The Monday snowball event attracted large crowds to Washington Square Park following a major winter storm that hit the Northeast, resulting in pandemonium as participants hurled snowballs throughout the famous city park.
As any parent understands, snowball battles naturally tend to escalate into conflicts or injuries. Participants can become overly aggressive, and not everyone appreciates being struck with snow.
Social media footage revealed two officers who walked into the park being bombarded with snowballs from multiple directions, leaving them covered in snow as they moved along a pathway. The officers knocked at least two individuals to the ground while snowballs continued flying and bystanders recorded with their devices. One officer’s face appeared injured and he was seen touching his eye.
More video footage captured people launching snowballs at additional officers positioned on the street outside the park boundaries.
The police department subsequently issued a statement confirming that several officers were hit in the face with snowballs. A union representative reported that two police officers received medical treatment at a local hospital for injuries to their face, head and neck areas.
The responses to this week’s snowball incident mirrored reactions following a 2019 summer episode when energetic young people engaged in water fights were captured on video splashing police officers.
Those water incidents also generated anger from police leadership, who condemned it as unacceptable disrespect and even suggested officers who would tolerate such behavior should find different careers.
On Tuesday night, the police department published photos of four suspects they’re seeking regarding the incident while requesting public assistance in identifying them. These images were distributed just hours after Mamdani minimized the confrontation during an unrelated press event earlier that day.
Mamdani stated Wednesday that he has communicated with Tisch and values her efforts but avoided addressing questions about their conflicting views on the snowball incident.
During his election campaign, Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, issued an apology for previous language he’d used to describe the police department, having once called it in a social media post “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”
He also disappointed some left-wing supporters when he kept Tisch, a moderate establishment figure, as police commissioner, indicating his intention to take a balanced approach to law enforcement matters.
A federal judge has declared that the Trump administration’s practice of sending immigrants to nations where they lack any connections violates the law and must be halted, according to a Wednesday ruling in a case that previously went before the Supreme Court.
Federal District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts has given the government a 15-day window to appeal his latest decision by temporarily suspending the ruling. Murphy referenced how the Supreme Court sided with the administration last year, putting his earlier decision on hold and allowing a deportation flight carrying multiple migrants to proceed to conflict-ridden South Sudan, despite the deportees having no connections there.
According to Murphy, immigrants who are challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s approach deserve “meaningful notice” and a chance to contest their removal to a third nation before it happens. The current policy “extinguishes valid challenges to third-country removal by effecting removal before those challenges can be raised,” the judge determined.
“These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nation’s bedrock principle: that no ‘person’ in this country may be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,’” Murphy stated in his ruling.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority decided in June that immigration authorities could rapidly remove individuals to third nations. Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, both liberal justices, opposed the decision, arguing it provided preferential treatment to the government.
Murphy pointed out that the Trump administration has consistently broken or attempted to break his court orders. He highlighted how the Defense Department sent at least six individuals covered by the case to El Salvador and Mexico last March without following the procedures mandated by a temporary restraining order he had issued.
“The simple reality is that nobody knows the merits of any individual class member’s claim because (administration officials) are withholding the predicate fact: the country of removal,” Murphy, who received his judicial appointment from Democratic President Joe Biden, explained in his decision.
The judge noted that DHS’s third-country deportation approach has focused on immigrants who had received protection against being returned to their native countries, where they faced potential torture or other forms of persecution.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, eight men deported to South Sudan in May had criminal convictions in the United States and faced final removal orders.
A Texas federal court has given ExxonMobil permission to move forward with defamation claims against California Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding his public statements about the oil company’s plastic recycling programs.
U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale from the Eastern District of Texas determined in his recent decision that Bonta loses his official immunity protection for certain public statements, particularly those made in a fundraising email distributed to Texas voters.
The legal battle stems from Bonta’s September 2024 lawsuit against ExxonMobil, where he accused the petroleum company of misleading consumers by promoting plastic products as recyclable when effective recycling systems don’t exist. According to Bonta’s claims, fewer than 5% of plastic materials actually get transformed into new plastic items, and the recycling technologies that Exxon promotes are ineffective. ExxonMobil countered by blaming California’s recycling infrastructure for the problems.
In response, ExxonMobil filed its own lawsuit in Texas against Bonta personally and several environmental organizations, claiming defamation and alleging that the public statements damaged existing and potential business relationships. The company chose to file in Texas, close to its headquarters location.
While Judge Truncale threw out the claims against the environmental groups, he permitted the case against Bonta to continue.
The court focused particularly on a campaign fundraising email Bonta distributed to Texas residents, which stated that only 5% of plastic gets recycled while the remainder pollutes the environment and enters human bodies, adding: “Exxon Mobil knew, and Exxon Mobil lied.” The Democratic attorney general maintained he was simply informing subscribers about his office’s work.
However, Judge Truncale ruled that the presence of a campaign donation link transformed the message into political activity rather than official government business, stripping away Bonta’s immunity protections.
“Here, the contribution request betrays the email’s true nature: a campaign promotion. Campaigning is not within Bonta’s scope of employment,” the judge wrote.
Bonta’s office has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
ExxonMobil released a statement declaring that the “campaign of lies designed to derail our advanced recycling business must stop.”
Cuban authorities announced that a deadly confrontation in territorial waters on Wednesday resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries after a Florida-registered speedboat allegedly fired upon Cuban border patrol forces, prompting return gunfire from Cuban officials.
According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, all four individuals who lost their lives were passengers on the Florida vessel, while six additional occupants sustained injuries. Cuban officials also reported that their border patrol commander was wounded during the exchange.
Cuban authorities stated that the injured individuals from the attacking vessel were transported for emergency medical care following the incident.
This deadly encounter occurs during a period of escalating friction between Cuba and the United States. The U.S. has imposed severe restrictions on oil deliveries to the Caribbean island, creating additional strain on Cuba’s Communist leadership. The situation became more complex following the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American forces in Caracas, effectively removing one of Cuba’s most important regional allies.
In an official statement, Cuban officials declared: “Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region.”
PARIS – French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s administration weathered a parliamentary challenge Wednesday, defeating the first of two attempts to remove the government from power over controversial energy legislation.
The no-confidence measure, brought forward by the far-right National Rally party, secured support from 140 lawmakers but fell significantly short of the 289 votes required to succeed in ousting the government.
The political showdown stems from the administration’s decision to bypass the National Assembly and implement new energy regulations through executive decree, denying elected representatives their traditional final approval authority.
Parliamentary leaders are preparing for a second no-confidence vote, this one initiated by the hard-left France Unbowed party, which is anticipated to take place in the coming hours.
Lecornu’s administration operates without a clear parliamentary majority and has already weathered two previous attempts to remove it from office earlier this year, both triggered by the government’s decision to force through a delayed national budget without legislative approval.
Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences announced Wednesday that their investigational HIV medication in single-tablet form demonstrated strong patient tolerance with minimal dropout rates during clinical testing, potentially offering HIV patients a new treatment option once their viral levels are controlled.
The company shared comprehensive findings from an advanced clinical study at a Denver medical conference Wednesday, as they prepare to seek regulatory approval for the experimental drug combination.
Study data revealed that patients stopped taking the medication due to side effects at rates of just 1.6% and 0.5% across the two study groups, figures researchers considered notably low.
After 48 weeks of treatment in the same study, only 0.8% of participants taking the new single-pill combination showed detectable virus levels in their bloodstream, while 1.1% of those continuing their previous multiple-pill treatments had detectable viral loads.
Researchers tested the medication in HIV patients who already had suppressed viral levels, including individuals transitioning from complicated multiple-pill treatment plans or from currently recommended single-tablet therapies.
Study participants also indicated greater satisfaction with their treatment after making the switch to the investigational medication, based on findings published in The Lancet medical journal.
The pharmaceutical company stated they intend to provide data from both clinical trials to regulatory agencies for review. No regulatory body has yet granted approval for this drug combination.
Health authorities in South Carolina are seeing hopeful signs that the country’s most significant measles outbreak in over three decades may be beginning to subside, with infections declining for two consecutive weeks.
During a Wednesday briefing, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell credited the dedicated efforts of public health workers for the positive trend. “The hard work and long hours that frontline, often entry-level epidemiologists, have put into this response are largely responsible for this downward trend that is actually occurring a bit earlier than previously projected,” Bell stated, while cautioning that the outbreak “is not by any means over.”
South Carolina has enlisted assistance from infectious disease specialists through the nonprofit CDC Foundation to help manage the crisis, which has become the most extensive measles outbreak nationwide since 1992. As of Tuesday, health officials have documented 979 confirmed cases.
The disease surge started in October and has primarily affected communities in the state’s northwestern counties, particularly around Greenville and Spartanburg areas.
The American poultry industry is showing signs of steady growth, with new federal statistics revealing a 2 percent increase in both broiler egg production and chick placement across the country.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of eggs designated for meat chicken production has risen by 2 percent compared to previous periods. Similarly, the placement of young chickens destined for meat production has also climbed by the same percentage.
This upward trend in poultry production could signal positive news for Delaware’s significant agricultural sector, where chicken farming plays a major economic role. The state is home to numerous poultry operations that contribute substantially to the local economy and food supply chain.
The statistics reflect the ongoing demand for chicken products nationwide and suggest continued stability in the poultry farming industry, which employs thousands of workers across the Delmarva Peninsula region.
LOS ANGELES — In a shocking turn of events Tuesday night, Dallas superstar Luka Doncic found himself with the basketball and an opportunity to secure victory for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the league’s top scorer chose to pass instead.
The decision caught everyone off guard, including LeBron James, who received Doncic’s unexpected pass during the closing seconds of Los Angeles’ 110-109 defeat to the Orlando Magic.
“I thought he had a great look, but that’s my POV,” James said.
The closing sequence unfolded exactly as head coach JJ Redick had designed: James delivered the inbound pass with 6.7 seconds remaining, while Doncic emerged from behind a screen completely unguarded approximately one step beyond the three-point arc.
Despite typically being willing to attempt shots from nearly 30 feet when given such space, Doncic uncharacteristically wavered before pump-faking twice against approaching defenders and ultimately delivering a bounce pass back to a startled James.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Doncic said. “Tried to take one dribble to get a little closer. Probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball, just tried to attack.”
James hurriedly attempted a contested three-pointer that missed badly, sealing a 110-109 defeat that concluded a mediocre 4-4 homestand where the team appeared far from championship caliber.
Los Angeles understands their championship aspirations depend on Doncic and James delivering in crucial moments, yet both stars faltered in the clutch after the team surrendered a 12-point second-half advantage. This marked the Lakers’ first loss this season after holding a lead entering the fourth quarter.
Doncic’s reluctance to shoot surprised observers, particularly his claim that standing just behind the three-point line was too distant for someone who routinely attempts shots from that range.
He later acknowledged that his struggles from beyond the arc might have influenced his decision-making. When questioned whether his 2-for-10 three-point shooting performance against Orlando affected his surprising choice, he responded: “Maybe a little bit.”
James recognized he had minimal time to react when the ball returned to him, but couldn’t manage a quality attempt while facing perimeter pressure from 6-foot-10 defender Jonathan Isaac.
“Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw on that,” James said. “I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of just lost his balance. Didn’t have the rhythm of the ball, whatever the case may be, and it kind of allowed them to get back in front of him. I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me.”
The duo had collaborated successfully on the preceding play, with Doncic’s baseline inbound finding James for a go-ahead dunk with 26 seconds left. Orlando regained the lead when Wendell Carter Jr. converted a putback layup, leaving Los Angeles with the final possession.
Doncic finished 8-of-24 from the field, with his 22 points representing his lowest output in over three months for a game he completed without early departure due to injury. A final-second heroic shot could have overshadowed his struggles, but the opportunity slipped away.
“I didn’t want to lose the ball, and we didn’t have timeouts,” Doncic said. “But like I said, shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should attack. That’s on me.”
Coach Redick indicated he hadn’t yet discussed the final possession with Doncic, planning to address it during Wednesday’s flight to Phoenix, where the Lakers will meet a Suns squad closely trailing them for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
“We obviously ran a play for him to get a look,” Redick said. “I felt like he had a decent shot.”
PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has already launched his first spring training home run, but the switch-hitting slugger says he’s not specifically chasing another 60-home run campaign after his record-breaking 2024 season.
The 29-year-old backstop, who topped Major League Baseball with 60 long balls last year, smacked a 427-foot blast against the Chicago White Sox during Tuesday’s exhibition matchup. The homer marked his first of the spring in just his third game.
“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh explained to Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”
Raleigh’s 60 home runs in 2024 established a new benchmark for players who spent most of their time catching, as he started 119 games behind the plate while adding 38 more as a designated hitter. The player known as “Big Dumper” also posted career-best numbers with 125 RBIs and earned runner-up honors in American League MVP balloting, finishing behind three-time winner Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
Both Judge and Raleigh will represent Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, with pool play starting next week. Judge previously established the American League record by belting 62 homers during the 2022 campaign.
The two sluggers join an exclusive group of just seven players who have reached the 60-home run milestone. Only Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa have accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons, doing so in 1998 and 1999. McGwire and Sosa remain the lone players with multiple 60-homer seasons, with Sosa adding a third such campaign in 2001.
The head of streaming service Netflix is set to hold discussions at the White House this Thursday, highlighting the political considerations surrounding the company’s potential takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a Wednesday report from Politico.
Ted Sarandos, who serves as Netflix’s chief executive officer, will participate in the White House meetings, two sources with knowledge of the planned discussions told the publication. The scheduled visit demonstrates how high-level government attention is being paid to Netflix’s proposed acquisition deal.
The meetings come as Netflix explores the possibility of purchasing Warner Bros Discovery, a move that would significantly reshape the entertainment industry landscape.
Former University of Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has accepted a position with the Los Angeles Lakers as a consultant for NBA draft operations, the team announced Wednesday.
Bennett, who stepped away from his coaching career in October 2024, earned recognition as NCAA national Coach of the Year on three occasions during his tenure.
During his time leading the Cavaliers, Bennett secured a national title in the 2018-19 season and collected four Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year awards.
“We’re thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor to the Lakers basketball operations department,” Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said. “As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource. Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited.”
The 56-year-old coach posted an impressive 364-136 record while at Virginia between 2009 and 2024. Prior to his success with the Cavaliers, Bennett coached at Washington State from 2006 to 2009, where he went 69-33.
“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”
Throughout his coaching career, Bennett developed 13 players who eventually entered the NBA draft, including former NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, two-time NBA three-point shooting percentage champion Joe Harris, and active players De’Andre Hunter with the Kings, Ty Jerome on the Grizzlies, Ryan Dunn playing for the Suns, and Trey Murphy III with the Pelicans.
WASHINGTON – The departing head of the Atlanta Federal Reserve issued a stark warning Wednesday about the damage political conflicts are inflicting on Americans’ faith in the central bank’s independence.
Raphael Bostic, whose tenure concludes this Friday, penned a farewell message expressing deep concern that current political disputes are shaking public confidence in the Federal Reserve’s ability to operate free from outside influence – a cornerstone of American economic stability.
In his departure letter, Bostic cautioned that America’s position as an economic powerhouse and global financial safe harbor “is not guaranteed. Safeguarding our special status includes protecting the Fed’s independence.”
The outgoing Fed president described witnessing firsthand how recent controversies have affected public perception during his recent travels across the country.
“My travels over the past several months have made clear that the legal and rhetorical battles raging around the central bank right now have caused people across a wide cross-section of our population to begin to doubt the Fed’s independence,” Bostic wrote.
He stressed the critical importance of maintaining the central bank’s autonomy, noting extensive research supports this approach.
“It’s important that the public understand what is at stake. Decades of lived experience, as well as a large body of academic research, makes clear that a nation’s economic outcomes are better when there is an independent central bank. Inflation is lower, economic performance is more robust, and consumers and businesses alike are more confident that long-run investments will be worth making.”
While Bostic’s letter didn’t specifically name President Donald Trump or his administration, the recent controversies include Trump’s attempts to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, an ongoing Justice Department probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and the president’s repeated public calls for reduced interest rates.
Earlier this year, Powell took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the DOJ investigation as an attempt to influence monetary policy decisions – a rare public confrontation between a Fed chair and a sitting president.
Fellow Federal Reserve officials and international central bank leaders have supported Powell, echoing Bostic’s concerns about the potential consequences if the Fed’s credibility becomes compromised.
PARIS – A new survey indicates French citizens have shifted their political concerns, with more voters now willing to block far-left parties from gaining power compared to far-right groups, marking a significant change in the country’s political landscape.
The Elabe polling firm found that approximately two-thirds of respondents would cast ballots against the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party in a runoff election, while only 45% said they would vote to prevent the far-right National Rally (RN) from taking office.
This change in public sentiment follows the recent death of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque, who was allegedly killed by far-left extremists. The incident has deeply disturbed French society and turned public opinion against the LFI party. Seven individuals, including a staff member working for an LFI legislator, face formal charges in connection with Deranque’s death.
All accused individuals have rejected the charges against them, according to prosecutors.
The National Rally, historically associated with racist and antisemitic positions, has attempted to leverage concerns about far-left violence to build broader acceptance among mainstream voters. The party now holds the most seats in France’s parliament and is considered a strong contender for the 2027 presidential race.
Traditionally, the RN faced a strategy where opposing parties would unite in second-round elections to prevent their victory. Following the recent killing, RN officials have demanded that other parties establish a “sanitary cordon” against the LFI. The polling data suggests voters are responding to this appeal.
Former center-left President Francois Hollande has called for his Socialist Party to distance itself from LFI.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas will temporarily step away from the team to address a personal situation, the organization announced Wednesday.
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong revealed the news and indicated that Thomas should rejoin the squad by Friday.
The temporary absence means Thomas will miss Thursday evening’s matchup when St. Louis hosts the Seattle Kraken in their first game following the Olympic break. The Blues currently hold a 20-28-9 record this season.
At 26 years old, Thomas has been a key offensive contributor for St. Louis, tallying 33 points through 42 games this year with 11 goals and 22 assists, making him the team’s second-highest scorer.
Since St. Louis selected him 20th overall in the opening round of the 2017 NHL Draft, the Canadian-born player has accumulated 429 points across 508 games in a Blues uniform, including 118 goals and 311 assists. Thomas earned All-Star recognition during the 2023-24 campaign.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving forward with plans to sell its South Building as part of a broader agency restructuring initiative.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Rollins explained that putting the South Building on the market represents the next step in the USDA’s reorganization strategy, which aims to reduce unnecessary expenses and improve how the department’s staff is distributed.
The Agriculture Secretary indicated that the current state of the South Building demonstrates the need for this change, beginning to describe what visitors would encounter if they entered the facility today.
