LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — The national television network in Slovenia announced Thursday that it will not broadcast this year’s Eurovision Song Contest following the country’s decision to withdraw from the competition because of Israel’s inclusion.
The annual musical competition featuring 35 nations is set to take place May 12-16 in Vienna.
Slovenia has joined several other European nations — Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Spain — in refusing to participate due to organizers allowing Israel to compete.
“We will not be broadcasting the Eurovision Song Contest,” stated Ksenija Horvat, director of RTV Slovenia, in comments to The Associated Press. “We will be airing the film series ‘Voices of Palestine,’ featuring Palestinian documentaries and feature films.”
Competition organizers made the decision in December to permit Israel’s participation, which led to the withdrawal of Slovenia and the other protesting nations. Slovenia has been outspoken in its criticism of Israel regarding its military actions during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza.
While the Eurovision competition aims to prioritize popular music over political issues, it has frequently become entangled in global conflicts. Russia faced expulsion from the 2022 contest following its comprehensive military assault on Ukraine.
The ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza has also created turmoil for the event, sparking demonstrations outside competition venues and forcing organizers to implement stricter rules against displays of political symbols.
A developing weather pattern will bring widespread rainfall and a noticeable cooldown across the Delmarva region this weekend, marking a shift away from the recent stretch of milder spring conditions.
A back door cold front is expected to slide south through the area on Friday as high pressure builds in from eastern Canada. This type of front, which moves in from the northeast rather than the typical west-to-east progression, can be particularly tricky to forecast and often leads to cooler-than-expected temperatures, especially closer to the coast. While most of Friday should remain dry, a few spotty showers cannot be ruled out during the afternoon as weak energy moves through the region. High temperatures are currently forecast to range from the 60s inland to near 70 degrees, with slightly warmer readings possible across parts of the Maryland Eastern Shore. However, if the front pushes through faster than expected, temperatures could end up several degrees cooler.
The primary weather impact arrives this weekend as a wave of low pressure develops near the Great Lakes and tracks into the Mid-Atlantic. This system is expected to bring a period of widespread rain, with the steadiest and most consistent rainfall likely falling on Saturday. Conditions will turn dreary and damp, with overcast skies and temperatures struggling to climb out of the upper 40s to upper 50s throughout the day.
Rainfall totals across Delmarva are expected to vary, with generally lighter amounts compared to areas farther north. Current projections suggest totals ranging from around a quarter inch to a half inch across southern portions of the region, with locally higher amounts possible.
By Sunday, conditions should begin to improve, although some uncertainty remains. While the overall trend points toward drier weather returning, a few lingering showers cannot be ruled out depending on how quickly the system exits the coast. Temperatures will begin to rebound slightly, reaching into the mid 50s to mid 60s.
Looking ahead to early next week, a return to milder and drier conditions is expected on Monday before another system approaches, bringing the next chance for rain by Monday night into midweek.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting construction work along a busy stretch of Route 1 north of Bethany Beach, resulting in a temporary shoulder closure for motorists.
The affected area spans northbound Coastal Highway between Sea Blossom Boulevard and Seaside Outlet Drive, where the shoulder lane has been blocked off to accommodate the ongoing work.
According to DelDOT officials, the shoulder restriction is expected to be lifted by 5 PM today. Drivers traveling through the area should exercise caution and allow extra time for potential delays during the construction period.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are working to clean up debris along a busy stretch of Route 1 northbound today, potentially affecting traffic flow in the area.
The litter removal operation is taking place between mile marker 95 at the Wrangle Hill Road exit and the Christiana Mall area. DelDOT workers are focusing their cleanup efforts on the right shoulder of the highway.
The debris removal work began earlier today and is expected to wrap up by 4 PM this afternoon. Motorists traveling through the area should expect possible delays and are advised to use caution when passing the work zone.
The Supreme Court is preparing to hear a significant case that could reshape how pesticides are regulated across the country, with major implications for farmers nationwide.
The case, Monsanto v. Durnell, centers on a fundamental question: Can individual states create additional warning requirements that conflict with scientific determinations made by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act?
Sam Kieffer, CEO of the National Association of Wheat Growers, argues the case has been mischaracterized by critics. “Some provocateurs have tried to frame the case as something else entirely, suggesting it’s about broad legal immunity for chemical manufacturers. It’s not,” Kieffer stated in his recent column.
According to Kieffer, the real issue is whether farmers and agricultural companies can depend on uniform national standards established by the EPA, rather than navigating conflicting requirements from different states.
“For farmers, this case is about clarity, predictability, and the ability to follow the law with confidence,” he explained.
The wheat industry leader emphasized that farmers must follow EPA-approved labels as legal requirements, not mere suggestions. He warned that inconsistent state regulations could create dangerous confusion for agricultural producers.
Kieffer also addressed what he calls misinformation about farming practices, particularly regarding glyphosate use in wheat production. He disputed claims that farmers routinely apply glyphosate to wheat crops as a harvest aid.
“Glyphosate is not labeled as a desiccant for wheat, and farmers are required by federal law to follow label directions,” he stated.
Market statistics support his position, showing that 97% of glyphosate applications in wheat occur before planting as a weed control measure. Only 3% happens after planting, typically to manage problem weeds that could damage harvesting equipment.
The CEO stressed that economic realities drive responsible pesticide use. “With tight margins and rising costs, every decision on the farm is scrutinized. Applying a product without a clear agronomic or economic benefit simply doesn’t make sense and farmers don’t have money to waste,” he noted.
Kieffer defended the safety and quality of wheat production, emphasizing that crop protection products undergo extensive scientific review by regulatory agencies worldwide.
As the Supreme Court prepares to consider this case, agricultural groups are advocating for maintaining science-based regulatory consistency. They argue that conflicting standards could create additional uncertainty during an already challenging period for farm economics.
The National Association of Wheat Growers plans to continue supporting policies that provide clarity and consistency for American agriculture while ensuring decisions are based on scientific evidence rather than speculation.
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A second murder trial began Thursday for a former sheriff’s deputy accused of fatally shooting a Black man who was entering his grandmother’s residence in 2020.
Former Franklin County Deputy Jason Meade, who is white, faces murder and reckless homicide charges in the death of Casey Goodson Jr. The fatal encounter sparked demonstrations in Columbus and raised numerous questions, particularly since sheriff’s deputies weren’t equipped with body or dashboard cameras to document the incident.
This new trial comes over two years after the initial proceedings ended without resolution when jurors failed to reach a unanimous decision. A judge declared a mistrial in 2024 after the jury remained deadlocked on the same charges.
During the first trial, Meade took the stand and claimed that Goodson displayed a weapon toward him as their vehicles passed each other. He testified that he followed Goodson out of concern for his own safety and that of others. According to Meade’s testimony, he opened fire when Goodson turned in his direction while holding a gun as he entered the residence. The 23-year-old victim sustained six gunshot wounds, with five striking him from behind.
The fatal shooting occurred on December 4, 2020, as Meade concluded an unsuccessful manhunt for a wanted individual while working with a U.S. Marshals Service task force. Goodson was not connected to the fugitive investigation, and federal marshals have confirmed that Meade was not conducting official duties for their agency when the shooting took place.
Meade has since left law enforcement.
Prosecutors and Goodson’s relatives maintain that the victim was carrying a bag containing a sandwich in one hand and his house keys in the other when he was shot after unlocking his front door. While they acknowledge Goodson may have possessed a firearm, for which he held a valid permit, prosecutors emphasized that only Meade has testified to seeing Goodson holding a weapon.
Investigators discovered Goodson’s gun on his grandmother’s kitchen floor with its safety feature activated.
The previous trial’s jury became deadlocked after experiencing significant disruption, with one juror removed and replaced during testimony, followed by three additional dismissals and replacements during deliberations. These changes forced the jury to repeatedly restart their discussions. Court officials have not disclosed the reasons for the juror removals.
WASHINGTON – Three Democratic senators are calling for a federal investigation into whether the administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration broke his ethics commitments by postponing the sale of airline company shares following his tenure as Republic Airways’ chief executive.
On Thursday, Senators Maria Cantwell, Tammy Duckworth, and Ed Markey requested an inquiry into whether FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford provided misleading information to Congress about his failure to completely sell his substantial ownership interest in Republic by the October 7 deadline specified in his ethics commitment.
The lawmakers contended that “Bedford intentionally held on to his shares until the airline completed a lucrative merger, likely significantly boosting the value of his holdings.”
Bedford finalized the sale of his stock holdings in February. The FAA indicated it would provide a direct response to the senators’ concerns. When he was confirmed for his position, Bedford disclosed Republic Airways stock valued between $6 million and $30 million. Republic Airways finalized its merger with Mesa Air Group on November 25.
PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Paul Sewald acknowledges that Major League Baseball’s new Automated Ball-Strike technology should theoretically provide equal treatment to hitters and pitchers.
However, in reality, he believes one group is getting the upper hand.
And it’s not the players on the mound.
“It’s what (MLB) wanted — people on base,” Sewald explained. “Tough time to be a pitcher. Balls flying everywhere, you’ve got a smaller strike zone. But you just go out there and do the best you can.”
Is Sewald’s assessment accurate? The statistics suggest the strike zone has indeed gotten tighter, though the data tells a complex story.
Base on balls have surged to levels approaching historical records during the season’s opening month. While there’s no definitive proof that the ABS system caused this increase, Diamondbacks catcher James McCann posed a logical question: “Of course it is. What other rules have changed?”
Through Wednesday’s contests, MLB hitters have walked in 9.8% of their plate appearances this season, potentially marking the highest percentage since 1950. This figure typically decreases as the season advances, since pitchers generally struggle with command during cold weather conditions in northern markets throughout March and April.
However, even accounting for seasonal factors, walks have increased dramatically compared to last year.
The strike zone modification was anticipated. MLB needed to redefine the zone’s parameters to work with automated umpiring. The previous Official Baseball Rules described a zone extending from the batter’s torso midpoint down to the “hollow beneath the kneecap.” The updated zone uses more exact measurements, beginning at 27% of a hitter’s standing height and extending to 53.5%. The ABS zone measures 17 inches across, matching home plate’s width, with all pitches evaluated at the plate’s center point.
The walk increase doesn’t completely reveal who’s gaining advantages in the ABS era. MLB’s overall batting average has dropped slightly to .240 through Wednesday, marginally below last year’s .242 mark during March and April games. This challenges Sewald’s assertion about “balls flying everywhere.”
The contrasting viewpoints are intriguing as MLB players adapt to the new regulations and statistics.
New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger isn’t reading too much into the early statistics. He noted that batters and pitchers constantly engage in strategic battles, and balance will eventually emerge.
“I think there’s always an adjustment to something new,” the 2019 National League MVP explained. “It’s also such a short sample size. It’s (20-25) games into the season, so numbers skyrocket both ways early on.”
McCann remains unconvinced. The experienced catcher believes a more restrictive strike zone will naturally result in additional walks.
“I think it’s tighter in general,” McCann stated. “Umpires are getting instant feedback on what’s a strike or a ball and everything’s becoming much more uniform. That’s what the guys who had used it in the minor leagues told me was going to happen before the season started, and they were exactly right.”
Chicago Cubs star infielder Nico Hoerner offered a somewhat different perspective, suggesting that hitters might currently benefit by avoiding pitches at the strike zone’s upper edge, though all adaptations eventually reach their limits.
“Getting on base has been emphasized for a long time,” Hoerner noted. “Walking is incredibly valuable as a hitter. A lot of pitchers — their approach is to avoid slug at all cost. Sometimes that involves throwing less strikes. But I’m sure there will be a back and forth, just like every trend in baseball.”
Recent history indicates MLB rule modifications can create lasting impacts. Stolen bases increased nearly 50% from 2022 to 2023 following a rules package that introduced a pitch clock and restricted pitcher pickoff attempts.
Base stealing has remained elevated in subsequent seasons, even after teams adapted to the new regulations.
When MLB lowered the pitcher’s mound in 1969, walk rates jumped from 7.6% to 9.1%. The rate declined somewhat afterward but didn’t drop below 8% again until 2013.
Miami Marlins manager Clayton McCullough views the ABS situation differently. He’s monitoring the trends but doesn’t expect the elevated walk rate to persist.
The upcoming five months will provide answers.
“I think that we’ll get to a point where it gets close and stabilizes to what it’s been, where relievers are walking around 10%. Starters are going to be more around 8%,” McCullough predicted. “My hypothesis sitting here now early in the year is that by the time the season ends, (walk rates) will look very much like they have, say the last several seasons.”
The Nebraska-based Union Pacific railroad announced Thursday that first-quarter earnings jumped 5% as the company continues working to convince federal regulators to approve its massive $85 billion takeover of Norfolk Southern.
Union Pacific reported profits of $1.7 billion, translating to $2.87 per share, though merger-related expenses reduced earnings by 6 cents per share. The results exceeded the previous year’s $1.63 billion profit ($2.70 per share) and beat analyst expectations of $2.86 per share surveyed by FactSet Research.
Company CEO Jim Vena highlighted the railroad’s continued operational improvements during the quarter, noting benefits from higher shipping rates while simultaneously preparing the merger proposal.
“Our safety, service, and operating momentum continued in the first quarter as we further challenged ‘what’s possible’ from our great railroad,” Vena said.
Revenue increased 3% to reach $6.22 billion despite handling approximately 1% fewer shipments. The growth stemmed from rising freight rates and additional fuel surcharge collections.
Operating costs also rose 3% to $3.76 billion during the quarter.
The company maintained its forecast for mid-single digit earnings per share growth this year, consistent with long-term projections. Union Pacific plans to invest $3.3 billion in operational improvements.
Next week, the railroad intends to resubmit its Norfolk Southern acquisition application. The U.S. Surface Transportation Board previously rejected the initial proposal, requesting additional details before determining whether the merger would harm industry competition by reducing major freight railroads from six to five.
The proposed deal would establish America’s first coast-to-coast railroad network, creating division among labor groups and shipping customers. While Union Pacific already ranks among the largest western U.S. railroads, the nation’s biggest rail union and several smaller organizations support the merger following job security guarantees. However, two major unions representing engineers and track maintenance crews oppose the consolidation.
Customer opinions remain split, with chemical industry and agricultural trade associations expressing concerns while hundreds of other businesses endorse the proposal. Former President Donald Trump has indicated support for the deal.
Vena argues that a transcontinental railroad would strengthen the economy by eliminating mid-country handoffs between rail companies, enabling faster shipments that could better compete with trucking services.
DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (AP) — A government commission investigating deadly unrest following Tanzania’s 2023 elections revealed Thursday that no fewer than 518 people lost their lives during the violent aftermath, which occurred while authorities had blocked internet access across the nation.
The violent clashes left thousands wounded, including more than 800 individuals who sustained gunshot injuries.
Commission leader Mohamed Chande Othman indicated the actual death toll could be significantly higher, noting that some families chose to bury deceased relatives without bringing them to official morgues first.
The deadly violence erupted on October 29 when young protesters filled the streets, claiming the government was suppressing opposition voices. The unrest followed the imprisonment of the main opposition party’s leader on treason charges and the disqualification of another major opposition party’s presidential nominee.
Authorities cut off internet service nationwide for several days during the crisis. President Samia Suluhu Hassan later issued an apology to international diplomats for the shutdown and pledged it would not be repeated.
Hassan had been campaigning for her first full term after completing the presidency of John Magufuli, who died while in office. She secured victory with 97% of votes cast, though international election monitors questioned whether the process met standards for free and fair elections.
Othman called for additional investigation into firearm usage, noting that witnesses reported family members being shot while inside their homes.
Following the violence, 245 individuals remain missing, while 39 families reported seeing their relatives’ bodies in morgues before those remains subsequently vanished.
The commission dismissed claims by human rights organizations about the existence of mass burial sites.
Investigators determined the demonstrations were not peaceful gatherings but rather “acts of violence” because organizers failed to provide required 48-hour advance notice to police and because the protests occurred on election day, preventing some citizens from voting.
According to Othman, the protests appeared to be organized and coordinated by individuals who had received recruitment and training, with violence breaking out simultaneously across multiple locations in an apparent attempt to overwhelm law enforcement response.
Salisbury city workers will shut down a stretch of Riverside Road on Thursday, April 23, to replace aging water infrastructure as part of the municipality’s continuing efforts to upgrade its water delivery network.
The Department of Waterworks Utilities Division has scheduled the water line replacement project for the 800 block of Riverside Road, requiring a complete closure of the roadway between South Boulevard and Monticello Avenue for all vehicles.
City officials anticipate the construction work will wrap up by approximately 3:30 p.m., though unexpected complications could extend the timeline.
Utility location services and Central Alarm have received advance notice of the scheduled infrastructure work.
City officials are asking for community understanding and patience as crews complete this necessary but disruptive maintenance project.
A 50-year-old Wilmington resident has been convicted on multiple serious charges stemming from a fatal shooting that occurred in 2023.
Andra Manuel was found guilty by a Superior Court jury on April 17, 2026, in connection with the death of Quinton Turner. The jury delivered guilty verdicts on all charges brought against Manuel.
The charges Manuel was convicted of include First Degree Murder, First Degree Felony Murder, First Degree Robbery, and three separate counts of firearm possession violations.
The case stems from Turner’s death in 2023, which led to the comprehensive investigation and prosecution by the Delaware Department of Justice.
KYIV, Ukraine — American military aid continues flowing to Ukraine while Ukrainian forces persist in long-distance attacks against Russian energy facilities and manufacturing sites, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Thursday.
“Of course, we are hitting what is painful for Russia, and it is very painful,” Zelenskyy told reporters through voice messages. The Ukrainian leader claimed these attacks have inflicted damage worth tens of billions of dollars on Russia.
Independent confirmation of Zelenskyy’s statements wasn’t available, though Russian authorities have acknowledged strikes on infrastructure located over 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) within Russian territory.
As Russia continues its comprehensive invasion that started February 24, 2022, Ukraine employs locally-produced drone and missile systems to target Russian locations. Ukrainian defense forces also utilize American-supplied Patriot defense systems to intercept Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian soil.
“We see that the Russians do not want to stop — they are hitting our energy sector and our people. We will respond,” Zelenskyy stated.
Prince Harry arrived in Kyiv Thursday for his third Ukrainian visit within twelve months, offering fresh support for Ukraine’s battle against Russia’s larger military force.
The Duke of Sussex praised Ukrainians for showing “strength not just in bravery and capability, but in unity, in trust,” during remarks at a Kyiv security conference.
Ukraine “continues to hold together, and hold together you must,” he told attendees.
Harry disembarked from a train at Kyiv’s central station following an overnight trip from Poland, currently the sole travel route to Ukraine’s capital city.
Whether Harry would meet with Zelenskyy remained uncertain, as the Ukrainian president was scheduled to participate in a European Union leaders’ summit in Cyprus Thursday evening.
Before Harry’s arrival, a Russian drone assault on Dnipro, a central Ukrainian city, killed three people and injured ten others, regional military administrator Oleksandr Hanzha reported.
The attack damaged a 13-story residential building and an administrative structure, Hanzha posted on Telegram.
Russian air defenses intercepted 154 Ukrainian drones across Russian territories, the occupied Crimea Peninsula, and the Sea of Azov and Black Sea regions, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced.
In Russia’s Krasnodar region along the Black Sea, 276 firefighters battled a massive fire for the third consecutive day at Tuapse port, sparked by a Ukrainian drone strike earlier this week.
Toxic substances from the blaze mixed with rainfall, coating multiple Tuapse districts with black residue, emergency officials reported. Chemical concentrations in the air exceeded safe limits, prompting authorities to recommend residents remain indoors.
Russia’s Samara region faced attacks for the second straight night. In Novokuybyshevsk, approximately 1,000 kilometers (600 miles) east of Ukraine’s border, a drone strike on an industrial target killed one person, Governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev confirmed.
Drone fragments also struck a residential building roof in Samara city, injuring several people and hospitalizing one individual, Fedorishchev added.
Unverified media accounts suggested a Rosneft-owned petrochemical facility in Novokuybyshevsk was targeted.
Ukrainian forces also attacked Russian oil infrastructure in Samara and struck a pipeline in Nizhegorodskaya region that carries oil from Western Siberia to Tatarstan, according to Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation.
Ukrainian Security Service units targeted the Gorky oil pumping station in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region east of Moscow, a senior agency official revealed.
The overnight drone operation damaged three oil storage tanks and ignited a substantial fire, said the official, who requested anonymity due to lack of public authorization.
“The operation of main pipelines is disrupted, the efficiency of processing at refineries decreases, and transportation costs increase. As a result, this directly affects the revenues of the Russian budget, which are used to finance the war against Ukraine,” the official explained.
HAVANA (AP) — These days, Eduvirgen Zamora keeps her hands concealed due to embarrassment.
Her fingernails are bitten down to the quick, with only her thumbs sporting inch-long extensions decorated with elaborate silver patterns.
As Cuba’s economic crisis continues, the 56-year-old cafeteria employee couldn’t afford fresh nail extensions and chose to invest in eyelash treatments instead – a more affordable option she hoped would redirect attention to her face.
Critical shortages of electricity, water, and financial resources, combined with U.S. energy sanctions, have worsened poverty and hunger throughout the nation while persistent blackouts continue. Even wealthier residents are now abandoning long-standing and cherished habits as they adjust to increasingly harsh circumstances.
“The Cuban woman likes to look beautiful — to do her hair, do her nails, do her feet — and wear perfume,” Zamora said. “I don’t look how I would like to look.”
Melina Colás understands that struggle.
The Havana-based nail technician recently got long braided hair for her birthday celebration but soon discovered the style was challenging to maintain due to persistent water shortages.
She previously kept her hair long and straightened but has chosen to cut it short and embrace its natural texture, despite believing it doesn’t complement what she described as her petite frame and round facial features.
“Before, you could do whatever you wanted,” she said of hairstyles when water was readily available. “Not now.”
Colás has also modified her salon procedures.
She has developed greater patience, understanding that clients arrive late due to limited public transit options.
She now uses a water-vinegar mixture in spray bottles to address water shortages – a solution she says also helps soften customers’ cuticles and prevents increasing fungal infections as intervals between manicure visits extend for many clients.
“Some cases are critical,” Colás said.
She also expressed concern about how the island’s financial crisis and reduced household budgets have caused customer numbers to decline, a pattern that 50-year-old hairstylist Betty Ramírez Aldana has also observed.
“It really came as a shock to me, because I’ve lost a lot of clients,” he said on a recent afternoon at a makeshift hair salon with bubblegum pink walls. “Normally by now I’d have five, six, eight clients. Look at the hour. And no one has showed up.”
His salon recently went three weeks without running water, since electrical power operates many pump stations across the island and severe outages are routine. He can no longer offer certain hair straightening services, so he provides clients with alternatives including flattering haircuts.
“A lot of them have opted to embrace their natural curly hair,” he said.
Growing numbers of women have also been compelled to let their hair color grow out due to gasoline shortages, inadequate public transportation, and shrinking household budgets, Ramírez explained.
Those with sufficient funds request house calls, where the original client is typically joined “by her aunt and the upstairs neighbor. I don’t serve one, I serve two or three,” he said.
Beyond appearance concerns, Cubans are also struggling with compromised basic hygiene: some report washing their hair only twice monthly, and clothing remains unwashed for extended periods.
Antonia Isalgués Barrién, 60, who operates boats for a government company traveling from eastern Havana to the city center, explained she air-dries her work clothes daily after boat shifts because she lacks water for washing.
“It’s very hot here in Cuba; you sweat a lot,” she said, recalling how she used to wash clothes nearly daily. “I’ve never been forced to hang clothes in the fresh air… and then put them on again.”
Isalgués noted increased passenger numbers as more gas stations close and only limited public buses continue operating.
Cuba endured three months without fuel deliveries until a Russian tanker arrived in late March carrying 730,000 barrels of oil. This supply is projected to last merely nine or 10 days.
Iván de los Ángeles Arias, a 44-year-old boat operator, frequently takes the five-minute ferry ride across Havana Bay, reserving his personal vehicle solely for emergencies.
“That’s the reality we’re forced to live,” he said. “You deal with it as best you can.”
U.S. diplomatic officials traveled to Cuba earlier this month for meetings with senior government representatives for the first time since 2016 while tensions between both nations remain elevated.
Cuban leadership identified removing the U.S. energy embargo as their delegation’s primary objective, characterizing it as an “act of economic coercion” and “unjustified punishment.”
In late January, shortly after U.S. intervention in Venezuela stopped crucial oil deliveries to Cuba, President Donald Trump threatened tariffs against any nation selling or supplying oil to Cuba, which domestically produces only 40% of its energy requirements.
The United States has demanded an end to political oppression, release of political detainees, and economic liberalization of the island’s failing economy as conditions for lifting Cuban sanctions.
Arias, the boat operator, expressed doubt that diplomatic discussions would improve his situation.
“I have no hope,” he said. “That means nothing if living conditions remain the same.”
MACAPA, Brazil — Highway construction crews building roads through Brazil’s Amazon rainforest have stumbled upon remarkable archaeological treasures that shed new light on the region’s Indigenous history thousands of years before European contact.
Workers expanding the BR-156 highway in Brazil’s Amapa state have uncovered nine archaeological sites containing pottery vessels believed to be burial urns and small carved objects resembling human faces. The mandatory archaeological surveys required before road construction have revealed evidence of complex Indigenous societies that thrived long before Columbus reached the Americas.
“What we now about the region’s past is also tied to the opening created by these projects, which gives our relationship with them a somewhat ambivalent character,” explained Lúcio Flávio Costa Leite, director of the Archaeological Research Center at Amapa’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research. “At the same time, the knowledge we gain about these sites leads us to pay closer attention to these regions, including by adopting permanent protection measures.”
The excavated pottery displays various styles and crafting methods that demonstrate cultural connections stretching from Brazil’s Para state all the way to Caribbean communities, challenging earlier assumptions that the Amazon was sparsely populated before European arrival.
Archaeological team member Manoel Fabiano da Silva Santos, working with Brazil’s National Department of Transport Infrastructure, described the soil layers as a chronological record of human occupation.
Santos discovered Portuguese ceramics and metal fasteners in the surface layers, evidence of European settlement. “Digging deeper, we uncovered pottery and ceramics associated with earlier Indigenous presence, marking the site’s transition before and after the arrival of colonizers,” Santos explained.
The recovered artifacts will join Amapa’s state archaeological collection, which Costa Leite oversees and contains approximately 530,000 items. The collection’s most ancient piece dates to roughly 6,140 years ago, demonstrating continuous human habitation throughout Amapa’s history.
These discoveries provide valuable information about how early Indigenous groups lived, conducted burials, and interacted with their rainforest environment.
“Here is something I often debate with my students — we usually think of technology as computers and microchips,” Costa Leite noted while examining shelves of ancient ceramics. “But all of this required careful reading of the landscape and deliberate choices of materials.”
Among Amapa’s most remarkable archaeological sites is located in Calcoene, featuring a thousand-year-old stone circle comprising 127 carved standing stones arranged in a 30-meter diameter formation. The monument sits in grassland surrounded by rainforest near a meandering river.
This Archaeological Park of the Solstice has earned the nickname “Stonehenge of the Amazon” due to similarities with the famous British landmark. Research led by archaeologist Mariana Petry Cabral from the Federal University of Minas Gerais revealed that the stones were deliberately positioned to mark the sunrise during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter solstice.
“It’s hard to say exactly what all the stones mean, but what we do know is that they are not from the site itself. They were brought from other nearby locations,” Cabral noted.
Further investigation revealed the site also functioned as a cemetery, with radiocarbon analysis showing continuous use for hundreds of years starting approximately 1,100 years ago.
Scientists discovered the site in 2005, and visitors can tour it with advance permission from Amapa’s Institute for Scientific and Technological Research. Plans are underway to designate it as a national park, which would increase public access.
Brazilian law protects all archaeological locations from alteration, providing additional safeguards for the surrounding rainforest ecosystem.
Current archaeological and ecological research demonstrates that Indigenous peoples not only inhabited the Amazon for millennia but actively managed its landscape through sustainable long-term practices, according to Eduardo Neves, an archaeology professor at the University of Sao Paulo.
Neves has spent over three decades studying Amazon archaeology and currently directs the Amazon Revealed project, which began in 2023 and uses satellite technology to locate archaeological sites hidden beneath the forest canopy.
Satellite imagery has revealed roadway systems connecting archaeological locations and buried landscape patterns indicating repeated settlement and intentional environmental modification. These features suggest the existence of large population centers, Neves explained.
While archaeologists had theorized about such connections, modern technology has revealed their extensive geographic scope. The scans show road networks linking settlement clusters throughout the forest, particularly visible in southern Amazonas state and Acre.
“When people think of an Indigenous tribe, they often imagine a small village isolated in the middle of the forest. But evidence shows a high degree of interconnectivity linking different settlements,” Neves said.
“Amapa is a key piece that helps us see how dynamic and active these populations were, and how they maintained networks of exchange that have been in place for millennia,” Cabral added.
One of the world’s largest accounting firms is facing massive financial penalties after Hong Kong authorities determined it failed to properly audit a collapsed Chinese real estate company that overstated its earnings by billions of dollars.
PricewaterhouseCoopers will pay HK$1.3 billion ($166 million) in penalties and compensation following its flawed audit work for China Evergrande, Hong Kong financial regulators announced Thursday. The firm also faces a six-month prohibition on accepting new clients, while two former partners received public censure and individual fines of HK$5 million each for professional misconduct.
Evergrande, formerly among China’s largest property development companies and once considered too massive to collapse, went into default in 2021. The company became the globe’s most debt-laden developer, carrying approximately $300 billion in obligations. Its spectacular collapse marked the most significant failure in China’s real estate industry, which has been struggling with a cash crisis following government efforts to limit excessive borrowing practices.
China’s property market downturn continues to affect the nation’s economy, suppressing home values nationwide and dampening consumer confidence and investment activity, which has slowed the country’s overall economic expansion.
Earlier in 2024, Chinese mainland regulators imposed a 441 million yuan ($62 million) penalty on PwC for its Evergrande audit work. Chinese officials also implemented a six-month suspension of the accounting firm, citing “false” findings in audit reports and “serious defects” in auditing methods.
Hong Kong’s Securities and Futures Commission stated Thursday that its investigation into PwC’s examination of Evergrande’s 2019 and 2020 financial records revealed that yearly revenue and earnings were “substantially overstated.”
According to regulators, Evergrande artificially inflated annual revenue and profits through “prematurely recognising revenue from property sales before the completion and delivery of properties to buyers.” The commission found revenues were inflated by approximately 564 billion yuan ($83 billion) across both years, matching conclusions reached by Chinese authorities in September 2024 when they levied their own penalties against PwC.
The Hong Kong commission identified “serious breaches” of professional responsibilities by PwC. Officials announced they had negotiated a settlement with PwC that does not require the firm to admit wrongdoing, under which PwC will allocate HK$1 billion to compensate Evergrande’s minority shareholders.
Hong Kong’s Accounting and Financial Reporting Council issued a separate statement calling PwC’s audit failures for Evergrande “particularly egregious,” accusing the accounting firm of “knowingly permitting” unsupported or unjustified adjustments in financial statements.
“We acknowledge that the work on the Evergrande audits fell well below our high expectations and the expectations of our stakeholders,” PwC Hong Kong stated Thursday. “Resolving these regulatory matters is an important step for the firm.”
Following Evergrande’s collapse and a Hong Kong court’s 2024 liquidation order for China Evergrande, PwC experienced significant client losses and staff departures. Evergrande’s liquidators are pursuing separate legal proceedings against PwC in Hong Kong courts, seeking to recover funds for creditors.
Evergrande’s founder, Hui Ka Yan, who was previously ranked among Asia’s wealthiest individuals, entered guilty pleas this month to fraud and bribery charges in a mainland Chinese court following his detention in China.
NEW YORK (AP) — Questions swirl around President Donald Trump’s next moves: Will he deploy military forces to Iran? Could he rebrand the Strait of Hormuz with his own name? Might he post another message praising Allah?
While these answers remain unknown, digital gambling platforms allowing wagers on Trump’s policy decisions and public statements are seeing significant profits — including several companies with connections to his eldest son.
Online prediction markets thrive on the president’s erratic behavior and his tendency to keep observers uncertain about his upcoming actions or social media activity, driving increased betting activity and higher revenues for these platforms. This includes Polymarket, where Donald Trump Jr. holds an investment, and Kalshi, where he serves in an advisory capacity.
These platforms must constantly develop new betting opportunities based on current events, and Trump Jr.’s notoriously unpredictable father has become an abundant source of speculative questions.
When Polymarket offered odds on Trump potentially deploying troops to Iran, approximately 100,000 wagers were placed on April 8, creating the platform’s largest trading volume of the year at that point.
Trump’s policy positions and online statements fuel betting activity beyond military matters: Which candidate will Trump endorse for Venezuela’s leadership? Will his criticism of Pope Leo XIV persist? Could he attempt to acquire Greenland?
“Trump is the guy. He makes the market possible,” said Kwok Ping Tsang, a Virginia Tech economist who has studied Polymarket. “He’s so unpredictable.”
While sports gambling represents the largest segment of prediction market activity, political wagering ranks as a close runner-up, according to cryptocurrency analysis company Dune.
Bettors place “Yes” or “No” wagers on diverse topics — gold prices, “Survivor” winners, and weather patterns. Wager costs, expressed in cents per dollar, indicate betting consensus, with a 49-cent “Yes” price representing 49% probability.
This gambling activity has attracted criticism from both political parties for potentially enabling insider trading, yet the president appears supportive, implementing minimal regulatory oversight and facilitating industry growth. The Trump Organization is developing its own prediction platform called Truth Predict.
Trump’s Iran strategy has generated substantial betting fees recently, particularly following his April 5 Truth Social message demanding the country “Open the F—- Strait.”
Polymarket trading surged with invasion-related wagers, according to Dune, only to be exceeded on April 7 by ceasefire betting following Trump’s ominous post that a “whole civilization will die tonight.”
Between Sunday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 8 — the day after Trump announced a ceasefire — 413 million Iran war bets were placed, risking over $100 million, Dune reported.
Following this surge, Dune labeled Trump an “unpredictability machine” and noted how his “governing-by-tweet” approach drives trading volumes higher.
When questioned about the president’s son profiting from businesses that benefit from his father’s decisions, a Trump Jr. spokesperson dismissed the inquiry as “fact-free Democratic propaganda.”
“Don does not interface with the federal government as part of his role with any company that he invests in or advises and has no influence or involvement with administration policies relating to prediction markets,” said spokesman Andrew Surabian.
Polymarket declined to provide comment.
These betting platforms gained popularity following Trump’s November 2024 reelection victory, partly because they accurately forecasted his decisive win while many experts predicted otherwise.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has challenged states attempting to prohibit prediction markets through anti-gambling legislation. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s leadership has publicly endorsed the industry, with one official describing online betting as “exciting products” in a Wall Street Journal opinion piece.
Polymarket has particularly benefited from this environment. The platform faced a U.S. operating ban in 2022 after the Biden administration penalized it for running an unregistered exchange. Following recent approval to resume operations, its valuation has skyrocketed.
The company now carries a $9.6 billion valuation according to research firm PitchBook, representing nearly a ten-fold increase over eight months since a venture capital fund with Trump Jr. as a partner made its latest investment.
The extent of Trump Jr.’s financial gains from this valuation increase remains unclear due to Polymarket’s private status and undisclosed ownership details. Kalshi, which appointed Trump Jr. as an adviser last year, also maintains private ownership.
Beyond prediction markets, Trump Jr. has additional potential profit sources from conflict and warfare.
His venture capital fund holds investments in aerospace, defense, and technology firms pursuing Pentagon contracts and other federal funding. Additionally, he and brother Eric recently secured ownership stakes in a military drone manufacturer that sells to U.S. forces while also marketing to Gulf nations under Iranian threat who depend on their father for American military protection in a conflict he initiated.
When asked last month about the drone company potentially benefiting from his father’s presidential position, Eric Trump provided The Associated Press with a statement saying, “I am incredibly proud to invest in companies I believe in.”
Congressional critics, predominantly Democrats, have condemned what they view as blatant presidential profiteering and await midterm elections to take action, possibly pursuing impeachment.
Whether such action occurs remains uncertain — or more precisely, the subject of tens of thousands of individual predictions.
On Polymarket, bettors initially assessed Trump’s impeachment chances at 13% for the year’s beginning. However, these odds shifted dramatically following his “civilization wipe out” threat and Democratic calls for his removal.
By Tuesday, impeachment probability had risen to 66%.
ROME – Italian naval officials have announced their readiness to contribute up to four warships to an international coalition working to restore safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The announcement comes after European officials gathered in Paris last week to coordinate a multinational response aimed at protecting commercial shipping through the critical waterway, which has been mostly inaccessible during the current U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran.
The Strait of Hormuz serves as a crucial shipping lane for approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. More than a dozen nations, including Italy, have committed to participating in the mission to restore secure transit once circumstances permit.
Navy Chief of Staff Giuseppe Berutti Bergotto outlined Italy’s planned contribution during a Wednesday evening interview with state broadcaster RAI. “The contingency plan drawn up by the Chief of the Defence Staff envisages a group consisting of two minesweepers, an escort vessel and a logistics vessel,” Berutti Bergotto explained.
The Italian naval commander emphasized the collaborative nature of the operation. “Obviously we are not acting alone. We are part of an international coalition, and other nations will also send minesweepers,” he stated, noting that Britain, France, Belgium and the Netherlands possess mine-clearing capabilities.
According to Berutti Bergotto, the Italian fleet would depart from La Spezia, a northwestern port, requiring approximately four weeks to reach the operational area. Italy maintains eight minesweepers in its current naval fleet.
Defense Minister Guido Crosetto indicated last week that the administration plans to obtain parliamentary authorization before confirming Italy’s involvement in the Hormuz operation.
Defense contractor Leidos announced Thursday it has been awarded a substantial $617 million contract by the U.S. Army to manufacture additional launchers for its ground-based air defense system known as Indirect Fire Protection Capability Increment 2.
The Virginia-based company joins a growing list of defense contractors receiving major Pentagon orders as the military works to rebuild weapons stockpiles that have been diminished by ongoing international conflicts.
With this new agreement, Leidos now holds Army contracts totaling approximately $1.2 billion. The Reston-based firm reports it has committed to delivering more than 100 launchers under these agreements.
According to the company, this latest contract will fund ongoing research, development and testing activities, while potentially opening the door for additional orders extending through 2029.
The contract award reflects the Pentagon’s accelerated efforts to boost defense manufacturing capacity as global conflicts continue to strain ammunition and missile inventories.
Stock markets were poised for a declining start Thursday as investors showed reluctance to continue recent market gains amid ongoing uncertainty surrounding U.S.-Iran tensions and disappointing corporate earnings reports.
The situation escalated when Iran captured two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz and called for the United States to remove its naval blockade on Iranian ports. This blockade continues despite President Donald Trump’s decision to extend the ceasefire for an indefinite period.
Market participants who had previously demonstrated remarkable strength by overlooking conflict-related concerns are now showing signs of exhaustion, resulting in periodic moments of risk-off behavior as they wait for clearer indications about potential conflict resolution.
Oil prices remaining above $100 per barrel continue to raise concerns about potential inflationary pressures.
Pre-market indicators at 8:40 a.m. ET showed Dow E-minis declining 209 points or 0.42%, while S&P 500 E-minis dropped 14 points or 0.20%, and Nasdaq 100 E-minis fell 47.25 points or 0.17%.
Thursday’s employment data revealed that Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose only slightly last week, though economic risks from war-related price increases continue to pose threats.
EARNINGS SEASON UNDER SCRUTINY
While the current earnings period has generally performed well, investors are questioning the reliability of these results since they only capture one month of Middle East conflict disruption.
“The earnings themselves don’t reflect the impact of the energy supply shock,” explained Kiran Ganesh, multi-asset strategist at UBS Global Wealth Management.
Ganesh added that while “the oil shock is a drag on growth, there is also a lot of structural support. The market remains comfortable that as long as there is a path towards de-escalation, it can look through higher oil prices in the short term.”
Tesla stock declined 3.4% during pre-market trading following the company’s announcement of increased spending plans exceeding $25 billion for the year.
The electric vehicle manufacturer is currently pursuing one of its most costly investments as CEO Elon Musk directs resources toward artificial intelligence, robotics and semiconductor development.
“With all the focus on the war, a forgotten theme that weighed on the market at the start of the year is artificial intelligence overinvestment and diminishing future returns,” noted Kyle Rodda, senior financial market analyst for Capital.com.
IBM shares tumbled 7.9% after experiencing slower revenue growth in the first quarter due to weakness in its software division.
Technology companies Microsoft and Adobe also declined 2.2% and 3.1% respectively in pre-market trading.
Defense contractor Lockheed Martin dropped 3.7% following reports of reduced first-quarter profits.
Industrial giant Honeywell International fell 5.3% while medical equipment manufacturer Thermo Fisher declined 5.7% after releasing first-quarter earnings results.
Providing a bright spot, Texas Instruments surged 10.8% after projecting second-quarter revenue and profit figures that exceeded Wall Street analyst expectations.
Chemical manufacturing giant Dow announced Thursday that it anticipates supply chain disruptions stemming from Middle East conflicts will continue affecting operations until 2026, creating higher operational costs and potentially postponing planned industry growth projects.
The ongoing regional tensions are expected to maintain elevated oil and naphtha prices, which will increase the global cost structure for chemical producers, company officials stated during a quarterly earnings discussion.
Following the announcement, Dow’s stock price dropped approximately 3% during premarket trading sessions.
The chemical manufacturer indicated that the regional conflict may force companies to postpone or abandon planned facility expansions industrywide, as businesses reevaluate their investment strategies amid increased uncertainty and supply network interruptions.
Regional tensions have led to the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz, creating bottlenecks in oil and petrochemical transportation routes. This has resulted in tighter global chemical availability and increased costs for plastics and polymer materials.
The constrained supply conditions are already influencing market pricing, enabling Dow to project second-quarter earnings and core profits that exceed Wall Street projections as elevated prices and limited supply availability improve profit margins.
“The margin backdrop began to positively inflect in March following global supply constraints, as impacts from the conflict in the Middle East quickly became widespread,” said CEO Jim Fitterling.
Industry experts note that North American chemical manufacturers maintain a competitive advantage due to abundant raw material access.
Earlier this year, Fitterling indicated that the rapidly changing supply conditions have begun to improve order volumes, with Dow implementing polyethylene price increases during March and April.
The company now projects second-quarter revenue of approximately $12 billion, surpassing analysts’ average projection of $11.3 billion according to LSEG data, and core earnings of roughly $2 billion compared to expectations of $1.6 billion.
Dow also stopped recording losses from Sadara Chemical, its partnership with Saudi Aramco, after liabilities reached existing commitments under accounting regulations. Sadara recently halted operations at its Jubail facility, citing supply chain interruptions from the Iran conflict.
For the quarter ending March 31, Dow reported an adjusted loss of 14 cents per share, performing better than analysts’ average estimate of a 29-cent loss per share.
HARRISONBURG, Va. — A farmer-owned cooperative in Virginia is moving forward with a massive expansion that promises to boost the region’s agricultural sector and create significant employment opportunities.
Governor Abigail Spanberger recently unveiled details of the Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative’s ambitious $113.9 million investment in Rockingham County. The comprehensive development will bring 146 new positions to the area while substantially increasing the cooperative’s turkey processing capabilities.
The centerpiece of this multi-phase initiative involves constructing a cutting-edge feed mill featuring nearly 2 million cubic feet of capacity, making it the East Coast’s most expansive grain storage operation. The project will also enhance processing abilities to handle an additional 4.5 million turkeys within the next three years.
Additional improvements include installing a rail spur at the Linville location, upgrading water treatment infrastructure at the Hinton site, and expanding overall turkey processing operations.
“The Virginia Poultry Growers Cooperative’s investment speaks volumes for its commitment to the future of its turkey-producing members and grain farmers here in Virginia,” stated Tony Banks, senior assistant director of the Agriculture, Development & Innovation Department at Virginia Farm Bureau Federation. “The fact the investment is being made by a successful local company is outstanding. It truly represents a great opportunity for farmers, local businesses and communities.”
The enhanced processing and feed production capabilities will open doors for additional grower agreements and enable current member-farmers to scale up their operations. These developments come at a crucial time when agricultural producers face increasing operational expenses and narrow profit margins, where operational efficiency and size often determine long-term sustainability.
Operating as a completely farmer-owned entity, VPGC functions under a cooperative framework that channels profits directly back to the member-producers who raise the turkeys. This structure provides Virginia Farm Bureau poultry and grain producers with financial benefits while offering operational stability, risk distribution, and input in industry direction.
Farm Bureau officials have consistently highlighted the value of community-controlled agricultural infrastructure, and this investment demonstrates that philosophy in practice by maintaining value-added processing, management decisions, and earnings within Virginia’s farming communities.
“This historic investment is a testament to the power of Virginia’s farmers and producers,” Spanberger noted.
State financial support includes a $1 million performance-based grant through the Virginia Investment Performance Grant program, which incentivizes continued capital investment by established Virginia businesses. Additional funding comes from a $500,000 AFID facility grant through the Governor’s Agriculture and Forestry Industries Development Fund, supporting projects that source Virginia-grown products, plus a $750,000 allocation from the Virginia Rail Industrial Access Program.
RICHMOND—Virginia students gained valuable insights into farming and food production during the state’s annual Agriculture Literacy Week, which connected thousands of young learners with the agricultural community.
The Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom program reached approximately 77,000 children through 1,300 volunteers who read this year’s featured book, “Farm Boots” by Renée Kurilla, during the March 23-27 event. The initiative also distributed 3,200 book copies to schools, community organizations, and libraries throughout Virginia.
“We completely sold out of books!” Lynn Black, AITC’s education director, explained. “This event creates so many fun farm-to-classroom connections with students. It’s not just reading a book—it’s an experience that sparks curiosity in children, encourages discussion, and demonstrates the crucial role farmers play in putting food on our tables.”
Beyond simple story time, many participants incorporated interactive learning experiences, practical demonstrations, and question-and-answer sessions into their visits.
Henrico County Extension workers Carter Humphries and Laila Ampy-Thomas collaborated with 4-H and FFA students to visit multiple schools during the week. Their presentations included engaging conversations about farming operations, livestock, and agricultural products, plus activities highlighting the diverse crops Virginia producers cultivate year-round.
“This year was especially fun because students were able to connect their learning about the seasons to real-life activities on the farm, like planting strawberries, collecting chicken eggs, picking pumpkins, and so much more,” Humphries noted. “We enjoyed seeing their creativity as they designed their own farm boots and shared what type of farmer they would be. Those hands-on connections help bring the lessons to life, and it’s exciting to watch youth make those connections to their everyday lives.”
The Agriculture Literacy Week program has operated for 17 years and represents AITC’s most significant educational outreach effort. The initiative offers an entertaining, participatory approach to expanding children’s understanding of agricultural practices, food origins, and farming’s significance.
Notable volunteer readers included Governor Abigail Spanberger, Virginia Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Katie Frazier, Deputy Agriculture and Forestry Secretary Ben Rowe, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles Green, state lawmakers, county Farm Bureau officials, VDACS and Farm Credit staff members, and youth from FFA and 4-H organizations.
Additional information about Agriculture Literacy Week and Virginia AITC support opportunities is available at virginia.agclassroom.org.
PITTSBURGH — The speculation ends tonight as the real NFL Draft gets underway in Pittsburgh.
Over the next three days, 257 college football players will achieve their lifelong goal when their names are announced, marking the end of years filled with dedication and personal sacrifice.
Thursday evening’s opening round begins when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell steps onto the stage at the main theater near Acrisure Stadium to reveal the Las Vegas Raiders’ choice for the top selection. Fernando Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy while leading Indiana to their first national championship, is widely expected to be Las Vegas’s pick. It would be shocking if he ends up anywhere else.
The composed and refined Mendoza will have the opportunity to develop under Kirk Cousins while working with part-owner Tom Brady, the legendary seven-time Super Bowl winner who is eager to share his knowledge.
Though 16 other prospects will participate in the celebration and get their moment to embrace Goodell on stage, Mendoza is staying home in Miami with his loved ones. His mother, Elsa Mendoza, battles multiple sclerosis, making travel challenging for her.
“I’ve done so much traveling this year, it’s a lot easier for my mom and her health is at the forefront,” Mendoza said. “We need to hop on a plane the next day for whatever team drafts me and to be there with the village that’s poured into me — friends, family, coaches, mentors — to be there with all of them and to share the start of this NFL journey, it’s going to create the best memory for our family.”
Mendoza joins four other top picks from recent in-person drafts who chose family celebrations over the public ceremony — Travon Walker (2022), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Baker Mayfield (2018) and Myles Garrett (2017). The 2020 draft was conducted remotely due to the pandemic.
The major uncertainty surrounds the New York Jets’ second overall selection. The choice likely comes down to Ohio State’s Arvell Reese or Texas Tech’s David Bailey, both considered elite pass rushers. However, the Jets could surprise everyone with an unexpected pick.
Following Mendoza’s selection, quarterback picks may become scarce. Alabama’s Ty Simpson appears to be the next signal-caller in line. He’s attending the draft festivities but may need to wait until Friday’s second round to hear his name.
“I can’t control how people think,” Simpson said Wednesday. “All I can control is how I play and how much of a player I can be so wherever I go, whoever gets me, I’m gonna make sure that’s what I do wherever that is.”
This year’s opening round should move more quickly than previous years since teams now have eight minutes between selections instead of the previous 10-minute window.
TROUTVILLE, Va.—Young dairy calves in Virginia have captured the hearts of students throughout the state, sparking touching correspondence, meaningful bonds, and educational experiences that last a lifetime.
During the 2025-26 academic year, more than 48,000 classrooms nationwide took part in Discover Dairy’s Adopt a Cow initiative. Created in collaboration with The Dairy Alliance, this no-cost educational program provides students with an online window into actual dairy operations while teaching them about where nutritious milk products originate.
The initiative has transformed participating farmers—who care for the featured calves—into local celebrities.
Botetourt County’s Courtney Henderson, who operates Cave Hill Dairy Farm, frequently hears children shouting her name when she shops for groceries.
“I receive a steady stream of correspondence from participating students, which my grandfather jokingly refers to as my ‘fan mail,’” Henderson said with amusement. “The children create artwork, inquire about the calves’ wellbeing, and this year they even remembered my birthday with handmade cards!”
Henderson has been involved with the initiative for four consecutive years. Prior to becoming an official host farmer, she was already building relationships with young people through social media posts—sharing everything from reading sessions alongside her cattle to demonstrations of creating Play-Doh using household ingredients like vinegar and milk.
Through her current role in the program, Henderson connects with thousands of students across different age groups and backgrounds. During each academic year, educators and their classes follow Henderson’s operation and their chosen calves via monthly photographs, video content, and developmental updates.
“Since our farm is among the limited number of dairy operations remaining in Virginia, I didn’t anticipate significant participation,” she remembered. “However, I was thrilled to discover how many educational institutions were actively involved and the substantial amount of response I received.”
Throughout this academic year, students tracked the development of their chosen calves, named Rosie and Petunia. Henderson took pleasure in addressing numerous student questions regarding the calves’ nutrition, unique behaviors, individual characteristics, and preferences.
“Educators are enthusiastic about this initiative,” Henderson explained. “It provides them with additional interactive content for their students, generating excitement each month. Students observe the calves’ development while gaining understanding of proper animal care, health maintenance practices, and our daily responsibilities.”
Following seven months of regular updates, students finally met Rosie and Petunia and spoke directly with Henderson during a live online session on April 14—posing questions such as “How many stomach chambers do cattle possess?” and “What activities do calves enjoy?”
Henderson expressed that she has “enjoyed highlighting my farm operations, sharing my enthusiasm for agriculture, and presenting my experiences in an engaging format that appeals to children, teachers, and families. Connecting not only with my local area but with communities throughout the state has been the most rewarding aspect.”
Enrollment for Discovery Dairy’s Adopt a Cow initiative for the 2026-27 school year begins in early May. The program remains free of charge, and educational institutions from all regions may participate.
KAMPALA, Uganda — Ugandan lawmakers are reviewing controversial legislation designed to prevent outside interference that has sparked fierce opposition from multiple sectors of society concerned about its sweeping scope and potential impact on civil liberties.
The proposed “Protection of Sovereignty” legislation could receive parliamentary approval within days, despite strong objections from financial institutions, business groups, opposition politicians, and nonprofit organizations that rely on international funding.
Opposition voices argue the measure is actually designed to suppress political rivals and advocacy organizations that typically receive international grants to support governance and human rights initiatives, representing what they view as escalating authoritarian control.
Political analyst Charles Onyango-Obbo described the proposed law’s provisions as having “unprecedented” scope and impact. “They redefine who is foreign,” he stated. “They extend control from politics into everyday economic and social life.”
Under the proposed legislation’s broad interpretation, a “foreigner” encompasses not only non-citizens but also “a Ugandan citizen residing outside Uganda,” along with various other individuals and entities not based within the East African nation. This classification would affect students, entrepreneurs, migrant workers, diplomatic personnel, and other expatriates.
Should the measure pass unchanged, Ugandans living overseas would need to register as foreign representatives to prevent banking transaction delays, with financial institutions facing penalties for non-compliance.
Government supporters defend the proposal as necessary for maintaining national unity and protecting against external actors seeking to meddle in Uganda’s domestic matters. Critics contend the law would directly or indirectly impact virtually every Ugandan citizen whether at home or abroad.
“It does not protect sovereignty,” declared Isaac Ssemakadde, president of the Uganda Law Society. “It destroys the sovereignty — the people’s right to self-determination — that belongs to Ugandans.”
The proposed law would prohibit foreign representatives from receiving grants or financial assistance from external sources exceeding 400 million Ugandan shillings — approximately $110,000 currently — during any 12-month period without interior ministry authorization.
The Uganda Bankers’ Association expressed concerns to the attorney general’s office about potential consequences for banking operations, including the introduction of additional regulatory bodies beyond the central bank, damage to foreign investment, and creation of uncertainty for commercial lenders.
Since most commercial banks have international shareholders and engage in offshore borrowing, “compliance and reputational risk rise overnight” when standard banking activities trigger foreign agent classifications, the association noted.
Civil society leaders have strongly criticized the legislation, which emerges months after President Yoweri Museveni secured his seventh electoral victory. Museveni has consistently accused his primary challenger, Bobi Wine, of being an unpatriotic foreign operative. The 81-year-old authoritarian leader has maintained power since 1986.
“If you want to regulate and close civil society, go in the NGO Act and put that,” Sarah Bireete, director of the Center for Constitutional Governance, told journalists. “If you want to deregister civil society in Uganda, go to the constitution, amend it and say there will be no civil society in Uganda. But to hide behind protection of sovereignty, that you want to control civil society, why don’t you go to the law managing civil society and amend it?”
Wine, who went underground following January’s election and is currently in temporary U.S. exile, rejects the accusations and maintains that Museveni should face consequences for abuses during his lengthy tenure. Wine, who enjoys substantial support among urban youth, officially received 24.7% of votes in results he dismissed as fraudulent.
Brazil’s Vice President Geraldo Alckmin, who played a central role in negotiating the historic trade agreement between the Mercosur bloc and European Union, believes the pact provides much-needed stability during uncertain global times.
Speaking from the presidential palace in Brasilia on Wednesday, Alckmin told reporters including The Associated Press that the agreement sends an important signal about international cooperation.
“In a moment that the world much needed it, at a time of protectionism, a tough world, this gives a message that it is possible to open markets,” Alckmin stated. “It is the biggest deal between trade blocs in the world. A market of $22 trillion and 720 million people.”
The groundbreaking pact, which concludes 25 years of negotiations, is scheduled to take provisional effect on May 1, 2025. However, the path to implementation has faced significant hurdles from European agricultural interests and environmental activists who strongly opposed the December agreement.
Additional complications arose when European Union legislators referred the deal to the bloc’s court system. In response, EU leadership decided to move forward with provisional implementation, bypassing the European Parliament. Should the European Court of Justice ultimately reject the agreement, it would be suspended.
Alckmin emphasized that failing to complete negotiations with Europe would have left Mercosur countries at a disadvantage while competitors secured their own international agreements.
“It is a win-win. The societies of the Mercosur countries win, and so the 27 countries of the EU,” Alckmin explained, projecting that Brazilian exports to European markets could increase by approximately 13% annually.
The cross-Atlantic agreement received formal signatures on January 17. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has consistently praised Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s government for pushing the deal forward despite European resistance. Brazil represents the dominant economic force within Mercosur, with an estimated gross domestic product exceeding $2.3 trillion for 2025.
According to Alckmin, Brazil is also pursuing potential trade agreements with the United Arab Emirates and Canada.
The current partnership between Alckmin and Lula represents a dramatic political transformation. Twenty years ago, the two politicians stood on opposing sides of most policy debates, including the original EU-Mercosur negotiations. While Alckmin, then serving as governor of São Paulo state, supported European partnerships, Lula opposed such arrangements.
Their political alliance formed in 2022 when both leaders united to defeat then-President Jair Bolsonaro, whom they viewed as threatening Brazilian democracy. Both politicians moved toward centrist positions, and Lula appointed Alckmin as trade and industry minister, making him a primary government negotiator.
Although Lula’s 2022 electoral victory for a third non-consecutive presidency didn’t guarantee the Mercosur-EU deal’s success, discussions gained renewed urgency after President Donald Trump returned to office and implemented tariffs affecting multiple nations, including Brazil.
French President Emmanuel Macron, among the agreement’s critics, has insisted on protective measures to prevent major economic disruption within the EU, stricter regulations for Mercosur nations including pesticide limitations, and enhanced inspection procedures for imports entering European ports.
Alckmin dismissed claims from some EU agricultural groups that Mercosur countries show less commitment to environmental protection.
“If there’s one country that is a role model of environmental preservation, that is Brazil … Brazil reduced deforestation in 50%,” Alckmin declared.
“So no one is too scared in either side, if there’s an import boom any of the two (blocs) can ask for safeguards,” he continued.
Complete implementation of the trade deal may require up to 12 years, which Alckmin considers essential for allowing Mercosur businesses to enhance productivity and improve quality across thousands of products. He identified the fruit, beef, and sugar sectors as likely early beneficiaries, with additional industries gaining advantages over time.
“It is better to do it gradually than not do it at all,” Alckmin concluded. “This was a very well-built deal.”
WASHINGTON — In a significant policy change Thursday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche issued an order moving state-licensed medical marijuana into a less restrictive federal drug classification, fulfilling a longstanding goal of cannabis advocates who argued the substance shouldn’t be regulated alongside heroin.
While Blanche’s directive doesn’t make marijuana federally legal for medical or recreational purposes, it transfers licensed medical cannabis from Schedule I — designated for substances with no accepted medical value and high abuse potential — to Schedule III’s less stringent regulations. The change provides substantial tax relief for licensed medical marijuana businesses and removes certain research obstacles.
In December, Trump directed his administration to expedite marijuana reclassification efforts. Last Saturday, while signing a separate executive order on psychedelics, the Republican president appeared frustrated with the timeline’s length.
“This rescheduling action allows for research on the safety and efficacy of this substance, ultimately providing patients with better care and doctors with more reliable information,” Blanche stated Thursday, emphasizing the Department of Justice was “delivering on President Trump’s promise” to broaden Americans’ medical treatment access.
The action essentially validates medical marijuana programs operating in 40 states. It establishes a streamlined registration process for state-licensed medical cannabis producers and distributors with the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The order clarifies that cannabis researchers won’t face penalties for obtaining state-licensed marijuana or cannabis-derived products for studies. Additionally, it provides state-licensed medical marijuana companies their first opportunity to claim business expense deductions on federal tax returns — creating significant financial benefits.
FDA-approved marijuana-derived medications receive similar Schedule III classification under the order.
This directive marks a substantial shift for federal policy, which has maintained marijuana prohibition since the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937, despite nearly every state approving some form of cannabis use. Twenty-four states plus Washington, D.C., permit adult recreational marijuana use, 40 operate medical marijuana programs, and eight others allow low-THC cannabis or CBD oil for medical purposes. Only Idaho and Kansas maintain complete marijuana bans.
Blanche noted medical marijuana regulation has evolved dramatically since California pioneered state programs in 1996.
“Today the vast majority of States maintain comprehensive licensing frameworks governing cultivation, processing, distribution, and dispensing of marijuana for medical purposes,” Blanche wrote. “Taken as a whole, they demonstrate a sustained capacity to achieve the public-interest objectives … including protecting public health and safety and preventing the diversion of controlled substances into illicit channels.”
Marijuana products outside state medical programs remain classified as Schedule I substances. Beginning in June, the Trump administration will launch new administrative hearings to examine broader marijuana rescheduling possibilities.
Schedule III substances are characterized as having moderate to low physical and psychological dependence potential. Some industry critics argue state legalization has produced increasingly potent cannabis products requiring research rather than reduced regulatory classification.
Under President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration, the Justice Department had proposed marijuana reclassification, generating nearly 43,000 public comments. The Drug Enforcement Administration was still reviewing when Trump assumed office in January, prompting his order to accelerate the process legally.
Blanche’s order bypassed the review process using federal law provisions allowing the attorney general to classify drugs the U.S. must regulate under international treaties.
The order’s impact on states where licensed recreational marijuana dispensaries also serve medical patients remains uncertain. In Washington state, which legalized adult marijuana use in 2012, 302 of 460 licensed stores hold endorsements for tax-free cannabis sales to registered patients.
Many Republicans oppose relaxing marijuana restrictions. More than 20 Republican senators, including several Trump allies, signed a letter last year urging the president to maintain existing standards.
Trump has prioritized combating other drugs, particularly fentanyl, during his second term, ordering military strikes on Venezuelan and other vessels allegedly transporting drugs. He signed another executive order designating fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction.
American naval forces intercepted an oil tanker connected to Iranian smuggling operations on Thursday, escalating tensions with Tehran just one day after Iran’s Revolutionary Guards commandeered two commercial vessels in the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Pentagon officials released video showing U.S. personnel aboard the oil vessel Majestic X following its capture in the Indian Ocean waters.
“We will continue global maritime enforcement to disrupt illicit networks and interdict vessels providing material support to Iran, wherever they operate,” Pentagon officials stated.
Maritime tracking information indicated the Majestic X was positioned in Indian Ocean waters between Sri Lanka and Indonesia, approximately where American forces previously captured the oil tanker Tifani. The vessel had been heading toward Zhoushan, China.
Iranian officials have not yet commented on the vessel’s seizure.
Thursday’s action occurred one day after Iranian forces attacked three commercial ships in the strait, taking control of two vessels in an escalation of Tehran’s campaign against maritime traffic in the critical waterway that handles 20% of global oil shipments during peaceful periods.
The Majestic X operates under a Guyanese flag. The vessel was previously called Phonix and faced U.S. Treasury Department sanctions in 2024 for transporting Iranian crude oil in violation of American sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
On Tuesday, President Donald Trump extended a ceasefire agreement while keeping an American naval blockade of Iranian ports in place.
The ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran has essentially halted nearly all shipping through the strait with no resolution in sight.
The crisis has already caused fuel costs to surge well beyond the immediate region and increased prices for food and numerous other goods. Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, climbed above $100 per barrel, representing a 35% jump from pre-conflict levels, though financial markets continue to show resilience.
European Union energy commissioner Dan Jørgensen cautioned Wednesday about prolonged consequences for consumers and businesses, comparing the situation to other significant energy disruptions of the past fifty years. He reported the crisis is costing Europe approximately 500 million euros ($600 million) daily.
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has deployed naval blockades as his go-to strategy for pressuring governments in Venezuela, Cuba, and most recently Iran, but military experts warn that the Middle Eastern standoff presents far more complex challenges than those faced in the Caribbean region.
Iran differs significantly from Cuba and Venezuela because it has shut down a vital energy shipping corridor, which means prolonged conflict will increasingly damage the worldwide economy. The Islamic Republic also represents a more formidable military opponent than America’s hemispheric adversaries and demands continuous military deployment thousands of miles from U.S. coastlines.
Tehran’s control over the Strait of Hormuz provides substantial bargaining power during the current fragile ceasefire, as escalating economic consequences – particularly rising gasoline costs during an election year – might compel Trump’s Republican government to abandon its maritime blockade of Iranian ports and waters, according to defense analysts.
“It’s really a question now of which country, the U.S. or Iran, has a greater pain tolerance,” said Max Boot, a military historian and senior fellow for national security studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.
Whether Trump’s pressure strategy – deploying America’s dominant naval forces to halt Iran’s sanctioned petroleum and commodity exports – will prove successful remains uncertain. Several analysts believe Trump’s Venezuelan victory resulted more from the U.S. military operation that removed leader Nicolás Maduro than from American vessels intercepting prohibited oil tankers to establish U.S. dominance over the South American nation.
Meanwhile, America’s oil sanctions against Cuba have triggered the island’s worst economic catastrophe in decades. Despite recent rare diplomatic meetings between U.S. and Cuban representatives on the island, the financial pressure has not achieved the Trump administration’s declared objective of regime change.
“I do think that the success of the Maduro mission in Venezuela has probably emboldened the president,” said Todd Huntley, director of Georgetown University’s National Security Law Program.
However, this doesn’t mean the Venezuelan and Iranian situations are comparable across geographic, military, or political dimensions. “There are some major differences,” said Huntley, a retired Navy captain and judge advocate general.
Although the Iranian blockade has inflicted serious economic damage, including preventing cargo ships from bringing in various materials, the nation has managed to export some of its prohibited oil, according to vessel monitoring organizations.
Tehran has refused Trump’s demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global oil typically passes, and has resumed attacking vessels this week. Disrupted shipments through the waterway have caused fuel prices to surge well beyond the region and increased costs for food and numerous other goods, creating electoral complications for Trump before November’s midterm elections.
“Blockades are usually just one tool of a mechanism used in a conflict,” said Salvatore Mercogliano, a maritime history professor at Campbell University in North Carolina. “They can be important. But it’s only one element. And I don’t think it’s going to be enough to convince the Iranians.”
Adm. Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command, claimed last week that “no ship has evaded U.S. forces.” The command overseeing the Middle East said it has directed 31 ships to turn around or return to port as of Wednesday.
Maritime industry organizations remain doubtful. Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported “a steady flow of shadow fleet traffic” has passed in and out of the Gulf, including 11 tankers with Iranian cargo that have left the Gulf of Oman outside the strait since April 13.
The maritime intelligence firm Windward said this week that Iranian traffic continues to flow “via deception.”
Iranian vessels employ multiple methods to circumvent the blockade, including falsifying their location monitoring systems or sailing through Pakistani territorial waters, Mercogliano explained. He emphasized that the enormous amount of maritime traffic requiring military inspection presents a formidable challenge.
The most recent U.S. blockade comparable to the current Iranian operation occurred during the Kennedy presidency in the early 1960s, when America established a blockade against Cuba, Huntley noted.
“And it wasn’t even called a blockade,” he said. “We called it quarantine.”
Certain historical naval blockades have proven effective, such as Britain’s blockade against Germany during World War I. “But they tend to be very long-term impacts, whereas Trump is looking for short-term, quick results,” according to Boot, the military historian.
He suggested Trump likely viewed the blockade targeting Venezuelan sanctioned oil tankers as instrumental in achieving regime change in that country. However, Boot argued it resulted more from the U.S. removing Maduro and subsequent cooperation from his vice president and current acting president, Delcy Rodríguez.
“There is no Delcy Rodríguez in Cuba or Iran,” Boot said. “I think his success in Venezuela led him astray, thinking that this was a template that could be replicated elsewhere. He sees it as a huge success at little cost. And, in fact, it turns out to be a unique set of circumstances.”
Iranian forces have directed two captured container vessels carrying roughly 40 sailors toward the port of Bandar Abbas, according to sources reporting Thursday, following Tehran’s promise to strike back after American military units seized an Iranian ship earlier this week.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps captured both vessels Wednesday near the Strait of Hormuz – one operated by MSC, the globe’s largest container shipping company, while the second was chartered by the same firm, three sources confirmed.
“Some 20 Iranians armed to the teeth stormed the ship. Sailors are under Iranians’ control, their movements on the ship are limited, but the Iranians are treating them well,” a family member of one crew member told Reuters.
Montenegro’s maritime affairs minister Filip Radulovic provided an update on his nation’s sailors, telling state broadcaster RTCG: “The ship is anchored nine nautical miles from the Iranian coast. Negotiations between MSC and Iran are ongoing, our sailors are fine.”
Four crew members aboard the MSC Francesca, including the vessel’s captain, hold Montenegrin citizenship, Radulovic confirmed. Croatia’s foreign ministry verified that two Croatian nationals are also among the crew.
Complete crew information for the Panama-registered ship remains unavailable, though large container vessels typically operate with at least 20 personnel minimum. MSC has refused to provide statements.
The Liberian-flagged Epaminondas carries 21 crew members from Ukraine and the Philippines, Greek coast guard officials reported. The vessel had been traveling to India when captured.
While both crews were described as safe, government officials from their respective nations indicated they are gathering information about the sailors’ conditions and working toward securing their freedom.
No details have emerged regarding any cargo the vessels may have been transporting.
Both ships disabled their tracking transponder equipment, but maritime security experts said shipping data indicated their location near Bandar Abbas.
The Iranian vessel seizures followed the April 19 incident when U.S. military forces opened fire on and captured the Iran-flagged cargo ship Touska.
“The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will soon respond and retaliate against this armed piracy by the U.S. military,” an Iranian military spokesperson declared in response.
Iran’s foreign ministry has demanded immediate release of the Touska vessel, along with its crew and their families. Information about the ship’s personnel has not been disclosed.
Global oil markets have surged on concerns about potential disruption to the strait, a waterway that typically carries 20% of worldwide daily oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Benchmark Brent crude oil futures climbed 2% to $104 per barrel Thursday, compared to $72 before the conflict started February 28.
U.S. Central Command announced Wednesday that since beginning its blockade preventing ships from entering or leaving Iranian ports, American forces had ordered 31 vessels to reverse course or return to port.
Palestinian health officials reported that Israeli military operations resulted in four deaths across Gaza on Thursday, according to medical personnel in the region.
Medical sources confirmed that one fatality occurred during a military strike in Khan Younis, located in Gaza’s southern region, with additional individuals sustaining injuries. Israeli military officials stated their forces had engaged militants who were moving weapons and presented a danger to Israeli troops.
Health authorities reported three additional deaths, including an emergency responder, during a separate military action in Maghazi, a refugee settlement within the Deir al Balah region of central Gaza. Israeli military representatives have not provided statements regarding this particular incident.
Military operations in Gaza have continued regularly since a ceasefire agreement facilitated by the United States took effect in October. Israeli and Hamas officials have each claimed the opposing side has broken ceasefire terms.
No enforcement structure exists for monitoring the ceasefire agreement. Since the truce began, casualty figures show four Israeli military personnel and over 780 Palestinians have died in Gaza.
At Al Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, the area’s primary medical center, family members joined other mourners in funeral preparations for five individuals, including three minors, who died Wednesday when an Israeli strike hit a northern Gaza community.
“There is no ceasefire, no truce, nothing at all,” said Mohammed Baalousha, a relative of one of the victims. “There is no safety in any area.”
Israeli military officials have not issued statements about Wednesday’s strike.
American Airlines has lowered its financial outlook for 2026 on Thursday, now projecting the possibility of losses rather than profits as escalating jet fuel expenses continue to pressure the company’s bottom line.
The Dallas-based carrier anticipates its fuel expenses will climb by more than $4 billion during 2024, with jet fuel prices hovering around $4 per gallon throughout the second quarter.
Aviation fuel costs, which generally represent approximately 25% of an airline’s operational budget, have essentially doubled since Middle Eastern conflicts began, creating a squeeze between rising expenses and previously sold tickets at fixed prices that cannot be modified.
The price surge occurred after military actions involving the U.S. and Israel against Iran disrupted shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for worldwide oil distribution, creating the aviation sector’s most significant challenge since the coronavirus pandemic.
While passenger demand across the United States has remained stable, the expense increases have damaged profit margins. Carriers have responded by raising ticket prices, reducing flight capacity, and increasing charges for additional services such as baggage fees to offset some financial impact.
The company projects earnings between a 20-cent per-share loss on the low end and a 20-cent profit on the high end for the second quarter, while analysts had predicted a 9-cent loss based on LSEG data.
Company stock rose approximately 1% during pre-market trading sessions.
Carriers operating extensive international routes and offering premium service options are anticipated to navigate these challenges more successfully, as wealthy travelers demonstrate greater ability to absorb fare increases.
American Airlines reported Thursday that revenue from its premium seating sections continued to exceed performance in standard economy class.
For the full year, the airline now expects results ranging from a 40-cent per-share loss to a $1.10 per-share profit, a significant reduction from its previous forecast of $1.70 to $2.70 profit per share.
The carrier posted an adjusted quarterly loss of 40 cents per share for the period ending March 31, which was better than the 47-cent loss analysts had anticipated.
Overall operating revenue reached $13.91 billion, surpassing Wall Street projections of $13.79 billion.
The South American nation of Paraguay welcomed its first group of deported migrants from the United States on Thursday, marking the beginning of a new immigration cooperation deal between the two countries.
Paraguayan officials confirmed that 16 individuals from various third countries arrived in the capital city of Asunción as part of the deportation arrangement. According to a government statement, these migrants were the only ones who “meet the legal requirements for entry and temporary stay in the country” out of an originally planned group of 25 people.
The deportations represent the initial implementation of the migration cooperation agreement that Paraguay and the United States recently established. Officials did not specify which countries the deported migrants originally came from or provide details about the circumstances of their deportation from U.S. territory.
The world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund is exploring the possibility of backing Elon Musk’s space venture, according to a senior fund official.
Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, valued at $2.2 trillion, is currently evaluating whether to participate in SpaceX as the rocket manufacturer prepares for what could become history’s largest stock market debut.
Deputy CEO Trond Grande confirmed to Reuters Thursday that discussions are underway with the aerospace company. When questioned about whether the fund had been contacted regarding potential investment opportunities, Grande responded: “We have dialogue with companies, right? So, we also have dialogue with SpaceX.”
Pressed further on whether the fund was considering the investment opportunity, Grande stated: “That is what we are doing.” He provided no additional specifics about the potential deal.
SpaceX, owned by the world’s wealthiest individual Elon Musk, is planning a $1.75 trillion public offering anticipated for this summer, which would dwarf previous IPO records.
Grande’s comments followed the fund’s announcement of substantial first-quarter losses totaling 636 billion Norwegian crowns, equivalent to $68.4 billion, attributed to Middle Eastern conflict impacts on international markets.
The military action that commenced with coordinated U.S. and Israeli operations against Iran in late February contributed to the S&P 500’s steepest quarterly drop since 2022.
Norges Bank Investment Management, the fund’s operator which maintains approximately half its holdings in American markets, recorded a negative 1.9% return during the January through March timeframe.
However, market improvements in April have already compensated for the earlier quarterly setbacks following ceasefire announcements, Grande noted. He emphasized the fund isn’t treating the conflict as an opportunity for discounted stock purchases.
“We’re not doing any big changes to the portfolio or how we invest just on this one,” Grande explained. “It’s very unpredictable.”
The Norwegian fund channels revenues from the country’s petroleum and natural gas sectors into international investments spanning equities, bonds, real estate, and renewable energy initiatives.
Grande also addressed concerns about artificial intelligence’s potential disruption of software companies, which has created ripple effects in private credit and equity markets that previously invested heavily during low-rate periods.
The fund is closely monitoring these developments for signs they might trigger broader financial instability, Grande said.
“It’s always a worrying sign when people who want to redeem some of their units are not able to redeem them in full,” Grande observed. “That gives you a signal that there might be something here. So it’s definitely a watch point: to what extent it could become systemic.”
Drivers traveling on northbound Route 1 should expect potential delays due to an ongoing mobile operation affecting the right shoulder of the highway.
The operation is taking place along the stretch of Coastal Highway between State Road and Rehoboth Avenue Extension, according to DelDOT traffic reports.
Officials indicate the mobile operation will remain in place until 3 PM today. Motorists are advised to use caution when traveling through the area and consider alternate routes if possible to avoid congestion.
The Delaware Department of Transportation continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as conditions change.
Diplomatic negotiations between the United States and Iran have encountered fresh obstacles following Iran’s recent seizure of maritime vessels in the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.
The incident has created additional complications for ongoing peace discussions between the two nations, casting uncertainty over the timeline for resolution.
During a Wednesday interview with Fox News, President Trump addressed the situation regarding the current ceasefire arrangements. “No time pressure” exists on the ceasefire, Trump stated, announcing that he has decided to extend it for an indefinite period.
The Strait of Hormuz represents one of the world’s most vital shipping lanes, making any disruption to maritime traffic in the region a matter of international concern.
The ship seizures mark the latest development in the complex relationship between Washington and Tehran, as both sides navigate sensitive diplomatic terrain while working toward potential agreements.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Cricket, which ranks as the world’s second most popular sport, hasn’t been featured in Olympic competition for 126 years. That lengthy absence will end when the 2028 Games arrive.
Construction workers broke ground Wednesday in Pomona, located on the eastern side of Los Angeles County, beginning work on a major cricket facility with seating for more than 10,000 spectators. The venue will host both men’s and women’s Olympic competition.
The facility is being constructed within the Fairplex fairgrounds and will become the headquarters for the Los Angeles Knight Riders, a Major League Cricket franchise owned by Knight Riders Sports, based in Mumbai. Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan serves as co-leader of the organization.
The ceremonial start featured a “bhumi pujan,” a traditional Hindu ceremony typically performed when construction begins, designed to request divine approval and forgiveness for disrupting the earth.
Cricket has become deeply embedded within America’s immigrant communities worldwide, especially those from South Asia, where the sport commands passionate devotion. Across the United States, cricket enthusiasts, instructors and athletes consider having a purpose-built cricket facility in a significant sports market like Southern California to be a major achievement.
Financial backers anticipate that excitement from professional cricket matches in the area will build momentum leading up to the Olympics, introducing the sport to mainstream American sports fans. Many believe this increased exposure will create valuable opportunities for American-born cricket players to develop their skills.
Venky Mysore, who leads Knight Riders Sports as CEO, explained that creating the Knight Riders Cricket Field represents only the initial phase of attracting typical American sports fans. Mysore expressed confidence in cricket’s business prospects.
“People who watch the Olympics are not necessarily cricket fans,” Mysore explained. “When cricket becomes an Olympic sport, that takes interest and awareness to the next level.”
Knight Riders Sports manages several franchises across the globe — throughout India, the Caribbean region and the United Arab Emirates. However, the Pomona facility marks their first ground-up stadium construction project, according to Mysore. Currently, just three international-standard cricket venues exist in America — located in Texas, Florida and North Carolina. The sport also takes place at various multi-use facilities including the Oakland Coliseum.
Peter Della Penna, who has reported on American cricket for twenty years, notes this marks the first occasion an international cricket competition in America will feature a purpose-built facility. During 2024, organizers constructed a high-capacity temporary stadium specifically for the T20 World Cup in New York, though it was removed following the tournament.
However, hosting cricket matches elsewhere during the LA Olympics would be less than optimal, he explained.
“Cricket players would want to be in the Olympic Village, walk shoulder to shoulder with U.S. track and field athletes, swimmers and basketball players,” he explained. “Cricketers in America have not had such prominence and U.S. cricket really needs that.”
Cricket boasts an extensive and fascinating American heritage. The inaugural international cricket contest occurred between America and Canada in 1844 at Manhattan’s St. George’s Cricket Club in New York. Canada defeated America by a narrow margin before thousands of onlookers, with substantial betting surrounding the match.
Debjit Lahiri, a cricket scholar from Wisconsin, noted that Olympic cricket last appeared in 1900 in Paris, where the Summer Olympics served as a disorganized supplement to the World’s Fair, including competitions like live pigeon shooting. Cricket failed to appear in the 1904 Olympic Games in St. Louis.
Los Angeles cricket started around 1900 through local organizations. It achieved recognition during the 1930s when British expatriate actors established the Hollywood Cricket Club, attracting celebrities including Errol Flynn, Laurence Olivier, Cary Grant and Boris Karloff. The organization’s initial location at Griffith Park was demolished to construct an equestrian facility for the 1984 Olympics. It relocated to Woodley Park in the San Fernando Valley, where numerous ambitious cricketers developed their skills, including Ayan Desai, a 22-year-old emerging talent hoping to represent Team USA in 2028.
Desai, whose family operates a motel close to the upcoming Knight Riders facility, expressed excitement about having a world-class cricket venue practically next door.
“To play the Olympics is special, but to do it in front of your home crowd, in your home city, that would be amazing,” he stated.
Desai, who bowls left-arm fast deliveries, competes for the Seattle Orcas professional team and has participated in four international matches representing the American national squad.
“This is what we’ve needed to grow cricket in Los Angeles,” he stated.
Reggie Benjamin, originally from Antigua and a former American cricketer who now coaches in Los Angeles, maintains doubts about the sport’s prospects.
“I’m happy to see cricket get an opportunity to showcase itself here,” he stated. “But if you can’t get average Americans to come to a game and sit in the stands for three hours, or if you can’t get American kids to play cricket, the game is not going to grow.”
Benjamin expressed frustration seeing domestic talent and community-level programs overlooked while international players are recruited for professional teams and the national squad. He also highlighted management problems that have plagued American cricket and created uncertainty about cricket’s Olympic inclusion in 2028.
These issues reached a crisis point last year when USA Cricket, the nonprofit responsible for developing American cricket, sought federal bankruptcy protection after terminating its agreement with American Cricket Enterprises, the organization behind Major League Cricket. Subsequently, the International Cricket Council, cricket’s global governing body, has temporarily managed the American national cricket team. ACE has also filed legal action claiming improper contract termination.
Nevertheless, major investors like Mysore remain hopeful that USA Cricket and Major League Cricket can establish a collaborative partnership. The organizations benefit each other, he noted. National team selectors frequently recruit from professional league rosters.
“A strong national team is important because it keeps interest alive in the sport,” he stated.
Walter Marquez, who serves as Fairplex CEO, believes cricket has a bright future. As a devoted baseball enthusiast, Marquez has recently been studying cricket extensively. He now understands terminology like “yorker” and recognizes genuine potential for the sport’s expansion.
“For those who don’t know cricket, given an opportunity, they will learn what an exciting game it is, especially the T20 format,” stated Marquez, referencing the shortened version that will be used in the 2028 Olympics.
“We like home runs. We love the long ball. Cricket has a lot of those. American sports fans just don’t know they’re cricket fans yet.”
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — International Criminal Court judges gave the green light Thursday for crimes against humanity charges to proceed against former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte over his lethal anti-narcotics operations during his tenure in office.
Three judges reached a unanimous decision that substantial evidence exists to support allegations that the former leader orchestrated numerous killings, beginning during his time as mayor of Davao in southern Philippines and continuing throughout his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
The 81-year-old Duterte was taken into custody in the Philippines last year and maintains his innocence regarding all accusations.
The judges’ comprehensive 50-page ruling determined that evidence demonstrates Duterte “developed, disseminated and implemented” a strategy “to ‘neutralize’ alleged criminals.”
Court prosecutors allege that law enforcement officers and assassination teams executed numerous killings on Duterte’s orders beginning in 2011, driven by financial incentives or fear of becoming victims themselves.
“For some, killing reached the level of a perverse form of competition,” deputy prosecutor Mame Mandiaye Niang told the court in pretrial hearings in February.
Death toll estimates from Duterte’s presidential administration range widely, from over 6,000 according to national police records to as many as 30,000 as claimed by human rights organizations.
In a Wednesday statement, prosecutors described the ruling as “a significant milestone” in their pursuit of accountability.
Duterte’s primary defense attorney Nick Kaufman expressed disappointment to The Associated Press, arguing the decision “is based on the uncorroborated statements of vicious self-confessed murderers acting as cooperating witnesses.”
No trial date has been scheduled yet.
Duterte has chosen not to attend any court proceedings, having waived his right to appear. Last month, judges determined he was mentally competent to stand trial after delaying an earlier session due to health concerns.
In the Philippines, relatives of those killed during the harsh anti-drug operations celebrated the court’s decision, viewing it as progress toward justice and closure for a devastating period in their lives.
“This is for all the victims, who were not even given the chance to be recognized as victims because their stories were twisted in police reports, investigations and findings,” said Randy delos Santos, whose nephew, Kian delos Santos, was gunned down in an alley in August 2017 by three police officers.
“Unlike Kian, most other victims were nameless, voiceless and were just numbers and statistics whose horrific stories were never heard. Now the ICC will give their stories a chance to be told,” delos Santos told The Associated Press.
Human rights organizations also welcomed the court’s action.
“Duterte’s trial will send a powerful message that no one responsible for grave crimes is above the law, whether in the Philippines or elsewhere, and that justice will eventually catch up with them,” Maria Elena Vignoli, senior international justice counsel at Human Rights Watch, said.
ICC prosecutors announced in 2018 their intention to launch a preliminary examination of the violent drug enforcement operations. Human rights advocates believe Duterte’s subsequent announcement that the Philippines would withdraw from the court was an attempt to escape accountability.
On Tuesday, appeals court judges denied a motion from Duterte’s legal team to dismiss the case based on claims the court lacked authority due to the Philippine withdrawal.
In October, judges removed the court’s chief prosecutor Karim Khan from the case due to a “reasonable appearance of bias” since he had previously represented victims of Duterte’s alleged crimes before joining the ICC. Khan had already stepped aside pending an independent probe into sexual misconduct allegations.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is facing declining approval ratings from several voter demographics that were instrumental in his 2024 election victory, a recent survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals.
The comprehensive poll of over 2,500 American adults shows that Trump’s diverse coalition of supporters has grown increasingly critical of his presidency after more than a year back in office. Key demographics showing dissatisfaction include Hispanic voters, Americans under 45, and male voters.
Conducted between April 16 and Monday during a period of volatile oil markets and rising gas costs, the survey captures public sentiment at a challenging time for the Republican president.
Trump’s difficulties have intensified recently as his economic approval ratings have dropped amid the Iran conflict driving up energy costs. However, polling data indicates that dissatisfaction has been steadily growing among crucial voter segments throughout the past year.
Among Hispanic voters, Trump’s overall approval has plummeted 16 percentage points since March 2025, while his support among men has decreased by 9 percentage points.
Although Trump’s core Republican base continues to support him, there are emerging indicators that his second presidency may be falling short of supporter expectations.
The polling data reveals significant concerns among four critical voter groups:
Hispanic American voters have shown mounting dissatisfaction with Trump’s performance over the past year.
Currently, approximately 25% of Hispanic adults approve of his presidential handling, a notable drop from roughly 40% in March 2025.
This downward trend began in late 2025, indicating that factors beyond the Iran conflict or recent gas price increases are contributing to this demographic’s displeasure.
Trump’s hardline immigration policies may be contributing to this decline. Just 25% of Hispanic voters approve of his immigration approach, down from 36% when his term began.
These immigration policies are especially unpopular among younger Hispanic voters, a group where Trump had made electoral gains in 2024. Only 18% of younger Hispanic adults support his immigration performance, compared to 40% of all Americans.
Economic concerns are also widespread among Hispanic voters. Roughly 25% approve of Trump’s economic management, while only about 20% support his cost-of-living approach. Few Hispanic adults, approximately 20%, characterize the national economy as positive.
Trump’s support among Americans under 45 has declined over the past year, dropping from 39% in March 2025 to 28% in the current survey.
Younger women hold particularly negative views of Trump’s economic management.
Approximately 20% of women under 45 approve of Trump’s economic handling, including just 7% of younger Hispanic women who support his economic policies. About 30% of younger men approve of his economic approach.
Trump’s challenges with younger voters extend across racial lines. Only about one-third of white adults under 45 approve of his overall performance, compared with 45% of white adults 45 and older.
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump actively courted male voters, and a majority of men supported him over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. He made notable gains with Black and Hispanic men, attracted by his economic revival promises.
However, since returning to office, American men have become less supportive of his performance, with approval declining from 47% at his second term’s start to 38% in the latest poll.
Black men appear particularly disappointed with Trump’s economic promises. Black men are more likely than white or Hispanic men to disapprove of Trump’s presidential approach, as well as his handling of the economy, cost of living, and Iran. Only about 10% of Black men approve of his cost-of-living management, and roughly 20% support his economic handling.
Hispanic men also hold relatively negative views of Trump’s overall performance. About 30% approve of his presidential handling, regardless of age. White men show stronger support, with approximately half approving of Trump.
While Trump has historically benefited from Republican loyalty, recent signs suggest growing frustration even within his base.
Roughly two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump’s job performance, down slightly from 82% near his second term’s beginning and generally matching the GOP low point from his first presidency.
However, only about half of Republicans overall approve of Trump’s cost-of-living approach, and a majority of Republicans under 45 disapprove of him on this issue.
Trump continues to receive strong support from his MAGA base, despite criticism from some conservative media figures regarding his recent Iran actions.
Approximately 90% of MAGA Republicans — those identifying as “Make America Great Again” movement supporters — approve of Trump’s job performance, with similar approval for his Iran handling.
While Trump’s most dedicated supporters remain loyal, not all Republicans identify with MAGA. About 54% of Republicans consider themselves MAGA supporters.
Among non-MAGA Republicans, Trump’s approval is significantly lower at 44%.
The AP-NORC poll surveyed 2,596 adults from April 16-20 using NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, designed to represent the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for all adults is plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.
BERLIN — An attack with red liquid targeted Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi on Thursday as he exited a government building in the German capital.
The incident took place after Pahlavi concluded a media briefing where he had spoken against a ceasefire agreement between America and Iran. The attack happened outside Germany’s federal press conference facility.
Following the incident, Pahlavi acknowledged his supporters with a wave before entering a vehicle that departed the scene. Authorities immediately apprehended the suspected attacker.
The 65-year-old prince is the offspring of Iran’s deposed monarch, whose rule sparked such widespread opposition that massive street demonstrations in 1979 forced his removal from power. Despite this history, Pahlavi seeks to establish himself as a potential leader for Iran’s future, although his domestic support remains uncertain after nearly five decades in exile.
During his Berlin visit, Pahlavi received no invitations to meet with German officials. On Thursday, he contended that the ceasefire deal wrongly assumes Iran’s government will modify its conduct and “you’re going to deal with people who all of a sudden have become pragmatists.”
“I don’t see that happening,” he said. “I’m not saying that diplomacy should not be given a chance, but I think diplomacy has been given enough chance.”
The prince actively seeks a return to leadership should Iran’s current Shiite religious government collapse and has endorsed U.S.-Israeli military actions across the Middle East.
During his Berlin appearance, Pahlavi urged European nations to increase their assistance to Iranians advocating for democratic reform. He stated that Iranian officials executed 19 political prisoners over the previous two weeks while sentencing an additional 20 individuals to death.
“Will the free world do something, or watch the slaughter in silence?” Pahlavi said.
WASHINGTON — A cross-party coalition of senators is working to expand what families can buy with government food assistance by allowing the purchase of hot rotisserie chicken from grocery stores.
The lawmakers unveiled legislation this week dubbed the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, designed to make these popular prepared birds available for purchase through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, previously called food stamps.
“America’s best (and delicious) affordability play is Costco’s $4.99 rotisserie chicken,” stated Pennsylvania Democratic Senator John Fetterman, who teamed up with West Virginia Republican Senator Jim Justice and other colleagues to back the measure. “It’s one of my family’s favorites, and I’m proud to join this bill with Sen. Justice for all to try. SNAP funds would be well spent to feed our nation’s families who need it.”
Current SNAP regulations provide monthly allowances for low-income households to purchase groceries, but exclude hot prepared meals from coverage. This restriction, established many years ago, was designed to encourage cooking at home. However, opponents argue the rule is no longer relevant and unfairly impacts families already facing financial hardship by blocking access to convenient and healthy meal options.
Food eligibility under SNAP has remained a contentious issue among policymakers at both state and federal levels. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has encouraged states to remove junk food items like soft drinks and sweets from approved purchases. Currently, 22 states, predominantly under Republican leadership, have sought or obtained approval to restrict certain food items.
The SNAP program serves as a crucial component of America’s social support system, helping nearly 42 million people — roughly one in eight Americans — afford groceries. Monthly household benefits average approximately $350, while individual recipients receive around $190 per month on average.
The bipartisan legislation includes co-sponsors Republican Shelley Moore Capito from West Virginia and Democrat Michael Bennet from Colorado, alongside Fetterman and Justice. In the House of Representatives, Republican Representative Rick Crawford from Arkansas has championed comparable legislation.
“We have to give people the option to put a healthy, protein-dense choice on the table that actually tastes good and doesn’t take an hour and a half to cook,” Justice explained in his statement.
Motorists traveling south across the Indian River Inlet Bridge should expect delays today as the Delaware Department of Transportation conducts a bridge inspection.
DelDOT has temporarily shut down the right lane of the southbound span to allow crews to perform the necessary inspection work. The lane closure began earlier today and is scheduled to continue until 5 PM.
Drivers are advised to use caution when approaching the bridge and to expect potential traffic backups during peak travel times. The left lane remains open for southbound traffic.
Bridge inspections are conducted regularly as part of DelDOT’s ongoing maintenance and safety protocols for the state’s transportation infrastructure.
Rising gasoline costs tied to Middle Eastern conflicts are pushing American drivers toward electric vehicle rentals, creating new trends in the car rental industry nationwide.
Hertz has witnessed electric vehicle reservation requests climb nearly 25% in March versus February, particularly among drivers who rent vehicles for ride-sharing services like Uber and Lyft over extended periods. According to Doria Holbrook, executive vice president of Hertz’s mobility division, the West Coast shows the strongest growth in electric rental demand, coinciding with that region’s traditionally higher fuel costs.
Peer-to-peer rental platform Turo, which operates similarly to Airbnb but for vehicles, recorded an 11% jump in electric vehicle bookings during March’s final three weeks compared to the previous three-week span. When gas prices crossed the $4 per gallon threshold on March 31 for the first time since 2022, Turo’s electric vehicle reservations spiked 47% higher than the same date in 2025.
The Iran conflict has created shipping disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s coastline, a critical waterway handling roughly 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas transport. Since the war’s February 28 start, average U.S. gasoline prices have climbed more than one-third to reach $4.02 per gallon, data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows.
While fuel price increases typically don’t trigger immediate changes in vehicle purchasing patterns, industry analysts and dealers note this price shock’s severity is already prompting consumers to explore alternatives. European markets demonstrate this trend dramatically, with electric vehicle registrations across 15 nations surging over 50% in March.
The American market shows more restrained responses. March sales of new electric vehicles dropped 25% from the previous year, Cox Automotive reports, as last autumn’s expiration of a $7,500 tax credit continues affecting American electric vehicle interest. However, used electric vehicle sales are climbing significantly, and rental customers appear increasingly willing to choose electric options temporarily to avoid high gas costs.
Car Rental Gateway, a digital booking platform, documented a 16% relative boost in electric and hybrid vehicle reservations during March. Board member Hannes Põldvee suggests rental companies that invested heavily in electric fleets could see benefits if elevated gas prices persist.
Increased electric vehicle demand is also strengthening used electric car values. John Coles, vice president of data science and analytics at ACV Auctions, an online marketplace where dealers and rental companies trade used vehicles, explained that electric vehicle prices had been declining for months but stabilized after oil price surges began in early March.
“We have seen EVs get a second lease on life due to the sustained pressure at the pump,” he said.
West Pharmaceutical Services announced Thursday it has increased its annual earnings and revenue projections following first-quarter results that surpassed Wall Street expectations, driven by robust demand for specialized medical components including syringes and drug cartridges.
The company’s stock price jumped nearly 13% in pre-market trading with lighter trading volume.
Equipment manufacturers like West Pharmaceutical have seen increased business due to growing demand for diabetes and weight-loss medications including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy, along with Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro, all of which require injection pen delivery systems.
The company produces essential components including stoppers, plungers and delivery mechanisms used for packaging and administering vaccines, biological treatments and other injectable medications.
West Pharmaceutical, headquartered in Exton, Pennsylvania, has revised its 2026 adjusted earnings per share outlook to between $8.40 and $8.75, an increase from the previous range of $7.85 to $8.20.
Wall Street analysts had anticipated earnings of $8.01 per share on average, based on LSEG data.
The company reported first-quarter adjusted earnings of $2.13 per share for the period ending March 31, exceeding analyst projections of $1.68 per share. Revenue for the quarter reached $844.9 million, surpassing expectations of $780 million.
“The better-than-expected performance can be attributed to continued market demand and the team’s outstanding efforts in ramping up production, especially in Europe,” said CEO Eric Green.
The company has also raised its 2026 revenue forecast to a range of $3.29 billion to $3.35 billion, up from the prior projection of $3.215 billion to $3.275 billion.
Second-quarter sales are projected to fall between $830 million and $850 million, compared to analyst estimates of $818.5 million.
The proprietary products division, which manufactures packaging solutions such as syringes and cartridges for injectable medications, generated $694.3 million in quarterly revenue, exceeding analyst expectations of $631.3 million. This division accounts for more than half of the company’s total revenue.
The world’s biggest alternative asset management company, Blackstone, announced impressive first-quarter financial results on Thursday, showing increased cash flows and higher income from investment sales during a period marked by global conflict and economic instability.
The firm, headquartered in New York, saw its total managed assets climb 12% to approximately $1.3 trillion. The credit and insurance division led new money coming into the company with $37 billion, while the private equity segment brought in $20.4 billion.
Alternative asset management companies have faced challenges recently as their stock values declined due to concerns about future growth slowdowns, potential artificial intelligence impacts on their investment holdings, and questions about lending practices.
While Blackstone’s stock price has recovered somewhat this month, it remains nearly 16% below where it started the year. During the same period, the S&P 500 Financials Sector index has dropped more than 4%.
The company’s distributable earnings, which represents cash available for shareholder dividends, increased 25% to reach $1.76 billion, or $1.36 per share, during the first quarter.
Company Chairman and CEO Stephen Schwarzman noted that Blackstone recorded almost $70 billion in total incoming investments and saw positive gains across nearly all of its main investment approaches “despite the turbulent environment.”
“Our all-weather model protects us in these times of disruption while also allowing us to invest where we see the greatest opportunity,” Schwarzman stated.
Net investment sales jumped 26% to $448.4 million, helped significantly by the private equity division’s performance. Blackstone sold shares in medical device company Medline, which the firm took public last year and has climbed from its initial $29 offering price to around $47. The company also completed the sale of space technology firm ARKA to defense contractor CACI International.
Large institutional investors, including pension funds, insurance companies, and other major capital holders who can commit funds for extended periods, provided one of the biggest quarterly funding contributions to Blackstone’s credit business in the company’s history, according to the firm.
Comcast exceeded financial analysts’ projections for the first quarter on Thursday, powered by an impressive lineup of sporting events that enhanced subscriber numbers and viewer engagement, while the company’s internet service experienced smaller customer losses than forecasted.
An action-packed schedule of live sporting events, highlighted by the Winter Olympics, Super Bowl, and the comeback of National Basketball Association games, generated increased advertising revenue and subscriber growth for the corporation’s Peacock streaming platform.
The telecommunications giant has restructured its internet service pricing, bundling options, and customer service approach to address competitive pressures, especially from fixed wireless companies, which helped minimize subscriber departures.
During the first quarter, the company saw 65,000 internet customers discontinue service, significantly below the projected loss of 175,500 subscribers, based on FactSet analyst surveys.
The company has progressively relied more heavily on its mobile phone services to fuel expansion and strengthen customer connections.
Comcast gained 435,000 mobile subscribers, achieving its strongest quarterly performance on record and exceeding projections of 361,600 new customers.
Between January and March, Peacock gained 2 million paying subscribers, bringing its total to 46 million, though financial losses in this division expanded to $432 million.
The media division also recorded a $426 million loss as the company increased investment in NBA content.
Management had previously indicated that the first quarter would represent the highest activity period with approximately 50% of NBA games scheduled, which would also create the greatest impact on earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization.
The theme park division generated a 24% revenue increase, driven by greater visitor numbers at its Epic Universe facility in Orlando, which opened last May.
Overall revenue reached $31.46 billion, representing a 10.9% increase when excluding contributions from cable properties that were separated into Versant Media during the first quarter. Wall Street analysts had predicted $30.43 billion on average, according to LSEG data.
Adjusted earnings per share of 79 cents also exceeded analyst expectations of 73 cents.
Drivers traveling westbound on Route 14 near Canterbury Road should expect delays and lane changes as construction crews work in the area.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that flaggers are currently directing traffic around the work zone, with lane shifts in effect to accommodate the roadwork.
The traffic pattern changes are expected to remain in place until 5 PM today. Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time and exercise caution when driving through the construction zone.
Extreme dry weather conditions have sparked devastating blazes throughout southern Georgia and northern Florida, leaving multiple residences in ruins and creating dangerous air quality conditions for area residents.
The ongoing drought has created ideal conditions for fires to spread rapidly across the region, prompting concerns from emergency officials about the potential for additional property damage and health risks from smoke exposure.
Local authorities continue monitoring the situation as firefighting crews work to contain the blazes and protect remaining structures in the path of the flames.
MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — Pope Leo XIV concluded his historic African journey Thursday with a final religious service in Equatorial Guinea, ending what many consider one of the most headline-grabbing papal visits ever due to his remarkable public dispute with President Donald Trump.
Heavy rains soaked the Malabo sports stadium and approximately 30,000 worshippers who had assembled before sunrise for Leo’s closing ceremony. However, the downpour subsided before Leo’s arrival in his enclosed papal vehicle for his procession through the enthusiastic crowd.
The pontiff departed following an extensive 11-day journey across four African nations, traveling from Algeria in northern Africa down to Angola in the south, with Cameroon included in his itinerary.
During this period, Leo traveled more than 17,700 kilometers (approximately 11,000 miles) across 18 separate flights, including three flights on Wednesday alone that had him traveling across Equatorial Guinea from the western coastline to the eastern border with Gabon and returning.
Throughout his journey, Leo, who became history’s first American pope, was greeted with enthusiastic receptions, particularly in remote locations that had never before hosted a papal visit.
While papal international travel began with Pope Paul VI’s inaugural modern foreign journey in 1964 to Jordan and Israel, it was St. John Paul II who transformed the papacy through his extensive worldwide travels, completing 104 international trips spanning 25 years, establishing the multi-country format that Leo’s recent journey appeared to follow.
During Leo’s closing Mass Thursday, sisters Michaela Mecha and Encarnacion arrived at the Malabo stadium during the heavy rainfall at 4 a.m. Both wore complete pope-themed clothing, including yellow umbrellas featuring Leo’s image.
“We feel very special and blessed that the pope has chosen our country,” said Michaela, who works as a nurse and brought her two young daughters with her. “This visit is bringing young people closer to God.”
During his sermon, Leo mentioned the April 17 death of Rev. Fr. Fortunato Nsue Esono Ayíambeng, who served on the trip’s organizing committee and held the position of vicar general of Malabo.
“May full light be shed on the circumstances of his death,” Leo said, in apparent reference to rumors that foul play might have been involved.
Nobody anticipated that Leo’s inaugural African papal visit would unfold amid Trump’s unprecedented criticism regarding the Iran conflict. However, the timing placed Leo in the media spotlight from the beginning, with the confrontation continuing for several days.
On the first day, Leo maintained he was simply sharing the Gospel of peace and expressed no fear of the Trump administration after Trump criticized him for being lenient on crime and aligned with liberal politics. As the criticism persisted and Vice President JD Vance entered the dispute, advising Leo to “be careful” when discussing theology, Leo attempted to calm tensions by blaming media misinterpretation of his statements.
This approach appeared successful, as both Leo and the Trump administration moved forward, allowing the pope to focus on his African mission. His agenda centered on encouraging Catholics with messages of hope while condemning what he termed the “colonization” of the continent’s natural resources by foreign powers.
The journey included emotionally charged moments, including when Leo departed from a planned visit to a psychiatric facility in Sampaka, Equatorial Guinea, to personally meet each patient and take photographs with them.
Another significant moment occurred when Leo, whose family history includes both enslaved individuals and slave owners, prayed the rosary in Muxima, Angola. This location, once a major center of the African slave trade, has become Angola’s primary pilgrimage destination following a reported Virgin Mary apparition around 1833.
Personal visits also occurred, such as when Leo met with nuns from his Augustinian religious community in Bab El Oued, Algeria, and examined jewelry crafted by local women. He selected a necklace with a tree of life pattern and told the superior, “It’s not for me, it’s for my niece.”
In Bamenda, Cameroon, he visited the center of a conflict that has lasted nearly ten years and pleaded for peace while criticizing the “handful of tyrants” destroying the planet. These comments prompted Leo to approach reporters on his plane days later to clarify he wasn’t referring to Trump.
One particularly concerning incident occurred in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, during Leo’s prison visit. All prisoners, with shaved heads, wore new bright orange or beige uniforms and new rubber shoes resembling Crocs. The facility had received fresh salmon pink paint with newly planted trees around its borders.
The prisoners stood quietly in apparently designated positions in the open yard awaiting Leo’s arrival. Upon his entrance, they performed a song about their wrongdoings. As Leo spoke about God’s love and their worth, they danced and waved Holy See flags in coordinated movements while heavy rain began falling on everyone.
Immediately after Leo’s departure, while the country’s justice minister remained in the courtyard, the prisoners abandoned their positions and began an energetic, dancing chant of “Libertad! Libertad! Libertad!” (Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!)
The extended journey allowed for several notable moments: Leo commemorated the first anniversary of Pope Francis’ death with an impromptu tribute from the papal aircraft, remembering Francis’ compassion and symbolic actions.
Leo also congratulated the few journalists who had birthdays during the trip, with each celebration including birthday cake distributed by the ITA Airways crew.
Leo’s informal comments to journalists while traveling between nations provided opportunities for local Vatican press pool members to ask questions relevant to their home audiences. One revelation that particularly pleased Angolans was Leo’s disclosure that Angola might receive its first cardinal, though not immediately but “a bit further on.”
British and French officials announced Thursday a major new partnership worth hundreds of millions of dollars designed to stem the flow of migrants attempting dangerous crossings of the English Channel in small watercraft.
The three-year agreement was formally signed by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez during a joint regional visit.
Britain will contribute 500 million pounds ($675 million) to enhance security measures along France’s northern coastline, with an additional 160 million pounds ($216 million) available based on the effectiveness of new anti-crossing strategies. The Home Office stated that if these new approaches prove unsuccessful, the extra funding will be discontinued after 12 months.
According to the French Interior Ministry, the partnership will significantly expand law enforcement presence in the area, increasing officer deployment from the current 907 to 1,392 during the 2026-2029 timeframe. France will also fund the establishment of a specialized police unit focused specifically on combating unauthorized migration.
The initiative will introduce advanced technology to target what officials call ‘taxi boats’ – small motorized vessels, typically inflatable, that smugglers use to transport migrants. These craft differ from boats migrants carry themselves, as they usually depart empty from hidden coastal locations and collect passengers at predetermined beach rendezvous points.
Enhanced monitoring through drone aircraft, helicopter surveillance, and electronic tracking systems will also be implemented to better intercept crossing attempts.
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated that bilateral cooperation had ‘already stopped tens of thousands of crossings’ and that ‘this historic agreement means we can go further — ramping up intelligence, surveillance and boots on the ground to protect Britain’s borders.’
The French interior ministry reports that UK arrivals have dropped by more than half this year compared to the same timeframe in 2025. Law enforcement operations resulted in 480 smuggler arrests during the previous year.
Much of the new resources will be deployed beginning in early summer, when crossing attempts typically surge due to improved weather conditions.
The agreement comes after a recent tragedy where two men and two women lost their lives while attempting to board an inflatable vessel off northern France’s coast. British authorities arrested a Sudanese man Friday in connection with that incident on charges of endangering life.
This new partnership expands upon the Sandhurst Treaty, originally established in 2018 and most recently renewed in 2023.
SRN News has launched a daily audio program designed to keep audiences updated on religious developments worldwide. The program, titled “Global Landscape,” offers a compact two-minute format that covers the most important faith-based news stories each day.
The audio briefing focuses on delivering quick updates about religious events, cultural changes, and significant happenings where spirituality intersects with current affairs across the globe. The program aims to provide busy listeners with essential information about how faith communities and religious matters are influencing world events.
Federal prosecutors have brought fraud charges against the Southern Poverty Law Center, accusing the civil rights organization of secretly compensating informants who infiltrated extremist organizations while failing to inform donors about these expenditures. According to the Justice Department, the SPLC misled contributors by using their donations to financially support the very extremism the group claims to combat. The organization has rejected these allegations.
The SPLC has previously drawn criticism from Christian organizations for labeling groups that oppose LGBT policies as hate organizations. Among the groups receiving this designation are the Family Research Council and the American Family Association.
As midterm elections approach, Democratic Party leaders are wrestling with internal disagreements about how prominently LGBT issues should feature in their political messaging. Following the 2024 presidential race, party members have debated whether LGBT-related positions contributed to their electoral defeats. The Trump campaign targeted Vice President Kamala Harris with advertisements highlighting her support for gender transition procedures for incarcerated individuals and allowing biological males to participate in women’s athletics. While some centrist Democrats believe these positions alienate moderate voters and should be minimized, LGBT advocacy groups are resisting any retreat from these issues.
The International Olympic Committee has implemented new participation rules that bar male athletes from competing in women’s Olympic events, establishing a policy that coincides with President Trump’s executive directive regarding women’s sports before the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The IOC stated that “eligibility for any female category event at the Olympic Games, including individual and team sports, is now limited to biological females.” While the exact number of male athletes competing in women’s Olympic categories remains uncertain, no transgender women participated in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics, though one weightlifter did compete in the Tokyo 2021 Games.
A continuous public Bible reading marathon is taking place in Washington, D.C., scheduled to conclude Saturday. The America Reads the Bible event is being broadcast live from the Museum of the Bible and featured President Trump reading from Chronicles on Tuesday. The event includes participation from Republican lawmakers and evangelical leaders, organized by Christians Engaged as part of a broader initiative linking America’s upcoming 250th anniversary with Christian themes. The complete reading covers the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation and precedes the National Jubilee of Prayer, Praise, and Thanksgiving scheduled for May 17th.
The Department of Education has issued a federal warning to four school districts in Kansas, claiming their policies regarding transgender students break federal regulations and could result in the loss of government funding. The districts have implemented various practices that federal officials say cross legal boundaries, including permitting male students access to female restrooms and locker facilities, as well as allowing boys to participate on girls’ athletic teams. Additionally, some districts have been criticized for enabling students to present as a different gender during school hours while keeping parents uninformed about these changes.
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of Texas lawmakers who want the Ten Commandments displayed in public school classrooms across the state. The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals determined that the Texas legislation requiring these religious displays does not breach First Amendment protections for religious liberty. This decision represents a significant win for Republican legislators who championed the measure, but legal experts suggest the controversy could eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court. The appeals court concluded that mandating the Decalogue in classroom settings falls within constitutional boundaries regarding the separation of church and state.
Protestant congregations across the nation are divided on whether artificial intelligence belongs in sermon preparation, according to new research from Life Way Research. The study surveyed churchgoers about their comfort level with pastors incorporating AI technology into their weekly message development.
Results show a nearly even split in opinion, with 44 percent of respondents expressing comfort with AI-assisted sermon preparation, while 43 percent indicated they would be troubled by such technology use. The remaining 13 percent remained undecided on the issue.
Beyond sermon preparation, the research uncovered broader concerns about artificial intelligence’s role in faith communities. More than six out of ten survey participants – 61 percent – expressed anxiety about how AI technology could influence Christianity across the United States.
Religious liberty advocates are sounding the alarm about European legislation they believe could curtail religious expression, with potential consequences reaching American users. Organizations focused on protecting faith-based freedoms argue that hate crime statutes across Europe are creating new barriers for religious communities.
According to International Christian Concern, Europe’s Digital Services Act poses particular concerns because “it incentivizes companies to comply with its requirements and revise their worldwide content moderation policies. From politics to religion, online content is being classified as hate speech.” The organization warns that these European regulations could influence how social media platforms and other online services moderate content globally, potentially affecting American users’ ability to express religious viewpoints.
Social media platforms are influencing a growing number of Americans to pack up and move to Southeast Asian nations, with many citing financial benefits and improved quality of life.
U.S. citizens who have relocated to countries like Vietnam and Thailand report experiencing significantly reduced stress levels and enhanced purchasing power compared to their previous lives in America.
The trend appears to be gaining momentum through viral content on TikTok, where influencers showcase appealing aspects of expat life in the region. However, these polished social media presentations may not capture the complete reality of international relocation.
Expatriates living in Vietnam and Thailand describe their new circumstances as offering greater affordability and a more relaxed lifestyle than what they experienced back home in the United States.
While the glamorous portrayals circulating on social media platforms attract attention, the full picture of moving abroad involves complexities that aren’t always highlighted in these popular videos.
New campaign finance filings reveal a tale of two fundraising strategies as the political season heats up across the nation.
While Democratic candidates are showing strong individual fundraising performance in crucial House and Senate competitions, Republican organizations are sitting on substantially larger reserves of cash that could be deployed in future campaign efforts.
The financial reports demonstrate Democratic voter enthusiasm translating into campaign contributions for specific races, but the broader picture shows national GOP groups have amassed considerably more money in their accounts for potential use down the line.
Among the standout performers is Texas state Representative James Talarico, the Democratic Senate candidate who brought in $27 million during the first quarter of 2026. His impressive haul puts him at the front of a group of Democratic contenders who have managed to out-fundraise their Republican opponents in several pivotal Senate battles.
The contrasting fundraising patterns highlight different strategic approaches between the parties as they prepare for what promises to be highly competitive races nationwide.
Despite experiencing unprecedented passenger volumes and packed aircraft, America’s major airlines find themselves in an unexpected financial squeeze as overseas conflicts drive fuel expenses through the roof, devastating profit margins.
This week brought a wave of financial downgrades across the industry. United Airlines slashed its annual profit projection by approximately one-third, while Alaska Air completely pulled its financial guidance. Delta Air Lines canceled expansion plans for the current quarter, and Southwest Airlines refused to provide updated yearly forecasts, stating such projections “would not be productive at this time.”
The common thread linking these decisions: aviation fuel expenses are climbing at a pace that outstrips the carriers’ ability to increase ticket prices.
This situation represents the first major example of Middle East tensions compelling significant American corporations to reduce operations, lower financial projections, and shift expenses to customers, with no clear timeline for resolution.
United transported more travelers during the year’s opening quarter than any previous January-March period in company history. The Chicago-headquartered airline also generated record first-quarter revenues while implementing fare hikes throughout its route network. Despite these achievements, the carrier dramatically reduced its profit expectations.
This scenario illustrates the aviation industry’s current predicament: robust travel demand coupled with expenses rising even more rapidly.
Aviation fuel costs have approximately doubled following U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran in late February, creating expense increases that outpace fare adjustments.
Southwest projects second-quarter fuel expenses between $4.10 and $4.15 per gallon, a significant jump from the first quarter’s $2.73.
Delta anticipates recovering just 40 to 50 cents for each additional fuel dollar spent this quarter, while United faces similar challenges before expecting improvement later this year.
Alaska is recouping only about one-third of the cost increase — a deficit substantial enough to force the company to withdraw its financial outlook and anticipate quarterly losses.
United revised its annual earnings projection to $7-11 per share from the previous $12-14 range established just two months earlier, with the unusually broad range reflecting fuel price uncertainty. Alaska chose not to provide any range.
Airlines are now eliminating flights despite maintaining full aircraft because certain routes have become unprofitable at current fuel prices.
“It simply doesn’t make sense to fly marginal flights that will lose cash in a higher fuel price environment,” United CEO Scott Kirby said.
Delta eliminated all quarterly growth plans, reducing capacity by more than 3.5 percentage points below previous targets. United decreased planned operations by approximately 5 percentage points.
Alaska withdrew from Mexican markets and eliminated late-night departures, while Southwest canceled weaker routes and halted operations at Chicago O’Hare and Washington Dulles airports.
These cuts target lower-profit operations — overnight flights, midweek travel, and smaller leisure routes where elevated fuel costs quickly eliminate profitability.
“The best type of fuel recapture is not to purchase the fuel in the first place,” Delta Chief Executive Ed Bastian said.
Delta’s revenues increased nearly 10% during the first quarter, with reservations continuing to grow into the current period.
United has introduced multiple fare increases and higher baggage charges, with prices climbing about 12% in early March and continuing upward later that month. Alaska reported fare increases exceeding 20% in core markets during recent weeks without dampening demand.
“The rapidity with which fares have gone up, and the stability of bookings over the last several weeks, suggest people really want to travel,” Alaska finance chief Shane Tackett said.
However, fare increases require time to take effect. Many current passengers purchased tickets before fuel price spikes, limiting airlines’ ability to quickly offset higher expenses. Even industry-wide pricing moves create delays.
Alaska indicated it would have achieved profitability this quarter except for fuel costs.
The effects are expanding beyond airlines. GE Aerospace, which manufactures engines for most U.S. commercial aircraft, incorporated greater caution into its second-half projections, acknowledging risks that airlines might postpone maintenance, engine overhauls, and spending if elevated fuel prices continue.
Chief Executive Larry Culp told Reuters the company maintained its outlook despite strong performance, citing conflict-related uncertainty.
“We are at war, and that creates some uncertainty,” Culp said.
Chinese customs officials announced Tuesday they have immediately suspended all poultry imports from Chile following the detection of avian influenza in the South American nation.
The import suspension takes effect right away and encompasses all chicken, turkey and other poultry products shipped from Chile, according to a statement from China’s customs authority. Officials said the measure is necessary to safeguard China’s domestic livestock sector and maintain biosecurity standards. Customs agents have been instructed to confiscate and destroy any Chilean poultry products that arrive at border crossings.
This marks the second time in recent years that China has halted Chilean poultry imports due to bird flu concerns. Trade between the two nations had only recently restarted in late 2024 following an 18-month ban that was also triggered by avian influenza. Prior to that suspension, Chile ranked as China’s third-biggest poultry supplier, shipping approximately 29,000 tons in 2022 – representing 15% of Chile’s total poultry export volume.
The new restrictions come as Chinese authorities have strengthened disease prevention measures at their borders. In late March, officials reported an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease affecting 219 head of cattle in China’s northwestern provinces.
Astronomers have determined that an interstellar comet which passed through our solar system in 2023 likely came from an extremely frigid and remote area of the Milky Way galaxy that never developed into its own star system, according to research published Thursday.
The cosmic wanderer, designated Comet 3I/Atlas, represents just the third confirmed visitor from beyond our solar system and may be the most ancient object ever studied. Researchers believe it could date back as far as 11 billion years, making it more than double the age of our sun.
Using the ALMA telescope facility located in Chile’s Atacama Desert, a research group from the University of Michigan analyzed the comet during the autumn months. The harmless ice ball was first identified last summer, providing NASA and European Space Agency scientists ample opportunity to study it with various space-based instruments as it traveled past Mars in October and reached its nearest point to Earth in December. The comet has now moved beyond Jupiter and is departing our solar system permanently, remaining visible only through professional equipment.
Researchers discovered unusually elevated levels of deuterium, a form of heavy hydrogen, within the comet’s water composition. This finding indicates the object formed in an environment far colder than our local cosmic region, existing before our solar system’s star had even come into being, explained University of Michigan’s Teresa Paneque-Carreno.
Unlike our sun, which likely developed alongside other newly formed stars, this comet’s original stellar environment may have been more isolated, resulting in reduced heating and much colder temperatures, she added.
The research findings appeared in Nature Astronomy journal.
Scientists remain uncertain about the comet’s exact birthplace. Hubble Space Telescope observations indicate its core measures between a quarter-mile and 3.5 miles across. The object is traveling away from us at approximately 137,000 miles per hour.
Connecting these various “puzzle pieces together may give an idea to how the planet-forming conditions were at these early times,” Paneque-Carreno said in an email.
The initial confirmed interstellar object to enter our cosmic vicinity was Oumuamua, identified by a Hawaiian telescope in 2017. Comet 2I/Borisov was discovered in 2019 and bears the name of the Crimean amateur astronomer who first observed it.
BEIRUT — Lebanese and Israeli diplomatic representatives were scheduled to conduct their second round of face-to-face negotiations in Washington Thursday, focusing on potentially extending the current truce with Hezbollah and establishing frameworks for future diplomatic discussions between the longtime adversaries.
The diplomatic session involves Lebanon’s U.S. Ambassador Nada Hamadeh Moawad and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, marking their second encounter following last week’s historic meeting — the first direct diplomatic contact between the nations in 30 years.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced Wednesday that ongoing communications aim to prolong the 10-day cessation of hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah that took effect this past Friday.
According to statements from Aoun’s office, Hamadeh plans to propose extending the current ceasefire while requesting an immediate halt to Israeli demolition activities in occupied Lebanese communities and villages, actions that began after hostilities erupted on March 2.
Broader diplomatic preparations are underway for comprehensive negotiations between the two nations. Future discussions will target complete cessation of Israeli military operations, withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanese territory, freedom for Lebanese detainees in Israeli custody, positioning of Lebanese military units along the border, and initiating reconstruction efforts, Aoun explained.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar urged Lebanon to collaborate with Israel in dismantling the Iranian-supported militant organization Hezbollah before the Washington negotiations proceed.
“We don’t have any serious disagreements with Lebanon. There are a few minor border disputes that can be solved,” Saar stated during Independence Day addresses to Israel’s diplomatic representatives, while also characterizing the neighboring nation as a “failed state.”
“The obstacle to peace and normalization between the countries is one: Hezbollah,” he declared, suggesting Lebanon could achieve “a future of sovereignty, independence and freedom from the Iranian occupation.”
Current hostilities began when Hezbollah launched rocket attacks against northern Israeli territory, occurring two days following joint Israeli-U.S. strikes against Iran. Israel retaliated with extensive bombing campaigns across Lebanon and ground operations that resulted in the capture of numerous border communities.
Israeli military forces currently maintain control over a buffer area extending up to 10 kilometers into southern Lebanese territory. Israeli officials state their objective involves eliminating threats from short-range rockets and anti-tank weaponry targeting northern Israeli communities.
Despite Hezbollah’s complete opposition to the process, these negotiations represent significant progress between two nations lacking diplomatic relations and technically remaining in a state of war since Israel’s establishment in 1948.
Lebanese government officials view these discussions as potentially leading to permanent conflict resolution. While Iran has demanded ending regional conflicts as a prerequisite for U.S. dialogue, Lebanon maintains its commitment to independent representation.
Wafiq Safa, a senior official within Hezbollah’s political leadership, informed The Associated Press that the organization will not honor any agreements reached through these direct negotiations, which it firmly opposes.
Multiple ceasefire violations by both parties have occurred since the truce implementation last week.
The recent Israel-Hezbollah conflict resulted in approximately 2,300 Lebanese casualties, including hundreds of women and children, while displacing more than one million residents.
Last week’s diplomatic engagement marked the first direct Israel-Lebanon talks since 1993. Both nations have historically depended on indirect communication channels, typically facilitated by the United States or UNIFIL, the United Nations peacekeeping operation in southern Lebanon.
Lebanon’s senior political leadership, critical of Hezbollah’s March 2 rocket attacks launched in support of Iran, rapidly proposed direct negotiations to prevent further escalation, hoping to deter Israel’s planned ground offensive.
A bitter political feud has extended beyond the grave as Zambian officials announced they have gained control of former President Edgar Lungu’s remains, almost a full year after his passing in South Africa.
According to a Wednesday statement from Zambia’s attorney general, the government now has custody of Lungu’s body following a South African court decision directing its release to them. Officials said the remains were transferred from a Pretoria funeral home to a different location.
However, Lungu’s relatives assert they obtained an emergency court ruling demanding the body’s return to the original funeral home, where it has remained since his death last June while the unusual legal battle unfolded in South African courtrooms.
Specific information about these seemingly contradictory court decisions was not readily accessible.
The conflict stems from the hostile relationship between Lungu and Zambia’s current leader, Hakainde Hichilema, who were fierce political opponents.
The Hichilema administration maintains that Lungu deserves a state funeral in his homeland and burial in the designated cemetery for Zambian presidents. However, Lungu’s relatives contend that among his final requests was that Hichilema stay away from his remains and not oversee his funeral proceedings.
Last June, Zambian officials successfully obtained a court injunction that halted Lungu’s funeral service in South Africa while it was underway, compelling family members to abandon the church ceremony and head to court.
Lungu served as Zambia’s president from 2015 through 2021 before passing away from an unspecified medical condition at a South African medical facility on June 5. He was 68 years old.
During Lungu’s presidency in 2017, Hichilema faced arrest on treason charges and spent four months in detention before international pressure led to his release and the charges being dismissed.
After losing the 2021 presidential race to Hichilema, Lungu later alleged that Zambian law enforcement was limiting his movement and had essentially confined him to his home to block any potential political return. The Hichilema government rejected these accusations.
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — In a diplomatic meeting aimed at strengthening international partnerships, Estonia’s top diplomat Margus Tsahkna held discussions with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung on Wednesday, focusing on expanding collaboration in commerce, technology, and digital modernization efforts.
The partnership between Vietnam and Estonia has gained momentum in recent years, with both nations finalizing digital cooperation agreements in 2025.
While Estonia represents only 0.2% of the European Union’s economic output, the Baltic nation has established itself as a leader in digital innovation and electronic government services. Estonian officials are now sharing this technological know-how with Vietnam as the Southeast Asian manufacturing hub works toward becoming a high-income nation by 2045.
According to Tsahkna, digital service collaboration could help Vietnam streamline government processes, enhance transparency, and reduce operational expenses.
“It is much more quicker for citizens to be part of public sector services,” he told The Associated Press in Hanoi, noting that Vietnam had proposed an education cooperation agreement.
Prime Minister Hung requested Estonia’s assistance in encouraging the European Union to approve an Investment Protection Agreement and to help remove the European Commission’s “yellow card” restriction on Vietnamese seafood imports related to illegal fishing concerns, according to government media reports.
Tsahkna explained that Estonia could function as an entry point for Vietnamese companies seeking European markets, while Vietnam provides Estonia access to broader markets and Southeast Asian opportunities.
“For us, Vietnam is one of the priority countries in the region,” he stated.
The Estonian minister noted that the Vietnamese discussions also provided a platform to share Europe’s perspective on Russia as an “existential threat.”
Vietnam and Russia have maintained diplomatic ties since 1950, with Vietnam taking a neutral position on the Ukraine conflict, promoting peace while avoiding direct condemnation of Russian actions.
Tsahkna explained that Estonia’s outreach efforts in Vietnam and Southeast Asia stem from both geopolitical challenges and economic possibilities, particularly as U.S. President Donald Trump’s critiques of European defense contributions and trade disputes push Europe to seek new partnerships.
AMSTERDAM – The International Criminal Court announced Thursday that former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte will face trial on three murder charges classified as crimes against humanity.
Court officials determined there are “substantial grounds” to believe the 81-year-old former leader orchestrated the deaths of 76 individuals and attempted murders of two others during his controversial anti-narcotics campaign. Prosecutors allege this broader initiative resulted in thousands of civilian deaths across the Philippines.
“The available evidentiary material shows the existence of a common plan between Mr Duterte and his co-perpetrators to kill alleged criminals in the Philippines, including those perceived or alleged to be associated with drug use, sale or production, through violent crimes including murder,” court officials stated.
According to prosecutors, Duterte established, financed, and equipped killing squads specifically to hunt down and eliminate suspected drug dealers and users throughout his presidency from 2016 to 2022.
The former president has consistently maintained that he only authorized police to use lethal force when defending themselves and has repeatedly justified his anti-drug operations.
On Wednesday, appeals court judges rejected an attempt to dismiss Duterte’s case and confirmed the court maintains authority over these proceedings.
Based on previous International Criminal Court cases, trials typically begin within one year after charges are officially confirmed.
The New York Mets finally broke through their nightmare losing streak Wednesday night, defeating the Minnesota Twins 3-2 at home to end a devastating 12-game slide that had plagued the team for weeks.
Mark Vientos provided the heroics in the eighth inning, driving in the decisive run with a clutch single that made up for his earlier mistake on the basepaths. The victory marked the Mets’ first win since their skid began, representing their longest stretch of losses since they dropped 12 straight games between August 10-23 in 2002.
However, the breakthrough win came with a significant concern as All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor exited the game due to tightness in his left calf. The injury occurred after Lindor scored from first base on Francisco Alvarez’s double during the fourth inning. Prior to his departure, Lindor had been productive at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI infield single in the opening frame.
The timing of Lindor’s injury is particularly troubling for New York, as it happened on the same evening that Juan Soto made his return from a 15-game absence caused by his own right calf strain. Ironically, the Mets had won their first three contests following Soto’s April 3 injury before their lengthy losing streak commenced.
Minnesota managed to tie the game twice during the contest. Victor Caratini brought the Twins even with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning, while Byron Buxton knotted things up again with a solo home run in the sixth. The loss continued Minnesota’s recent struggles, as they have now dropped five of their last six games.
In other major league action, the Chicago Cubs extended their hot streak to eight consecutive victories by defeating the visiting Philadelphia Phillies 7-2. Pete Crow-Armstrong led the offensive charge with three hits and two RBIs, while Seiya Suzuki contributed a two-run homer. The loss extended Philadelphia’s misery to eight straight defeats, their longest skid since September 2018.
The Arizona Diamondbacks outlasted the San Diego Padres 11-7 in Phoenix, with Ildemaro Vargas powering the offense with two home runs and a career-high five RBIs. Meanwhile, Munetaka Murakami continued his incredible power display by homering for the fifth consecutive game, becoming the fastest player in White Sox history to reach 10 home runs in just 24 games.
The Los Angeles Angels snapped their own four-game losing streak with a 7-3 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays. Jose Soriano continued his remarkable season start, extending his scoreless innings streak to 24 2/3 while maintaining a microscopic 0.24 ERA through his first six starts.
In American League East action, the New York Yankees dominated the Boston Red Sox 4-1 behind Amed Rosario’s four RBIs in just two plate appearances and Max Fried’s eight shutout innings. The Yankees nearly recorded their third straight shutout before allowing a ninth-inning run.
The Seattle Mariners walked off against the Oakland Athletics 5-4 when Josh Naylor delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. The victory salvaged the series finale after the A’s had tied the game moments earlier on Nick Kurtz’s home run.
Other notable results included the Houston Astros defeating Cleveland 2-0, the San Francisco Giants shutting out the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 despite six strong innings from Shohei Ohtani, and the Atlanta Braves rallying past Washington 8-6 behind Michael Harris II’s two-homer performance.
The United States will facilitate a second round of diplomatic discussions between Lebanese and Israeli representatives this Thursday, as Lebanon pushes to extend the current ceasefire agreement with Israel and Hezbollah before it expires this Sunday.
The diplomatic meeting follows a deadly escalation on Wednesday when Israeli military operations resulted in the deaths of at least five individuals, including Lebanese journalist Amal Khalil, according to senior Lebanese military sources and her news organization, Al-Akhbar newspaper.
Wednesday represented the most lethal day since the US-brokered truce took effect on April 16, despite the agreement leading to a notable decrease in overall hostilities. However, military actions have persisted in southern Lebanon, where Israeli forces have established what they describe as a protective buffer zone.
The Iran-supported Hezbollah organization maintains it possesses “the right to resist” what it considers occupying military forces.
The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel resumed on March 2, when the militant group launched attacks in solidarity with Tehran amid the broader regional conflict. This Lebanese ceasefire developed independently from Washington’s broader diplomatic efforts to address tensions with Iran, although Iranian officials had advocated for Lebanon’s inclusion in any comprehensive peace agreement.
In response to Israeli military strikes, Hezbollah announced it conducted four separate operations in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
Lebanese government statistics indicate that nearly 2,500 people have lost their lives in Lebanon since Israel launched its military response following Hezbollah’s March 2 assault.
Israeli forces currently control a southern Lebanese territory stretching 5 to 10 kilometers (3 to 6 miles) into the country, which Israeli officials say is necessary to protect northern Israel from Hezbollah rocket attacks. The militant group has launched hundreds of rockets throughout the conflict.
Despite strong opposition from Hezbollah, which was founded by Iran’s Revolutionary Guards in 1982, the Lebanese government has established direct diplomatic communication with Israel.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun announced that Lebanon’s representative for Thursday’s Washington negotiations, US Ambassador Nada Moawad, will advocate for extending the ceasefire and stopping Israeli demolition activities in southern Lebanese villages.
A Lebanese government source indicated that Beirut views a ceasefire extension as essential before advancing to higher-level negotiations, where Lebanon would demand Israeli military withdrawal, the release of Lebanese prisoners held in Israel, and formal border demarcation.
Israeli negotiation goals include dismantling Hezbollah and establishing conditions for a lasting peace agreement. Israeli officials have attempted to find common ground with the Lebanese government regarding Hezbollah, which Beirut has been working to disarm through peaceful means over the past year.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will participate in Thursday’s meeting, while Israel will send its Washington ambassador, Yechiel Leiter.
Rubio previously facilitated the initial meeting between Leiter and Moawad on April 14, marking the most significant diplomatic contact between Lebanon and Israel in decades.
The United States has rejected any connection between its Lebanon mediation efforts and separate diplomatic initiatives regarding the Iran conflict.
Hezbollah claims the Lebanese ceasefire resulted from Iranian influence rather than American diplomatic intervention.
President Aoun has outlined objectives including ending Israeli military operations against Lebanon and securing the withdrawal of Israeli forces.
A Malaysian company’s announcement about upcoming condom price increases has created a social media frenzy in China, with discussions about the topic reaching more than 60 million viewers by Thursday.
The buzz started when Goh Miah Kiat, head of Malaysian condom manufacturer Karex Bhd, announced plans to increase prices between 20% and 30%. He warned costs could climb even higher if supply chain problems related to the Iran conflict continue.
Chinese users flocked to Weibo, the country’s version of X, to discuss how global conflicts are now affecting intimate aspects of daily life. The hashtag about rising condom costs quickly went viral.
Despite the price increases, many social media users said the higher costs wouldn’t stop them from purchasing contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Some encouraged others to buy in bulk before prices rise.
“A few dozen yuan for a condom is a hundred times more cost-effective than raising a child at a million yuan,” said one user.
“From now on, not only will we have to be frugal, but we’ll also have to stock up on condoms in advance,” said another.
The timing of these discussions is notable as Chinese officials are implementing various policies to encourage higher birth rates in response to the country’s aging population and declining fertility rates. Birth rates reached historic lows last year.
Karex manufactures more than 5 billion condoms each year and supplies major brands including Durex and Trojan.
Higher condom costs would compound existing increases in family planning expenses for Chinese consumers. Earlier this year, the government ended a 30-year tax exemption on birth control products and medications. Contraceptives now face a 13% value-added tax, the standard rate for most consumer items.
Several condom manufacturers that sell products in China, including Reckitt, LifeStyles, Ansell, and Renfu, have not yet responded to requests for comment about potential price changes.
BANGKOK – Recent disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz have drawn renewed attention to security vulnerabilities at another critical maritime passage – the Strait of Malacca, which handles more international trade traffic than any other waterway globally.
The Strait of Malacca stretches 550 miles between Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore, serving as the most direct shipping route connecting East Asia with Europe and the Middle East.
According to the Center for Strategic and International Studies, this vital corridor handles nearly 22% of all global maritime commerce. Energy shipments from Middle Eastern nations to China, Japan and South Korea represent a significant portion of this traffic.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration identifies Malacca as the world’s most important “oil transit chokepoint,” surpassing even Hormuz in volume. During the first six months of 2025, approximately 23.2 million barrels of oil traveled through Malacca daily, representing 29% of all seaborne oil transport. By comparison, Hormuz handled about 20.9 million barrels per day.
Maritime traffic through the strait has increased substantially, with over 102,500 vessels – primarily commercial ships – making the passage in 2025, compared to roughly 94,300 in 2024, according to Malaysia’s Marine Department statistics. While most tankers use this route, some extremely large ships must navigate around Indonesia due to depth limitations, adding significant time and cost to their journeys.
The waterway presents several challenges for safe navigation. At the Phillips Channel near Singapore, the strait narrows to just 1.7 miles across, creating a natural bottleneck that increases risks of accidents, vessel groundings, and potential oil spills.
Shallow areas with depths of only 82-90 feet restrict the largest ships, though even massive crude carriers exceeding 350 meters in length and 60 meters in width regularly make the transit.
Criminal activity has long plagued the region, with piracy and attacks on commercial vessels remaining persistent threats. The ReCAAP Information Sharing Centre, a regional anti-piracy organization, reported at least 104 criminal incidents last year, though attacks decreased during the first quarter of this year.
China has particular strategic interest in keeping the strait secure, as roughly 75% of Chinese seaborne crude oil imports from the Middle East and Africa pass through these waters, according to tanker tracking firm Vortexa.
Current tensions involving Iran have heightened existing concerns about potential disruptions to chokepoints like Malacca, especially if conflicts emerge in the South China Sea or Taiwan Strait regions, where another 21% of global maritime trade occurs, CSIS data shows.
Malaysian officials have also identified the strait as an increasingly popular location for illegal ship-to-ship oil transfers designed to hide the origin of petroleum products.
Indonesian Finance Minister Purbaya Yudhi Sadewa recently sparked discussion by suggesting countries might consider charging tolls for passage through the strait, though he acknowledged such arrangements are not feasible under current agreements.
Singapore Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan addressed these concerns in comments to CNBC, emphasizing that nations bordering the strait share common interests in maintaining open access and have committed to avoiding toll collection.
“Singapore had assured the United States and China that the right of passage was guaranteed for all and it would not participate in any efforts to block the strait or impose tolls,” Balakrishnan stated.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Mohamad Hasan reinforced this position during a Wednesday forum, explaining that “no unilateral decisions can be made about the strait and that Malaysia is on the same page with Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand, and they conduct joint patrols to ensure the waterway remains open.”
President Trump announced an extension to the current ceasefire arrangement, but Iranian leadership has rejected the move as insufficient to address ongoing tensions between the two nations.
The development comes as Trump’s approval ratings have plummeted to near-historic lows, with the president facing pressure from multiple fronts including the Iran situation and various domestic political controversies.
In a separate Pentagon development, military leadership has dismissed the Navy secretary from their position amid the broader national security challenges facing the administration.
The combination of foreign policy difficulties and political turmoil has created a challenging environment for the Trump administration as it attempts to navigate complex international relationships while managing domestic opposition.
A devastating ice storm that struck Nashville last winter left the city’s urban canopy severely damaged, prompting municipal officials to launch restoration efforts aimed at rebuilding the tree population.
The severe winter weather event resulted in significant tree loss throughout the Tennessee capital, leaving gaps in the city’s green infrastructure that officials are now working to address through targeted replanting initiatives.
City leaders have begun implementing strategies to restore Nashville’s urban forest, focusing on replacing the trees that were destroyed or damaged beyond recovery during the ice storm that battered the region.
Maryland lawmakers are pushing forward with groundbreaking legislation that would make the state the first in the nation to prohibit what experts call ‘surveillance pricing’ in retail establishments.
The proposed law would stop stores from using customers’ personal information to create individualized pricing schemes. This practice involves retailers analyzing shopping data, purchase history, and other personal details to set different prices for different customers.
Consumer Reports expert Grace Gedye discussed the implications of this legislation during an interview with NPR’s Michel Martin, explaining how the law would protect shoppers from having their personal data used against them in pricing decisions.
The Maryland initiative represents a significant step in consumer privacy protection, as retailers increasingly turn to sophisticated data analysis to maximize profits through personalized pricing strategies.
If passed, the legislation would prevent grocery stores and other retailers from customizing prices based on individual customer profiles, ensuring more uniform pricing across all shoppers.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired Navy Secretary John Phelan, marking another high-profile removal within Pentagon leadership.
Phelan’s termination adds to a growing list of senior military officials who have been dismissed since Hegseth took control of the Defense Department. The shake-up represents a continuation of significant personnel changes at the highest levels of military command.
National Public Radio host Michel Martin conducted an interview with former Rear Admiral Mark Montgomery to discuss his perspective on John Phelan’s recent exit from his position leading the Navy.
The conversation centered on Montgomery’s analysis of Phelan’s departure from the Secretary of the Navy role and what it means for the military branch moving forward.
Montgomery, who served as a rear admiral before retiring, provided his professional insights into the leadership transition at the highest levels of naval command.
Listen to the Morning Delmarva Farm Report Update — April 23, 2026
DELMARVA — Farm families putting off succession planning aren’t avoiding conflict, they’re actually making it more likely, according to agricultural experts. Starting those tough conversations early and being transparent with family members is the only way to keep current owners in charge of their operation’s future. It might be uncomfortable now, but it beats the alternative down the road.
Livestock Markets
Cattle markets took a hit Wednesday at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. June live cattle fell $0.47 to settle at $243.07 per hundredweight. August contracts dropped $0.52 to $239.18. Feeder cattle also slipped, with May contracts down $0.12 finishing at $358.42.
Policy
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins told a Senate subcommittee Tuesday that federal relief for high fertilizer costs could come soon. She said the administration’s been in daily contact with the White House on the issue.
Local Grain Markets
Corn at Laurel Grain Company in Laurel, Delaware is bringing $5.05 a bushel for May delivery. Soybeans there are at $11.26 for May.
Forecast
Expect mostly sunny skies today with a high near 71°F and northwest winds 5 to 10 miles per hour. Friday brings mostly sunny conditions again with a high around 64°F. Rain showers move in Friday night and continue likely on Saturday.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Morning Edition, April 23, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s parliament approved new legislation Wednesday evening that would ban children under 15 from using social media platforms, according to reports from state-controlled media outlets.
The measure represents part of a worldwide movement aimed at shielding young people from harmful online content and activities.
The legislative action follows by one week a tragic incident in Kahramanmaras, located in southern Turkey, where a 14-year-old student fatally shot nine classmates and one teacher at a middle school before dying himself. Authorities are examining the shooter’s internet usage as they work to determine what motivated the deadly attack.
According to the state-operated Anadolu news agency, the new law would mandate that social media companies implement systems to verify users’ ages, offer tools for parental oversight, and establish procedures for quick responses to content flagged as dangerous.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan now has a two-week window to sign the legislation before it becomes official law. Following the Kahramanmaras tragedy, he emphasized the importance of reducing online dangers that threaten children’s wellbeing and personal information.
“We are living in a period where some digital sharing applications are corrupting our children’s minds and social media platforms have, to put it bluntly, become cesspools,” he said in a televised address Monday.
Turkey’s primary opposition group, the Republican People’s Party or CHP, has voiced opposition to the proposal, arguing that young people should be safeguarded “not with bans but with rights-based policies.”
The new regulations would require digital services including YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and similar platforms to prevent minors under 15 from creating accounts while implementing parental supervision features to monitor children’s online activity.
Companies that operate online gaming platforms must also designate representatives within Turkey to guarantee compliance with the updated rules. Violations could result in reduced internet speeds and monetary penalties from Turkey’s telecommunications regulatory body.
Turkey’s leadership has previously limited access to online platforms as they’ve increasingly become venues for political opposition. Internet communications faced widespread restrictions during protests last year supporting Istanbul’s imprisoned opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu.
Australia became the first nation to implement social media age restrictions for those under 16 in December, leading platforms to deactivate approximately 4.7 million accounts belonging to minors.
Indonesia started enforcing similar regulations last month, prohibiting children younger than 16 from accessing digital services that might expose them to explicit content, online harassment, fraudulent schemes and addictive behaviors.
Additional nations including Spain, France and the United Kingdom are either implementing or evaluating similar restrictions on children’s social media access due to increasing concerns about the negative effects of unmoderated online content on young users.
A major European semiconductor manufacturer delivered stronger-than-anticipated quarterly results on Thursday, signaling potential recovery in the chip industry and driving significant stock gains.
STMicroelectronics, the Franco-Italian technology company, saw its stock price surge as much as 10% during early market activity before settling at an 8.5% increase by mid-morning European trading.
The company’s first-quarter performance exceeded Wall Street projections, with revenues reaching $3.10 billion compared to analyst estimates of $3.04 billion. Operating profits also surpassed expectations at $171 million versus the predicted $165.8 million.
“In Q1, despite the macroeconomic uncertainty, we saw improving demand with strong booking and normalized inventory in distribution,” CEO Jean-Marc Chery said in a statement.
As one of Europe’s most significant semiconductor producers, STMicroelectronics serves as an important indicator for the automotive and industrial chip sectors. These markets have been working through surplus inventory accumulated during the pandemic while reducing new purchase orders.
Investment firm Jefferies noted in their analysis that the revenue increase appeared driven by ongoing partnerships with Apple, data center demand, satellite-related systems, and the company’s recent acquisition of NXP’s sensor technology division.
Looking ahead, STMicroelectronics projected second-quarter revenues of $3.45 billion, substantially higher than market forecasts of $3.21 billion.
Jefferies analysts suggested the company may be experiencing the beginning stages of an industry rebound, with additional estimate improvements anticipated in upcoming quarters.
The Duke of Sussex made a surprise journey to Ukraine’s capital on Thursday, arriving unannounced to demonstrate solidarity with the nation as it continues its conflict with Russia into a fifth year.
Upon reaching a railway station in Kyiv early Thursday morning, Prince Harry expressed his pleasure at returning, stating: “It’s good to be back in Ukraine.”
During his two-day visit, the Duke will participate in a security conference in Kyiv. His presence comes at a time when global focus has shifted toward conflicts in the Middle East.
Prince Harry described Ukraine as “a country bravely and successfully defending Europe’s eastern flank,” emphasizing that “it matters that we don’t lose sight of the significance of that.”
The visit will also include stops at the HALO Trust, a de-mining organization that received support from his mother Princess Diana, according to Britain’s ITV. Additionally, he plans to meet with Ukrainian veterans who have participated in his Invictus Games Foundation, an organization dedicated to helping injured service members heal through athletic competition.
This marks the Duke’s third visit to Ukraine, having made two previous trips to the country in the prior year.
Finnish telecommunications giant Nokia experienced a dramatic stock surge Thursday, with shares climbing nearly 7% to their highest point in 16 years following stronger-than-anticipated quarterly financial results.
The company’s comparable operating profit soared 54% to 281 million euros ($329 million) during the first quarter of 2026, surpassing analyst predictions of 250 million euros according to Infront polling data.
Nokia’s stock reached levels not seen since April 2010, when the company was still primarily recognized as a mobile phone manufacturer. The dramatic turnaround reflects the company’s successful transformation into a leading provider of network infrastructure equipment.
The surge in Nokia’s performance stems from explosive growth in artificial intelligence data center construction by major cloud service providers, known as hyperscalers, which require extensive fiber optic cable networks that Nokia now supplies.
Once famous for its mobile phones and later for 5G equipment manufacturing, the Espoo-based company has evolved into a global leader in optical transport systems following its acquisition of American firm Infinera.
Quarterly net sales totaled 4.5 billion euros, meeting market projections. The company reported that revenue from AI and cloud computing clients jumped 49%, while securing 1 billion euros worth of new contracts.
Nokia has significantly increased its growth projections for the AI and cloud market, now anticipating annual expansion of 27% from 2025 through 2028, a substantial increase from the 16% growth rate predicted during a November investor presentation.
The company also raised its network infrastructure segment sales forecast to between 12% and 14% growth for this year, up from the 6% to 8% projection made in January. Nokia attributed this upgrade to strong performance in its optical and IP networks divisions.
“As a result, we are currently tracking somewhat above the mid-point of our full year financial outlook of 2.0 billion to 2.5 billion euros in comparable operating profit,” CEO Justin Hotard stated.
Federal officials have announced their intention to seek continued authorization for a program that tracks spongy moths, an invasive species that poses threats to trees and forests across the United States.
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service revealed plans to request extended approval for their information gathering system related to spongy moth monitoring efforts. The agency’s announcement follows requirements established under the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.
The program utilizes identification worksheets and checklists to collect data about spongy moth populations and their impact on vegetation. These invasive insects, formerly known as gypsy moths, can cause significant damage to deciduous trees when their populations grow unchecked.
The federal agency’s request represents a routine administrative step to maintain their ongoing surveillance and management efforts targeting this destructive pest species.
A major diplomatic visit by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung to Vietnam is poised to generate substantial business activity, with Korean media and sources indicating that numerous commercial agreements will be finalized Thursday.
The business arrangements follow Wednesday’s signing of 12 cooperation agreements between Lee and Vietnamese leader To Lam, which included a significant deal for Korean investment in a nuclear power facility planned for southern Vietnam.
“Our two countries will strengthen cooperation in joint research and talent development in semiconductors, secondary batteries and biotechnology,” Lee stated following his meeting with Vietnamese officials.
Among the business deals expected to be announced is a contract for providing train cars for Ho Chi Minh City’s public transit rail network, according to Lee’s remarks.
This agreement represents just one component of what Korean media reports describe as more than 70 business arrangements spanning finance, consumer products, cutting-edge technology, infrastructure development, and energy sectors, though specific company names were not disclosed.
Two individuals with knowledge of the visit’s agenda, who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the information, confirmed that multiple business deals were anticipated during the presidential trip.
Lee’s delegation includes representatives from over 100 Korean companies that maintain operations in Vietnam, following his earlier diplomatic stop in India, according to official sources and media reports.
The corporate delegation features major Korean conglomerates such as Samsung Electronics, SK, LG, Lotte, POSCO Holdings, and HD Hyundai.
Samsung maintains the most significant business presence among Korean companies in the Southeast Asian country, having invested more than $20 billion over several decades of operations there.
The technology giant has recently advanced in ongoing negotiations with Vietnamese officials regarding a potential semiconductor manufacturing facility for back-end processing, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
Vietnam’s central banking authority announced Wednesday that it had granted authorization to Industrial Bank of Korea to establish a fully-owned subsidiary within the country.
During Thursday meetings with Prime Minister Le Minh Hung, Lee requested assistance in addressing challenges faced by Korean enterprises operating in Vietnam and sought support for their involvement in important infrastructure development projects, state media reported.
Korean companies operating in Vietnam have raised concerns about various business challenges, including difficulties accessing investment incentives, delays in tax refund processes, and increasing labor costs driven partly by a significant influx of Chinese manufacturing operations.
QOZ NAFISA, Sudan — Abbas Awad has always faced difficulties obtaining medications in his village near Sudan’s capital city. However, the conflict in Iran has created additional obstacles, driving up costs and leaving local pharmacies without adequate inventory.
The current Middle Eastern conflict is creating widespread consequences, particularly affecting nations already dealing with their own internal wars.
Following three years of civil conflict in Sudan, a public health facility in Qoz Nafisa village within Khartoum state is working to serve thousands of residents, including 61-year-old Awad.
Awad explained that he has been rationing his glaucoma medication, concerned about finding replacement supplies or being able to pay for them. Financial constraints were already a concern due to the domestic conflict, he noted.
“Now we have the problem of the war in the Middle East. It’s just made things worse,” he said.
Humanitarian organizations report that the Iranian conflict has blocked critical shipping pathways, disrupting their capacity to deliver food and medical supplies to millions of people worldwide who need assistance. The tension between the United States and Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, while other shipping lanes from key locations like Dubai have also been affected.
Shipping expenses have increased dramatically due to higher fuel costs and insurance premiums, further hampering supply delivery efforts. The United Nations reports cost increases of up to 20% for shipments, accompanied by delays as cargo is redirected through alternative routes.
The International Rescue Committee, which assists the medical facility where Awad receives some of his treatments, reported that approximately $130,000 worth of pharmaceutical products destined for Sudan remained stuck in Dubai for several weeks and is only recently reaching its destination.
According to the IRC, medical supplies including antibiotics, pain medications, and stethoscopes that were scheduled for air transport from the United Arab Emirates to Port Sudan were instead sent overland to nearby Oman before being flown to their final destination.
President Donald Trump extended the temporary ceasefire with Iran this week, though humanitarian groups remain concerned that conditions will not improve significantly.
“There’s still a real lag in the system. Shipments remain blocked or delayed, and that’s deeply worrying,” said Madiha Raza, associate director for global public affairs and communications for IRC.
Sudan has been widely recognized as experiencing the world’s most severe humanitarian emergency, and Raza emphasized that any postponement in delivering food, medicine, and fuel creates catastrophic impacts.
The approximately 5,000 residents who depend on the IRC-supported public health clinic in Qoz Nafisa must now seek care at other facilities and pay out-of-pocket expenses they frequently cannot afford.
When AP reporters visited on Wednesday, clinic personnel reported struggling to meet patient needs since the Iranian conflict began in late February.
Dr. Amira Sidig, the facility’s medical director, stated that the most recent IRC shipment arrived in December. Expected deliveries in February and April have not materialized.
While Sudan’s health ministry attempts to address the shortage, it only provides half of what is required, Sidig explained.
“It’s never enough because they also have a shortage, and we’re again out of stock quickly,” she said.
Sidig noted that for multiple days this month, the clinic lacked malaria treatments for the 50% of patients who arrive with the disease.
Ahmed Ibrahim, a clinic employee, described growing patient frustration.
“When people come to the window, they say, ‘Why are you here and there is no medicine?’”
BRATISLAVA, Slovakia — Petroleum shipments from Russia to Slovakia have restarted through the Druzhba pipeline system that passes through Ukrainian territory, according to Slovak Economy Minister Denisa Saková on Thursday.
A growing diplomatic dispute has emerged between Ukraine and two European Union members, Hungary and Slovakia, after Russian petroleum deliveries to both nations stopped in January.
Both Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian energy sources, setting them apart from most other European Union countries.
The two nations have blamed Ukraine for not fixing a damaged section of the pipeline infrastructure. In response, Hungary has prevented approval of a substantial EU financial package for war-torn Ukraine, while Slovakia refused to support additional sanctions against Russia until energy deliveries were restored.
After a three-month interruption, petroleum shipments began moving again at 2 a.m. on Thursday.
MILAN (AP) — Milan’s fashion scene takes center stage as “The Devil Wears Prada 2” makes its Italian debut Thursday, with the luxury brand featured prominently in the title while the entire fashion industry and Milan itself share the spotlight.
While the movie references Prada without focusing specifically on the legendary fashion house that has become a symbol of Milan, both Meryl Streep and Anna Wintour honor the connection by wearing Prada designs on a recent Vogue cover that celebrates the film about a ruthless fashion magazine editor.
However, when filming took place in Milan last September during the city’s fashion week, it was a Dolce & Gabbana runway presentation, rather than a Prada show, that served as the setting for scenes with Streep and Stanley Tucci.
“When you think of Prada, when you think of the Prada brand, you also think of Milan. This is obviously good for the fashion system,” said Tommaso Sacchi, Milan’s counselor for culture. “It’s a film that is good for the city.”
The excitement has translated into a special pop-up installation at Milan’s premier department store, drawing both movie fans and fashion enthusiasts who are eager to snap photos at a recreation of fictional editor Miranda Priestly’s office and pose with a mock-up cover of the imaginary Runway magazine.
Distinguished guests attending Thursday’s Italian premiere, which precedes next week’s worldwide launch, will enjoy cocktails in the exhibition space.
Rinascente CEO Mariella Elia noted that the overwhelming response to the installation — marked by enormous sculptures of the famous red high heels positioned outside the store — demonstrates people’s “desire for lightness.”
“It’s not just about buying, it’s really about reviving what fashion represents … a desire to have a stylish flair once again, a desire for joy, too — perhaps in contrast with the current economic and international moment that humanity is experiencing,” Elia said.
During a recent visit, the exhibition space buzzed with visitors examining exclusive T-shirts featuring memorable quotes from the original film, including “Is there some reason my coffee isn’t here?”
Professor Valentina Cattivelli explained she wasn’t attempting to emulate Priestly’s persona while posing at the replica desk, which featured an inbox containing additional lines from the first movie, including Priestly’s curt “That’s all.”
“No, I’m not so cruel in my daily life, but I appreciate her professional style and also her fashion and the taste for fashion. But not her sarcasm or cruelty, no,” Cattivelli said.
The Prada empire began just steps away in the elegant Vittorio Emanuele II Gallery, established by Miuccia Prada’s grandfather. Today, the historic shopping corridor features two Prada flagship locations.
Under Miuccia Prada’s leadership, the company evolved into a fashion powerhouse, transforming what critics called “ugly chic” into coveted designs and accessories that brought intellectual depth to runway fashion — a central theme in the original film, which revealed the substance beneath fashion industry superficiality.
“There is a close relationship between the ‘Devil Wears Prada’ franchise and Prada, because by evoking Prada from the very title, it evokes a fashion that makes you dream, a fashion that makes you feel elegant, a fashion that makes you feel good, a fashion that gives you an allure,” said Annarita Briganti, a fashion journalist who wrote a book about Prada for Rizzoli’s Made in Italy editions.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — A head-on collision between two passenger trains Thursday morning triggered a large-scale emergency response in Denmark, with authorities describing the incident as a significant accident.
The crash happened at approximately 6:30 a.m. close to Hillerød, roughly 25 miles north of Denmark’s capital city.
North Zealand police confirmed that all passengers have been removed from both trains. Law enforcement officials declined to reveal how many people were hurt or describe the severity of their injuries.
Images captured at the crash site reveal severe damage to the front sections of both trains, although neither derailed and both remained standing on the railway tracks.
Trine Egetved, who serves as mayor of nearby Gribskov, wrote on Facebook that helicopter transport was used to rush some victims to medical facilities.
The mayor noted that the accident happened on a regional railway line frequently traveled by Gribskov community members, workers, and students heading to school.
Additional information about the incident has not been released.
BANGKOK (AP) — Beijing’s emerging position as an unofficial peace broker in the current Middle East conflict is capturing global attention as China works to establish itself as a responsible international leader while U.S. diplomatic relationships face increasing pressure.
Chinese involvement in worldwide diplomacy has expanded significantly in recent years through active diplomatic initiatives. Previously hesitant to engage in distant conflicts, Beijing has now become a significant force attempting to resolve disputes spanning from Southeast Asia to Europe.
Regarding the Iranian conflict, China operates without official mediator status, yet all involved parties — including both Washington and Tehran — acknowledge Beijing’s significant contribution to conflict de-escalation efforts.
Analysts note that China’s diplomatic approaches across various conflicts share common characteristics with varying degrees of success in affecting negotiations, though these efforts occur during a favorable period as President Trump’s policies have created friction with traditional diplomatic partners.
In the Iranian situation, specialists highlight that Beijing’s strong economic and political connections with Tehran provide unique influence capabilities, particularly as the conflict disrupts global energy markets, especially affecting Asian regions.
Trump has expressed his belief that China helped persuade Iran to negotiate the fragile ceasefire that he has now extended.
Sources within diplomatic circles informed The Associated Press that Beijing, being Iran’s largest purchaser of sanctioned oil, utilized this economic leverage to encourage Iranian participation in historic direct negotiations held in Pakistan this month.
Beijing has not confirmed that account, likely because it does not want to be seen as part of a U.S.-led security framework, said Yaqi Li, a researcher at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore.
Nevertheless, some viewed this as a pivotal moment for Beijing, which has condemned both U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran.
Following the conflict’s initiation with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Feb. 28, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi conducted discussions with officials from Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. By mid-April, he had engaged in 30 telephone conversations with various stakeholders regarding the conflict, based on Ministry of Foreign Affairs records.
Wang additionally welcomed his Pakistani counterpart, representing the primary mediating nation in current negotiations, to present a five-point plan demanding cessation of violence and Strait of Hormuz reopening.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has recently become unusually vocal, cautioning last week against “the world’s retrogression to the law of the jungle.” This week, he called for the Strait of Hormuz to reopen.
George Chen, a partner at The Asia Group consultancy, said China’s role in the Iran situation is irreplaceable. As Tehran’s biggest oil buyer, its advice carries weight. China is also one of the few countries that has showed sympathy for Iran’s situation at the United Nations, he said.
Additionally, Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities were developed using Chinese technology, and China provides dual-purpose industrial equipment suitable for missile manufacturing, according to U.S. government sources.
While China lacks the immediate influence of Pakistan or major Arab Gulf nations in active mediation efforts, it maintains a distinctive position as a crucial economic ally to many regional players.
Tuvia Gering, a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Global China Hub, said China is uniquely positioned to offer economic incentives that matter to Tehran, especially after the war ends, as Beijing can promise investment in reconstruction and commercial relief in ways few others can.
“It could be one of the few actors capable of giving Tehran both political cover and material incentives to accept constraints and stick to them,” he said.
Among China’s most significant diplomatic achievements occurred in 2023, when it helped facilitate Saudi Arabia and Iran’s return to official diplomatic relations.
This development was widely recognized as a major geopolitical advancement that minimized risks of direct and proxy warfare, said Muhammad Zulfikar Rakhmat, a researcher at the Center of Economic and Law Studies in Indonesia.
However, China selects its involvement opportunities carefully, he noted, pointing out that Saudi Arabia and Iran already possessed motivations for diplomatic re-engagement. “Its mediation tends to be opportunistic and low-risk, often occurring when conditions are already conducive to agreement,” he said.
Beijing also participated actively in the recent Thailand-Cambodia dispute, organizing multiple bilateral meetings and participating in initial ceasefire discussions alongside the U.S. in Malaysia. When hostilities resumed in December, both China and the U.S. helped facilitate another ceasefire agreement.
Beijing has also presented peace proposals for Ukraine’s conflict, hosting Ukraine’s foreign minister despite maintaining what it describes as a “no-limits” relationship with Russia.
China’s diplomatic initiatives typically follow established patterns, according to experts, with Beijing consistently emphasizing respect for U.N. charter principles and national sovereignty.
Concerning the Iranian conflict, Xi last week called for “upholding the principles of peaceful coexistence, upholding national sovereignty, upholding the rule of international law, and coordinating development and security.”
“A lot of the points are remarkably consistent,” said Hoo Tiang Boon, a professor of Chinese foreign policy at Nanyang Technological University.
In distant conflicts, Beijing faces minimal risks while potentially gaining substantial benefits as the international community grapples with the Trump administration’s negotiation methods, according to Thitinan Pongsudhirak, a professor of international relations at Thailand’s Chulalongkorn University.
“What the U.S. is doing is deeply damaging, and everyone suffers from it … and China is displaying global leadership and exerting its global role by speaking to the rules-based international system,” he said. “It’s an inescapable contrast.”
PYEONGTAEK, South Korea — Thousands of Samsung Electronics employees demonstrated Thursday outside the company’s semiconductor manufacturing facility in South Korea, calling for increased compensation and warning of potential work stoppages as artificial intelligence demand sends memory chip revenues soaring.
Carrying protest signs and banners, workers assembled at the factory location under heavy police supervision, chanting demands to “make compensation transparent and remove maximum limits on bonuses!” Union representatives estimated approximately 40,000 members joined the demonstration, though police have not yet confirmed attendance figures.
The demonstration occurred just hours after Samsung’s competitor SK Hynix announced record-breaking quarterly earnings and operating profits for the first three months of the year, crediting worldwide expansion in data centers and artificial intelligence infrastructure that has increased demand for memory semiconductors.
Samsung and SK Hynix together manufacture roughly two-thirds of the world’s memory chips. Samsung projected earlier this month that its first-quarter operating profits would hit a record 57.2 trillion won ($38.6 billion), exceeding the 37.6 trillion won ($25.4 billion) that SK Hynix reported Thursday, though Samsung operates a broader range of products including mobile devices and home electronics.
The Samsung workers’ union, representing approximately 74,000 employees, contends the corporation has not provided sufficient compensation despite exceptional financial results. Union leaders have declined management’s offer of restricted stock bonuses and are pushing for elimination of bonus limitations.
Union officials are threatening to initiate an 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21 if management negotiations fail, estimating such action would cost Samsung over 1 trillion won ($676 million) daily.
“We won’t stop this fight until our fair demands are met,” declared union leader Choi Seung-ho, speaking through a megaphone from an elevated crane platform.
Although semiconductor companies have prospered during the AI surge, Middle Eastern conflicts have created uncertainty for future prospects, interrupting supplies of essential materials like helium needed for chip production and increasing energy expenses.
Thursday marks the beginning of another diplomatic session between Israeli and Lebanese representatives in Washington, as efforts to extend a fragile ceasefire continue. At the same time, discussions between Iran and the United States appear increasingly unlikely after Tehran criticized American negotiators for operating without “good faith.”
On Wednesday, Iranian forces attacked three vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, successfully capturing two of them. This aggressive action represents an escalation in Tehran’s campaign against maritime traffic in the crucial shipping corridor, occurring just one day after President Donald Trump prolonged a ceasefire agreement while keeping the American blockade of Iranian ports in place.
The ongoing confrontation between Washington and Tehran has virtually halted all export activity through the strait, which typically handles one-fifth of global oil shipments during peaceful periods. No resolution appears imminent for this critical situation.
Although Pakistan had offered to facilitate additional negotiations, the White House canceled Vice President JD Vance’s scheduled visit to Islamabad after Iran rejected attempts to resume diplomatic conversations.
In Lebanon’s southern region, Israeli military operations resulted in at least six fatalities and multiple injuries across three separate incidents, according to regional officials. Israeli authorities disputed responsibility for one attack and have not yet responded regarding the remaining strikes.
These military actions occurred as diplomatic representatives from both Israel and Lebanon prepared for renewed discussions in Washington aimed at prolonging the delicate 10-day ceasefire that commenced last week.
In a related development, Iran announced Thursday that it had executed another individual connected to the Iranian opposition organization Mujahedeen-e-Khalq.
Iranian judicial news service Mizan named the executed man as Soltanali Shirzadi Fakhr.
Officials alleged his collaboration with Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, though they provided no supporting evidence. Authorities also withheld details about when or where his arrest occurred.
Throughout the current conflict, Iran has claimed connections between many executed individuals and Israeli intelligence. Human rights advocates maintain that Iran consistently conducts capital punishment proceedings in secret, relies on forced confessions, and prevents defendants from adequately contesting evidence presented against them.
This execution increases the total number of MEK organization members put to death since hostilities began to nine.
LONDON, April 23 – British telecommunications giant BT Group has announced a strategic alliance with artificial intelligence infrastructure company Nscale to develop 14 megawatts of AI data processing capacity at three company locations, utilizing Nvidia technology to enhance its domestic data services.
The collaboration expands BT’s sovereign data platform, which serves government agencies and corporate clients seeking to keep their data processing within Britain’s borders. Nscale, established in 2024 with backing from Nvidia, specializes in owning and operating data centers and secured $2 billion in funding last month, achieving a company valuation of $14.6 billion.
BT introduced its sovereign data platform in December as a response to growing customer demands for enhanced data security and resilience. The concept of sovereign computing involves a nation’s ability to maintain control over its artificial intelligence infrastructure and development.
British AI Minister Kanishka Narayan praised the initiative, stating: “This investment in new AI data centres will give businesses and public services the tools they need to use AI at scale here in the UK.”
According to BT, the company’s complete sovereign service portfolio now encompasses connectivity, voice communications, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence services for both public and private sector organizations.
The world’s largest packaged food manufacturer says Middle East conflicts have had minimal effects on its global operations thus far, according to Thursday’s quarterly earnings report.
Nestle, which produces popular brands including KitKat chocolate bars, Nescafe coffee, and Maggi seasonings, reported seeing “very little impact” on its international business from warfare that started in late February with American-Israeli military strikes against Iran.
The Swiss-based corporation kept its annual projections unchanged, expecting organic revenue growth of 3% to 4% along with improved underlying operating profit margins compared to the previous year.
However, Chief Executive Philipp Navratil noted that customer habits are shifting due to escalating fuel costs. Consumers are choosing to walk instead of drive to shopping locations and preparing meals at home rather than dining at restaurants, particularly in developing nations.
“We are very well set up because we’re very well distributed in those countries,” Navratil explained. “Our portfolio is very well set up for people being more at home — we’ve done very well in emerging markets.”
The company announced first-quarter emerging market organic revenue jumped 4.6% during Thursday’s financial disclosure.
Nestle exceeded Wall Street expectations for overall first-quarter revenue growth as consumers purchased more coffee and pet food products.
Organic revenue, which eliminates currency fluctuations and acquisition impacts, climbed 3.5% during the three-month period ending in March. Financial analysts had predicted organic growth averaging 2.4%.
Company officials said organic growth took approximately a 90 basis-point decline due to infant formula product recalls during the quarter, though they added that product supply has returned to standard levels.
An insider familiar with Nestle operations told Reuters in February that Navratil plans to concentrate more intensively on four product segments — coffee, pet care, nutrition and health, plus food and snacking — to boost sales volumes this year.
This approach represents increased emphasis on those four areas rather than a complete business restructuring, the source explained.
Nestle’s 2.3% first-quarter price hikes matched the average analyst prediction of 2.3%. Actual internal growth — representing sales volumes — increased 1.2% compared to expectations of 0.1% growth, powered by coffee, food and snack categories.
“Nestlé is showing early signs of reigniting volume growth,” said Vontobel analyst Jean-Philippe Bertschy. “This is the kind of reassurance investors were waiting for and it corroborates management’s relatively upbeat tone following the full-year 2025 results.”
A major Swiss skincare manufacturer reported impressive financial results Thursday, announcing that quarterly revenue climbed 25.5% to reach $1.47 billion when adjusted for currency fluctuations.
Galderma, headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, credited robust American consumer demand for driving the strong performance during the first three months of 2024. The company’s U.S. sales surged an impressive 41.5% compared to the same period last year.
“Based on the strong start to the year, the guidance is increasingly being de-risked with confidence to navigate a volatile environment,” Galderma said in a statement.
The skincare specialist, which began trading on Swiss stock markets slightly more than two years ago, indicated it expects any potential impact from U.S. trade tariffs to remain “manageable” throughout this year.
The company’s annual projections already account for possible tariff effects on its popular Sculptra and Restylane injectable products, as well as anticipated consequences from recent U.S. policy announcements regarding pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical ingredient imports.
Approximately 40,000 Samsung Electronics employees gathered for a massive demonstration at the company’s Pyeongtaek manufacturing facility in South Korea on Thursday, expressing frustration over compensation packages they say fall far short of competitor SK Hynix.
The demonstration represents the largest worker protest in Samsung’s history, according to union organizers. The tech giant, historically known for discouraging union activity, experienced its first-ever employee walkout in 2024.
Workers are threatening to launch an 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21 unless their compensation demands are addressed. Such a strike could potentially interrupt artificial intelligence chip manufacturing and deliveries to major clients.
The primary source of employee discontent centers on what they describe as significant differences in bonus compensation compared to SK Hynix, Samsung’s local competitor. SK Hynix gained an early advantage in the AI market by successfully delivering high bandwidth memory products to Nvidia and other customers after ChatGPT’s launch in late 2022.
Despite the competitive challenges, Samsung has also benefited from the artificial intelligence surge, with company profits reaching unprecedented heights.
Song Yong-gi, a 39-year-old logistics coordinator in Samsung’s semiconductor division, explained the impact on employee retention. “In reality, many employees are leaving for SK Hynix,” Song stated. “At the end of the day, more than 90% of employees work for pay, and the compensation gap has become so wide that it’s driving these moves.”
Additional Samsung employees participating in the black vest-wearing demonstration at the Pyeongtaek location confirmed that numerous coworkers have departed for SK Hynix positions.
According to the Samsung Electronics Labour Union’s analysis, a semiconductor division worker earning a base salary of 76 million won would receive approximately 38 million won in bonus compensation for 2025. This amount represents less than one-third of what an equivalent SK Hynix employee would earn.
Samsung management indicated they remain committed to reaching a prompt resolution through ongoing wage discussions.
A Samsung representative, speaking without attribution, warned that production interruptions from “even a single strike” could harm customer relationships and require years to rebuild trust.
The compensation dispute intensified after SK Hynix agreed to union demands for payment restructuring and substantial bonuses in September, increasing Samsung workers’ frustration and driving union membership growth.
Current union participation exceeds 90,000 members, representing more than 70% of Samsung’s South Korean employee base.
A major point of contention involves the union’s request to eliminate the current bonus payment ceiling, which limits bonuses to 50% of annual base wages. Management has refused this demand, while SK Hynix reportedly agreed to remove their bonus cap.
Samsung’s union is also seeking allocation of 15% of yearly operating profits for bonus payments and a 7% increase in base salaries.
Company leadership has countered with an offer of 10% of operating profits for performance-based pay, plus additional funding to ensure memory division workers receive higher compensation than competitors this year.
British pharmaceutical company Hikma Pharmaceuticals confirmed Thursday it will stick to its financial targets through 2026, despite experiencing increased costs for shipping, energy, and insurance due to ongoing conflicts in the Middle East.
The drug manufacturer reported a strong beginning to 2024, fueled by high demand for current products and new medication launches across major markets including the United States, France, and Germany.
This announcement brings positive news for CEO Said Darwazah and offers reassurance to investors who had concerns about Hikma’s recovery following ongoing struggles with its injectable medications division and setbacks at a crucial Ohio manufacturing facility that led the company to abandon its medium-term goals in February.
The pharmaceutical firm stated that Middle East demand remains “robust” and that inventory levels are adequate to prevent potential supply chain interruptions from the Iran conflict.
The company markets both its own generic brands and licensed medications throughout the Middle East and North Africa region, which represents approximately one-third of its primary revenue and serves as its second-largest market behind North America. Hikma operates in more than twelve MENA countries, including Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia.
The company maintains its projection for total revenue growth between 2% and 4% and operating profits ranging from $720 million to $770 million by December 2026, with modest single-digit revenue increases expected in its largest injectables division.
Additionally, Hikma announced it will shut down its 503B compounding operations to concentrate on primary business activities. These U.S. facilities produce bulk medications for hospitals and medical facilities under FDA supervision, rather than creating individualized patient treatments.
Federal authorities under President Trump’s administration deployed a government aircraft this week to retrieve a 10-year-old child from Utah who had become the center of an international custody dispute in Cuba.
The Department of Justice coordinated the transport of the child, whose case has drawn attention due to disagreements among family members regarding the child’s gender identity. The youngster was successfully returned from the Caribbean nation following the federal intervention.
The custody battle highlights ongoing tensions surrounding parental rights and gender identity issues that have become increasingly prominent in family court proceedings across the United States.
New England Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel will be absent from Saturday’s final round of the NFL Draft as he enters counseling following the recent emergence of photographs showing him with veteran NFL reporter Dianna Russini at a resort in Arizona.
Speaking Wednesday evening through ESPN, Vrabel explained his decision: “As I said the other day, I promised my family, this organization and this team that I was going to give them the best version of me that I can possibly give them. In order to do so, I have committed to seeking counseling, starting this weekend. This is something that I have given a lot of thought to and is something I would advise a player to do if I was counseling them.”
Vrabel continued: “I have always wanted to lead by example, and I believe this is what I have to do to be the best husband, father and coach that I possibly can be. This is not an easy thing for me to admit, but it is one that I know will make me a better person. I appreciate the support that everyone has given me and promise a stronger resolve as a result.”
The images showing Vrabel and Russini together at a Sedona resort were captured prior to the league’s annual meetings that commenced in Phoenix on March 29, according to the New York Post, which released the photographs earlier this month.
League officials confirmed last weekend that the NFL will not launch an investigation into Vrabel’s conduct.
On Tuesday, Vrabel broke his silence on the situation for the first time, telling media members he has engaged in “difficult conversations with people I care about.”
Both Vrabel and Russini, who are married to other people, issued written responses to the Post following the story’s publication, minimizing the significance of what the photographs showed. However, Russini stepped down from her position at The Athletic within a week after the Post’s report triggered an internal review at the sports publication owned by The New York Times.
Vrabel revealed he discussed the matter with his players on Monday when they returned for voluntary workouts. Two Patriots players had been scheduled for media availability on Tuesday, but Vrabel chose to address reporters first. He also expressed his desire to prevent the controversy surrounding the Post photographs from overshadowing the NFL draft, which kicks off Thursday.
A French satellite internet company has completed a major funding round worth $32 million as it prepares to launch thousands of satellites in an ambitious bid to become Europe’s dominant space-based internet provider.
Univity announced Thursday that it successfully closed the 27 million euro Series A funding round, which when combined with a 31 million euro contract from France’s space agency, brings the company’s total secured funding to 68 million euros. CEO Charles Delfieux revealed that French state-owned investment bank Bpifrance joined the funding round alongside investment platform Blast and venture capital fund Expansion.
The funding comes as France spearheads European efforts to decrease dependence on American satellite internet providers like SpaceX’s Starlink.
Univity has adopted a different business strategy than competitors such as Elon Musk’s Starlink or Amazon, which market their services directly to individual customers. Instead, the French company focuses on telecommunications companies, working to share infrastructure while providing space-based internet and mobile services to these operators. Delfieux told Reuters that his company has already secured 16 partnerships with operators spanning four continents.
The company, which launched operations in 2022, has outlined plans to construct a constellation of up to 3,400 satellites positioned in very low Earth orbit approximately 375 kilometers above the planet’s surface. This ambitious project would establish Univity as Europe’s largest satellite operator, though it would still trail SpaceX’s Starlink, which currently operates around 10,000 satellites, and Amazon’s Leo project, which plans to deploy roughly 7,000 satellites.
Telecommunications companies worldwide have increasingly partnered with satellite service providers to incorporate space-based mobile and fixed connectivity options, particularly to extend coverage to remote regions where upgrading ground-based networks would prove more costly.
Delfieux, who previously worked at the World Bank before founding Univity, explained the competitive landscape: “In this new era of satellite communication pushed by Starlink and Amazon, mass production and recurrent prices have become the battle(field).”
He added: “One way to provide highly competitive services to our clients is to internalize production.”
The company plans to manufacture its satellites near Toulouse to control costs more effectively. The current funding will enable Univity to deploy its initial two satellites before transitioning to an infrastructure financing approach for large-scale expansion beginning in 2028, which will involve partnerships with “deep-pocketed investors” including infrastructure funds and telecommunications operators.
BE Semiconductor Industries announced Thursday that its quarterly orders more than doubled compared to the same period last year, driven by robust growth across all business segments and exceptionally strong interest in hybrid bonding technology.
The semiconductor equipment manufacturer has captured investor attention with its hybrid bonding capabilities, which enable direct stacking of computer chips. This cutting-edge approach has positioned the company as an early leader as artificial intelligence applications create unprecedented demand for advanced semiconductor solutions.
The company’s order bookings, a key metric for predicting future performance, surged 104.5% to reach 269.7 million euros ($315.5 million) during the first quarter, a dramatic increase from the previous year’s 131.9 million euros.
“Favorable order trends in Q1 reflect the strength of Besi’s advanced packaging market position for next generation AI applications,” CEO Richard Blickman said in a statement.
The artificial intelligence investment wave has helped compensate for sluggish performance in automotive, personal computer, and memory chip sectors.
Other semiconductor industry players, including TSMC, ASML, and ASM International, have also reported strong results recently, indicating the entire sector continues to capitalize on the artificial intelligence chip demand explosion.
Looking ahead, BESI projected second-quarter revenue growth of 30% to 40% compared to the first quarter’s 184.9 million euros in 2026.
COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A head-on collision between two passenger trains in Denmark left multiple people wounded on Thursday, according to emergency officials.
The crash occurred in the vicinity of Hillerod, located north of the Danish capital of Copenhagen.
A representative from the Greater Copenhagen fire department confirmed the nature of the accident, stating “It is two local trains that have collided head-on.”
The fire department spokesperson provided additional details about the aftermath, saying “There are injuries among the passengers. Everyone is out of the trains, so no one is trapped… Large resources have been dispatched to the scene.”
Emergency crews mobilized significant personnel and equipment to respond to the incident, though the exact number of casualties has not been disclosed.
SYDNEY – The Australian government has announced it is collaborating with artificial intelligence company Anthropic and other software firms following concerns about cybersecurity weaknesses, according to a representative for Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke who spoke Thursday.
The partnership comes after Anthropic launched its Mythos artificial intelligence system, which was created to help with defensive cybersecurity operations. However, the powerful AI tool has raised alarm bells in multiple nations due to its extensive abilities to identify security weaknesses in computer systems.
According to Anthropic, early testing of the Mythos model revealed what the company described as “thousands” of significant security flaws found across “every major operating system and web browser.” This discovery has heightened worries about existing vulnerabilities in commonly used software and technology platforms.
