Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg was absent from Thursday’s spring training practice session, with first-year manager Craig Albernaz providing few details about when the player might return to action.
“He’s unable to participate right now,” Albernaz told reporters on Thursday. “Getting evaluated by our medical team and also outside people. See what’s going on with Jordan and get him ready to go.”
The 27-year-old player experienced tightness in his right oblique muscle during the early stages of spring training. However, Albernaz declined to confirm whether this muscle issue was the current reason for Westburg’s absence and refused to elaborate on any potential different injuries.
According to Orioles president of baseball operations Mike Elias, who spoke earlier this month, Westburg’s oblique problem has persisted since January.
The Baltimore Banner reported on Thursday that Westburg underwent elbow imaging, adding another layer of uncertainty to his condition.
“Just physically unable to go,” Albernaz explained. “We want to make sure we do our due diligence. Make sure Jordan has the best chance to play this year.”
Physical setbacks have plagued Westburg throughout his three-year tenure with Baltimore, who selected him as the 30th overall pick in the 2020 draft from Mississippi State University.
During the previous season, he appeared in 85 contests but spent time on the injured list for both a left hamstring problem and an ankle sprain. He also sat out portions of 2025 spring training due to back issues. In 2024, despite earning All-Star recognition and playing 107 games, he missed nearly two months after fracturing his hand.
Across 260 major league appearances, Westburg maintains a .264 batting average alongside 38 home runs and 127 runs batted in.
Wednesday’s agricultural commodity trading session concluded with mixed results across grain and livestock markets on February 19, 2026.
In grain markets, March corn contracts finished at $4.25 3/4, declining by 1 1/4 cents from the previous session. Meanwhile, March soybean futures climbed 7 1/2 cents to close at $11.41. Soybean-related products performed strongly, with March soybean meal advancing 90 cents to reach $304.80 per ton, and March soybean oil gaining 109 points to settle at 59.68 cents per pound.
Wheat futures also posted gains, with March Chicago wheat contracts rising 12 1/2 cents to end at $5.59 1/2 per bushel.
Livestock markets showed varied performance as well. April live cattle contracts increased 90 cents to close at $243.42 per hundredweight, while March feeder cattle dropped 30 cents to $370.27. April lean hog futures moved higher, finishing at $93.45 per hundredweight.
Independent oil refineries are mounting opposition to modified legislative proposals that would enable continuous, nationwide distribution of E15 ethanol fuel throughout all seasons. This resistance from smaller industry players, including companies such as Delek US and Monroe Energy owned by Delta Air Lines, creates challenges for congressional representatives from agricultural regions who have been advocating for the expanded ethanol program. The pushback highlights ongoing tensions within the petroleum industry regarding biofuel requirements and market regulations.
A motor vehicle collision has forced authorities to completely shut down eastbound Valley Road at its intersection with Limestone Road (Route 7), according to the Delaware Department of Transportation.
DelDOT officials are urging motorists to find alternative routes while emergency responders work at the crash site. The closure is affecting traffic flow in the area as crews address the incident.
No additional details about the severity of the crash or potential injuries have been released at this time. Drivers should expect delays and plan accordingly until the roadway can be safely reopened.
Shares of Mexican restaurant chain Guzman y Gomez tumbled to their lowest point ever on Friday, falling 16% despite the company posting first-half earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations.
The fast-casual dining company went public on Australia’s stock exchange in June 2024 in what became the country’s largest public offering in three years. The initial public offering brought in A$335.1 million (equivalent to $236.45 million) and valued the business at A$2.2 billion, making it the third-largest IPO in Australia over a five-year period.
Investors have grown increasingly skeptical of the chain’s aggressive U.S. expansion strategy as American consumers pull back on dining spending due to rising prices and economic uncertainty. The company has become a bellwether for how Australia’s fast-food industry is performing overall.
During early Friday trading, GYG stock dropped as low as A$17.00 per share. This represents a decline of roughly 23% from its original IPO pricing of A$22 and sits 63% below the peak price of A$45.99 it reached twelve months ago.
Analysts at Citi observed that while “the company is executing well,” the pace “is not as fast as the market is expecting.”
They added: “It’s hard to see what’s new in this result that would make investors chase the stock higher, especially given the valuation.”
The company’s American operations saw network sales surge 67% to reach A$8.2 million during the first six months, though this figure fell short of analyst projections of A$9.2 million from Visible Alpha. Bad weather conditions around Chicago during the December quarter also negatively impacted comparable store sales performance.
Looking ahead, GYG anticipates that losses from its U.S. operations will grow modestly through June, building on the A$13.2 million deficit recorded in fiscal 2025. The company also warned of potential near-term sales challenges as it transitions from its DoorDash delivery partnership to working with Uber Eats instead.
In Australia, which remains the company’s primary revenue source, first-half network sales climbed to A$673.6 million ($475.29 million), representing a 17.5% increase from the previous year. Management projects full-year profit margins could reach 6.2%, up from 5.7% in the prior year.
For the six-month period ending December 31, the restaurant operator posted net profit after taxes of A$10.6 million. This beat analyst consensus estimates of A$9.2 million and improved upon last year’s A$7.3 million result.
Overall group network sales rose 18% to A$681.8 million, though this missed the Visible Alpha consensus forecast of A$687.3 million.
The company announced an interim dividend payment of 7.4 Australian cents per share.
Florida’s state legislature has given final approval to a proposal that would rename Palm Beach International Airport in honor of President Donald Trump.
The Florida Senate passed the legislation Thursday with a 25-11 vote, following the state House’s earlier approval by an 81-30 margin just days before.
The voting largely split along party lines, with Republican members backing the proposal while Democratic legislators voiced opposition to changing the airport’s name.
Democratic U.S. Representative Lois Frankel, who serves West Palm Beach, criticized the process, stating: “It’s misguided and unfair that the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature ignored the voices of Palm Beach County by pushing forward a bill to rename Palm Beach International Airport without giving County residents a real opportunity for input.”
The legislation now awaits action from Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, who has yet to indicate his position on the measure. His office has not responded to requests for comment regarding the bill.
Neither the White House nor representatives from Palm Beach County or the Trump Organization provided immediate responses when asked about the proposed name change.
This latest move follows Florida’s decision last year to designate a downtown Miami location for Trump’s future presidential library.
Originally from New York, Trump relocated to Florida in 2019, leaving his Trump Tower penthouse to establish his primary residence at the Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach.
Delaware State University’s College of Business recently wrapped up its fourth annual Black Male Initiative Conference, continuing a tradition aimed at supporting and empowering Black male students in their academic and professional journeys.
The conference represents an ongoing effort by the Dover-based university to address educational and career development needs within the Black male student population, particularly in business-related fields.
This marks the fourth consecutive year that DSU’s business college has organized this specialized conference, demonstrating the institution’s sustained commitment to diversity and inclusion initiatives.
The Black Male Initiative Conference serves as a platform for networking, mentorship, and professional development opportunities specifically tailored to Black male students pursuing business education at the historically black university.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has launched his nation’s most significant political gathering, where he’s anticipated to outline his policy priorities for the coming five years while solidifying his family’s grip on power.
The state-run Korean Central News Agency reported Friday that the Workers’ Party Congress began Thursday in Pyongyang, with Kim delivering remarks focused on economic development.
According to Kim, the nation has achieved substantial advancement since the previous 2021 gathering, which took place amid the COVID-19 crisis. He pointed to economic improvements and stronger regional positioning that he described as an “irreversible” enhancement of the country’s standing.
“This created favorable conditions and circumstances for giving a greater spur to our socialist construction,” he said. “Our party is faced with heavy and urgent historic tasks of boosting economic construction and the people’s standard of living and transforming all realms of state and social life as early as possible.”
Government media outlets haven’t yet reported whether Kim addressed his ongoing tensions with the United States and South Korea or discussed his nuclear weapons development.
In recent years, Kim has used Russia’s conflict in Ukraine as an opportunity to develop his nuclear and missile programs while building closer ties with Moscow. He has sent thousands of soldiers and significant military supplies to support Russia’s war effort, potentially receiving economic assistance and military technology in return. Kim has also strengthened relationships with China, North Korea’s traditional partner and economic supporter, visiting Beijing last year for a World War II commemoration and holding his first summit in six years.
Although North Korea’s tight control over information makes it difficult to assess the country’s actual economic condition, international analysts believe there has been steady improvement, likely helped by increased trade with China after the pandemic and weapons sales to Russia.
The multi-day congress follows weeks of preparation during which Kim showcased his military strength and visited defense facilities and major construction projects to highlight his claimed accomplishments over the past five years. Kim stated that approximately 5,000 representatives are attending the gathering, including 224 central party leadership members.
Analysts predict Kim will use this opportunity to outline future economic objectives and additional plans to expand his nuclear-equipped military, which already possesses various weapons systems aimed at U.S. partners in Asia and long-range missiles that could potentially reach American territory.
South Korea’s intelligence service informed legislators last week that they’re monitoring whether Kim might use the congress to elevate his teenage daughter — reportedly named Kim Ju Ae and approximately 13 years old — as a possible heir, establishing the regime’s fourth-generation leadership transition.
Diplomatic discussions between Pyongyang and Washington have stalled since 2019, after talks between Kim and President Donald Trump broke down over disputes regarding U.S. sanctions related to North Korea’s nuclear activities. Kim’s administration has rejected American overtures for renewed dialogue since Trump returned to office, insisting that Washington must first drop its demands for North Korea’s nuclear disarmament before any negotiations can proceed.
North Korea has also halted virtually all communication and cooperation with South Korea following Kim’s disagreement with Trump. Tensions between the neighboring countries have intensified in recent years as Kim abandoned North Korea’s historical objective of peaceful reunification and established a confrontational “two-state” framework for the Korean Peninsula, a position he may further embed in the Workers’ Party’s founding document during this congress, according to experts.
CHICAGO — Plans to honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. have grown to encompass multiple cities, with memorial events now scheduled for Washington D.C. and South Carolina in addition to his longtime home base of Chicago, his Rainbow PUSH Coalition revealed Thursday.
The renowned civil rights activist and former presidential hopeful passed away earlier this week at 84 following a prolonged struggle with an uncommon neurological condition that impaired his mobility and speech capabilities.
While Jackson’s body will remain on display at his Rainbow PUSH Coalition’s Chicago offices next week, followed by public memorial and funeral ceremonies, the timing for the Chicago events has been adjusted. Additional formal services have been added to take place between March 1st and 4th in both the nation’s capital and South Carolina, Jackson’s birthplace.
The Rainbow PUSH Coalition has not yet released additional specifics about these expanded arrangements.
On Wednesday, Jackson’s grown children assembled outside their family residence in Chicago, explaining that the funeral proceedings would welcome large crowds and be open to all. They pledged to carry forward his lifelong commitment to social justice.
“Although his body is absent from us, his spirit suffuses and infuses us, and it charges us to continue with the work,” said Santita Jackson, his eldest child.
Chicago will host a public memorial celebration at House of Hope, a venue accommodating 10,000 attendees, on March 6th. A private funeral service will follow the subsequent day at Rainbow PUSH headquarters, with live streaming available to the public.
Jackson gained national recognition six decades ago as a mentee of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., participating in the historic voting rights demonstration from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. Dr. King later assigned Jackson to establish Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, a Southern Christian Leadership Conference initiative designed to encourage businesses to employ Black workers. Jackson stood alongside King during the civil rights leader’s assassination on April 4, 1968.
NEW YORK — A federal court has thrown out a racketeering case brought by a former interim New York City police commissioner who claimed the department operated like a “criminal enterprise” under then-Mayor Eric Adams.
Thomas Donlon, a veteran FBI official who Adams brought in during July to help steady the troubled police force, filed the original legal action alleging he discovered widespread corruption and illegal behavior.
According to Donlon’s claims, Adams and his inner circle regularly allowed inflated overtime payments, shut down internal probes, and retaliated against officers who spoke out about wrongdoing.
Federal Judge Denise Cote ruled Wednesday that the accusations failed to satisfy racketeering requirements since the lawsuit didn’t demonstrate defendants were working toward “a common purpose.”
City Law Department representatives expressed satisfaction that “the court agreed there was no legal basis for this case to continue.” Adams’ spokesperson did not respond to requests for comment.
Donlon’s legal representative, John Scola, confirmed an appeal has been filed.
“Mr. Donlon confronted corruption within the NYPD’s highest ranks and was forced out for refusing to engage in illegal conduct,” Scola said. “We are confident the Second Circuit will allow his claims to proceed.”
Adams had selected Donlon after Edward Caban stepped down as police commissioner when federal agents confiscated his phone during an extensive investigation into the administration.
Donlon held the temporary position for roughly two months before Jessica Tisch took over permanent leadership of the department.
This legal challenge represented one of multiple cases brought by experienced police leadership describing widespread corruption and favoritism within the force during Adams’ tenure.
Federal prosecutors have recently filed several bribery charges against former police department officials who worked under Adams’ administration.
A legendary Philadelphia mosaic artist who transformed the city’s landscape with glittering mirror installations has passed away at age 86.
Isaiah Zagar died Thursday at his residence due to heart failure and Parkinson’s disease complications, according to an announcement from Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, the nonprofit organization he established.
The Philadelphia native had returned to his hometown alongside his wife Julia in 1968 following their service with the Peace Corps in Peru. Throughout the following decades, Zagar produced hundreds of public mosaic installations, with many concentrated along Philadelphia’s vibrant South Street area where the couple made their home.
“He loved South Street, the city of Philadelphia, and the community fostered here with all of his heart,” stated Emily Smith, the nonprofit’s executive director.
Zagar’s artistic technique involved incorporating shattered glass, ceramic tiles, mirrors, and various salvaged materials to decorate building facades, walls, and narrow passages throughout the city. The foundation described his work as leaving “an everlasting mark on our city.” His signature installation, the immersive Magic Gardens located on South Street, attracts thousands of annual visitors.
Urban development posed challenges to preserving some of his creations, notably a massive mosaic covering The Painted Bride Art Center building in the Old City district, which Zagar developed during the 1990s. Following extensive legal battles, demolition commenced in December, though preservation efforts are underway to save portions of Zagar’s artwork.
“While Isaiah lived with ups and downs of mental health struggles, and later with Parkinson’s Disease, he endlessly turned to his art-making to not only express himself, but as a tool to survive,” Smith explained.
Zagar leaves behind his wife, whom he regarded as his creative inspiration and collaborator, along with two sons. One son, Jeremiah Zagar, is a filmmaker who created the 2008 documentary “In A Dream” chronicling his father’s artistic journey.
A federal judge has mandated an independent authority take control of healthcare services within Arizona’s prison system following more than a decade of legal battles over substandard medical treatment.
U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver issued the ruling Thursday, establishing what’s known as a receivership after determining that Arizona failed to address constitutional violations in prisoner healthcare that resulted in avoidable deaths and unnecessary suffering.
In her decision, Silver stated that Arizona has failed to achieve meaningful compliance with court-mandated reforms and constitutional requirements throughout nearly 14 years of legal proceedings. She wrote that continuing the current approach “would be nothing short of judicial indulgence of deeply entrenched unconstitutional conduct.”
The judge emphasized that inmates continue to face “an intolerable grave and immediate threat of continuing harm and suffering because the systemic deficiencies pervade the administration of health care.”
Both the state and prisoner advocacy attorneys now have 60 days to present potential candidates who could oversee medical and mental health services across the prison system. The corrections department has not yet responded to requests for comment following the order.
David Fathi, an attorney representing the inmates, praised the decision’s potential impact. “This decision means that an independent authority will be able to implement the systemic changes necessary to ensure that medical and mental health care meets constitutional standards,” Fathi said. “This is a life-saving intervention, and it brings hope that the preventable suffering and deaths that have haunted Arizona’s prison system for over a decade can finally end.”
Prisoner advocates argued for this more aggressive intervention, claiming Arizona has shown minimal progress since Silver’s 2022 ruling and that the healthcare system remains fundamentally flawed, putting inmates requiring medical attention at continued risk.
Arizona’s prison healthcare system, serving approximately 25,000 inmates across state-operated facilities, has faced sustained criticism for more than ten years regarding inadequate and negligent care practices.
The state committed to reforming medical and mental health services through a 2014 settlement agreement but was subsequently accused of breaking numerous commitments. This resulted in $2.5 million in contempt penalties and Silver’s eventual cancellation of the settlement after determining that prison officials demonstrated minimal commitment to implementing required changes.
Following the failed settlement, Silver ruled against Arizona in a 2022 trial and issued an injunction demanding corrections officials remedy the constitutional violations.
While prisoner attorneys contend the state lacks proper leadership to achieve compliance within a reasonable timeframe, corrections officials maintain they have significantly reformed the prison healthcare system over the past two years through expanded treatment access, increased staffing levels, and new medical housing facilities.
Prison officials argue that opposing attorneys refuse to recognize their achievements and “focus on the reputation and circumstances of the past rather than recognizing or even supporting the good work of the present.” Department lawyers insist agency leadership has operated in good faith regarding court directives.
Prisoner attorneys previously requested a similar takeover in September 2019, but Silver declined at that time, stating she would reconsider if the state demonstrated bad faith or failed to comply with court-ordered reforms. Federal judges have implemented comparable receiverships in other states, including California in 2005, where a judge assumed control of the prison medical system after finding that approximately one inmate died weekly from medical negligence or malpractice.
This legal action does not encompass the nearly 10,000 individuals housed in private prisons under state contracts.
NEW ORLEANS — Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf is facing battery charges following a violent altercation at a New Orleans establishment during Fat Tuesday celebrations, where authorities say he attacked several patrons while shouting anti-gay slurs.
According to a police incident report obtained through public records, the 39-year-old actor grew increasingly hostile throughout the evening at the Royal Street Inn & R Bar, located near the famous French Quarter, where he punched several individuals.
Local performer Jeffrey Damnit, identified in official documents as Jeffrey Klein, confirmed he was among those targeted in LaBeouf’s alleged rampage.
“He hit me, he connected a few times with punches, he pushed me a few times,” Damnit told reporters.
The entertainer described how LaBeouf “just got nuts” while attempting to provoke confrontations and threatening to physically harm him and other patrons. Damnit explained that earlier in the evening, LaBeouf had shoved him from behind while screaming homophobic epithets and making death threats.
Wearing cosmetics and lipstick at the time, Damnit believes his appearance triggered LaBeouf’s violent behavior.
“That’s just somehow something that set him off, angered him and gave him a direction for his anger,” Damnit explained. “This guy wants me to be dead because I wear makeup. It’s a screwed up thing.”
Surveillance footage captured a bare-chested LaBeouf pushing one victim to the floor and punching another person in the face, “causing his nose to possibly dislocate,” the police documentation reveals.
Despite attempts by Damnit and other bar patrons to restrain LaBeouf and convince him to depart, he refused to leave and escalated his aggressive behavior, according to witness accounts and official reports.
Officers responded to the scene at approximately 12:45 a.m. during the height of the city’s renowned Fat Tuesday festivities.
Additional footage captured by Damnit and provided to news outlets shows LaBeouf appearing to mouth homophobic slurs while being taken into custody. The police report confirms he continued using such language throughout his arrest.
“These f–––––s put me in jail,” LaBeouf stated, before informing officers of his Catholic faith, according to the documentation.
“I didn’t shove nobody, I never touched nobody,” LaBeouf can be heard telling New Orleans officers in Damnit’s recorded video.
LaBeouf’s representatives have not responded to requests for comment. In the early morning hours of February 18, LaBeouf posted “Free me” on his social media account.
A New Orleans magistrate released LaBeouf from jail on Tuesday without requiring bail, confirmed Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Gary Scheets. The actor is charged with two counts of simple battery.
Subsequent video footage shows LaBeouf celebrating in the French Quarter, apparently displaying his jail release documentation while dancing.
Damnit, who belongs to the Screen Actors Guild–American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, expressed concern that pursuing charges against LaBeouf might negatively impact his entertainment career.
This incident adds to LaBeouf’s growing list of legal issues. Following a 2017 New York arrest for public intoxication and disorderly behavior that was broadcast live online, he was mandated to complete rehabilitation treatment.
Later in 2017, while filming “The Peanut Butter Falcon” in Georgia, he faced another arrest for public drunkenness and accusations of disorderly conduct and obstruction, resulting in probation.
Los Angeles authorities charged him with misdemeanor battery and petty theft in 2020.
That same year, British singer and actress FKA Twigs, legally named Tahliah Barnett, filed a lawsuit claiming LaBeouf subjected her to physical and emotional abuse during their romantic relationship. The case was resolved through settlement in July.
Barnett alleged that LaBeouf maintained a pattern of intimidation and degradation, including slamming her against a vehicle, attempting to choke her, and deliberately transmitting a sexually transmitted infection.
Following the lawsuit’s filing, LaBeouf issued a public apology. However, in a 2021 legal response, he disputed the allegations and denied responsibility for any harm or damages Barnett claimed to have suffered.
The performer initially rose to prominence as a young actor on Disney Channel’s “Even Stevens” before transitioning to adult roles. His most recognizable performances include starring in 2007’s “Transformers” and 2008’s “Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull.”
LaBeouf and actress Mia Goth welcomed a daughter in 2022.
The University of Delaware Blue Hens football program announced Thursday that they’ve brought back one of their own to join the coaching staff. Paul Worrilow, who graduated from UD in 2013 and went on to captain an NFL team, has been named as a new assistant coach.
Head coach Ryan Carty revealed that Worrilow will be responsible for coaching the bandit linebackers. This marks the former Blue Hen’s second time working with the Newark-based program in a coaching capacity.
The addition brings professional football experience to the Blue Hens’ coaching roster, as Worrilow brings his background as both a UD graduate and former NFL team captain to help develop the next generation of Delaware football players.
Canadian women’s hockey captain Marie-Philip Poulin is departing Milan with a knee injury but her head held high, commending her squad for their hard-fought overtime battle that ended in a 2-1 defeat to Team USA in the Olympic championship game.
Holding a 1-0 advantage with just over two minutes remaining in regular play, the Canadians appeared destined for gold until Hilary Knight tied the score for the Americans. The defending Olympic champions ultimately settled for silver following Megan Keller’s game-winning goal in overtime.
“We came out, we wanted to play, we wanted to make it difficult for them and we did. Honestly, we knew it was going to be a battle, it was going to be up and down, and it was,” Poulin explained. The team captain had been sidelined for the tournament’s final two group matches due to her knee problem before making her return during the quarterfinal round.
“Overtime against the US? I don’t think it’s a surprise for anybody,” she added.
The 34-year-old player, nicknamed “Captain Clutch,” has orchestrated many of Canada’s most memorable Olympic achievements since making her international debut in 2010. She scored her first of three Olympic goals at age 18 on Canadian ice, establishing herself as a cornerstone of the national program.
During this Milan tournament, Poulin added another chapter to her storied career by setting a new Olympic record for career goals scored during the semifinal match. For Canadian hockey, imagining a future without her leadership seems nearly impossible, as she has achieved national icon status.
However, the veteran center who has delivered powerful performances across her 16-year Olympic journey skillfully avoided giving a direct answer when pressed about whether this fifth Olympic appearance would mark her final Games, stating her uncertainty about retirement plans.
Rather than focusing on her own future, she chose to highlight her teammates’ accomplishments and encouraged them to value their silver medal achievement.
“Just letting them know that that (loss) does not define them, that I’m proud of them, that they showed up,” she stated. “They can keep their head high because it’s truly an honour to be along their side.”
New Mexico’s top prosecutor has launched a fresh criminal investigation into activities at Jeffrey Epstein’s former ranch, citing newly released federal documents that contain previously undisclosed information about the late financier’s alleged crimes.
Attorney General Raul Torrez announced Thursday that his office would reopen the state’s criminal probe into Epstein’s Zorro Ranch, located approximately 30 miles south of Santa Fe. The decision comes after the U.S. Justice Department released millions of Epstein-related documents on January 30, revealing new details about three decades of alleged criminal activity in New Mexico.
The previous attorney general, Democrat Hector Balderas, had shuttered the state investigation in 2019 to prevent interference with ongoing federal cases. The renewed scrutiny of Epstein’s activities has created political challenges for President Donald Trump, a Republican.
“Revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination,” stated Lauren Rodriguez, a spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Justice.
This criminal investigation runs parallel to a separate legislative inquiry that began just two days earlier. New Mexico’s Democratic-controlled legislature established what lawmakers describe as the first thorough investigation into alleged crimes at the ranch, creating a committee to hear testimony at the statehouse.
Rodriguez explained that state prosecutors and special agents will request complete, unredacted access to the Justice Department’s Epstein case files and will coordinate with the legislative committee’s investigation.
The criminal probe will focus on “collection and preservation of any relevant evidence that remains available,” Rodriguez added.
Neither the U.S. Justice Department nor the FBI provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
Epstein died by suicide in a New York detention facility in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
The Zorro Ranch property was purchased in 2023 by Texas businessman and politician Don Huffines from Epstein’s estate. A representative for Huffines confirmed that law enforcement has not yet contacted the current owners about accessing the property, but pledged “full and complete cooperation” if such requests are made.
Huffines announced on social media Monday his intention to convert the ranch into a Christian retreat center.
The New Mexico Department of Justice revealed Wednesday that investigators are examining a particularly disturbing claim from the newly released federal documents: allegations that Epstein directed the burial of two foreign girls’ bodies in hills surrounding the Zorro Ranch property.
MILAN – In a storybook finish to an illustrious Olympic career, Team USA women’s hockey captain Hilary Knight delivered when it mattered most, netting a critical late-game goal that pushed Thursday’s championship contest into overtime before her squad defeated Canada to claim the gold medal.
The 36-year-old Knight made history as the first American ice hockey athlete to participate in five Olympic Games, and she now adds a second gold medal to her collection alongside three previous silvers. Her clutch scoring performance also established a new record, making her the top goal scorer among U.S. women at Winter Olympic competitions with 15 career tallies.
“Legends do legendary things, and she deserves every little bit of that,” said teammate Abbey Murphy about Knight’s performance.
“She shines in big moments, and what she’s done for this team, however many years ago she joined the USA Women’s Hockey programme, which is insane,” Murphy continued. “The leader she is on and off the ice, and her actions, she’s the best. You guys have no idea what she does for us.”
Despite the Americans’ earlier 5-0 domination of Canada during group play in Milan, they found themselves behind as the final minutes ticked away. That’s when Knight positioned herself perfectly at the goal mouth to deflect a shot from rookie teammate Leila Edwards, creating a beautiful combination between the experienced veteran and newcomer.
“We had a lot of traffic there, so I just moved to the net, and Hilary’s there, and she’ll take care of it,” Edwards explained. “I’m so honoured, and to learn from her every day. It’s just been a blessing.”
Even in those pressure-packed final moments, Knight maintained complete confidence in her team’s ability to create an opportunity.
“There was no way we were losing this game, simple as that,” Knight declared. “We had some awesome heavy hitters on the ice. I knew we were going to get possession, so I just had to find a place in front of the net.”
Teammate Hayley Scamurra, who experienced the disappointment of losing to Canada in the 2022 championship game alongside Knight, felt this victory seemed destined to happen.
“I think you could have called that from the start, for sure,” Scamurra remarked. “I knew she was going to have a big game today, and she was absolutely incredible. I think having her score that goal really motivated our team to kind of keep going.”
The championship victory capped off an extraordinary few days for Knight personally. Just before the final game, she revealed her engagement to American speedskater Brittany Bowe, who is also competing in her final Olympic Games.
Following the medal presentation ceremony, Knight remained on the ice longer than most of her teammates, gliding slowly around the rink with the American flag across her shoulders, clearly savoring every moment of her Olympic farewell.
“I’ve said this is my last Games and I’ve had a heck of a week personally. So it’s been an incredible ride,” Knight reflected. “I love this group. It’s so special to be able to play at this level. I feel a lot of gratitude. It’s such a magical moment and I’m just trying to soak it all in.”
Citigroup announced Thursday that it has named Chad Reddy to serve as market executive for the western region of its Private Bank North America division.
Reddy brings extensive experience in wealth management, having spent a quarter-century in the industry. His most recent position was as managing director and market leader at Bank of America Private Bank, where he worked for over 15 years.
Prior to his tenure at Bank of America, Reddy held executive positions at Wells Fargo Private Bank.
In his new role, Reddy will work under Chris Biotti, who leads Citi Private Bank North America.
The appointment represents part of Citigroup’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its private banking presence across North America.
International banking giant HSBC has eliminated jobs within its United States debt capital markets division, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday.
The layoffs affected roughly one-tenth of the team’s workforce, with a minimum of six employees losing their positions at the New York office on Thursday, sources with knowledge of the situation told Bloomberg.
These job cuts represent part of HSBC’s broader effort to reduce expenses following the bank’s announcement last October that it would restructure this particular business unit.
When contacted for verification, Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Bloomberg report’s details.
HSBC has not yet provided a response to requests for comment regarding the reported layoffs.
Team USA celebrated a golden night at the Milan Cortina Olympics, claiming championship titles in both women’s hockey and figure skating on Thursday.
In a dramatic overtime battle, the American women’s hockey squad captured their third Olympic gold medal by defeating Canada 2-1. Megan Keller delivered the winning strike with a backhand shot 4 minutes and 7 seconds into the extra period, capping off another intense showdown between these longtime rivals.
Team captain Hilary Knight sent the game into overtime by deflecting Laila Edwards’ shot from the blue line with just 2:04 left on the clock. That goal marked Knight’s 15th Olympic career goal and 33rd career point, establishing new U.S. records in both statistical categories. The Americans previously claimed Olympic gold in women’s hockey during the inaugural 1998 Nagano Games and again in 2018 at Pyeongchang.
Meanwhile, Alysa Liu brought home Olympic gold in women’s figure skating, breaking a 24-year championship dry spell for American women in the sport. Liu executed an almost perfect free skate performance, earning a personal-best score of 226.79 points to edge out Japan’s Kaori Sakamoto and Ami Nakai for the title.
Liu had returned to competitive skating after taking time away following the Beijing Olympics. Both Japanese competitors made costly errors during their routines, with Sakamoto earning silver and Nakai taking bronze despite their mistakes. American teammate Amber Glenn joined Liu in celebration and finished fifth overall after recovering from a disappointing short program earlier in the week.
In other Olympic news, the sport of curling continued its marathon run through the Games, with athletes expressing exhaustion from the demanding schedule. A total of 147 curling matches are being packed into 18 days of competition, beginning two days before the Opening Ceremonies and running through the final day of events.
Back in the United States, the Chicago Bears’ potential relocation to Indiana gained momentum as a key legislative committee approved plans for a stadium authority. The Indiana House Ways and Means Committee unanimously passed legislation creating the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, which would finance and construct a new venue. The Bears are eyeing property near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana, calling the legislative action “the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date.”
In college sports developments, South Carolina lawmakers approved legislation to keep athlete compensation deals confidential under Name, Image and Likeness rules. The state joins Arkansas, Utah, Colorado and Kentucky in shielding these financial arrangements from public view, despite criticism from transparency advocates.
NCAA officials announced that any discussions about expanding the March Madness basketball tournaments will wait until after this year’s competitions conclude. Senior vice president Dan Gavitt confirmed the organization won’t consider proposals to grow the field to 72 or 76 teams until the current tournaments wrap up.
In NASCAR news, Joe Gibbs Racing filed a federal lawsuit against former competition director Chris Gabehart, alleging he stole confidential information worth more than $8 million to benefit rival Spire Motorsports. The team claims laptop searches revealed Gabehart accessed sensitive setup data and misled them about his plans to join the competing organization.
Charlotte Hornets guard LaMelo Ball is expected to play against the Houston Rockets despite being involved in a two-vehicle collision Wednesday in Charlotte. Ball was reportedly driving his custom camouflage Hummer through an intersection when the crash occurred, but he was not listed on the team’s injury report.
Finally, the University of Georgia football program faces renewed scrutiny over player driving violations after linebackers Chris Cole and Darren Ikinnagbon were arrested on reckless driving and speeding charges. Coach Kirby Smart had previously expressed frustration about ongoing driving offenses, with three players leaving the program last season following similar arrests.
Poland’s Prime Minister Donald Tusk issued an emergency directive Thursday, calling on all Polish nationals currently in Iran to depart the country without delay as deteriorating security conditions threaten to close evacuation pathways.
“In a few hours, there may be no more possibility to evacuate Poles from Iran,” Tusk declared, emphasizing the urgent need for “all Poles in Iran” to leave immediately.
The Polish government has conducted similar rescue operations in the past during escalating tensions across the Middle East, with previous missions involving Polish nationals traveling through adjacent nations before being transported back to Poland, as reported by Polish government media and diplomatic officials.
The United States issued its second evacuation advisory in early February, with the State Department strongly recommending that American citizens depart Iran immediately. The Virtual U.S. Embassy warned Americans to make departure plans independently without counting on U.S. government support, pointing to escalating security threats, communication limitations, and volatile travel circumstances. The initial American warning was released in January following widespread demonstrations and violent government responses.
According to Israel’s national broadcaster Kan, Israeli officials have elevated their military alert status Thursday and believe a potential conflict with Iran may commence “within days,” possibly extending into a multi-week military operation.
These evacuation warnings align with reports of substantial American military reinforcement throughout the Middle East. Axios reported, referencing flight tracking information and a U.S. official, that the Trump administration deployed a second naval carrier battle group to the area last week. The report indicates over 50 combat aircraft, including F-35, F-22, and F-16 fighters, have been repositioned to Middle Eastern bases in the past day.
The Wall Street Journal characterized the current American air force deployment as the most extensive regional presence since the 2003 Iraq invasion. The publication noted this military buildup would enable extended operations beyond the scope of last June’s U.S. attack on Iranian nuclear installations during the Israel-Iran conflict, which utilized B-2 strategic bombers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared his isolated nation has defeated economic hardship and reached significant milestones during the launch of the country’s most significant political gathering, according to state-run media reports released Friday.
The Ninth Party Congress began Thursday, marking the nation’s most important political assembly that occurs every half-decade to assess progress, establish fresh policy directions, and potentially shuffle leadership positions under supreme leader Kim.
During his opening remarks, Kim stated North Korea had achieved “significant accomplishments” during the previous five-year period across political, economic, defense, cultural and diplomatic areas, strengthening the country’s independence.
Regarding international relations, North Korea has created a “big change” in its connections with other nations and influenced worldwide political dynamics, Kim declared.
Notably absent from Kim’s address were any references to ties with the United States or neighboring South Korea, and he made no mention of his nation’s nuclear weapons development program.
The gathering, drawing 5,000 members of the ruling Workers’ Party, received presentations outlining fresh objectives and strategies across multiple areas for the upcoming five-year period, state media KCNA announced.
Observers expect North Korea to display military strength through parades and announce weapons development targets during the conference.
Political experts are watching closely to see if Kim receives the “president” designation and whether his teenage daughter, Ju Ae, appears publicly or gains an official position.
Growing speculation among researchers and South Korean intelligence suggests Kim may be preparing Ju Ae as his eventual successor.
Kim described conditions during the previous Eighth Congress as “extremely challenging,” pointing to natural catastrophes and a global health emergency, clearly referencing the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation’s economic systems and industries were operating under outdated methods, Kim acknowledged.
North Korea’s economic performance hit its worst decline in over two decades during 2020, hammered by ongoing United Nations sanctions, coronavirus restrictions, and severe weather conditions, according to South Korea’s central banking authority.
However, recent indicators suggest improvement, with the economy expanding 3.7% in 2024, marking the strongest yearly growth in eight years, supported by strengthened economic partnerships with Russia, based on Bank of Korea calculations.
“Everything has changed fundamentally for the past five years,” Kim stated.
He urged party officials to work toward transforming the nation across all areas to boost economic development and enhance citizens’ living standards “as soon as possible.”
This week, Kim celebrated finishing 10,000 new residential units in Pyongyang, fulfilling the 50,000-home construction target established during the Eighth Congress.
The duration of this gathering remains uncertain, though the Seventh Congress lasted four days while the Eighth Congress extended to eight days.
A community south of Tel Aviv continues to process the aftermath of a devastating attack that claimed nine lives and shattered their sense of security.
In Bat Yam, residents are opening up about their experiences following last June’s Iranian missile attack that struck a residential building in their neighborhood. The deadly incident has left survivors grappling with a complex mix of emotions as they try to move forward.
According to reporting by The Media Line, those who lived through the attack describe feelings that range from determination and strength to weariness and doubt about what lies ahead. The community finds itself caught between trying to rebuild normalcy while remaining on edge about potential future conflicts.
The video interviews were conducted close to where the missile struck, serving as a stark reminder of the violence that disrupted their daily lives. As diplomatic tensions between Iran and Israel continue to escalate, these residents face the challenging reality of living with both the memory of past trauma and anxiety about what tomorrow might bring.
Their stories highlight the human cost of regional conflicts and the lasting impact such events have on ordinary people trying to live their lives in areas affected by geopolitical tensions.
MILAN – Team USA’s women’s hockey squad claimed Olympic gold Thursday evening in dramatic fashion, overcoming Canada 2-1 in an overtime battle that delivered payback against their northern rivals at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
Megan Keller delivered the championship-clinching goal in sudden death, toppling the defending titleholders in a heart-stopping contest that sent American supporters into celebration mode at Santagiulia Arena.
The Americans appeared destined for another heartbreak against their longtime adversaries after falling behind late in the final period, reminiscent of their defeat to Canada four years earlier.
However, team captain Hilary Knight stepped up when it mattered most in her fifth Olympic appearance, evening the score to force the championship match into three-on-three overtime play. Keller then maneuvered past defender Claire Thompson and tucked the puck beyond Canada’s netminder to secure America’s third Olympic women’s hockey championship.
The matchup delivered another memorable installment in hockey’s most intense rivalry, with capacity crowds alternating between “Canada!” and “USA!” chants from the opening faceoff.
Despite entering as favorites after blanking Canada 5-0 during preliminary play, the Americans faced early resistance as Canadian goalkeeper Ann-Renee Desbiens delivered an outstanding first-period performance.
Team USA had an excellent opportunity to break through with an early second-period power play advantage. However, Canada capitalized on their defensive stand when Laura Stacey intercepted the puck at center ice, advanced forward and fed Kristin O’Neill, who executed a skillful backhand maneuver for a short-handed score.
Trailing for the first time during the tournament, the United States struggled to solve Desbiens until pulling their goaltender for an additional attacker with roughly two minutes remaining in regulation time.
Knight deflected a shot from Olympic newcomer Laila Edwards to net their crucial equalizer, simultaneously establishing a new U.S. women’s Olympic Winter Games scoring record.
“She’s been a part of every historic moment since she’s been a part of this team. For her to get that goal was obviously most important for our team but also just a huge honour for her to break that record,” said Kelly Pannek, Knight’s teammate on their 2018 gold medal-winning group.
“It’s something we all want for her.”
This marked the third occasion in four recent Olympics where these nations required overtime to decide their championship meeting, with spectators holding their breath until Keller concluded the contest just over four minutes into the extra session.
“Everything happened fast,” Desbiens said of the score that just squeaked over the line. “I’ll see that one for a long time.”
American goaltender Aerin Frankel rose to the occasion as well, ultimately stopping 30 of 31 Canadian attempts.
With coach John Wroblewski shedding tears of happiness on the sideline, the American squad celebrated wildly while their Canadian counterparts watched solemnly before the medal presentation, as supporters danced to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA.”
The result extended Canada’s losing streak against the Americans to eight consecutive games.
Canada previously held dominance over the United States with five Olympic championships. However, warning signs emerged before they took the ice in Milan.
Team USA captured last year’s world championship before sweeping Canada in their four-game November and December rivalry series, creating unease among Canadian supporters heading into the Olympics.
As American youth prevailed over Canadian veteran experience Thursday, U.S. supporters can anticipate future success, given several college players on the roster have yet to enter professional competition.
The Americans competed in their seventh Olympic championship contest, missing only one title game since women’s hockey joined the Olympic program in 1998. Switzerland earned bronze earlier Thursday with a 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden.
Washington Wizards point guard Trae Young is taking steps toward his first appearance in a Wizards uniform, with the team reporting Thursday that he’s intensifying his basketball workouts on the court.
The star player has been sidelined with injuries to his right knee and quadriceps muscle. Team officials plan to reassess his condition in seven days.
The organization also provided an injury report on forward Anthony Davis, who similarly has not yet played his inaugural game for Washington. Davis is recovering from ligament injuries in his left hand and continues to show improvement. However, he remains restricted from full basketball participation and will undergo another medical evaluation in two weeks.
Washington obtained Young through a January 7th trade with the Atlanta Hawks, sending veteran guard CJ McCollum and forward Corey Kispert to Atlanta in return.
The 27-year-old Young, who has earned four All-Star selections, participated in only 10 contests this season while with Atlanta. During that limited action, he posted averages of 19.3 points and 8.9 assists per game, connecting on 41.5% of his field goal attempts and 30.5% from beyond the three-point arc.
Last season, Young topped the NBA with 11.6 assists per contest. Throughout his eight-year professional career spanning 493 games, all as a starter, he has compiled averages of 25.2 points, 9.8 assists, and 3.5 rebounds per game.
Washington acquired Davis on February 4th in a deal with the Dallas Mavericks. Many observers believe Davis may not return to action this season.
Davis, who will celebrate his 33rd birthday in March, saw action in 20 games for Dallas this season, averaging 20.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.7 blocks. His career statistics include 24.0 points and 10.7 rebounds across 807 games over 14 seasons with New Orleans (2012-19), the Los Angeles Lakers (2019-25), and Dallas.
The 10-time All-Star was the primary asset in last February’s blockbuster deal that brought Dallas superstar Luka Doncic to Los Angeles. Following his move to Dallas, Davis managed just nine appearances due to various injuries.
The globe’s biggest gold mining corporation exceeded financial analysts’ expectations for fourth-quarter earnings on Thursday, as historic gold price surges compensated for decreased output levels. The company also announced a $1.4 billion investment plan for developing properties obtained from its Newcrest acquisition.
Following the earnings announcement, Newmont’s stock price climbed 2% to $127.96 during after-hours trading sessions.
The precious metal has reached numerous all-time highs in recent months, fueled by anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate reductions, increased global political tensions, and widespread economic instability.
During the final quarter of 2025, gold averaged $4,135 per ounce, representing a 56% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
The mining company reported an average selling price of $4,216 per ounce, marking nearly a 60% year-over-year improvement, though production decreased by almost 24% to 1.45 million ounces.
According to Newmont, output declined due to scheduled mining operations at several locations including Peñasquito, Ahafo South, Yanacocha, Brucejack and Cadia facilities.
The mining giant will allocate $1.4 billion toward advancing immediate development initiatives, encompassing the Cadia Panel Caves project, Tanami Expansion 2, and feasibility research for Red Chris.
These Australian projects and the Canadian Red Chris operation became part of Newmont’s portfolio through its $17 billion Newcrest purchase completed in 2023.
Additionally, the company intends to invest approximately $1.95 billion in maintenance capital expenditures, including essential tailings infrastructure improvements at Cadia and Boddington sites to prolong operational lifespans across its mining portfolio.
When asked about operational improvements, CEO Natascha Viljoen stated: “The focus on operational improvement is high on our agenda and we have teams on the ground continuously supporting at Nevada Gold Mines.”
The mining company also projected reduced 2026 gold output at 5.3 million ounces, down from the previous year’s production of 5.89 million ounces.
Newmont delivered adjusted earnings of $2.52 per share, significantly outperforming the $2.00 average analyst projection compiled by LSEG data.
The National Basketball Association is pushing ahead with plans to implement fresh regulations next season designed to eliminate teams’ motivation to deliberately lose games, according to two sources familiar with the discussions who spoke Thursday.
During a conference call with team general managers Thursday, Commissioner Adam Silver outlined multiple potential solutions to address the tanking problem, the sources told The Associated Press anonymously since no official announcements have been made. Silver had previously stated during last weekend’s All-Star festivities that “every possible remedy … to stop this behavior” was being considered.
ESPN initially broke the news about Silver’s conversation with the general managers regarding the league’s anti-tanking strategy.
While no final decisions have been reached, one source indicated numerous concepts are under review. One proposal involves establishing fixed lottery odds by a specific calendar date, which would remove any advantage for teams to lose games during the season’s final stretch.
The matter is expected to receive additional attention during next month’s Board of Governors gathering.
The tanking controversy has dominated NBA discussions recently, highlighted by the Utah Jazz receiving a $500,000 penalty for “conduct detrimental to the league.” The fine specifically targeted their decision to bench Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. during fourth quarters of two contests, despite both players being healthy and the games’ outcomes still uncertain.
Additionally, the Indiana Pacers faced a $100,000 fine for breaking the Player Participation Policy by resting key players, including Pascal Siakam, who qualifies as a “star” under league guidelines, during their matchup with Utah this month.
This ongoing issue has prompted repeated league intervention over the years, including modifications to the lottery system, implementation of the Player Participation Policy, and substantial financial penalties. The Dallas Mavericks received a $750,000 fine in 2023 for sitting most starters in a late-season contest while still competing for playoff positioning.
“I think we’re coming at it in two ways. One is, again, focusing on the here and now, the behavior we’re seeing from our teams and doing whatever we can to remind them of what their obligation is to the fans and to their partner teams,” Silver explained during All-Star weekend. “But number two … the competition committee started earlier this year reexamining the whole approach to how the draft lottery works.”
“We want to have fair competition, we want to have fair systems and to keep an eye on the fans, most importantly, and their expectation that we’re going to be putting the best product forward,” he added.
CAIRO — A devastating highway crash in Egypt Thursday afternoon claimed the lives of 18 people and left three others injured when two vehicles collided, according to Egyptian authorities.
The fatal accident took place around 12:30 p.m. on the 30 June Axis highway south of Port Said province, where a truck struck a pickup vehicle carrying fishermen to their workplace. Officials have not yet determined what caused the two vehicles to crash into each other.
The pickup was transporting fishermen to fish farms located in Port Said, a coastal area in Egypt’s northeast known for its thriving fishing sector, when the deadly accident occurred. Authorities believe the workers were likely residents of Matareya, a town and district within Dakahlia province.
Images shared on the Facebook page of Dakahlia’s governor revealed the devastating scene, showing the pickup vehicle completely destroyed between two large cargo trucks with wreckage spread throughout the roadway.
Egypt’s Prime Minister Mustafa Madbouly issued a statement offering sympathy to the bereaved families and directed that financial support be given to them. The Port Said governor also traveled to both the accident location and area hospitals where the injured were being treated to confirm traffic flow had resumed and survivors were getting adequate medical attention, his office announced on Facebook.
Egypt experiences thousands of traffic fatalities annually due to its problematic transportation safety situation. Most accidents result from excessive speed, deteriorating road conditions, and inadequate enforcement of driving regulations.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s highest court delivered a decisive blow to charter school advocates Thursday, declaring unconstitutional a law that would have provided public funding for these alternative educational institutions.
The unanimous Supreme Court decision reinforced that state education dollars must be reserved exclusively for traditional public schools, with no exceptions.
Republican lawmakers had pushed the funding legislation through in 2022, overriding a veto from Democratic Governor Andy Beshear. However, a lower court struck down the law the following year.
Justice Michelle M. Keller penned the court’s opinion, stating that Kentucky’s constitution clearly prohibits directing public education money away from the established common school system.
This legal defeat follows another significant loss for charter school proponents in 2024, when Kentucky voters turned down a constitutional amendment that would have permitted lawmakers to direct taxpayer funds toward private and charter school tuition.
The ongoing battle represents years of frustrated efforts by charter school supporters to establish these institutions in Kentucky. Advocates maintain these schools provide valuable alternatives for families seeking different educational approaches for their children. Critics counter that charter schools would drain essential resources from existing public schools while potentially discriminating in student admissions.
While Kentucky has permitted charter schools since 2017, none have actually opened due to the absence of any funding mechanism.
Justice Keller emphasized that the court’s ruling focused solely on constitutional law, not educational policy.
“We make no predictions about the potential success of charter schools or their ability to improve the education of the Commonwealth’s children, and we leave public policy evaluations to the Commonwealth’s designated policymakers — the General Assembly,” she stated.
However, Keller noted Kentucky’s longstanding constitutional commitment to public education, writing that for over a century, the state has viewed education as a fundamental obligation that has faced repeated challenges.
“The mandate implicates state education funds are for common schools and for nothing else,” the justice concluded.
A Franklin County judge handed down four consecutive life sentences Thursday to a Columbus woman who admitted to fatally poisoning four men with fentanyl while attempting to rob them.
Rebecca Auborn, 36, received the maximum penalty after entering guilty pleas to charges stemming from a deadly scheme where she would arrange sexual encounters with victims before administering lethal drug doses. The sentences allow for potential parole consideration after 60 years.
Prosecutors brought the case against Auborn in 2023, alleging she systematically targeted men for robbery by using fatal fentanyl overdoses. While she initially maintained her innocence, Auborn changed her plea to guilty in late 2023.
Each life sentence carries eligibility for parole after 15 years, according to the Franklin County court. Additionally, Auborn entered a guilty plea for felonious assault related to an attempted overdose of a fifth victim, Ohio Attorney General David Yost announced Thursday.
“This sentence reflects the defendant’s disregard for life and the callousness not only to kill, but to do it repeatedly,” Yost said. “My heart goes out to the families who lost a loved one — I pray that this measure of justice brings them closure and peace.”
According to Yost, the Central Ohio Human Trafficking Task Force launched their investigation after receiving tips about a sex worker who was drugging clients to steal from them. Authorities indicate the criminal activity occurred throughout 2022 and 2023.
WASHINGTON — During his visit to the nation’s capital for the first Board of Peace summit, Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto finalized a mutual trade agreement with President Donald Trump on Thursday.
While specific terms weren’t immediately disclosed, the nations had previously established a framework agreement last summer requiring Southeast Asia’s biggest economy to remove tariffs on most U.S. products, with America imposing a 19% tariff rate on Indonesian imports — matching rates applied to Cambodia and Malaysia.
This week also saw Indonesian and American businesses finalize 11 separate agreements totaling $38.4 billion, covering purchases of U.S. agricultural products including soybeans, corn, cotton and wheat, along with partnerships in critical minerals, oil field recovery operations, and semiconductor joint ventures.
Speaking to business leaders Wednesday at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Prabowo stated: “We have negotiated very intensively over the last few months, and I think we have reached solid understandings on many issues.”
The White House described the agreement as a “great deal” in an official statement.
“The Agreement will help both countries to strengthen economic security, promote economic growth, and thereby continuously lead to global prosperity,” according to the White House announcement.
The trade agreement was finalized on the same day Prabowo, who leads the world’s largest Muslim nation, confirmed his commitment at the Board of Peace gathering to deploy 8,000 troops or “more if necessary” for an international stabilization mission in Gaza.
Indonesia became one of the first nations to make a concrete commitment to a key component of Trump’s post-conflict Gaza reconstruction strategy.
During the Board of Peace session, Trump acknowledged Prabowo, saying: “President Prabowo of Indonesia, thank you very much. It’s a big country you have, and you do a great job.”
Prabowo responded with praise for Trump’s leadership: “We are very optimistic with the leadership of President Trump, this vision of real peace will be achieved. There will be problems, but we will prevail.”
Cambodia and Vietnam represent the other two Southeast Asian nations participating in the board, which initially focused on overseeing the Gaza ceasefire but has expanded to address broader international conflicts.
Leaders from both countries traveled to Washington for the opening session. Cambodia has already completed its trade agreement with the United States, while Vietnam has established a preliminary framework deal.
Indonesian businesses committed this week to purchasing 1 million tons of soybeans, 1.6 million tons of corn, and 93,000 tons of cotton from American suppliers. They also promised to buy up to 5 million tons of U.S. wheat through 2030.
The nations also agreed to collaborate on critical minerals, though specific details remain undisclosed.
Washington seeks Indonesia’s cooperation in removing export restrictions on critical minerals, which the Trump administration believes could protect U.S. manufacturers from supply chain interruptions. The administration aims to reduce dependence on China’s control over essential materials used in products ranging from military aircraft to mobile devices.
During the Chamber of Commerce gathering, Prabowo suggested Indonesia could function as a “bridge” and “honest broker” between major powers, seemingly referencing U.S.-China tensions.
At the Board of Peace meeting, Trump praised Vietnam as “incredible as a country and as a force” and told leader To Lam it was “a really great honor to have you.”
Lam’s U.S. visit marks his first since winning reelection as head of Vietnam’s Communist Party leadership last month. Traditionally, China serves as an initial destination to acknowledge ideological connections and Beijing’s position as Vietnam’s primary trade partner. Lam did travel to China in August 2024 before his first U.S. visit during his initial term.
Political observers note that Lam’s decision to visit America before Beijing represents a significant change in diplomatic sequencing. Hanoi characterizes its international approach as independent and balanced among global powers.
Trade discussions between Vietnam and the United States continue following the Trump administration’s implementation of 20% tariffs on Vietnamese exports. The most recent sixth round of negotiations wrapped up in early February.
Congressional Democrats are sounding the alarm over the Census Bureau’s decision to include citizenship questions in practice tests for the 2030 national population count, warning it could frighten immigrant communities and compromise the accuracy of the critical survey.
House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Democrats sent a letter Thursday asking the Census Bureau to abandon its plan to use the American Community Survey form, which contains citizenship questions, during field tests scheduled to begin next month in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. Instead, they want officials to use standard census forms without such questions.
“The Trump Administration is risking millions of taxpayer dollars to pursue policies which could fatally compromise the 2030 count before it even begins,” the lawmakers stated in their correspondence to acting Census Bureau Director George Cook and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, whose department supervises the statistical agency.
Neither the Census Bureau nor Commerce Department provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
These practice runs allow the statistical agency to develop better methods for counting populations that were missed in previous surveys. The national headcount plays a crucial role in determining congressional representation and Electoral College votes for each state, while also guiding the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal funding each year. One innovation being evaluated involves having U.S. Postal Service employees handle duties traditionally performed by census workers.
Recently, the Census Bureau announced its 2026 testing strategy would incorporate the American Community Survey form, which poses numerous detailed questions to participants, while canceling planned tests in Colorado Springs, Colorado, western North Carolina, western Texas and Arizona tribal territories.
Democratic lawmakers expressed worry that including citizenship questions would discourage immigrant participation, leading to systematic undercounting of certain populations.
“Many immigrants or citizens in mixed-status families, including green card holders and other legal permanent residents, face fear, chaos, and uncertainty over who the Trump Administration will target next for denaturalization and deportation,” their letter stated.
During his previous presidency, Donald Trump made unsuccessful attempts to insert citizenship questions into the 2020 census. The Republican leader also issued directives aimed at excluding undocumented individuals from congressional apportionment calculations and requiring citizenship data collection.
The Supreme Court ultimately prevented the citizenship question addition, and President Biden eliminated both orders after taking office in January 2021, before the 2020 census results were finalized.
The Constitution’s 14th Amendment specifies that “the whole number of persons in each state” must be counted for congressional and Electoral College apportionment purposes. Census Bureau officials have consistently interpreted this language to include all U.S. residents, regardless of immigration status.
America’s trade imbalance with other nations decreased slightly in 2025, according to new federal data released Thursday, even as President Donald Trump imposed significant tariffs on imports from most countries around the world. The Commerce Department announced that the difference between what the United States exports versus what it imports dropped to approximately $901 billion from $904 billion the previous year.
In positive employment news, fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, with jobless claims continuing at historically low numbers. Weekly unemployment applications for the period ending February 14 decreased by 23,000 to reach 206,000, the Labor Department announced Thursday. This figure came in well below economist predictions of 225,000 new claims. Meanwhile, the total count of Americans receiving ongoing unemployment benefits rose to 1.87 million for the week ending February 7, representing an increase of 17,000 from the prior week.
Homebuyers received welcome news as the typical 30-year mortgage rate dropped to 6.01% this week, marking the lowest point in over three years, according to mortgage purchaser Freddie Mac. The rate declined from 6.09% the previous week and compares favorably to 6.85% from one year ago. This represents the most affordable mortgage rates since September 8, 2022, when rates stood at 5.89%.
Retail giant Walmart reported strong quarterly performance Thursday, crediting low prices and fast delivery options for attracting customers across income levels during the holiday shopping season. However, the Bentonville, Arkansas-based retailer expressed caution about future conditions, citing concerns about consumer confidence, employment stability, and student loan payment difficulties.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit against a regional Coca-Cola bottling company, claiming the business violated male employees’ rights by hosting a women-only networking event. The legal action stems from a complaint by a male worker at Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast regarding a two-day business trip to Mohegan Sun Casino in Connecticut during September 2024 that included approximately 250 female employees.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg faced questioning in a Los Angeles courtroom Wednesday regarding Instagram’s impact on young users. The case involves a 20-year-old plaintiff seeking to hold social media platforms accountable for potential harm to children who use their services. Meta and YouTube remain as defendants after TikTok and Snap reached settlements.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted his country as a global center for artificial intelligence development during a summit in New Delhi Thursday. Modi emphasized India’s goal to “design and develop in India” while serving worldwide needs. The gathering featured international leaders and technology executives, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Google’s Sundar Pichai, with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres proposing a $3 billion international AI fund.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto finalized a mutual trade agreement with President Trump Thursday during a visit to Washington for the inaugural Board of Peace meeting. The deal eliminates most Indonesian tariffs on American products while establishing a 19% U.S. tariff on Indonesian exports. The White House described the agreement as beneficial for both nations’ economic security.
White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett called for consequences against Federal Reserve economists Wednesday following their research showing that American businesses and consumers bear most of the cost from new tariffs. Hassett’s remarks represent the latest tension between the Trump administration and the traditionally independent Federal Reserve, highlighting ongoing concerns about consumer prices for essentials and major purchases.
NEWARK, Del. – The University of Delaware women’s golf squad prepares to launch their spring competition schedule this weekend with a trip to Georgia for the Reynolds Lake Oconee Invitational, an event hosted by Mercer University.
Leading the charge for the Fightin’ Blue Hens will be first-year standout Rhianna Gooneratne, who aims to carry forward the momentum from an outstanding autumn campaign that marked the beginning of her college golf journey.
The talented newcomer demonstrated impressive skills during her initial collegiate season and now serves as a cornerstone player for Delaware’s lineup as they embark on their spring tournament slate.
Facebook’s parent company Meta has trimmed its yearly stock option payouts to the majority of workers by roughly 5%, according to a Financial Times report released Thursday.
The decrease in employee equity compensation comes as CEO Mark Zuckerberg channels billions of company dollars into expanding the tech giant’s artificial intelligence capabilities and infrastructure.
The stock option reduction affects most Meta employees as the social media company shifts its financial priorities toward AI development and related technology investments.
WASHINGTON – Iran has issued a stern warning to the United Nations, declaring it would retaliate with force if attacked militarily, according to a letter sent Thursday to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
In the correspondence, Iranian officials stated that Tehran would view military installations, infrastructure and resources belonging to any “hostile force” throughout the region as valid targets should Iran come under military assault.
The communication from Iran’s permanent UN mission characterized President Donald Trump’s language regarding Iran as creating “a real risk of military aggression,” while emphasizing that Iran does not seek armed conflict.
However, the letter made clear that Iran would react “decisively” if faced with military attacks against its territory.
A senior Federal Reserve official expressed optimism Thursday about the current state of the nation’s monetary policy, saying recent interest rate reductions have helped strengthen employment conditions.
Mary Daly, who leads the San Francisco Federal Reserve, indicated during a Thursday discussion that the central bank’s strategy appears to be working effectively. She noted that job market conditions have improved following last year’s rate reductions, while inflation is anticipated to continue moving downward as tariff effects fade.
“Our price stability and full employment both seem to be in a good place; policy is in a good place,” Daly stated during her streamed discussion with Robert Kaplan, who previously headed the Dallas Fed. “And we have the opportunity now to think through what information is coming in, what impact will AI have, how will productivity evolve, how will demand strength evolve and how should we manage policy going forward.”
The comments came as Federal Reserve officials continue monitoring economic indicators to guide future policy decisions.
The University of Delaware ice hockey team saw their season come to a crushing conclusion following an overtime defeat in the opening round of the Atlantic Hockey Association Championship tournament.
The Blue Hens battled through regulation time but were unable to secure victory when the game extended into the extra period, ending their hopes of advancing deeper into the postseason tournament.
The loss marks the end of another chapter for Delaware hockey as they look ahead to rebuilding for next season’s campaign.
The University of Delaware baseball squad is preparing for a demanding road trip as they head to Starkville, Mississippi, for a three-game series against the fourth-ranked Mississippi State Bulldogs.
The Blue Hens will face a significant test against one of college baseball’s elite programs when they take the field in Starkville. The series represents a major challenge for Delaware as they go up against a highly-ranked SEC opponent on their home turf.
This road series will provide valuable experience for the Blue Hens program as they compete against top-tier competition in a hostile environment. The matchup against Mississippi State offers Delaware an opportunity to measure themselves against one of the nation’s premier college baseball teams.
Delaware State Police are working to piece together details from a shooting incident that unfolded Wednesday evening at a Claymont area gas station.
Authorities were called to the Sunoco station at 3615 Philadelphia Pike around 11:50 p.m. on February 18, 2026, following reports of gunfire. According to investigators, a gray sedan pulled up to one of the gas pumps, and the person behind the wheel went inside the convenience store. Shortly afterward, a second car arrived with additional occupants who also went into the store.
Police say there was some kind of confrontation between the groups inside the business. The sedan’s driver then rushed back to their car. As the other two people came out of the store, someone in the gray vehicle opened fire with a handgun, shooting several rounds in their direction. All parties had left the area before officers arrived on scene.
While no one was hurt in the shooting, the convenience store sustained damage from the gunfire.
The case remains under active investigation by Delaware State Police detectives. Officials are asking anyone who saw what happened or has information about the incident to reach out to Detective B. Timmons at (302) 365-8434. Tips can also be shared through private messages to the Delaware State Police Facebook page or by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.
Anyone affected by crime or sudden loss can access support services around the clock through the Delaware State Police Victim Services Unit and Delaware Victim Center by calling 1-800-VICTIM-1 (1-800-842-8461) or emailing [email protected].
Prince Andrew, the younger brother of King Charles, was taken into custody Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office amid allegations he shared classified government materials with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Authorities released him later that day without filing formal charges.
The detention comes after the U.S. Justice Department made public millions of documents connected to Epstein, revealing the extensive connections between the wealthy financier and numerous high-profile political and business leaders. Epstein died while incarcerated in 2019.
The 66-year-old Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has already lost his royal titles and been removed from his residence due to his connections with Epstein. Two years ago, he reached a settlement in a civil case filed by an Epstein victim who claimed he sexually assaulted her as a minor. The settlement included no admission of guilt, and Thursday’s arrest was unrelated to those accusations.
Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing and expressed remorse about his association with Epstein. He has maintained he witnessed no sexual crimes.
Representatives for Andrew did not return requests for comment after his arrest, and he has remained silent publicly since the document release.
The following details from the released files reveal the nature of the relationship between Epstein and Mountbatten-Windsor:
CLASSIFIED GOVERNMENT MATERIALS
Released correspondence from U.S. authorities appears to demonstrate that Mountbatten-Windsor transmitted official documents and confidential materials to Epstein during 2010, while serving as a government trade representative. Trade representatives typically cannot share such materials due to confidentiality agreements.
One November 2010 correspondence shows Mountbatten-Windsor transmitting four UK government visit reports to Epstein covering Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong and Shenzhen, which his palace adviser had provided just minutes before following an official trade mission to southern China and Southeast Asia.
That same day, Mountbatten-Windsor also sent Epstein multiple files marked “Overseas Bids 301110,” which he had just received from his private office.
The materials also contain comprehensive expense evaluations related to his commercial and charitable activities.
A December 24, 2010 email reveals Mountbatten-Windsor transmitting what he called a “confidential brief” from Afghanistan’s Provincial Reconstruction Team regarding potential international investment opportunities to Epstein. He requested Epstein’s feedback and suggestions.
A May 2010 message references an earlier private conversation with Epstein about managing “responsibility” for financial matters. The context of whether the former prince was discussing his trade envoy duties or other matters remained unclear.
Mountbatten-Windsor indicated there were “no problems” provided he assigned investment responsibility to trusts, banks, investment vehicles or “trusted individuals.”
Additional messages show Mountbatten-Windsor sharing sensitive internal information with an Abu Dhabi banker, including details about a potential approach to luxury automaker Aston Martin. A former royal aide forwarded that correspondence to Epstein. Other communications include financial discussions and preparations for a planned China trip in his trade envoy capacity.
BUSINESS VENTURES
Other correspondence indicates Mountbatten-Windsor was considering a private business venture with Epstein called the Green Park Group in 2010 while still serving as trade envoy. Separate messages show discussions with a mutual contact about an investment entity called Witan Holdings.
A July 2010 email chain shows Mountbatten-Windsor discussing a proposed $8 billion “cash-for-oil” deal involving contacts in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Libya. The messages describe potential roles for senior UAE and Libyan officials, including an introduction to a top aide of Libya’s former leader Muammar Gaddafi.
Additional emails show Mountbatten-Windsor discussing China-related business engagement in 2010, including preparations for a Beijing trip and an “exchange deal of private placement for oil.”
SOCIAL CONNECTIONS
The documents reveal that Mountbatten-Windsor maintained social contact with Epstein both before and after his 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor.
In a 2009 sworn statement, Epstein’s former house manager Juan Alessi testified that Mountbatten-Windsor would stay at the disgraced financier’s property for weeks and received “daily massages.” Alessi could not be reached for comment.
Mountbatten-Windsor has denied any improper conduct during his time with Epstein.
In 2010, shortly after Epstein’s house arrest concluded, he emailed Mountbatten-Windsor about a “beautiful” and “trustworthy” 26-year-old Russian woman he thought the then-prince might enjoy dining with. Mountbatten-Windsor replied he would be “delighted” to meet her and asked: “Will she be bringing a message from you?”
The documents also contain photographs of Mountbatten-Windsor lying across the laps of several women, whose faces have been obscured.
An Australian healthcare company announced Friday it will divest its majority ownership in its French subsidiary by distributing shares directly to investors.
Ramsay Health Care revealed plans to give shareholders its controlling 52.79% ownership stake in Ramsay Sante, which operates as a separate publicly-traded entity in France. The distribution will complete a full separation between the Australian parent company and its French healthcare division.
The announcement came as part of the company’s strategic restructuring efforts, though specific details about the timeline for the distribution were not immediately provided.
NEW YORK – Stock markets across the United States closed Thursday with slight declines, mirroring losses seen in European markets as ongoing diplomatic tensions between America and Iran contributed to rising oil prices and market uncertainty.
Economic data released Thursday painted a mixed picture, with the nation’s goods trade deficit reaching an all-time high while unemployment claims dropped more than analysts had predicted, offering positive signals about job market strength.
Among major market sectors, technology and financial companies saw the largest declines, while utility and energy stocks posted gains. Defense and aerospace companies outperformed the broader market, contrasting sharply with travel-related businesses including airlines, hotels, restaurants, and cruise operators, which experienced significant drops.
The dollar strengthened against other currencies as economic indicators suggested underlying stability in the American economy. Treasury bond yields showed mixed results as investors evaluated potential Federal Reserve policy changes, coinciding with the government’s sale of $9 billion in 30-year inflation-protected securities.
Gold prices climbed as traders balanced concerns over international conflicts against positive domestic economic news.
Several major developments shaped market sentiment Thursday. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reportedly assured colleagues she intends to remain in her position, contradicting earlier speculation about her potential early departure.
President Trump issued warnings to Iran regarding its nuclear program, stating that “bad things” would occur if the country fails to negotiate a deal, apparently setting a 10-day timeframe for action.
In Federal Reserve news, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari criticized recent comments from White House economic advisor Kevin Hassett, calling Hassett’s suggestion that New York Fed officials should “be disciplined” for tariff research an assault on central bank independence.
Trump also announced the formation of a “Board of Peace” for Gaza reconstruction, revealing that multiple countries have pledged $7 billion toward rebuilding efforts contingent on Hamas disarmament.
Looking ahead, investors will monitor several key economic reports Friday, including personal consumption data, fourth-quarter GDP figures, manufacturing surveys, consumer confidence measures, and new home sales numbers.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un declared Thursday that his nation has successfully pulled through economic hardships and achieved key financial objectives during the launch of the country’s most important political gathering, according to state-run media reports.
The hermit kingdom kicked off its Ninth Party Congress, a massive political assembly that takes place once every five years to assess the government’s performance, establish new policy directions, and potentially shuffle leadership roles.
During his opening remarks, Kim claimed North Korea had achieved “significant accomplishments” across multiple areas including politics, the economy, military defense, cultural affairs, and international relations over the previous five-year period, while strengthening the nation’s independence.
The North Korean leader also stated that his country has created a “big change” in its relationships with foreign nations and influenced the worldwide political situation.
State media KCNA reported Friday that the gathering drew 5,000 members from the controlling Workers’ Party, who received proposals for new objectives and strategies across different government sectors for the upcoming five-year term.
In a dramatic finish at the Milano Cortina Olympics Thursday, the United States women’s hockey team secured Olympic gold by defeating Canada 2-1 in overtime, with Megan Keller delivering the championship-clinching goal that ended Canada’s reign as defending champions.
The Americans appeared destined for another heartbreaking loss to their longtime rivals while trailing in the final period, but team captain Hilary Knight managed to even the score and force the championship match into sudden-death overtime. In the three-on-three extra period, Keller maneuvered past Canadian defender Claire Thompson and guided the puck beyond the goaltender to secure the United States’ third Olympic gold medal in women’s hockey.
The championship contest at Santagiulia Arena delivered another memorable moment in hockey’s most intense rivalry, with capacity crowds alternating between “Canada!” and “USA!” chants throughout the evening.
Despite entering as favorites following their dominant 5-0 victory over Canada during group play – marking Canada’s first Olympic shutout loss – the Americans faced early resistance from Canadian goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens, who delivered an outstanding first-period performance.
The United States received an early second-period power-play opportunity but failed to capitalize. Instead, Canada struck first when Laura Stacey intercepted the puck at center ice, advanced toward goal, and passed to Kristin O’Neill, who executed a skillful backhand shot for the shorthanded score.
Facing their first tournament deficit, the Americans struggled to solve Desbiens until pulling their goaltender for an additional attacker with approximately two minutes remaining in regulation. Knight managed to deflect a shot from Olympic newcomer Laila Edwards into the net for the equalizer, simultaneously establishing a new U.S. women’s Olympic goal-scoring record.
This marked the third occasion in four Olympics that these teams required overtime to determine the championship winner. The arena fell silent before Keller ended the suspense just over four minutes into the extra session.
As head coach John Wroblewski shed emotional tears on the sideline, the American squad celebrated wildly while disappointed Canadian players watched solemnly before the medal presentation, with spectators dancing to Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA.”
The victory extended Canada’s losing streak against the Americans to seven consecutive games. The United States has now appeared in seven of eight possible Olympic championship matches. Earlier Thursday, Switzerland claimed bronze with a 2-1 overtime victory over Sweden.
A Wilmington woman is now facing serious criminal charges after Newark Police concluded a lengthy investigation into a string of retail thefts that cost local businesses thousands of dollars.
The Newark Police Department launched their investigation at the start of 2024 when they began tracking a pattern of shoplifting cases involving the same individual. Through their investigative work, officers documented instances where a female suspect was caught on surveillance stealing merchandise from various retail locations throughout the area.
The cumulative value of the stolen goods reached into the thousands of dollars, prompting authorities to pursue felony-level charges against the suspect. The investigation spanned several months as police worked to build a comprehensive case linking the woman to multiple theft incidents.
Newark Police have not yet released the suspect’s identity or specified which retail establishments were targeted during the alleged crime spree. The case represents a significant retail theft investigation for the department, given the substantial monetary losses involved.
The arrest concludes what authorities describe as a thorough investigation into organized retail theft activity in the Newark area. Police continue to work with local businesses to address ongoing concerns about shoplifting and retail crime.
Team USA figure skater Alysa Liu secured the women’s individual gold medal on Thursday, marking a historic achievement for American figure skating.
What makes Liu’s victory even more remarkable is her relaxed approach to competition. The skater previously stated that earning a medal wasn’t her primary concern heading into the event.
Liu’s triumph represents a significant milestone for American women’s figure skating, as she becomes the first U.S. woman to capture individual gold in the sport since Sarah Hughes achieved the same honor in 2002.
The victory caps off what has been an impressive performance by Liu, who celebrated her golden moment on the ice following her winning routine.
Federal authorities have issued emergency directives forcing coal-fired power plants to remain operational despite utility companies’ desires to permanently close these facilities. This unprecedented federal intervention has triggered a court dispute in Colorado.
The conflict represents a broader clash between the current administration’s energy policies and market forces driving utilities away from coal power. Power companies cite economic and environmental factors in their decisions to decommission aging coal facilities, but federal officials are using emergency powers to override these business decisions.
The Colorado case has become a focal point for this nationwide tension between federal energy mandates and private sector preferences for transitioning to alternative power sources.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hawks men’s volleyball team claimed victory over Roberts Wesleyan in a 3-1 match, marking their second consecutive triumph against the visiting team.
This latest win continues the Hawks’ successful streak, having now defeated Roberts Wesleyan in two consecutive encounters. The team demonstrated strong performance throughout the match to secure the victory at home.
The Hawks’ consistent play against Roberts Wesleyan shows the team’s ability to maintain their competitive edge in repeat matchups.
HAVANA — Seventy-year-old Guillermo Beltrán carried home two hefty bags Thursday filled with crucial supplies his family desperately needed — rice, beans, amaranth, and crackers — along with cooking oil, large tins of sardines, and canned fruit. Each item bore identical markings reading “Made in Mexico.”
Beltrán, a Cuban father of two, joined hundreds of others receiving Mexican humanitarian relief ordered by President Claudia Sheinbaum to assist the struggling island nation battling power outages and critical fuel shortages intensified by U.S. oil restrictions.
“I feel very grateful,” Beltrán expressed. “The Mexican president should be praised to the skies for showing such concern and courage.”
Mexican Navy vessels carrying humanitarian supplies arrived at Cuban ports last week, coming two weeks following U.S. President Donald Trump’s warnings about imposing tariffs on nations that provide oil to the island, further intensifying the Caribbean nation’s already dire economic and energy situation.
The vessels delivered approximately 800 tons of essential items, with an additional 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans scheduled for transport in upcoming days.
Cuban officials announced the assistance will benefit at-risk families with malnourished children or senior citizens in Havana and the Mayabeque and Artemisa provinces. State television broadcast earlier this week showed the materials being distributed to bodegas — government-operated stores that provide basic necessities to citizens using a nationwide rationing system.
The supplies Beltrán received were delivered straight to his residence by his local Havana bodega supervisor.
“People are very grateful for these donations,” 28-year-old manager Roberto Román explained to The Associated Press. His responsibilities include serving 1,780 customers across 850 households.
Cuba’s economic troubles that began in 2020 have worsened due to heightened U.S. sanctions designed to pressure changes in the island’s governing system. These restrictions have created critical supply shortages and devastating power failures that reached their worst point in early 2026.
The island had depended significantly on Venezuelan oil deliveries that stopped when the U.S. launched attacks against the South American nation in early January and detained its leadership.
Since Cuba generates just 40% of its necessary fuel internally, it faces extreme vulnerability to foreign blockades. Although strong supporters like Russia and China have criticized U.S. actions, their assistance has stayed primarily rhetorical so far.
Naval operations in the Pacific Ocean this week resulted in massive cocaine seizures totaling more than 10 tons by Mexican and Salvadoran forces, while U.S. military operations against suspected drug smuggling vessels claimed 11 lives across three separate incidents in Latin American waters.
Mexico’s most recent operation occurred Thursday when authorities intercepted a semi-submersible vessel approximately 250 nautical miles south of Manzanillo port, seizing nearly four tons of suspected narcotics and apprehending three individuals aboard the low-profile craft equipped with three visible engines.
Mexican Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced on X that this latest bust pushed the week’s total seizures to nearly 10 tons, though specific details about additional operations were not disclosed.
Intelligence cooperation between Mexican authorities and U.S. Northern Command, along with the U.S. Joint Interagency Task Force South, facilitated the successful interdiction, according to Mexican officials.
El Salvador achieved what officials called the nation’s largest drug seizure in history on Sunday, capturing 6.6 tons of cocaine from a 180-foot vessel flying a Tanzanian flag located 380 miles southwest of the Salvadoran coastline. Naval divers discovered 330 cocaine packages concealed within the ship’s ballast compartments, leading to the arrest of 10 individuals from Colombia, Nicaragua, Panama, and Ecuador.
Salvadoran officials displayed the confiscated vessel FMS Eagle at La Union port on Thursday, where more than 200 wrapped drug packages were arranged across the deck for public viewing.
The Trump administration has intensified pressure on Mexico to increase drug interdiction efforts throughout the past year, with President Trump citing fentanyl trafficking as justification for imposing tariffs on Mexican goods.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has adopted a more confrontational approach toward drug cartels compared to her predecessor, including the extradition of dozens of narcotics trafficking suspects to face prosecution in American courts.
However, Sheinbaum has publicly criticized U.S. military strikes against suspected drug-carrying vessels in Caribbean and Pacific waters.
Since the U.S. government initiated operations targeting individuals it labels “narcoterrorists” last September, at least 145 people have died in these military strikes.
This week’s U.S. operations targeted three vessels – two boats in the eastern Pacific carrying four people each, and one Caribbean vessel with three occupants aboard. While the administration released images showing the destruction of these boats, no evidence was provided confirming they contained illegal drugs.
RICHMOND, Va. — Democratic efforts to reshape Virginia’s congressional boundaries hit another roadblock Thursday when a state judge issued a temporary restraining order halting preparations for a planned April ballot measure.
Judge Jack Hurley Jr. of the Tazewell Circuit Court approved the emergency order sought by national Republican organizations, citing concerns about both the timeline and language of the proposed referendum that could potentially shift control of four U.S. House seats.
The Republican National Committee and National Republican Congressional Committee filed the legal challenge, joined by GOP Representatives Ben Cline and Morgan Griffith, who contended that Democratic lawmakers were forcing redistricting legislation through the statehouse while ignoring procedural requirements that make such swift action improper.
This marks the second occasion that Judge Hurley has sided against Democratic redistricting initiatives. Earlier in January, he determined that lawmakers illegally approved a constitutional amendment resolution during a special session, violating rules about timing relative to upcoming elections.
While Democrats have appealed that earlier decision to Virginia’s highest court, and the justices initially indicated the referendum could move forward during their review, this new restraining order creates additional uncertainty.
The Virginia dispute stems from a broader national redistricting fight that began when President Donald Trump encouraged Republican-controlled states like Texas to redraw their maps mid-decade, aiming to help the GOP maintain its slim House majority despite typical midterm challenges facing the party in power.
The strategy has sparked redistricting battles nationwide. Republican strategists believe they can secure nine additional seats through map changes in Texas, Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio. Meanwhile, Democrats are counting on gaining six seats in California and Utah, with Virginia representing their best opportunity to close the remaining gap needed to flip House control.
SANTA FE, N.M. — New Mexico has made history by becoming the first state in the nation to establish a universal childcare program that covers costs for families at every income level, following through on commitments made by Democratic Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
While parents nationwide struggle with overwhelming daycare expenses that often force them out of the job market, political leaders from New York to San Francisco have been working to expand access to affordable and subsidized childcare options. The political implications are significant as concerns about budget instability and potential fraud create challenges.
Other states have taken different approaches: California has removed copayments for certain families, Washington and Oregon have established payment caps for families, and Vermont uses employer payroll taxes to support childcare subsidies.
New Mexico’s approach depends largely on revenue generated from oil and gas operations, including profits from a newly established $10 billion early childhood education trust fund. This creates a complex situation for a progressive governor who originally sought to limit the industry’s influence.
“I think you’re going to see more states look for ways to do it,” the governor said Thursday. “It’s really a workforce engine, while paying real respect to the affordability affordability crisis that families have.”
With Lujan Grisham’s term ending next year, state legislators concerned about unlimited spending chose a measured approach during the legislative session that concluded Thursday. They maintained flexibility to implement copayments should the state’s financial situation worsen, representing a concession the governor had to accept.
State officials report that an additional $700 million will be directed toward New Mexico’s childcare assistance program over the coming five years. Copayments remain improbable and would require 90 days advance notice to families.
Choices regarding potential cost-sharing will be connected to new yearly reporting mandates. The early education department now has expanded power to oversee childcare providers’ employee compensation, debt management, and business operations.
State Senator George Muñoz, who co-sponsored the legislation, explained that lawmakers took advantage of the chance to establish protective measures.
“We didn’t want to end up like Minnesota, where all of the sudden there was rampant fraud,” he said, referencing federal prosecutors’ claims that billions in federal dollars were misappropriated from Minnesota-administered programs for children with autism, addiction treatment, and other services.
According to Muñoz, families will see substantial benefits, noting that free childcare will increase their disposable income.
Las Cruces resident Marianna Eanone explained that her earnings combined with her husband’s military pay previously exceeded the qualification threshold for childcare assistance. The family previously spent $1,000 monthly for their 3-year-old’s licensed home daycare and after-school care for their kindergarten student.
“It’s been a weight off to not have to worry about that,” said Eanone, who is employed by a program that helps families access child development resources.
She noted they now have financial flexibility for occasional restaurant meals, martial arts lessons for their 6-year-old, increased student loan payments, and future savings.
These advantages connect with voters, according to experts.
“They are sending a really strong signal about the importance of child care to the well-being of the families in the state, the well being of the economy, of businesses,” said Karen Schulman, senior director of child care policy for the National Women’s Law Center.
New Mexico progressively increased income eligibility for childcare assistance before implementing universal coverage on November 1, expanding eligibility to 25,000 additional children. The program saves families an average of $14,000 annually per child.
The New Mexico law permits the state to establish waiting lists when demand exceeds available childcare spaces. This approach aims to ensure priority access for children in challenging situations, including those in severe poverty, children with disabilities, and those facing developmental delays.
The measure also addresses worries that rapidly expanding childcare subsidies across all income levels might reduce availability for low-income families. Legislative analysis showed that participation from low-income families dropped as assistance expanded to higher-earning households.
Elizabeth Groginsky, who leads New Mexico’s early childhood education department, said legislators also preserved funding flexibility for recently approved initiatives to enhance childcare quality, increase minimum wages, and extend operating hours through improved state reimbursement rates.
However, childcare availability remains limited throughout much of New Mexico, even as the state expands assistance beyond working parents to include grandparent caregivers, foster parents, and individuals experiencing homelessness.
Lawmakers have forwarded separate legislation to the governor aimed at increasing home-based daycare and childcare centers in residential neighborhoods by superseding certain local zoning and permit requirements, including homeowner association restrictions on childcare operations.
New Mexico’s top prosecutor has revived a criminal probe into suspected illegal activities at Jeffrey Epstein’s former ranch property, citing newly disclosed federal documents.
State Attorney General Raúl Torrez announced the decision Thursday following his office’s review of materials recently made public by the U.S. Department of Justice.
While New Mexico prosecutors had shuttered their original investigation in 2019 following a request from federal authorities in New York, state officials now say “revelations outlined in the previously sealed FBI files warrant further examination.”
The state justice department indicated that investigators and prosecutors will pursue immediate access to complete, uncensored federal case materials and plan to collaborate with additional law enforcement agencies and a newly formed legislative truth commission examining ranch activities.
“As with any potential criminal matter, we will follow the facts wherever they lead, carefully evaluate jurisdictional considerations, and take appropriate investigative action, including the collection and preservation of any relevant evidence that remains available,” the New Mexico Department of Justice said in a statement.
Earlier this week, New Mexico’s truth commission held its inaugural session. The bipartisan four-member group of state representatives has been tasked with probing claims that the property may have enabled sexual abuse and human trafficking.
State legislators also expressed interest in understanding why Epstein failed to register as a sex offender following his 2008 guilty plea for soliciting prostitution from a minor, and whether public officials engaged in corrupt practices.
Epstein acquired the expansive Zorro Ranch property in 1993 from former Democratic Governor Bruce King, subsequently constructing a 26,700-square-foot mansion on a hilltop complete with its own airstrip.
The estate was purchased from Epstein’s creditors in 2023 by the family of Don Huffines, a Texas Republican seeking the state comptroller position. Huffines announced on social media platform X that the property has been rechristened San Rafael Ranch, named for a healing saint, and will serve as a Christian retreat center for his family.
NEW YORK – Investment management company Blue Owl Capital issued a clarification Thursday, stating it has not suspended investor access to funds from one of its private debt investment vehicles, following a decline in the firm’s stock price after announcing changes to withdrawal procedures.
The company emphasized in its Thursday statement that it is “not halting investor liquidity in” its non-traded debt fund Blue Owl Capital Corp II. This clarification came one day after Blue Owl announced it would distribute 30% of the fund’s net asset value back to investors while discontinuing its quarterly withdrawal options.
Rather than continuing its previous tender offer system that allowed investors to withdraw up to 5% of their investment capital, Blue Owl explained its revised approach would deliver greater returns. “We are returning six times as much capital and returning it to all shareholders over the next 45 days. In the coming quarters we will continue to pursue this plan to return capital to OBDC II investors,” the company stated.
VIENNA – A court in Austria has convicted a 37-year-old recreational climber of manslaughter in connection with his girlfriend’s fatal exposure to cold temperatures near the country’s tallest mountain, according to Austrian media outlets.
The tribunal in Innsbruck, located in western Austria, sentenced the man to five months in prison, though the term was suspended. Officials determined he caused the woman’s death through severe negligence when he abandoned her to seek rescue assistance in January 2025.
The tragic incident occurred in the vicinity of Austria’s highest peak, where the woman succumbed to the extreme cold conditions after being left alone during the climbing expedition.
A Wall Street brokerage firm has completely scrapped its plans to go public on Thursday, becoming the latest casualty of turbulent market conditions that are making it increasingly difficult for companies to launch successful stock offerings.
Clear Street announced it was pulling its registration statement for a U.S. stock market debut, following a week of delays that the company attributed to unfavorable “market conditions.” The firm had already dramatically reduced the amount of money it hoped to raise before making the decision to abandon the effort entirely.
The withdrawal comes as concerns about artificial intelligence disrupting traditional business models have triggered widespread selling across multiple sectors. Financial services companies and technology firms have been particularly hard hit by the recent market downturn.
The challenging environment has forced numerous companies to scale back or delay their public offering plans throughout 2026. Market instability, increased scrutiny of company valuations, and poor performance of recently public companies have all contributed to a weakened pipeline of new stock listings.
Recent examples highlight the difficulties facing companies seeking to go public. Brazilian financial technology company Agibank cut its offering size by more than half last week and is now trading below its initial stock price. Meanwhile, Liftoff Mobile, backed by investment firm Blackstone, postponed its IPO earlier this month before refiling new paperwork on Tuesday, only hours after withdrawing its previous attempt.
These rapid changes in listing strategies demonstrate the uncertainty currently gripping financial markets.
The year began with concerns that excessive enthusiasm for AI technology was creating a stock market bubble. However, artificial intelligence has since become viewed as a disruptive threat, with entire industries experiencing sell-offs following product announcements from AI-focused startups.
Clear Street, established in 2018, initially operated as a prime brokerage service before expanding into additional areas including investment banking services.
Financial documents from the company’s IPO filing showed Clear Street projected its net revenue would grow to between $1.04 billion and $1.06 billion in 2025, up significantly from $463.6 million the previous year.
The decision to abandon its public offering plans highlights the ongoing difficulties companies face when trying to access public markets. These challenges follow setbacks last year when U.S. trade policies and political divisions disrupted what many had hoped would be a recovery in the IPO market.
Former President Donald Trump leveled accusations against Barack Obama on Thursday, claiming the ex-president improperly shared classified details when Obama recently confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life.
Speaking to reporters while flying to Georgia aboard Air Force One, Trump offered no proof for his assertion but stated Obama crossed a line with his public statements.
“He took it out of classified information … He’s not supposed to be doing that,” Trump declared to the press. “He made a big mistake.”
The controversy stems from Obama’s appearance on Brian Tyler Cohen’s podcast, which aired last Saturday. When the host inquired about whether aliens exist, Obama gave a candid response.
“They’re real, but I haven’t seen them, and they’re not being kept in … Area 51. There’s no underground facility unless there’s this enormous conspiracy and they hid it from the president of the United States,” Obama responded during the interview.
The Nevada-based Area 51 facility has long been the subject of conspiracy theories suggesting the military stores alien remains and crashed spacecraft there. However, declassified CIA documents from 2013 revealed the location served as a testing ground for classified surveillance aircraft.
Obama’s statements showed no signs of drawing from government intelligence briefings or sensitive materials.
The former president expanded on his views in a Sunday Instagram message, writing: “I saw no evidence during my presidency that extraterrestrials have made contact with us. Really!”
In that social media post, Obama explained his belief in alien life by pointing to mathematical probabilities given the universe’s immense size, while noting the unlikely chance of such beings reaching Earth due to vast distances involved.
When reporters asked Trump about his own views on extraterrestrial existence Thursday, he remained noncommittal, saying: “I don’t know if they’re real or not.”
White House officials declined to elaborate beyond Trump’s public remarks, while Obama’s representatives have not yet provided comment on the allegations.
The Defense Department has actively investigated UFO reports in recent years, with top military officials announcing in 2022 that their research uncovered no proof of alien visits or crashes on Earth.
A comprehensive Pentagon analysis released in 2024 examined government UFO investigations dating back to World War II’s conclusion, determining that no extraterrestrial technology has been discovered and that most reported sightings involved common objects or natural occurrences that were misidentified.
President Donald Trump has notified Congress that he’s working on a nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia that eliminates key protections previously deemed essential to prevent the kingdom from developing atomic weapons, according to congressional documents obtained by Reuters.
Both Trump, a Republican, and former President Joe Biden, a Democrat, have collaborated with Saudi officials on plans to construct the nation’s first civilian nuclear power facilities.
This development occurs as global concerns mount over a potential nuclear arms race, following the recent collapse of the final strategic weapons limitation agreement between Russia and the United States, while China continues expanding its nuclear capabilities.
Nonproliferation advocates and numerous lawmakers from both parties – including current Secretary of State Marco Rubio during his Senate tenure – have demanded that any nuclear deal include strict protections. These would prohibit Saudi Arabia from enriching uranium or reprocessing used nuclear fuel, both potential routes to weapons production, requirements that previous U.S. administrations have also supported.
These groups also demand Saudi Arabia accept the Additional Protocol, which provides the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency extensive and intrusive monitoring authority over nuclear activities, including surprise inspections at undisclosed sites.
The Trump administration delivered a preliminary report to congressional committee leaders in November, which the Arms Control Association revealed Thursday is mandated when the government isn’t pursuing the Additional Protocol requirements.
Kelsey Davenport, who leads nonproliferation policy for the Arms Control Association, expressed concern in a Thursday analysis, stating the report “raises concerns that the Trump administration has not carefully considered the proliferation risks posed by its proposed nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia or the precedent this agreement may set.”
Trump’s congressional notification claims the proposed U.S.-Saudi civilian nuclear agreement, called a 123 Agreement, positions American industry as central to Saudi Arabia’s nuclear development while maintaining proliferation protections.
However, the document creates opportunities for Saudi enrichment capabilities by referencing “additional safeguards and verification measures to the most sensitive areas of potential nuclear cooperation” between the nations, specifically mentioning enrichment and reprocessing activities.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s effective leader, has previously stated the kingdom would pursue nuclear weapons if regional adversary Iran develops them.
“If they get one, we have to get one,” the crown prince told Fox News in 2023, explaining such weapons would be necessary “for security reasons, and for balancing power in the Middle East, but we don’t want to see that.”
The White House and State Department have not responded to requests for comment. Saudi Arabia’s Washington embassy also has not provided a response.
Davenport emphasized that “It behooves Congress” to check the administration’s authority to finalize an agreement with Saudi Arabia and “consider not just the implications for Saudi Arabia, but also the precedent that this deal will set, and vigorously examine the terms of the proposed 123 Agreement.”
The Arms Control Association reports the Trump administration could submit the 123 Agreement to Congress as early as February 22, having approximately 90 days following the congressional report to do so. The agreement would take effect and authorize Saudi Arabia’s civilian nuclear program unless both the Senate and House approve resolutions rejecting the 123 Agreement within 90 days.
Technology company Akamai Technologies announced Thursday that it expects 2026 revenues to surpass Wall Street projections, demonstrating strong confidence that its cloud infrastructure business will maintain robust growth momentum.
The Massachusetts-based firm is benefiting from rising demand in both security and computing sectors, as businesses focus on protecting their digital operations and applications while moving to cloud-based systems.
Companies are increasingly implementing multi-cloud approaches to reduce expenses and prevent dependency on single vendors, which has opened new opportunities for Akamai’s specialized edge-computing solutions.
Corporate spending on cybersecurity tools has also risen sharply due to escalating sophisticated cyber attacks and government-backed digital threats, driving higher demand for Akamai’s protective services.
The technology firm projects 2026 revenues will range from $4.40 billion to $4.55 billion, with the middle estimate exceeding the analyst consensus of $4.42 billion compiled by LSEG data.
Chief Executive Officer Tom Leighton noted in a Reuters interview that the company is observing rising memory costs in the current market.
He indicated that Akamai may consider price adjustments to offset these increased expenses, though any such changes would be implemented cautiously.
The widespread expansion of artificial intelligence infrastructure by major technology companies has consumed significant portions of global memory chip inventory, driving up prices as manufacturers focus on higher-profit data center components rather than consumer products.
During the final quarter ending December 31, Akamai recorded $1.10 billion in revenue, exceeding the anticipated $1.08 billion estimate.
The Washington Supreme Court delivered a unanimous ruling Thursday allowing grieving families to pursue legal action against Amazon over the suicide deaths of their loved ones who purchased sodium nitrite through the online marketplace.
The state’s highest court overturned a lower appeals court decision that had blocked the families from suing Amazon for negligence, with that earlier court claiming suicide represented an intervening cause that broke the chain of responsibility.
In the majority opinion, Justice G. Helen Whitener determined that Amazon bears a responsibility to exercise reasonable care toward its customers and must prevent exposing them to “harm from the foreseeable conduct of a third party.”
Whitener stated that a jury should determine whether suicide deaths were a predictable outcome of the Seattle company’s alleged failure to meet this standard of care.
The legal challenge involves 28 families who claim Amazon has been aware for years of sodium nitrite’s connection to suicide deaths but has permitted unrestricted sales of the chemical along with other items that could facilitate self-harm. The plaintiffs refer to these combined products as “suicide kits.”
These families are pursuing damages under Washington state’s product liability statutes following their relatives’ deaths.
Thursday’s ruling specifically addressed appeals from four families whose relatives, ranging in age from 17 to 27, consumed sodium nitrite with purity levels of 98% or 99.6% during 2020 and 2021.
Amazon responded by stating its disagreement with the court’s decision while reaffirming its dedication to customer safety and offering sympathy to families impacted by suicide.
This case represents part of a broader legal trend attempting to hold online marketplaces like Amazon accountable for items sold by independent vendors on their platforms.
“Amazon is one of the world’s biggest companies, and shouldn’t be profiting from products they know people use to harm themselves,” said Carrie Goldberg, an attorney representing the families.
Sodium nitrite serves as a legitimate chemical compound commonly employed as a food preservative in meat and fish products. The substance also has applications in research facilities and as a treatment for cyanide poisoning.
Amazon acknowledged in its response that highly concentrated sodium nitrite “is not intended for direct consumption, and unfortunately, like many products, it can be misused.”
The company has since implemented restrictions prohibiting the sale of sodium nitrite products with concentrations exceeding 10%.
Team USA’s women’s hockey squad secured Olympic gold Thursday evening with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over Canada at the Milano Cortina Olympics.
The championship win marks the third time the American women have claimed Olympic gold in hockey, having now competed in seven Olympic finals throughout the program’s history.
The nail-biting contest required extra time to determine a winner, with the United States ultimately prevailing in the overtime period to deny Canada the top spot on the podium.
Olympic curling athletes found themselves trekking through snow-covered streets Thursday when severe weather conditions brought transportation to a standstill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
The American women’s curling squad, led by Tabitha Peterson, secured their semifinal berth with a 7-6 victory over Switzerland, but getting to the venue proved challenging.
“We had to grab a taxi and then get out halfway through and walk in the snow. But we made it in time,” explained team member Taylor Anderson-Heide.
“It probably took like an hour longer. We were okay. We got here an hour early, so we were still good. We like to leave nice and early.”
This wasn’t Anderson-Heide’s teammate Cory Thiesse’s first snowy walk to competition. She experienced similar conditions during her mixed doubles event, where she earned a silver medal alongside partner Korey Dropkin.
“Before Korey and I played, I think it was the gold medal game, the same thing happened. We just got off the bus and walked down the hill,” Thiesse recalled.
“We did the same thing today. In these scenarios, you just roll with the punches and expect unexpected things to happen. I’m really proud of us for not letting it kind of affect us at all.”
Olympic officials pushed back the women’s final round-robin matches and men’s semifinal games by half an hour due to the transportation difficulties.
Canadian team captain Rachel Homan, whose squad advanced to the semifinals after defeating South Korea, described being trapped on a bus for an hour.
“Obviously, the game was delayed, some teams didn’t even make it for practice, but it was great of the officials to recognise that,” Homan said.
“It’s not fun. We tried to leave early and the bus that we tried to get on had already left. We tried to get on an earlier bus, but you can’t predict an hour in the snow.”
Canadian coach Heather Nedohin managed to find some levity in the weather-related complications.
“I think the ski athletes are thinking, ‘it’s an indoor sport and you’re delayed by snow? How does that work for you guys?’,” Nedohin joked.
Cattle futures displayed varied performance at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as traders awaited the week’s direct trading activity and Friday’s cattle inventory report from federal agriculture officials. Live cattle contracts for April delivery gained $.90 to close at $243.42, while June contracts rose $.45 to finish at $238.87. Meanwhile, feeder cattle saw declines with March contracts dropping $.30 to close at $370.27.
The family of a Jeffrey Epstein victim is expressing hope that recent developments signal the beginning of justice for those connected to the late sex offender’s network of associates.
Sky Roberts, brother of Virginia Giuffre who died by suicide last April, told reporters he views the Thursday arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a pivotal moment in seeking accountability.
“This is where the house of cards starts falling,” Sky Roberts stated during an interview alongside his wife Amanda Roberts.
British authorities arrested King Charles’ brother on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct in public office, stemming from allegations he provided confidential government documents to Epstein. Mountbatten-Windsor was subsequently released from custody.
The Roberts family is pressing the U.S. Justice Department to pursue additional individuals they believe participated in Epstein’s criminal activities as millions of documents related to the case become public.
The document releases are creating significant political and business disruptions as new information emerges about the disgraced financier’s wide-ranging social network. The situation continues to present challenges for President Donald Trump, who had previously raised questions about Epstein and his connections before returning to office.
Back in 2022, the royal family member resolved a civil case filed in America by Giuffre, who alleged sexual abuse occurred when she was underage at locations connected to Epstein or his associates.
The current criminal investigation is separate from and unrelated to previous sexual misconduct allegations.
The late Queen Elizabeth’s second son has consistently denied any criminal behavior regarding Epstein and has expressed regret about their association.
Polling data from Reuters/Ipsos indicates Americans largely see the Epstein matter as evidence that wealthy, influential people escape consequences and believe government officials are concealing information about Epstein’s client base.
“We are trailing too far behind in justice, especially when we are sitting on the mountains of information that we have,” Amanda Roberts explained. “The world is looking at us to do the right thing here.”
Epstein received immunity in 2008 after pleading guilty to Florida state prostitution charges, serving just 13 months behind bars. Federal authorities arrested him again in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges involving numerous minors. He died in his Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting trial, with officials ruling his death a suicide.
Amanda Roberts described learning about Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest as bringing “a mixed bag of emotions.”
“Initially we were … vindicated and screaming, at one point at 3 a.m. And then it just hits you – that gut punch of the fact that she’s not here to see this, that we’re not able to call her and tell her how astronomically proud we are of her.”
Cattle markets are expected to experience significant fluctuations over the next twelve months, according to a livestock economics specialist. Derrell Peel from Oklahoma State University predicts that trading patterns will remain unpredictable as the industry navigates various challenges.
Peel specifically warns that when the United States restarts live cattle imports from Mexico, the futures market will likely show an immediate negative response. “The futures market will react negatively, at least for a couple of days,” Peel stated. “But then I think we’re going to figure out that it’s a” reasonable development for the industry.
The economist’s projections suggest that market participants should prepare for continued price swings and trading uncertainty as various factors influence cattle valuations throughout the year.
Minnesota state legislators gathered this week for the initial meeting of the Senate Agriculture, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee to tackle escalating challenges facing the state’s farming community during the 2026 Legislative Session.
Committee Chair Aric Putnam, a Democratic representative from St. Cloud, highlighted the alarming increase in agricultural bankruptcy filings across the state. Putnam emphasized the inherent challenges of farming, noting that producers face numerous uncontrollable variables that impact their operations and financial stability.
The legislative session marks a critical moment for addressing the mounting pressures confronting Minnesota’s agricultural sector as lawmakers seek solutions to support struggling farm operations throughout the state.
Commodity markets saw upward movement in soybean and wheat prices following the release of data from the USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum. Soybean values climbed due to technical purchasing activity and short position covering, with additional support coming from strength in both soybean oil and crude oil markets.
Weather conditions in Argentina provided some market relief, as precipitation overnight exceeded trader expectations. Forecasters are calling for additional moisture in certain regions of the country. Market analysts suggest the recent rainfall has helped stabilize growing conditions across Argentina’s agricultural areas.
Traders are also keeping close watch on harvest operations currently underway in Brazil, as South American crop conditions continue to influence global commodity pricing.
Rehoboth Beach city officials are working to clarify confusion surrounding potential modifications to business licensing fees following recent budget discussions. City representatives emphasize that these proposed adjustments are not intended to address any budget deficit, as the fiscal year 2027 budget is already balanced.
The conversation around modifying business license costs began in 2024 but was temporarily paused while the city developed a comprehensive fee and penalty structure. With that framework now in place, municipal leaders believe this budget cycle is appropriate to revisit these licensing discussions along with other fee considerations.
City officials have provided additional context regarding the proposed modifications:
The suggested changes remain under consideration and have not received final approval. Current business licensing costs span from $35 to $1,500, while the proposed structure would range from $45 to $750. The majority of licenses would see approximately 23% increases, such as a fee rising from $325 to $400.
A significant change involves the elimination of complimentary seasonal parking permits historically provided to licensed businesses. These transferable permits carry a $325 value and have been included at no charge with annual licenses. Under the new proposal, businesses would need to purchase parking permits separately, though they could obtain them at a reduced rate of $260, representing a 20% discount.
The Building and Licensing Department distributed 1,480 complimentary permits to business license holders in 2024, followed by 1,454 permits in 2025. Business license revenue represents approximately 1.9% of General Fund budgeted income and 1.1% of total budgeted revenue.
Any approved fee increases would become effective in January 2027, coinciding with the annual business license renewal period. The review encompasses more than just business licenses, extending to building permits, code enforcement fees, water and sewer charges, convention center pricing, traffic fines, and various code violation penalties.
The opera world is mourning the loss of José van Dam, a celebrated Belgian bass-baritone who passed away at 85 years old, according to an announcement Thursday from a Belgian conservatory.
The renowned vocalist died Tuesday while in Croatia, confirmed Natsumi Krischer from Belgium’s Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel. Van Dam had established the institution’s voice department in 2004 and served as a master in residence.
The singer was born Joseph van Damme in Brussels on August 25, 1940, and studied at the Brussels Royal Conservatory. He chose José van Dam as his professional name when he first stepped onto the opera stage in 1960, performing Don Basilio in Rossini’s ‘Il Barbiere di Siviglia’ at Belgium’s Opéra Royal de Wallonie-Liège.
Two years later, van Dam made his Paris Opera debut as Priam and the Voice of Mercury in Berlioz’s ‘Les Troyens.’ His reputation grew significantly during the late 1960s and early 1970s while performing at Berlin’s Deutsche Oper under chief conductor Lorin Maazel, and through his 1971 Salzburg Easter Festival appearance as Don Pizarro in Beethoven’s ‘Fidelio’ alongside conductor Herbert von Karajan.
The bass-baritone made his mark at the world’s most prestigious venues by performing Escamillo in Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ – first at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala in 1972, followed by London’s Royal Opera in 1973, and New York’s Metropolitan Opera in 1975. He later performed the title character in Mozart’s ‘Le Nozze di Figaro’ during a 1976 Paris Opera tour at the Met.
Van Dam earned particular recognition for his portrayals of leading characters in Verdi’s ‘Falstaff’ and ‘Simon Boccanegra,’ Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni,’ Berg’s ‘Wozzeck,’ and Mussorgsky’s ‘Boris Godunov.’ He was also highly praised for his performances as Philipp II in Verdi’s ‘Don Carlo,’ Hans Sachs in Wagner’s ‘Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg,’ and Amfortas in Wagner’s ‘Parsifal.’
In a 2010 Opera magazine interview, van Dam reflected on his approach to selecting roles. ‘Before taking on a new role that has interested me, I always looked carefully at the tessitura,’ he explained. ‘At age 20, I was more of a bass; with the help of careful exercises, the voice stretched further at both ends, and especially at the top, I’ve never had any particular vocal difficulties with a role, but I’ve always been careful.’
The singer, recognized for his sophisticated interpretations, revealed his artistic preferences during a 1981 interview, expressing that he favored concert performances over staged operas.
‘When I’m on the stage and I’m acting, I’m singing Figaro or Giovanni or Amfortas,’ he stated. ‘I’m not José van Dam!’
Van Dam originated the demanding title role in Messiaen’s ‘Saint François’ during its 1983 Paris premiere and reprised it at the 1988 Salzburg Festival.
New York Times critic John Rockwell praised his performance during the original production, writing that van Dam was ‘technically and interpretively impressive in his extremely long role.’
The Belgian artist’s final operatic performance came in 2010 when he appeared in Massenet’s ‘Don Quichotte’ at Brussels’ La Monnaie theater.
Throughout his career, van Dam received 10 Grammy nominations and claimed three victories. He won the vocal solo category for his Ravel songs recording with conductor Pierre Boulez in 1984, and earned best opera recording honors for Strauss’ ‘Die Frau ohne Schatten’ in 1992 and ‘Meistersinger’ in 1997, both conducted by Georg Solti.
Beyond the opera stage, van Dam appeared in films, including a 1979 adaptation of Mozart’s ‘Don Giovanni’ directed by Joseph Losey, where he played Leporello. He also starred as opera singer Joachim Dallayrac in 1988’s ‘The Music Teacher,’ which received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language Film.
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Former Bolivian President Evo Morales made his first public appearance Thursday after vanishing from public view for nearly seven weeks, putting to rest widespread speculation about his whereabouts and addressing supporters in his political home base.
The extended absence of Bolivia’s longtime socialist leader had generated intense speculation and rumors that he had left the country following the recent U.S. capture of his Venezuelan ally, former President Nicolás Maduro.
Morales’ lengthy disappearance highlighted how little information flows out of the remote Chapare region, where the ex-president has been hiding for the past year while avoiding arrest on human trafficking charges. It also demonstrated the country’s anxiety about potential future foreign policy moves by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Video released by Radio Kawsachun Coca, the media arm of Morales’ coca farmers’ union, showed the former leader wearing dark sunglasses and smiling as he rode a tractor into a stadium in Chimoré, a town in central Bolivia, to speak with his followers.
The 66-year-old Morales, who became Bolivia’s first Indigenous president and governed from 2006 until his controversial removal from power in 2019 followed by self-imposed exile, revealed he had been battling chikungunya, a mosquito-transmitted disease that brings fever and intense joint pain with no available cure, and experienced unexpected complications.
“Take care of yourselves against chikungunya — it is serious,” Morales told the crowd, looking noticeably weaker than in previous public appearances.
He rejected speculation spread by local political figures and amplified on social media platforms suggesting he might attempt to escape Bolivia, promising to stay in the country despite facing potential detention under conservative President Rodrigo Paz, whose victory last October brought an end to nearly twenty years of governance by Morales’ Movement Toward Socialism party.
“Some media said, ‘Evo is going to leave, Evo is going to flee.’ I said clearly: I am not going to leave. I will stay with the people to defend the homeland,” he declared.
President Paz’s restoration of diplomatic relationships with the United States and recent moves to welcome back the Drug Enforcement Administration — approximately 17 years after Morales kicked out American anti-narcotics officers while building closer ties with China, Russia, Cuba and Iran — have created unease in the coca-farming areas that form Morales’ core support base.
On Thursday, Paz announced he will attend a meeting with Trump in Miami on March 7 for a gathering of ideologically similar Latin American leaders, as the Trump administration works to challenge Chinese influence and strengthen U.S. control in the region.
Prior to announcing his endorsed candidates for Bolivia’s upcoming municipal and regional elections next month, Morales delivered an extended address that echoed his previous frequent criticisms of American imperialism.
“This is geopolitical propaganda on an international scale,” he stated regarding Trump’s efforts to revive the 1823 Monroe Doctrine to reestablish American dominance in the Western Hemisphere. “They want to eliminate every left-wing party in Latin America.”
Federal officials announced Thursday that their efforts to eliminate diversity initiatives in higher education have resulted in 31 universities terminating relationships with The PhD Project, an organization dedicated to helping racial minorities obtain doctoral degrees.
This nonprofit remained relatively obscure until conservative activists highlighted it last year, prompting the U.S. Department of Education to launch a formal inquiry. Republican leaders argue that university diversity initiatives frequently discriminate against white and Asian American students.
Since the investigation began in March 2025, three dozen institutions have agreed to sever partnerships with the organization, according to the department’s Office for Civil Rights announcement Thursday. Officials report ongoing discussions with an additional 14 educational institutions.
Federal authorities stated that The PhD Project “unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants” and accused partnering institutions of violating Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin in federally funded educational programs.
“This is the Trump effect in action: institutions of higher education are agreeing to cut ties with discriminatory organizations, recommitting themselves to abiding by federal law, and restoring equality of opportunity on campuses across the nation,” Education Secretary Linda McMahon said.
Several institutions quickly terminated their relationships with The PhD Project once the investigation launched, seeking to avoid complications with the current administration. The government had previously warned schools they risked losing federal funding over “race-based preferences.”
The PhD Project represents one of numerous nonprofit organizations working to expand higher education access for underrepresented communities.
“The PhD Project was founded with the goal of providing more role models in the front of business classrooms and this remains our goal today,” the organization said in a statement Thursday. According to their website, the group has “helped more than 1,500 members earn their doctoral degree.”
The 31 institutions identified by federal officials include prominent public research universities like Arizona State, Ohio State and the University of Michigan, alongside elite private institutions such as Yale, Duke and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
MIT, similar to other schools named in the investigation, had paid The PhD Project “a nominal fee” to participate in university fairs or conferences, enabling MIT representatives to recruit prospective students, according to spokesperson Kimberly Allen.
MIT notified federal authorities in April 2025 that it had ceased participating in such events and received notification months later that the Office for Civil Rights had determined a Title VI violation. The institution signed a “resolution agreement” with the department approximately one week ago to settle the issue “but explicitly did not admit any liability, wrongdoing or violation of any law or regulation,” Allen explained.
The University of North Dakota reported that it immediately terminated its membership with The PhD Project two weeks following last year’s investigation announcement.
“The University became a member of the PhD Project to have access to the PhD Project’s member directory and applicant database, to be able to recruit a larger pool of qualified applicants for faculty positions,” spokesperson David Dodds explained in a statement.
The University of Utah participated in annual conferences organized by the nonprofit during the 2024-25 academic year and two preceding years. The institution ended its association with the project in October following a settlement with the department, according to university spokesperson Rebecca Walsh.
Among 170 PhD students accepted into Utah’s business school during the past 14 years, only two came through The PhD Project connection, Walsh noted.
The Education Department reported that all 31 universities have committed to examining partnerships with other organizations “to identify any that violate Title VI by restricting participation based on race.”
The current administration has focused on eliminating various practices it categorizes as diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
WASHINGTON — Gaza’s landscape remains devastated, with whole neighborhoods flattened and fundamental concerns about restoring essential water treatment plants, sewage systems, roadways, power networks and vital infrastructure required to generate adequate food supplies and prevent mass hunger.
Yet a sparkling new national soccer facility for a region ravaged by more than two years of conflict between Israel and Hamas? FIFA says that’s taken care of.
This unexpected commitment emerged during a theatrical and sometimes peculiar political presentation at President Donald Trump’s first Board of Peace gathering in Washington Thursday, where nine nations committed $7 billion for Gaza relief efforts and five additional countries agreed to send military personnel for an international peacekeeping mission.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino explained their reasoning: “We don’t have to just rebuild houses or schools or hospitals or roads. We also have to rebuild and build people, emotion, hope and trust. And this is what football, my sport, is about.”
The international soccer federation committed $50 million for a new venue accommodating 20,000 to 25,000 fans, plus plans for a $15 million FIFA training academy. Additionally, the organization vowed to invest another $2.5 million creating 50 small soccer fields called “arena mini pitches” and five regulation-size fields at $1 million each.
Notably, Gaza lacks its own national soccer squad. A combined Palestinian team represents both Gaza and the West Bank, earning FIFA recognition in 1998 but never reaching World Cup competition.
Infantino emphasized soccer’s broader significance: “Football, or soccer, as it is called here, is the world’s universal language. It’s about hope. It’s about joy. It’s about happiness. It’s about coming together. It’s about uniting the world.”
During his presentation, he displayed a promotional video declaring “A simple ball. A shared field. A reason to believe again,” highlighting how FIFA and the Board of Peace would collaborate to “turn football into a bridge toward peace, dignity and hope.”
The promotional material outlined FIFA’s vision for establishing Gaza soccer competitions across youth, amateur and regional categories, promising a “complete football ecosystem designed to support communities and future generations.”
Infantino has maintained a visible White House presence leading up to this year’s World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada. He regularly appears at Trump gatherings during presidential travels, including last month’s Davos, Switzerland appearance when the Board of Peace was officially announced as part of the broader White House-negotiated ceasefire ending Gaza hostilities.
During Thursday’s remarks, Trump repeatedly highlighted Infantino while downplaying the absence of key U.S. allies like Britain and Canada from the board.
Trump observed about board membership: “Virtually everyone is the head of a country,” adding that Infantino is “head of soccer, so that’s not so bad.”
The president told Infantino: “I like your job the best, I think.”
Thursday’s participants received red caps styled after Make America Great Again hats, featuring “USA” in white lettering and “45-47” representing Trump’s presidential terms. Infantino briefly donned his hat alongside other attendees.
Trump mentioned Infantino throughout various unrelated anecdotes, including when comparing his real estate success to special envoy Steve Witkoff’s achievements, and while describing a malfunctioning escalator incident during the fall U.N. General Assembly meeting that Trump suggested warranted arrests.
The president even briefed Infantino about B-2 bombers carrying “very big bombs.”
Trump’s most enthusiastic praise for Infantino centered on FIFA awarding him a peace prize last year, following Trump’s unsuccessful pursuit of a Nobel Peace Prize from Norway’s selection committee.
Trump reflected on the situation: “I think they saw that I got screwed by Norway.”
ATLANTA — District Attorney Fani Willis’ office is defending a decades-old murder conviction against former Black Panther leader H. Rap Brown while simultaneously condemning serious misconduct that occurred during the original prosecution.
In a Wednesday court filing, Georgia prosecutors maintained that recent DNA analysis continues to support Brown’s guilt in the fatal shooting of sheriff’s deputies in 2000. Brown, who later changed his name to Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, was convicted of killing Deputy Ricky Kinchen and wounding Deputy Aldranon English outside his Atlanta residence.
However, the same filing delivered harsh criticism of the case’s original lead prosecutor, Robert McBurney, who now serves as a Fulton County superior court judge. McBurney has presided over several nationally significant cases, including overseeing the special grand jury in Willis’ investigation that led to charges against Donald Trump and others regarding alleged attempts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results.
Willis’ team described McBurney’s trial conduct as “the most egregious” problem in the case, stating he “crossed the line from aggressive advocacy into misconduct that undermined the core principles of justice.”
The filing detailed how McBurney violated Al-Amin’s constitutional rights during closing arguments by presenting a chart titled “Questions for the defendant” and making comments designed to highlight that Al-Amin chose not to testify. When Al-Amin remained seated for religious reasons as the jury entered, McBurney told jurors, “Don’t stand for him.”
“These were not minor oversights; they reflected a troubling pattern of behavior that prioritized winning over truth, and conviction over justice,” prosecutors wrote.
The filing also revealed misconduct by FBI Special Agent James Campbell, who allegedly approached the handcuffed Al-Amin after his arrest, kicked and spat on him, and declared, “This is what we do to cop killers.” Defense lawyers have long claimed Campbell planted the weapons used in the shooting at Al-Amin’s arrest location.
According to the filing, Campbell had previously been transferred to Atlanta after shooting an unarmed Muslim man in the back of the head, with that victim’s supporters also accusing Campbell of planting evidence.
Despite acknowledging these serious issues, prosecutors argue that modern DNA testing strengthens the case against Al-Amin. While DNA tests excluded Al-Amin from genetic material found on both weapons, his DNA was discovered on a leather belt wrapped around one of the guns.
“This case had a trifecta of issues which undermined the process and the public’s confidence in justice,” the filing stated.
Al-Amin died in prison last November, but his family seeks a hearing to clear his reputation. Their attorney, Mawuli Davis, said, “His legacy is still at the center of this.”
Willis’ office indicated it would not oppose a comprehensive review of the case, potentially allowing for public reexamination of a prosecution that has long divided civil rights advocates and law enforcement officials.
The incident occurred on March 16, 2000, when deputies Kinchen and English arrived in Atlanta’s West End neighborhood to serve a warrant on Al-Amin for failing to appear in court on charges of driving a stolen vehicle and impersonating an officer. English testified that Al-Amin opened fire with an assault rifle when they attempted the arrest, then used a handgun to shoot the wounded Kinchen three times as he lay in the street.
Al-Amin was captured four days later in White Hall, Alabama, where he had helped establish a Muslim community.
As a 1960s activist, Al-Amin had famously declared that violence was “as American as cherry pie” and that Black Americans would use force if necessary to combat oppression. He later converted to Islam during a prison term and relocated to Atlanta in the 1970s, where he became a prominent imam and leader of the National Ummah, one of the country’s largest Black Muslim organizations.
McBurney did not respond to requests for comment, and contact information for Campbell could not be located.
Entertainment giant Live Nation Entertainment exceeded Wall Street’s revenue expectations for the fourth quarter on Thursday, driven by continuing strong appetite for live concerts and performances.
The entertainment industry leader, which serves as a key indicator of consumer discretionary spending and the overall health of the global entertainment market, saw benefits from steady demand for live performances at major venues including arenas and amphitheaters, where consumers continued to spend their entertainment dollars.
In an unexpected development, Live Nation accidentally released its financial results on its corporate website before the scheduled announcement time.
The company welcomed 159 million concert-goers worldwide in 2025, representing an increase from 151 million attendees the previous year. Live Nation reported that advance ticket purchases for 2026 events have climbed by double-digit percentages to approximately 67 million fans, with more than 80% of major venue performances already secured.
Market analysts noted that investors are demonstrating renewed enthusiasm for businesses considered “AI-resistant,” providing additional support for the company’s performance.
In related legal developments, a federal judge ruled Wednesday to allow an antitrust case against Live Nation to move forward, following government allegations that the company leveraged its dominance in concert promotion and ticket sales to stifle competition. The decision sets the stage for a trial scheduled for March.
Live Nation’s fourth-quarter earnings climbed 11.1% to reach $6.31 billion, surpassing analyst predictions of $6.11 billion based on LSEG data compilation.
The company’s concert division saw revenue jump 12% to $5.15 billion during the quarter, outperforming forecasts of $4.93 billion. Meanwhile, ticketing division revenue remained relatively stable, rising just 1% to $846.2 million compared to $841.1 million in the same period last year.
ARLINGTON, Virginia – The chief executive of the organization that represents America’s major airlines warned on Thursday that President Trump’s plan to limit credit card interest rates to 10% could severely impact the aviation sector, potentially resulting in reduced air travel and aircraft operations.
Airlines for America CEO Chris Sununu expressed concerns during an aviation industry conference, stating the proposed restrictions could create widespread economic consequences for airlines. “If they start capping credit cards at 10% or start minimizing the small 2% fee that they get charged on the credit cards, it’ll have a massive repercussion, economic effect across this industry,” Sununu explained at the Virginia gathering.
The warning comes after President Trump announced on January 10th his intention to implement a temporary one-year limit on credit card interest rates, set to begin on January 20th. The proposed policy would establish the 10% ceiling across the financial sector.
Financial services company Charles Schwab facilitated the transfer of approximately $27.7 million for Jeffrey Epstein as the disgraced financier attempted to acquire an elaborate palace in Morocco during the 10 days leading up to his 2019 arrest, according to newly released Department of Justice documents.
The transactions, being disclosed publicly for the first time, reveal how the major U.S. brokerage managed Epstein’s funds during a period when he faced heightened public attention following investigative reporting by the Miami Herald in 2018.
Seven days after Epstein’s arrest, on July 13, Schwab reported the transfers as suspicious activity to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, the records indicate.
Analysis of over 100 documents reveals that Schwab established three accounts for Epstein’s business entities in April 2019, including one for Southern Trust, the company seeking to purchase the luxurious Bin Ennakhil palace located in Marrakesh, Morocco.
The Schwab business account designated Richard Kahn, who served as Epstein’s accountant, as the authorized representative, while Epstein was listed as Southern Trust’s president and sole beneficial owner.
From June 26 through July 9, 2019, Southern Trust directed Schwab to transfer approximately $12.7 million in euros for the property acquisition, but subsequently canceled the order. Schwab later received a new wire request bearing Epstein’s signature and processed $14.95 million for the same property, despite insufficient account funds while awaiting the return of the initial payment.
When contacted by Reuters, Schwab refused to discuss account specifics, citing federal regulations, privacy laws, and company policies requiring confidentiality.
“An associate of Epstein opened accounts in April 2019. Shortly after, our Risk team began investigating the accounts and within 60 days of starting the review, we notified the client of our decision to close and terminate the relationship. We also referred the matter to federal law enforcement,” the company stated in an email response.
Schwab would not elaborate on the exact timing of when its risk assessment team initiated its investigation.
Federal Bank Secrecy Act regulations require financial institutions to submit suspicious activity reports within 30 days of discovering concerning facts, in addition to reporting daily cash transactions exceeding $10,000 to help detect and prevent money laundering activities.
FinCEN representatives declined to provide comments. An attorney representing Kahn did not respond to inquiries from Reuters.
Marc Leon, the Morocco-based real estate agent, informed Reuters via email that Epstein initially attempted to purchase Bin Ennakhil in 2011, with negotiations over terms and pricing continuing for years.
According to a property description found in the DOJ’s document collection, Bin Ennakhil features gold-adorned walls, a hammam steam spa, 60 marble fountains, and outdoor pool and jacuzzi facilities, spanning a total area of 4.6 hectares. The listing describes multiple gardens containing hundreds of olive trees and over 2,000 palm trees, covering an area larger than New York’s Washington Square Park or approximately six standard soccer fields.
Leon also justified his involvement in facilitating Epstein’s property purchase attempt.
“Epstein had been convicted of sex crimes (in 2008) and had served his sentence. There was therefore nothing to prevent him from attempting to purchase property in Morocco. We had no way of knowing that he had continued his terrible crimes,” he explained.
Epstein died by suicide in jail during August 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.
Epstein approached Schwab in 2019 as Deutsche Bank was closing accounts belonging to the convicted sex offender, who had entered a guilty plea in 2008 for soliciting prostitution from a minor and served prison time.
Schwab was among at least seven financial institutions subpoenaed by the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2020 for documents related to Epstein’s estate co-executors. The subpoena did not identify Schwab as a defendant and included no allegations of misconduct against the brokerage.
Email communications and wire transfer documentation within the DOJ files, which may be incomplete, demonstrate that Epstein discussed acquiring the luxury Marrakesh property with his associates during spring 2019.
Southern Trust, Epstein’s company, agreed to purchase the property through Leon in March of that year.
After evaluating various financing options, the records show Epstein directed associates to transfer funds to Leon.
Schwab subsequently received instructions from Southern Trust to wire 11.15 million euros, approximately $12.7 million at that time’s exchange rate, to Leon on June 26, 2019, according to Schwab’s suspicious activity report reviewed by Reuters.
The money was sent to Leon’s Julius Baer account in Switzerland, where Leon was based at the time, the report indicates.
The following day, Schwab received a phone call from an individual whose identity is redacted in the report, requesting cancellation of the transfer. When asked for the reason, they informed Schwab that the real estate deal terms were not “agreeable.”
The caller also mentioned that another payment for a larger amount would be sent to a different account, according to the report.
Schwab successfully reversed the transaction, with funds scheduled to be credited back on July 10, the report shows.
Two days prior to Epstein’s arrest, Southern Trust instructed Schwab through a July 4 wire transfer request signed by Epstein and his co-signatory to send Leon $14.95 million, the report indicates.
Schwab stated the funds were directed to Leon’s Julius Baer account, according to the report.
However, Epstein’s Southern Trust account lacked adequate funds because Schwab had not yet returned money from the earlier transaction, the report notes.
While Schwab could reasonably expect the payment to be transferred back to Epstein’s account, the bank would have faced risk exposure until the funds were returned.
Reuters could not determine when the $12.7 million ultimately returned to Epstein’s account, but the funds were scheduled to arrive on July 10, according to the July 13-dated report.
When asked about its policy at that time for processing international wire transfers with insufficient account funds, Schwab declined to comment.
Reuters was unable to confirm whether Julius Baer accepted the transfers. A Julius Baer spokesperson declined to provide comments.
Leon stated: “The anti-money laundering checks in force were carried out by the banking institutions involved in the future transaction, which ultimately never took place.”
Not until July 9, three days following Epstein’s arrest, did Schwab cancel the second transfer at the request of an individual acting for Epstein whose name is redacted, the report shows.
An email within the other DOJ documents shows Epstein’s accountant Kahn requested the transfer cancellation on July 9.
Kahn has been ordered to appear before Congress next week to answer questions about whether he assisted in facilitating Epstein’s crimes through his oversight of the deceased sex offender’s financial matters, House Oversight Committee member Robert Garcia announced in a January media statement.
Reuters has no evidence indicating Kahn engaged in wrongdoing.
In subsequent communication with Schwab after Epstein’s arrest, an unidentified Epstein associate inquired whether future Southern Trust account transfers would still require two signatures, as additional money would be sent soon, the report shows.
Epstein had been charged with sex trafficking of minors and remained incarcerated, the DOJ announced on July 8.
Schwab informed FinCEN in the July 13 report that it had “concerns with attempted wires for the purpose of real estate, in light of negative media surrounding Jeffrey Epstein” and worries about him potentially being a flight risk before a bail hearing.
“This investigation is the result of an internal referral,” the document shows Schwab stating.
While Epstein’s transaction failed to complete, the Bin Ennakhil palace — meaning “amidst the palms” — in Marrakesh is no longer unoccupied.
“The property has since been sold to another buyer,” Leon informed Reuters.
Basketball fans tuned in by the millions for the NBA’s All-Star weekend, generating the highest television viewership numbers in nearly 25 years, league officials revealed Thursday.
A total of 46 million viewers across the United States watched the festivities on NBC and ESPN networks, representing the strongest ratings since 2011 and marking a threefold increase compared to the previous year’s event.
The weekend’s programming included a revamped format featuring Sunday’s USA versus World competition, structured as a mini-tournament with four 12-minute contests. Additional events throughout the weekend included Friday’s celebrity matchup and Rising Stars showcase, along with Saturday’s competitions for three-point shooting, Shooting Stars, and the slam dunk championship.
Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards earned Most Valuable Player recognition during Sunday’s milestone 75th NBA All-Star Game, held at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California. Edwards guided the USA Stars squad to victory over USA Stripes with a decisive 47-21 final score.
Television ratings for Super Bowl LX received an upward revision from Nielsen, pushing total viewership to 125.6 million people.
Initial reports showed the Seattle Seahawks’ championship win against the New England Patriots drew 124.9 million viewers when combining audiences from NBC, Peacock, Telemundo and various digital streaming services. According to Nielsen, the adjustment became necessary after discovering that a Big Data collection company failed to properly gather viewing information from its equipment during the February 8 game.
Despite the increased numbers, Super Bowl LX remains in second place for all-time viewership, falling short of the previous year’s championship game that attracted a record-breaking 127.7 million watchers. The Seahawks’ commanding 29-13 triumph did achieve milestone status as NBC’s most-watched broadcast ever, generating a combined household rating average of 39.7.
FRANKFURT – JPMorgan’s European division faces a substantial financial penalty after banking regulators discovered years of incorrect capital reporting, officials announced Thursday.
The European Central Bank imposed a 12.18 million euro fine (equivalent to $14.32 million) on the American banking giant’s European operations for improperly calculating and reporting their capital requirements over an extended period.
According to the ECB’s findings, the violations spanned from 2019 through 2024, during which JPMorgan consistently underreported the risk levels of certain assets on their books.
“Between 2019 and 2024, the bank reported lower risk-weighted assets than it should have done,” the ECB said. “This occurred because, for 15 consecutive quarters, the bank misclassified corporate exposures and applied a lower risk-weight for credit risk to them than what banking rules prescribe.”
Banking officials also determined that JPMorgan inappropriately left out specific transactions when computing their risk-weighted assets, further compounding the reporting errors.
The financial institution has the option to appeal this regulatory decision through the Court of Justice of the European Union.
In response to the penalty, JPMorgan accepted responsibility for the violations and confirmed they have addressed the underlying problems.
“J.P. Morgan SE proactively identified and self-reported the issues, which have now been fully remediated,” a spokesperson said in a statement.
“JPMSE has consistently maintained strong capital buffers, and our robust, prudent approach to capitalization remains unchanged.”
The penalty represents the latest enforcement action by European banking authorities as they continue monitoring compliance with post-financial crisis regulations designed to ensure banks maintain adequate capital reserves.
Brazil’s transportation leadership is pushing to make it easier for airlines to access government-backed financing through a multi-billion dollar aviation fund, according to official government documents.
Transportation Minister Silvio Costa Filho sent a formal request to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad last week seeking to relax loan requirements for the National Civil Aviation Fund (FNAC), which is set to distribute approximately $765 million beginning in 2026.
“It will be necessary to adjust the resolution to make FNAC credit more attractive,” Costa Filho wrote in an official letter to Finance Minister Fernando Haddad.
The February 13 correspondence, reviewed by Reuters, outlines several significant modifications to current lending terms. The proposals would broaden loan eligibility beyond aircraft purchases to include pilot training and aviation worker education programs. Currently, the fund only supports buying domestically-built planes, engines, parts and related equipment.
Another major change would dramatically increase financing limits from 10% to 30% of an aircraft’s total value. The proposal also seeks explicit permission for airlines to use loan money for contractual guarantees.
Brazil’s leading aircraft manufacturer Embraer stands to gain from the expanded government-supported financing options.
The minister additionally wants to reduce regional flight requirements that airlines must meet to qualify for funding. His plan would cut the mandatory annual flight increase in Brazil’s Amazon and northeastern areas from 30% to 15% compared to pre-financing request levels. Alternatively, airlines could ensure 17.5% of total yearly departures serve those regions, down from the current 20% requirement.
Neither the transportation ministry nor finance ministry provided immediate responses regarding the proposal’s timeline or review process by Brazil’s National Monetary Council, the country’s primary economic policy authority.
The lending program emerged in October following sustained airline industry lobbying. Government officials justified the support as necessary recovery assistance after COVID-19 impacts on aircraft purchases, maintenance operations, and sustainable fuel acquisition.
Brazil’s aviation market is dominated by three major carriers: Gol, LATAM, and Azul, ranked by market share.
The fund offers loans at 6.5% to 7.5% annual interest rates depending on the credit type, significantly below Brazil’s 15% benchmark rate.
Federal agriculture officials have announced higher prices for three major crops – corn, soybeans, and wheat – during the Department of Agriculture’s annual Agricultural Outlook Forum, with the increases tied to anticipated changes in farming patterns.
The department’s chief economist Justin Benavidez announced a reduction in total expected planted acreage of approximately 1.5 million acres for the 2026 growing season. According to Benavidez, the most significant development involves farmers switching between corn and soybean plantings.
“The big story here, the swap between corn and bean acres, leaving us with about 94 million acres of,” Benavidez stated during the forum presentation.
These projected shifts in crop allocation are driving the upward price adjustments across the three commodity markets, reflecting supply and demand expectations for the coming growing seasons.
Cattle ranchers across the Oklahoma panhandle and southwest Kansas are beginning the difficult process of assessing damage after a massive wildfire tore through their operations this week.
According to Michael Kelsey, who serves as executive vice president of the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association, the blaze known as the Ranger Road fire has consumed approximately 285,000 acres across the two-state region.
“There are some big ranches up there and they’re still going to find” additional damage as they continue surveying the affected areas, Kelsey stated.
The agricultural official indicated that multiple livestock producers throughout the region are now working to rebuild and recover from the extensive fire damage that swept through their properties.
The nation’s red meat industry experienced a challenging start to 2026, with January production figures showing a notable decline from the previous year.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture, commercial red meat production reached 4.58 billion pounds in January 2026, representing a 4% decrease compared to January 2025 levels. The monthly totals broke down to 2.45 billion pounds of pork production and 2.119 billion pounds of beef production.
Industry analysts point to reduced slaughter numbers for both cattle and hogs across all categories as the primary driver behind the production shortfall. Weather conditions and the availability of market-ready livestock both played significant roles in the January decline.
The production decrease reflects ongoing challenges facing livestock producers as they navigate seasonal weather patterns and manage their herds for optimal market timing.
Indiana’s animal health authorities are bracing for another tough battle against bird flu as wild bird migration season gets underway. The Indiana State Board of Animal Health has already confirmed four fresh cases of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza this month, signaling what officials expect will be a difficult 2026 for the state’s poultry sector.
According to Denise Derrer Spears, the timing aligns with typical seasonal patterns. “Mid-February is about the normal time when we start seeing the wild bird migration start up, and that often coincides with our first findings early in [the season],” she explained.
The emergence of new HPAI cases during migration season raises concerns for Indiana’s poultry producers, as migrating waterfowl and other wild birds serve as primary carriers of the deadly virus that can devastate commercial flocks.
Recent federal data indicates that robust market demand continues to impact ethanol inventory levels across the United States. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, current ethanol reserves stand at 25.588 million barrels, marking the peak level observed since mid-January.
Weekly figures demonstrate a mixed picture for the biofuel industry. While stockpiles increased by 340,000 barrels from the previous week, they remain 630,000 barrels below levels recorded during the same period last year.
Export activity has shown notable strength, with daily shipments averaging 177,000 barrels. This represents a substantial weekly increase of 40,000 barrels and a year-over-year gain of 39,000 barrels, highlighting growing international appetite for American-produced ethanol.
Seniors in Elkton will need to head to a different location for their regular activities starting next week.
The Elkton Senior Activity Center is moving temporarily to the Elk Room while contractors complete heating and air conditioning repairs at the main facility.
The relocation begins Monday, February 9, 2026, according to Cecil County officials.
All regular programming and activities will continue at the temporary Elk Room location during the construction period.
Maryland watermen will get additional time to harvest oysters this spring after state officials announced a two-week extension to the wild oyster season, pushing the end date from March 31 to April 14.
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources approved the extension to assist commercial harvesters who lost valuable work days when frigid January and February temperatures created ice coverage across much of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.
All existing equipment restrictions and daily catch limits will stay in place during the extended period. However, handscraping operations in hand tong areas will not be allowed under the new timeline.
“Maryland’s watermen have faced a difficult oyster season after recent declines in market demand and ice on waterways blocked access to traditional harvest areas,” stated DNR Secretary Josh Kurtz. “This oyster season extension will give them additional opportunities to boost their livelihoods and the local communities where they live. DNR made this decision after extensive conversations with industry stakeholders and scientists. Coordinated oyster restoration and management efforts led by DNR have resulted in a multi-year increase of the overall oyster population in Maryland. We are confident that extending the season will not affect the ongoing resurgence of oysters in the Bay and local rivers.”
The decision comes during a period of remarkable recovery for Maryland’s oyster populations, which have reached their strongest levels in over two decades. Recent state assessments show adult oyster numbers in Maryland waters have more than tripled since 2005, jumping from 2.4 billion to 7.6 billion oysters.
Fall surveys tracking oyster reproduction have documented strong breeding success for the fifth straight year in 2024 and 2025, following an exceptional 2023 season when baby oyster populations reached levels not observed in a generation. Scientists recorded approximately 87 young oysters per bushel in 2023, nearly four times the typical median of 23.6 per bushel.
The State Oyster Committee, made up of representatives from county oyster committees, initially requested the season extension. The chair of DNR’s Tidal Fish Advisory Commission, which includes commercial watermen and seafood dealers, reviewed and endorsed the proposal before forwarding it to DNR leadership.
State crews worked continuously this winter to break ice formations using two different vessels, keeping navigation channels open and helping watermen reach fishing areas. Despite round-the-clock ice-breaking efforts, the severe cold caused waters to refreeze quickly, leaving many commercial boats docked and unable to operate.
The extension also addresses challenging market conditions that have affected watermen beyond weather problems. Despite abundant oysters available for harvest, buyers have significantly reduced their purchasing, with many watermen reporting that dealers are only buying oysters one day per week or less frequently over the past two years.
Residents can support local watermen and fishing communities by purchasing Maryland oysters from seafood markets and restaurants throughout the region.
Secretary Kurtz officially approved the two-week extension on Thursday, with DNR posting public notification on its website the same day. The new regulation takes effect February 23, 2026, and covers all commercial oyster harvesting equipment types through April 14, 2026.
Maryland’s Department of Health, Department of the Environment, and DNR work together continuously to ensure oyster-growing waters meet safety standards for shellfish harvesting under the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. This federal program requires regular testing of shellfish waters and oversight of harvesting and processing to guarantee oysters are safe for consumption.
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears’ possible relocation to Indiana gained significant momentum Thursday when state legislators unanimously endorsed legislation to establish a stadium development authority.
Indiana’s House Ways and Means Committee voted 24-0 to approve creating the Northwest Indiana Stadium Authority, which would handle financing, building, and leasing a new stadium facility. The NFL franchise is evaluating property near Wolf Lake in Hammond, Indiana.
“The passage of SB 27 would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date,” the team said in a statement. “We are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana.”
Republican Governor Mike Braun and Indiana legislators have actively courted the historic NFL team while Illinois continues struggling with its own stadium development efforts spanning several years. Notably, the Bears made no reference to Illinois in their Thursday statement.
Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers abruptly canceled a scheduled Thursday morning hearing on legislation that would permit the Bears and other major developers to negotiate extended property tax agreements with local authorities.
“Illinois was ready to move this bill forward,” Matt Hill, a spokesman for Gov. JB Pritzker posted on X. “After a productive three-hour meeting yesterday, the Bears leaders requested the (Illinois General Assembly) pause the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill. This morning, we were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois.”
The franchise has shifted its stadium plans multiple times between property it owns in Arlington Heights, Chicago’s lakefront area, and back to the suburban location.
Team officials have indicated they would finance stadium construction at the former racetrack site roughly 30 miles northwest of Soldier Field, though they require public assistance to complete the development.
A consultant study released in September revealed the team is requesting $855 million in public infrastructure funding for an Arlington Heights stadium capable of hosting Final Four tournaments and Super Bowl games. The Bears had hoped Illinois would pass legislation last October freezing property taxes for major construction projects, enabling them to start building in 2025, but that effort failed.
In September 2022, the Bears announced a nearly $5 billion Arlington Heights development plan including dining, shopping, and entertainment venues while finalizing their purchase of that location.
The team’s attention shifted toward constructing a new facility adjacent to Soldier Field after Kevin Warren joined as president three years ago, replacing retiring Ted Phillips. The Museum Campus transformation proposal received strong support from Mayor Brandon Johnson but lukewarm response from Pritzker and state lawmakers when unveiled in April 2024.
Last spring, the organization announced returning focus to Arlington Heights, citing “significant progress” with local officials.
Since relocating to Chicago in 1921, the Bears have never owned their home venue, playing at Wrigley Field from 1921 to 1970 before moving to Soldier Field.
The head of NASA delivered sharp criticism Thursday toward Boeing and space agency leadership regarding the failed Starliner mission that resulted in two astronauts being stranded at the International Space Station for an extended period.
Administrator Jared Isaacman pointed to inadequate leadership and flawed decision-making at Boeing as the root causes of Starliner’s failures. He also criticized NASA management for not stepping in sooner to bring astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams home more rapidly.
The two former test pilots, who have since retired from NASA, remained at the space station for over nine months before returning to Earth aboard a SpaceX vehicle in March.
According to Isaacman, the issues plaguing Starliner need to be thoroughly analyzed and resolved before any future crewed missions can proceed.
Isaacman elevated the classification of Starliner’s problematic maiden crewed voyage to a “Type A mishap,” a designation reserved for incidents that pose potential crew danger. This classification places it in the same category as the Challenger and Columbia shuttle tragedies, which also involved organizational and leadership failures. Isaacman argued that the mission should have received this serious classification from the beginning, noting that internal pressures to maintain Boeing’s involvement and stay on schedule prevented proper oversight.
“This is just about doing the right thing,” he stated. “This is about getting the record straight.”
Engine malfunctions and additional technical issues nearly prevented Wilmore and Williams from successfully docking with the space station after their 2024 launch. Boeing continues to analyze the thruster problems.
“We almost did have a really terrible day,” commented NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya, alluding to the possibility of crew fatalities.
Boeing responded that NASA’s findings will assist the company in advancing crew safety measures and emphasized its commitment to continuing the Starliner program.
No schedule has been established for Boeing’s next Starliner launch, which would be an unmanned cargo mission serving as another safety demonstration before resuming astronaut flights. This indefinite grounding means SpaceX remains the sole American provider of astronaut transportation services.
“Boeing has made substantial progress on corrective actions for technical challenges we encountered and driven significant cultural changes across the team,” the company stated.
Boeing’s Starliner difficulties preceded this problematic crewed mission. The initial unmanned test flight in 2019 reached an incorrect orbit, necessitating a second attempt that encountered its own complications.
Following the retirement of the space shuttle program, NASA contracted both Boeing and SpaceX in 2014 to provide astronaut transportation to and from the orbiting laboratory. These multi-billion dollar agreements have seen SpaceX successfully complete 13 crew missions to the space station since 2020.
Kshatriya acknowledged that NASA must improve its oversight going forward.
“We have to own our part of this,” he said. Regarding Wilmore and Williams, “We failed them.”
A remarkable convergence of religious observances has highlighted the spiritual diversity within Kosovo this week, as both Christian and Muslim residents began their respective periods of fasting and devotion.
The simultaneous beginning of the Catholic Lenten season and the Islamic month of Ramadan represents an uncommon alignment that occurs roughly once every three decades, fostering interfaith harmony and mutual respect.
The Balkan country, home to 2 million residents with over 90% identifying as Muslim, continues to heal from the devastating 1998-99 conflict that claimed 13,000 lives during its fight for independence from Serbia, which is predominantly Orthodox Christian. Kosovo’s ethnic Albanian leadership has committed to fostering religious and ethnic harmony in the aftermath of that war.
Catholic worshippers assembled Wednesday evening at Pristina’s Mother Teresa Cathedral, where they received the traditional ash marking on their foreheads as a sign of penitence and humility.
For Catholics, this ceremony launches the 40-day Lenten journey of prayer, contemplation, and fasting leading up to Easter. Similarly, Ramadan began Thursday in Kosovo, initiating the Islamic period of heightened devotion culminating in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr.
“It is a special opportunity that this year we have Lent and Ramadan together,” Catholic believer Dode Palukaj observed. “What unites us is fasting, shared prayer, solidarity and love.”
The timing of these observances aligns approximately every three decades. Ramadan follows the Islamic lunar calendar as its ninth month, with its beginning traditionally determined by moon sighting, which can differ between nations.
Father Agim Qerkini, Pristina’s Catholic priest, celebrated Kosovo’s long history of religious acceptance, emphasizing that current divisions stem from ethnic rather than faith-based conflicts.
“Faith is what enriched us for many centuries,” Father Qerkini stated. “It is a reality we are proud of, precisely because our history, as we all know, has faced many different hardships.”
Serbia continues to reject Kosovo’s 2008 independence declaration, creating ongoing regional instability in the Balkans.
In the historically diverse southern city of Prizren, Muslim resident Varis Hashimi has dedicated himself to preserving a custom from the Ottoman era.
Throughout Ramadan, Hashimi climbs daily to an ancient fortress overlooking Prizren to launch fireworks, signaling the conclusion of each day’s fast. This tradition brings families together for their evening meals.
Community members recall that cannons once served this purpose. On Thursday evening, Hashimi made his first ascent of the season, lighting fireworks against the sunset sky.
“The idea is to revive an old tradition,” Hashimi explained.
Below in the city, mosque calls for Iftar resonated throughout Prizren, marking the end of the daily fast as local restaurants welcomed their first customers of the evening.
MADISON, Wis. — After serving a record-breaking tenure as Wisconsin’s Assembly Speaker, Republican leader Robin Vos declared Thursday he will step down when the year concludes, ending his 22-year legislative career.
Speaking from the Assembly floor, Vos announced his departure following 14 years in the speaker’s role, a period marked by intense political battles and friction with former President Donald Trump over Wisconsin’s 2020 election results.
Throughout his time in office, Vos navigated Wisconsin through politically charged years when the swing state became nationally recognized for restricting union influence, serving as a crucial presidential battleground, and experiencing heated redistricting disputes over GOP-favorable electoral maps that Vos championed.
Democratic critics viewed Vos as an unofficial shadow governor who strategically leveraged his legislative control to create governmental gridlock while pushing conservative policies and preventing Democrats from achieving meaningful wins.
Republican allies praised Vos as a calculating political strategist who successfully outplayed opponents across party lines, establishing himself as one of Wisconsin’s most powerful GOP figures in recent decades.
Speaking with The Associated Press, Vos predicted Democrats will be “happy that I’m gone,” while warning his conservative critics: “You’re going to miss me.”
During former GOP Governor Scott Walker’s administration, Vos proved instrumental in advancing major conservative initiatives, including the controversial 2011 Act 10 legislation that virtually eliminated collective bargaining rights for most government employees. He also spearheaded efforts to enact multiple tax reductions, right-to-work legislation, and voter identification mandates — all measures Democrats fiercely opposed.
Following Tony Evers’ 2018 gubernatorial victory over Walker and the departure of the top Senate Republican to Congress two years afterward, Vos became the undisputed leader of state GOP forces and a primary target for liberal opposition.
Over the past seven years, Vos effectively blocked most of Evers’ policy initiatives. He even undermined Evers before the governor took office in 2019 by pushing through lame-duck legislation that stripped executive powers.
“I’ve been tenacious and I’ve fought for what our caucus wants,” Vos stated.
Vos and his Republican colleagues repeatedly dismissed Evers’ special legislative sessions and successfully challenged gubernatorial authority during the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. His legal challenge against Evers’ stay-at-home directive made Wisconsin the first state where courts struck down a governor’s pandemic restrictions.
However, Vos faced criticism from within his own party, particularly from Trump, who accused him of inadequately investigating Wisconsin’s 2020 election outcome. While Vos eventually commissioned a former conservative state Supreme Court justice to examine the election, he later terminated the investigation amid bipartisan backlash over conspiracy theories and failure to uncover evidence of significant fraud.
This investigation represented an unusual political stumble for Vos, who now supports revoking the former justice’s legal credentials. Vos has consistently called hiring Gableman his greatest political error.
Trump backed Vos’s 2022 primary opponent, and supporters launched multiple failed recall campaigns against him. Vos dismissed his critics as “whack jobs and morons” while successfully defending his position to become Wisconsin’s longest-serving speaker, surpassing Democrat Tom Loftus’s 1983-1991 record.
Under Vos’s leadership and Republican-drawn district maps, the GOP majority expanded until the state Supreme Court mandated new boundaries in 2023, leading to Democratic gains in recent elections. Republican seats peaked at 64 under Vos but will drop to 54 in his final year.
While Democrats express optimism about capturing the majority this year, Vos maintains confidence that Republicans will retain control despite his departure from leadership.
The 57-year-old Vos first won his Assembly seat in 2004 and gained the speakership in 2013, achieving the longest-serving speaker milestone in 2021.
Vos disclosed he experienced a mild heart attack in November, which he kept private until Thursday’s announcement, though he emphasized this health scare didn’t drive his retirement decision.
“It was the tap on the shoulder that I needed to make sure that my decision is right,” he explained.
While calling a future candidacy “unlikely,” Vos didn’t completely dismiss the possibility of seeking office again.
Notably, Vos shared college living quarters with Reince Priebus, who later chaired the Republican National Committee in 2016 and served as Trump’s initial White House chief of staff.
Governor Evers, despite their frequently adversarial relationship, acknowledged that Vos’s departure “marks the end of an era in Wisconsin politics.”
“Although we’ve disagreed more often than we didn’t, I respect his candor, his ability to navigate complex policies and conversations, and his unrivaled passion for politics,” Evers commented.
Democratic Congressman Mark Pocan, who served alongside Vos in the legislature and maintained their friendship despite political differences, described him as a “formidable opponent” and “probably the most intelligent and strategic Assembly speaker I have seen.”
Democratic leaders have selected Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger to present their party’s official response following President Donald Trump’s State of the Union speech scheduled for next Tuesday evening.
Spanberger’s selection comes just months after she made history by becoming Virginia’s first woman to hold the governor’s office, defeating her Republican opponent by a significant double-digit margin in the recent election.
The Democratic counter-speech will air immediately after Trump concludes his remarks to Congress, providing the opposition party with their most prominent platform to present an alternative vision to the nation.
Before assuming the governor’s mansion, Spanberger represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives for six years. Her successful gubernatorial campaign focused heavily on making life more affordable for working families and reducing everyday expenses.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer praised the selection in a prepared statement, saying Spanberger “will lay out a clear path forward: lower everyday costs, protect healthcare, and defend the freedoms that define who we are as a nation.”
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the choice, describing Spanberger as someone who “embodies the best of America as a mother, community leader and dedicated public servant.”
During her campaign, Spanberger frequently criticized the administration’s efforts to reduce the federal workforce, a message that resonated strongly in Virginia due to its large population of government employees.
At her swearing-in ceremony, she addressed federal workers directly, stating: “Those who have devoted their lives to public service, you are worried about an administration that is gilding buildings while schools crumble, breaking the social safety net and sowing fear across our communities. Betraying the values of who we are as Americans.”
Virginia’s substantial federal employee base was severely impacted by last year’s historic government shutdown, which left thousands of workers without paychecks for several weeks.
Currently, another partial government shutdown is underway as congressional Democrats and the White House remain deadlocked over Department of Homeland Security funding. The shutdown, which started Saturday, appears likely to continue through Tuesday’s presidential address with no resolution in sight.
Spanberger brings unique credentials to the role, having previously worked as a CIA case officer before entering politics. She has built her political brand around her national security background and public service experience.
The governor also emphasizes her role as a mother whose daughters attended Virginia’s public schools and her reputation as a former House member who frequently collaborated across party lines.
Since taking office, Spanberger has indicated willingness to cooperate with the president on areas of mutual agreement while also delivering sharper criticism of White House policies.
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department building in the nation’s capital now displays a prominent banner showing President Donald Trump’s image on its exterior, installed Thursday as a visible representation of the administration’s influence over the federal law enforcement agency.
Though similar banners have appeared on other federal buildings throughout Washington, placing one on the Justice Department represents a notable break from the agency’s historical practice of maintaining separation from direct White House influence.
Positioned between two building columns, the banner displays the message “Make America Safe Again,” reflecting the administration’s emphasis on combating illegal immigration and reducing violent crime.
Current Attorney General Pam Bondi has positioned herself as a strong ally of the president, departing from previous attorneys general who maintained greater distance from the White House to preserve the neutrality of legal proceedings and investigations.
Administration officials have pushed back against claims of politicizing the Justice Department, arguing instead that the previous Biden administration compromised law enforcement integrity through two federal criminal prosecutions of Trump that were ultimately dropped following his 2024 electoral victory.
The Justice Department has not yet provided a response regarding Thursday’s banner installation.
Under the current administration, the Justice Department has launched investigations targeting several individuals the president has criticized, raising questions about potential political motivations behind enforcement actions.
Federal prosecutors have filed charges against New York Attorney General Letitia James and former FBI Director James Comey, though these cases were subsequently dropped. Separately, efforts were made to pursue indictments against Democratic Congress members related to a video encouraging military personnel to resist “illegal orders.”
Additional ongoing investigations include examining Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s congressional testimony and reviewing whether Minnesota Democratic officials interfered with federal immigration enforcement through their public statements.
Two key Chicago Bulls guards appear ready to make their comeback Thursday when Toronto visits, as both Josh Giddey and Tre Jones have been marked as probable for the matchup.
The duo has been recovering from hamstring injuries that kept them off the court for extended periods.
Giddey’s absence has stretched across eight consecutive games following a setback he suffered during Chicago’s matchup with Indiana on January 28th. The injury originally occurred December 29th in a contest against Minnesota, which had already forced him to sit out 11 straight games.
The 23-year-old guard is enjoying his strongest statistical season, posting personal bests with 18.6 points per game alongside 8.8 assists and 8.6 rebounds through 34 appearances, including 31 as a starter.
Throughout his professional career spanning 314 games with Oklahoma City and Chicago, Giddey has contributed 14.6 points, 7.6 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per contest. The Thunder selected him sixth overall in the 2021 draft before he joined the Bulls.
Jones, 26, last took the court January 22nd and has been productive this season with 12.4 points and 5.8 assists per game across 38 contests. His 1.3 steals per game leads the team, and he has started 20 games this year.
The national pharmacy chain Walgreens is eliminating more than 600 positions throughout the country after its recent acquisition by private equity company Sycamore Partners, according to a Bloomberg News report published Thursday that referenced internal company correspondence.
According to the report, the pharmacy giant is eliminating 469 positions in Illinois while planning to cut an additional 159 jobs in Texas, where the company is shutting down a distribution facility.
Reuters reached out to Walgreens for a statement but did not receive an immediate response.
The struggling retail chain was purchased by the private equity firm for $10 billion in 2024, following a series of expensive strategic errors and intense competition from discount competitors like Amazon and Walmart that pressured profit margins.
According to the Bloomberg report, Sycamore Partners intends to reduce operational expenses through workforce reductions and eliminating paid holiday benefits for certain workers, while simultaneously working to increase store revenue by introducing new merchandise like electronic cigarettes.
The private equity company focuses on retail and consumer sector investments and has a history of purchasing struggling retail businesses for financial gain, with previous acquisitions including well-known brands like Staples, Talbots, and Nine West.
Healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson is considering selling its orthopedics division rather than spinning it off as a separate company, with the unit potentially worth more than $20 billion, Bloomberg News reported Thursday.
The division, called DePuy Synthes, has attracted attention from major private equity firms who are already evaluating a possible acquisition, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Johnson & Johnson has not yet responded to requests for comment about the potential sale.
The pharmaceutical company announced last year its intention to split off the orthopedics division as an independent entity over the following 18 to 24 months. This move represents J&J’s second significant spinoff in recent years as the company concentrates on faster-growing areas of healthcare.
According to Bloomberg’s report, J&J is currently compiling documentation and financial records for DePuy Synthes ahead of scheduled meetings with prospective purchasers in the upcoming weeks.
Multiple major private equity companies are reportedly considering joining forces to acquire the division, though the sale might also attract competing medical device manufacturers, Bloomberg noted.
DePuy Synthes specializes in manufacturing hip, knee and shoulder replacement devices, surgical tools and related medical products, bringing in $9.3 billion in revenue during 2025.
J&J’s Chief Financial Officer Joe Wolk had previously indicated the company was evaluating various approaches for the separation, with preference given to a tax-free spinoff while keeping other alternatives available.
Wolk also mentioned that the separation process had already begun, and the company doesn’t anticipate providing significant updates on the transaction until the middle of 2026.
A former University of Delaware baseball standout will take the mound for Team Italy when the 2026 World Baseball Classic gets underway this spring.
Ron Marinaccio, who previously pitched for the Blue Hens, has earned a coveted roster spot with the Italian national team for the upcoming international tournament. The selection marks a significant milestone for the Delaware baseball program alumnus.
The World Baseball Classic brings together top players from around the globe to compete for their respective countries in what has become one of baseball’s premier international competitions.
The United States Department of Agriculture has released new data showing a substantial decrease in commercial red meat production nationwide, with output falling 6 percent compared to the previous year.
The decline in livestock processing represents a significant shift in the nation’s meat production industry, according to the latest federal statistics on commercial slaughter operations.
This reduction in red meat production could have implications for both consumers and agricultural communities, including farming operations throughout the Delmarva region where livestock remains an important part of the local economy.
The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service compiled the production figures as part of their regular monitoring of the nation’s food supply chain and agricultural output.
American ethanol exports experienced a remarkable surge in December, concluding what industry officials are calling an exceptionally successful year for the renewable fuel sector.
According to data from the Renewable Fuels Association, the nation shipped 220.3 million gallons of ethanol overseas during December, representing a 4% increase compared to November’s figures. This December total ranks as the second-highest monthly export volume in the industry’s history.
The strong December performance helped drive annual export numbers to 2.18 billion gallons for 2024, breaking previous records for yearly ethanol shipments from the United States.
