Financial markets are grappling with significant uncertainty following a Supreme Court decision that has reshuffled America’s trade policy landscape, leaving both investors and international partners scrambling to understand the new rules.
The Supreme Court delivered a blow to President Trump’s trade strategy on Friday, ruling against his use of emergency powers to impose sweeping tariffs. While markets initially celebrated this decision, with U.S. stock indices climbing and Europe’s STOXX 600 reaching record highs by Friday’s close, the relief proved short-lived.
Trump quickly countered the court’s ruling by announcing new tariffs under different legal authority. He first implemented a 10% blanket tariff, then raised it to 15% by Saturday. These new levies operate under previously unused legislation that permits tariffs for up to 150 days before requiring Congressional authorization.
The policy whiplash sent U.S. stock futures tumbling on Monday as traders tried to assess the implications of the rapidly changing trade environment.
International markets showed mixed reactions to the developments. Countries like China and others that faced severe penalties under the previous emergency tariffs found some relief in the new 15% rate. Hong Kong markets jumped more than 2% and South Korea’s Kospi index posted gains on Monday.
However, European Union nations that had negotiated more favorable terms under previous agreements expressed frustration with the changes. The European Commission firmly stated it would reject any tariff increases, emphasizing that “a deal is a deal” regarding last year’s trade agreement with Washington.
The dollar weakened slightly Monday morning while gold prices increased as investors sought safer assets amid the trade uncertainty.
The tariff confusion extends beyond market reactions, creating questions about federal revenue projections and potential rebate programs. Analysts worry these uncertainties could undermine expectations that tariff income will reach approximately $300 billion this year, potentially eliminating prospects for new stimulus payments to American households and forcing increased Treasury borrowing.
Adding to market concerns, Atlanta Federal Reserve President Raphael Bostic suggested that the next interest rate move could be upward, despite weaker-than-expected fourth-quarter GDP growth being offset by higher inflation readings.
Oil prices declined over the weekend as fears of potential U.S. military action against Iran subsided, though tensions remain high with new Geneva negotiations scheduled for Thursday and reports indicating advanced U.S. military planning stages.
The trade policy upheaval complicates numerous bilateral agreements Trump had secured using his now-invalidated emergency authority. With lengthy trade investigations required to establish permanent sectoral tariffs and many needing Congressional approval, the outcome may depend heavily on midterm election results where Republicans risk losing their House majority.
Looking ahead, what happens after the July expiration of the temporary tariffs remains unclear, leaving markets and trading partners in a state of continued uncertainty about America’s trade direction.
Hungary appeared poised Monday to obstruct additional European Union penalties against Russia and prevent a 90-billion-euro financial package for Ukraine, while strikes in Ukraine’s Odesa region claimed two lives just before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale military assault.
With Tuesday marking four years since the invasion began, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy declared to the BBC that Russian President Vladimir Putin has “already started” a third world war, urging global leaders to apply maximum pressure in response.
“The question is how much territory he (Putin) will be able to seize and how to stop him… Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves,” Zelenskyy stated.
Moscow has consistently rejected accusations of seeking broader confrontation with Western nations, describing its “special military operation” in Ukraine as necessary to defend against what it characterizes as Western hostility and aggression. Ukrainian officials and their Western supporters maintain Putin is pursuing territorial expansion in an imperial fashion.
American officials have attempted to facilitate negotiations between the warring nations, though meaningful progress remains out of reach. The most recent diplomatic discussions in Geneva on February 17-18 failed to produce any significant breakthrough.
Moscow demands Ukraine surrender approximately 20% of the eastern Donetsk region still under Ukrainian control, a requirement Zelenskyy firmly rejected during his BBC appearance, explaining it would mean “abandoning hundreds of thousands of our people who live there.”
The Ukrainian leader’s remarks coincided with Hungary’s pledge to obstruct the EU’s 20th sanctions package targeting Russia and the 90-billion-euro ($106 billion) Ukrainian loan due to an oil pipeline disruption that Budapest attributes to Kyiv.
European Union foreign ministers convened in Brussels following escalating tensions between Hungary, Slovakia and Ukraine regarding the Druzhba pipeline outage, which threatens to undermine the bloc’s latest support efforts for Ukraine.
Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia through Druzhba ceased on January 27, when Ukrainian officials reported a Russian drone strike damaged pipeline infrastructure. Both Slovakia and Hungary hold Ukraine responsible for the extended disruption.
“We do not hate Ukraine… but the Ukrainian state behaves in a hostile manner towards Hungary,” declared Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto. “The ball is in Ukraine’s court.”
In correspondence reviewed by Reuters, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban informed European Council leader Antonio Costa that the Druzhba disruption represented an “unprovoked act of hostility that undermines the energy security of Hungary,” promising to block the loan until resolution.
Orban, who has preserved friendly ties with Russia, has framed Hungary’s April 12 election as a fundamental decision between “war or peace,” claiming his political rivals seek to involve the nation in the conflict, allegations they vehemently reject.
EU foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas indicated member nations would likely fail to reach consensus on the proposed Russian sanctions package during Monday’s session, though negotiations are expected to continue until agreement is achieved.
Both Hungary and Slovakia have threatened to halt emergency electricity exports to Ukraine unless oil shipments resume, though operational data from Slovakia’s transmission operator SEPS showed power exports to Ukraine continued Monday.
German and Polish foreign ministers both pressed Hungary to reconsider its stance.
“I would have expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine,” Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told Brussels reporters, referencing the 1956 Soviet invasion of Hungary.
“And instead, with the help of state propaganda… the ruling party managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression. And now it’s trying to exploit that in the general election. It’s quite shocking,” Sikorski added.
The ongoing war has resulted in tens of thousands of casualties, forced over five million people to seek refuge throughout Europe, and devastated Ukrainian communities. The conflict has evolved into a prolonged battle of attrition in eastern regions, where Russian forces have achieved gradual territorial advances.
Ukraine’s military commander-in-chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, announced Monday that his forces had “restored control” over 400 square kilometers along a portion of the southern front.
Russian drone strikes continued overnight, killing two civilians and wounding three others in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, according to emergency response teams.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that Russia targeted port facilities in the Odesa area.
Russian state media RIA, citing defense ministry sources, claimed Moscow’s military successfully struck Ukrainian transportation, energy and fuel infrastructure.
A growing number of people are developing a unusual food allergy that prevents them from eating red meat, and it’s all because of tick bites.
The condition, known as alpha-gal syndrome, occurs when individuals become allergic to a sugar molecule called alpha-gal that exists in mammalian meat. According to Eden Stewart, who works as a Field Specialist in Nutrition and Health education at the University of Missouri, the syndrome develops after being bitten by a Lone Star tick.
Medical experts are reporting an increase in diagnosed cases of this meat allergy across the country. The University of Missouri Extension recently published information to help people better understand this emerging health concern.
The syndrome can cause serious allergic reactions when affected individuals consume beef, pork, lamb, and other mammalian products, making it a significant dietary and health challenge for those diagnosed.
The youngest son of Zimbabwe’s deceased longtime ruler Robert Mugabe made his first court appearance Monday in South Africa, where he’s charged with attempted murder following a shooting incident at his residence.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe, age 29, stood before an Alexandra Magistrates Court judge alongside co-defendant Tobias Mugabe Matonhodze, 33. Both men are charged with attempted murder, obstructing justice, and illegal firearm possession.
The charges stem from a Thursday shooting at the Mugabe residence located in Hyde Park, an upscale Johannesburg neighborhood. A household employee working as a gardener was wounded in the incident and required hospitalization.
Authorities report that following what they describe as an “altercation,” the gardener was shot, though investigators have not determined what sparked the confrontation.
Both defendants were taken into custody Thursday, but law enforcement officials say they have been unable to locate the weapon believed used in the shooting.
The pair will return to court March 3rd to request bail.
Bellarmine Chatunga Mugabe is the child of Robert Mugabe and Grace Mugabe, the former president’s second spouse.
Robert Mugabe controlled Zimbabwe for nearly four decades until military forces removed him from power in 2017. The former dictator passed away in Singapore in 2019 at 95 years old.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Two young performers with facial conditions discovered a powerful connection while bringing the character of Auggie Pullman to life in the musical version of “Wonder” at Harvard University’s American Repertory Theater.
Max Voehl, a 12-year-old from Utah born with bilateral cleft lip and palate, felt an immediate kinship with the character during his audition. Having undergone 13 surgeries compared to Auggie’s 28, and experiencing bullying similar to the character who faces challenges due to Treacher Collins syndrome, Voehl found the role deeply personal.
“Channeling Auggie on stage is actually pretty easy for me because I have felt the emotions he has felt, and I have gone through what he has gone through,” Voehl explained following a matinee show. He shares the starring role with 16-year-old Garrett McNally from California, who actually has Treacher Collins syndrome. Voehl described performing as “pure joy.”
The stage adaptation draws from R.J. Palacio’s 2012 novel about compassion and perseverance, following 10-year-old Auggie as he transitions from homeschooling to attending regular classes in New York. The book also inspired a 2017 movie featuring Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as the protagonist’s parents.
The narrative centers on Auggie’s academic year, where the science-loving “Star Wars” enthusiast initially faces curious stares and awkward inquiries about his appearance from classmates. Though he contemplates leaving school, support from friends and family helps him continue, ultimately earning recognition for his bravery and determination at graduation.
The theatrical version explores multiple viewpoints, including sister Via’s feelings of being overlooked, parents struggling between protection and independence for their son, and friend Jack’s journey from betrayal back to loyalty when he chooses Auggie over popular classmates for a science assignment.
Director Taibi Magar discovered the “Wonder” material during 2021’s pandemic uncertainty when theater’s future seemed unclear. She embraced the opportunity to adapt the story, finding it offered audiences a model for more compassionate living.
“I was pretty sad and the world was feeling really cold and mean,” said Magar, who previously helmed “Night Side Songs; The Half-God of Rainfall” and “Macbeth In Stride; We Live in Cairo” at the venue. “Then I got a phone call from my agent to take a look at this material, and it just cracked me open.”
Casting young performers with facial conditions for Auggie presented initial difficulties. The film version used an actor without facial differences, relying on makeup and prosthetics for the transformation.
Project consultant Matthew Joffee, a former therapist and learning disability expert who has Moebius syndrome, insisted the role required someone with an actual facial difference. He worried that casting otherwise would alienate the craniofacial community.
“They were so desperate to get actors that will be able to play the role. They were willing to consider looking for actors and just making them up, and I put my own foot down,” he stated. “The community would be completely outraged to know that an actor with a craniofacial condition wasn’t being used.”
Eventually, the production successfully cast both Voehl and McNally, whom Magar called “two extraordinary actors.”
McNally, making his acting debut, discovered the opportunity through a Facebook group posting and decided auditioning sounded enjoyable. He identified with Auggie’s experience of people viewing him “differently” and not always treating him as a “normal” person.
Learning via Zoom call that he’d landed the major musical role brought excitement mixed with opening night nerves.
“I was nervous because I thought I would mess up or get stage fright, but it generally went pretty smoothly, except for that one time where I hit my shin on one of the tables,” McNally recalled. “Other than that, it was a really good show and I was really proud of myself.”
His mother Jules McNally, while never questioning her son’s abilities, was amazed by his “dedication and commitment” to the performance. Watching audiences respond to her son, whom she describes “as his own unique person,” she hopes the production inspires action.
“I want people to leave the show taking the things that they felt, the empathy that they experienced,” she explained. “I want them to go out into their own communities and do what they need to do to make people feel safe and accepted and welcome.”
Both young actors recognize how portraying Auggie provides an unexpected opportunity to shift attitudes about facial differences.
“I’m making a difference in helping people understand that even though some people may look different or have like a facial difference, we are all in the end the same the on inside,” Voehl observed. “It does not matter what we look like because we are all human.”
During one of the final performances before the February 15 closing, hundreds of enthusiastic students packed the theater after the two-month run. Many, including 14-year-old Dylan Marion from Malden, Massachusetts, sought autographs afterward, collecting signatures from seven cast members on book copies. Students who had read the novel in class eagerly compared the written story with the stage version.
“I loved it. It was amazing,” said 10-year-old Aili Sparandara from a Cambridge school whose entire grade studied the book. “It’s nice how he has people out there who can help him. It was a lot of equality. I like it. This book is based on someone with differences that can be shown. It’s not like everybody in every book has to be perfect.”
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump takes the podium Tuesday evening for his annual State of the Union address, speaking to a nation that has undergone dramatic changes during his first year back in the White House.
Twelve months into his return to office, Trump has defied traditional political norms while pursuing an aggressive policy agenda. His administration has reshuffled domestic priorities, strained international partnerships, and tested the nation’s system of governmental checks and balances. Two individuals lost their lives during confrontations with federal officers conducting immigration enforcement operations and deportation activities.
While members of Congress gather in the House chamber to hear Trump outline his upcoming priorities, many observers view this as a critical moment for the legislative branch, which appears to have ceded significant influence to the executive branch as the Republican president has consolidated unprecedented authority despite holding only narrow GOP majorities.
“It’s crazy,” said Nancy Henderson Korpi, a retiree in northern Minnesota who joined an Indivisible protest group and plans to watch the speech from home. “But what is disturbing more to me is that Congress has essentially just handed over their power.”
She said, “We could make some sound decisions and changes if Congress would do their job.”
The nation finds itself at a pivotal juncture, marking its 250th anniversary amid some of the most dramatic shifts in politics, policy, and national sentiment that many Americans have witnessed in their lifetimes.
When legislative action was necessary, the president has forced his priorities through Congress — frequently applying pressure to lawmakers through personal phone calls during crucial votes — but has more commonly bypassed the complex legislative process to circumvent both his own party and unified Democratic resistance.
Trump’s most notable legislative achievement remains the Republican tax reform package, featuring new baby savings accounts, tip tax exemptions, and various specialized deductions, alongside significant reductions to Medicaid and SNAP nutrition assistance. The legislation also allocated over $170 billion to Homeland Security for immigration enforcement operations.
However, the Republican-controlled Congress has largely remained passive as Trump has dramatically expanded executive power through hundreds of administrative orders, many facing legal challenges, demonstrating his determination to implement his agenda by any means necessary.
“Retrieving a lost power is no easy business in our constitutional order,” wrote Justice Neil Gorsuch in the Supreme Court’s landmark rebuke of Trump’s tariffs policy on Friday.
Gorsuch said that without the court stepping in on major questions, “Our system of separated powers and checks-and-balances threatens to give way to the continual and permanent accretion of power in the hands of one man.”
Trump’s influence has extended from reducing federal employment to modifying childhood vaccination protocols to military intervention in Venezuela and the capture of that nation’s leader, with his authority appearing virtually unlimited.
His government has initiated investigations targeting potential political opponents, placed his name on historic landmarks including the renowned John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, and most prominently has been conducting widespread arrests while converting warehouse facilities into detention centers for deportation proceedings.
Throughout these developments, numerous opportunities existed for Congressional intervention, yet lawmakers consistently chose not to act.
Democrats, serving in the minority, have attempted resistance efforts, including blocking routine Homeland Security funding unless immigration enforcement receives additional oversight.
However, Republicans maintain that voters elected the president and granted their party Congressional control specifically to support his agenda, according to a senior GOP leadership aide who requested anonymity to discuss internal dynamics.
House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana has declared Trump will be the “most consequential” president of the modern era.
Democrats are planning to either skip the speech entirely or remain silent throughout the address.
“The state of the union is falling apart,” said House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York.
Instances of Congress asserting its authority against the White House have occurred but remain uncommon — such as the notable bipartisan effort from Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Ca., to demand release of the Jeffrey Epstein documents, despite opposition from Johnson and GOP leadership.
Congressional pushback has more frequently emerged when several Republican defectors join most Democrats to constrain the president, as occurred when the House voted to prevent Trump’s tariffs on Canada. The Senate moved forward with a war powers resolution to block military action in Venezuela without Congressional authorization, but retreated after Trump’s intervention.
These votes have been largely symbolic, since Congress lacks sufficient numbers to override any anticipated Trump veto.
More commonly, Congress has accommodated Trump by reversing previously approved bipartisan funding for USAID foreign assistance and public broadcasting, or failing to prevent U.S. military attacks on suspected drug-smuggling vessels that resulted in two Caribbean casualties. When Trump issued Day One pardons for approximately 1,500 individuals charged in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, Congressional Republicans offered no objections.
As Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency with billionaire Elon Musk began terminating federal workers, GOP lawmakers demonstrated support by establishing their own DOGE caucus on Capitol Hill.
“The central question for us is does the public understand what’s at stake” said Max Stier, CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, a nonprofit organization focused on government management and democracy. “We are in the midst of the most significant transformation of our government and our public servants in our history as a country.”
He reported that approximately 300,000 federal employees were terminated or transferred, while 100,000 new appointments or rehires have primarily gone to Homeland Security.
Across the country, legal challenges against the administration are being filed at unprecedented levels, as Congress was “asleep at the wheel,” said Skye Perryman, president of Democracy Forward, which has filed more than 150 cases against the administration, contributing to the largest legal campaign against an executive branch in U.S. history.
The judicial system faces significant pressure, and the White House has not consistently complied with court decisions. GOP lawmakers have supported Trump’s judicial criticism, posting outside their offices images of judges they seek to impeach.
An upcoming major test involves a citizenship verification voting bill that Trump wants before the midterm elections.
The House has approved the SAVE America Act, requiring birth certificates or passports for federal election registration and photo identification at polling locations. Advocates claim it’s necessary to prevent fraud, while opponents contend it will exclude millions of Americans who lack readily accessible citizenship documentation.
The Senate has majority support for the measure but lacks the required 60 votes to overcome an expected Democratic filibuster.
Trump has promised executive action if Congress fails to pass the legislation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has called the head of artificial intelligence company Anthropic to meet at the Pentagon on Tuesday for what sources describe as potentially challenging discussions regarding military applications of the firm’s Claude AI system, according to a report from Axios on Monday.
Earlier this month, Reuters exclusively revealed that Pentagon officials were pressuring major AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic, to allow their artificial intelligence systems to operate on classified military networks while removing many typical user limitations these companies normally enforce.
Axios previously reported this month that Pentagon leaders were contemplating severing their relationship with Anthropic due to the company’s refusal to eliminate restrictions governing how U.S. military forces can utilize their AI models, including the Claude system.
The Monday report indicates that Defense Department officials believe their negotiations with Anthropic are approaching a breakdown.
A high-ranking Defense official informed the publication that Anthropic understands this meeting is not a “get-to-know-you meeting,” the report stated.
An Anthropic representative responded by saying “we are having productive conversations, in good faith,” as quoted by Axios.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm these details. The Pentagon, White House, and Anthropic have not yet provided responses to Reuters’ requests for statements.
International Criminal Court prosecutors are pushing forward with murder charges against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, claiming he played a central role in the deaths of thousands during his anti-drug campaign.
During pre-trial proceedings that began Monday at the war crimes tribunal in The Hague, prosecutors outlined three counts of murder as a crime against humanity against the 80-year-old former leader.
“Duterte’s so-called war on drugs resulted in the killings of thousands of civilians and many of these victims were children,” prosecutor Mame Niang told the court during opening statements for the confirmation hearings.
“Mr Duterte must be held to account and this case should be confirmed for trial,” Niang added.
The charges involve dozens of specific victims, though prosecutors argue this represents only a small portion of the actual casualties from Duterte’s crackdown on suspected drug dealers and users during his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
Court officials arrested Duterte and brought him to The Hague last March. Prosecutors allege he established, financed and equipped death squads specifically to hunt down and eliminate people accused of drug-related activities.
“Mr Duterte played a pivotal role in the committing of the charged crimes. His contribution was essential, as he was at the very heart of the plan to neutralise alleged criminals including through murder,” Niang stated.
Throughout his presidency, Duterte maintained that he only authorized police to use deadly force when defending themselves and consistently justified his anti-drug operations.
Outside the courthouse, Duterte’s critics demonstrated, shouting “Hold Duterte accountable!” in the Filipino language Tagalog.
“I hope, and I am quite confident, that the charges of murder and attempted murder will be confirmed” and Duterte’s guilt ultimately proven, said Cristina Palabay, who works with the human rights organization Karapatan.
Duterte will not attend the hearings, with his legal team citing cognitive deterioration that would prevent him from comprehending the proceedings.
“For us, it’s cowardice,” responded Sheerah Escudero, whose brother died during the anti-drug campaign. “We know that Duterte will not be able to escape accountability.”
The hearings will wrap up Friday, after which judges have up to 60 days to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to a full trial. Under ICC procedures, judges must approve the charges before any trial can begin.
A Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company announced Monday its plans to enter the stock market with a potential company valuation reaching $2.17 billion.
Generate Biomedicines, headquartered in Somerville and supported by investment firm Flagship Pioneering, plans to collect as much as $425 million through its public stock debut. The company intends to sell 25 million shares with each share priced between $15 and $17.
The biotechnology sector is experiencing renewed momentum in 2024 following a disappointing previous year, as declining interest rates and increased investment capital create favorable conditions for companies going public.
Several major financial institutions will manage the stock offering, including Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Piper Sandler, Guggenheim Securities, and Cantor.
The pharmaceutical company plans to trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange using the ticker symbol “GENB.”
Shares of Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk plummeted more than 15% during Monday trading after the company announced disappointing results from a clinical trial of its experimental obesity medication CagriSema, which failed to match the effectiveness of a competing drug from Eli Lilly.
The clinical study was intended to demonstrate that CagriSema could deliver weight reduction results comparable to Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, but the trial did not achieve this objective, according to a company announcement.
The stock decline has eliminated approximately $400 billion from Novo Nordisk’s market value, bringing shares back to price levels not seen since before the successful launch of Wegovy transformed the company into the globe’s highest-valued pharmaceutical manufacturer. At its peak in 2024, the company was valued at over $600 billion.
During mid-morning trading in Copenhagen, Novo Nordisk’s stock price hit its lowest point since June 2021, coinciding with when the company first introduced its highly successful weight management medication to the market.
Financial analysts from J.P. Morgan characterized the trial failure as a major disappointment that could reduce interest in CagriSema, dampen future revenue projections, and make it challenging for Novo to regain competitive position in the rapidly expanding obesity medication sector.
“While CagriSema could offer a new treatment option to patients, the inferiority to Zepbound means it is unlikely to help Novo retake market share in obesity,” the analysts stated.
This development compounds existing investor concerns about escalating rivalry in the obesity treatment field, where consumer preference increasingly favors medications that deliver superior weight reduction outcomes.
Novo Nordisk ranked among the poorest-performing stocks on Europe’s primary STOXX 600 market index Monday. Zealand Pharma, another Danish pharmaceutical company, also experienced a 6.7% stock decline.
Meanwhile, Eli Lilly’s shares climbed approximately 4% during pre-market trading in the United States.
ZURICH – Swiss officials announced Monday they remain committed to finalizing formal trade negotiations with the United States, working to transform a preliminary agreement from late 2025 into a binding contract that reduced American tariffs on Swiss products from 39% down to 15%.
According to the Swiss Economy Ministry, negotiations with Washington continue under their current directive, with regional cantons and other important stakeholders not requesting an end to discussions despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned former President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.
“The primary objective of the ongoing negotiations has from the outset been a legally binding agreement that would provide Swiss companies with the greatest possible legal certainty,” the ministry stated, emphasizing their commitment to achieving this target.
Good morning, Delmarva! Bundle up because we’re dealing with a significant winter weather event today. Heavy snow and blowing snow will dominate our Monday, with the most intense conditions expected through mid-morning. We’ll see periods of heavy snow mixed with blowing and drifting snow as northwest winds howl at 15 to 25 mph, gusting up to 40 mph. Snow accumulations of 5 to 9 inches are possible by day’s end, so please avoid unnecessary travel and give yourself extra time if you must be on the roads.
Temperatures will struggle to reach 37 degrees despite the cloud cover. Tonight, those strong winds will gradually calm down, with areas of blowing snow tapering off and skies becoming mostly cloudy. We’ll drop to a chilly 22 degrees.
Tuesday brings much better news! We’ll see mostly sunny skies return with temperatures climbing to a more seasonable 35 degrees. However, another light snow chance arrives Tuesday night as clouds increase.
Stay safe out there, Delmarva, and keep those snow shovels handy! I’m tracking your forecast and will keep you updated.
The son of acclaimed Hollywood director Rob Reiner is set to appear in a Los Angeles courtroom Monday for arraignment on murder charges following multiple delays and a switch in legal counsel.
Nick Reiner, 32, faces two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the December stabbing deaths of his parents, director Rob Reiner, 78, and photographer-producer Michele Reiner, 70. The couple’s bodies were discovered December 14 at their West Los Angeles home.
The defendant is anticipated to enter not guilty pleas to the charges. He has been held without bail since his arrest shortly after the killings occurred, marking one of Los Angeles’ most startling celebrity murder cases in recent memory.
Rob Reiner rose to prominence as a cast member on the 1970s television hit “All in the Family” before transitioning to a successful directing and screenwriting career. He also became an active Democratic Party supporter and contributor. The couple, wed for almost 37 years, had intended to join former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama at an event on the evening they were killed.
The entertainment industry expressed widespread shock and grief over the deaths of the Hollywood veteran, who had collaborated with numerous industry figures throughout his decades-long career.
Reports indicate Nick Reiner had an argument with his parents during a holiday celebration at comedian Conan O’Brien’s residence the evening before the murders took place.
Nick Reiner has publicly battled substance abuse issues for years. A conviction on the current charges would result in a life sentence without parole eligibility. Prosecutors have not yet announced whether they will pursue capital punishment.
Law enforcement officials have released minimal information about the crime’s details or potential motives. Medical examiners determined both victims suffered “multiple sharp force injuries” as the cause of death.
The case experienced delays when prominent defense attorney Alan Jackson unexpectedly withdrew from representing Nick Reiner on January 7, providing no public explanation for his departure. Public defenders have since taken over his legal representation.
Nick Reiner’s siblings – older brother Jake, 34, and younger sister Romy, 28 – were absent from his previous court appearances. Romy reportedly discovered their father’s body at the scene.
After the defendant’s initial court hearing in December, the surviving siblings released a statement describing the “unimaginable pain” they felt following the “horrific and devastating loss of our parents.”
Nick Reiner’s documented struggles with drug addiction, rehabilitation, and periods of homelessness previously inspired the film “Being Charlie,” which he co-authored with his father. How these mental health challenges might influence the murder case remains unclear.
The New York Times recently reported that Nick Reiner was placed under a court-supervised mental health conservatorship in 2020, which permitted involuntary psychiatric care, but this arrangement concluded in 2021.
Both the public defender’s office and district attorney’s office have declined to provide comments regarding the mental health conservatorship matter, according to the Times.
Technology companies specializing in software are putting off major financing deals as concerns about artificial intelligence disruption make lenders more cautious and expensive to work with, according to industry experts.
The growing fear that AI will reshape or eliminate traditional software business models has prompted both domestic and international firms to halt fundraising efforts. Loan markets are already reflecting these concerns, with riskier companies seeing spreads that anticipate more bankruptcies ahead.
Matthew Mish, who leads credit strategy at UBS, expects the impact to intensify in the coming years. “We expect AI disruption risk to be increasingly reflected over 2026 to early 2027, particularly for lower‑quality credit sectors with elevated refinancing needs — and more so in the U.S. than in Europe,” Mish explained.
The financial institution anticipates default rates could climb between 3% and 5% if market disruptions accelerate, significantly higher than the 1% to 2% increase most market watchers expect.
“The disruption is going to play out over two years,” Mish noted. “We ultimately think that the market will price in a majority, but not all of the defaults that we’re forecasting.”
Even software companies with stronger credit profiles are avoiding debt markets while waiting for conditions to improve, according to banking sources.
Market observers will be watching closely when Qualtrics, an established software firm, seeks $5.3 billion in acquisition financing next month for its purchase of competitor Press Ganey Forsta. Both companies declined to provide comments.
The AI disruption concerns are hitting leveraged loan deals harder than high-yield bond transactions, two banking professionals said. Technology borrowers, with software companies making up 60% of that category, represent the biggest segment in leveraged lending.
According to Brendan Hoelmer from Fitch Ratings’ U.S. default research team, tech loans make up 17% of the leveraged loan market, worth approximately $260 billion. In contrast, technology companies account for only 6% of high-yield bonds, totaling $60 billion, with software firms representing 70% of that amount.
Morgan Stanley research shows that half of software sector loans carry “B- or lower” credit ratings, indicating elevated default risk. BNP Paribas analysts estimate that private credit exposure to software and services reaches about 20%.
Stock markets have also felt the AI impact, with software company shares leading the decline before spreading to other automation-vulnerable sectors. The software index has dropped 20% year-to-date.
While immediate refinancing pressure remains limited—with only 0.5% of software loans maturing this year—the situation becomes more pressing by 2027, when 6% of loans come due. High-yield software debt follows a similar pattern, with 0.7% maturing this year and 8% in 2027, Hoelmer reported.
Companies attempting to access debt markets are encountering substantially higher underwriting costs from banks, while lenders marketing these loans face increased investor skepticism.
Banking sources indicate that future deals will likely require higher yields and steeper discounts on existing debt. Companies are expected to return to markets once pricing conditions improve.
New transactions will probably include more restrictive covenants to attract investors, including maintenance requirements that force borrowers to maintain debt-to-earnings ratios below specified thresholds.
Several technology sector deals have been withdrawn or delayed since late January. European digital services company Team.blue postponed extending its 1.353 billion euro term loan and repricing its $771 million facility. The company declined to comment.
Currently, no leveraged loan deals for software companies are active, as firms and banks await recovery in trading levels for existing sector debt following late January losses when AI disruption fears intensified.
A January Moody’s Ratings analysis warns that lower-rated companies with approaching maturities “are likely to face greater refinancing and default risk in 2026.”
Jeremy Burton, who manages leveraged finance portfolios at PineBridge Investments, expressed caution about the sector’s near-term prospects. “I don’t really see software and business services as being hot sectors for issuance over the next year,” Burton said. “The technology is changing so quickly that you’ve really got to be confident.”
The automotive industry is advancing toward a significant breakthrough in self-driving technology: vehicles that permit drivers to divert their attention from the road for activities like texting or working on laptops, until the car signals them to resume control.
For years, automobile manufacturers have been improving driver-assistance features that automatically manage speed and steering. Allowing drivers to multitask while driving could represent the next advancement that helps car companies profit from their substantial investments in autonomous technology.
“We can start saving them time immediately, and do it in a very affordable way,” said Doug Field, Ford Motor’s chief electric vehicle, digital and design officer. Ford plans to launch an eyes-off system on budget-friendly electric vehicles beginning in 2028.
However, a heated industry discussion continues about whether this eyes-off capability – known in the automotive sector as Level 3 autonomous driving – is worthwhile to develop. Several executives and industry specialists contend that transferring control between vehicle and human driver is impractical or dangerous, creating complex liability concerns.
Many also wonder if sufficient consumers will buy the technology to warrant its expensive development expenses.
“We don’t know if Level 3 ever makes financial sense,” Paul Thomas, president of the North America business at automotive supplier Bosch, told Reuters at the CES consumer-technology show in January.
COMPANIES RETREATING FROM LEVEL 3 PLANS
Ten years ago, automotive leaders forecasted that self-driving vehicles would be commonplace today, but technical obstacles, budget overruns and regulatory confusion have postponed widespread implementation. Meanwhile, automakers have been bundling the components of completely driverless vehicles into progressively advanced driver-assistance capabilities that demand continuous human oversight.
Eyes-off Level 3 technology occupies the middle ground on the industry’s autonomous driving spectrum, ranging from basic features like cruise control at Level 1, to complete driverless functionality under all circumstances at Level 5.
Presently, nearly all assisted-driving technologies available, including Tesla’s Full Self-Driving, are categorized as Level 2 systems, which demand drivers maintain road awareness. Besides Ford, manufacturers that have revealed intentions for eyes-off Level 3 technology include General Motors and Honda Motor.
The expense to create a Level 3 system for highway operation reaches $1.5 billion, approximately twice the cost for Level 2 systems that can function even on urban roads, according to a recent industry survey by consulting firm McKinsey.
“Those carmakers who have attempted an L3 system, and the consumers who have tried it, are finding that the juice isn’t worth the squeeze,” said John Krafcik, the former CEO of Waymo and current board member of EV maker Rivian.
Some companies have already retreated from their Level 3 goals due to cost worries, McKinsey reported, and have instead intensified efforts on improving their less expensive Level 2 systems.
Germany’s Mercedes-Benz, the sole automaker to launch Level 3 technology in the U.S. so far, recently stopped its program because limited speed, restricted conditions and geographic limitations reduced demand. Currently, the company is concentrating on deploying autonomous driving features for urban roads that require driver oversight. Mercedes intends to launch an improved Level 3 system in several years, a spokesperson confirmed.
In August, Reuters reported that Stellantis abandoned its Level 3 development work due to high expenses, technical difficulties and worries about consumer interest.
While Tesla’s Full Self-Driving capability can function on city roads, it demands the driver remain attentive to traffic. The Elon Musk-led company has not yet launched an eyes-off Level 3 option for personal cars, and is instead concentrated on delivering completely autonomous driving.
Tesla has started a small robotaxi service and plans to expand to several U.S. cities by early 2026, placing it in direct rivalry with industry leader Waymo, owned by Alphabet.
A significant technical hurdle with Level 3 involves designing a system capable enough to recognize the need for human involvement, deliver that alert, and continue driving until the operator takes control, explained Bryant Walker Smith, a University of South Carolina law professor specializing in autonomous-driving regulation.
“That’s going football fields down a road, minimum 6 seconds, probably much more,” he said. “What makes more sense from a regulatory perspective is being able to provide Level 4 under a significant enough set of operating conditions that people will actually find it useful to use.”
Joel Johnson, a strategist who has collaborated with GM on autonomous programs, said eyes-off systems create cost and liability obstacles for car manufacturers.
“Automakers only have a reason to deploy autonomy strategically to fight Waymo and keep them at bay, or to be able to charge more money” through upfront payments or subscriptions, he said.
LIABILITY SHIFTS WITH EYES-OFF CAPABILITY
Industry experts indicate that adopting eyes-off technology raises the probability that the vehicle manufacturer would face liability during a collision.
The issue of who might bear responsibility in an accident involving Level 3 technology – the driver or the manufacturer – remains unclear today, according to research published last year in the Fordham Intellectual Property, Media and Entertainment Law Journal.
“If a publicly acceptable regulatory solution is not quickly implemented, this technology may never reach the market,” the research stated.
Increasing pressure on automakers to launch more advanced assisted-driving capabilities comes from the swift advancement of Chinese manufacturers. China’s government in December approved a vehicle with Level 3 capability for the first time.
Chinese brands including Leapmotor and BYD are already incorporating advanced Level 2 driver-assistance capabilities in their vehicles’ base prices. This could trigger a worldwide pricing competition if U.S. and European consumers expect identical features from their models without monthly fees.
“This is a war of global business models,” said Johnson, the strategist who has worked with GM.
A Blizzard Warning remains in effect across northern Delmarva until 6 PM tonight, bringing dangerous travel conditions and potentially life-threatening weather to the region.
The National Weather Service issued the extreme weather alert early this morning for New Castle and Kent Counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in Maryland. An additional 3 inches of snow is expected, combined with wind gusts reaching 40 mph.
“This is creating blizzard conditions with significantly reduced visibility due to blowing snow,” meteorologists warn. The hazardous conditions are already impacting Monday morning commutes and will continue through the evening rush hour.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only. If you absolutely must travel, pack a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if you become stranded. Road conditions are deteriorating rapidly across the affected areas.
For real-time road conditions, dial 511. The Blizzard Warning expires at 6 PM tonight, but hazardous travel conditions may persist even after the warning ends.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this dangerous winter storm affecting our community.
Dangerous blizzard conditions are battering southern Delaware this morning, prompting the National Weather Service to issue an extreme weather warning through 6 PM tonight.
Inland Sussex County and the Delaware beaches are experiencing the brunt of the storm, with an additional 2 to 4 inches of snow expected and wind gusts reaching up to 45 mph. The combination of heavy snow and fierce winds is creating widespread blowing snow that’s drastically reducing visibility across the region.
Commuters face treacherous conditions for both the morning and evening rush hours, with slippery roads reported throughout the warning area. Strong winds also pose a threat to trees and power lines, with the potential for downed branches and possible outages.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only. If you must venture out, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if you become stranded. For the latest road conditions, dial 5-1-1.
The blizzard warning, issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly office at 6:36 AM, remains in effect until 6 PM this evening. Residents should continue monitoring weather updates and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
A deadly shooting occurred at former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday when an individual carrying a weapon was fatally shot at the property.
The former president was not present during the incident, as he was located in Washington, D.C., when the shooting took place.
Details about the circumstances surrounding the shooting and the identity of the individual have not been released at this time.
Weather officials have issued a blizzard warning for the Delaware region, alerting residents to prepare for severe winter conditions throughout the day.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the warning at 6:36 AM on February 23rd, with the alert scheduled to remain active until 6:00 PM the same evening.
Residents across the First State should take necessary precautions and stay updated on changing weather conditions as the storm system moves through the area.
Weather officials have issued a blizzard warning for the Delmarva region, alerting residents to prepare for dangerous winter conditions.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the warning at 6:36 this morning on February 23rd. The alert will remain in effect until 6:00 this evening.
Residents should take necessary precautions and avoid unnecessary travel during the warning period. The blizzard conditions pose significant risks to public safety and transportation.
Local authorities recommend staying indoors and monitoring weather updates throughout the day as conditions develop.
The nation’s highest court will examine on Monday how far a federal law extends in allowing American businesses to pursue compensation for assets confiscated by Cuba’s government, with cases involving ExxonMobil and major cruise companies taking center stage during heightened tensions with the island nation.
Two separate cases will come before the justices involving the Helms-Burton Act of 1996, legislation that opened the door for legal action in American courts against entities that “traffic” in assets taken by Cuba’s communist leadership following the 1959 revolution that installed Fidel Castro.
ExxonMobil is pursuing more than $1 billion from Cuban government-controlled companies for the oil giant’s energy holdings that were confiscated by Cuban authorities in 1960.
The second case centers on whether four major cruise companies — Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — bear responsibility for utilizing port facilities constructed by an American firm that Cuba also seized in 1960. The cruise industry case will be presented to the court first.
The Trump administration is supporting ExxonMobil’s position in the legal battle.
Current U.S. policy has labeled Cuba “an unusual and extraordinary threat” to American national security, blocking Venezuelan oil shipments to the Caribbean nation and warning of potential tariffs on any country providing fuel supplies.
Though the cases address different legal questions, both examine how extensive Congress meant the Helms-Burton Act’s remedies to be. The Supreme Court could remove obstacles that plaintiffs encounter when filing suits under this legislation.
Castro’s seizure of ExxonMobil’s entire Cuban energy portfolio represented a $70 million loss when it occurred. The company’s present-day claim carries a much higher value due to accumulated interest and possible enhanced damages.
In 2019, ExxonMobil filed suit against Corporación CIMEX, Cuba’s biggest business conglomerate. The energy company alleged that CIMEX continues to possess and generate profits from the seized assets.
ExxonMobil brought the case to the Supreme Court following a lower court decision that Cuban government-owned entities facing Helms-Burton Act litigation can claim foreign sovereign immunity, a legal protection that shields foreign governments and their representatives from American lawsuits unless specific exceptions exist.
The cruise ship dispute was initiated by Havana Docks, an American entity that held a 99-year agreement for building and managing dock facilities at Havana’s port, originally granted in 1934 by Cuba’s then-government. Castro’s administration canceled that contract.
The four cruise companies targeted by Havana Docks operated at the terminal between 2016 and 2019, following former President Barack Obama’s relaxation of travel restrictions to the Caribbean island.
A federal judge determined that the cruise operators had illegally participated in trafficking by utilizing the terminal, ordering judgments exceeding $100 million against them. Havana Docks filed an appeal after a lower court dismissed those judgments, determining the company lacked a valid claim since its agreement would have ended in 2004, years before the cruise lines operated there.
When Congress enacted the Helms-Burton Act, lawmakers gave the president authority to suspend its court lawsuit provision based on national security considerations. Three presidents subsequently suspended this provision to prevent diplomatic disputes with allies including Canada and Spain, whose businesses had invested in Cuba. Trump removed that suspension in 2019 during his initial presidency.
BAGHDAD (AP) — Regional tensions are rising as Gulf Arab nations have thrown their support behind Kuwait in a renewed territorial disagreement with Iraq concerning their shared maritime boundaries in the Persian Gulf.
The conflict escalated after Baghdad recently provided the United Nations with maps and coordinates outlining what it considers Iraqi territorial waters — boundaries that Kuwait argues violate its sovereign territory.
While diplomatic ties between the two nations have strengthened following the removal of Saddam Hussein in 2003 — who launched an invasion of Kuwait in 1990 — disagreements over water boundaries continue to create ongoing tensions.
According to Kuwait’s foreign ministry, Iraq’s territorial claims violate Kuwaiti sovereignty by incorporating areas that belong to Kuwait, specifically the Fasht al-Qaid and Fasht al-Aij shoals, into Iraqi territory.
Several of Kuwait’s regional allies have expressed support for its position, with Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman releasing solidarity statements. Saudi Arabia expressed “serious concerns” regarding Iraq’s maritime map, stating it also intrudes upon a jointly administered Saudi-Kuwaiti area.
In response, Iraqi Foreign Minister Fuad Hussein stated Monday that Kuwait had “deposited its maps with the United Nations in 2014, without consulting Iraq at the time.”
Hussein emphasized that Iraq remains dedicated to “the provisions of international law and … to regulating its maritime rights within the established legal frameworks, thereby contributing to the strengthening of stability and cooperation in the region.”
Back in 2019, Iraq filed a formal complaint with the UN, claiming Kuwait was implementing a “policy of fait accompli by creating a new situation that changes the geography of the region” following construction of a port facility on the Fasht al-Aij shoal.
The two countries have maintained a long-standing disagreement over Khor Abdullah, a narrow channel shared between Iraq and Kuwait that flows into the Persian Gulf.
While both nations signed an accord in 2012 governing navigation through the waterway, two Iraqi legislators challenged the agreement in 2023, claiming it violated Iraq’s sovereignty and lacked proper parliamentary approval. Iraq’s Federal Supreme Court later invalidated the agreement.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands has ushered in a new era of leadership as Rob Jetten was sworn into office Monday, making history as both the nation’s youngest prime minister and its first openly gay leader.
At 38 years old, Jetten breaks the previous age record held by Christian Democrat Ruud Lubbers, who assumed the role of premier in 1982 at 43. Lubbers later became one of the Netherlands’ most enduring political leaders.
Jetten’s path to the country’s highest office began with his initial election to parliament in 2017, representing the centrist, pro-European D66 party that he now heads. His political journey spans nearly ten years in Dutch national government.
During his early political career, Jetten struggled with a robotic public image, earning the moniker ‘Robot’ Jetten due to his tendency to deliver rehearsed, uninspiring answers during media interviews.
His public persona has since transformed dramatically, with Jetten developing a more casual approach that resonates with voters. His popularity received a boost when he advanced to the finals of a popular television quiz show called ‘The Smartest Person.’
Jetten maintains an active social media presence, frequently sharing images with his partner Nicolás Keenan, an Argentine field hockey player who earned bronze with his national team at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Netherlands pioneered marriage equality globally, becoming the first country to recognize same-sex unions in 2001.
Following his victory in October’s snap election, Jetten shared a photograph of himself embracing Keenan, accompanied by a bilingual message in Dutch and Spanish: ‘Dear Nico, thanks for your unconditional support, I couldn’t do it without you.’
Despite his electoral success, Jetten faces significant legislative challenges ahead. His three-party coalition commands just 66 seats in the 150-member House of Representatives, forcing him to seek opposition support for any major initiatives. The coalition also lacks control of the upper chamber.
Since joining parliament in 2017, Jetten built his reputation as his party’s environmental spokesperson, earning the label ‘climate pusher.’ During his tenure as a cabinet minister under former prime minister Mark Rutte, who now serves as NATO’s chief, Jetten spearheaded an ambitious environmental agenda featuring 120 different measures worth 28 billion euros designed to reduce Dutch carbon output by 60% by 2030 compared to 1990 benchmarks.
The new prime minister’s roots trace back to Uden, a town in the country’s southeast. After completing his business administration studies, he worked for ProRail, the state railway infrastructure company. In his youth, Jetten showed athletic promise and even served as a training partner for Sifan Hassan, who later became an Olympic distance running champion.
LONDON (AP) — The British Broadcasting Corporation and Britain’s film academy issued formal apologies to television viewers following an incident where a guest diagnosed with Tourette syndrome involuntarily yelled a racial epithet during the British Academy Film Awards ceremony.
The deeply offensive language was audible as actors Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo from “Sinners” were announcing the winner for outstanding visual effects during Sunday evening’s awards show.
Earlier in the program, ceremony host Alan Cumming had introduced audience member John Davidson to viewers, identifying him as a Scottish advocate for individuals living with Tourette’s whose life story served as inspiration for the BAFTA-nominated movie “I Swear.”
The neurological condition known as Tourette syndrome causes individuals to experience uncontrollable, recurring physical movements and vocal outbursts, which can include speaking inappropriate or offensive words.
Following the verbal outburst, Cumming addressed attendees at London’s Royal Festival Hall with an apology for the “strong and offensive language.”
“Tourette syndrome is a disability and the tics you have heard tonight are involuntary, which means the person who has Tourette syndrome has no control over their language,” Cumming said. “We apologize if you were offended.”
When contacted for additional comment on Monday, the British Academy of Film and Television Arts pointed to Cumming’s remarks from the ceremony.
Television audiences heard the slur when the BBC aired the delayed broadcast approximately two hours following the live ceremony. The network issued its own apology on Monday, despite the offensive language remaining audible on the broadcaster’s online streaming platform.
“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and was not intentional,” it said in a statement. “We apologize for any offense caused by the language heard.”
The film “I Swear” received two BAFTA honors, with Robert Aramayo taking home the best actor award for his portrayal of Davidson.
Ed Palmer, who serves as vice chairman for the charitable organization Tourettes Action, suggested the BBC should have edited out the offensive word.
“This is really one of the most acute examples of where something that is a disability can cause quite understandably huge amounts of offense to someone,” he told Times Radio. “So, if it’s being prerecorded now, then bleeping it out, for example, might be a reasonable compromise.”
Emergency management officials in Sussex County are continuing to warn drivers to avoid traveling on area roadways as hazardous conditions persist across the region.
The Delaware Emergency Management Agency along with Sussex County Emergency Management announced that the Level 3 driving ban remains active throughout Sussex County due to impassable road conditions.
Officials say the state-issued travel restriction will continue to protect emergency personnel and essential workers by reducing unnecessary vehicle traffic during the ongoing situation.
Authorities are strongly advising residents to remain home and avoid all non-essential trips until road conditions improve and the ban is lifted.
Stock market futures dropped Monday morning as investors grew concerned about fresh trade uncertainty following President Trump’s announcement of new 15% tariffs after the Supreme Court blocked his earlier trade policies.
In a 6-3 decision Friday, the nation’s highest court invalidated most of the trade levies Trump had put in place last year, ruling that the emergency legislation he used as justification didn’t provide authority for such tariffs.
Working under different legal authority, Trump first declared a 10% worldwide levy, then increased it to 15%, with the policy potentially remaining in effect for five months as his administration looks for more permanent solutions.
Arthur Laffer Jr., who leads Laffer Tengler Investments, explained the challenge facing corporations: “It’s really hard from a business standpoint when you are at a company to know how do you plan if you’re not even sure about suppliers, supply chains and what the tariffs are going to look like.”
He added: “That’s a huge concern for corporate America and why it was really important to get that hammered out and ironed out as fast as possible, so that companies know what the playing field really looks like, and they can plan accordingly.”
Despite Monday’s decline, all major market indexes posted gains for the previous week as traders initially responded positively to the Supreme Court’s ruling, with the tech-heavy Nasdaq ending a five-week slide.
Early Monday trading showed Dow futures falling 125 points or 0.25%, while S&P 500 futures dropped 15.5 points or 0.22%. Nasdaq 100 futures decreased 91 points or 0.36% as of 5:22 a.m. Eastern Time.
Large technology companies mostly traded lower before markets opened, though Alphabet rose 0.5% after climbing about 4% Friday.
Chip giant Nvidia gained 0.2% ahead of its quarterly financial results scheduled for Wednesday. Investors will closely watch comments from the world’s most valuable company for clues about the artificial intelligence industry, which has faced increasing investor doubt.
Expensive stock prices and concerns about AI’s disruptive effects have recently hurt technology and other sectors, as market participants question whether enormous AI investments are generating returns.
Financial reports from major software companies like Salesforce and Intuit will draw attention this week, particularly since the S&P 500 software index has fallen over 20% this year due to mounting AI disruption worries.
In individual stock movements Monday, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly jumped 4% after competitor Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss medication performed worse than Lilly’s treatment in a Copenhagen study.
Digital currency and blockchain stocks declined as bitcoin dropped approximately 2%, with exchange operator Coinbase Global and crypto investor Strategy each falling more than 1%.
Precious metals mining companies rose broadly as gold and silver prices increased. Leading gold producer Newmont advanced 1.1% while silver miner Hecla Mining gained 2.5%.
A senior executive at major Indian technology company Wipro is pushing back against fears that artificial intelligence will devastate the software services industry, arguing instead that AI adoption will significantly increase demand for tech workers.
The software services sector, valued at $283 billion globally, has experienced significant stock market declines as investors worry that AI technology could fundamentally disrupt the industry’s labor-heavy business approach.
However, Wipro’s Chief Technology Officer Hari Shetty sees things differently. In a recent interview, he stated: “When you look at the entire gamut of things that’s possible, it really appears like a large opportunity for us.” Shetty predicted that AI will generate more employment opportunities than it eliminates.
“What you’re seeing today is basically task automation. What we are really talking about is autonomous enterprise, which is a completely different ball game that will require IT services companies to work deeply with clients to actually convert them,” Shetty explained.
The technology leader described AI as “probably the single biggest opportunity” facing the industry, comparing its potential impact to groundbreaking innovations like electricity and the internet. He believes current discussions focus too heavily on automation while overlooking a much larger transformation taking place.
Drawing from World Economic Forum projections, Shetty noted that AI technology could generate 170 million new positions worldwide while affecting approximately 92 million existing roles. He emphasized that India’s information technology industry will experience high demand for specialized capabilities including model training, data management, and ethical AI development.
“The primary differentiation here is people who know AI and people who do not know AI,” he observed.
Shetty drew parallels to cloud computing, suggesting that AI will expand rather than reduce the scope of work for service providers. He reported that Wipro continues experiencing robust demand for younger engineers who possess AI expertise, contradicting forecasts that the industry’s traditional workforce structure will be undermined.
According to Shetty, companies require partners with deep understanding of their operational processes to facilitate their evolution into “autonomous enterprises,” a transformation he anticipates will influence technology investment patterns over the coming decade.
“We clearly think AI is a dominant force, at least for the next decade to two decades, in terms of the kind of business that it will drive,” he concluded.
Chad announced Monday it would seal its eastern frontier with Sudan following deadly weekend violence that claimed the lives of five Chadian military personnel, according to two sources speaking with Reuters.
Sudan’s internal warfare between government forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, which began in April 2023, has repeatedly crossed into Chad’s territory, resulting in casualties and damage to property.
According to a Chadian government official, Saturday’s fighting in the border community of Tine between RSF fighters and pro-government militia groups resulted in five military deaths, three civilian fatalities, and twelve injuries.
A border security officer stationed in Tine verified the soldier casualties and emphasized the necessity for enhanced protective measures to safeguard Chadian civilians in the area.
The two sources, speaking anonymously due to lack of authorization to discuss the matter publicly, indicated that Chad is sending additional military forces to the region.
On Monday, Chad’s administration announced the frontier would stay shut indefinitely, pointing to “repeated incursions and violations committed by forces in Sudan’s conflict.”
According to an official government statement, the decision “aims to prevent any risk of the conflict spreading to our soil, to protect our fellow citizens and refugee populations, and to guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of our country.”
Neither Sudan’s military nor the RSF provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
In a previous incident last year, a drone strike killed two Chadian military personnel, though authorities could not determine who was responsible for the attack.
“One thing is certain: whether we like it or not, Chad now appears to be a party to the conflict,” said Ahmat Yacoub from the Center for Studies for the Development and Prevention of Extremism, a think tank.
A prominent Swiss manufacturing association condemned President Donald Trump’s weekend decision to boost temporary import duties to 15% from 10% on goods from all nations, calling the move destructive to global economic stability.
The Swiss industry group Swissmem issued a statement Monday saying the tariff increase is worsening worldwide economic turmoil and discouraging business investments across international markets.
Switzerland faced Europe’s steepest U.S. trade penalties last August when Trump slapped a 39% import tax on Swiss products. Swiss officials managed to negotiate that rate down to 15% in November, matching what European Union countries pay.
Swiss leaders are now working to finalize that agreement, which the Trump administration wants completed before March ends.
Swissmem called on Switzerland’s government to continue pursuing the trade deal to establish legal clarity while condemning the latest tariff action.
“U.S. President Donald Trump’s announcement that he will increase the additional tariff imposed on Friday from 10% to 15% is exacerbating the current chaos,” Swissmem said. “Global uncertainty is huge. This is dampening investment activity.”
The president initially implemented a 10% temporary duty Friday following a Supreme Court ruling that invalidated his earlier tariff system, then raised it to 15% Saturday.
According to Swissmem, the new universal tariffs appear separate from the 15% rate Switzerland previously negotiated with Washington.
However, when combined with an existing 5% levy on industrial products that predates Trump’s global tariff campaign, Swiss exporters could face roughly 20% total duties, the organization warned.
“This will significantly increase prices for American customers,” Swissmem stated, adding that the mechanical and electrical engineering industry’s only silver lining is that competing foreign companies will likely face similar penalties.
Switzerland removed all its industrial tariffs in 2024.
India’s chief drug regulator announced Monday that comprehensive inspections of the country’s cough syrup manufacturing facilities have revealed widespread safety violations, as the nation works to address international concerns over contaminated medications.
Speaking at a pharmaceutical summit in Mumbai, Drugs Controller General of India Rajeev Raghuvanshi disclosed that regulatory officials have examined approximately 1,100 facilities representing nearly 90% of all cough syrup producers in the country.
The extensive inspection campaign was launched following a tragic incident last October when 24 children died after consuming contaminated cough syrup. The deadly product, called Coldrif and manufactured by Tamil Nadu-based Sresan Pharmaceutical, contained dangerous levels of diethylene glycol.
“We took serious actions on serious non-compliances, and our belief is that the rot of cough syrup manufacturing will be removed,” Raghuvanshi stated during his address at the IPA 11th Global Pharmaceutical Quality Summit.
The regulatory crackdown comes as India faces mounting international pressure to strengthen oversight of its massive $42 billion pharmaceutical sector, which consists primarily of smaller manufacturing operations. Since 2022, Indian-produced cough syrups have been implicated in the deaths of over 140 children across Africa and Central Asia, damaging the country’s reputation as a global medicine supplier.
According to Raghuvanshi, the inspections revealed multiple serious violations including poor manufacturing standards, inadequate testing of raw materials, and the use of improper production methods. However, he did not identify which specific companies were found to be non-compliant.
Beyond the cough syrup facilities, regulators have also conducted preventive inspections at an additional 1,250 drug manufacturing plants since 2022 to assess potential risks. Raghuvanshi declined to specify how many of these facilities had compliance problems or were temporarily shut down.
The regulatory agency is now working toward achieving standards comparable to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration through various reforms including addressing staff shortages, accelerating approval processes, and increasing available resources.
Plans are underway to establish 1,500 new positions within the regulatory framework, with approximately 40% designated as flexible contract roles. The agency may also recruit international industry specialists as advisors and is testing artificial intelligence technology to streamline application reviews.
In a separate development, the regulator has simplified export procedures by eliminating no-objection certificate requirements for medications shipped to the United States, Europe, Australia, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Canada. This change is expected to reduce processing time and administrative costs.
BRUSSELS – Hungary is standing in the way of the European Union’s newest round of economic penalties against Russia, according to the bloc’s leading foreign policy official who spoke Monday.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters that the union’s 27 foreign ministers meeting in Brussels would probably fail to reach agreement on the 20th sanctions package, which officials had hoped to finalize before Tuesday’s fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale attack on Ukraine.
“I think there is not going to be progress regarding this today,” Kallas stated prior to the regular gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, where the 20th sanctions package was scheduled for discussion.
The diplomatic session followed Hungary’s weekend announcement threatening to halt both the EU sanctions proposal and a 90 billion euro loan for Ukraine unless Russian oil shipments to Hungary are restored.
Oil deliveries from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off since January 27 following what Ukrainian authorities describe as Russian drone strikes that harmed the Druzhba pipeline, which transports Russian crude oil through Ukrainian land into Central Europe. This disruption has escalated friction between Budapest and Kyiv.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán reinforced his unsupported claim Monday that Ukraine was intentionally blocking Russian oil shipments, while also charging that Kyiv aims to overthrow his administration.
Through a social media message, Orbán characterized the oil supply interruptions as a “Ukrainian oil blockade” orchestrated by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“We have given President Zelenskyy firm and proportionate responses,” Orbán posted. “He, too, must understand: by attacking Hungary, he can only lose.”
The sanctions require unanimous approval from all 27 member nations to take effect.
Kallas indicated that work would continue Monday to move forward with the EU’s 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine.
With a critical election approaching in under two months, Orbán has initiated an aggressive campaign against Ukraine and claimed the opposition Tisza party, which polls show leading, is working with the EU and Ukraine to establish what he termed Monday a “pro-Ukraine government aligned with Brussels and Kyiv.”
Poland’s Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski suggested Hungary’s unexpected Sunday declaration might actually relate to Hungarian Prime Minister Victor Orbán’s intense battle to retain power.
“I would have expected a much greater feeling of solidarity from Hungary for Ukraine,” he stated in Brussels. “The ruling party managed to create a climate of hostility towards the victim of aggression. And then it is now trying to exploit that in the general election. It’s quite shocking.”
Almost all European nations have substantially reduced or completely stopped Russian energy purchases since Moscow began its comprehensive war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022. However, Hungary and Slovakia, both EU and NATO allies, have continued and even expanded their Russian oil and gas supplies, receiving temporary permission to bypass an EU ban on Russian oil imports.
“Tomorrow we are entering the fifth year of the war,” stated Latvian foreign minister Baiba Braže before the meeting. “We are fully committed both to the 20th sanctions package including maritime and maritime services ban, but also political commitment, economic commitment, military commitment to support European values.”
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul expressed surprise at Hungary’s stance.
“I don’t think it is right if Hungary betrays its own fight for freedom and European sovereignty,” Wadephul informed reporters in Brussels, referencing Hungary’s participation in ending European communism in 1989. “So we will once again come to the Hungarians with our arguments, in Budapest but of course also here in Brussels, for them to reconsider their position.”
“The German position is very clear: we must now show strength, we must support Ukraine sustainably, and we must do exactly what we did last year too: continue to raise the pressure on Russia,” Wadephul added, expressing confidence the EU will ultimately reach agreement on the 20th sanctions package “at the end of the day.”
Also at stake is a substantial 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) EU loan to Ukraine designed to help Kyiv address its military and economic requirements for the coming two years.
“We must release that. We must find an agreement between the member states because Ukraine needs this money heavily,” said Margus Tsahkna, Estonia’s foreign minister.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands officially installed a new coalition government on Monday, with 38-year-old Rob Jetten taking the helm as the country’s youngest prime minister in history.
Jetten will lead a three-party minority government comprising his centrist D66 party, the Christian Democrats, and the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. The coalition controls just 66 seats in the 150-member parliament, meaning Jetten must build consensus with opposition members to advance any legislative agenda and complete a full four-year term.
The swearing-in ceremony took place in the elaborate Orange Hall at the royal palace located in a wooded area near The Hague. During the proceedings, King Willem-Alexander offered his best wishes to the new administration for success during these “uncertain times.”
Environmental activists from Extinction Rebellion gathered outside the palace gates during the ceremony, blowing sirens while the newly appointed ministers posed for their official photograph.
After completing the customary cabinet photo on the palace steps, the administration planned to hold its inaugural cabinet session that afternoon.
Taking to social media platform X, Jetten expressed that serving as prime minister represents “an enormous honor to be able to get to work.”
The government formation process took 117 days following national elections where Jetten’s party secured a slim victory over Geert Wilders’ anti-Islam Party for Freedom. The final outcome wasn’t determined until postal votes were tallied in what marked the Netherlands’ fourth national election since 2017, reflecting the country’s fragmented political landscape.
The new administration assumes power just one day before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s comprehensive invasion of Ukraine. Jetten has committed to maintaining the Netherlands’ robust support for Ukraine in its conflict against Vladimir Putin’s forces.
Additionally, Jetten has indicated plans to continue increasing defense spending to strengthen Dutch military capabilities amid current global uncertainties.
NEW DELHI — A veteran Associated Press photographer who spent nearly two decades documenting India’s political landscape and the vibrant street life of Mumbai has passed away at age 55.
Rajanish Kakade passed away Monday at his Mumbai residence after battling an illness, according to his family members.
Kakade began his career with the Associated Press in 2008, working from Mumbai where he helped create a comprehensive visual documentation of India’s commercial hub. Prior to his AP tenure, he gained experience working for the Sakal Group media company and the Hindustan Times publication.
The Mumbai Press Club issued a tribute, stating: “Through his work, he captured defining moments with integrity and sensitivity. Through his mentorship, he shaped countless careers, always encouraging young photographers to pursue the truth with courage and compassion.”
Photography ran in Kakade’s family, as he represented the third generation of photojournalists, continuing a tradition established by both his grandfather and father.
During his time with the Associated Press, Kakade’s assignments spanned the breadth of Indian society — covering significant political developments, electoral campaigns, and sporting events, as well as tragic incidents like the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 health crisis. His photography of Mumbai’s daily life revealed the pulse of a city in constant transformation, showing both its enormous scope and personal moments.
Colleagues at the AP remembered Kakade as a gentle professional who showed unwavering dedication to his photography work.
Manish Swarup, who serves as the AP’s chief photographer for South Asia, remarked that Kakade “possessed that rare, quiet grace of a true observer.”
“He didn’t just take pictures; he earned the trust of those in his frame. That is why his photographs always stand out — they carry an intimacy and a truth that only a person of his character could capture,” Swarup explained.
Swarup, who collaborated closely with Kakade over many years, described him as “more than a talented eye for The Associated Press,” calling him “a steadfast friend and a cherished colleague.”
“We haven’t just lost a great photojournalist; we have lost a beautiful soul, whose kindness was as luminous as his work,” he added.
Yirmiyan Arthur, who manages photography and visual storytelling for the AP across the Asia Pacific area, noted that Kakade “helped us understand everyday Mumbai, a city of contradictions, with utter honesty,” through his documentation of economic disparities, the seasonal monsoon experiences, and the bustling commuter rail system.
“He was a son of Mumbai and made sure he told its story the right way,” Arthur stated.
A major pharmaceutical company announced disappointing results Monday for its experimental weight loss medication, dealing a significant blow in the competitive obesity drug marketplace.
Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk revealed that its developing treatment CagriSema performed worse than competitor Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide when tested directly against each other in clinical studies.
The clinical study was structured to demonstrate that CagriSema could match tirzepatide’s effectiveness in helping patients lose weight, but the experimental drug failed to reach that benchmark, according to company officials.
This disappointing outcome represents a major challenge for Novo Nordisk as it attempts to reclaim its early leadership position in the profitable weight management pharmaceutical sector, where consumers increasingly demand more powerful treatments.
Following the announcement, Novo Nordisk’s stock value dropped 11% by mid-morning European trading.
According to the company’s data, CagriSema helped patients achieve a 23% reduction in body weight during the 84-week study period, while Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide produced a 25.5% weight reduction in the same trial.
These findings indicate that Novo’s developing medication was less successful than Eli Lilly’s existing treatment, which consumers can already purchase under the brand names Zepbound and Mounjaro.
Company officials noted that additional studies are currently investigating CagriSema’s complete weight reduction capabilities, including testing stronger dosage combinations.
Meanwhile, Lilly’s stock price increased 4% to $1,049.94 during pre-market trading in the United States.
Polish prosecutors announced Monday that authorities have arrested a Belarusian citizen accused of gathering classified information for Belarus military intelligence services, amid ongoing concerns about Russian and Belarusian efforts to undermine nations supporting Ukraine.
Tensions between Poland and Belarus have deteriorated significantly since Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, given Belarus’s alliance with Moscow.
The suspect, identified only as Pavlov T. in accordance with Polish privacy regulations, remains in custody and could face a minimum five-year prison sentence if found guilty, according to prosecutorial statements.
Authorities have charged him with collecting sensitive information for Belarus across three NATO member countries: Poland, Germany, and Lithuania. His alleged activities involved surveilling vital infrastructure, particularly facilities crucial to Polish and NATO defense operations, prosecutors revealed.
The Belarusian diplomatic mission in Warsaw has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the arrest.
The American diplomatic representative in Portugal is making a strong push for the European nation to modernize its military aircraft with advanced F-35 fighters, arguing the move would strengthen ties with premier European air forces.
In a recent interview with CNN Portugal, Ambassador John Arrigo advocated for replacing Portugal’s outdated F-16 aircraft with Lockheed Martin’s cutting-edge F-35 jets, emphasizing their stealth technology and compatibility benefits.
“F-35 is the best fighter – it’s a fifth-generation stealth fighter, it’ll get them (the Portuguese Air Force) into the Champions League when it comes to the EU,” Arrigo stated during the Sunday evening broadcast.
The ambassador also discussed his goals to leverage his commercial background to assist Portugal in increasing military expenditures to meet NATO’s 5% GDP target by 2035, up from the present 2% allocation.
Portugal’s Defense Minister Nuno Melo indicated in November that the country has not yet begun the selection process for new fighter aircraft.
Arrigo highlighted that over 900 F-35 aircraft are currently operational or ordered throughout Europe, stating that for “interoperability, the F-35 is definitely the way to go.” He also noted that European manufacturers contribute 25% of the aircraft’s components.
Regarding U.S.-China relations, the ambassador clarified that the Trump administration is not forcing Portugal to pick sides between Washington and Beijing or completely separate from Chinese partnerships. Instead, the U.S. is promoting a “de-risking” approach focused on cybersecurity protection and investment oversight.
Chinese investment in Portugal expanded significantly after the 2011-14 financial rescue package, when reduced asset values attracted international buyers.
The country received a 78 billion euro bailout in May 2011 from the European Union, International Monetary Fund, and European Central Bank after rising borrowing costs during the eurozone crisis blocked market access, requiring strict austerity measures that triggered a severe economic downturn.
Currently, China Three Gorges maintains a 21.4% stake in utility company EDP, China State Grid controls 25% of grid operator REN, and Hong Kong-based Fosun owns 20% of Millennium BCP bank and 85% of insurer Fidelidade.
The ambassador described the United States as Portugal’s “best partner but wants to keep any adversary… at arm’s length.”
Portugal became part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative in December 2018. Arrigo suggested that Lisbon’s relationship with Washington would “flourish” if Portugal withdrew from the program, following Italy’s example in 2023.
At age 38, Rob Jetten has made history as the Netherlands’ youngest prime minister after King Willem-Alexander officially installed his minority government on Monday.
Jetten led his progressive, pro-European Union D66 party to an unexpected electoral win last October through a polished campaign that promised to move away from the divisive policies of the previous administration led by nationalist Geert Wilders.
However, his optimistic outlook will face immediate challenges, as his center-right coalition government lacks majority control in both chambers of the Dutch parliament, requiring opposition backing for every legislative proposal.
The partnership between D66, the conservative Christian Democrats, and the right-wing VVD represents an unusual political experiment in Europe’s fifth-largest economy, where majority coalitions with comprehensive governing agreements have been the norm.
Finding majority support has grown increasingly challenging in the Netherlands’ fragmented political environment, where voter loyalties shift with each election cycle and moderate parties continue losing ground.
Opposition groups across the political spectrum have already criticized the coalition’s strategy to finance a significant defense spending boost through reductions in social programs and healthcare funding.
Left-wing opposition leader Jesse Klaver condemned the proposals as “unfair” last Friday, citing independent analysis showing the plans would disproportionately impact lower-income citizens.
“Working families will face hundreds of euros in additional costs, while the wealthy face no extra burden,” Klaver wrote on social media platform X. “This must be changed.”
Wilders has vowed to block every initiative from Jetten’s administration, while numerous smaller parties have expressed reservations about the coalition’s announced policies.
The government has committed to raising defense expenditures to NATO’s new 3.5% of GDP benchmark by 2035, up from the current 2%, through what they call a “freedom tax” – an additional income tax surcharge.
Additional coalition goals include restricting unemployment benefit duration, increasing individual healthcare contributions, and speeding up retirement age increases to match longer life expectancy.
The government has also pledged stricter asylum and migration policies, an issue that has divided Dutch politics for years and contributed to the collapse of the two previous administrations.
Jetten has attempted to minimize concerns about controlling just 66 of 150 lower house seats, framing it as a chance for enhanced parliamentary cooperation following years of political gridlock under Wilders that prevented progress on major policy initiatives.
Leading up to his government’s installation, he indicated flexibility in adjusting their proposals.
“We recognize that everyone bears costs, but the distribution isn’t completely balanced,” Jetten acknowledged.
“We have time over the coming months to refine these plans before finalizing our budget.”
Defense Minister Dilan Yesilgoz will oversee the military spending increase. She assumed leadership of the VVD party in 2023, succeeding Mark Rutte, who served as the Netherlands’ longest-tenured prime minister and now heads NATO.
Former European Parliament member Tom Berendsen has been appointed Foreign Minister, while Eelco Heinen continues in his role as Finance Minister.
Delaware residents in coastal and low-lying areas should prepare for minor flooding today as a Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect until 5 PM.
The National Weather Service warns that up to six inches of water could accumulate above ground level in vulnerable areas near shorelines and tidal waterways across Kent County, Inland Sussex County, and Delaware’s beaches.
The flooding is expected to impact the most vulnerable roads in coastal and bayside communities, as well as areas along inland tidal waterways. Some roads may experience partial or complete closures as conditions worsen throughout the day.
Officials are particularly concerned about this afternoon’s high tide, which could bring moderate coastal flooding to localized areas along back bays. Minor tidal flooding may continue into tonight’s high tide cycle.
‘Do not drive your vehicle through flood waters,’ weather service officials warn. ‘The water may be deeper than you think, putting you in danger and potentially causing costly vehicle damage.’
Residents are advised not to park vehicles in flood-prone locations and to avoid traveling through affected areas when possible.
The advisory expires at 5 PM today, though minor flooding could linger into the evening hours. Stay with TV Delmarva for continued weather updates throughout the day.
Nine defendants are scheduled to return to court this Monday for a fresh trial stemming from a shooting incident that took place outside an immigration detention center in Alvarado, Texas, during July 2025.
The upcoming court proceedings follow the conclusion of previous legal proceedings that resulted in a mistrial for all nine individuals facing charges in connection with the detention facility shooting.
Tens of millions of Americans experience aerophobia, a condition characterized by intense anxiety about air travel. For the past five decades, a specialized Bay Area program has dedicated itself to helping nervous passengers conquer their fears and board aircraft with confidence.
The California-based clinic has been providing support and treatment to travelers who find themselves gripped by fear at the thought of flying, offering them tools and techniques to overcome their aviation anxiety and navigate air travel successfully.
Delaware coastal communities are under a flood advisory issued by the National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey, beginning Friday morning at 4:46 AM and continuing through 5:00 PM.
The weather service is alerting residents along the Delaware coast to expect possible flooding in vulnerable low-lying areas during high tide cycles throughout the day.
Local authorities recommend that residents in flood-prone coastal zones take necessary precautions and monitor conditions closely during the advisory period.
Residents from the California community nearest to Castle Peak Mountain came together in a solemn ceremony to honor nine backcountry skiers who perished in a devastating avalanche. The memorial vigil provided an opportunity for locals to pay their respects to those who died in the mountain tragedy.
The United States Supreme Court has delivered a significant blow to former President Trump’s trade policies by striking down roughly half of his administration’s tariffs. The high court’s decision has left American companies across the nation wondering if they will see refunds for tariffs they have already paid.
The ruling represents a major shift in trade policy that could have widespread implications for businesses that have been operating under the tariff structure implemented during the Trump presidency. Companies are now seeking clarity on potential reimbursements following the court’s decision to invalidate a substantial portion of these trade measures.
The war in Ukraine marks its fifth year this Tuesday, representing the largest European military conflict since World War II and causing devastating losses for both military personnel and civilians while fundamentally altering Europe’s security landscape.
As the conflict continues with no clear end in sight, the Trump administration has facilitated negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives over the past year in pursuit of peace. However, major obstacles remain, including disputes over territories currently under Russian control and ensuring Ukraine’s security in any post-conflict arrangement.
Combat operations have claimed the lives of thousands of soldiers from both nations, while Ukrainian civilians continue to endure Russian airstrikes that have resulted in prolonged electrical blackouts and water service disruptions.
According to recent analysis from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, total military casualties on both sides may reach as high as 2 million soldiers killed, wounded, or reported missing since the February 24, 2022 invasion began.
The research organization calculated that Russian forces have sustained approximately 1.2 million casualties, with troop fatalities potentially reaching 325,000 between February 2022 and December 2025. This would represent the highest military death toll for any major nation in any conflict since World War II.
Moscow has not provided updated casualty figures since January 2023, when officials reported over 80 soldiers killed in a Ukrainian attack, bringing Russia’s acknowledged military deaths to slightly more than 6,000 total.
The same analysis suggests Ukraine has experienced between 500,000 and 600,000 military casualties, with fatalities potentially reaching 140,000.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated earlier this month that 55,000 Ukrainian service members have perished in the fighting, noting that many others remain unaccounted for.
Both governments rarely provide current information about military losses, making independent confirmation impossible.
The United Nations Human Rights Monitoring Mission has documented civilian deaths in Ukraine since the large-scale invasion began, though officials acknowledge this figure likely represents an undercount. Their December report also recorded more than 40,600 civilian injuries during the same timeframe.
At least 763 children have died as a result of the war, according to U.N. data.
Civilian casualties reached their highest levels since 2022 during the past year. The fighting resulted in 2,514 civilian deaths and 12,142 injuries throughout Ukraine in 2025, marking a 31% rise in civilian casualties compared to the previous year.
Russian forces currently occupy approximately one-fifth of Ukrainian territory, based on calculations from the Institute for the Study of War.
During the most recent year of fighting, Russia has captured just 0.79% additional Ukrainian land in what has become a grueling war of attrition, according to the Washington-based research group’s analysis shared with The Associated Press earlier this month. This minimal territorial gain highlights the limited advancement Moscow’s military has achieved despite enormous losses in personnel and equipment.
Prior to the full-scale invasion, Russian control extended over nearly 7% of Ukraine, encompassing Crimea and portions of the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions, where Moscow-supported separatists had been battling Ukrainian forces, according to Ukrainian government sources and Western intelligence assessments.
International military assistance to Ukraine decreased significantly last year, falling by the percentage indicated compared to the annual average from 2022 through 2024, according to tracking data from Germany’s Kiel Institute.
Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration just over a year ago, the United States ceased shipments of American-funded weapons to Ukraine. European nations have attempted to compensate for this reduction, boosting their military aid by 67% last year compared to the 2022-2024 timeframe, the institute reported this month.
International humanitarian and financial support to Ukraine declined by 5% last year when measured against the average provided during the previous three-year period.
The conflict has displaced millions of Ukrainian civilians, with many seeking safety in other countries.
European nations have provided sanctuary to approximately 5.3 million of these displaced individuals, according to a recent United Nations office report from Ukraine.
An additional 3.7 million Ukrainians have been forced to relocate within their own country’s borders, the U.N. reported in December.
Ukraine’s population before the war exceeded 40 million people.
Russian military actions have disrupted medical services in Ukraine through numerous attacks, according to World Health Organization documentation covering the period from the invasion’s start through February 11.
These incidents include 2,347 direct strikes on healthcare facilities, along with attacks that damaged medical transport vehicles and supply storage locations.
KATHMANDU, Nepal — Tragedy struck on a mountain highway in Nepal during the early morning hours Monday when a passenger bus carrying dozens of travelers crashed off the roadway, claiming 19 lives and injuring 25 others.
The fatal accident happened shortly after midnight as the crowded vehicle made its journey from the tourist destination of Pokhara toward Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu. The bus veered off the Prithvi highway and tumbled down the mountainside, eventually coming to rest along the Trishuli river near Benighat, located approximately 50 miles west of Kathmandu.
Authorities from the Dhading district police office confirmed that a 24-year-old British citizen was among the fatalities. Officials have only been able to identify nine of the victims so far.
The wounded passengers included international travelers, with a Chinese national receiving care at Kathmandu’s National Trauma Center and a 27-year-old New Zealand woman being treated for minor injuries at a nearby medical facility. China’s official Xinhua News Agency reported through the Chinese Embassy in Nepal that another Chinese citizen remains unaccounted for.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the crash scene and worked to extract the injured from the damaged bus before transporting them to area hospitals, according to government administrator Mohan Prasad Neupane.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the deadly crash.
Such transportation disasters occur frequently throughout Nepal, primarily attributed to inadequate road maintenance and vehicle upkeep. The mountainous Himalayan nation relies heavily on narrow roadways that wind through challenging terrain.
The bus came to rest beside the rapidly flowing mountain waterway. In 2024, two separate buses carrying 65 passengers plunged into this same river and disappeared, with most occupants either confirmed dead or never recovered. Debris from one of those vehicles was only discovered this year, buried beneath layers of sand.
Two civilians lost their lives and three others sustained injuries during an overnight Russian assault on Ukraine’s Odesa region, according to Monday statements from Ukrainian emergency services and government officials.
The fatalities occurred after a Russian drone crashed into a truck stop facility, sparking a deadly blaze, emergency responders reported via the Telegram messaging platform.
Infrastructure Minister Oleksiy Kuleba confirmed through Telegram that Russian forces had targeted port facilities within the Odesa region during the strike.
“This is yet another blow to civilian logistics and port infrastructure. Russia is systematically attacking facilities that have no military purpose, trying to undermine the economy of the region and the country as a whole,” Kuleba said.
The minister reported that cargo transport storage facilities sustained damage during the bombardment.
The Odesa region houses a major maritime shipping center featuring terminals at the Black Sea ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi, and has faced repeated attacks throughout Russia’s comprehensive invasion that began in 2022.
Moscow dramatically escalated its assault frequency against Black Sea port facilities in late 2023 after President Vladimir Putin made threats to “cut Ukraine off from the sea.”
An anonymous transportation industry source told Reuters last week that recent months of strikes against Odesa’s ports have diminished their export capabilities by as much as 30% compared to levels before the war began.
Philippine government officials experienced a jarring reminder of territorial disputes Saturday when their cell phones displayed an unexpected roaming message upon arriving at a contested South China Sea outpost: “Welcome to CHINA.”
The message greeted passengers aboard a Philippine Coast Guard aircraft as it approached Thitu Island, including Senator Risa Hontiveros and Coast Guard spokesman Jay Tarriela, both vocal opponents of Beijing’s regional activities.
Following their Saturday arrival, the officials addressed local inhabitants to emphasize that Thitu Island “is ours,” despite Chinese Coast Guard ships, a People’s Liberation Army Navy vessel, and Chinese fishing boats remaining visible near the coastline.
Beijing’s continuous maritime presence has forced island dwellers, whose livelihoods depend on surrounding waters, to retreat from seas they previously accessed without restriction.
Measuring only 37 hectares, the coral-surrounded Thitu – called Pag-asa or “Hope” by Filipinos – represents the largest and most valuable of nine Philippine-controlled territories in the Spratly chain, situated 450 kilometers from the mainland.
Approximately 400 inhabitants live simply on the island, distant from urban conveniences. However, their steady residence strengthens Philippine sovereignty assertions amid escalating Chinese territorial pressure.
The officials’ arrival, occurring during a period of heightened bilateral tensions, will likely attract Beijing’s attention and intensify the already strained territorial conflict.
“We will never give up the Kalayaan Island Group, including Pag-asa,” Hontiveros declared to residents, referencing Manila’s claimed and administered portion of the Spratly Islands that encompasses Thitu.
Chinese Embassy communications and digital campaigns have repeatedly targeted both officials as part of broader efforts to influence South China Sea narratives.
Manila’s decision to assign a dedicated foreign ministry maritime spokesperson demonstrates increasing government concern as China escalates both physical and information warfare tactics.
For Pag-asa residents, Chinese pressure creates tangible daily challenges.
Fisherman Rando Asiado, 45, explained to Hontiveros how persistent Chinese vessel presence prevents him from reaching productive fishing areas near Subi Reef and adjacent Sandy Cays.
“There are times when Chinese Coast Guard vessels would chase us away, so we are forced to stay on one side of the island. And when we try to fish on the other side, Chinese drones fly over us,” stated Asiado, a 2012 island arrival.
Beijing maintains territorial claims over most South China Sea waters, despite a 2016 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling in The Hague that invalidated these assertions.
Located merely 14 nautical miles from Thitu, Subi Reef hosts one of seven man-made islands China constructed throughout the Spratlys to support territorial claims. Several artificial installations feature surface-to-air missile systems, aircraft storage facilities, and landing strips.
Chinese Coast Guard encounters have become so commonplace that Filipino fishermen now work less productive waters to prevent confrontations.
Beijing’s South China Sea operations, including water cannon attacks and aggressive ship maneuvering, have caused vessel collisions and injured Philippine crew members.
China defends its actions as lawful and professional while accusing Manila’s vessels of territorial violations.
“We’re not afraid because we know we’re in the right, but they’re using ships while we only have small boats. We don’t stand a chance, so to avoid trouble, we just steer away,” explained 51-year-old fisherman Ronnie Cojamco.
The world’s top United Nations official delivered a stark warning Monday about the deteriorating state of global human rights, pointing to civilian casualties in multiple international conflicts as evidence of widespread violations.
Speaking at the Human Rights Council’s opening session in Geneva, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres highlighted the devastating impact on civilians caught in conflicts across Sudan, Gaza, and Ukraine as examples of how international law is being ignored.
“The rule of law is being outmuscled by the rule of force,” Guterres told the assembled delegates.
The UN leader emphasized that human rights protections are facing intentional rollbacks worldwide, cautioning member nations against treating international human rights standards as optional choices rather than binding obligations.
Guterres also mounted a strong defense of the United Nations’ human rights infrastructure, which he described as operating in “survival mode” due to severe financial constraints. The system faces mounting pressure from budget reductions, attacks against its experts, and the United States’ decision to withdraw from a crucial universal rights accountability framework.
“Humanitarian needs are exploding while funding collapses,” the Secretary General stated.
The UN’s human rights division is experiencing the same financial difficulties affecting other parts of the organization, stemming largely from reduced contributions by the United States and other donor countries. As the UN’s largest financial contributor, America’s funding decisions significantly impact the organization’s operations.
According to a UN spokesperson who spoke Thursday, Washington made a payment of approximately $160 million in February toward its outstanding UN obligations, which total more than $4 billion.
BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top diplomat announced Monday that member nations will not reach consensus on a new set of penalties targeting Russia during today’s scheduled meeting.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, informed journalists that Hungary’s persistent opposition has prevented agreement on the latest sanctions proposal ahead of the foreign ministers’ gathering in Brussels on Monday.
The announcement came as Kallas spoke with reporters prior to the start of the ministerial meeting, indicating that the diplomatic deadlock would continue despite ongoing discussions among the 27-member bloc.
Good news for residents in New Castle County, Delaware, and Salem County, New Jersey – the Coastal Flood Advisory that was issued early this morning has officially expired as of 5:00 AM.
The National Weather Service Mount Holly issued the advisory at 3:52 AM, but quickly determined that high tide had already passed and water levels were decreasing across the affected coastal areas. The minor flooding threat that prompted the initial alert has now subsided.
While this particular advisory has ended, residents in low-lying and flood-prone areas should remain vigilant during future high tide cycles. Coastal flooding can develop quickly and create hazardous driving conditions, especially in areas with poor drainage.
The National Weather Service continues to monitor conditions along the Delaware Bay and coastal regions. No additional flooding is expected at this time, and normal tidal conditions are forecast to continue.
For the latest weather updates and alerts affecting the Delmarva Peninsula, stay tuned to TV Delmarva and visit our website. We’ll continue monitoring any developing weather conditions that could impact our viewing area.
Residents across Kent County, Inland Sussex, and Delaware’s beaches are urged to take immediate precautions as a Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect until 5 AM Monday morning.
The National Weather Service is forecasting one to two feet of water inundation above ground level in low-lying areas near shorelines and tidal waterways. Widespread roadway flooding is expected in coastal and bayside communities, with many roads becoming impassable. Vulnerable structures may also begin experiencing damage.
‘This level of flooding creates dangerous driving conditions throughout our coastal communities,’ said TV Delmarva meteorologist. Emergency management officials are closely monitoring the situation as back-bay flooding may persist through Tuesday morning’s high tide.
Residents should avoid driving through flood waters, as water depths can be deceiving and lead to vehicle damage or dangerous situations. Those in affected areas should follow guidance from local emergency management officials and stay updated on changing conditions.
The warning, issued by the National Weather Service Mount Holly office at 3:52 AM, is set to expire at 5 AM Monday. However, additional flooding is possible with Monday afternoon’s high tide, and further extensions may be necessary.
Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this developing weather situation.
Delaware’s coastal communities were placed under a brief flood warning early Friday morning as weather officials monitored potentially dangerous conditions along the shore.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the coastal flood warning at 3:52 AM on February 23rd, with the advisory remaining active until 5:00 AM EST the same day.
The short-duration warning covered Delaware’s oceanfront and bayside areas where flooding conditions were expected to develop during the early morning hours.
Weather officials from the Mount Holly office, which provides forecasts and warnings for the Delaware region, issued the alert to give residents advance notice of the potential flooding threat.
The popular fried chicken restaurant chain KFC has announced plans to significantly increase its reliance on domestically-raised poultry through a major financial commitment to British farming operations.
The fast-food giant revealed it will invest an additional £10 million into the poultry industry, bringing the company’s total financial commitment to nearly £100 million. This investment strategy aims to ensure that by late 2026, more than one-third of all chicken used in KFC locations across the United Kingdom and Ireland will come from British farm operations.
As part of this expanded sourcing initiative, the restaurant chain plans to incorporate chicken wings into its British supply chain operations, marking a significant shift in the company’s procurement strategy.
International trading partners are closely monitoring Washington’s response after the Supreme Court blocked President Donald Trump’s tariff program, though global financial markets showed measured reactions to Friday’s landmark decision.
The high court’s ruling could potentially upend trade agreements negotiated following Trump’s announcement of extensive tariffs affecting numerous nations in April 2025.
Officials from China’s Commerce Ministry announced they are performing a “comprehensive assessment of” the court’s decision to overturn tariffs that Trump had implemented using the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
“China urges the United States to lift the unilateral tariffs imposed on trading partners,” a ministry representative stated without providing their name.
Beijing reinforced its position that trade conflicts produce no victors, with the official Xinhua News Agency reporting that a spokesperson described Trump’s previously announced measures as actions that “not only violate international economic and trade rules but also contravene domestic laws of the United States, and are not in the interests of any party.”
Following the Supreme Court ruling, Trump announced plans for a new 10% worldwide tariff using Section 122 of the 1974 Trade Act as legal justification, subsequently raising that figure to 15%.
Nations like China and other Asian countries that faced elevated import taxes on their goods could see some relief under this approach. However, allies including Japan and the United Kingdom might encounter increased tariff rates.
During a CBS News appearance Sunday, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer emphasized that America intends to honor existing trade agreements and anticipates partners will reciprocate.
“The deals were not premised on whether or not the emergency tariff litigation would rise or fall,” Greer, who serves as Trump’s lead trade negotiator, explained. “I haven’t heard anyone yet come to me and say the deal’s off. They want to see how this plays out.”
South Korea’s trade minister Kim Jung-kwan warned Monday that continued uncertainty could intensify if the Trump administration proceeds with implementing additional tariffs through alternative legal mechanisms.
Kim indicated that South Korean officials have committed to conducting “amicable” conversations with their American counterparts to reduce potential harm to South Korean businesses. Key South Korean export industries including automotive and steel manufacturing already face tariffs under separate trade regulations.
“Given the uncertainty over future U.S. tariff measures, the public and private sectors must work together to strengthen our companies’ export competitiveness and diversify their markets,” Kim stated.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed confidence Sunday that trading partners would honor current agreements and predicted tariff collections would remain consistent.
“Tariff revenues will be unchanged this year and will be unchanged in the future,” Bessent told Fox News, referencing Trump’s proposed 15% global tariffs as a substitute measure.
Regarding potential refunds for import taxes already collected under the now-invalidated tariffs, Bessent said the administration would follow judicial guidance.
“It’s out of our hands and we will follow the court’s orders,” he explained.
Early Monday trading showed U.S. market futures declining, with S&P 500 contracts dropping 0.6% and Dow Jones Industrial Average futures falling 0.5%. Oil prices decreased while the dollar lost ground against both the Japanese yen and euro.
Asian markets displayed a different pattern, with most indices posting gains and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng climbing 2.4%.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Individual investors were once labeled as “dumb money” by Wall Street professionals.
This term typically described people who made trades based on excitement rather than solid research, followed popular trends instead of analyzing company fundamentals, or jumped into market movements too late.
Those days appear to be over. New data reveals that individual investors actually beat the performance of two widely-held professional index funds last year – SPY and QQQ – which track the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 respectively.
According to Vanda, an independent research company, individual investors generated $5.4 trillion in stock and ETF trading volume in 2025. This represents a nearly 47% jump from the year before and marks the highest level recorded since at least 2014.
“I personally want to dispel the myth of retail being dumb money, because it’s not dumb money anymore,” said Joe Mazzola, head trading and derivatives strategist at Charles Schwab, at an investor education event held in Anaheim, California, last November that drew around 800 of the financial services company’s clients.
While Americans have participated in stock markets for decades, most did so passively through workplace retirement plans like 401(k)s. However, the past ten years have brought mobile trading applications, commission-free trades, investment-focused social media groups, and accessible online educational resources that have sparked a do-it-yourself investment revolution.
The pandemic lockdowns marked a turning point. New investors, particularly younger people using platforms like Robinhood, fueled the “meme stock” phenomenon that sent GameStop, AMC Entertainment, and similar companies soaring.
Beyond meme stocks, nearly continuous stock market growth created an appealing environment for new investors to enter. The S&P 500 benchmark has only experienced annual losses three times since 2015.
JPMorgan Chase reported that by early last year, transfers from checking accounts to investment accounts hit their highest point since 2021. The bank suggested some of this activity came from younger Americans who couldn’t afford home purchases and chose stocks instead.
Overall, individual investor money flowing into markets increased approximately 50% from 2023 to early 2025, the report found.
“I would say they are considerably more important as a force in markets right now,” said Steve Sosnick, chief strategist at Interactive Brokers. “Markets used to be really dominated by institutional investors, but if you put enough ants together, they can move a very big log.”
Frank Sabia from Encino, California, began investing in 2018. He’s enhanced his market knowledge through private online investor groups and educational seminars like Schwab’s.
“I learned a lot more about options strategies and charting and everything from there,” he said in an interview in November. “Now I’m independent. I just look for my own trades. I have my own strategy. I hunt on my own.”
Sabia, who works as a high school registrar, trades cryptocurrencies and other investments, but considers options trading his “bread and butter.”
Options involve contracts to purchase or sell stocks at predetermined prices before expiration dates. While requiring less initial capital than stock purchases, they carry higher risks since options expire and small stock price changes can create large swings in contract values.
Last April, Sabia opened a Roth IRA and invested during a market crash triggered by President Donald Trump’s announcement of more extensive tariffs than expected. The news caused the S&P 500 to plunge over 10% in two days – the steepest drop since the 2020 COVID crash.
“I just bought the dip,” Sabia said.
He joined many others in this strategy. Vanda data shows individual investors purchased over $5 billion in stocks during those two days of market decline.
“In April, it was retail (investors) that bought the dip,” Mazzola said. “They were the ones that were willing to step in front. They saw the opportunity.”
Individual investors also made significant “buy-the-dip” purchases on October 10, when markets fell 2.7% after Trump threatened a “massive increase on tariffs” on China.
This year has seen continued high activity from individual investors. J.P. Morgan reports their trading reached record monthly levels last month, with particularly heavy activity in late January as the S&P 500 climbed to all-time highs.
Individual traders also drove silver prices to record levels last month through unprecedented purchases of silver ETFs, according to Vanda data.
Charles Schwab’s analysis of its millions of individual investor clients shows they were net stock buyers in January, favoring Microsoft, Netflix, and Tesla.
Many individual investors have expanded beyond stocks and ETFs into riskier investments. Options trading represented about $650 billion of their activity last year and has grown steadily since at least 2019, Vanda reports.
Noah Goodwin, a high school junior in Castaic near Los Angeles, began options trading through Robinhood early last year using his mother’s custodial account with immediate success.
He purchased $148 worth of Nvidia options on January 20, 2025, the same day the tech company’s shares dropped on news about AI developments from Chinese startup DeepSeek.
Goodwin sold his options that same day.
“I made a $200 profit. My very first trade!” Goodwin said in an interview in November.
Not all his trades succeeded. In July, he attempted to profit from tariff-related market volatility but miscalculated.
“I lost a lot of money, like probably like around $600 to $800,” he said. “So, a horrible month for me.”
“For the most part, with only some exceptions, buying the dip has tended to be a very profitable tactic for many retail investors,” said Sosnick. However, he warned that this strategy sometimes leads to trading decisions without fully considering risks and rewards.
“The risk to it is that for many of them it’s become sort of mechanical,” he said.
Many individual investors balance high-risk moves with long-term portfolio building.
Andy Hu, a Los Angeles financial analyst who attended the November Schwab event, keeps 50% of his portfolio in the SPDR S&P 500 ETF Trust, which tracks the S&P 500’s performance.
For short-term trading, he focuses on micro-cap stocks – very small public companies that can experience dramatic price swings due to limited trading volume.
This approach generated approximately 20% gains in his active trading account through the first eleven months of last year, he said.
Hu stopped trading near year’s end when big tech company declines helped push the S&P 500 to a December loss, dampening Wall Street sentiment.
“I haven’t made a single trade in the last two months,” Hu said.
KATHMANDU – A tragic bus accident in western Nepal claimed 19 lives early Monday morning when the vehicle tumbled off a mountainous roadway, according to local police officials.
Among the fatalities was a citizen from the United Kingdom, authorities confirmed. Police report that only nine victims have been positively identified at this time.
The accident occurred before sunrise when the passenger bus, traveling from the popular tourist destination of Pokhara to Nepal’s capital city of Kathmandu, plummeted approximately 650 feet down an embankment near Behighat in Dhading district. The crash site is located roughly 50 miles west of Kathmandu.
Twenty-five passengers survived the crash with injuries, including citizens from New Zealand and China. All injured victims have been transported to medical facilities in Kathmandu for treatment, police officials stated.
The bus was transporting a total of 44 passengers at the time of the accident.
Such transportation disasters occur frequently throughout Nepal’s predominantly mountainous terrain, where roadway infrastructure remains inadequate. The country experiences hundreds of traffic-related fatalities each year due to these challenging conditions.
Two-time WNBA champion Kara Braxton has passed away at the age of 43, the league confirmed Sunday.
The WNBA did not release details about where or how Braxton died. Her 43rd birthday had been just this past Wednesday.
“It is with profound sadness that we mourn the passing of 2x WNBA Champion Kara Braxton,” the WNBA said in a statement on social media. “A 10-season veteran, Kara played with the Detroit Shock, Tulsa Shock, Phoenix Mercury, and New York Liberty. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and former teammates at this time.”
Detroit chose the 6-foot-6 forward/center as the seventh pick in the 2005 WNBA Draft.
During her decade-long career, Braxton posted averages of 7.6 points and 4.7 rebounds while playing 16.5 minutes per game across 297 regular-season contests. She made 120 starts while suiting up for Detroit/Tulsa from 2005-10, Phoenix from 2010-11, and New York from 2011-14.
In postseason play, she contributed 7.2 points and 4.5 rebounds per game over 46 playoff appearances, starting 11 times.
Braxton captured WNBA titles in both 2006 and 2008 as a member of the Detroit Shock, the franchise that later moved to Tulsa in 2010. The league named her to the All-Rookie squad in 2005, and she earned All-Star recognition in 2007.
“We mourn the loss of Kara Braxton, a former Liberty player whose presence and passion left a lasting impact on our organization and the women’s game,” the Liberty wrote on the team’s X account. “Our hearts are with her family, friends, teammates, and all who were touched by her spirit. Her impact will not be forgotten.”
A native of Jackson, Michigan, Braxton attended Westview High School in Portland, Oregon, before playing college basketball at Georgia.
As a Bulldog from 2001-04, she compiled impressive numbers with 15.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.8 blocks per game over 71 contests. Georgia honored her as SEC Rookie of the Year and named her to both the All-Freshman and All-SEC teams during the 2001-02 season.
Reports indicate Braxton continued her professional playing career internationally until the 2017-18 season. Following retirement, she took a position with Nike in Oregon before relocating to the Atlanta region, according to USA Today.
Braxton leaves behind her husband Jarvis Jackson and two sons, Jream Jackson and Jelani Thurman, USA Today reported. Thurman played tight end for Ohio State’s 2024 national championship squad before transferring to North Carolina this past January after his junior season.
Investment banking powerhouse Goldman Sachs has bumped up its petroleum price predictions for the final quarter of 2026, increasing its Brent crude estimate by $6 to reach $60 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate to $56 per barrel. The financial firm attributes this adjustment to reduced petroleum reserves among developed nations, while still factoring in no supply interruptions from Iran and maintaining expectations of an oil surplus throughout the current year.
The bank has also revised its annual projections upward, now anticipating Brent crude will reach an average of $64 per barrel for the year, a significant jump from its previous $56 estimate. Similarly, WTI is expected to average $60 annually, up from the earlier $52 prediction.
Monday saw petroleum prices drop approximately 1% as the United States and Iran gear up for their third series of nuclear negotiations, which has helped calm concerns about potential conflict escalation.
Current market activity shows Brent crude futures hovering near $71 per barrel at 0641 GMT, with U.S. WTI crude futures positioned at $65.75 per barrel.
In their weekend analysis, Goldman explained that their $60 Brent projection accounts for a gradual reduction of an estimated $6 risk premium, anticipating that geopolitical stress will diminish, along with a $5 decrease in fair value pricing due to increasing inventories within Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations.
The financial institution continues to project a 2026 surplus of 2.3 million barrels daily, operating under assumptions that exclude major supply interruptions and ongoing Russia-Ukraine tensions.
Goldman noted that their surplus projection incorporates mutual 0.2 million barrel per day reductions in both supply and demand forecasts, reflecting somewhat weaker economic expansion across Asia.
The bank has lowered its 2026 production expectations for Kazakhstan, Venezuela, Iran, and Iraq following actual output shortfalls, while simultaneously raising supply projections for Americas-based production and key OPEC nations with available capacity.
Goldman anticipates that OPEC+ will start implementing gradual production increases during 2026’s second quarter, considering that OECD petroleum reserves haven’t accumulated as expected.
However, the bank warns of potential downside risks of $5 for Brent and $8 for WTI in late 2026 should sanctions relief for Iran or Russia accelerate inventory accumulation and release additional long-term supply capacity.
Looking ahead to 2027, Goldman projects Brent and WTI will average $65 and $61 respectively, with prices climbing to $70 and $66 by December 2027, supported by strong demand and decelerating supply expansion.
A major winter storm continues to pummel southern Delaware this morning, prompting the National Weather Service to maintain a Blizzard Warning for Delaware Beaches and Inland Sussex County until 6 PM today.
The region is experiencing dangerous blizzard conditions with an additional 4 to 10 inches of snow expected on top of what has already fallen. Wind gusts are reaching up to 60 mph, creating whiteout conditions and making travel extremely hazardous.
Snowfall rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour are continuing through the morning, with some areas seeing rates exceeding 2 inches per hour. The heavy, wet snow is sticking to trees and power lines, causing scattered tree damage and power outages across the region. Record-breaking snowfall totals are possible.
Officials are urging residents to restrict travel to emergencies only. The dangerous conditions are impacting both the Monday morning and evening commutes, with widespread blowing snow significantly reducing visibility.
If you must travel, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if stranded. For the latest road conditions, call 511.
The Blizzard Warning remains in effect until 6 PM this evening. Stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until conditions improve.
A major winter storm continues to pummel the Delmarva Peninsula this morning, with blizzard conditions expected to persist through 6 PM today. The National Weather Service has issued an extreme blizzard warning for New Castle and Kent Counties in Delaware, along with Caroline, Queen Anne’s, and Talbot Counties in Maryland.
Heavy, wet snow is falling at rates of 1 to 3 inches per hour, with some areas potentially seeing more than 2 inches hourly. An additional 3 to 7 inches of snow accumulation is forecast, with record-breaking totals possible across the region. Wind gusts reaching 45 mph are creating dangerous blowing snow conditions and significantly reducing visibility.
The heavy, wet snow is already sticking to trees and power lines, causing scattered tree damage and power outages throughout the affected areas. These hazardous conditions are severely impacting both morning and evening commutes.
Officials strongly urge residents to restrict travel to emergencies only. If you must travel, carry a winter survival kit and stay with your vehicle if stranded. For the latest road conditions, dial 5-1-1.
The blizzard warning remains in effect until 6 PM this evening. Stay with TV Delmarva for continuing coverage of this major winter storm.
Delaware residents are facing dangerous blizzard conditions today as the National Weather Service Mount Holly office issued a blizzard warning that took effect at 2:39 AM this morning.
The warning will remain active through 6:00 PM this evening, with meteorologists cautioning residents about hazardous winter weather conditions across the region.
Local authorities are urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and to take proper precautions during the severe weather event.
Weather officials have issued a blizzard warning for Delaware and surrounding areas, alerting residents to dangerous winter conditions expected to persist throughout the day.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the warning at 2:39 AM this morning, with the alert remaining in effect until 6:00 PM today.
Residents across the Delmarva Peninsula should prepare for severe winter weather conditions and take necessary precautions for travel and outdoor activities during the warning period.
Weather forecasters from the National Weather Service Mount Holly office released a special weather statement for Delaware and surrounding areas at 2:02 AM on Saturday, February 23rd.
The alert was distributed through the agency’s official notification system to keep residents informed about current meteorological conditions affecting the region.
Local residents are encouraged to monitor weather updates and take appropriate precautions as conditions warrant. The Mount Holly office serves as the primary weather forecasting center for Delaware and the broader Mid-Atlantic region.
Further details about specific weather conditions and any recommended actions will be provided as additional information becomes available from meteorologists.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — The Netherlands welcomed its youngest prime minister in history Monday as Dutch King Willem-Alexander administered the oath of office to 38-year-old Rob Jetten and his new minority coalition government.
Jetten leads a three-party alliance consisting of his centrist D66 party, the center-right Christian Democrats, and the center-right People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy. The coalition controls just 66 seats in the 150-member lower parliamentary chamber, creating significant governing challenges that will require Jetten to secure opposition backing for every legislative proposal.
The new administration faces immediate resistance from the largest opposition group, the recently combined Green Left and Labor Party, which has voiced strong disapproval of Jetten’s proposed reductions to healthcare and social welfare spending.
Opposition leader Jesse Klaver criticized the government’s fiscal approach in a Friday post on X, stating that under the new administration’s proposals, “ordinary people will have to pay hundreds of euros more, while the wealthiest are not asked to contribute anything extra.” Klaver continued: “We are taking responsibility to adjust these plans. This must change.”
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the royal palace located in a wooded area outside The Hague, where Jetten and his ministerial team formally accepted their positions. Following the traditional Cabinet photograph on the palace steps, the new government held its inaugural meeting.
Jetten secured victory in the October 29th election by the narrowest of margins, earning the same seat count as anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders’ Party for Freedom but receiving slightly more total votes. The final outcome was determined through postal ballot tallying.
The unexpected election occurred after Wilders, who had won the previous contest, pulled his ministers from the four-party right-wing coalition his party controlled in June of last year. Departing Prime Minister Dick Schoof, whose administration lasted only 11 months and ranks among the briefest in Dutch history, has served in a caretaker capacity since then.
The new prime minister aims to establish a fresh period of parliamentary cooperation following years of divisive partisan conflicts across the fragmented political landscape.
Jetten also seeks to restore the Netherlands’ diminished influence within the European Union, which many observers believe weakened under the previous administration.
Speaking to The Associated Press last month, Jetten, who has previously criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, explained that among his initial priorities will be to “talk to my colleagues in Europe to see what role the Dutch can play again in strengthening the European cooperation.”
However, he emphasized the continued significance of Dutch-American relations, noting the United States’ importance as a key economic partner.
Jetten has committed to sustaining robust Dutch assistance for Ukraine in its ongoing conflict against Russia’s four-year military offensive.
Cabinet positions in the new government are distributed among Jetten’s party and his coalition allies.
Christian Democrat Tom Berendsen assumes the foreign ministry role and is anticipated to work toward revitalizing the Netherlands’ European standing, drawing on his experience as his party’s European Parliament delegation leader.
Finance Minister Eelco Heinen continues in his current position from the previous government, where he earned recognition for his prudent fiscal management.
Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, formerly justice minister and head of the People’s Party for Freedom and Democracy, transitions to defense minister, where she will manage efforts to strengthen the country’s armed forces.
Christian Democrat Bart van den Brink takes charge of asylum and immigration policy, with expectations that he will advance the former government’s initiatives to limit migration and expedite asylum application processing.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party faces a potential historic upset in Manchester, where a constituency that has backed Labour politicians for nearly a century might break tradition in Thursday’s special election.
The Gorton and Denton constituency in northwest England will choose a new member of parliament after current MP Andrew Gwynne announced his resignation last month. This merged district combines two areas with deep Labour roots – Gorton has elected Labour representatives for almost 100 years, while Denton has done so since World War Two.
Despite Labour’s commanding victory in July 2024’s general election, when the party captured just over 50% of votes in this seat, current polling suggests a dramatically different outcome this time around.
The political landscape has shifted dramatically, with Labour hemorrhaging support in opposite directions. Younger, diverse voters in Manchester’s inner western suburbs are gravitating toward the Green Party, while older, white working-class residents in eastern Denton are considering Reform UK.
Dave Ward, a 59-year-old retired firefighter from Denton, exemplifies this shift. “I’ve always been a staunch Labour voter,” Ward explained. “But now I’m giving Reform a chance. Labour have let us down. They’ve made promises after promises. U-turn after U-turn.”
The constituency encompasses some of Manchester’s most economically disadvantaged neighborhoods, highlighting the challenges facing Britain’s second-largest city after London.
Starmer’s difficulties have intensified due to policy reversals, declining approval ratings, and recent controversy surrounding Peter Mandelson, his chosen U.S. ambassador, who faces allegations of sharing government secrets with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Mandelson has denied any misconduct.
A recent Omnisis poll released Friday shows the Green Party holding a slight edge over Reform UK, with Labour trailing closely behind – results that align with betting market predictions.
Financial markets are monitoring the situation closely, as British government bonds have shown volatility during periods of uncertainty about Starmer’s political stability. Bond investors express concern that a Labour leadership change could push policies leftward and increase government borrowing.
The Green Party, under new leadership from Zack Polanski, has attracted former Labour supporters disappointed by the party’s moderate approach after 14 years of Conservative governance.
In Levenshulme, a neighborhood with a substantial Muslim population, Green Party campaign signs are prominently displayed on numerous homes.
Josie, a 37-year-old educator who preferred not to share her surname, represents this demographic shift. “I’ll be voting Green this time around,” she stated. “I’m a former Labour member, but… I don’t think they can win round here anymore,” citing disagreements with Starmer’s Gaza policy and the Mandelson controversy.
Labour’s decision to prevent popular Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham from seeking the nomination may have damaged the party’s prospects further. While officials justified this move as avoiding an expensive mayoral election, critics viewed it as blocking a potential leadership rival from entering parliament.
Sue Ashton, a 75-year-old lifelong Labour supporter from Gorton, criticized Starmer for throwing Labour “under the bus” by excluding Burnham from candidacy consideration.
“I’ve got to keep Reform out. It’s the only reason I’m voting Labour this time. I would have gone Green, but… it’s too much of a risk,” Ashton explained.
Green candidate Hannah Spencer, a local councillor and plumber, launched her campaign headquarters to enthusiastic reception from approximately 90 volunteers.
“I think people now are just ready for change,” the 34-year-old Spencer told reporters. “It is between us and Reform.”
Spencer believes her party’s message can appeal to working-class Denton voters, noting “we’re not all one group that thinks and acts the same way.”
Reform UK, the right-wing populist movement led by Brexit advocate Nigel Farage, poses the primary national threat to Labour’s government. Though holding few parliamentary seats, Reform consistently leads in national polling.
At Reform’s campaign base in a Denton warehouse, volunteers worked at computer stations beneath illuminated displays featuring Farage and candidate Matt Goodwin.
“It will probably go to the wire but we’ve got overwhelming support in large parts of the seat,” said Goodwin, a 44-year-old former academic turned media commentator.
When asked about appealing to the constituency’s more diverse western areas, Goodwin, who argues mass migration threatens British cultural identity, insisted the campaign had “nothing to do with race, ethnicity and religion.”
“If you contribute, if you play by the rules, if you’re part of the hard-working majority, then you should be voting Reform,” Goodwin declared.
Both Green and Labour candidates have condemned Reform’s approach as divisive, though they disagree on the best strategy to defeat it.
“This is a choice between Labour and Reform,” Labour candidate Angeliki Stogia said after meeting with pensioners at a community center. “The Greens say a lot but they deliver very, very little.”
Rob Ford, a politics professor at the University of Manchester, warned that a Labour defeat would constitute a “disaster” for Starmer, who recently weathered a leadership challenge that could resurface after May’s local elections.
Ford characterized the situation as “not typical mid-term blues, but signs of an existential crisis.”
The Dallas Mavericks finally found relief from their lengthy losing streak, defeating the Indiana Pacers 134-130 on Sunday in Indianapolis to end a 10-game skid.
Khris Middleton paced the Mavericks with 25 points, leading a balanced offensive attack that featured six Dallas players reaching double-digit scoring. Pascal Siakam topped all scorers with 30 points for Indiana, which dropped its third consecutive game.
The Mavericks, who hadn’t tasted victory since January 22, controlled the game from start to finish but never established a commanding advantage, with their biggest margin reaching just 11 points. Dallas extended their largest cushion early in the final quarter before the Pacers cut the gap to 117-114 with 5:37 left on the clock.
Middleton stepped up during crunch time, contributing seven points during a crucial 9-5 Dallas run that provided the necessary separation in the closing minutes.
Coming off the bench, Klay Thompson connected on three of seven three-point attempts, with all nine of his points coming from beyond the arc. P.J. Washington contributed 23 points to Dallas’s well-distributed scoring effort.
Thunder 121, Cavaliers 113
Oklahoma City received outstanding performances from Isaiah Joe, who tallied 22 points and a career-best five steals, and Cason Wallace, who recorded 20 points and a career-high 10 assists, in their victory over visiting Cleveland.
With star guards Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jalen Williams sidelined, Joe and Wallace stepped into starting roles for the Thunder. Oklahoma City dominated from three-point range, connecting on 21 attempts including an impressive 8-of-12 performance in the opening quarter, finishing at 51.2% from deep.
Cleveland’s seven-game winning streak came to an end, while Oklahoma City improved to four wins in their last five contests. The Cavaliers received 20-point efforts from James Harden, Donovan Mitchell, and Sam Merrill.
Knicks 105, Bulls 99
Karl-Anthony Towns recorded 28 points and 11 rebounds while Jalen Brunson contributed 19 points and nine assists, leading visiting New York past struggling Chicago.
The Bulls extended their losing streak to nine games, matching their longest skid since a 10-game slide during the 2018-19 campaign. Sunday’s defeat was the closest margin during their current slide. Matas Buzelis led Chicago with 15 points, and Guerschon Yabusele posted 11 points and 13 rebounds for a double-double.
New York also received double-figure contributions from Landry Shamet (16 points), Josh Hart (11), and Bridges (11).
Hawks 115, Nets 104
Jalen Johnson erupted for 14 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter, helping Atlanta erase an 11-point deficit to defeat visiting Brooklyn.
Trailing 102-91 with eight minutes remaining, the Hawks dominated the final stretch with a 24-2 run. Atlanta seized the lead 105-104 with 2:28 left when C.J. McCollum drained a three-pointer, and Johnson extended the advantage with a three-point play followed by another basket. Johnson shot 11-of-22 from the field and grabbed 12 rebounds for his 38th double-double. Nickeil Alexander-Walker and Jock Landale each scored 17, while McCollum added 16 points and eight rebounds.
Brooklyn was led by Michael Porter Jr.’s 18 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, with Nic Claxton adding 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists. The Nets were held scoreless over the final 5:19.
Raptors 122, Bucks 94
Immanuel Quickley exploded for 32 points and distributed nine assists, powering Toronto to a convincing victory over host Milwaukee.
Brandon Ingram chipped in 22 points with six assists for Toronto, which captured its fourth win in five games. Sandro Mamukelashvili added 15 points and Jamal Shead provided 12 points, six rebounds, and six assists off the bench. The Raptors shot 46.8% from the field while committing just eight turnovers.
Milwaukee’s three-game winning streak ended with Giannis Antetokounmpo still sidelined due to a calf injury. Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins each scored 21 points to pace the Bucks, while Cam Thomas added 15 and Myles Turner contributed 14. Porter also dished out 10 assists.
Warriors 128, Nuggets 117
Brandin Podziemski ignited a decisive 15-0 run in the final period, Moses Moody led a balanced scoring attack with 23 points, and short-handed Golden State used 21 three-pointers to overcome a triple-double from Nikola Jokic and stun Denver in San Francisco.
Podziemski scored 15 fourth-quarter points and finished with 18 for the game, while also recording team-highs of 15 rebounds and nine assists. Al Horford scored a season-high 22 points, De’Anthony Melton added 20, Gui Santos contributed 17, Payton scored 15, and Will Richard added 11 for the Warriors, who outscored Denver 63-24 from three-point range.
Jokic posted game-highs of 35 points, 20 rebounds, and 12 assists for Denver, suffering their second loss in three games since the All-Star break. The triple-double marked Jokic’s 21st of the season. Jamal Murray contributed 21 points, Christian Braun scored 18, and Bruce Brown added 12 for the Nuggets, who lost despite a 25-11 advantage in made free throws.
Hornets 129, Wizards 112
LaMelo Ball set a career-high with 10 three-pointers in a 37-point showcase, leading visiting Charlotte past Washington to snap a two-game losing streak.
Ball shot 12-of-20 from the field and 10-of-15 from three-point range for Charlotte, which led by as many as 29 points and made a season-high 25 three-pointers, one short of the franchise record. Kon Knueppel connected on five three-pointers and finished with 28 points, while Brandon Miller scored 22 points on 5-of-7 shooting from beyond the arc.
Washington was paced by Bilal Coulibaly’s 17 points. Jaden Hardy scored 16, Kyshawn George and Jamir Watkins each added 13, and Tre Johnson and Will Riley both finished with 11. The Hornets completed a season sweep of the Wizards with their fourth victory in four meetings, shooting 49.4% overall and 54.3% (25-of-46) from three-point range.
Celtics 111, Lakers 89
Jaylen Brown recorded 32 points with eight rebounds and seven assists, Payton Pritchard contributed 30 points with eight assists, and Boston continued its February hot streak by defeating host Los Angeles.
Derrick White added 12 points with eight assists as the Celtics’ defense limited the Lakers to 39.1% shooting, improving Boston to 8-1 since January 30. The Celtics shot 48.2% while starting their four-game Western Conference road trip 2-0. Neemias Queta contributed 10 points and 12 rebounds.
Luka Doncic led Los Angeles with 25 points and LeBron James added 20. Austin Reaves scored 15 points as the Lakers’ star trio fell to 8-4 when all three play together this season. James, the NBA’s all-time scoring leader, surpassed the 43,000-point milestone in his record 23rd season.
76ers 135, Timberwolves 108
Tyrese Maxey erupted for 39 points, leading Philadelphia to a decisive victory over Minnesota in Minneapolis and ending a four-game losing streak.
VJ Edgecombe contributed 24 points, Quentin Grimes scored 19, and Kelly Oubre Jr. added 18. The Sixers dominated from three-point range, shooting 21-of-37, led by Edgecombe (6-of-7), Grimes (5-of-8), Maxey (4-of-7), and Oubre (3-of-7).
Anthony Edwards led Minnesota with 28 points as the Timberwolves’ three-game winning streak ended. Jaden McDaniels added 19 points and Julius Randle scored 18 for the hosts, who were outscored in every quarter.
Trail Blazers 92, Suns 77
Donovan Clingan recorded 23 points and 13 rebounds, Jerami Grant added 23 points, and visiting Portland overcame the early loss of leading scorer Deni Avdija to defeat short-handed Phoenix.
Toumani Camara contributed 12 points and Clingan blocked four shots for the Trail Blazers. Avdija appeared to re-injure his lower back, an issue that had sidelined the All-Star forward for five of the previous eight games. He grabbed his back during a play and was removed just 59 seconds into the contest.
Collin Gillespie paced Phoenix with 18 points on four three-pointers and Jalen Green added 13. The Suns played without injured top scorers Devin Booker, Dillon Brooks, and Grayson Allen, dropping three of their last five games. Both teams recorded season-low point totals.
Magic 111, Clippers 109
Desmond Bane scored 36 points on 13-of-19 shooting, leading Orlando past Los Angeles in Inglewood, California.
Paolo Banchero contributed 16 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds, while Wendell Carter Jr. added 15 points and 14 rebounds for the Magic. Tristan da Silva scored 13 points and Anthony Black contributed 11 for Orlando.
Bennedict Mathurin missed a potential game-winning three-pointer at the buzzer for the Clippers. Kawhi Leonard scored 37 points on 14-of-25 shooting and collected eight rebounds for Los Angeles, surpassing 20 points for the 36th straight appearance. Mathurin finished with 21 points, nine rebounds, and five assists off the bench for the Clippers.
An appeals court in Hong Kong has denied requests from 12 pro-democracy advocates to overturn their convictions, maintaining their prison sentences in what critics describe as evidence of China’s suppression of political opposition in the territory.
The ruling on Monday involved defendants from the widely-watched “Hong Kong 47” case, in which numerous prominent democracy supporters and political figures were taken into custody during mass arrests in early 2021 on charges of conspiring to commit subversion. After extensive court proceedings, the majority of these individuals received prison sentences ranging from four to ten years in late 2024, while two defendants were found not guilty.
International human rights organizations and several nations, including the United States and Britain, have denounced the prosecutions as political persecution targeting Hong Kong’s opposition movement and have demanded the immediate freedom of all detained individuals.
Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong expressed being “deeply concerned” about the failed appeal of Australian national Gordon Ng, stating that Canberra has “expressed our strong objections to Chinese and Hong Kong authorities on the continuing broad application of national security legislation.”
In their written decision, Judges Jeremy Poon, Derek Pang and Anthea Pang determined that the defendants participated in a plot conceived, promoted and carried out by legal academic Benny Tai to create a “constitutional mass destruction weapon” designed to overthrow Hong Kong’s constitutional framework.
The charges focused on an informal “primary election” that democracy advocates organized in mid-2020 to choose their strongest contenders for legislative council seats.
Prosecutors claimed the democracy supporters were plotting to secure a legislative majority so they could cripple government operations by systematically blocking the city’s yearly budget in an attempt to compel Hong Kong’s chief executive to step down.
Among the 11 democracy advocates whose conviction appeals were rejected were former legislators Helena Wong, Lam Cheuk-ting, Raymond Chan and “Long Hair” Leung Kwok-hung; former district council members Clarisse Yeung, Kalvin Ho and Tat Cheng; and political activists Gwyneth Ho, Owen Chow, Winnie Yu, and Gordon Ng.
The democracy supporters, along with another activist named Prince Wong, were also unsuccessful in challenging their sentences, except for Gwyneth Ho who only contested her conviction.
Following the announcement, the defendants remained composed and gestured to relatives and supporters in attendance.
“What crimes have they committed?” questioned Chan Po-ying, wife of activist Leung Kwok-hung, following the decision. Her comment reflected defense arguments that Hong Kong lawmakers had the legal right to oppose legislation and reject budgets as a legitimate “check and balance” mechanism under the city’s basic law.
Despite widespread international criticism, both Hong Kong and Beijing maintain that the democracy advocates received proper legal proceedings, and argue that a national security law imposed by China in 2020 helped restore stability to Hong Kong following large-scale pro-democracy demonstrations in 2019.
The court stated that any strategy to block the budget without regard to its substance or value represented “clearly an abuse of the power (of legislators).”
However, the judges rejected a government appeal challenging the acquittal of attorney Lawrence Lau, determining he had not publicly and explicitly supported budget vetoing like the other defendants.
Lau informed media representatives he was “happy” with the outcome.
To date, 18 of the 45 convicted democracy supporters have been freed after completing their prison terms.
“By failing to overturn these wrongful convictions and sentences today, the court has missed a critical opportunity to correct this mass injustice,” stated Fernando Cheung, a representative for Amnesty International Hong Kong Overseas.
“Peaceful opposition to a government is not a crime, and all remaining jailed members of the Hong Kong 47 should be released immediately and unconditionally.”
Saudi Arabia’s national oil company has finalized agreements to sell multiple shipments of ultra-light crude oil from its massive new Jafurah facility to major American energy companies and an Indian refinery, according to industry sources familiar with the transactions.
The groundbreaking $100 billion Jafurah development contains an estimated 229 trillion standard cubic feet of raw gas reserves and 75 billion barrels of condensate. This project represents a cornerstone of Saudi Aramco’s strategy to significantly increase natural gas production and establish itself as a dominant force in the global energy market while diversifying its light crude oil portfolio.
Sources revealed that Chevron has secured two condensate shipments scheduled for delivery this month and in March, while Exxon Mobil Corporation and Indian Oil Corporation have purchased cargoes set for pickup in March. The transactions were completed at premium rates of $2 to $3 per barrel above Dubai pricing on a free-on-board basis.
Industry insiders indicate that Chevron’s initial shipment will likely be delivered to GS Caltex, its South Korean joint-venture refinery operation, while the second cargo may be destined for Star Petroleum Refining in Thailand.
When contacted for comment, Aramco, Exxon, Indian Oil Corporation, and Star Petroleum Refining Company did not provide immediate responses. GS Caltex was unavailable for comment, while Chevron declined to discuss the matter.
The Jafurah development stands as potentially the largest shale gas operation outside American borders and is projected to achieve consistent daily production of 2 billion cubic feet by 2030.
According to previous reports, Saudi Aramco plans to ship between four and six 500,000-barrel condensate cargoes monthly from Yanbu, the kingdom’s eastern coastal port facility.
Condensate represents a valuable non-gas liquid that processing facilities can convert into petrochemical feedstock naphtha and additional refined products, or blend with crude oil for traditional refinery distillation processes.
Technical specifications from a preliminary crude analysis show the Jafurah condensate measures 49.7 degrees API gravity and contains approximately 0.17% sulfur content.
The analysis indicates that roughly 40% of the product yields petrochemical feedstock naphtha, primarily the heavier variety, while the remaining output consists largely of gasoil and kerosene products.
Two world leaders with remarkably similar backgrounds came together in Seoul Monday to strengthen ties between their nations in what marked Brazil’s first state visit to South Korea in over two decades.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung conducted high-level discussions that resulted in plans to upgrade their countries’ relationship to a strategic partnership level. The meeting produced agreements spanning multiple sectors from commerce to national security.
During a joint news conference, President Lee emphasized the importance of regional stability, stating: “Peace, built on conditions where conflict isn’t needed, is the strongest form of security.”
The summit culminated in the signing of 10 formal agreements addressing cooperation in commerce and industrial policy, essential minerals, artificial intelligence and digital technology, farming, healthcare and biotechnology, small business partnerships, and joint law enforcement efforts targeting cybercrime, drug trafficking, and other international criminal activities.
President Lee revealed that both nations have adopted a comprehensive four-year roadmap designed to outline specific measures for enhanced collaboration across various fields, including strategic mineral resources, defense manufacturing, aerospace industries, and food security initiatives.
The economic dimension proved particularly significant, as Brazil currently serves as South Korea’s primary trading partner throughout South America. President Lula highlighted Brazil’s abundant rare-earth mineral reserves and significant nickel resources, expressing his administration’s desire to draw investment from South Korean corporations.
In a social media post earlier that day, President Lee welcomed his Brazilian counterpart by acknowledging their shared personal histories. “As a former child labourer, you proved with your whole life that democracy is the most powerful tool for social and economic progress,” Lee wrote. “I support your life, your struggle and your achievements, which will remain forever in the history of global democracy.”
The two presidents, who initially connected at last year’s G7 gathering in Canada and later at the G20 meeting in South Africa, have developed a bond based on their common experiences of working in factories as children and suffering workplace injuries.
The diplomatic meetings occurred at South Korea’s presidential Blue House, representing the first major official reception ceremony since President Lee relocated his administration back to the historic building.
The day’s events were scheduled to conclude with an evening state dinner featuring barbecue cuisine and Brazilian bossa nova music performed by a Korean jazz ensemble accompanied by a children’s chorus, according to the presidential office.
The most recent issue of Poultry World magazine has been published online, featuring comprehensive coverage of the ongoing bird flu crisis affecting poultry operations.
The publication explores how increasing cases of avian influenza are leading industry experts to advocate for vaccination programs, despite ongoing challenges with regulatory approval processes.
This edition also includes an in-depth look at Colombia’s high-tech Don Pollo hatchery facility, which operates using automated systems. The magazine covers expansion plans from Hendrix Genetics and examines cutting-edge precision technology designed to improve broiler chicken production while enhancing bird welfare.
The coverage comes as the poultry industry continues to grapple with managing avian influenza outbreaks that have impacted operations across multiple regions.
Egypt has solidified its dominance in Africa’s poultry industry, claiming the top spot among the continent’s leading producers for 2025, according to a new industry analysis.
The comprehensive report, authored by Sebastiane Ebatamehi from The African Exponent, marks the conclusion of a 10-part series examining Africa’s most significant poultry-producing nations. Egypt’s poultry industry has maintained its leadership position across the African continent throughout 2025.
This final installment in the series provides an in-depth examination of the factors that have enabled Egypt to outperform other African countries in poultry production. The nation’s agricultural sector has demonstrated consistent strength in meeting both domestic demand and export opportunities.
The analysis highlights Egypt’s continued excellence in poultry operations, setting it apart from other major producers across Africa’s diverse agricultural landscape.
WASHINGTON – Business leaders, government officials, and economic analysts who thought the chaotic trade policy shifts of last year had stabilized now find themselves facing renewed uncertainty following a Supreme Court decision that dismantled major components of President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy.
The Friday ruling, decided by a 6-3 margin, has recreated the unpredictable environment that characterized early 2025, when tariff policies seemed to change without warning. Companies must now grapple with questions about which products will face taxes, what rates will apply, and which countries will be affected as the administration scrambles for solutions.
Many businesses that had developed strategies to manage higher import taxes now face difficult decisions about adjusting prices, accelerating inventory purchases while tariffs remain uncertain, and potentially postponing hiring or capital investments until clarity returns.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed concern about the disruption during her Sunday appearance on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “If it shakes the whole equilibrium which people in trade have got used to…it is going to bring about disruptions,” Lagarde stated. “You want to know the rules of the road before you get in the car. It’s the same with trade. It’s the same with investment.”
Lagarde emphasized that businesses “want to do business. They don’t want to go into lawsuits,” while expressing hope that future U.S. tariff policies would be “sufficiently thought through so that we don’t have, again, more challenges, and the proposals will be in compliance with the Constitution.”
The Supreme Court determined that the emergency legislation Trump used as justification did not provide authority for imposing the tariffs. In response, Trump announced a global levy using different legal authority – initially set at 10%, then raised to 15% – that would remain in effect for five months while his administration develops more permanent solutions.
EY-Parthenon Chief Economist Gregory Daco noted that while companies had begun adapting to previous tariff structures, underlying trade policy uncertainty persisted and continues affecting business planning. “We’ve seen extreme volatility by country and by product. That’s very uncertain still,” Daco explained. “It’s impossible to plan. You hear that tariffs are off and you are considering how to get refunds. Then a few hours later it’s 10%. Then it’s 15% the next day….Not having that stable framework is hurtful for activity, hiring, investment.”
Federal Reserve policymakers had recently grown confident that tariff-related inflation pressures were beginning to subside, reflecting widespread belief that 2025’s confusion was ending. While that assessment may prove accurate, the situation has become more volatile as the administration explores different tariff approaches that could take months to implement and likely face legal challenges at each stage.
Import tax rates might decrease temporarily but could rise again on an unpredictable timeline as Trump attempts to recreate the court-rejected tariffs through alternative legal mechanisms that may require separate investigations or Congressional approval.
Justice Neil Gorsuch highlighted the importance of procedural protections in creating stable policy in his opinion supporting the majority decision. He noted that proposals surviving the legislative process “must earn such broad support…they tend to endure, allowing ordinary people to plan their lives in ways they cannot when the rules shift from day to day.”
Federal Reserve officials frequently emphasized certainty’s value throughout last year, stating that rapid changes in trade, immigration, and other policies complicated economic analysis and appeared to discourage business hiring and investment decisions.
The Supreme Court ruling’s economic impact comes during a period of generally positive sentiment. A recent National Association for Business Economics survey found nearly 60% of responding economists don’t anticipate a recession for at least twelve months, increasing from 44% in August. Additionally, 74% believe artificial intelligence technology will at least “moderately increase productivity growth over the next three to five years,” potentially representing significant improvement in U.S. economic capacity.
While this new uncertainty wave may not derail that optimism, Oxford Economics Lead U.S. Economist Bernard Yaros suggested it could still negatively impact U.S. growth in coming months. Following Friday’s Supreme Court decision, Yaros calculated that effective tariff rates would drop from 12.7% to 8.3% after excluding the voided levies.
However, this calculation doesn’t account for Trump’s new 15% across-the-board levy, which may or may not affect countries with separate bilateral agreements and would only last five months. Meanwhile, the administration seeks more permanent solutions requiring separate investigations and potentially Congressional action.
“Any economic boost from lowering tariffs in the near term will likely be partly offset by prolonged uncertainty,” Yaros stated. “Even if the administration replicates the overall level of tariffs using other means, the by-sector and by-country implications could end up looking quite different, which will create another bout of trade policy uncertainty for businesses, investors, and households.”
ALEPPO, Syria (AP) — Throughout the Arab world, Ramadan brings not only fasting and prayer, but also the cherished annual tradition of television drama series specially produced for viewing during the holy month.
Following their evening meal, families across the region settle in to watch their favorite selections from the year’s collection of soap operas and dramatic productions, enjoying sweets, nuts, tea and coffee late into the night.
Syrian productions have long held the most prestigious position in this tradition. While Egypt dominates cinema and Lebanon leads in music, Syria’s television series have maintained their reputation as the region’s finest for many years.
Now, as Syria moves forward from 14 years of devastating civil war, more than a year since Islamist-led forces ended the Assad family’s authoritarian rule, the country’s television sector is working to establish itself within the new political landscape.
During Assad’s reign, when political speech faced severe restrictions, “television became the main sort of platform for freedom of expression and also for employment for artists and intellectuals,” serving as a space where creators could carefully challenge limits, explained Christa Salamandra, an anthropology professor at Lehman College and the City University of New York who studies Syrian drama.
When widespread anti-government demonstrations began in 2011, they were crushed violently and escalated into civil war.
Following that turning point, “the industry fractured,” Salamandra noted. “Creatives went into exile — or they stayed, but it split.”
Now that Assad has fallen, performers and filmmakers previously separated by political divisions are collaborating once more. Productions exploring formerly prohibited subjects, such as torture within Assad’s infamous detention facilities, are being filmed within Syria’s borders.
However, like all aspects of the new Syria, the post-conflict future of television drama remains complex.
During a cold day in the week leading up to Ramadan, a film crew had converted an Aleppo street into an enchanting scene.
Though destroyed buildings in the distance served as stark reminders that the city had been a major battlefield during Syria’s conflict, the cameras had recreated the atmosphere of a bygone era. Vintage automobiles from the 1970s and a horse-drawn cart filled the street while a vendor in traditional headwear offered sahlep, a warm spiced milk beverage.
The production, “Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” (“The Syrian Enemies”), adapts a novel that authorities banned under Assad due to its examination of troubling periods in Syrian history, including the 1982 “Hama massacre.” During that event, then-President Hafez Assad commanded forces to attack Hama to suppress a Muslim Brotherhood uprising, resulting in 10,000 to 40,000 deaths or disappearances during the month-long offensive that devastated the city.
The television adaptation features Yara Sabri, a well-known performer who spent years abroad due to her Assad opposition, portraying the mother of a disturbed young man from an Alawite community who becomes influential within the nation’s oppressive security system.
Wissam Rida, who portrays her son, explained that as an emerging actor in Damascus, working alongside exiled celebrities like Sabri seemed impossible.
“I used to watch them when I was younger and wish that I could work with them,” he explained. Following Assad’s downfall, Rida observed, “They came back with such beautiful energy you can’t imagine, and you can’t imagine how much we were in need of them.”
Nevertheless, filming has faced challenges.
“Al-Souriyoun al-Aada” director Allaith Hajjo has created programs including “Dayaa Dayaa” (“A Lost Village”), a comedy about small mountain town life, and “Intizar” (“Waiting”), a social drama set in an impoverished Damascus neighborhood. He remained in Syria throughout the conflict.
“In the days of the (Assad) regime’s existence, we were always trying to put forward material that would go over the heads of the censors,” he explained.
During that period, “I dealt with actors who were a red line in the eyes of the regime,” Hajjo stated. “At the same time, now I am dealing with people who may be rejected” by current leadership.
Social media criticism has targeted the production due to certain cast members perceived as Assad supporters. Hajjo maintains that political considerations shouldn’t influence casting decisions.
He noted that current authorities lack experience with artistic projects and the work has encountered “some problems” with review boards.
“It’s their right to need some time to gain experience, but I hope this time won’t affect the quality and the level” of productions, he said.
The National Drama Committee, the governmental organization that examines scripts, did not provide responses to inquiries.
The series, initially scheduled for Ramadan broadcast, has experienced production delays and will likely air following the holy month.
Director Rasha Sharbatji, who created the Ramadan series “Matbatkh al Medina” (“The City’s Kitchen”), described the new authorities as cooperative.
She mentioned meeting interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa “and he is personally interested in drama and appreciates how important it is.”
However, questions remain about whether his administration will allow television dramas to address openly post-Assad issues, including sectarian violence incidents involving government forces.
Salamandra suggested creators will likely “make serials about the old atrocities with subtle references to the recent ones. Because that’s what they’ve always done.”
Jihad Abdo represents one of the returning exiled performers. A leading actor during the 1990s and early 2000s, he left Syria in 2011 after criticizing Assad publicly.
He rebuilt his career in America, where he sought entry-level positions and changed his name from Jihad — a typical name among Muslim and Christian Arabs meaning “striving” — to Jay for Hollywood work, where many connected “jihad” with extremism.
He eventually secured roles in major projects, including appearing with Nicole Kidman in 2015’s “Queen of the Desert.” Despite his success, he yearned to return home.
Back in Damascus, he stars in the web series “Al-Meqaad al-Akheer” (“The Last Seat”), a social drama airing during Ramadan, as someone battling Alzheimer’s. He now heads Syria’s General Organization for Cinema, facing the challenging task of rebuilding the Syrian film industry without funding.
Abdo stated that “the margin of the freedom is bigger” compared to Assad’s era and officials haven’t declared any topics forbidden.
“We’re not sure yet about how this margin of freedom will be shaped,” he said. “We are trying to make it as big as possible, because we need to address the problems in order to solve them.”
Abdo sees the television industry as crucial for Syria’s post-conflict healing by sharing human experiences and demonstrating that people with opposing political beliefs can collaborate.
“The wound is big, it’s bleeding, it is still open,” he said. “But it’s our responsibility, the people in entertainment, the intellectuals, prominent names, to bring everybody together again and to keep talking, no matter how different we are.”
ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — Along a bustling street in downtown Accra, Clement Azaabire displays carefully crafted fugu smocks on clotheslines, their vibrant striped patterns dancing in the wind. Azaabire has spent a decade and a half proudly marketing these garments that represent his northern Ghanaian heritage. Today, they’ve become the center of national conversation.
A growing number of Ghanaians are embracing these vibrant traditional garments with renewed enthusiasm following a wave of internet criticism.
When Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama traveled to Zambia in early February dressed in traditional fugu attire, social media critics responded with mockery. Ghanaians rallied to protect what they viewed as their valuable cultural legacy, leading Tourism Minister Abla Dzifa Gomashie to establish Wednesdays as official “Fugu Day.”
Following the February 10th “Fugu Day” announcement, increasing numbers of people have adopted the smock for Wednesday workwear and beyond. Merchants like Azaabire report completely depleted inventory.
“It makes me feel connected to where I come from,” explained businessman Wango Abdul Karim, who dons fugu attire every Wednesday at his workplace.
Ghana enjoys international recognition for its sophisticated fashion culture and centuries-old textile traditions, with traditional smock production historically centered in northern regions where weaving techniques pass between generations.
The fugu smock achieved historical significance in March 1957 when Ghana’s founding President Kwame Nkrumah selected it for the nation’s independence celebration. Currently, it appears at cultural festivals, government events, and modern fashion collections.
Known regionally as batakari, this comfortable fugu garment consists of hand-woven cotton strips assembled into a flowing robe, typically worn over pants with a coordinating hat. Artisans traditionally create the fabric using narrow looms throughout Ghana’s northern grasslands, incorporating distinctive patterns and stitch counts that identify specific regions.
Academic research traces its origins to commercial and population movements throughout West Africa, incorporating elements from Mossi and Hausa cultures. The term batakari originates from Hausa language meaning “outer gown,” while fugu translates to cloth in Mossi dialect. The garment historically symbolizes status among chiefs, fighters, and community officials, with particular designs designated for ceremonial occasions.
Inside Accra’s Arts and Crafts Centre, Moses Adibasa carefully feeds woven strips through his sewing machine, stopping to manually position the narrow sections before joining them.
After nearly twenty years creating traditional smocks professionally, he anticipates positive outcomes from the “Fugu Day” initiative.
“It will benefit those selling thread, those weaving and those of us sewing,” Adibasa explained.
At her Accra workspace, fashion designer Perfectual Linnan, who established Roots by Linnan, transforms fugu material into contemporary jackets, pants, and shirts suitable for daily use. She represents an emerging generation of designers integrating traditional fabrics into current styles.
“We want to show that you can wear the northern fabric in different ways,” she explained. “If you’re not into the traditional smock, you can still carry a piece of culture with you.”
While traditional looms continue producing the clothing, many artisans now depend on foreign yarn because of insufficient domestic cotton cultivation.
The “Fugu Day” initiative has created increased demand and additional challenges for smock producers, many struggling to expand output, according to Abigail Naki Gabor, secretary of Ghana’s smock weavers and sellers association.
Government investment could provide solutions, Gabor suggested. “Using our hands slows the process and limits our ability to be productive. We need industrial machines,” she stated.
Beyond “Fugu Day,” Ghana is developing an expanded “Wear Ghana” initiative promoting domestic fashion and cultural identity through planned trade shows, according to Ghana Tourism Authority representative Kofi Atta Kakra Kusi.
Returning to her Accra studio, Linnan emphasizes respectful treatment of the smock despite its labor-intensive production requirements.
“It is a careful, intentional process,” she states. “If we treat it only as a commodity and not as heritage, we lose something important.”
BRUSSELS (AP) — High-ranking European Union officials plan to convene Monday with Nikolay Mladenov, who heads President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace initiative, following mixed reactions from EU nations regarding Trump’s Gaza reconstruction and security plans.
Mladenov, a former Bulgarian political leader and United Nations diplomat selected by Trump to oversee the Board of Peace, is scheduled to meet with EU foreign policy leader Kaja Kallas along with foreign ministers from the 27-member union. The diplomatic gathering will also address ongoing conflict in Ukraine and additional Russian sanctions.
Given its Mediterranean location near the Middle East, the European Union maintains significant connections with both Israeli and Palestinian communities. The bloc currently oversees operations at the Rafah border crossing and serves as the largest financial contributor to the Palestinian Authority.
European capitals from Nicosia to Copenhagen remain divided on whether to collaborate with Trump’s peace board initiative. The EU continues backing the United Nations’ Gaza operations.
Hungary and Bulgaria represent the EU as full board members, while EU candidates Turkey, Kosovo and Albania also hold membership positions.
A dozen additional EU countries participated as observers during Thursday’s inaugural Washington meeting: Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Finland, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Romania and Slovakia. Officials displayed the EU flag at the event alongside flags from observer and member nations.
Notable European figures including French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declined participation invitations, as did Pope Leo XIV. However, von der Leyen dispatched European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica as an observer to the Washington gathering.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot criticized Šuica’s attendance, claiming the Commission violated EU protocols by not consulting the European Council leadership group first.
“The European Commission should never have attended the Board of Peace meeting in Washington,” Barrot wrote on X. “Beyond the legitimate political questions raised by the ‘Board of Peace,’ the Commission must scrupulously respect European law and institutional balance in all circumstances.”
Von der Leyen spokesperson Paula Pinho responded Friday, stating “It is in the remit of the Commission to accept invitations.”
While the executive branch won’t join the board officially, it aims to shape Gaza reconstruction and peacekeeping efforts beyond its current role as the Palestinian Authority’s primary financial supporter, Pinho explained.
Trump’s expanding vision for the board encompasses governing and transforming Gaza into a modern metropolis while potentially challenging the UN Security Council’s conflict resolution authority. However, these ambitious goals may face practical constraints given the limited ceasefire progress achieved so far in Gaza.
Financial markets are grappling with unexpected turbulence following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, creating fresh uncertainty rather than the stability many had hoped for.
The high court’s ruling has opened the door to potential refunds that could drain approximately $170 billion from federal coffers, while Trump’s swift implementation of substitute tariffs has already triggered tensions with European partners and added confusion to America’s trade strategy.
Currency markets reflected the instability Monday as the dollar weakened against safe-haven currencies including the Swiss franc and Japanese yen. Treasury bond markets have struggled to assess the implications for government finances and future inflation trends.
Market observers note that while Trump’s new tariffs appear lower and may reduce immediate price pressures, the Court’s limitation of presidential authority creates unpredictable consequences for both markets and the broader economy.
“Uncertainty is back, and given the latest muscle-flexing by European leaders, the risk of escalation is now higher than it was a year ago,” ING analysts said in a note.
The Treasury bond market faces particular challenges from potential litigation seeking tariff refunds, which could tie up courts for months. Revenue from existing tariffs has exceeded $175 billion, representing a small portion of total federal revenues projected above $5 trillion, but still significant enough to require additional government borrowing.
Dan Siluk, head of global short-duration and liquidity at Janus Henderson, warned that refunds would necessitate increased debt issuance. “At the margin, that raises the risk of further steepening pressure at the long end of the curve, particularly if refund-related issuance coincides with already elevated borrowing needs and ongoing QT (quantitative tightening),” he explained.
Ten-year Treasury yields edged up to 4.1% Friday, though they remain below mid-2025 peaks above 4.5%, supported by cooling inflation data and anticipation of Federal Reserve rate reductions. Monday’s Asian trading showed futures-implied yields slightly lower at 4.05%.
“Markets are currently focused on the short-term impact – namely, lower inflation and interest rates falling more quickly,” observed Alberto Conca, chief investment officer at LFG+ZEST in Lugano, Switzerland. “I think that’s rather short-sighted, though, because it increases an already enormous deficit, and yield curves ought to steepen more significantly given that the U.S. government’s finances are, effectively, out of control.”
The Congressional Budget Office had projected Trump’s original tariffs would generate roughly $300 billion yearly over the coming decade for the world’s largest economy.
Trump’s 15% replacement tariff carries a 150-day time limit, with unclear details about timing and scope of implementation. Previous rates varied significantly, with Britain and Australia facing 10% levies while many Asian nations encountered higher charges.
“The bond market faces the biggest concern,” stated Gene Goldman, chief investment officer at Cetera Investment Management, pointing to increased debt issuance if the government must process refunds while funding other spending initiatives.
However, market reactions have remained relatively muted, with some analysts believing lasting damage can be prevented. Morgan Stanley researchers suggest debt markets won’t be overly concerned about fiscal deficits, expecting Trump to find tariff alternatives and any additional funding to utilize shorter-term Treasury bills.
The ruling may also prevent Trump from delivering promised $2,000 tariff dividend payments to Americans, which would have contributed to inflationary pressures.
Nevertheless, another cycle of policy and revenue uncertainty has begun. The dollar extended its decline, losing about 0.4% against the euro Monday, marking nearly 12% in losses since Trump’s second term started in early 2025.
Future market direction depends on how traders interpret the ongoing disruption. Barclays analysts suggest the Supreme Court decision demonstrates effective governmental checks and balances, potentially reducing risk premiums on U.S. assets and currency.
Other market watchers remain focused on inflation implications. “When you have this much liquidity and lowering of tariffs this all fuels growth and causes rates to rise,” said Eddie Ghabour, CEO at Key Advisors Wealth Management in Delaware. “These things can also cause inflation to accelerate in the months to come. I think the bond market is sniffing this out.”
Financial markets across Asia responded with concern to the turbulent developments surrounding America’s trade tariff strategy, according to market analyst Wayne Cole’s assessment of global economic conditions.
Asian trading sessions reflected a “sell America” sentiment as both the U.S. dollar and Wall Street market indicators declined following recent tariff policy upheaval.
The Supreme Court recently overturned President Trump’s primary emergency tariff program, effectively ruling that the administration had violated legal procedures for nearly twelve months. Following this decision, Trump conducted a press briefing announcing a universal 10% tariff on all nations, set to begin Tuesday.
Within a day of that announcement, the President used social media platforms to declare an immediate increase to 15%, apparently catching some administration personnel off guard. The White House released an extensive list Friday detailing products excluded from the original 10% rate, though officials have not clarified whether these exemptions apply to the updated 15% figure.
The legislation Trump is now implementing for the first time requires equal treatment of all countries, meaning every nation faces the same 15% rate. This unusual situation now encompasses heavily sanctioned nations like Russia and North Korea, which had previously avoided the initial tariff measures.
The new policy creates mixed results internationally: some nations including the United Kingdom and Australia will experience increased tariffs, while others such as China may see significant reductions. India has suspended its trade agreement negotiations with America, and European Commission officials have rejected any modifications to existing arrangements.
This presidential authority expires after 150 days unless Congress provides an extension, which Republican legislators may resist given tariffs’ poor performance in public opinion surveys. Administration representatives have stated that actual tariff rates won’t change dramatically and existing trade agreements will remain valid. However, it remains unclear how these deals will function when they were negotiated under tariff structures that no longer exist.
Treasury Secretary Bessent has even warned trading partners of potential embargoes if they fail to honor current agreements. The prospect of America imposing embargoes on itself from global commerce raises questions about enforcement – whether the U.S. Navy would blockade Chinese or European ports, or perhaps find it simpler to blockade American ports instead.
Companies are now rushing to recover approximately $170 billion in tariffs now deemed illegal, with over 1,800 lawsuits already submitted to the U.S. Court of International Trade. Any reimbursements will likely benefit importing businesses rather than consumers who ultimately paid higher prices due to tariffs.
This uncertainty has caused European stock market indicators to drop 0.5%, while S&P 500 projections fell 0.8% and Nasdaq predictions declined 1%. Markets were already nervous ahead of Nvidia’s Wednesday earnings report, which will evaluate the strength of artificial intelligence investment trends.
The world’s most valuable corporation is projected to report a 71% increase in earnings per share for its fiscal fourth quarter, with revenue reaching $65.9 billion. For the upcoming fiscal year, analysts average expectations of $7.76 earnings per share, though projections range from $6.28 to $9.68. Options trading suggests the stock could move at least 6% in either direction following the announcement.
Important developments that may affect markets Monday include appearances by European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde, Bank of England MPC member Alan Taylor, and Federal Reserve Board Governor Christopher Waller. Economic data releases will feature the German Ifo survey, U.S. factory orders, and Dallas and Chicago Federal Reserve surveys.
A major Australian property development company experienced a dramatic financial downturn Monday, with stock values plummeting to their lowest point in nearly four decades following the announcement of substantial losses.
Lendlease Group’s stock price dropped by as much as 9.17% to A$4.160, marking the lowest trading level since mid-December 1987. This represented the company’s most severe single-day percentage drop since February 19, 2024, while Australia’s main stock index fell only 0.7% during the same period.
The property development firm reported a net loss of A$318 million ($224.86 million) for the six-month period ending December 31, a stark contrast to the A$48 million profit recorded during the same timeframe the previous year.
Investment property devaluations and asset write-downs totaling A$118 million significantly contributed to the company’s financial troubles, with most of these losses occurring in properties located across the United States, United Kingdom, and Singapore markets.
The company’s operational losses reached A$200 million after taxes, despite A$87 million in profits generated by their Investments, Development and Construction division, which was overshadowed by a A$287 million loss from their Capital Release business unit.
While the Investments, Development and Construction segment saw reduced contributions from its investment and development operations, the construction arm showed marked improvement, generating A$69 million in operating profits compared to a A$25 million loss the year before, thanks to increased revenue and better project execution.
Company CEO Tony Lombardo described fiscal 2026 as a “transitional year” and expressed optimism that the Investments, Development and Construction division would show stronger performance in the second half of the fiscal year and continuing into 2027.
Despite the challenging financial results, Lendlease maintained its annual earnings forecast for the IDC segment at 28-34 Australian cents per share, citing anticipated gains from upcoming transactions.
Shareholders will receive an interim dividend payment of 6.2 Australian cents per share, representing a slight increase from the 6 cents distributed during the previous year’s comparable period.
Federal customs officials announced they will discontinue collecting tariffs that the Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional, effective Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. Eastern time.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection informed shipping companies through its cargo messaging system that all tariff codes linked to former President Donald Trump’s International Emergency Economic Powers Act orders will be deactivated as of Tuesday morning.
The Supreme Court struck down these duties as illegal on Friday, yet the customs agency continued collecting them at entry points for more than three days following the ruling. Officials provided no explanation for the delay in implementation.
This cessation of IEEPA-based tariff collection occurs simultaneously with Trump’s introduction of a replacement 15% worldwide tariff using different legal authority.
The customs agency’s notice did not address whether importers who paid the now-illegal tariffs might receive refunds. The message also clarified that other Trump-era tariffs remain unaffected, including those enacted under national security provisions and unfair trade practice statutes.
“CBP will provide additional guidance to the trade community through CSMS messages as appropriate,” the agency stated.
According to Reuters reporting, the Supreme Court’s decision potentially subjects over $175 billion in Treasury revenue from these IEEPA tariffs to refund claims. Economists from the Penn-Wharton Budget Model estimated these particular tariffs were bringing in more than $500 million daily in gross revenue.
Beijing officials are conducting a comprehensive review of the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that overturned numerous tariffs and are calling on Washington to eliminate unilateral trade penalties against its partners, stating that economic conflicts between the nations cause damage to all involved.
China’s Commerce Ministry issued these statements Monday, following the nation’s highest court delivering a significant blow to President Donald Trump by overturning multiple tariffs he implemented during his global trade conflict, including several targeting China.
Hours following the court’s decision, Trump announced plans to implement a new 10% levy on imports from all nations beginning Tuesday, then quickly escalated it to 15% in a decision that appeared to catch some administration officials off guard.
“U.S. unilateral tariffs … violate international trade rules and U.S. domestic law, and are not in the interests of any party,” the Chinese ministry stated.
“Cooperation between China and the United States is beneficial to both sides, but fighting is harmful,” the ministry added.
Trade policy and tariff discussions are anticipated to be central topics for both nations leading up to Trump’s expected visit to China in late March and early April, during which he will hold meetings with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump’s proposed new duties rely on an untested legal provision called Section 122, which permits tariffs up to 15% but requires congressional authorization to continue beyond 150 days. This section has never been used by any previous president, and its implementation may trigger additional legal disputes.
“China will continue to pay close attention to this and firmly safeguard its interests,” the Commerce Ministry declared.
Gao Lingyun, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, was quoted by state-run Global Times describing the U.S. tariff decisions as “highly arbitrary” and being used as a “political weapon.”
“Tariff policy should be based on rigorous assessment, not political preference,” he was quoted as saying.
The Supreme Court’s decision eliminated several tariffs the Trump administration had placed on major Asian exporters including China, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan, which serves as the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturer and crucial technology supply chain participant.
South Korea announced it would maintain discussions with the U.S. to preserve a “balance of interests” between the nations, while its industry minister expressed concerns among officials across multiple sectors, including automotive, battery, and semiconductor industries.
“The public and private sector need to work together to secure Korean companies’ export competitiveness and diversify their markets,” Industry Minister Kim Jung-kwan stated Monday.
India postponed sending a trade delegation to Washington this week to complete an interim trade agreement, primarily due to new tariff uncertainties from the U.S., according to a trade ministry source.
Under the proposed deal, U.S. tariffs on Indian products would decrease to 18%, while India committed to purchasing $500 billion worth of American goods over five years, including energy supplies, aircraft and components, precious metals, and technology products.
In Europe, European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde cautioned about business risks, emphasizing that companies seek predictability rather than legal disputes. She stressed that any new tariff proposals must be clearly outlined to prevent additional challenges and ensure constitutional compliance.
“To sort of shake it up again is going to bring about disruptions,” Lagarde said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Entertainment enthusiasts will find no shortage of fresh content arriving on streaming services this week, featuring everything from pop music comebacks to zombie horror games.
The week’s highlights include the highly anticipated return of Bruno Mars with new solo material, K-pop sensation Blackpink reuniting as a group, and an intimate documentary exploring Paul McCartney’s journey following his Beatles years, according to Associated Press entertainment reporters.
Director Andrew Stanton, known for his acclaimed Pixar work on “WALL-E” and “Finding Nemo,” ventures back into live-action territory after his 2012 “John Carter” disappointment. His latest effort, “In the Blink of an Eye,” weaves together multiple storylines examining world history, featuring performances by Kate McKinnon, Rashida Jones and Daveed Diggs. Despite receiving mixed reviews at January’s Sundance Film Festival, the film launches Friday, Feb. 27 on Hulu.
The entertainment industry’s Actor Awards, previously known as the SAG Awards, will broadcast live on Netflix March 1. These honors from the SAG-AFTRA union serve as significant Oscar forecasters, with Paul Thomas Anderson’s “One Battle After Another” leading this year’s nominations.
Music lovers can dive into “Paul McCartney: Man on the Run,” a documentary series from Morgan Neville, the filmmaker behind “Won’t You Be My Neighbor” and “Piece by Piece.” Rather than covering Beatles history, this Amazon Prime Video release focuses on McCartney’s 1970s era, including his Wings period and beyond, premiering Friday, Feb. 27.
That same Friday marks Bruno Mars’ musical comeback with “The Romantic,” his fourth complete album and first solo effort since 2016’s successful “24K Magic.” This doesn’t count his popular collaboration with Anderson .Paak as Silk Sonic on 2021’s “An Evening with Silk Sonic.” Mars continues his signature retro-pop style, with opening track “I Just Might” delivering uplifting disco-pop-soul vibes.
K-pop powerhouse Blackpink reunites after successful individual careers that included viral hits like “APT.” and “The White Lotus” appearances. Members Jisoo, Jennie, Rosé and Lisa drop their “Deadline” EP on Friday, featuring five tracks including the bilingual “Jump,” described as energetic europop with hardstyle influences perfect for Vegas nightlife.
Television offerings include “Paradise” season two on Hulu Monday, continuing Sterling K. Brown’s story as Secret Service agent Xavier protecting President James Marsden’s character. After season one revealed their survival in an underground bunker during an apocalypse, Xavier now searches for his missing wife, with Shailene Woodley joining returning cast members Julianne Nicholson and Marsden.
“Survivor” reaches its milestone 50th season Wednesday on Paramount+ and CBS, featuring returning contestants including “The White Lotus” creator Mike White in a three-hour premiere episode.
Nostalgia continues with “Scrubs” returning to Hulu Thursday, sixteen years after its finale, bringing back Zach Braff’s medical comedy with original cast members Donald Faison, Sarah Chalke and Judy Reyes.
Kevin Costner and Morgan Freeman, who previously collaborated on “Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves,” executive produce Prime Video’s Civil War series “The Gray House.” The eight-episode series stars Mary Louise Parker, Ben Vereen, Robert Knepper and Paul Anderson, all episodes available Thursday.
MGM+ launches “American Classic” Sunday, April 1, starring Kevin Kline as a former Broadway performer who returns home to direct a local “Our Town” production while clashing with his ex-girlfriend-turned-mayor, played by Laura Linney.
Gaming enthusiasts can experience “Resident Evil Requiem,” the ninth main franchise entry arriving 30 years after Capcom’s original zombie-filled bioweapon saga. Players control FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, armed with limited weapons and focused on survival, while veteran character Leon Kennedy returns with expanded firepower. The game launches Friday, Feb. 27 for PlayStation 5, Xbox X/S, Switch 2 and PC, targeting both survival horror purists and action-oriented players.
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — International Criminal Court prosecutors will begin Monday laying out their case against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, presenting evidence of his alleged role in numerous killings during his anti-narcotics campaigns.
The former president faces three charges of crimes against humanity related to lethal drug enforcement operations he directed both during his tenure as mayor of Davao in southern Philippines and throughout his presidency.
Advocacy organizations and victims’ families celebrated Duterte’s March arrest as progress toward accountability.
“We have waited for this for so long, for years we have waited, but we did not relent,” Llore Pasco said during a press briefing before the proceedings. She explained that her two sons departed for work in May 2017 and never came home, with their bullet-riddled bodies discovered later.
Monday’s proceedings represent a confirmation hearing rather than a full trial, providing prosecutors the opportunity to present their case before the court. Following review of the presented evidence, judges will have 60 days to determine whether to validate the charges.
Duterte has chosen not to participate in the Hague-based court proceedings. In a written statement to the judges, he declined to attend legal proceedings “that I will forget within minutes. I am old, tired, and frail.”
The former leader also dismissed the accusations as an “outrageous lie.”
Court officials determined last month that the elderly defendant was mentally competent for trial proceedings, after an earlier hearing was delayed due to health-related concerns.
Duterte’s allies have condemned current Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s administration for apprehending and transferring the former leader to a court whose authority they question. Critics include his daughter, current Vice President Sara Duterte, who declared her intention last week to run for president in 2028.
Sheerah Escudero expressed concern about potential consequences if another Duterte gains power. Her 18-year-old brother’s body was discovered bound with tape in 2017. “We know that the same policy of killings will continue,” she stated to media before the hearing.
ICC prosecutors announced in February 2018 their decision to launch a preliminary examination of the violent drug enforcement operations. Human rights advocates claim Duterte’s subsequent announcement that the Philippines would withdraw from the court was designed to avoid responsibility.
The court dismissed arguments from Duterte’s defense team seeking case dismissal based on jurisdictional challenges following Philippine withdrawal. Nations cannot “abuse” their withdrawal rights from the Rome Statute “by shielding persons from justice in relation to alleged crimes that are already under consideration,” according to the September ruling.
An appeal of that determination remains under review.
Death toll estimates from Duterte’s presidential period range from over 6,000 according to national police records to as many as 30,000 as claimed by human rights organizations.
When Russian forces launched their full-scale assault on Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it marked the start of the most significant military conflict Europe has witnessed since World War II ended. The invasion has now stretched into its fourth year, fundamentally altering the geopolitical landscape.
A specially assembled collection of photographs, selected by Associated Press photo editors, captures the defining moments and human impact of this prolonged conflict. The visual documentation spans the entire duration of the war, offering a comprehensive look at how the situation has evolved over these four years.
A Moscow-area bakery owner gained national attention after making a desperate plea to Vladimir Putin during the Russian president’s December call-in program. Denis Maksimov, standing outside his bakery Mashenka — named for his eldest daughter — asked Putin via video to reconsider new tax policies that are crushing small business owners nationwide.
“We understand very well that it’s not an easy situation for the country. We understand that raising taxes is necessary,” Maksimov said. “We’re looking ahead without optimism, frankly speaking. Many (businesses) will close down.”
Nearly four years into Putin’s full-scale war against Ukraine, Russia’s economy is showing significant strain. Oil income is falling, the government’s budget shortfall is growing, and military expenditures that previously drove economic expansion have plateaued.
Moscow is now turning to consumers and small enterprises for additional funding. The government has increased the value-added tax by 2% and dramatically reduced the income thresholds that trigger businesses to pay these taxes.
Russian citizens are experiencing real hardship, according to business owners who spoke with The Associated Press. They report steadily declining customer demand, sudden cost increases as vendors adapt to the tax changes, and tax obligations that have multiplied by tens of times. Some entrepreneurs have reduced their operations to survive, while others have shut down completely.
Social media footage recently highlighted the economic damage: empty storefronts lining St. Petersburg’s famous Nevsky Prospekt, where numerous businesses have failed.
“I’ve never felt so scared as this year, so unprotected, so anxious,” said Darya Demchenko, who operates multiple beauty salons in Russia’s second-largest city.
Maksimov’s public appeal to Putin did not succeed in stopping the tax overhaul, which reduced the threshold requiring businesses to pay VAT from 60 million rubles ($783,000) in yearly sales to 20 million rubles ($261,000) this year, with further reductions to 10 million rubles ($130,500) planned by 2028.
Similar reductions affected the “patent taxation system,” where small businesses previously made fixed annual payments — typically only tens of thousands of rubles — rather than percentage-based taxes on income or profits. Now, those earning more than 20 million rubles must pay at least 6% tax on revenues plus 5% VAT.
During their televised conversation, Maksimov explained he had operated under the patent system for eight years. Putin acknowledged the need for tax reform to address “uncontrolled” illegal imports but promised to examine possible solutions.
Maksimov’s television appearance brought publicity and new customers to Mashenka, which operates three locations in the Moscow area. The bakery sent baked goods to the Kremlin and advertises on its website that Putin “tried our pies.”
Russian news outlets reported that Maksimov’s sales increased temporarily, but without tax policy changes, he considered shutting down.
Putin discussed Mashenka’s situation at a government meeting last month, and Economy Minister Maxim Reshetnikov suggested measures to exempt Maksimov’s business from VAT and reduce other taxes. Following this, the owner said he was no longer planning to close.
“I think we will grow, maybe slower than before, but no less confidently, I think,” Maksimov told AP this month. However, he acknowledged still waiting for officials to implement the proposed measures, with no clear timeline for when this might occur.
Maksimov’s case sparked outrage among other small and medium business owners. Through an online movement called “We Are Mashenka,” initiated by the Association of Beauty Industry Enterprises, entrepreneurs nationwide shared similar struggles, noting that unlike Maksimov, who gained Putin’s attention, they had no one to rescue them.
Demchenko, who participated in the campaign, told AP that she was forced to close one salon and sell another from her four-location chain — three owned and one franchised — to survive the dramatically higher taxes, increased costs, and reduced demand.
The tax changes disqualified her from the patent system, requiring much higher tax payments and the hiring of a full-time accountant for paperwork, she explained. Her expenses — including rent, supplies, security, and banking — jumped 30%, with suppliers raising prices far beyond the 2% VAT increase.
Customer demand for beauty services has been declining for months.
Russia’s restrictions on social media and messaging platforms eliminated her access to affordable advertising and easy client communication, Demchenko noted.
The beauty industry survived the COVID-19 pandemic with government assistance including tax relief, payment deferrals, and opportunities to negotiate rent waivers with landlords, she said.
“This year, we haven’t felt any support at all. We feel like they want to shut us down,” she said.
Lyalya Sadykova, president of the Association of Beauty Industry Enterprises, reported that approximately 10% of St. Petersburg’s beauty businesses closed and another 10% sold their companies in December and January. She expects additional closures this spring.
“People will do the math. The first deadline for taxes is in April, and people will see that they have nothing to pay with, and that’s when the collapse will begin,” she said. “I think there will be bankruptcies, and mass exodus from the market, because now it seems to me that not everyone has done the math and understood it.”
When the tax reforms were enacted last year, pastry shop owners Ilsiya Gizatullina and Railya Shayhieva decided to close their Kazan business. Like Demchenko, they cited massive tax increases, rising expenses, and declining demand.
The decision was extremely difficult, “like cutting off a body part. Because we lived there, it was our life, 24/7,” Gizatullina told AP.
They launched their business in 2020 and weathered the pandemic, which Gizatullina noted was temporary. The new tax structure is permanent.
“We understand very well that it won’t be abolished the day after tomorrow, and there will likely be an even higher tax burden in the future,” Gizatullina said.
Under the reforms, additional businesses will face increased taxes in 2027 and 2028, as changes will impact those with even smaller revenues.
Small and medium businesses represent just over 20% of Russia’s economy, but remain significant, according to Chris Weafer, CEO of Macro-Advisory Ltd. Consultancy. Expanding VAT application to these businesses will generate “a meaningful amount” of government revenue.
This represents “a deliberate strategy by the Finance Ministry to create more stable, predictable sources of income” during a period of reduced oil revenues and increased budget deficits, Weafer explained.
Small and medium enterprises have faced pressure since 2014, when Russia encountered sanctions over its illegal Crimean Peninsula annexation, and the government focused support on large corporations. The new tax regulations intensify this pressure, Weafer said, and while unlikely to destroy the economy, will hinder growth after the war concludes.
“The one engine of expansion and growth and innovation that you need in an economy is the sector that has suffered most in the last four years and is continuing to suffer today,” he said.
LONDON (AP) — A Ford Mustang Mach-E navigates through London’s heavy traffic, utilizing artificial intelligence to dodge pedestrians and bicyclists while maneuvering around construction zones on its way to its final stop.
This driverless car from British company Wayve Technologies is conducting trial runs before the United Kingdom launches its robotaxi testing program this spring. Major tech firms including America’s Waymo and China’s Baidu are also preparing to participate in these pilot tests, positioning London as the newest battleground in the worldwide competition for autonomous taxi services.
Although self-driving cabs aren’t a novel concept, London’s historic street patterns and crowded urban environment may present unique obstacles for this technology.
London’s iconic black taxi drivers are also expressing doubt about the new technology. These drivers must complete an intensive training program called “The Knowledge,” requiring them to memorize countless routes over several years. They have historically resisted technological changes that threaten their livelihood, including staging protests when Uber entered the market.
Steven McNamara, general secretary of the Licensed Taxi Drivers’ Association representing black cab operators, described autonomous taxis as “a solution looking for a problem.”
McNamara questions whether robotaxis could offer any benefits on London’s street system, which resembles a complex maze dating to Roman era construction — a stark contrast to the organized grid systems found in American cities like San Francisco and Phoenix where Waymo currently functions.
London has earned a reputation as one of the planet’s most traffic-congested metropolitan areas, with roadways already packed with various transportation methods including personal vehicles, public buses, motorcycles, bicycles and electric rental bikes.
McNamara and numerous others have pointed out that autonomous vehicles must contend with an additional obstacle from people crossing streets. Unlike the United States and many other nations where jaywalking is prohibited, Britain doesn’t consider it a legal violation.
“It’s virtually impossible to drive anywhere (in London) without somebody walking in front of you,” McNamara said. Given London’s population of nearly 10 million residents, he questioned “how these cars are going to deal with those volumes of people?”
Companies developing robotaxis maintain there’s space for this emerging technology.
“I think Londoners are going to love autonomous driving. It’s going to be another choice alongside the Tube, cycling, walking,” said Wayve CEO Alex Kendall during a recent interview at the company’s facility.
Wayve has partnered with Uber for these taxi experiments, which represent Britain’s effort to establish nationwide rules for autonomous vehicles. The country aims to establish itself as a global leader in this technology sector.
Chinese technology corporation Baidu is also collaborating with Uber, along with competing ride-sharing service Lyft, to operate its Apollo Go self-driving vehicle program in London’s pilot project.
Waymo, a subsidiary of Google’s parent company Alphabet, will also participate and intends to begin London passenger operations by the third quarter of 2026, according to company representatives who spoke with reporters last month.
Waymo executives attempted to address worries that the company might immediately overwhelm London streets with robotaxis, pointing out that it has operated 1,000 total vehicles in San Francisco since beginning full operations in 2024.
“We’re not here to replace anyone,” Waymo spokesman Ethan Teicher said. “We’re here to add another option for people who will choose to take black cabs or other modes of transportation when it suits them and choose to take Waymo, when it makes sense.”
Waymo’s autonomous Jaguar I-Pace vehicles have been observed conducting test drives throughout London. Wayve’s Ford Mustang Mach-E cars have also been performing road evaluations with human backup operators seated behind the steering wheel, prepared to take control if necessary.
During a recent demonstration ride for The Associated Press, Wayve’s Ford automatically navigated through a three-mile (five kilometer) circuit in North London without encountering any difficulties.
Traveling along a straight and clear section of roadway, the vehicle maintained a consistent speed of 19 miles (30 kilometers) per hour, slightly below the posted limit.
When a traffic signal changed as the car approached, it was forced to brake sharply and mildly jostled passengers forward — the only instance when the ride wasn’t completely smooth.
Kendall explained that Wayve employs a different strategy compared to conventional self-driving technology. It doesn’t depend on “high definition” mapping systems and “hand-coded” safety protocols created by programmers who try to anticipate every possible situation.
Rather, it utilizes artificial intelligence trained on millions of hours of information collected by its vehicles to learn and comprehend how the world functions.
“This is the key thing for self-driving, because every time you drive on the road, you’re going to experience something different,” Kendall said. “You can’t rely on a self-driving car being told how to behave in every scenario it encounters.”
Kendall stated that Wayve positions itself as a technology provider offering hardware and software that can be integrated into any vehicle to make it autonomous. The company reached an agreement with Nissan in December to manufacture self-driving cars that will be available for purchase in Japan and North America by 2027.
Kendall declined to share additional specific information about the robotaxi service it will run in partnership with Uber, including pricing details.
Waymo, which operates its own ride-hailing application, will offer “competitive” rates and fares aligned with market standards, officials stated last month, while noting that it can often “demand more premium pricing.”
Industry analysts believe there’s a place for robotaxis in Britain, though it may be specialized.
They’re best positioned to address gaps in Britain’s public transportation system, such as serving rural communities that have lost bus connections to larger towns and cities due to budget reductions, according to Kevin Vincent, director of the Centre for Connected and Autonomous Automotive Research at Coventry University.
Demand will continue for human drivers, particularly from visitors and tourists, he noted.
Finding a “cab driver who knows the area, you can ask him questions. You feel confident and comfortable you’re going where you need to go,” represents a service that won’t be easily replaced in the near future, Vincent said.
Autonomous taxis cannot duplicate the personal connection, according to Frank O’Beirne, who has operated black cabs for 14 years.
For instance, one of his recent passengers was a pair of visually impaired individuals traveling to popular Leicester Square. He ended up parking at a taxi stand and escorting them across the street to their destination, a Chinese restaurant located in a casino’s basement.
“They would never have found that, ever, (on their own),” said O’Beirne. “There’s nothing like us. I can’t see the space where autonomous taxis can operate, really.”
A fallen tree has prompted authorities to shut down Tobacco Road near its intersection with Fox Hole Road, according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
The roadway remains impassable as crews work to remove the tree blocking traffic flow in the area.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes while DelDOT personnel address the obstruction. No timeline has been provided for when the road will reopen to normal traffic.
Mexican authorities are working to restore order after the death of one of the world’s most notorious drug lords sparked violent retaliation across multiple states, forcing school closures and prompting residents to shelter in place.
Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, better known by his alias “El Mencho,” died Sunday during a military operation in Jalisco state. The 57-year-old commanded the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of Mexico’s most ruthless criminal organizations responsible for smuggling vast quantities of fentanyl, methamphetamine, and cocaine into the United States.
The drug lord was fatally wounded during a fierce gunfight when Mexican forces attempted to apprehend him in Tapalpa, located roughly two hours southwest of Guadalajara. He succumbed to his injuries while being transported by air to Mexico City, according to defense officials.
Cartel members launched immediate revenge attacks nationwide, establishing over 250 roadblocks spanning 20 states and torching vehicles in the streets. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum called for citizens to remain calm while announcing that most barriers had been dismantled by late Sunday.
The operation received intelligence assistance from the United States, with the White House praising Mexico’s military for eliminating one of both nations’ most sought-after fugitives. The State Department had placed a $15 million bounty on El Mencho’s head.
Guadalajara, Mexico’s second-largest metropolitan area, came to a virtual standstill Sunday as frightened residents remained indoors. The city’s international airport operated with skeleton crews, and most incoming flights were grounded due to security concerns.
Jacinta Murcia, a 64-year-old vendor, described her anxiety while navigating the airport late Sunday evening. Earlier that day, travelers had scrambled for cover behind seating areas amid fears of violence.
“My plan today leaving the airport is to see if there are any taxis, but I’m scared of everything. That there are blockades, that there’s a curfew, that something could happen,” she said. “I’m all alone.”
Regional authorities confirmed at least 14 additional deaths Sunday, including seven National Guard personnel killed during the widespread unrest in Jalisco, Michoacan, and Guanajuato states.
Social media footage captured tourists on Puerto Vallarta beaches with smoke columns visible in the background. At the airport, elderly Mexican travelers huddled together planning their journey home.
“We better all go together,” one person was heard saying. “Go with God.”
International Crisis Group analyst David Mora characterized the events as a pivotal moment for President Sheinbaum’s anti-cartel strategy amid mounting pressure from Washington to combat fentanyl trafficking.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly demanded stronger Mexican action against drug smuggling, threatening additional tariffs or potential military intervention without visible progress.
U.S. Ambassador Ron Johnson praised the Mexican armed forces’ achievements and sacrifices in a Sunday statement, noting that “under the leadership of President Trump and President Sheinbaum, bilateral cooperation has reached unprecedented levels.”
However, Mora cautioned that the cartel leader’s elimination could trigger additional bloodshed as competing criminal organizations attempt to exploit the weakened Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
“This might be a moment in which those other groups see that the cartel is weakened and want to seize the opportunity for them to expand control and to gain control over Cartel Jalisco in those states,” he explained.
The analyst noted Sheinbaum’s administration has adopted a more aggressive military approach against criminal networks compared to previous governments.
“Ever since President Sheinbaum has been in power, the army has been way more confrontational, combative against criminal groups in Mexico,” Mora said. “This is signaling to the U.S. that if we keep cooperating, sharing intelligence, Mexico can do it, we don’t need U.S. troops on Mexican soil.”
Defense officials reported that troops encountered heavy resistance during the capture attempt, resulting in four immediate fatalities at the scene. Three wounded individuals, including Oseguera Cervantes, later died from their injuries.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed via social media that American intelligence supported the operation, describing El Mencho as “a top target for the Mexican and United States government as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into our homeland.”
The Jalisco New Generation Cartel emerged around 2009 and rapidly became one of Mexico’s most powerful criminal enterprises. The Trump administration designated the organization as a foreign terrorist group in February 2025.
Despite Sheinbaum’s previous criticism of “kingpin” elimination strategies that historically triggered violence when cartels splintered, mounting security concerns and U.S. diplomatic pressure have intensified demands for results against drug trafficking operations.
The Jalisco organization distinguished itself through particularly aggressive tactics against military forces, including helicopter attacks and pioneering use of drone-delivered explosives and landmines. In 2020, the cartel orchestrated a brazen assassination attempt in central Mexico City using grenades and military-grade weapons against the capital’s police chief, who now serves as federal security secretary.
TOKYO – On his 66th birthday Monday, Japan’s Emperor Naruhito shared his continued worries about those still recovering from the catastrophic 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear crisis, with the disaster’s anniversary approaching next month.
In birthday statements released last week, the emperor noted that while physical rebuilding efforts have advanced significantly, deeper healing remains incomplete. “While recovery of infrastructure has made progress, I feel that reconstruction of livelihoods and community still needs to be addressed,” Naruhito said in the remarks made last week. “As I think of those who lost their loved ones and had to cope with complete change of their living environment, I feel their scars have not healed yet … they stay despite the passage of time.”
The emperor appeared alongside Empress Masako, their daughter Princess Aiko, and Crown Prince Akishino’s family on the imperial palace balcony, greeting enthusiastic crowds who gathered with Japanese flags to celebrate the occasion.
The devastating March 2011 natural disasters and subsequent Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant meltdowns resulted in almost 20,000 deaths and displaced hundreds of thousands of residents. Although most radiation-affected areas have been declared safe for habitation, relatively few former residents have chosen to return due to limited employment opportunities and fractured community bonds.
The nation will also commemorate another tragic milestone this April – a decade since the Kumamoto earthquake claimed close to 300 lives.
During his birthday remarks, Naruhito emphasized the importance of passing disaster preparedness knowledge to future generations while remaining ready for potential future emergencies. The emperor committed to maintaining close connections with citizens, sharing in both their celebrations and hardships, and continuing to hear from those in disaster-impacted regions while hoping for a future free from such tragedies.
Regarding his daughter’s future role, Naruhito expressed his desire for Princess Aiko to carry forward historical awareness to younger people. “We have raised Aiko hoping she will be a fine person as a human being and a royal member,” he said. “And I have a strong wish for her to continue to exert her strength and be active in international peacekeeping.”
Princess Aiko, now 24 and the couple’s sole child, faces restrictions under Japan’s succession laws that prevent her from inheriting the throne. Current regulations require her to abandon royal status if she chooses to marry outside the imperial family, rules that Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi continues to support and strengthen.
PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Jury selection begins Monday in the murder case against a Utah mother who authorities say fatally poisoned her spouse before penning a children’s book about dealing with loss.
Kouri Richins, 35, stands trial on multiple felony counts stemming from allegations she murdered her husband Eric Richins by giving him a lethal fentanyl dose in March 2022 at their residence near the ski resort town of Park City. According to prosecutors, she mixed five times the deadly amount of the synthetic drug into a Moscow mule drink he consumed.
Authorities also claim she attempted to kill him one month prior on Valentine’s Day by putting fentanyl in a sandwich that caused him to develop hives and lose consciousness, court records show.
The prosecution contends Richins murdered her spouse for money while secretly planning to be with another romantic partner. Richins strongly disputes these accusations.
She’s charged with approximately three dozen offenses, including first-degree murder, attempted homicide, document forgery, mortgage fraud and insurance fraud. The murder count alone could result in 25 years to life behind bars.
Her legal representatives, Wendy Lewis, Kathy Nester and Alex Ramos, expressed confidence that the 12 jurors will permit Richins to reunite with her children once they learn her version of events.
“Kouri has waited nearly three years for this moment: the opportunity to have the facts of this case heard by a jury, free from the prosecution’s narrative that has dominated headlines since her arrest,” her legal team said in a statement, adding, “What the public has been told bears little resemblance to the truth.”
During the period before her May 2023 arrest, Richins independently published the children’s title “Are You with Me?” depicting a deceased father with wings watching over his young son. The book, which she advertised on local television, may serve as crucial evidence for prosecutors attempting to portray Eric Richins’ death as a premeditated murder followed by an elaborate cover-up scheme.
According to prosecutors, Richins secretly obtained multiple life insurance policies on her husband years before his death, totaling nearly $2 million in benefits. Court filings reveal she had an overdrawn bank account, owed more than $1.8 million to lenders and faced a creditor lawsuit.
Potential witnesses during the proceedings include a housekeeper who allegedly provided fentanyl to Richins on multiple occasions and the man authorities say she was romantically involved with outside her marriage.
The prosecution’s primary witness, housekeeper Carmen Lauber, informed investigators she supplied Richins with up to 90 blue-green fentanyl tablets obtained from a drug dealer. Lauber faces no criminal charges related to this case, with detectives confirming at a previous hearing that she received immunity.
Defense lawyers plan to argue that Lauber never actually provided Richins with fentanyl and fabricated her story to secure legal protection. No drugs were discovered at her residence, and the dealer claimed he was incarcerated and undergoing drug detox when he initially told investigators in 2023 about selling fentanyl to Lauber. He subsequently stated in a sworn document that he only sold her the prescription painkiller OxyContin.
Additional witnesses may include family members of both the defendant and her deceased husband, along with Eric Richins’ friends who recalled phone calls from the day prosecutors allege his wife first attempted to poison him during their nine-year marriage.
One friend stated in written testimony that they detected fear in Eric Richins’ voice when he telephoned on Valentine’s Day and said, “I think my wife tried to poison me.”
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — As Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro builds momentum toward reelection in a crucial battleground state, he’s speaking candidly about how his Jewish identity shapes his political journey.
The Democratic leader finds himself positioned for potential national prominence while simultaneously facing personal security challenges and party tensions over Middle East policy that have put both his family’s safety and political future at stake.
During a recent interview, Shapiro reflected on several pressing issues:
When asked about the April 13, 2025 attack on his residence while his family was sleeping, Shapiro shared his ongoing struggle with the incident.
“I’m one of the fortunate ones in that I wasn’t killed the way Melissa Hortman was or Charlie Kirk was. I wasn’t injured the way Gabby Giffords or Steve Scalise were physically. But I think we also walk around with the emotional scars of it,” Shapiro explained. “To me, it’s less the dealing with the emotions as governor, to be honest with you, it’s far more dealing with it as a dad and a husband and this idea that I’m doing this work that I love, that I find great purpose in that I’ve dedicated my life to, and that thing I love to do brought my family close to death, and that’s a hard thing to work through as a dad, still working through it candidly.”
Regarding antisemitism’s presence in American politics, Shapiro emphasized that the problem spans party lines.
“I think antisemitism is a very real problem in both the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. Please don’t clip my words there. It is a problem on the political left and the political right, and there should be no place for it,” he stated. He criticized instances where leaders like JD Vance fail to condemn platforms given to figures like Nick Fuentes or Tucker Carlson, saying such inaction “just makes antisemitism fester on the right.”
Addressing critics within his own party who have labeled him “Genocide Josh” over his Middle East positions, Shapiro sought to separate two distinct conversations.
“I want to dialogue back with them, and what I say to them is, there’s really two conversations here. One on antisemitism and hatred and bigotry, and on that, that’s a black and white issue. There’s no nuance, and we should all be able to agree on that, that antisemitism is wrong, hatred and bigotry in any form is wrong,” he said.
On policy matters, he advocated for nuanced discussion: “The second conversation is over what should the policy of the United States be in the Middle East. And on that, it’s full of nuance, and we can have honest disagreements.” He outlined his vision of “a safe and secure Israel side by side with a safe and secure Palestinian state, where Palestinian leadership recognizes Israel’s right to exist.”
Concerning questions from Kamala Harris’s team about whether he was “a double agent for Israel,” Shapiro declined to characterize their motivations as antisemitic.
“No, I didn’t label it that way. Look, I think the people in that process had a right to ask me whatever questions they wanted, and I was honored and humbled to go through that process,” he responded, adding that “they’re going to have to answer those questions” about their motivations.
When discussing how his faith influences his view of President Trump, Shapiro drew connections to broader moral principles.
“I don’t check with my faith as to where I’m going to be on an issue. But I think there’s something deeper there, right? I mean, my faith teaches me to love thy neighbor. My faith teaches me to have respect for others,” he said. “And this is a president who at every turn scapegoats others, disrespects others, attacks others, and I don’t think that he’s sort of violating the tenants of my faith as an American Jew, I think he’s frankly violating the tenants of our shared faith and our shared humanity.”
He continued: “My faith teaches me to feed the hungry and motivates me to help those who are in need. And I frankly think the president could use a little bit more shared faith and shared humanity’s life, and maybe he wouldn’t be so cruel. This is a president who engages in cruelty and corruption, brings chaos every single day.”
Shapiro confirmed he faces daily antisemitic threats, noting a recent arrest in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where “a guy was arrested for terroristic threats and stalking me and my family.”
Despite increasing threats, he remains resolute: “So I think it is true that there’s a rise in threats and a rise in hate directed our way, but it doesn’t deter me, and in part, it doesn’t deter me because I refuse to live in fear, refuse to back down.”
He concluded on an optimistic note: “So in some ways, even though the threats are increasing, the light I see and the joy I find in others is also increasing, and that allows me to frankly ignore the noise and ignore the hate and focus on the goodness in people.”
FBI Director Kash Patel participated in an enthusiastic locker room celebration with Team USA’s men’s hockey squad on Sunday following their Olympic gold medal victory in Milan.
The celebration took place as serious security matters were developing in the United States. During Patel’s time in Italy, the Secret Service fatally shot an armed individual who had driven onto the grounds of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s Florida property. As the hockey match against Canada entered overtime, Patel took to social media platform X to announce the FBI was “dedicating all necessary resources in the investigation.”
Social media footage captured Patel enthusiastically consuming beer and spraying it throughout the locker room alongside the victorious athletes. The celebration intensified when a player placed his gold medal around Patel’s neck, prompting him to join the team in jumping celebrations.
The festive display prompted sharp criticism from political figures. Xochitl Hinojosa, who served as spokesperson for former Attorney General Merrick Garland, questioned the timing on X, stating: “There was a threat at the president’s residence at MAL, Americans in Mexico are facing major threats by cartel members, Nancy Guthrie is still missing, and our FBI Director thinks he’s a frat bro?!”
Addressing the backlash, Patel defended his actions by posting that he was “extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys.”
Patel had previously justified his official travel to Italy by explaining his mission to coordinate with Italian law enforcement and Americans providing Olympic security. Throughout the week, he shared photographs from his visit to Milan’s Joint Operations Center, which he described as responsible for safeguarding American athletes and visitors attending the Winter Games. He also documented his meeting with the U.S. ambassador to Italy.
Delaware Route 36 remains blocked to traffic at Staytonville Road after a tree fell across the roadway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports the road closure is in effect while crews work to remove the fallen tree and reopen the route to normal traffic flow.
Drivers traveling in the area are advised to use alternative routes until the roadway can be cleared and reopened.
Delaware Route 36 remains impassable at Staytonville Road following a tree that toppled across the roadway, according to DelDOT officials.
The roadway obstruction is forcing drivers to seek alternative routes while transportation crews respond to remove the fallen tree and restore normal traffic flow.
DelDOT has not provided an estimated timeline for when the roadway will reopen to vehicles.
A massive winter storm is wreaking havoc across the northeastern United States, forcing students to stay home Monday as educational institutions shut down and transportation systems scramble to adjust to emergency protocols amid warnings of dangerous conditions.
The severe weather system has created widespread travel chaos from Washington D.C. through New England, with airlines grounding thousands of flights while authorities strongly advise residents to avoid roadways. Mail and package delivery services will also face significant delays due to the harsh winter conditions, according to postal officials.
New York City’s public school system, the country’s biggest, announced a complete closure of all campus facilities Monday, canceling both in-person classes and extracurricular activities without offering virtual learning alternatives.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani issued an emergency declaration and banned non-essential vehicles from city streets starting Sunday evening through Monday midday, explaining that snow removal equipment and emergency responders required clear access as precipitation intensified. The metropolitan area is experiencing its first blizzard alert since 2017.
Municipal buildings will remain closed to the public, while non-critical city workers have been authorized to work from home. “I’m urging every New Yorker to please stay home,” Mamdani stated.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul mobilized 100 National Guard personnel to provide assistance in Long Island, New York City, and the Lower Hudson Valley regions, which are anticipated to experience the most severe snowfall and coastal wind impacts. The severe weather also prompted the closure of the United Nations headquarters facility in Manhattan Monday.
Weather forecasters predict certain northeastern regions could receive as much as 24 inches of snow, while wind speeds may reach 70 mph, creating significant risks for downed trees and electrical outages, the Department of Homeland Security reported.
In a Sunday briefing, the department confirmed that despite current funding interruptions, the Federal Emergency Management Agency continues its disaster response operations without disruption, including personnel deployment, emergency coordination, and vital assistance for disaster victims, with public safety and property protection remaining primary concerns.
Previous reports indicated that President Donald Trump’s administration had directed FEMA to halt the deployment of hundreds of relief workers to disaster zones nationwide during the DHS shutdown.
Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey issued an emergency proclamation and instructed state employees to remain home. Connecticut prohibited commercial trucks from controlled-access roadways Sunday evening, making exceptions only for emergency and essential supply deliveries.
New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill announced a statewide emergency beginning Sunday at noon and emphasized the storm’s severity to residents. “People need to take this very seriously,” she told CNN.
Aviation suffered immediate impacts, with flight tracking services showing over 5,000 Monday flights already grounded. Industry analysts noted that more than 25,000 flights were originally scheduled to depart U.S. airports Monday, with Tuesday cancellations also increasing, particularly at major northeastern hubs.
NJ TRANSIT ceased bus, light rail, and accessibility services Sunday evening and discontinued all rail operations by Sunday night, with service restoration dependent on improved conditions.
Throughout New England, the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority announced complete service suspension, including specialized transportation programs, from Sunday night through Monday, stating they would only announce resumption plans when weather conditions permit.
President Donald Trump announced plans to implement a 15% temporary tariff on imports from all nations, up from the current 10%, after the Supreme Court invalidated a significant portion of his previous trade measures. The administration is basing these new import duties on Section 122, a different legal provision that has not been previously tested.
Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that nations with existing trade agreements with the United States have not indicated they plan to abandon those deals despite the high court’s decision.
The announcement has sparked responses from trading partners worldwide.
China’s commerce ministry released a statement Monday saying the country is conducting a “full assessment” of the Supreme Court’s tariff decision while calling on Washington to remove “relevant unilateral tariff measures” imposed on trading partners.
“U.S. unilateral tariffs … violate international trade rules and U.S. domestic law, and are not in the interests of any party,” the Chinese ministry stated. “China will continue to pay close attention to this and firmly safeguard its interests.”
The European Commission called on the United States to honor the conditions of a trade agreement between the EU and U.S. that was established last year.
“The current situation is not conducive to delivering ‘fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial’ transatlantic trade and investment, as agreed to by both sides” in the joint statement outlining last year’s trade deal, the Commission stated. “A deal is a deal.”
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde expressed concerns Sunday that changes in U.S. trade policy could create business disruptions again, hoping any new tariff strategies are “sufficiently thought through” so businesses understand what to anticipate.
“To sort of shake it up again is going to bring about disruptions,” Lagarde commented on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
She added that people “want to do business. They don’t want to go into…lawsuits. So I hope it’s going to be clarified, and it’s going to be sufficiently thought through so that we don’t have, again, more challenges, and the proposals will be in compliance with the (U.S.) Constitution.”
Helene Budliger Artieda, who leads Switzerland’s State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, told Swiss publication SonntagsBlick that Switzerland should prepare for U.S. tariffs to become a permanent fixture.
“I suspect we will have to come to terms with U.S. tariffs. It is clear that the U.S. administration remains committed to its trade policy goals: reducing the U.S. trade deficit, achieving greater reciprocity in international trade, and bringing production back to the United States.”
The family of Ronyell Whitaker, a defensive back who played college football at Virginia Tech and professionally in the NFL, announced his death on Sunday. Whitaker was 46 years old.
Details regarding where Whitaker died and what caused his death were not disclosed. He would have celebrated his 47th birthday on March 19.
“Ronyell lived a life marked by passion, perseverance and purpose,” his family stated. “A gifted athlete, he proudly played high school football for Lake Taylor High School in Norfolk, Virginia, and college football for the Virginia Tech Hokies, where his talent, determination and leadership on the field made a lasting impact.”
During his college career spanning 1999 to 2002, Whitaker intercepted seven passes across 47 games for the Hokies, with five of those picks coming during the 2000 season when he appeared in 11 contests. He also handled punt return duties, bringing back 20 punts for an average of 13.7 yards per return.
Following his college career, Whitaker entered the 2003 NFL Draft but was not selected. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed him as an undrafted free agent and later placed him on their practice squad. With Tampa Bay, he appeared in four games with one start, recording 12 tackles, one tackle for loss, and two pass breakups.
The Minnesota Vikings became Whitaker’s next NFL home, where he saw action in 16 games with two starts during the 2006 season and 11 games as a backup in 2007. His Vikings statistics included 31 tackles, one fumble recovery, and one pass defended.
In May 2008, the Detroit Lions signed Whitaker but released him the following month. He continued his professional career in the Canadian Football League before hanging up his cleats in 2010, according to his family.
After his playing days ended, Whitaker transitioned into coaching, serving as the defensive backs coach at Chanhassen High School in Minnesota from 2014 through 2018. He also became an entrepreneur, operating as owner and CEO of Whitaker Group, LLC, a company focused on relocation transactions and short sales, which he established in 2011.
“While many knew him for his athletic accomplishments, those closest to him knew him best for his generous heart, unwavering loyalty and deep love for his family,” his family shared. “He was a protector, a mentor and a source of strength and laughter to all who had the blessing of knowing him.”
Whitaker’s death occurred just one day after another former Minnesota player, receiver Rondale Moore, died at age 25.
Multiple news sources in Minnesota and Indiana reported Saturday that New Albany, Indiana Police Chief Todd Bailey confirmed Moore was discovered in a garage and died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. An autopsy was planned for Sunday.
Moore, who played collegiately at Purdue University, also had stints with the Arizona Cardinals and Atlanta Falcons during his NFL career.
Motorists in the Georgetown area will need to find alternate routes as a portion of Sand Hill Road remains blocked by a fallen tree.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have shut down Sand Hill Road between East Redden Road and Donovan Road after the tree came down across the travel lanes.
DelDOT crews are working to clear the obstruction and reopen the roadway to normal traffic flow. No timeline has been provided for when the road closure will be lifted.
Drivers are advised to seek alternative routes and expect potential delays in the area until the tree removal is completed.
Traffic is being rerouted on Sandtown Road after a tree fell and blocked the roadway near Amsterdam Road.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report the road closure is necessary while crews work to remove the fallen tree and clear the path for vehicles.
Drivers traveling through the area should expect delays and plan alternative routes until the obstruction can be safely cleared and normal traffic flow restored.
A fallen tree has forced authorities to shut down Park Brown Road near Fox Hunters Road, creating a traffic obstruction for local drivers.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reported the road closure due to the tree blocking the travel lanes. Crews are working to remove the debris and restore normal traffic flow to the area.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes while cleanup efforts continue. DelDOT has not provided an estimated time for when the roadway will fully reopen.
A fallen tree has forced Delaware transportation officials to shut down a section of Double Bridges Road, blocking traffic between Old Church Cemetery Road and Camp Barnes Road.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reported the road closure due to the tree obstruction in the travel lanes. Crews are working to remove the debris and restore normal traffic flow to the area.
Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes while the cleanup operation is underway. DelDOT has not provided an estimated time for when the roadway will reopen to traffic.
