Microsoft announced Wednesday it will continue purchasing renewable energy equivalent to all its power consumption after successfully achieving this milestone in 2023, three years ahead of its original 2025 target.
The technology company accomplished this environmental goal by securing contracts for 40 gigawatts of clean energy capacity, primarily through long-term power purchase agreements that help utilities develop new renewable projects.
According to Microsoft, 19 gigawatts of this contracted renewable energy is already feeding into electrical grids, with the remaining capacity expected to come online over the next five years across 26 nations worldwide.
“As we continue to grow we want to maintain that 100%,” said Noelle Walsh, Microsoft’s cloud operations chief, speaking from the company’s West Dublin facility where it established its first international data center in 2009.
Melanie Nakagawa, Microsoft’s Chief Sustainability Officer, explained to Reuters that carbon-free power sources will become increasingly important for maintaining the complete renewable energy match through 2030. She pointed to Microsoft’s 2024 agreement with Constellation Energy to revive a Pennsylvania nuclear facility as an example of this strategy, which supports the company’s goal of becoming carbon negative by decade’s end.
The software giant simultaneously revealed plans for a massive $50 billion investment by 2030 to bring artificial intelligence capabilities to developing nations, with most funding directed toward building cloud computing and AI data centers.
Walsh noted that Ireland’s recent decision to end restrictions on new data center grid connections will help Microsoft address significant unmet demand in the technology-focused nation.
Microsoft anticipates moving forward with previously delayed data center development plans near Dublin once new regulations take effect next month requiring facilities to source at least 80% of their annual power needs from additional renewable sources, according to Eoin Doherty, the company’s EMEA cloud operations director.
Data centers consumed 22% of Ireland’s total electricity in 2024.
The parent company of Snapchat announced Wednesday that its subscription-based business has achieved a $1 billion annual revenue rate, marking a significant milestone as the platform competes with social media giants like TikTok and Instagram.
Snap Inc. reported that more than 25 million users now pay for various premium services, including Snapchat+ subscriptions, the Memories storage feature, and additional in-app purchases.
Facing intense competition from larger platforms owned by TikTok and Meta’s Instagram, the company has been working to diversify its income sources beyond traditional advertising revenue, which still makes up the majority of its earnings.
Last year, CEO Evan Spiegel described the company as being in a “crucible moment” due to slowing quarterly revenue growth, and expressed his goal to transform direct revenue into “a durable multi-billion-dollar growth driver for Snap.”
The company announced Tuesday plans to introduce a new subscription option that will allow content creators to earn steady income directly from their most dedicated followers. This feature will begin testing on February 23 with a select group of U.S.-based Snapchat creators.
Snapchat+, which debuted in 2022, provides users with exclusive customization options such as the ability to pin their closest friends, personalized chat backgrounds, and AI-generated pet avatars called Bitmoji Pets designed to increase user involvement and keep people on the platform longer.
The platform saw its total number of active advertisers increase by 28% during the fourth quarter of last year.
While Snapchat’s daily active user base grew 5% to reach 474 million users in the most recent quarter, the company noted a decline of 3 million users compared to the previous three-month period.
In January, Snap introduced Specs, a separate division focused on developing augmented reality smart glasses, as the company attempts to compete with Meta in the expanding wearable technology sector.
Work will begin again next week on the $16 billion Hudson Tunnel Project after the Trump administration unfroze $127 million in federal funding, New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Wednesday.
The states of New York and New Jersey filed a lawsuit following the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision to hold back $205 million in project funding beginning October 1. This funding stoppage forced construction to stop, leaving 1,000 workers without jobs. The Hudson Tunnel Project is designed to create a new commuter rail tunnel linking Manhattan with New Jersey while also fixing an existing tunnel that’s more than 100 years old and serves over 200,000 passengers and 425 trains each day.
Heat treatment of colostrum has emerged as a widespread practice among dairy operations caring for newborn calves, according to an industry expert. Cora Okkema, who serves as Great Lakes Territory Manager for Dairy Tech and specializes in colostrum management, reports that this process has become standard protocol on numerous farming operations.
Speaking with Brownfield, Okkema explained that the heat treatment process significantly reduces dangerous bacterial levels that could harm vulnerable newborn calves. She emphasized the importance of protecting young animals during their most critical developmental phase, noting that introducing harmful pathogens is the last thing farmers want to do when calves are at their most susceptible stage.
Through traffic will be blocked on a stretch of Beaver Dam Drive this Thursday afternoon as city crews continue work on a major water system upgrade.
The roadway will be shut down at North Park Drive between East Main Street and Hillside Drive from 12 p.m. until 4 p.m. on February 19th. People who live on North Park Drive, East Main Street, Hillside Drive and Beaver Dam Drive can still get to their homes with help from traffic control personnel, but everyone else will need to find different routes.
Both Ben’s Red Swings and the Salisbury Zoo will stay open during the work. While the zoo entrance near Ben’s Red Swings at the intersection with South Park Drive will have some blockages through Friday, visitors can still find parking spots. The main zoo entrance at South Park Drive with the traffic circle leading to Memorial Plaza should remain clear.
This temporary shutdown is connected to a large-scale infrastructure upgrade by Salisbury’s Department of Water Works to install a new raw water pipeline that moves water from the city’s well system to its treatment facility.
The massive undertaking spans roughly 3,300 feet and involves installing pipes of various sizes from 24 inches down to 8 inches in diameter. Some sections will require special drilling techniques, including boring underneath the river. The current raw water pipeline system has components dating back nearly 100 years to 1925 and needs replacement to maintain dependable water service. City officials previously had to replace a section near the treatment plant in 2006 when it failed. This current effort will swap out the rest of the main pipeline, connecting pipes and valves linked to operating wells.
Work crews are designing the construction to avoid disrupting the current raw water system, well connections or active wells. The replacement main will connect to existing infrastructure, but control valves will stay shut until the changeover is finished. New well connections will be built individually to coordinate well shutdowns when making the final hookups.
City park users should expect some disruption to walking trails that go through City Park and by the Salisbury Zoo during construction periods. The work started near the Dog Park and Tennis Courts area and will move along the East Branch waterway past Memorial Plaza.
Officials expect the entire infrastructure project to wrap up by autumn 2026. City leaders are asking for public patience while this critical infrastructure work moves forward.
Three western states filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday demanding the Trump administration distribute congressionally approved grants for renewable energy initiatives that have been frozen by the new administration.
California, Colorado and Washington launched the legal challenge after the Trump administration halted funding previously allocated through environmental legislation, including the Inflation Reduction Act, according to California’s attorney general’s office. The funding freeze represents part of a wider administration strategy to reduce support for renewable energy sources like wind and solar power while focusing on boosting domestic oil production.
California stands to lose $1.2 billion in federal support for its Alliance for Renewable Clean Hydrogen Energy Systems (ARCHES) program, which was designed to transition utilities, public transportation, trucking operations and ports away from fossil fuel dependency, according to Attorney General Rob Bonta.
The states argue that federal agencies are legally obligated to implement congressional legislation. “Congress has the power of the purse, not the executive branch, and Congress already appropriated this funding,” Bonta explained during a Tuesday interview before the lawsuit announcement. “It’s as simple as” federal agencies must follow the law, he added.
This legal action represents the latest in an ongoing series of court challenges California and other states have mounted against Trump administration policies across multiple policy areas.
The pork industry is experiencing a welcome turnaround after several challenging years, according to a farm manager in western Iowa who oversees extensive swine operations.
Aaron Juergens, who supervises more than 100,000 nursery and finishing pig spaces at Sunburst Valley Farms located near Carroll, reports that improved financial returns are lifting spirits throughout the sector.
“It was a better year for pork producers. There was money being made and that was due to the fact that we’ve been working really hard,” Juergens explained.
The positive developments come as increased market demand has helped the industry recover from previous difficulties that had impacted producer profits and overall industry confidence.
Agricultural commodity markets experienced mixed trading results during Tuesday’s session, with grain futures showing divergent movements across different crops.
Corn futures for March delivery advanced by three-quarters of a cent, settling at $4.27 per bushel. Meanwhile, March soybean contracts declined by half a cent to finish at $11.33 and a half per bushel.
Soybean-related products moved in opposite directions, as March soybean meal futures dropped $1.90 to close at $303.90, while soybean oil contracts for March gained 130 points to reach 58.59.
Wheat markets showed strength, with March Chicago wheat futures climbing 9 and a quarter cents to end at $5.47 per bushel.
Livestock futures predominantly trended lower during the session. April live cattle contracts fell 27 cents to $242.52, while March feeder cattle dropped 40 cents to $370.57. However, April lean hog futures bucked the downward trend, rising 25 cents to close at $92.55.
The trading data reflects ongoing market volatility as agricultural commodities respond to various supply and demand factors affecting both domestic and international markets.
The United States men’s hockey team has earned a chance to compete for an Olympic medal after defeating Sweden in a nail-biting quarterfinal match that required overtime to decide the winner.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes delivered the decisive goal in the extra period, sending Team USA into the semifinals where they will face Slovakia. The dramatic victory keeps American medal hopes alive at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy.
Meanwhile, Canada also survived a tight contest in their quarterfinal matchup, advancing to take on Finland in the other semifinal game. Both North American teams now find themselves just two wins away from Olympic gold.
The semifinal round will determine which four nations will compete for medals, with the winners advancing to the gold medal game and the losers meeting for bronze.
Operations at Newark Liberty International Airport faced delays Wednesday evening when a JetBlue aircraft experienced mechanical problems during departure and had to make an emergency return.
JetBlue Flight 543, an Airbus A320 destined for West Palm Beach, Florida, encountered engine trouble shortly after takeoff around 5:55 p.m. Eastern Time. The flight crew detected smoke in the cockpit and made the decision to head back to Newark immediately.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, all passengers and crew members safely exited the aircraft on a taxiway using emergency evacuation slides. Airport officials confirmed that no one sustained injuries during the incident.
The emergency situation prompted the FAA to temporarily halt some incoming flights to Newark while crews responded to the scene. Federal investigators will now examine what caused the engine malfunction on the Florida-bound flight.
MILAN, Feb 18 – Wednesday’s Olympic men’s hockey quarter-finals delivered heart-stopping overtime action, setting up compelling semifinal matchups as Canada prepares to face defending champion Finland and the United States gets ready to take on Slovakia.
The return of NHL stars to Olympic competition for the first time in a decade has kept hopes alive for a highly anticipated final showdown between longtime rivals Canada and the United States, while Finland continues defending their title and Slovakia pursues their first-ever gold medal game appearance.
Both semifinal contests are set for Friday at Milan’s Santagiulia Arena.
Canada entered as tournament favorites and reinforced that status during group play, scoring five goals against both Czech Republic and Switzerland while allowing just one, then demolishing France 10-2.
Despite topping their group, Canada faced the Czech Republic again in quarter-final action, where they trailed 3-2 late in regulation before tying the game and getting Mitch Marner’s overtime winner just 82 seconds into the extra period.
The close call may serve as a crucial reality check for Canada heading into their clash with Finland, whose resilient spirit powered a remarkable comeback victory over Switzerland.
Finland’s roster includes only one player from their 2022 championship team – Mikko Lehtonen, their lone non-NHL representative – yet they’ve demonstrated Olympic excellence by earning medals in four of the past five Games.
The defending champions started poorly, falling 4-1 to Slovakia before rebounding with a 4-1 victory over Sweden and an 11-0 rout of host Italy.
Those victories secured automatic advancement to the quarterfinals as the top second-place finisher, but Finland faced elimination when Switzerland built a two-goal advantage with under seven minutes remaining.
Two late equalizers and Artturi Lehkonen’s breakaway overtime goal in extra time preserved Finland’s tournament hopes, showcasing the determination they’ll need against Canada.
SLOVAKIAN SURPRISE
Slovakia entered with modest expectations despite their 2022 bronze medal but announced their presence with that early upset of Finland.
After defeating Italy and falling 5-3 to Sweden, a late goal against the Swedes gave Slovakia the group lead on goal differential, bypassing the playoff round and earning a favorable quarterfinal draw.
Slovakia handled Germany easily in a 6-2 quarterfinal victory.
Standing in their path is a United States team hungry for their first gold since 1980, after nearly squandering their opportunity against Sweden.
The Americans cruised through group stage with victories over Latvia 5-1, Denmark 6-3, and Germany, despite allowing Denmark to score first.
Wednesday’s Swedish quarterfinal proved far more challenging. The U.S. grabbed a second-period lead but couldn’t create separation, keeping Sweden within striking distance throughout.
A Swedish equalizer in the final minute forced three-on-three overtime, but Quinn Hughes scored the decisive goal to send the Americans through.
Charlotte Hornets star LaMelo Ball escaped injury Wednesday afternoon following a two-vehicle collision in downtown Charlotte, a source with knowledge of the incident confirmed.
The source provided information to The Associated Press under anonymity as they lacked authorization to publicly discuss accident specifics.
Officials had not yet released a police report regarding the incident.
Television footage from WSOC-TV captured Ball’s custom camouflage Hummer striking another vehicle as he traveled through an intersection just before 5 p.m. Additional video showed the NBA player, dressed in a teal Hornets sweatshirt, exiting his damaged vehicle and departing in a different car while officers remained at the scene.
Details about the second driver remained unavailable, though footage revealed that person calmly stepped out and approached Ball’s truck after the impact. The collision left Ball’s Hummer with a completely detached front left wheel.
The team had completed practice sessions earlier Wednesday.
The Hornets, riding high with victories in 10 of their previous 11 contests, are set to face the Houston Rockets Thursday evening in their first game following the All-Star break.
This incident adds Ball’s name to a growing list of Charlotte-area professional athletes involved in traffic accidents.
Panthers former quarterback Cam Newton suffered spinal fractures in a 2014 rollover crash that flipped his dark pickup truck close to Bank of America Stadium — occurring within a mile of Ball’s Wednesday accident location.
Additionally, current Panthers backup quarterback Andy Dalton sustained a thumb injury during a Charlotte two-car accident in 2024.
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military confirmed Thursday that future presidential aircraft will sport a patriotic red, white, gold and dark blue paint design, fulfilling President Donald Trump’s vision for a new look.
Air Force officials announced the updated color scheme will be applied to the new aircraft being prepared to serve as Air Force One, along with smaller jets used to transport senior government officials.
Military officials unveiled a design rendering that mirrors an aircraft model previously displayed in the Oval Office during meetings with international dignitaries.
Boeing is currently working to modify two 747-800 aircraft intended to replace the current pair of older Boeing 747-200 planes that transport the president and carry the Air Force One designation when he’s on board.
Back in 2018, Trump had ordered the replacement of the famous Kennedy-era blue and white livery with a different white and navy design. His original plan called for a white upper section and dark blue lower portion, including the aircraft’s belly, with a dark red stripe extending from nose to tail. The proposed design closely resembled Trump’s private aircraft.
However, Air Force analysts determined the darker paint colors would drive up expenses and push back delivery schedules for the new presidential jets. President Joe Biden subsequently canceled the redesign in March 2023.
Speaking to media last month, Trump expressed his preference, saying “we want power blue, not baby blue,” in reference to the current aircraft’s appearance.
“Everything has its time and place. We’ll be changing the colors,” Trump stated.
The Air Force announcement indicates a third Boeing 747-8i aircraft will receive the same patriotic paint treatment.
Last May, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth officially received a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar for presidential use, though the acceptance of this costly gift from a foreign government raised ethical and legal concerns.
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink informed Congress in June that security upgrades for the aircraft would cost under $400 million, though he didn’t provide specific details about the modifications.
Federal investigators are conducting private meetings with leading cinema chains across the nation to discuss concerns about Warner Bros Discovery’s proposed sale, according to a Wednesday report from Bloomberg News.
TV Delmarva was unable to confirm the report independently. Neither Warner Bros Discovery nor the Justice Department provided immediate responses when asked for comment.
According to the Bloomberg report, federal attorneys are gathering details about how such a transaction might affect movie audiences and whether it could lead to fewer theatrical releases, based on information from sources with knowledge of the discussions.
This development follows Warner Bros’ Tuesday decision to turn down Paramount Skydance’s recent hostile takeover attempt valued at $30 per share, while allowing the competing Hollywood company one week to present a “best and final” proposal that would exceed their current Netflix agreement.
Paramount confirmed receiving the seven-day deadline but described Warner Bros’ board decisions as “unusual.”
The parent company of CBS stated it would proceed with its tender offer, challenge what it calls the “inferior” Netflix deal, and maintain plans to propose directors for Warner Bros’ upcoming shareholder meeting.
Warner Bros plans to hold a shareholder vote on Netflix’s proposal for its streaming and film studio divisions on March 20.
Should shareholders approve the transaction, it would occur following Warner Bros’ separation of its Discovery Global cable networks, including CNN, TLC, Food Network and HGTV, into an independent publicly-traded entity.
The Bloomberg article noted that director James Cameron, who helmed Paramount’s “Titanic,” publicly supported the company’s Warner Bros acquisition attempt last November, stating that a Netflix purchase would represent “a disaster” for movie theaters.
Food delivery giant DoorDash sent its stock soaring nearly 14% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company projected first-quarter order volumes that exceeded Wall Street expectations.
The California-based delivery service anticipates its marketplace gross order value — the total dollar amount of orders processed through its platform — will reach between $31 billion and $31.8 billion during the current quarter. This projection surpasses analyst predictions of $29.61 billion, according to LSEG data.
DoorDash continues to capitalize on Americans’ growing preference for convenience, with order volume climbing 32% compared to the same period last year. This mirrors similar growth patterns seen at competitor Uber, which reported strong delivery booking increases earlier this month.
“DoorDash’s ability to continue drawing in new customers and encourage existing customers to order more frequently shows that the platform’s convenience proposition is resonating strongly with consumers, even with growing cost-of-living pressures,” said eMarketer analyst Rachel Wolff.
The company is currently investing heavily in a comprehensive technology overhaul designed to merge its various brands — including DoorDash, Wolt and Deliveroo — into one unified platform. Company leadership announced in November plans to spend several hundred million dollars by 2026 on new products and technological improvements.
These substantial investments are impacting the company’s bottom line, with DoorDash projecting first-quarter adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization between $675 million and $775 million. This falls short of the $798.22 million average analyst forecast.
The online food delivery sector remains fiercely competitive, with companies like Instacart and Uber Eats continuously launching new partnerships and promotional campaigns to capture market share.
For the quarter ending December 31, DoorDash’s marketplace gross order value increased 39% to $29.68 billion year-over-year, beating analyst estimates of $27.65 billion. However, the company reported earnings of 48 cents per share, falling below the expected 59 cents.
The Edmonton Oilers announced Wednesday that Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey will return to his role as an assistant coach after serving as a special advisor to hockey operations and team ownership.
The 64-year-old hockey legend previously worked as a defensive assistant under head coach Kris Knoblauch from November 2023 until the conclusion of the 2024-25 season.
Under Coffey’s guidance of the defensive unit, Edmonton made back-to-back appearances in the Stanley Cup Finals while posting the NHL’s fifth-best defensive record, surrendering just 2.78 goals per contest.
“I have been in regular contact with Paul since (he became an advisor) last summer and I believe we will benefit both as a team and as a staff from his return at this time,” Knoblauch said.
The Oilers have been on hiatus since February 4th due to the Winter Olympics break, but will return to action next week with consecutive away games – facing the Anaheim Ducks on Wednesday followed by the Los Angeles Kings on Thursday.
Currently, Edmonton sits four points behind the Pacific Division-leading Vegas Golden Knights in the standings.
“I’m excited to return and work alongside Kris and the entire staff,” Coffey said. “With 24 games left in the season, there is ample time to build on the many positives and build momentum for another long playoff run.”
As Wayne Gretzky’s defensive partner during Edmonton’s dynasty years, Coffey captured three Stanley Cup championships with the Oilers during the 1980s before adding a fourth title with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991.
The accomplished defenseman earned three Norris Trophy awards and holds the second-highest scoring record among NHL defensemen, behind only Ray Bourque, accumulating 1,531 points through 396 goals and 1,135 assists across 1,409 career games. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2004.
Federal civil rights officials have taken legal action against a Coca-Cola bottling company, claiming the business violated discrimination laws by organizing a workplace networking event that barred male employees from participating.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed the federal lawsuit on Tuesday against Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast, marking the agency’s first legal challenge to workplace diversity initiatives since President Donald Trump returned to office.
According to the legal filing, the company organized the gathering for approximately 250 female staff members at a Connecticut casino facility in September 2024, which federal officials say violated employment discrimination statutes.
The bottling company, which operates under the ownership of Japan-based Kirin Holdings, has not yet provided a public response to requests for comment. The Coca-Cola Company itself is not named as a defendant in the legal proceedings.
This New Hampshire federal court case represents an initial challenge to widespread corporate diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that Trump administration leaders, including EEOC Chair Andrea Lucas, argue constitute illegal reverse discrimination practices.
The Republican president has launched extensive efforts to eliminate DEI programs across federal agencies, private companies, and educational institutions, arguing these initiatives undermine merit-based systems and create discriminatory practices.
Diversity, equity and inclusion programs encompass various workplace policies and initiatives that advocates say ensure fair treatment and meaningful participation for historically marginalized or underrepresented groups.
Federal investigators are currently examining Nike and Northwestern Mutual Insurance for alleged discrimination against white employees, while demanding detailed information about DEI policies from 20 prominent law firms last year.
However, this legal action against the Coca-Cola distributor represents the EEOC’s inaugural lawsuit specifically challenging a diversity-oriented workplace program as unlawful.
Acting General Counsel Catherine Eschbach stated that barring any protected group of employees, including men, from employer-sponsored activities violates federal law.
“The EEOC remains committed to ensuring that all employees – men and women alike – enjoy equal access to all aspects of their employment,” Eschbach declared in an official statement.
The federal complaint describes the two-day networking gathering as including social receptions, team-building activities, recreational programs, and presentations from high-ranking Coca-Cola executives.
According to lawsuit details, Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast allowed participating female employees to attend without using vacation time or personal days, while also covering all hotel accommodation expenses for attendees.
Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms is moving forward with plans to launch its debut smartwatch later this year, according to a Wednesday report from the Information that cited two sources with knowledge of the project.
The social media giant has brought back its previously shelved “Malibu 2” smartwatch initiative, sources told the publication. The upcoming wearable device is expected to include health monitoring capabilities along with an integrated Meta AI assistant.
According to the Information, Meta had previously pursued smartwatch development approximately five years ago, with some concepts including models equipped with three cameras. However, the company abandoned those plans in 2022 as part of broader cost-cutting measures within its Reality Labs division.
When contacted for comment, Meta chose not to respond to the report.
This development represents a significant resurgence in the wearable technology market, fueled by advances in artificial intelligence as manufacturers introduce AI-powered devices focused particularly on health and fitness applications.
Smart glasses with AI capabilities have emerged as a standout success, with Meta’s technology integrated into eyewear produced by Ray-Ban’s parent company EssilorLuxottica. Shipments of these products reached nearly 6 million units in the previous year, based on Smart Analytics Global data.
The report indicates Meta currently has approximately four augmented reality and mixed-reality glasses projects under development. The company is reportedly reviewing launch schedules to address worries that releasing multiple products too quickly might create consumer confusion. According to the report, Reality Labs staff learned in December that the company had pushed back its Phoenix mixed-reality glasses until 2027.
In January, Meta announced it would temporarily halt the international rollout of its Ray-Ban Display glasses, citing limited supply and high demand within the United States.
A congressional representative from Iowa believes legislation permitting year-round E15 ethanol fuel sales could advance quickly through Congress. Representative Randy Feenstra, who serves on the House Rural Domestic Energy Council, reported that his committee held productive discussions on Wednesday regarding the biofuel initiative.
“This is full on, year round E15 and we worked with the small, midsized and large refiners,” Feenstra stated following the meeting. The congressman indicated that negotiations involved petroleum refiners across the industry spectrum as lawmakers work to build consensus on the ethanol legislation.
Agricultural producers across the Midwest are receiving encouraging news about upcoming weather patterns, according to Iowa’s leading climate expert. The forecast through early March shows promise for farming communities that have been dealing with challenging dry conditions.
State climatologist Justin Glisan shared the positive outlook with Brownfield, explaining the benefits for agricultural regions. “For much of the Upper Midwest and ag belt, there’s a significant signal for warmer and wetter conditions. This would be a great signal to see given how dry we’ve been over” recent months, Glisan stated.
The weather pattern represents a potential shift from the drought-like conditions and lack of snowfall that have characterized recent weather across farming regions. The combination of increased temperatures and precipitation could provide much-needed relief for agricultural operations preparing for the growing season.
A section of Wesline Road remains impassable this evening after a utility pole came down, prompting officials to block traffic in both directions.
Delaware Department of Transportation reports the roadway is shut down between Providence Church Road and Old Racetrack Road while crews work to address the situation.
Motorists should expect the closure to continue until approximately 9 PM tonight and are advised to seek alternate routes when traveling through the area.
Private investment company Blue Owl Capital announced Wednesday it’s offloading $1.4 billion worth of assets from three credit funds to major pension and insurance buyers, as the firm grapples with mounting market pressures and declining stock values.
The transaction allows Blue Owl to return money to investors and reduce debt obligations during a challenging period for direct lending firms and software-related investments. The company’s stock price has dropped by half over the past 12 months.
Blue Owl is receiving 99.7% of the loans’ original value, matching how the company values these assets internally. This pricing has drawn increased scrutiny as investors demand greater transparency from firms managing alternative investments beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
“This is an extremely strong statement,” Blue Owl co-President Craig Packer told Reuters, particularly when “investors are asking questions about marks and quality of portfolio, risk about software, all the questions are being asked.”
The asset sale occurs as software companies face significant market declines, creating ripple effects for private credit firms like Blue Owl that have heavily financed the sector’s expansion. While artificial intelligence spending surges, sectors vulnerable to AI disruption are experiencing selloffs, affecting private credit, real estate, data analytics, legal services and insurance industries.
The debt being sold spans 128 different companies across 27 industries, with software and services representing the largest portion at 13%. The S&P 500 Software & Services index has shed approximately $2 trillion in value since its October peak, with roughly half those losses occurring this month alone.
Market response to the sale will indicate how concerned wealthy private credit investors have become given recent software stock declines and ongoing credit worries.
Blue Owl’s shares gained 1.9% during regular trading Wednesday, closing at $12.31, but dropped about 1.6% in after-hours trading following the announcement.
The assets come from three credit funds: $600 million from Blue Owl Capital Corp II, $400 million from Blue Owl Technology Income Corp, and $400 million from Blue Owl Capital Corp. Proceeds will partially fund investor payouts for Blue Owl Capital Corp II, which the company failed to merge with its publicly traded fund last year, and reduce debt across all three funds.
The publicly traded fund’s shares jumped approximately 4% in after-hours trading.
Blue Owl abandoned its previous merger proposal after investor backlash that hammered the company’s share price.
Packer explained that executives began seeking potential buyers after the merger fell through, looking for ways to return capital to shareholders. He noted this type of transaction aligned with the fund’s original vision when it launched eight years ago.
The company declined to identify the buyers, describing them only as “leading North American public pension and insurance investors” purchasing equal stakes.
The transaction enables Blue Owl Capital Corp II to return up to 30% of its current net asset value to investors, equivalent to $2.35 per share. Based on the most recent share count, the total distribution could reach approximately $268 million.
Citizens analyst Brian McKenna wrote that the deal validated the firm’s valuations as “marked-to-market,” calling Blue Owl “prudent” for addressing the smaller retail fund since “the investor experience, specifically in private wealth, is by far the biggest driver of success in the channel longer-term.”
Moving forward, Blue Owl Capital Corp II will implement quarterly shareholder payouts instead of tender offers.
Blue Owl co-CEO Marc Lipschultz disclosed last week that software represents 8% of the firm’s total assets.
Investors pulled 15.4% of assets from Blue Owl Technology Income Corp in January after the company increased the redemption limit from 5%. Software companies comprise 46% of that fund’s holdings, according to Packer.
“We like running that fund with a lot of liquidity,” Packer stated.
“People have pressed us on this and we have acknowledged a sector like health care, information technology is mostly software,” Packer added.
Meta’s chief executive Mark Zuckerberg faced intense courtroom questioning Wednesday regarding his company’s approach to marketing toward young users in what legal experts are calling a pivotal social media addiction lawsuit.
The Facebook founder’s court appearance took place in Los Angeles as part of groundbreaking litigation examining whether major social media corporations intentionally engineered their platforms to create addictive behaviors in minors.
Legal observers say the jury’s decision in this case will likely have far-reaching consequences, potentially determining the direction of roughly 1,600 additional lawsuits currently pending across the nation. These cases have been filed by families and educational institutions seeking accountability from social media companies.
The trial represents a significant moment in the ongoing national debate over social media’s impact on young people’s mental health and well-being. Zuckerberg’s testimony is expected to be closely scrutinized as courts grapple with questions about corporate responsibility in the digital age.
Climate advocacy organization Extinction Rebellion disclosed Wednesday that federal authorities have been conducting an investigation into the group, with FBI personnel making contact with several members during the past year.
The bureau declined to provide details when contacted for a response, stating it cannot verify or deny ongoing investigations per Department of Justice protocols.
According to the activist organization’s public statement, federal agents from the Joint Terrorism Task Force approached a former participant at their home on February 6, 2026. The residence was located approximately 200 miles from New York City, where the person had been involved with the group’s local chapter.
During that encounter, the agents questioned the individual about their participation in Extinction Rebellion’s New York City operations, the organization reported. The former member directed all inquiries to their legal counsel.
The group revealed additional contact occurred in March 2025, when six activists connected to Extinction Rebellion’s Boston branch were approached by individuals claiming FBI affiliation. No subsequent communications followed those initial contacts.
The activist organization provided limited additional information, and federal authorities offered no details regarding the investigation’s scope or objectives.
Civil liberties organizations have expressed concerns about free speech protections during President Donald Trump’s current term, pointing to his administration’s response to pro-Palestinian demonstrations regarding Israel’s military actions in Gaza, along with his public statements targeting liberal organizations and groups challenging his policy positions on immigration and environmental issues.
Trump’s administration has made allegations against various organizations, frequently without supporting evidence, claiming they provide financial support and coordination for political violence. Environmental advocates have criticized the president’s rollback of climate regulations and America’s exit from international environmental agreements.
According to its international website, the environmental organization describes itself as a “decentralised, international and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly” regarding climate issues. Notable activist Greta Thunberg has participated in events coordinated by the organization.
Team USA’s men’s hockey squad has punched their ticket to the Olympic semifinals following a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory against Sweden in Milan on Wednesday.
Defenseman Quinn Hughes netted the game-winner with a thunderous shot from the slot, propelling the Americans into Friday’s semifinal matchup. The dramatic finish capped off an intense quarter-final battle between two hockey powerhouses.
Sweden entered the tournament as one of the medal favorites alongside the United States and Canada, but found themselves in a challenging quarter-final position after an unexpected third-place finish in group play. Their Olympic journey has now come to an end without reaching the podium.
Wednesday’s contest concluded an exciting day of men’s Olympic hockey quarter-finals in Milan, featuring multiple overtime thrillers. Finland defeated Switzerland in extra time, while Canada edged out the Czech Republic, also requiring overtime to settle the outcome.
The semifinal matchups are now set for Friday, with Finland taking on Canada in one contest. Team USA will face Slovakia, who advanced by defeating Germany in the only quarter-final that concluded in regulation time.
Enterprise software company Atlassian announced Wednesday that it has selected James Chuong to serve as its next chief financial officer, with the appointment taking effect March 30.
The 46-year-old executive brings extensive financial leadership experience from his current role as finance chief at LinkedIn, which operates as a Microsoft subsidiary.
Before joining LinkedIn, Chuong built his career in investment banking, holding positions at major Wall Street institutions such as J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, and Bank of America Securities.
The leadership transition comes after Atlassian announced last October that current CFO Joe Binz planned to step down from his position, with his retirement scheduled for June 30.
Federal immigration officials are investigating the death of a 59-year-old Cambodian man who died while in custody at an Indiana detention facility this week.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced Wednesday that Lorth Sim was discovered unresponsive in his cell at Miami Correctional Facility on Monday. The cause of his death remains under investigation, and this marks the seventh fatality this year within the federal immigration detention system.
According to ICE records, Sim arrived in the United States as a refugee in 1983 and obtained permanent resident status three years later in 1986. He was taken into custody in Boston this past December.
Immigration court records show that a judge had previously ordered Sim’s deportation to Cambodia back in 2006. Federal authorities noted that Sim had prior arrests on charges including disorderly conduct, indecent exposure, and larceny, resulting in a suspended sentence and probation.
The death occurs amid a significant expansion of immigration enforcement under President Trump’s administration. Current detention numbers have swelled to approximately 68,000 individuals in early February, representing a dramatic increase from the 40,000 people held when Trump assumed office. This surge has coincided with immigration custody deaths reaching their highest point in twenty years.
Civil rights organizations and Democratic lawmakers have raised serious concerns about the treatment and conditions within ICE detention centers, describing them as inhumane.
Recent incidents have intensified this scrutiny. Earlier this month, Leqaa Kordia, a 33-year-old Palestinian woman whose mother holds U.S. citizenship, required three days of hospitalization after suffering a seizure while in immigration detention. Kordia reported being restrained with chains during her medical treatment.
Federal immigration authorities maintain they provide appropriate medical care to all detainees, and government officials reject claims of inhumane treatment.
Particular attention has focused on ICE following the January 3rd death of Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos at a Texas detention facility. The El Paso County medical examiner ruled that death a homicide caused by asphyxia from compression to the neck and torso. A Washington Post investigation included witness accounts alleging guards choked Lunas.
The Department of Homeland Security has provided inconsistent explanations regarding that incident and has not acknowledged the choking allegations or homicide determination.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents are frequently informing community members who monitor their enforcement activities that such observation constitutes a violation of federal law, according to legal experts who dispute these claims.
Constitutional law specialists assert that the majority of individuals who track and document ICE operations are exercising their First Amendment rights and acting within legal boundaries.
The tension has escalated as more community groups organize to observe immigration enforcement activities in neighborhoods across the country. Federal agents have been warning these observers that their presence interferes with law enforcement operations.
However, civil rights attorneys emphasize that citizens generally have the constitutional right to observe and record government activities in public spaces, as long as they maintain appropriate distance and do not physically obstruct officers.
The dispute highlights growing friction between federal immigration enforcement and community advocacy groups who seek to document these operations for accountability purposes.
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will sit out Thursday night’s matchup against Atlanta after developing right shin soreness during the All-Star break.
According to the team, Embiid felt the discomfort while taking part in a rehabilitation program designed to manage his ongoing right knee issues. After meeting with medical staff, the center has been receiving daily treatment while continuing court activities and fitness training.
Team officials plan to reassess Embiid’s condition before the 76ers’ upcoming road trip, which includes games Saturday in New Orleans and Sunday in Minnesota.
This season, Embiid has posted 26.6 points per game across 31 contests and had been playing without the minute limitations that restricted him in recent years. However, he missed three of Philadelphia’s final five games before the All-Star break due to right knee discomfort.
Philadelphia has struggled significantly without their star player, dropping six of their last seven contests when Embiid doesn’t suit up.
The towering 7-foot center appeared in just 19 games during the previous season and 39 the year before that. He delivered an impressive 40-point, 11-rebound performance in a victory over New Orleans last month, coinciding with Paul George’s 25-game suspension for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
Injury troubles have followed Embiid throughout his career, beginning before he even joined the NBA. A stress fracture in his right foot prior to being selected from Kansas sidelined him for two seasons. Since then, he’s battled bone bruises, meniscus damage, a fractured orbital bone, shoulder sprains, tendinitis, torn ligaments, and even Bell’s palsy.
Despite his extensive injury history, Philadelphia committed to Embiid in 2024 with a three-year, $193 million contract extension featuring a player option for the 2028-29 season, which takes effect next year.
A former girlfriend of Kansas City Chiefs receiver Rashee Rice has filed a million-dollar lawsuit claiming the NFL player repeatedly physically abused her during their relationship spanning a year and a half.
Dacoda Jones filed the legal action Monday in Dallas County court, seeking more than $1 million in damages. The lawsuit follows domestic violence accusations Jones made on social media last month. According to court documents, the alleged attacks occurred at residences in both Dallas and the Kansas City suburbs.
The legal filing claims Rice strangled Jones in December 2023 following what the lawsuit describes as an “escalation in violent behavior.” Jones alleges the abuse continued throughout their relationship until July 2025. It remains unclear whether law enforcement was ever contacted regarding these alleged incidents, as Jones’ legal representative has not responded to media inquiries.
According to the court documents, Rice allegedly “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit, and headbutted” Jones, while also striking her with various objects. The lawsuit further alleges Rice damaged property by throwing items, punching walls and destroying furniture. Many of these incidents allegedly occurred while Jones was expecting, as she has two children with Rice.
The lawsuit states Jones suffered “bleeding, swelling, bruising and other pain and physical injury” as a result of the alleged assaults.
Representatives for Rice have not returned requests for comment, and his legal counsel has also remained silent on the matter.
The Chiefs organization acknowledged awareness of the lawsuit and confirmed ongoing communication with the NFL regarding the situation. League officials stated the matter is currently under investigation.
This legal trouble adds to Rice’s recent issues with the law. He sat out the season’s first six games due to an NFL suspension related to his involvement in a high-speed Dallas freeway collision that injured multiple people during the 2024 offseason. Rice received a 30-day jail sentence and five years of probation after entering guilty pleas to felony charges including collision causing serious bodily injury and highway racing resulting in bodily harm.
Despite missing nearly half the season, Rice managed 53 receptions for 571 yards and five touchdowns. However, Kansas City struggled to a disappointing 6-11 record, marking their first playoff absence in ten years.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — The memories of better times weigh heavily on Waleed al Zamli’s mind as he reflects on what Ramadan used to mean for his family. Traditional lanterns brightening his children’s faces. Sweet treats shared among loved ones. Elaborate meals prepared with care.
“We used to welcome this holy month with such joy,” said al Zamli, a father of eleven children now living in the overcrowded Muwasi tent settlement after being forced to abandon their home during Israel’s military campaign.
Those days of celebration feel like a distant memory now, he explained.
The weight of being unable to care for his large family in their current circumstances brings al Zamli deep sorrow. His workplace was demolished during the conflict, leaving him without employment, he explained.
When it came time for Wednesday’s first iftar meal to break the daily fast, al Zamli’s wife collected food from a charitable kitchen that has become their lifeline. She prepared soup as an accompaniment to stretch the donated meal.
“Joy has abandoned us this year,” al Zamli stated.
The holy month of Ramadan has begun in Gaza during a tentative ceasefire agreement, yet Palestinian residents report that the season’s traditional celebratory atmosphere remains absent as they navigate ongoing hardships and mourn losses from the prolonged conflict.
The struggles were evident at the charitable kitchen location, where crowds of people pressed forward with outstretched hands, clutching empty containers in hopes of receiving food. The desperate group included young children, mothers, and senior citizens all competing for assistance.
Throughout Ramadan, practicing Muslims abstain from food and drink between sunrise and sunset each day. The period emphasizes enhanced prayer, spiritual contemplation, and charitable giving. Under typical conditions, the month creates opportunities for families and communities to gather for celebratory fast-breaking meals.
However, conditions in Gaza remain anything but typical. The Israeli military campaign has resulted in over 72,000 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, while causing extensive infrastructure damage and forcing most residents from their homes. Israel initiated this offensive following the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas-led fighters that killed approximately 1,200 people, primarily civilians, and resulted in 251 individuals being taken hostage.
Al Zamli identifies securing adequate nutrition for his family as his greatest Ramadan challenge. He reports receiving minimal humanitarian assistance. Essential foods including meat and poultry now cost significantly more than before the conflict began, he noted, making many necessities impossible to afford without steady income.
“My children long to experience the same happiness as other kids – to dress nicely and enjoy clean, special food,” he shared.
These economic pressures become particularly intense during Ramadan, al Zamli observed. Normally, families flood marketplaces to purchase food supplies, decorative items, and other seasonal necessities. Food takes on special significance as the daily fasting period transitions into nourishing iftar dinners that can be quite elaborate for some families. Muslims also consume a pre-dawn meal called suhoor to sustain themselves through the fasting hours.
Gaza residents shopping at markets this week expressed frustration over how financial difficulties have dampened the month’s spirit.
Nevertheless, despite these challenges, some Gaza Strip residents have made efforts to recreate elements of traditional Ramadan celebrations – including displaying decorative strings among damaged buildings. At al Zamli’s displacement camp, his children created makeshift Ramadan lanterns using discarded soda cans.
The October 10 ceasefire agreement, facilitated by the United States, aimed to end more than two years of warfare between Israeli forces and Hamas. Although major combat operations have decreased, the ceasefire period has still witnessed near-daily Israeli military action.
Israeli military units have conducted multiple aerial bombardments and regularly opened fire on Palestinians approaching military-controlled areas, resulting in over 600 Palestinian deaths according to Gaza health authorities. The ministry, operating under Hamas governance, keeps comprehensive casualty documentation that United Nations agencies and independent analysts generally consider credible. However, their records do not separate civilian and combatant deaths.
Armed groups have launched attacks against Israeli military personnel, with Israel claiming its strikes respond to these and other ceasefire violations. Four Israeli soldiers have died during this period.
Even with some relief provided by the unstable ceasefire arrangement, numerous daily challenges continue affecting residents.
Al Zamli explained that the war has taken many precious things from his family. A son-in-law was killed shortly after marrying his daughter, who is now a widow, he said.
During this Ramadan season, his prayers focus on ending “the violence and bloodshed” and experiencing “security, peace, and calm,” along with gaining “the ability to provide quality food and clothing for our children.”
Norman Francis, an education advocate and civil rights trailblazer who spearheaded New Orleans’ recovery following Hurricane Katrina, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 94.
Throughout Louisiana, community leaders, activists, and residents paid tribute to Francis and his remarkable legacy of service.
“The nation is better and richer for his having lived among us,” stated Reynold Verret, Xavier University’s current president, in a Wednesday announcement confirming Francis’ passing.
Following Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, Francis assumed leadership of the Louisiana Recovery Authority, the organization responsible for managing the massive, multi-billion-dollar reconstruction initiative.
Mitch Landrieu, who previously served as New Orleans mayor, described how Francis “stood in the breach” during the post-Katrina period. Landrieu, who held the lieutenant governor position when the 2005 hurricane destroyed much of New Orleans, frequently sought Francis’ guidance during challenging times.
“The most defining part of his character is that he treats every human being with dignity and respect,” Landrieu wrote on X Wednesday.
Francis gained widespread recognition during his 47-year tenure as head of Xavier University in New Orleans, America’s sole predominantly Black Catholic institution of higher learning, starting in 1968.
Under his leadership, student enrollment increased by more than 100%, the university’s endowment grew substantially, and the physical campus underwent significant expansion. The institution earned national acclaim for preparing African American students for careers in medicine and graduating professionals in science fields including biology, chemistry, physics, and pharmacy.
When Hurricane Katrina flooded portions of Xavier’s campus with 8 feet of water, Francis made a commitment that the institution would rebuild and reopen.
Several civil rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union, recognized Francis among America’s most distinguished university leaders. President George W. Bush presented him with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2006.
“Dr. Francis was more than an administrator. He was an institution builder, a civil rights champion, and a man of quiet generosity,” Louisiana Congressman Troy Carter wrote on social media. “He believed education was the pathway to justice. He believed lifting one student could lift an entire family.”
Born in Lafayette, Louisiana, to a barber, Francis graduated from Xavier with his undergraduate degree in 1952. He broke racial barriers by becoming Loyola University law school’s first Black student, completing his legal education in 1955.
After serving two years in military service, Francis joined the U.S. Attorney General’s office to assist with integrating federal government departments.
Despite his professional achievements, racial segregation still prevented him from entering many New Orleans establishments through their main entrances.
“Some people say to me, ‘My God! How did you take that?’” Francis recalled during a 2008 Associated Press interview. “Well, you took that because you had to believe that one day, the words that your parents said to you ‘You’re good enough to be president of the United States’ yes, we held onto that.”
Francis began his long career at Xavier in 1957 as Dean of Men, launching what would become nearly five decades of service to the university.
His wife Blanche passed away in 2015. Together, they raised six children and had several grandchildren.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Argentine President Javier Milei departed Wednesday for his fourteenth visit to the United States, where he will participate in President Donald Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace initiative session. Milei is also scheduled to join Trump’s regional gathering in Miami on March 7, bringing together Latin American leaders who support the White House’s political direction.
These diplomatic missions occur as Trump works to strengthen partnerships aimed at reducing Chinese influence across Latin America, while Milei navigates delicate international relations — aligning his nation’s foreign policy with Washington’s vision while simultaneously deepening economic connections with Beijing, Argentina’s primary trade partner.
Despite calling Beijing’s Communist leadership “assassins” during his campaign, political analysts note that after two years in office, Milei clearly cannot sever ties with China.
Benjamin Gedan, who leads the Latin American program at the Wilson Center, explained: “Argentina relies on China’s insatiable demand for South America’s energy, food and minerals, and the United States will never replace that market.”
Recent government statistics show China became Argentina’s primary trading partner this past December, surpassing neighboring Brazil three months prior. Argentine shipments to China jumped 125% compared to the previous year, while imports increased 26%.
Mariano Turzi, an international relations professor at Austral University near Buenos Aires, described the situation as paradoxical: “It’s the great irony of Milei’s administration. Milei rhetorically seeks to distance himself from China. But it was under Milei’s anti-communist libertarian government that China gained greater ground in the Argentine market.”
Milei’s representatives did not respond to requests for comment.
Business leaders have praised Milei’s efforts to control runaway inflation and ease strict capital restrictions. However, his elimination of tariff protections and reduction in public infrastructure spending have damaged domestic manufacturers in this historically protectionist country. Argentine producers, facing some of Latin America’s heaviest tax burdens, express concerns about unfair international competition, especially from China.
The recent arrival of Chinese electric vehicles at an Argentine port last month ignited heated discussions, coinciding with multiple factory shutdowns and contrasting with other nations like Mexico, which imposed steep tariffs on Chinese EVs to align with Washington’s stance.
Major tire producer Fate ceased operations Wednesday, eliminating over 900 jobs. The company blamed “changes in market conditions,” which local news outlets widely understood as referring to Chinese competition among other challenges.
Labor ministry officials ordered a 15-day halt to the layoffs Thursday, providing time for company-union negotiations, though the company indicated it would close permanently regardless.
Chinese investment has funded hydroelectric dam construction and solar energy facilities throughout Argentina, with significant stakes in crucial sectors including the nation’s rapidly developing mining operations. Chinese corporation Ganfeng Lithium has invested billions in lithium reserves located in Argentina’s northern regions.
A Chinese space installation in southern Neuquen province, which US officials claim could serve military functions and represents China’s first such overseas facility, has operated for several years.
During Milei’s most challenging presidential period — approaching October 2025 midterm elections amid market instability — Washington provided $20 billion in financial assistance to support the Trump ally’s political future and prevent further peso devaluation.
This significant intervention reflects the Trump administration’s implementation of what it calls a contemporary version of the Monroe Doctrine — the 1823 declaration warning European nations about American authority in the Western Hemisphere.
Following Trump’s controversial Argentine financial rescue, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on Fox News that Milei was “committed to getting China out” of the South American country.
However, months afterward, little evidence supports this claim, as Argentine officials emphasize that their nation’s strong US relationship does not damage ties with China.
Despite Argentina and the US signing an extensive trade agreement this month, Foreign Minister Pablo Quirno recently informed Buenos Aires reporters that the agreement “does not imply that China cannot participate or will not participate in investments in Argentina.”
Wilson Center’s Gedan noted that despite Milei’s frequent visits to Mar-a-Lago and Washington, Argentina demonstrates “a great example of the limitations of the Monroe Doctrine.”
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un announced that his government will establish fresh defense objectives during a major political assembly scheduled for this week, according to state-controlled media reports released Thursday.
The announcement came as Kim participated in a presentation ceremony for 600mm-caliber multiple rocket launchers being delivered to the Ninth Congress of the ruling Workers’ Party, along with a groundbreaking event for a construction initiative in Pyongyang’s Hwasong District on Thursday.
Leading up to this month’s Ninth Congress, Kim has been highlighting achievements from various national initiatives. This political assembly represents the nation’s most significant governmental meeting, where officials evaluate past performance, establish future policy objectives, and potentially implement leadership transitions.
During his remarks at the rocket launcher presentation, Kim stated, “The Ninth Congress of our Party will declare the next phase of self-reliant defence’s initiative and goal,” as reported by state news agency KCNA.
He continued, “The project of constantly renewing our military capabilities that can strongly subdue any threats and challenges from outside forces will accelerate.”
According to Hong Min, a researcher with Seoul’s Korea Institute for National Unification, the Ninth Congress could begin as early as Thursday or Friday of this week.
The beer industry took a hit Wednesday when Molson Coors announced it anticipates a significant decline in profits for 2026, citing increased aluminum tariffs and reduced consumer spending among budget-conscious shoppers.
The brewing company’s stock price dropped approximately 6% in after-hours trading following the announcement, which also revealed the company fell short of fourth-quarter revenue projections.
Molson Coors, the company responsible for producing Miller Lite and its signature Coors brands, projects adjusted earnings per share will decline between 11% and 15% in 2026. This stands in stark contrast to analyst predictions of a 1.9% increase to $5.48 per share, based on LSEG data.
The grim outlook emerges as newly installed CEO Rahul Goyal works to revitalize the company through cost-cutting measures following a challenging 2025 characterized by declining beer sales, reduced production volumes, and ongoing inflationary pressures.
“We made the necessary difficult decisions in our business to course correct and set ourselves up for the future,” Goyal stated.
The alcoholic beverage industry faces headwinds as health-focused consumers increasingly choose non-alcoholic alternatives and energy drinks over traditional beer. This shift has been accelerated by the growing popularity of GLP-1 weight-loss medications. Additionally, younger consumers, especially Generation Z, are reducing their consumption of beer and spirits.
Rising aluminum prices in the U.S. Midwest caused Molson Coors’ cost of goods sold per hectoliter to surge 8.1%, significantly impacting the company that depends extensively on aluminum cans for product packaging.
Chief Financial Officer Tracey Joubert cautioned that commodity price increases will continue to severely impact the company’s bottom line throughout 2026, despite expectations for revenue improvements. During Wednesday’s industry conference, company leadership indicated aluminum cost increases alone are anticipated to reduce profits by approximately $125 million.
The company forecasts net sales for 2026 to range from a 1% decrease to a 1% increase compared to the previous year, while analysts had predicted a 0.1% decline.
For the quarter ending December 31, Molson Coors reported net sales of $2.66 billion, falling below analyst expectations of $2.71 billion. However, the company exceeded earnings projections with underlying earnings of $1.21 per share, surpassing the estimated $1.16 per share.
LONDON – The United Kingdom announced Thursday it will mandate technology platforms remove intimate images posted without permission within two days of being flagged, or face substantial financial penalties reaching up to 10% of their worldwide revenue.
Officials say these measures aim to strengthen protections for women and girls amid growing concerns about digital abuse, where private photos can be rapidly distributed online and artificial intelligence tools can generate explicit content instantly.
The British government revealed plans to modify current legislation moving through parliament, establishing a mandatory requirement for major social media platforms to eliminate reported non-consensual intimate content within 48 hours.
While sharing such material without permission is already prohibited under British law, victims have struggled to get platforms to permanently delete these images from their services.
“The online world is the frontline of the 21st century battle against violence against women and girls,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement.
The rise in unauthorized intimate imagery has intensified Britain’s broader discussions about internet safety regulations. Government officials are evaluating potential restrictions on social media access for teenagers under 16, similar to Australia’s recent prohibition.
British authorities indicated their media oversight agency Ofcom is exploring whether to handle illegal intimate image sharing with the same level of seriousness as child exploitation and terrorism-related material.
Under the proposed system, victims would need to file only one complaint, with platforms required to delete identical content across all their services and block future uploads of the same material.
Penalties for non-compliance would apply to a platform’s total qualifying global income, a metric Ofcom uses that encompasses revenue generated worldwide from regulated services.
Ofcom announced separately it will expedite decisions on new regulations requiring platforms to implement specialized blocking technology called “hash-matching” to prevent illegal intimate images from being uploaded initially. The agency expects to finalize these rules by May, with implementation potentially beginning this summer.
Delaware Senator Chris Coons joined fellow lawmakers on a fact-finding mission to Ukraine this week, where they pledged to return to Washington with renewed calls for tougher economic measures against Russia.
Speaking to reporters during a phone call from Ukraine on Wednesday, the Democratic senators emphasized their commitment to advancing harsh energy sanctions and other legislative measures designed to force Russia to halt its military actions against Ukraine.
New Hampshire Senator Jeanne Shaheen, accompanied by three other Democratic colleagues, stated their intention to intensify efforts upon returning to the Capitol. “I would hope that we would see a stronger effort and some real work when we get back to put pressure on (Russian President Vladimir) Putin,” Shaheen declared.
Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal highlighted the need to target nations purchasing Russian energy resources. “We are united that countries buying Russian oil and gas – and they are China, India, Hungary, Brazil – should be given very strong incentives to stop doing so, and it’s a way to really positively impact Ukraine’s fight,” Blumenthal explained.
The senators conducted their discussions amid challenging weather conditions in Odesa, where they engaged with Ukrainian coast guard personnel, naval representatives, American business officials, and local community leaders before departing for Moldova Wednesday evening.
Their visit coincided with the conclusion of two days of diplomatic negotiations in Geneva between Ukrainian and Russian representatives, which wrapped up Wednesday without achieving any significant breakthroughs. The talks occurred as Russia’s comprehensive military campaign against Ukraine approached its four-year mark.
While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed disappointment with the negotiation results, President Donald Trump’s administration characterized the discussions as showing “meaningful progress.”
Ukraine continues to face mounting pressure from the Trump administration to accept a potential agreement that might require significant territorial or political compromises, even as Russian military forces continue targeting the nation’s electrical infrastructure and making gradual territorial gains.
Congressional members from both major political parties, including Republicans aligned with Trump as well as Democrats, have argued against placing excessive pressure on Kyiv to accept unfavorable terms. In recent months, they successfully enacted legislation providing hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to Zelenskiy’s administration, which Trump ultimately signed into law.
A key piece of pending legislation in Congress would establish sanctions against nations that purchase Russian petroleum products, natural gas, and uranium. This bipartisan measure, co-sponsored by Blumenthal and South Carolina Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, has garnered support from 85 out of 100 senators but has yet to receive a floor vote.
Republican Senate leadership has refrained from scheduling the bill for consideration due to opposition from Trump, who has maintained control over sanctions policy within the executive branch rather than allowing Congress to direct such measures since beginning his second presidential term in January 2025.
The Democratic senators currently visiting Ukraine expressed hope for swift passage of the sanctions legislation and voiced optimism regarding separate proposed legislation targeting Russia’s “shadow fleet” – a network of aging oil tankers used to transport Russian crude to China, India, and other purchasing nations.
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse emphasized the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia. “Nobody, literally nobody, believes that Russia is acting in good faith in the negotiations with our government and with the Ukrainians. And so pressure becomes the key, and the shadow fleet is one element of that pressure,” Whitehouse stated.
Graham participated in discussions with more than a dozen Republican and Democratic senators who met with Zelenskiy during last weekend’s Munich Security Conference. Following those meetings, Graham indicated that Trump had endorsed his sanctions proposal and called for a congressional vote.
During Wednesday’s call, the visiting senators indicated their readiness to oppose any negotiated settlement that would force Ukraine into excessive concessions, stating they would refuse to ratify such an agreement.
Delaware’s Senator Coons emphasized the importance of security assurances in any potential deal. “We will be looking for very strong security guarantees,” Coons said.
Stock prices for online used car dealer Carvana plummeted 25% in after-hours trading Wednesday following the company’s disappointing fourth-quarter earnings report that fell short of Wall Street predictions due to rising operational expenses.
The disappointing financial results brought an end to what had otherwise been an exceptional year for the company famous for its towering car vending machines. Carvana’s stock value more than doubled throughout 2025, and the business achieved inclusion in the prestigious S&P 500 index.
The company attributed the earnings shortfall to increased operational expenses during the final quarter, specifically citing vehicle reconditioning costs that exceeded projections at multiple facilities, combined with elevated retail depreciation rates that added pressure to per-unit expenses.
When excluding certain items, Carvana reported earnings of $1.06 per share, falling below analyst predictions of $1.10 per share according to LSEG data compilation.
Total quarterly expenses reached approximately $2.16 billion for the period.
The company’s net income climbed to $951 million, representing a significant increase from the previous year’s $159 million.
Revenue for the quarter surged roughly 58% to reach $5.6 billion during the final three months of 2025, driven by robust consumer demand for used vehicles as Americans cope with elevated living costs and economic impacts from tariff policies.
A tragic avalanche near California’s Lake Tahoe has claimed the lives of eight backcountry skiers, with search efforts continuing for one person who remains unaccounted for, officials report.
According to authorities, the deadly snowslide also trapped six additional skiers who were successfully rescued alive. The incident has prompted an extensive search and rescue operation in the backcountry area.
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office has deployed rescue teams to the Soda Springs area as part of the ongoing recovery efforts. Images from the scene show rescue personnel working in challenging mountain conditions.
This devastating incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by outdoor enthusiasts venturing into backcountry terrain during winter months, particularly in areas prone to avalanche activity near the popular Lake Tahoe region.
New Castle County police continue their investigation into the fatal shooting of a 29-year-old man that occurred seven years ago at an apartment complex in New Castle.
John Marcus Fryer was killed during an early morning shooting incident on February 18, 2017, at the Coachman’s Manor Apartments located on Surry Court in New Castle.
Police officers were dispatched to the scene around 4:00 a.m. following reports of gunfire at the residential complex on the 1600 block of Surry Court. When law enforcement arrived at the location, they discovered Fryer at the scene.
The case remains open as investigators work to identify those responsible for Fryer’s death. Authorities are encouraging anyone with information about the shooting to contact police.
The homicide is part of New Castle County’s ongoing efforts to solve cold cases and bring closure to families affected by violent crimes in the community.
NEW YORK – American stock markets began Wednesday’s trading session by following their European counterparts upward, but the rally lost steam as the day wore on, while continuing international tensions sparked a recovery in oil and precious metal prices.
Market attention remained focused on central banking developments, with news emerging about European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde potentially stepping down early and fresh details from the Federal Reserve’s latest policy discussions taking center stage.
Several major developments shaped Wednesday’s trading activity across different market sectors and asset classes.
Key Market Activity
Stock performance showed mixed results, with Madison Square Garden Sports climbing to new record levels amid speculation about a potential Knicks spinoff. Garmin and MGM Resorts ranked among the day’s strongest performers, while all members of the “magnificent seven” tech stocks posted gains, led by Amazon.com.
Sector performance varied significantly, with energy, consumer discretionary, technology, and transportation stocks all outpacing the broader market indices.
Currency markets saw the euro weaken following reports about Lagarde’s potential ECB departure, while the dollar strengthened against major international currencies.
Bond markets experienced rising Treasury yields after encouraging economic data suggested the Federal Reserve would maintain current interest rate policies for the near term.
Commodity trading reflected growing geopolitical concerns, with crude oil prices jumping sharply due to supply worries and gold advancing as investors sought traditional safe-haven assets.
Major News Developments
The Financial Times reported that Lagarde plans to resign from her ECB position before France’s upcoming election, potentially allowing French President Emmanuel Macron input in selecting her replacement. This news triggered widespread speculation about possible successors to lead the European central bank.
Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, facilitated by the United States, came to an abrupt halt after two days of discussions. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the talks as “difficult” and criticized Russia for intentionally stalling progress toward ending the conflict.
Economic indicators showed American business investment finished 2025 strongly, with new orders for core capital goods – excluding aircraft and defense equipment – exceeding expectations in December. These figures, considered key indicators of corporate spending plans, suggest robust business investment and economic expansion in the fourth quarter.
Recently released Federal Reserve meeting minutes revealed policymakers were nearly unanimous in maintaining steady interest rates but remained divided about future monetary policy direction.
Upcoming Market Influences
Thursday’s economic calendar includes several important data releases: December’s international trade balance, weekly unemployment claims, January pending home sales, February eurozone consumer confidence, and December eurozone construction output, plus Canada’s December trade figures.
Multiple Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak, including Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman, Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari, and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee.
NEW YORK – Stock prices for Madison Square Garden Sports climbed over 16% Wednesday, reaching an all-time high after the company announced its board has given unanimous approval to explore splitting the New York Knicks and New York Rangers into separate businesses.
The entertainment company’s stock price closed at $341.76, marking both a record high value and the largest single-day percentage increase in the company’s history.
Under the proposed separation plan, one company would control the Knicks basketball franchise along with their NBA G League affiliate team, the Westchester Knicks.
The second company would oversee the Rangers hockey team, which competes in the National Hockey League, plus their American Hockey League affiliate known as the Hartford Wolf Pack.
Company officials stated the proposed separation received complete board support and would be designed as a tax-free distribution to current stockholders. The company has not announced any specific timeline for completing this potential transaction.
Wall Street analysts covering Madison Square Garden Sports currently give the stock an average “buy” recommendation, with a typical price target of $337 per share, based on LSEG information.
BTIG research analysts noted in their analysis that company leadership has consistently discussed examining different strategies, particularly since the stock sometimes sells for 50% less than what independent analysts believe the teams are worth privately.
“The single largest catalyst investors have been looking for is ways to unlock value from the teams whether that be minority sales, spin-offs, outright sales or some other means to close the public-private valuation gap,” BTIG analysts led by Tyler DiMatteo wrote, while giving Madison Square Garden Sports a “neutral” investment rating.
The University of Delaware women’s lacrosse team came up short against 11th-ranked Navy, despite a notable offensive performance that saw half a dozen Blue Hens players contribute multiple points to the scoreboard.
Six Delaware players managed to record multi-point efforts during the contest against the highly-ranked Midshipmen, showcasing the team’s balanced attack and offensive depth.
The loss comes as the Blue Hens continue their season against tough competition, facing off against one of the nation’s top-ranked programs in Navy.
While the final result didn’t go Delaware’s way, the strong individual performances from multiple players demonstrates the team’s offensive capabilities as they move forward in their campaign.
The parent company of Kayak exceeded Wall Street’s profit expectations for the final quarter of 2024 on Wednesday, driven by strong international travel demand that pushed shares higher by 2% in after-hours trading.
International travel demand is projected to continue its upward trajectory, boosted by major events like the FIFA World Cup and an uptick in affluent travelers willing to pay more for luxury experiences, creating favorable conditions for companies like Booking Holdings.
The Connecticut-based travel platform reported adjusted earnings of $48.80 per share for the quarter, surpassing analyst predictions of $48.47 per share based on LSEG data.
Looking ahead, the company that owns Kayak anticipates full-year 2026 adjusted earnings growth in the mid-teens percentage range. Management forecasts first-quarter gross bookings to increase between 14% and 16%.
Fourth-quarter gross bookings reached $43 billion, representing a 16% increase compared to the previous year’s corresponding period.
Quarterly revenue totaled $6.35 billion for the period ending December 31, exceeding analyst projections of $6.13 billion.
A major financial index company announced Wednesday it’s gathering input from market participants about potential new policies that would allow certain newly public companies to quickly join its U.S. stock indexes.
FTSE Russell revealed it’s collecting feedback regarding possible fast-track inclusion guidelines and baseline qualification standards for its Russell U.S. Equity Indexes. The timing coincides with expectations that several prominent technology companies will launch initial public offerings in 2026.
Among the anticipated high-profile public debuts are space exploration company SpaceX, artificial intelligence firms OpenAI and Anthropic. These companies are expected to generate significant investor interest when they begin trading on public markets.
The index provider’s consideration of expedited entry procedures suggests preparation for managing the potential market impact of these major IPOs when they occur.
NEW YORK – A federal court in Manhattan has denied Live Nation Entertainment’s motion to dismiss a significant antitrust case brought against the company by federal prosecutors and numerous state governments on Wednesday.
The lawsuit alleges that Live Nation has engaged in monopolistic practices within the live entertainment sector, attempting to control the concert market while driving up costs for ticket buyers across the country.
Following U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian’s ruling, Live Nation’s stock price dropped by 3.1% during after-hours market activity.
The decision means the case will proceed to the next phase of litigation, as government attorneys seek to prove their claims that the entertainment conglomerate has violated federal antitrust regulations.
Authorities have confirmed the deaths of eight skiers who were caught in a deadly avalanche at Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Lake Tahoe.
The tragic incident occurred in the backcountry skiing area, where avalanche conditions can quickly turn dangerous for outdoor enthusiasts. Emergency responders worked to recover the victims from the slide zone.
The Castle Peak avalanche represents one of the deadliest skiing accidents in the region, underscoring the serious risks that backcountry skiers face in mountainous terrain during winter conditions.
NEW YORK — Two Cleveland Guardians pitchers facing federal gambling conspiracy charges entered not guilty pleas Wednesday as their fraud trial will likely be delayed from spring until October, according to a federal judge.
Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto indicated she will probably push the May 4 trial date to fall, though she’s keeping the original date for now.
Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz spoke through a Spanish translator as they denied the charges in the updated indictment filed in Brooklyn federal court.
The revised charges, unsealed Friday, don’t include additional counts but add a third defendant accused of acting as an intermediary between the pitchers and betting interests. That individual also entered a not guilty plea Wednesday.
Federal prosecutors initially brought charges against the duo in November, alleging they received thousands in payments to assist Dominican Republic gamblers in winning more than $460,000 through over 100 in-game proposition bets and combination wagers on pitch velocity and results. The charges encompass wire fraud conspiracy and conspiracy to influence sporting events.
Friday’s updated indictment includes new details claiming Clase communicated about specific pitches using coded language including terms like “rooster” and “chicken.”
Before a May 18, 2025 matchup with Cincinnati, Clase allegedly received instructions to “throw a rock at the first rooster in today’s fight” and replied: “Yes, of course, that’s an easy toss to that rooster,” according to court documents. However, Clase didn’t pitch in that contest and couldn’t execute the alleged plan to throw outside the strike zone to his first batter.
The previous day, prosecutors claim Clase violated MLB regulations by using his mobile phone during the game against Cincinnati to communicate with gamblers about an upcoming off-target pitch, allowing them to collect approximately $27,000.
Both Clase, Cleveland’s former closing pitcher, and Ortiz, who starts games, have remained on paid administrative leave since July while their teammates begin spring preparation. The Guardians’ season opener at home is scheduled for April 3.
The defendants, who are out on bond, departed the courthouse separately following Wednesday’s proceedings without speaking to reporters. Defense attorneys for both players maintain their clients never collaborated with betting interests.
Ortiz’s legal team has requested separate trials, arguing in filings that if Clase shared Ortiz’s pitching plans with gamblers, Ortiz was unaware of such actions. They point out that Ortiz faces allegations involving just two pitches over 12 days, while Clase is accused of ongoing collaboration with bettors dating to 2023.
“Mr. Clase may have abused his relationship with Mr. Ortiz as friends and teammates by convincing Mr. Ortiz to throw certain pitches at certain times — ostensibly for baseball reasons as far as Mr. Ortiz was aware,” the attorneys stated.
They indicated they might argue to jurors that “Ortiz as a victim of Mr. Clase’s scheme, rather than a knowing and willing participant.”
Clase, selected for three All-Star games, earned $4.5 million in 2025 during the fourth year of his five-year, $20 million deal. Federal authorities say he began sharing pitch information with bettors in 2023 but didn’t request compensation until the following year.
Prosecutors allege Ortiz, who made $782,600 last season, became involved in the conspiracy last June.
Both the Guardians organization and Major League Baseball have stated they’re assisting with the federal investigation. MLB officials say they alerted law enforcement after detecting suspicious wagering patterns.
WASHINGTON — Weather conditions perfect for igniting massive wildfires have skyrocketed worldwide over the past four and a half decades, with dangerous fire weather days increasing by nearly three times, according to groundbreaking new research.
Scientists determined that human activities driving climate change account for more than 60% of this dramatic surge in fire-prone conditions.
The implications are sobering: as global temperatures continue rising, multiple regions worldwide are simultaneously experiencing the hot, dry, and windy conditions that fuel catastrophic blazes. This synchronized fire weather pattern means countries may lack sufficient firefighting resources when widespread fires erupt at once, and mutual aid from neighboring nations becomes unlikely when they’re battling their own flames, researchers warn in Wednesday’s Science Advances journal.
The data shows a stark escalation. Between 1979 and the mid-1990s, Earth experienced an average of 22 synchronized fire weather days annually for large-scale regional fires. By 2023 and 2024, that figure had jumped to over 60 days per year.
“These sorts of changes that we have seen increase the likelihood in a lot of areas that there will be fires that are going to be very challenging to suppress,” explained study co-author John Abatzoglou, a fire scientist at the University of California, Merced.
Rather than examining actual blazes, the research team focused on atmospheric conditions — elevated temperatures combined with powerful winds and parched air and terrain.
“It increases the likelihood of widespread fire outbreaks, but the weather is one dimension,” noted lead researcher Cong Yin, also from UC Merced. Fire requires additional elements including oxygen, combustible materials like vegetation and trees, plus an ignition source such as lightning strikes, arson, or human error.
Fire scientist Mike Flannigan from Thompson Rivers University in Canada, who wasn’t involved in the research, emphasized the study’s significance. He explained that extreme fire weather serves as the main driver behind escalating fire damage globally, and the overlap of fire seasons that previously occurred at different times is eliminating resource-sharing opportunities between regions.
“And that’s where things begin to break,” Abatzoglou stated.
Yin’s team used sophisticated computer modeling to compare actual weather patterns from the past 45 years against simulated scenarios without increased greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel combustion. This analysis revealed that climate change caused by burning coal, oil, and natural gas drives more than 60% of the worldwide increase in synchronized fire weather days.
The continental United States experienced an average of 7.7 synchronized fire weather days yearly from 1979 to 1988. Over the most recent decade, that average has climbed to 38 days annually, Yin reported.
However, southern South America shows even more dramatic changes. This region saw just 5.5 synchronized fire weather days per year in the early study period, but that figure has exploded to 70.6 days yearly over the past ten years, including a peak of 118 days in 2023.
Among 14 global regions analyzed, only Southeast Asia bucked the trend with fewer synchronized fire weather days, likely due to increasing humidity levels in that area, according to Yin.
HONG KONG (AP) — During Lunar New Year celebrations, the vibrant color red symbolizes good fortune and family togetherness — a hue designed to welcome loved ones back home while carrying hopes for the coming year.
The symbolic shade appears at doorways and decorates interior walls. It weaves through ceremonial prayers and encases traditional meals. When incense burns, red rises and disperses into the sky.
Throughout many Asian nations — where this celebration goes by names like Spring Festival, Tet, or Seollal — the new year features time-honored customs believed to unite communities against hardship while attracting prosperity. This year’s celebration ushers in the Year of the Horse, representing one of twelve creatures in the traditional Chinese zodiac cycle.
Photographers documented how red appears everywhere from large community festivals to quiet personal moments in homes.
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s chief economist called for punishment of Federal Reserve researchers on Wednesday after they published findings indicating U.S. businesses and consumers shoulder nearly all costs from new trade tariffs implemented by the administration in recent months.
Kevin Hassett, who heads the White House National Economic Council, criticized the research during a CNBC appearance, stating: “The paper is an embarrassment. It’s the worst paper I’ve ever seen in the history of the Federal Reserve system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined.”
The harsh criticism marks another instance of the Trump White House challenging the Federal Reserve’s traditional independence from political interference. The administration’s strong reaction also indicates ongoing sensitivity about economic pressures affecting American families, as polling data reveals continued public frustration with costs for essentials like food, housing, vehicles and home furnishings.
The New York Federal Reserve Bank’s research, released recently, determined that American businesses and consumers are absorbing approximately 90% of tariff expenses implemented under Trump’s trade policies. The study documented how average import duties jumped dramatically from 2.6% early last year to 13% by year’s end.
Multiple independent analyses have reached identical conclusions, including research conducted by Harvard University and University of Chicago economists, findings from Germany’s Kiel Institut research organization, and a recent nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office assessment.
The mechanics of tariff collection explain why domestic entities bear these costs. U.S. importing companies pay tariffs directly to federal treasury coffers, meaning foreign manufacturers would only absorb expenses if they substantially reduced their prices to compensate for the additional duties. However, the Fed’s analysis showed overseas exporters have implemented only minimal price reductions, far below tariff increases.
This confrontation follows a pattern of White House attacks on economists reaching similar conclusions about tariff burden distribution. Last August, Trump called for Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon to terminate the firm’s chief economist after that analyst predicted Americans would increasingly shoulder tariff costs over time.
WASHINGTON — Federal health regulators are abandoning a decades-old practice that required pharmaceutical companies to conduct two comprehensive clinical trials before winning approval for new medications, marking another significant policy shift under the Trump administration’s push to accelerate medical product availability.
The Food and Drug Administration announced that moving forward, agency officials will typically demand just one clinical study for new medications and innovative health treatments, according to FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and deputy Dr. Vinay Prasad, who detailed the policy change in Wednesday’s New England Journal of Medicine.
This represents the most recent example of Makary and his leadership team overhauling established FDA protocols and standards, with officials citing goals to eliminate regulatory red tape and fast-track new treatment options for patients.
Following his appointment to the agency in April, Makary has implemented multiple policy changes designed to reduce FDA review timelines, including requiring staff members to utilize artificial intelligence tools and establishing expedited one-month review processes for drugs deemed important to “national interests.”
The new approach stands in stark contrast to the FDA’s stricter policies regarding other medical products, particularly vaccines.
In their Wednesday publication, Makary and Prasad argued that eliminating the dual-trial mandate reflects contemporary scientific progress that has made pharmaceutical research “increasingly precise and scientific.”
“In this setting, overreliance on two trials no longer makes sense,” the officials wrote. “In 2026 there are powerful alternative ways to feel assured that our products help people live longer or better than requiring manufacturers to test them yet again.”
FDA leadership anticipates the policy modification will trigger “a surge in drug development.”
Dr. Janet Woodcock, who previously directed the FDA’s drug division, endorsed the change as logical and consistent with the agency’s gradual shift over recent decades toward accepting single trials supported by additional evidence, particularly for life-threatening conditions like cancer.
“The scientific point is well taken that as we move toward greater understanding of biology and disease we don’t need to do two trials all the time,” stated Woodcock, who oversaw the FDA’s drug center for more than two decades before her 2024 retirement.
The dual-study requirement originated in the early 1960s when Congress enacted legislation mandating FDA review of data from “adequate and well-controlled investigations” before approving new treatments. For many years, agency officials interpreted this mandate as necessitating at least two comprehensive studies, typically involving large patient populations and extended monitoring periods.
The purpose behind requiring a second trial was to verify that initial study outcomes weren’t anomalous and could be replicated in different circumstances.
However, starting in the 1990s, FDA officials increasingly began accepting single studies for treatments targeting rare or deadly diseases, where companies frequently face challenges conducting large-scale patient trials.
During the past five years, approximately 60% of groundbreaking drugs approved annually have received clearance based on single studies. This trend reflects congressional legislation directing regulators toward greater flexibility when evaluating treatments for severe or difficult-to-treat medical conditions.
According to Woodcock, Wednesday’s policy announcement will primarily affect medications for common diseases that previously didn’t qualify for reduced testing requirements.
“It’s not the cancers and the rare diseases that will be affected by this,” she explained. “The agency has been approving those on a single trial already.”
The current FDA leadership’s strategy contrasts sharply with recent agency decisions regarding vaccines, gene therapies, and other treatments.
Last week, the FDA’s vaccine division, under Prasad’s direction, initially rejected Moderna’s application for a new mRNA influenza vaccine, citing inadequate clinical trial data. However, on Wednesday, the agency reversed its position and agreed to review the vaccine after Moderna committed to conducting additional studies involving elderly patients.
Additionally, Prasad has declined approval for numerous experimental gene therapies and biotechnology drugs, demanding additional research or more conclusive evidence. This pattern has negatively impacted biotech company stock values and contradicted Makary’s public statements promoting expedited and flexible FDA reviews.
Woodcock noted that pharmaceutical companies must wait to determine whether the FDA’s approach to promising experimental treatments will actually change.
“Implementation will be everything,” she said. “Since the agency’s approach is unclear, and the industry is already baffled, I don’t think this adds any illumination.”
WASHINGTON — The White House welcomed guests Wednesday evening for its annual Black History Month celebration, occurring less than two weeks following President Donald Trump’s controversial social media post that generated widespread criticism from both political parties.
During Wednesday’s ceremony, Trump avoided mentioning the deleted social media content, which he has refused to apologize for despite significant public backlash. The president also made no reference to Barack Obama, America’s first Black commander-in-chief, instead focusing his remarks on other notable African American historical figures.
“We celebrate Black History Month. We honor the memory of those who came before us by continuing their legacy,” Trump stated during the reception.
The president highlighted several Black Americans who have publicly supported him, including former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, whom Trump commended for speaking out against racism allegations. Trump also mentioned rapper Nicki Minaj, making comments about her appearance including remarks about her fingernails and calling her skin “so beautiful.”
Several administration officials joined Trump on stage, including Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and White House pardon advisor Alice Marie Johnson.
“As you look out upon this sea of Black Americans, this president hears you. This president cares for you. Don’t let anyone tell you that this president right here, Donald Trump has not — is not for Black America,” Johnson declared. “Because he is.”
Trump outlined various policy initiatives he claims have helped Black communities, including legislation he enacted last year removing federal taxes on tip income and his decision to deploy National Guard units to restore order in cities with significant Black populations, including Washington, New Orleans and Memphis, Tennessee.
The White House gathering occurred one day after Trump defended himself on social media, writing that he has been “falsely and consistently called a Racist by the Scoundrels and Lunatics on the Radical Left” in a post intended to honor the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who passed away Tuesday.
When reporters questioned White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt about the president’s statement, she responded Wednesday morning: “There is a lot this president has done for all Americans, regardless of race. And he has absolutely been falsely called and smeared as a racist.”
While Trump has consistently acknowledged Black History Month during his presidency, his administrative actions and public statements frequently conflict with celebrating diversity and recognizing Black American achievements.
The current administration has specifically targeted diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that have provided employment opportunities for many Black Americans in government agencies and private companies over recent decades. Trump has labeled DEI programs as “discrimination” and is working to eliminate them from federal operations while encouraging private businesses to follow suit.
Despite this approach, Trump positions himself as a supporter of historically Black colleges and universities. The White House emphasized Wednesday that the administration allocated $500 million to HBCUs last year. However, this funding boost primarily came from redirecting federal dollars previously designated for institutions serving predominantly Hispanic student populations. The HBCU funding announcement came shortly after the Education Department withdrew $350 million from grant programs supporting colleges with substantial Hispanic and other minority enrollment. Administration officials declared those previous grant programs violated constitutional principles.
Trump launched his second presidential term by arguing that certain African American history curricula are designed to foster anti-American sentiment. He signed an executive directive titled “restoring truth and sanity to American history,” which his administration has used to remove historical content from national parks deemed to “inappropriately disparage Americans past or living,” including markers related to Black history.
Early in his current term, Trump issued an official proclamation designating February as Black History Month, even as the Defense Department announced it would no longer use official resources to observe cultural awareness months.
Last year’s White House Black History Month reception similarly followed another executive order that terminated federal diversity, equity and inclusion programs.
Online retail giant eBay announced Wednesday it will acquire fashion resale platform Depop from Etsy in a deal worth approximately $1.2 billion, while also projecting first-quarter revenues that exceed Wall Street expectations. The news drove eBay’s stock price up 7% during after-hours trading.
The San Jose, California-based company has been concentrating on niche markets including luxury items and automotive components as it works to compete in the challenging online retail landscape.
For the upcoming quarter, eBay projects revenues between $3 billion and $3.05 billion, surpassing the average analyst prediction of $2.80 billion according to LSEG data.
According to eBay, Depop demonstrates “strong momentum in the pre-loved fashion category” and will help the company connect with younger consumers interested in fashion while expanding its footprint in the thriving resale market.
The company has been working to set itself apart by embracing “recommerce” and promoting its contribution to the circular economy, highlighting previously owned, refurbished and verified merchandise.
eBay’s stock experienced significant growth last year, climbing 40% over the 12-month period.
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration on Wednesday urged Cuba to implement substantial reforms immediately, describing the communist nation as a deteriorating regime while stopping short of demanding leadership changes.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters about the situation during a Wednesday briefing, characterizing Cuba’s current state as unstable.
“They are a regime that is falling. Their country is collapsing and that’s why we believe it’s in their best interest to make very dramatic changes very soon,” Leavitt stated during the press conference.
The press secretary emphasized America’s commitment to promoting democratic values throughout the region, expressing the administration’s desire to witness thriving democratic nations across the Western Hemisphere. However, Leavitt declined to elaborate on specific measures the United States might pursue to achieve these goals.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is facing a civil lawsuit filed by his former girlfriend, who claims he physically abused her over a period spanning from December 2023 through July 2025.
The lawsuit was filed Monday in Dallas County by Dacoda Jones, who shares two children with Rice and states she was expecting during several of the alleged incidents. Jones is requesting more than $1 million in damages, her attorney Ron Estefan confirmed.
According to court documents, Rice and Jones shared residences in Victory Park, Texas, and Lee’s Summit, Missouri. The filing alleges Rice strangled Jones in December 2023, and over the two-year period “grabbed, choked, strangled, pushed, thrown, scratched, hit and headbutted Ms. Jones, as well as hit her with inanimate objects.”
The legal complaint also describes Rice’s alleged pattern of destructive behavior, including “throwing objects, destroying property, punching walls, and breaking furniture, as well as locking her out in the middle of the night.”
Jones is seeking compensation for physical suffering and emotional distress, bodily harm, scarring, past and future medical expenses, and lost income as part of her damage claims.
ESPN reports that Jones’ legal team declined to provide comment. Rice has not faced criminal charges related to these allegations, and neither he nor his representatives have responded to media requests for comment.
The Chiefs organization released a statement Wednesday saying, “The club is aware (of the lawsuit) and remains in communication with the National Football League.”
On January 7, Jones shared images on her Instagram profile that seemed to document physical injuries. She also made public allegations about years of mistreatment.
In a social media post that has since been removed, Jones wrote: “I’m so tired of keeping quiet I’m so tired of protecting his image. I’ve been through enough in the span of 8 years and I’ve had ENOUGH! I’ve dealt with abuse for years, me and this man decided to break up a couple months ago and it’s been nothing but hell.”
She continued: “He literally left us in Kansas and I had to beg him to send money so that I could drive to Texas with my kids and all our stuff. We have an agreement because of everything he’s put me through and he still doesn’t follow it. He’s now trying to remove me and my kids from our home for no apparent reason. I’ve known this man for YEARS. He tries to put on this persona like he’s dad of the year. He does the bare minimum and I have to beg for that. I’ve protected his image too long and I’m done doing that. It’s time to protect my peace, protect my children and stand up for myself.”
The NFL stated Wednesday that “The matter remains under review.”
The 25-year-old Rice began this season serving a six-game suspension for violating the league’s personal conduct standards following his involvement in a multi-vehicle accident in Dallas that injured several people during the 2024 season. He entered guilty pleas in district court to two third-degree felony counts related to collision causing serious injury and highway racing resulting in bodily harm.
The incident involved six vehicles total. Rice and four companions left the scene without assisting the injured parties and ran away before law enforcement arrived.
Rice received five years of deferred probation and a 30-day jail sentence. He was also ordered to pay over $115,000 in victim restitution.
During this season, he recorded 53 catches for 571 yards and five touchdowns while the Chiefs went 3-5 in games he played.
Throughout his three seasons with Kansas City, Rice has accumulated 156 catches for 1,797 yards and 14 touchdowns across 28 regular-season contests, starting 20 games. He also contributed six receptions for 39 yards when Kansas City defeated San Francisco in overtime to win Super Bowl LVIII.
Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, has expressed satisfaction with South Korea’s formal acknowledgment that unmanned aircraft were deployed into North Korean airspace, according to state-run media reports released Thursday.
The powerful sibling stated that South Korea’s admission serves the country’s own interests by helping to avoid future serious violations of North Korea’s territorial sovereignty. She indicated that North Korean armed forces plan to implement enhanced security protocols along the inter-Korean border.
“The border with the enemy should be solid,” Kim declared, as reported by the state news agency KCNA.
WASHINGTON – A high-ranking U.S. official revealed Wednesday that Iran plans to deliver a written plan outlining steps to defuse current tensions with America following diplomatic discussions held in Geneva earlier this week.
The announcement comes after senior national security advisors gathered in the White House Situation Room for Iran-focused discussions, where officials learned that all American military personnel sent to the Middle East region are scheduled to be fully deployed by the middle of March, according to the same official.
Additionally, Secretary of State Marco Rubio has scheduled a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel during the final weekend of February, the official confirmed.
Agricultural commodity markets presented a mixed picture this week, with wheat prices moving higher as traders closely monitor weather conditions across major growing areas in the Plains and Midwest regions.
Soybean markets showed little movement overall, with prices staying relatively unchanged despite some early session gains. The initial uptick in soybean prices followed strength in soybean oil markets, though the rally faced selling pressure at higher levels.
Soybean oil markets continued to receive buying interest driven by strong demand projections, even as traders largely overlooked supply data released in this week’s National Oilseed Processors Association report, which painted a different picture of market fundamentals.
Weather patterns remain a key focus for agricultural markets, with additional rainfall expected across growing regions in Argentina and Brazil. Meanwhile, domestic traders are closely watching developing weather conditions that could impact crop conditions in key U.S. production areas.
Outdoor enthusiasts across Maryland’s Eastern Shore will gather this Saturday for an inaugural celebration of the region’s recreational traditions. The Explore the Shore Expo debuts February 21 in Cambridge, bringing together families for a day dedicated to the area’s hunting, fishing, camping and adventure culture.
The debut festival combines outdoor equipment displays, educational workshops, vendor booths, regional food and drink offerings, plus an official Bucks-Bears-Stags measuring event. This family-oriented gathering aims to unite outdoor companies, regional businesses and community members in honoring the Shore’s recreational heritage.
Cambridge’s renovated Packing House will serve as the venue for the expo. The historic structure dates back to 1920 when it operated as part of Phillips Packing Company, which became Dorchester County’s largest employer during the 1900s and significantly shaped Chesapeake Bay’s industrial legacy.
Multiple organizations are backing the event, including Cross Street Partners/The Packing House, Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ Office of Outdoor Recreation, National Wildlife Refuge System, Bucks-Bears-Stags, Visit Dorchester, Waterfowl Festival, RaR Brewing, and J.J. McDonnell & Co.
“Explore the Shore is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of who we are on Maryland’s Eastern Shore,” said Amanda Fenstermaker, community manager at The Packing House. “This expo highlights our region’s love for nature, adventure and community, and showcases the local organizations and businesses that help people experience it.”
Maryland Department of Natural Resources staff from various divisions will attend, including representatives from Maryland Park Service, Wildlife and Heritage Service, Natural Resources Police, Watershed and Climate Services, and Fishing and Boating Services. These experts will provide information on hunting, fishing, camping fundamentals and environmental conservation practices.
“Outdoor recreation is such an important part of Maryland’s culture and economy, but it’s also unique to each region,” said Sandi Olek, director of the Office of Outdoor Recreation. “It’s been wonderful to work with the Packing House and local partners to highlight the businesses, organizations, tastes, and outdoor experiences of the Eastern Shore.”
The expo runs from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Admission costs $5 per person, while children 12 and younger enter free. Attendees can buy tickets online or pay with cash at the entrance.
Additional details are available at thepackinghousecambridge.com/outdoor-expo.
The U.S. State Department is working on a new website that would allow people in Europe and other regions to access content that their governments have blocked, according to three sources with knowledge of the initiative.
The website will operate under the domain “freedom.gov,” sources revealed. Officials have discussed incorporating virtual private network capabilities that would make users’ internet activity appear to come from the United States, with one source noting that the site won’t track user behavior.
Undersecretary for Public Diplomacy Sarah Rogers is leading this initiative, which was originally scheduled to debut at last week’s Munich Security Conference but faced delays, the sources indicated.
Reuters was unable to confirm the specific reasons for the postponement, though two sources mentioned that some State Department personnel, including legal staff, have expressed reservations about the proposal without specifying their exact concerns.
This initiative could create additional tension between the Trump administration and European allies, who are already dealing with disagreements over trade issues, Russia’s conflict in Ukraine, and President Trump’s interest in asserting influence over Greenland.
The website would also place Washington in an unusual position of seemingly encouraging people to circumvent their local regulations.
When contacted by Reuters, a State Department representative stated that the U.S. government doesn’t operate a censorship-bypassing program targeting Europe specifically, but noted: “Digital freedom is a priority for the State Department, however, and that includes the proliferation of privacy and censorship-circumvention technologies like VPNs.”
The representative disputed claims about any delayed announcement and said it was incorrect that State Department attorneys had voiced concerns.
The Trump administration has prioritized free speech issues, particularly what it perceives as suppression of conservative viewpoints online, making it a cornerstone of foreign policy efforts in Europe and Brazil.
European approaches to free expression differ significantly from American standards, where the Constitution safeguards nearly all forms of speech. European Union restrictions developed from efforts to prevent any return of extremist messaging that powered Nazism, including its targeting of Jewish people, immigrants, and minority groups.
American officials have criticized EU policies they claim suppress right-wing political figures in Romania, Germany, and France, arguing that regulations like the EU’s Digital Services Act and Britain’s Online Safety Act restrict free expression.
The EU delegation in Washington, serving as the 27-nation bloc’s diplomatic mission, didn’t immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the American proposal.
Through regulations that primarily affect social media platforms and major services like Meta’s Facebook and X, the EU restricts access to — and sometimes mandates quick removal of — material labeled as illegal hate speech, terrorist content, or dangerous misinformation under various rules, laws, and decisions implemented since 2008.
Rogers has become a vocal supporter of the Trump administration’s stance on EU content regulations. Since assuming her role in October, she has traveled to more than six European nations and met with representatives from right-wing organizations that the administration claims face oppression. The department declined to make Rogers available for interviews.
The Trump administration’s National Security Strategy, released in December, cautioned that Europe faced “civilisational erasure” due to its immigration policies. The document stated the U.S. would focus on “cultivating resistance to Europe’s current trajectory within European nations.”
EU regulators frequently mandate that American-based platforms remove content and can implement bans as a final option. X, owned by Trump associate Elon Musk, received a 120 million-euro penalty in December for failing to comply.
Germany, as an example, issued 482 removal orders in 2024 for material it determined supported or encouraged terrorism and compelled providers to eliminate 16,771 pieces of content.
Similarly, Meta’s oversight board in 2024 mandated removal of a Polish political party’s posts containing racial slurs and portraying immigrants as sexual predators, content that EU law classifies as illegal hate speech.
Kenneth Propp, a former State Department official who handled European digital regulations and now works at the Atlantic Council’s Europe Center, described the U.S. plan as “a direct shot” at European rules and laws. He said freedom.gov “would be perceived in Europe as a U.S. effort to frustrate national law provisions.”
Edward Coristine, a former member of Musk’s cost-cutting Department of Government Efficiency, is also participating in the U.S. portal project, according to two sources. Coristine collaborates with the National Design Studio, established by Trump to improve government website aesthetics. Reuters couldn’t reach Coristine for comment.
The specific benefits the U.S. government portal would provide beyond those offered by commercial VPN services remain unclear.
Federal registry get.gov shows the freedom.gov web address was registered on January 12. As of Wednesday, the site contained no content but displayed the National Design Studio’s logo, the phrase “fly, eagle, fly” and a login form.
Prior to Trump’s second presidency, the U.S. government supported commercial VPNs and similar tools as part of global democracy promotion efforts, helping users access unrestricted information in China, Iran, Russia, Belarus, Cuba, Myanmar, and other nations.
The Federal Reserve acknowledged Wednesday that it conducted unusual inquiries into dollar-yen exchange rates in January, acting on instructions from the U.S. Treasury Department in a move that caught financial markets’ attention and raised speculation about possible currency intervention.
According to meeting minutes from the Fed’s January 27-28 session released Wednesday, the central bank’s trading desk sought price quotes from dealers regarding the dollar-yen exchange rate specifically at Treasury’s direction. The Fed noted in its minutes: “In the days leading up to the meeting, the dollar had depreciated markedly after reports that the Desk had made requests for indicative quotes, known as ‘rate checks,’ on the dollar–yen exchange rate.” The minutes further explained: “The manager noted that the Desk had requested those quotes solely on behalf of the U.S. Treasury in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s role as the fiscal agent for the U.S.”
These uncommon rate inquiries by the New York Fed in late January caused the yen to gain strength against the dollar, marking an unusual development that put markets on edge about the possibility of the first coordinated U.S.-Japan currency market intervention in a decade and a half. However, no clear evidence of large-scale intervention by either nation materialized following the initial reports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has publicly rejected suggestions that the United States was actively intervening in foreign exchange markets.
Rising temperatures and absent snowfall are creating major challenges across Western states, where winter recreation generates billions of dollars in economic activity. An innovative Idaho ski resort is now testing insulated covers designed to protect snow from melting during the warmer summer months.
The experimental approach involves using specialized blankets to insulate snow, potentially extending ski seasons despite increasingly unpredictable weather patterns affecting winter sports destinations nationwide.
A Manhattan federal court has issued a temporary order preventing former Palantir Technologies executives from recruiting employees to their new artificial intelligence company, following allegations they used inside information to create a rival firm.
U.S. District Judge Paul Oetken issued the Wednesday ruling that stops former Palantir vice president Hirsh Jain and senior engineer Radha Jain from soliciting workers for their startup, Percepta AI, which they established in 2024. The relationship between the two Jains remains unclear.
The court order will remain active while Palantir’s October lawsuit proceeds. The company alleges the former employees violated confidentiality agreements and used proprietary information to build what they call a “copycat” artificial intelligence software business.
Judge Oetken also prohibited Joanna Cohen, another former Palantir engineer who joined Percepta, from violating her confidentiality contract with her previous employer. However, the judge declined Palantir’s immediate request to enforce non-compete clauses and customer solicitation restrictions.
The judge’s detailed reasoning remains under seal, though a redacted version will be released after both legal teams suggest appropriate edits.
Percepta AI, which is backed by venture capital firm General Catalyst, made its public debut in October. Neither Palantir nor General Catalyst provided immediate responses to requests for comment.
According to Palantir’s legal filing, both companies offer similar AI-powered services designed to help businesses and government organizations improve efficiency using their existing data resources.
The defendants counter in court documents that Percepta operates as a consulting and engineering company that, unlike Palantir, doesn’t sell software products or offer data analytics services.
Court records show Hirsh Jain previously managed Palantir’s healthcare division, while Radha Jain contributed to developing the company’s primary software platform. Cohen specialized in creating AI solutions for specific clients. Hirsh Jain departed Palantir in August 2024 to establish Percepta, with the others following shortly after.
Within months of launching, Percepta recruited at least 10 former Palantir workers, with nearly half of its staff consisting of ex-Palantir employees, according to the lawsuit.
Palantir claims all defendants signed contracts preventing them from competing with the company for one year after departure, soliciting Palantir clients or staff for two years, and using any confidential company information beyond their employment period.
The lawsuit seeks to enforce these contractual obligations and prevent further alleged violations.
Motorists are being advised to avoid a section of Forrest Avenue in the Dover area where police activity has prompted authorities to temporarily shut down the roadway.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that Route 8, also known as Forrest Avenue, is currently impassable to traffic in the area between Mifflin Road and Cranberry Run Drive.
The nature of the police activity has not been disclosed at this time. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes while authorities work to resolve the situation and reopen the roadway to normal traffic flow.
Maintaining healthy livestock has become the deciding factor between success and failure for hog producers, according to a Missouri farmer. Scott Phillips, who operates two sow facilities in Cass County in western Missouri, explains that disease prevention has become his top priority.
“If our hogs get a Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus or Porcine epidemic diarrhea, it costs us so many millions of dollars,” Phillips explained to Brownfield. The financial impact of these diseases can be devastating enough to force operations out of business entirely.
Phillips’ experience highlights the growing importance of biosecurity measures and preventive care in modern livestock operations, where a single disease outbreak can result in catastrophic financial losses.
Livestock markets displayed uneven performance Thursday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange as traders anticipated direct sales activity and prepared for the upcoming USDA On Feed report scheduled for Friday release.
Live cattle contracts experienced modest declines, with April delivery settling 27 cents lower to reach $242.52 per hundredweight. June live cattle contracts also dropped, falling 2 cents to close at $238.42.
Feeder cattle markets similarly moved downward during the session. March feeder cattle contracts decreased by 40 cents, finishing at $370.57, while April feeder cattle also posted losses in Thursday’s trading.
Federal agriculture data suggests chicken production is on track for continued growth heading into 2026, according to the latest weekly hatchery statistics.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that 254.35 million broiler-type eggs were placed in incubation facilities during the most recent reporting period. This figure represents a weekly jump of 993,000 eggs and shows a 2% climb compared to the same timeframe in the previous year.
Hatchery success rates remained steady at 79.1%, which aligns with performance levels seen in recent weeks. Meanwhile, 195.754 million broiler chicks were transferred to meat production facilities, though this number dropped by 445,000 from the prior week.
The data points to strengthening poultry production as the industry continues to recover and expand operations nationwide.
WASHINGTON – Jay Bhattacharya, currently serving as director of the National Institutes of Health, has been tapped to simultaneously lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on an interim basis, according to an administration source who spoke Wednesday.
The appointment was initially disclosed by The New York Times and later verified by the official, who requested anonymity since the decision had not yet been publicly announced.
This appointment makes Bhattacharya the third person to helm the troubled CDC, America’s premier public health organization, since President Donald Trump began his second presidency. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suddenly dismissed former CDC Director Susan Monarez during the summer, barely four weeks after senators had approved her nomination.
Monarez, who had spent years working as a government researcher, subsequently appeared before a Senate panel where she revealed that Kennedy terminated her employment after she declined to approve his proposed modifications to children’s immunization schedules without supporting scientific evidence.
Jim O’Neill, the Deputy Health Secretary and former investment professional, had been filling the acting CDC director position and supervising the vaccine policy revisions until his reported exit the previous week.
As a health economics expert and former Stanford University faculty member, Bhattacharya gained attention for his vocal opposition to the federal government’s coronavirus lockdown measures and vaccination mandates. In his NIH role, he manages the country’s most significant source of biomedical research funding.
During a recent congressional hearing, Bhattacharya stated that childhood measles vaccination represented “the best way to address the measles epidemic in this country,” and confirmed he had found no proof connecting individual vaccines to autism.
Trump administration representatives have indicated their intention to identify a long-term CDC director, a position that must receive Senate approval.
Food delivery giant DoorDash announced Wednesday that its fourth-quarter revenue climbed 38% as the company attracted additional U.S. customers and expanded into new areas like restaurant booking services.
However, Wall Street appears concerned about the company’s increasing expenditures on emerging technologies, such as self-driving delivery robots and experimental drone services.
Shares of DoorDash dropped 3% during after-hours trading Wednesday following the earnings announcement.
The San Francisco-headquartered company posted quarterly revenue of $3.96 billion for the final three months of 2024. This figure fell short of the $3.99 billion projection from analysts surveyed by FactSet.
The platform processed 903 million total orders during the quarter, representing a 32% increase and surpassing analyst expectations of 884.8 million orders, FactSet data showed. The company reported maintaining over 56 million active users throughout the period, with 35 million subscribers paying monthly fees for DashPass, Wolt+, and Deliveroo Plus membership programs.
However, the company’s spending increased substantially during the same timeframe. Research and development expenses surged 41%, while sales and marketing expenditures jumped 31%.
Company CEO and Co-founder Tony Xu explained Wednesday that DoorDash is currently constructing a unified technology platform designed to integrate its various international operations. The company purchased Finnish delivery service Wolt in 2022 and acquired British competitor Deliveroo in the previous year.
“This is a massive and expensive undertaking and honestly one you shouldn’t do if you thought your best days were behind you,” Xu stated in his message to investors.
DoorDash’s net profits increased 51% to reach $213 million, equivalent to 49 cents per share. This earnings figure came in below Wall Street’s anticipated 59-cent per-share profit.
SANTA FE, N.M. — Lawmakers in New Mexico’s unique volunteer legislature have moved to end their unpaid status that has existed since the state joined the union.
In a close vote Tuesday evening, the state Senate approved a constitutional amendment that would eliminate the current ban on direct legislative pay. The measure will now go before voters this November, who will decide whether to link lawmaker salaries to New Mexico’s median household income.
The proposal gained momentum after years of failed attempts, driven this time by a coalition of younger female state representatives who highlighted the difficulties of managing careers, families, and legislative responsibilities simultaneously.
Currently, New Mexico covers lawmakers’ travel costs and provides meal and lodging stipends during legislative sessions. Many representatives also qualify for public retirement benefits.
The volunteer “citizen legislature” has traditionally been viewed with pride throughout New Mexico. However, supporters of paying legislators argue the current arrangement prevents young people and working-class individuals from running for office and can hamper work on complicated policy matters as lawmakers must maintain separate paying jobs.
For comparison, lawmakers in states like New York and California earn more than $100,000 annually, while New Hampshire pays its legislators just $100 per year.
NEW YORK (AP) — Following a series of cold weather deaths, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Wednesday that the city will restart operations to clear homeless encampments, but with a significantly different strategy than his predecessor used.
The Democratic mayor had halted the encampment clearing program shortly after taking office in January, criticizing the previous administration’s methods as inadequate for connecting people with permanent housing solutions.
However, Mamdani now says his revised strategy — which puts the city’s homeless services department in charge instead of police and includes extensive outreach efforts — will produce better outcomes.
“We will meet them looking to connect them with shelter, looking to them with services, looking to connect them with a city that wants them to be sheltered and indoors and warm and safe. And that is something that I believe will yield far better results,” he said at an unrelated news conference.
The announcement follows the deaths of at least 19 individuals outdoors during recent severe cold weather, sparking concerns about the city’s homeless response efforts. City officials report no evidence that any of the deceased were residents of encampments, despite the administration’s intensive efforts to encourage homeless individuals to use new shelters, heated buses and warming facilities.
The outdoor fatalities have created an early challenge for Mamdani’s administration, generating questions about whether more could have been done and renewed criticism regarding the new mayor’s limited administrative background.
Former Mayor Eric Adams had made encampment sweeps a signature element of his public safety agenda. Those operations, conducted by police and sanitation teams, faced strong opposition from homeless advocacy organizations and produced limited success — while most cleared sites remained empty, only a small percentage of those encountered during sweeps agreed to enter temporary housing.
The updated protocol calls for posting advance notice before clearing any encampment, followed by daily visits from homeless services outreach staff for one week to connect individuals with available resources and support services.
On the eighth day, sanitation crews would remove the encampment structures, with officials hoping residents would have relocated voluntarily. Police would only observe the process, according to a city spokesperson.
Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director David Giffen expressed surprise at the announcement, calling it “blindsided” by the decision and describing it as a “political response” that won’t benefit homeless New Yorkers.
He warned that such actions could damage relationships between city outreach staff and unsheltered individuals, potentially leading to more fatalities during future extreme weather events.
“When a city worker shows up and throws out all your belongings, you’re not going to trust that person the next time they show up offering you a place to sleep inside,” Giffen said.
New York City Council Speaker Julie Menin, also a Democrat, praised Mamdani’s decision as “an important step forward.”
“Allowing New Yorkers to stay on the street during extreme weather is inhumane,” Menin said in a statement, adding that after oversight hearings at the Council, “it was clear that the City needed to take a closer look at how this policy was being implemented. Protecting lives must remain our top priority.”
Following Wednesday’s confirmation that eight backcountry skiers perished and one person remains unaccounted for in an avalanche near Lake Tahoe, officials report this Northern California Sierra Nevada incident ranks among America’s most fatal snow disasters. The tragedy prompts a review of other catastrophic avalanches throughout U.S. history:
The nation’s deadliest snow disaster occurred when an enormous snow wall engulfed two Great Northern passenger trains, plunging them into a canyon and claiming 96 lives. The trains had been stranded on the railway for multiple days due to severe weather conditions, though some passengers who had walked to nearby towns were spared from the disaster.
During the height of the Klondike Gold Rush, a sequence of snow slides in April 1898 became the era’s most devastating tragedy, taking approximately 65 lives along the Chilkoot Trail.
Mount Rainier witnessed the nation’s most fatal climbing disaster when a tremendous ice avalanche struck the Ingraham Glacier, claiming the lives of ten climbers and their guide.
The community of Twin Lakes, located near Independence Pass, suffered a devastating blow when an avalanche destroyed multiple residences, resulting in seven fatalities that included five young children.
Alpine Meadows Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe experienced tragedy when an avalanche struck the facility, claiming seven lives, including four staff members who had stayed despite the resort’s closure due to hazardous conditions. Remarkably, a 22-year-old chairlift operator survived and was found five days later by a specially trained rescue dog in the ski chalet debris.
MEXICO CITY – Walmart’s Mexican operations delivered disappointing fourth-quarter results this week, with earnings falling short of Wall Street expectations as the retail giant grappled with currency headwinds.
Walmex, which operates Walmart stores throughout Mexico and Central America, saw its net income decline 3.9% during the final three months of 2025 compared to the previous year. The company earned 14.60 billion pesos, significantly below the 16.68 billion pesos that financial analysts had projected, according to data from LSEG.
While sales increased by 3% to reach 282.85 billion pesos for the quarter, this figure also came up short of analyst expectations of 287.37 billion pesos.
The retailer’s Central American business faced particular challenges during the reporting period, though performance improved when accounting for currency fluctuation impacts. Mexico’s peso gained significant strength against the U.S. dollar, rising 13.8% over the full year and 1.5% in the fourth quarter alone, which reduced the value of international earnings when converted back to pesos.
Chief Executive Officer Cristian Barrientos emphasized the company’s commitment to its core strategy moving forward. “We know what we have to do, we have clear priorities and we will accelerate the speed at which we are moving,” Barrientos stated in the earnings announcement. He indicated the company will continue prioritizing competitive pricing, maintaining product inventory, and expanding its online shopping platform.
Despite the profit challenges, Walmex maintained its aggressive expansion strategy throughout the quarter. The company launched 102 additional locations in Mexico, with the majority being Bodega Aurrera discount grocery stores, while adding 13 more stores in Central American markets. This growth brought the retailer’s total store count to 4,265 locations across the region.
The exchange rate at the end of December was approximately 18.01 Mexican pesos per U.S. dollar.
Wall Street investment firm Morgan Stanley established banking relationships with Jeffrey Epstein’s financial trusts as recently as 2019, according to newly released Justice Department documents that shed light on the convicted sex offender’s continued access to major financial institutions.
The correspondence, part of over 3 million pages published by the DOJ on January 30, 2026, reveals that Epstein’s associates and investment vehicles maintained banking connections with Morgan Stanley well beyond his 2008 conviction and registration as a sex offender following a plea agreement.
These banking relationships developed during a timeframe when competing Wall Street institutions like Deutsche Bank and JPMorgan were severing their connections with the controversial financier due to reputational concerns.
Epstein received immunity in 2008 after entering a guilty plea to Florida state prostitution charges, resulting in a 13-month incarceration. Federal authorities later charged him in July 2019 with trafficking dozens of minors for sexual exploitation.
The intervening period saw escalating legal challenges, including Virginia Giuffre’s 2016 defamation case against Epstein confidante Ghislaine Maxwell. Investigative reporting by the Miami Herald in 2018 further intensified public attention on Epstein’s activities. The financier took his own life in a Manhattan detention facility in August 2019 while facing trial.
Internal emails show Morgan Stanley’s risk management team terminated an Epstein trust account in 2017, yet the institution established a new account relationship in 2019, according to the released documentation.
A person with knowledge of the situation confirmed that Morgan Stanley ended one banking relationship with Epstein in 2017 after informing him of their decision to discontinue services. The same source indicated another account opened in 2019 was quickly shuttered, though specific reasons and exact timing weren’t disclosed.
Communications with the financial institution were managed by Epstein’s long-serving accountant Richard Kahn, whose legal representative didn’t respond to requests for comment. Kahn currently serves as co-executor of Epstein’s estate, which provided $105 million in cash to settle U.S. Virgin Islands claims regarding the territory’s use for trafficking operations.
Estate executors also established a victim compensation program that distributed $121 million. Fellow executor Darren Indyke’s attorney similarly didn’t respond to comment requests.
Reuters discovered no indication of misconduct by Morgan Stanley or the estate executors, and found no evidence suggesting Epstein personally contacted the bank.
Federal banking regulations require institutions to verify customer identities and beneficial ownership while monitoring potentially suspicious activity as part of standard due diligence procedures.
Reuters couldn’t establish what specific verification measures Morgan Stanley implemented when establishing Epstein-connected accounts.
Morgan Stanley joins several Wall Street firms that maintained financial relationships with the New York-based financier over multiple years. Various banks have encountered scrutiny regarding their Epstein and Maxwell connections, with Maxwell convicted in 2021 for assisting Epstein’s criminal activities.
JPMorgan served as Epstein’s banking partner from 1998 through 2013, when the institution ended the relationship.
Deutsche Bank informed Epstein in December 2018 of plans to close his accounts, completing the process following his July 2019 arrest, as previously reported by Reuters.
JPMorgan verified to Reuters that their banking relationship with Epstein concluded in 2013. Deutsche Bank declined comment regarding specific closure dates for this report.
Documentation indicates Morgan Stanley’s connections with Epstein-related entities were operational by 2015. An April 17, 2015 email forwarded to Epstein showed Kahn writing: “Morgan Stanley account is open and funded with 5,000,000.”
Redacted or damaged portions of the documents rendered some information unreadable.
A February 6, 2016 email exchange with Epstein included Kahn noting that a “Morgan Stanley=existing brokerage account in stc name currently has approximately 17,250,=00,” potentially referencing a Southern Trust account. Reuters couldn’t verify the precise amount or whether figures represented thousands or millions. Southern Trust operated as one of Epstein’s business entities.
Morgan Stanley complex risk officer Rachel Kaplan sent correspondence on August 18, 2017, contained within the DOJ documents, to Epstein and attorney Darren Indyke at Southern Trust Co, stating the bank’s decision to “terminate our current broker/client relationship.”
Kaplan, serving as vice president and risk officer in Morgan Stanley’s wealth management division, directed inquiries to Morgan Stanley. The institution declined comment about their Epstein banking relationship.
Two years afterward, on March 18, 2019, Kahn confirmed to Epstein the establishment of a new Morgan Stanley account, according to documentation. This account served Butterfly Trust, another Epstein financial entity. Butterfly Trust appeared in a 2020 settlement with the New York State Department of Financial Services that penalized the bank for permitting Epstein to withdraw questionable cash amounts.
Iranian officials have notified aviation authorities of scheduled rocket launches planned for Thursday across southern regions of the country, according to information posted on the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s website Wednesday.
The rocket activity is set to occur between 330 GMT and 1330 GMT on Thursday, with Iranian authorities issuing the standard aviation warning to ensure flight safety in the affected areas.
This week, Iranian naval forces have been conducting military exercises in the strategically important Hormuz Strait, and the country is preparing for joint naval operations with Russia scheduled for Thursday.
The rocket launch announcement comes as relations between Iran and the United States continue to deteriorate, with American naval vessels positioned in waters near Iran. U.S. Vice President JD Vance recently indicated that Washington is evaluating whether to maintain diplomatic talks with Tehran or consider alternative approaches.
The aviation warning system, known as NOTAM, serves as a crucial safety tool that alerts pilots, flight crews, and others using airspace about potential hazards or restricted areas.
Australia’s leading telecommunications company Telstra Group delivered financial results that surpassed analyst predictions on Thursday, driven by strong performance in its mobile services division and effective expense management, while simultaneously refining its earnings projections for the 2026 fiscal year.
The telecommunications giant implemented rate hikes across the majority of its mobile service packages beginning in July of last year, solidifying its position as the leading service provider in Australia’s intensely competitive telecommunications market dominated by three major players.
The company has pursued strategic initiatives to boost profitability and concentrate efforts on key business areas including mobile and internet services, which included restructuring its enterprise operations through workforce reductions and asset sales.
Australia’s dominant telecom operator announced attributable earnings of A$1.12 billion (equivalent to $788.03 million) for the six-month period ending December 31, representing an increase from the previous year’s A$1.03 billion and marginally surpassing Visible Alpha’s projected consensus of A$1.11 billion.
The company refined its underlying EBITDA after lease amortization outlook to fall within A$8.2 billion to A$8.4 billion, adjusting from its previous projection range of A$8.15 billion to A$8.45 billion.
Telstra announced an interim shareholder dividend of 10.5 Australian cents per share, representing an improvement over the 9.5 Australian cents per share distributed in the previous year.
The telecommunications provider also expanded its existing A$1 billion stock repurchase program, initially announced in August, increasing it to as much as A$1.25 billion.
America is moving forward with plans to pull out all of its approximately 1,000 military personnel currently deployed in Syria, according to a Wednesday report from the Wall Street Journal that cited three unnamed U.S. officials.
Reuters has not been able to independently confirm this reporting.
Just last week, American forces completed their departure from a key military installation in Syria, transferring control of the facility to Syrian government forces. This handover marked another indication of improving diplomatic relations between Washington and Damascus, potentially paving the way for a more extensive American military exit from the country.
According to the Journal’s sources, the remaining U.S. military positions throughout Syria will be vacated during the coming two-month period.
The Trump administration’s ambitious plan to make home loans more affordable isn’t delivering the results officials hoped for, according to Federal Reserve meeting minutes made public Wednesday.
During the Fed’s January 27-28 policy meeting, a New York Federal Reserve official briefed colleagues on the administration’s $200 billion mortgage bond-buying program launched earlier this year. The initiative successfully pushed down yields on mortgage-backed securities compared to similar Treasury bonds, the minutes revealed.
However, the New York Fed official “observed that the decline was unlikely to result in a material increase in mortgage refinancing because current mortgage rates are well above the weighted average rate of outstanding mortgages,” according to the meeting record.
This assessment aligns with what private market experts have been saying – while the Trump program has moved some financial markets, it hasn’t meaningfully changed the challenging dynamics facing homebuyers and the housing sector.
Federal Reserve policymakers pointed to a different core issue: America simply doesn’t have enough homes available for sale. Until builders can increase the housing supply, affordability problems will persist in what represents the largest category of household debt, Fed officials concluded.
The most significant factor driving mortgage rates lower has actually been the Federal Reserve’s own interest rate cuts. Last year, Fed officials reduced their benchmark rate by 0.75 percentage points, bringing it to a range between 3.5% and 3.75%. The central bank is currently pausing further cuts while monitoring whether inflation continues declining, though markets anticipate additional rate reductions in 2024.
The meeting minutes also covered other Fed operations, including updates to the central bank’s standing repurchase agreement facilities. The New York Fed official reported that recent modifications have made these short-term lending tools more appealing to financial institutions.
Additionally, the Fed’s large-scale Treasury bill purchases designed to boost bank reserves before the mid-April tax season are progressing as planned. Reserve levels are expected to fluctuate around $3 trillion during this period.
These liquidity operations serve a technical purpose, ensuring money markets maintain adequate cash flow to keep short-term interest rates trading within the Fed’s target range.
The Trump administration is set to roll back environmental regulations governing coal-fired power facilities this week, which would permit these plants to release increased amounts of dangerous pollutants such as mercury, according to a Wednesday report from the New York Times.
Top officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are anticipated to make this announcement public during their scheduled visit to Louisville, Kentucky, on Friday, the Times reported.
A prominent activist investment firm is pressuring the London Stock Exchange Group to undertake a comprehensive portfolio evaluation and execute a massive 5 billion pound ($6.7 billion) share repurchase program within the coming year, according to a Bloomberg News report published Wednesday that cited sources with knowledge of the situation.
The news follows recent reports that Elliott Investment Management acquired a position in LSEG and began discussions with company leadership about strategies to enhance operational performance.
The stock exchange’s share price has plummeted over 30% during the last twelve months, with additional pressure coming from a widespread global decline in software company valuations.
Paul Singer’s Elliott is also pushing LSEG to reevaluate its complicated organizational framework, which includes data services, trading platform operations, and majority ownership of 51% in the American-listed Tradeweb Markets, according to the Bloomberg report.
The investment firm wants LSEG to strengthen its investor outreach regarding potential benefits from artificial intelligence technology, as the company’s data division could experience increased demand from AI-related applications, the report noted.
Elliott is additionally advocating for operational enhancements to boost profit margins and close performance gaps with industry competitors, Bloomberg reported, while clarifying that the fund is not advocating for a complete company sale or separation of the exchange operations.
“LSEG maintains an active and open dialogue with our investors, while remaining focused on executing our strategy,” an LSEG representative stated to Bloomberg.
Neither Elliott nor LSEG provided immediate responses to requests for comment. Reuters, which supplies news content for LSEG’s Workspace terminal and other products, could not independently confirm the Bloomberg report.
A tragic mining accident in Nigeria has claimed the lives of 37 people who succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning while working at an underground site, according to police sources and security documents obtained by Reuters.
The deadly incident unfolded around 5:45 Wednesday morning at a mining operation located in Kampani, within the Wase region of Plateau state. Emergency responders transported an additional 25 miners to medical facilities for treatment.
Nigeria’s Solid Minerals Development Minister Dele Alake explained that the location was a former lead extraction site where stored minerals naturally emit poisonous gases. The minister noted that local residents were unaware of the hazardous fumes when they descended into the tunnel seeking to harvest minerals.
Following the fatalities, Alake has mandated the immediate shutdown of all mining operations under license 11810, which is operated by Solid Unit Nigeria Limited and belongs to owner Abdullahi Dan-China in the Zuraq area.
Initial investigation results indicate the deceased workers, all between ages 20 and 35, perished after breathing in toxic gases while laboring in the underground chambers, security documentation revealed.
State officials in Plateau confirmed multiple deaths occurred but declined to specify exact numbers, while noting that survivors continue receiving medical care at area hospitals.
Law enforcement has established a perimeter around the mining location to block additional entry attempts.
Nigeria’s mining sector is characterized by widespread illegal operations that typically lack adequate safety protocols, with workers frequently operating without proper protective gear.
Federal authorities have mandated an immediate halt to all mining work throughout the impacted region while investigations proceed.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced Wednesday his intention to pursue “strategic partnerships” with China during an upcoming visit, as his country navigates rising tensions over President Trump’s tariff agenda.
Speaking at his political party’s Ash Wednesday gathering in Passau, Bavaria, Merz outlined Germany’s approach to international relations amid growing trade disputes.
“We have a strategic interest in finding partners in the world who think the way we do, who act the way we do, and who above all are prepared to shape the future together so that we remain a country with prosperity and a high level of social security,” Merz stated during the event.
The German leader emphasized that foreign and economic policies have become inseparable in today’s global landscape.
Addressing the Trump administration’s trade approach directly, Merz said: “If the Americans believe that, with their tariff policy, they should exert influence around the world — if they believe that tariffs are more important than taxes at home — then that is something Americans can, of course, decide for themselves. But it is not our policy.”
Trump’s aggressive tariff strategy has created strain between traditional allies, potentially threatening bilateral trade relationships and posing additional risks to Germany’s already weakened economy.
Merz made clear Germany’s position on the tariff issue, declaring: “You can do it, but we will not go along with it. And if you overdo it, then we Europeans are certainly able to defend ourselves against it.”
The Chancellor pointed to recent European unity during disputes involving Greenland as evidence that the continent can respond collectively to American pressure, suggesting the European Union would take action if Washington escalates tariff measures.
Describing Germany’s balanced approach, Merz explained: “That is our double strategy: an outstretched hand and, at any time, a renewed partnership — but also enough cohesion and unity within the European Union so that we can defend ourselves sufficiently against things we do not want.”
At a 2011 NBA playoff matchup between the Chicago Bulls and Indiana Pacers, Rev. Jesse Jackson watched intently from the baseline as players warmed up before the game.
The civil rights icon appeared completely at home in the athletic setting, surrounded by an environment that had shaped much of his life’s work.
Jackson, who passed away Tuesday at 84, began his athletic journey early and maintained deep connections to sports throughout his career as both participant and champion for change. After receiving a football scholarship to Illinois, he transferred to the historically Black North Carolina A&T following his first year. As quarterback for the Aggies, he helped lead the team to a conference championship in 1964 and earned induction into the university’s athletic Hall of Fame two decades later.
“What is not a well-known fact is that Rev. Jackson, first of all, he was a football player,” said CK Hoffler, Jackson’s attorney for 38 years. “He himself, as a former athlete, understood the plight of athletes.”
During that Bulls-Pacers game, Jackson’s imposing 6-foot-3 frame commanded attention even among professional basketball players. His presence overshadowed even Bulls star Derrick Rose, the league’s MVP that season and fellow Chicago native whom Jackson had traveled to Indianapolis to support.
Jackson’s athletic background ignited his lifelong commitment to securing fair treatment and equal opportunities for athletes across all sports, regardless of their race, gender, or country of origin.
“He’s always been an advocate of greater inclusion, whether it was fair pay and other things for athletes throughout the country and throughout the world,” Hoffler said. “Athletes from overseas, ensuring that they got a fair shake as well. That was part of what (he) felt was fair. That was part of his social justice.”
Jackson’s commitment to athlete advocacy extended beyond public demonstrations to include private negotiations and behind-the-scenes work.
“The Harlem Globetrotters, they had their own cartoon,” Hoffler said. “They did a lot of community building, and they were just iconic in and of themselves. But they had no insurance. They had no benefits. And Rev. Jackson, upon hearing that, took it upon himself to negotiate their benefits.”
Len Elmore, a former 10-season NBA player now serving as senior lecturer at Columbia University, observed clear connections between Jackson’s athletic foundation and his broader social justice mission.
Throughout the years, Elmore saw Jackson consistently push for reform across Major League Baseball, the NFL, and NBA without hesitation.
“He certainly had a vision and in trying to achieve that vision he was very forward and aggressive in stating what the world should be like,” said Elmore, who teaches courses on athlete activism and sports-related social justice. “He also was very critical of the timing of some of the actions that didn’t come fast enough or they weren’t capable enough.
“His understanding of the world and what it should be, what it should look like was amazing. And his leadership in trying to get there was something that inspired a lot of us.”
Elmore, who operated a sports agency during the early to mid-1990s, treasures an award he received from Jackson’s Rainbow PUSH organization’s sports division recognizing efforts to expand Black representation among sports agents.
Jackson also advocated strongly for minority coaching opportunities. Elmore recalls Jackson’s persistent efforts to convince Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney to implement what became the NFL’s Rooney Rule in 2003. The policy initially mandated that teams interview at least one diverse candidate before filling head coaching positions, addressing the shortage of minority head coaches.
Jackson, Elmore said, “wanted folks to have a piece of the pie. He wanted that pie to have diverse overtones.”
However, Jackson didn’t hesitate to criticize the Rooney Rule’s limited impact. Following Brian Flores’ racial discrimination lawsuit against the NFL, Jackson advocated for improvements in a 2022 USA Today opinion piece, describing the rule as a “toothless tiger.”
“You recognize change and the type of change that he envisioned. It wasn’t just a dream, it was active,” Elmore said. “Whether it was either influencing to some extent Harry Edwards in the ’60s, the Rooney Rule, the Nike boycott (demanding more Black employees) in 1990 — he wanted athletes to recognize their platform and the legacy they possess. Not just in the field, but in the boardroom. … That is what Jesse Jackson envisioned and what he was about.”
According to Hoffler, Jackson maintained passion for all sports while particularly connecting with athletes who championed equality. Despite his football background, basketball held special appeal for him. In recent years, he regularly attended NBA All-Star Weekend events, specifically supporting the HBCU Classic game that highlighted underrepresented college players.
Jackson continued appearing at basketball games throughout his 70s and 80s.
“Even when he was physically not able to walk,” Hoffler said, “he was still at some of those games in a wheelchair. That’s how much he was committed to the plight of athletes.”
A trailblazing Palestinian diplomat who shattered gender barriers in international relations has passed away in France at 76 years old.
Leila Shahid made history as the first woman to represent Palestine in an ambassadorial role, serving in key European posts during pivotal moments in Middle Eastern relations.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas honored her memory, describing Shahid as a “model of diplomacy committed to the values of freedom, justice and peace,” and noting that “she remained faithful to her people’s message until her final days,” as reported by the official WAFA news agency.
Born in Beirut in 1949 during the aftermath of the Arab-Israeli war that displaced hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, Shahid’s family originally hailed from Jerusalem and what became northern Israel.
Following early work in Palestinian refugee settlements, she moved to Paris during the 1970s to earn her doctorate in anthropology. By 1976, she had risen to lead France’s Palestinian student organization.
Shahid witnessed firsthand one of the conflict’s darkest chapters when she returned to Beirut in 1982 during the Sabra and Shatila killings, where Israeli-supported Lebanese Christian forces murdered hundreds of Palestinian civilians in refugee settlements.
The Palestine Liberation Organization appointed her as ambassador to Ireland in 1989, marking her historic achievement as the first Palestinian woman to hold such a position. She transferred to the Netherlands the subsequent year.
Her most significant diplomatic assignment came as Palestinian representative to France from 1993 through 2005, a period encompassing both promising peace negotiations and the eruption of the second intifada in 2000. During this time, she accompanied Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during his final moments before his death at a French military medical facility in 2004.
Shahid concluded her diplomatic career representing Palestinian interests to the European Union, Belgium, and Luxembourg from 2006 to 2014.
Beyond her diplomatic work, she spent years directing “The Review of Palestinian Studies,” a French-language publication documenting the conflict’s history.
WASHINGTON — Four U.S. senators returned home Wednesday following their historic visit to Ukraine, where they’re now advocating for Congress to approve new economic penalties against Russia designed to weaken Moscow financially and force President Vladimir Putin into meaningful peace negotiations.
The bipartisan group became the first American senators to travel to Odessa since the conflict started nearly four years ago. Ukraine’s third-largest city serves as a vital Black Sea shipping hub and has faced repeated Russian attacks. Democratic senators Jeanne Shaheen, Chris Coons, Richard Blumenthal, and Sheldon Whitehouse completed the journey, while Republican Senator Thom Tillis had to cancel due to personal matters.
“One of the things we heard wherever we stopped today was that the people of Ukraine want a peace deal, but they want a peace deal that preserves their sovereignty, that recognizes the importance of the integrity of Ukraine,” Shaheen told reporters during a phone briefing.
The senators’ trip occurs during a pivotal time in the ongoing war. Representatives from both nations were simultaneously conducting U.S.-facilitated discussions in Switzerland over two days, though neither party seemed willing to compromise on critical matters including territorial disputes and future security arrangements. Lawmakers believe the proposed sanctions could push Putin toward accepting a settlement, particularly with the U.S. establishing a June timeline for resolution.
“Literally nobody believes that Russia is acting in good faith in the negotiations with our government and with the Ukrainians,” Whitehouse stated. “And so pressure becomes the key.”
However, proposed legislation targeting Russia with severe economic penalties has remained stalled in Congress for several months.
Multiple sanction proposals are currently under consideration by senators, including comprehensive legislation that would grant the Trump administration authority to implement tariffs and secondary penalties against nations buying Russian oil, natural gas, uranium, and other exports that fund Moscow’s war machine. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has also moved forward with more focused bills targeting China’s military assistance to Russia, seizing frozen Russian funds, and dismantling Moscow’s “shadow fleet” of oil vessels used to evade existing sanctions.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who helped sponsor the Senate’s comprehensive sanctions and tariff proposal, issued a statement during this weekend’s Munich Security Conference announcing that Senate Majority Leader John Thune pledged to schedule a vote on the sanctions bill once it secures the necessary 60 votes for passage.
“This legislation will be a game changer,” Graham declared. “President Trump has embraced it. It is time to vote.”
Blumenthal, Graham’s co-sponsor on the bill, confirmed bipartisan backing for what he described as a “very tough sledgehammer of sanctions and tariffs,” while acknowledging that “we need to work out some of the remaining details.” Democrats and several Republicans have opposed Trump’s broader tariff strategy aimed at negotiating trade agreements and boosting domestic manufacturing.
In the House of Representatives, a cross-party coalition led by Republican Representative Brian Fitzpatrick has introduced sanctions targeting Russia’s military industry, banking sector, and petroleum exports that sustain the war effort.
Another House proposal, spearheaded by Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, would increase U.S. military aid to Ukraine by $8 billion. Democrats currently need one additional Republican vote to force consideration of that measure.
Upon their return, the senators plan to document how American companies operating in Ukraine have suffered Russian attacks. The Democratic lawmakers also aim to pressure Trump into providing additional U.S. weapons to Ukraine. “Putin understands weapons, not words,” Blumenthal emphasized.
Nevertheless, the legislators will return to a Washington where the Trump administration remains uncertain about its long-term commitment to achieving lasting peace in Ukraine and broader European security. For the moment, they drew encouragement from discussions with European allies and Republican colleagues.
“We and the Republican senators who were with us in Munich spoke with one voice about our determination to continue to support Ukraine,” Coons reported.
Motorists traveling through a section of Old Mill Bridge Road should expect delays today as construction crews have temporarily closed one lane of traffic.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the northbound lanes of Old Mill Bridge Road at the intersection with Tidal Road are currently restricted due to active construction work in the area.
Officials indicate the lane closure will remain in effect until 3 PM today. Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and consider alternate routes if possible to avoid potential congestion in the construction zone.
Ocean City, Maryland officials received welcome news last week when a federal judge ruled entirely in their favor regarding a legal challenge from offshore wind developer US Wind.
On February 13, 2026, Judge Gallagher of the United States District Court granted a motion that completely threw out US Wind’s cross-claim against federal defendants in the case. Ocean City announced the court decision on February 18th.
City officials are calling the ruling a major procedural win in their ongoing legal battle. The judge’s decision means that US Wind’s cross-claim cannot proceed any further in the federal court system.
The dismissal represents the latest development in what has been a contentious legal dispute between the Maryland resort town and the renewable energy company over offshore wind development plans.
The leader of California’s troubled high-speed rail project has stepped away from his position temporarily after facing domestic violence allegations that led to his arrest earlier this month.
Ian Choudri, who heads the California High-Speed Rail Authority as CEO, was taken into custody on February 4th in Folsom, a city near Sacramento, confirmed police Lieutenant Lou Wright. Authorities have not released further information about the incident.
No charges were filed against Choudri, and prosecutors did not require him to make a court appearance, according to his attorney Allen Sawyer. Choudri has decided to take several days off from his leadership role, his lawyer indicated.
“While my client appreciates that this legal matter has been thoroughly evaluated, his family needs time to privately process and heal,” Sawyer stated. “He remains committed to his work, and this short absence will also give the board space to independently review the conclusions of the legal process.”
Neither the prosecutor’s office, the rail authority, nor California’s transportation department provided responses to requests for comment.
News of Choudri’s arrest became public this week when Sacramento television station KCRA first broke the story.
The rail authority brought Choudri on board in 2024, drawing from his experience with European high-speed rail networks. His mission has been to breathe new life into what ranks as the country’s most ambitious infrastructure undertaking, which has been plagued by soaring expenses and lost federal support during the previous Trump presidency.
The ambitious project aims to link San Francisco and Los Angeles by high-speed rail.
In previous interviews with The Associated Press, Choudri expressed his desire to join the effort to “completely turn it around” and secure stable financing. His strategy has involved seeking private sector partnerships to help fund the massive undertaking.
Last year, Governor Gavin Newsom and California legislators committed to providing $1 billion each year through 2045 for the project, funded through the state’s cap-and-trade program designed to cut emissions from major polluters.
When California voters initially backed $10 billion in bonds in 2008, they were told this would cover roughly one-third of the expected costs and that trains would be operating by 2020. More than four years beyond that target date, officials now estimate the project could require over $120 billion to complete.
DENVER — Five people have lost their lives following a devastating series of crashes on a Colorado interstate where more than 30 vehicles, including seven big rigs, collided after powerful winds created a blinding dust storm, state officials confirmed Wednesday.
Colorado State Patrol initially reported four fatalities and 29 injuries from Tuesday’s accidents on Interstate 25 near Pueblo. However, one additional person succumbed to their injuries at the hospital, bringing the death toll to five.
The catastrophic chain of events began around 10 a.m. Tuesday when fierce winds swept across drought-stricken farmland adjacent to the highway, creating what Major Brian Lyons of the Colorado State Patrol described as a “brown out” condition.
“Visibility was next to nothing,” Lyons explained.
The National Weather Service recorded wind speeds reaching approximately 70 mph in the area Tuesday morning. Dramatic footage captured by a motorist trapped in the aftermath shows massive clouds of dust rolling across the highway, with damaged vehicles gradually becoming visible through the thick, dusty haze.
Hospital staff treated the wounded for injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, Lyons reported. While accidents occurred on both sides of the interstate, the northbound collision resulted in the fatalities, whereas the southbound incident caused only vehicle damage, patrol officials noted.
Among the vehicles involved was a pickup truck towing a livestock trailer containing 30 sheep and one goat, according to the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region, which responded to assist with the animals. Some livestock became trapped inside the damaged trailer while others escaped and roamed free until humane society workers could safely capture them. Four sheep sustained injuries too severe for recovery, the organization reported.
The investigation into the crashes, which occurred approximately two miles from Pueblo, remains ongoing. While poor visibility will be examined as a primary factor, other contributing elements may also be considered, stated Trooper Sherri Mendez, a patrol spokesperson.
The same powerful wind system that struck eastern Colorado Tuesday, combined with unusually warm temperatures and extremely dry conditions, also fueled wildfires across the region and caused flight delays at Denver International Airport. Similar dangerous wind and drought conditions continued Wednesday, maintaining elevated fire risks throughout the area.
GREENBELT, Md. — A federal jury is deliberating the fate of a renowned Supreme Court attorney who secretly earned tens of millions of dollars as a high-stakes poker player while allegedly evading taxes on his massive gambling winnings.
Thomas Goldstein, who co-founded the influential SCOTUSblog and argued more than 40 cases before the nation’s highest court, faces 16 federal charges following a six-week trial that concluded Wednesday in Maryland. His indictment last year stunned Washington’s legal circles, where Goldstein was a respected figure until his 2023 retirement.
Federal prosecutor Sean Beaty described Goldstein as among the most brilliant attorneys ever to appear before the Supreme Court during closing arguments.
“He’s not a dummy. He’s a willful tax cheat,” Beaty told the jury.
Defense lawyer Jonathan Kravis countered that federal investigators rushed to judgment and wrongly believed an accountant’s fabricated claims about his client’s gambling activities without proper investigation.
“Not even close,” Kravis said. “Tom Goldstein is innocent.”
The proceedings, which began January 12, featured testimony from Hollywood actor Tobey Maguire, known for his “Spider-Man” films and poker enthusiasm, who sought Goldstein’s legal assistance in collecting gambling money owed by a billionaire. Goldstein also testified on his own behalf.
Federal authorities allege Goldstein concealed millions in gambling earnings from tax collectors, siphoned funds from his law practice Goldstein & Russell to cover poker debts, and improperly claimed gambling losses as business write-offs.
“It was a textbook tax-evasion scheme,” Beaty stated. “And Mr. Goldstein executed that nearly flawlessly.”
Goldstein maintains his innocence, claiming he consistently directed his firm’s staff and accountants to properly categorize his personal expenditures. In a 2014 message to an employee, he wrote that “we always play completely by the rules.”
His defense team acknowledges Goldstein should have monitored his company’s financial matters more carefully and concedes he made unintentional errors on tax documents. However, Kravis insisted his client never deliberately cheated on taxes or knowingly filed false information.
“A mistake is not a crime,” he argued.
Additional charges accuse Goldstein of deceiving IRS investigators and concealing gambling debts from accountants, staff members, and mortgage companies. Court documents claim he failed to disclose a $15 million gambling debt on home loan paperwork while house-hunting in Washington, D.C., with his spouse in 2021.
According to prosecutors, Goldstein earned approximately $50 million in poker proceeds during 2016 alone, including about $22 million from games in Asia. The alleged tax scheme unraveled when another gambler, believing Goldstein had cheated him, reported a 2016 debt to the IRS.
The indictment also claims Goldstein misused his law firm to inappropriately pay wages and health benefits to four women with whom he maintained or pursued romantic relationships from 2016 through 2022. He reportedly met three through a “sugar daddy” dating platform that connects older men with younger women seeking financial assistance, while encountering the fourth at a poker event where she worked as a server and masseuse.
Government lawyers say these women held fictitious positions and contributed minimal work to Goldstein’s firm. The charges allege he avoided taxes by categorizing the women’s compensation and healthcare costs as legitimate business expenses.
Goldstein’s legal team criticized prosecutors for inappropriately presenting sensational details about his romantic relationships to grand jurors. Days before his January indictment, his attorneys claimed Justice Department officials hastily pursued charges before the presidential transition.
“This roving search for a crime appears to be motivated in large part by personal animus towards Mr. Goldstein,” defense lawyers wrote ten days before formal charges were filed.
Goldstein previously served on the legal team representing Democrat Al Gore in Supreme Court litigation following the contested 2000 election ultimately decided in favor of Republican George W. Bush. Last November, after learning of the investigation but before facing charges, Goldstein published an opinion piece in The New York Times calling for dismissal of criminal cases against Republican President Donald Trump.
“Although this idea will pain my fellow Democrats, all of the cases should be abandoned,” he wrote following Trump’s 2024 election victory.
Prosecutors sought to introduce statements Goldstein recently made to The New York Times Magazine regarding his criminal case. He told the publication that his wife, who helped establish SCOTUSblog alongside him, remained unaware of his gambling activities or relationships with other women.
“I just had this entirely separate life,” he revealed to journalist Jeffrey Toobin.
GLOUCESTER, Mass. — Search teams are utilizing advanced underwater technology in their ongoing effort to locate a commercial fishing vessel that went down in Atlantic waters last month, claiming the lives of all seven people on board. However, harsh winter conditions continue to hamper recovery operations.
The Lily Jean, measuring 72 feet in length, was heading back to harbor during the early morning hours of January 30 for equipment repairs when the vessel sank in icy waters near the historic Massachusetts fishing community of Gloucester. Several agencies are now working in partnership to find the vessel’s remains and possibly retrieve the bodies of those who perished, authorities announced Wednesday. The collaborative effort includes the U.S. Coast Guard, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Massachusetts Environmental Police.
Recovery operations face significant challenges as the Lily Jean rests in waters exceeding 300 feet in depth under extremely harsh winter conditions. Environmental police teams have deployed side-scan sonar equipment to collect information and identify unusual objects on the seafloor, according to officials. Plans also include sending a remotely operated underwater vehicle to capture images and footage, though rough sea conditions have prevented this step so far.
Massachusetts Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a Republican representing Gloucester, promised that officials would keep the mourning community informed of developments.
“One of the most haunting things about grief or loss at sea is the not knowing,” Tarr said during a news conference on Wednesday. “Answering those questions requires a tremendous amount of effort.”
The Coast Guard initially began search and rescue operations after receiving a distress signal from the boat approximately 25 miles off Cape Ann. Recovery teams discovered scattered debris in the area where the alert originated, along with one body and an unoccupied life raft, Coast Guard officials reported. The search operation was called off the next day, and the local community has since come together to support the victims’ families.
Gloucester holds the distinction of being America’s oldest seaport and maintains a reputation for its tight-knit fishing industry. The community gained national attention through “The Perfect Storm” book and film, which drew inspiration from the FV Andrea Gail that disappeared at sea in 1991.
Coast Guard representatives have released the names of those who died when the Lily Jean sank: captain Accursio “Gus” Sanfilippo and crew members Paul Beal Sr., Paul Beal Jr., John Rousanidis, Freeman Short and Sean Therrien. Jada Samitt, a fisheries observer working for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was also on board.
Ricky Beal, whose brother Paul Beal Sr. was among the victims, expressed hope during Wednesday’s press conference that the investigation would help families understand the tragedy. He also urged people following the case to avoid sharing unverified information.
“As of now, hopefully in the future, the investigation will give us some light on what happened. But as of now, only God knows what happened that fateful morning,” Beal said.
The Lily Jean and its crew, led by Sanfilippo, appeared in a 2012 History Channel episode of “Nor’Easter Men.” The program portrayed Sanfilippo as a fifth-generation commercial fisherman operating out of Gloucester in the Georges Bank area. The show documented the crew working through dangerous weather for extended periods, sometimes spending up to 10 days at sea harvesting haddock, lobster and flounder.
Federal transportation officials are ordering the closure of over 550 commercial driving schools nationwide after discovering serious safety violations that put the public at risk, according to an announcement made Wednesday.
The schools, which train future truck and bus drivers, were found to have hired instructors without proper qualifications, skipped essential student testing, and committed other critical safety infractions during federal inspections.
This action represents the Transportation Department’s ongoing campaign to enhance trucking industry safety standards. Unlike previous efforts last fall that targeted up to 7,500 schools including many already-closed facilities, this current initiative specifically addresses active schools with major deficiencies identified during 1,426 inspection visits.
Federal officials have intensified their scrutiny of states issuing commercial driver’s licenses to unqualified immigrants following a deadly August crash in Florida. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy stated that an unauthorized truck driver performed an illegal U-turn, resulting in three fatalities. Additional fatal incidents, including a recent Indiana crash that claimed four lives, have heightened these safety concerns.
According to Duffy, 448 schools failed to satisfy fundamental safety requirements. Inspectors documented problems including unqualified teaching staff, inadequate student skill assessments, insufficient hazardous materials training, and inappropriate training equipment. An additional 109 schools voluntarily withdrew from the official registry upon learning of planned inspections.
“American families should have confidence that our school bus and truck drivers are following every letter of the law and that starts with receiving proper training before getting behind the wheel,” Duffy said.
The targeted schools are predominantly smaller operations, including several programs operated by school districts. Larger, well-established schools were typically excluded from this enforcement action. Currently, 97 additional schools remain under investigation for compliance violations.
Industry observers point to a fundamental issue within the trucking sector: schools and companies can essentially approve their own operations when applying for certification, with questionable practices potentially going undetected until later Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration audits.
The number of students affected by these school closures remains unclear. However, the industry currently has excess driver capacity due to a 10% decline in shipping volumes since 2022 amid economic uncertainty, though many trucking companies continue struggling to recruit well-qualified drivers with clean driving records.
Beyond threatening to revoke federal funding from states with inadequate commercial driver’s license programs, the Trump Administration has emphasized enforcing English proficiency requirements for truck drivers. California stands as the sole state to lose funding thus far, with $160 million in federal support being withheld.
MILAN – When Canada’s hockey captain Sidney Crosby was sidelined by injury during a crucial Olympic quarter-final match, his teammates found the inspiration they needed from an unlikely source: Crosby himself, speaking from the locker room.
The Canadian squad staged a dramatic comeback against Czech Republic on Wednesday, overcoming a deficit to win 4-3 in overtime and advance to the Olympic semi-finals. The victory came after what many considered a surprisingly difficult challenge from the Czech team.
Canada appeared dominant early in the Milan contest but found themselves in serious trouble as the game progressed. Nick Suzuki managed to tie the game with under four minutes remaining in regulation, setting the stage for Mitch Marner to score the winning goal just 82 seconds into overtime.
The team was forced to compete for most of the game without their 38-year-old leader, who left the ice carefully during the second period following a collision with Czech defender Radko Gudas and never returned to action.
“He couldn’t come out for the third but he did address the players,” explained coach Jon Cooper. “We didn’t want this to be Sid’s last game at this Olympics. So it was a big motivator for the guys coming out.”
Cooper revealed Crosby’s simple but powerful message to his teammates: “‘Go get it, boys’,” the coach shared.
“He’s a true leader and they didn’t want it to be the end of the tournament for him,” Cooper added, noting it was premature to discuss the captain’s injury status.
The Pittsburgh Penguins star and Stanley Cup champion holds legendary status in Canadian hockey, having created some of the nation’s most memorable Olympic achievements, including the famous 2010 “Golden Goal.” His current teammates drew strength from protecting that legacy.
“Hopefully he’s back in the next game,” said 19-year-old forward Macklin Celebrini. “That’s our leader, our captain, the heart and soul of our team.”
Copper prices rebounded strongly on Wednesday, recovering from their lowest point in over a week as investors seized the opportunity to purchase at reduced prices and industrial metals followed technology stocks higher.
The primary copper contract on the London Metal Exchange gained 2.2% to reach $12,893 per metric ton by 1700 GMT, after peaking at $12,941 earlier in the session. The metal had dropped 1.8% on Tuesday, falling to its weakest level since February 6.
Chinese traders, who represent the world’s largest metals market, remained mostly sidelined due to Lunar New Year celebrations. Panmure Liberum analyst Tom Price explained that traders “rarely leave significant capital in the market” during the holiday period, noting that increased volatility typically results in dip-buying opportunities. “So I think that will offer a little bit of support,” Price stated.
According to broker Marex, base metals have been following signals from the Nasdaq instead. The Nasdaq Composite gained 1.3% as technology companies recovered ground following a recent artificial intelligence-driven market selloff.
London Metal Exchange copper inventories rose for the twelfth consecutive day, reaching 224,625 tons – the highest level in eleven months. New deliveries arrived at warehouses in New Orleans and Kaohsiung.
American storage facilities now hold nearly 18% of all copper available in LME warehouses, while an additional 538,122 tons remain on the U.S. Comex exchange.
“When inventories and copper prices lift together, something’s not right,” Price observed, noting that American copper usage has decreased over the past twelve months.
The immediate-delivery LME copper contract traded at a $97 per ton discount compared to three-month forward contracts, indicating limited urgent demand for the metal.
Other base metals also rallied broadly. Zinc increased 2.4% to $3,365.50 per ton after reaching a two-week low on Tuesday, while aluminum rose 1.7% to $3,086.50, positioned to end a four-session decline.
Lead advanced 0.9% to $1,963.50, nickel surged 3.1% to $17,375, though tin fell 0.3% to $45,710.
Swiss food giant Nestle is exploring ways to scale back its involvement in the ice cream sector, according to a Bloomberg News report released Wednesday.
The multinational company is examining various strategies, including potentially reducing its ownership stake in Froneri, a joint venture ice cream business, sources familiar with the discussions told Bloomberg.
Another option under consideration involves transferring some of Nestle’s wholly-owned ice cream operations to the Froneri partnership, according to the report.
Neither Nestle nor Froneri provided comments when contacted by Reuters about the potential business changes.
Froneri operates as a partnership between investment firm PAI Partners and Nestle. The company received a significant financial boost in October when Goldman Sachs and Abu Dhabi Investment Authority invested in the venture, establishing its market value at 15 billion euros, equivalent to approximately $17.69 billion.
Should Nestle move forward with reducing its ownership percentage, PAI Partners might expand its control over Froneri. Alternatively, Nestle could transfer portions of its stake to other investors such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, Bloomberg reported.
The discussions remain in preliminary stages, and there’s no guarantee any transaction will be completed, according to the report.
Froneri manufactures well-known ice cream products including Haagen-Dazs and Rowntree’s brands. The company faces competition from Magnum Ice Cream Company, which recently began operating independently following its separation from Unilever last year.
Federal agricultural officials report a small decrease in the country’s potato inventory levels over the past month.
According to new data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, potato stockpiles nationwide have fallen by one percent since February 1, 2025.
The modest decline represents normal fluctuations in the agricultural supply chain as winter storage supplies are gradually consumed and spring planting season approaches.
The USDA regularly tracks commodity inventories to help farmers, distributors, and food industry professionals make informed decisions about production and pricing.
The United States poultry industry is experiencing modest growth, according to new data from the National Agricultural Statistics Service showing a 2% increase in broiler-type eggs being prepared for hatching nationwide.
The federal report also indicates that broiler chick placements across the country have risen by the same 2% margin, suggesting continued expansion in poultry production operations.
These figures reflect the ongoing activity in America’s chicken farming sector, which plays a significant role in the nation’s agricultural economy and food supply chain.
Delaware and regional farmers are grappling with a challenging financial reality as the costs of running their operations continue to climb while their income streams shrink. According to agricultural finance experts, this troubling pattern represents a significant break from past trends.
Bill Moore, who serves as an agricultural economist with Compeer Financial, explains that farm income has failed to match the rising expenses of agricultural production. “And for the last two-plus years we’ve seen a real divergence where historically they tend to trend together, but production costs have really kind of [stayed elevated],” Moore stated.
The economist notes that this separation between income and expenses marks an unusual departure from historical agricultural economic patterns, where farm revenues and production costs typically followed similar trajectories. The sustained period of elevated input expenses while revenues lag behind is creating budget pressures for farming operations across the region.
The City of Cambridge is encouraging residents to think about participating in their 2026 spring cleanup program.
The municipal initiative appears to be part of Cambridge’s ongoing community beautification efforts, though specific details about dates, locations, and collection procedures have not yet been announced.
Residents interested in learning more about the spring cleanup program can check the city’s civic alerts for additional information as it becomes available.
