A Goldey-Beacom College baseball player has earned recognition from the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference this week.
Sophomore infielder Zach Smethers, who hails from Nazareth, Pennsylvania, was selected for the CACC Weekly Honor Roll for Baseball. Smethers plays for the Lightning baseball team at the Wilmington-based college.
The conference honor recognizes outstanding performance by student-athletes in collegiate baseball across the CACC member institutions.
Workers at Samsung Electronics are preparing for a potential strike that could severely impact global semiconductor supplies, according to the head of the company’s largest labor union.
The Samsung Electronics Labour Union (SELU) is moving forward with plans for an 18-day work stoppage beginning May 21, pending ongoing negotiations with management. Union members are currently voting on the strike proposal through Wednesday.
“I expect there would be production disruption,” stated Choi Seung-ho, who leads the union representing thousands of Samsung workers.
The proposed strike could affect approximately half of the production at Samsung’s massive semiconductor facility in Pyeongtaek, located south of Seoul. This disruption comes at a critical time when global chip demand for artificial intelligence data centers has already strained supplies across multiple industries, from automotive to smartphones and computers.
Samsung, as the world’s leading memory chip producer, plays a crucial role in the global semiconductor supply chain. Any significant production halt could worsen existing supply bottlenecks affecting various technology sectors.
The labor dispute centers on compensation disparities between Samsung and its competitors. Workers have grown increasingly frustrated after rival chipmaker SK Hynix agreed to significant compensation reforms last September, including lifting bonus caps and dedicating 10% of operating profits to employee bonuses.
“The chip industry is booming, but those gains aren’t trickling down to us. That’s why we’re fighting,” Choi explained.
The union is demanding a 7% increase in base wages, elimination of the current 50% cap on performance pay relative to annual base salary, and implementation of a profit-sharing bonus system to replace what they describe as outdated compensation criteria.
Employee frustration has led to significant turnover, with more than 100 union members leaving Samsung for competitors like SK Hynix in recent months, according to Choi.
The union represents roughly 66,000 members, including 51,000 from Samsung’s chip division. About 90,000 unionized employees from Samsung’s 125,000-person South Korean workforce are eligible to participate in the strike vote.
Samsung has attempted to address worker concerns through what the company called “unprecedented” compensation proposals in an internal memo earlier this month, including a 6.2% pay increase and special bonuses. A company spokesperson indicated Samsung would continue engaging with employees “in a sincere manner.”
However, company officials express concern about the financial implications of removing bonus caps, citing the need to fund future investments in the capital-intensive semiconductor industry.
“If even a single strike halts production lines and damages trust with customers, it could take years” to recover, warned a Samsung official who requested anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the negotiations.
The current labor tensions represent a significant shift for Samsung, which maintained a “no-union” policy until Chairman Jay Y. Lee pledged to change that approach in 2020. The company’s first worker walkout occurred in 2024.
Business administration professor Seo Ji-yong from Sangmyung University noted that Samsung lacks experience managing labor relations compared to other major Korean industrial groups like Hyundai Motor.
“If the management is stuck in the past and ignores union demands, the disputes could throw cold water on Samsung’s earnings momentum,” Seo warned.
The compensation gap between Samsung and its competitors has become a significant recruitment challenge. According to union calculations, a Samsung chip division employee earning a base salary of 76 million won ($50,800) would receive 38 million won in performance pay for 2025, compared to significantly higher compensation for similarly-paid SK Hynix employees.
The competitive pressure extends beyond traditional rivals, with Tesla CEO Elon Musk recently encouraging Korean chip industry workers to apply for positions at his company as it expands into AI chips for autonomous vehicles and robotics.
“If we’re number one, we should be treated like number one,” Choi emphasized, arguing that better compensation would motivate employees and strengthen Samsung’s competitive position.
Samsung reported record fourth-quarter profits in 2025, with analysts projecting annual operating profits could more than quadruple to exceed 200 trillion won ($134 billion) this year, highlighting the financial success that workers want reflected in their compensation packages.
Iraqi officials confirmed Monday that an unmanned aircraft struck a prominent Baghdad hotel without resulting in any injuries or significant property damage.
The Al-Rasheed hotel, situated within Baghdad’s heavily secured Green Zone, was hit by the drone as witnesses reported seeing flames and smoke in the area, according to security officials. The Green Zone serves as home to various government facilities and the United States embassy.
Iraq’s interior ministry revealed following their investigation that the unmanned aircraft had struck the hotel’s upper perimeter fence. Ministry officials expressed strong opposition to any efforts aimed at targeting foreign diplomatic personnel operating within Iraq.
Security officials also reported that two Katyusha rockets were launched toward the American embassy compound in Baghdad during the same timeframe.
Golf icon Tiger Woods will be absent from Tuesday’s TGL semifinal showdown between Jupiter Links and Boston Common, raising questions about whether the 15-time major winner will compete at all during the indoor golf league’s second season.
Meanwhile, TGL co-founder Rory McIlroy has confirmed his participation for Boston Common on Tuesday, after initially being uncertain following his 46th-place finish at The Players Championship this past Sunday. McIlroy has been managing back spasms that caused him to pull out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational two weeks prior.
Jupiter Links will field Max Homa, Akshay Bhatia and Tom Kim in the 9 p.m. ET showdown against McIlroy, Keegan Bradley and Adam Scott at the SoFi Center in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. The evening’s action begins at 6:30 p.m. with defending champions Atlanta Drive facing off against Los Angeles Golf Club in the opening semifinal.
Justin Thomas won’t compete for Atlanta after participating in back-to-back tournaments following a four-month break due to back surgery recovery. Los Angeles will be without Collin Morikawa, who pulled out before The Players Championship’s opening round because of his own back problems.
Atlanta’s lineup includes Patrick Cantlay, Chris Gotterup and Billy Horschel, while Los Angeles counters with Tommy Fleetwood, Sahith Theegala and Justin Rose.
The championship finals, scheduled to begin March 23 in a best-of-three format, may be Woods’ last chance to compete alongside his teammates this season.
The 50-year-old Woods has been recovering since his seventh back operation in October and hasn’t indicated whether he plans to compete in next month’s Masters Tournament. Some speculation arose about a possible Jupiter Links appearance after his private aircraft was reportedly seen at Augusta Regional Airport during the weekend.
Woods had Achilles surgery in March 2025 and hasn’t competed since the 2024 PNC Championship alongside his son Charlie. His last PGA Tour appearance was at the 2024 Open Championship.
Left-handed pitcher Chris Sale delivered a commanding performance on the mound, going six full innings as the Atlanta Braves demolished the Tampa Bay Rays 11-2 during Monday’s spring training action in North Port, Florida.
The tall left-hander, who recently inked a contract extension running through 2027, surrendered five hits while recording three strikeouts and issuing no walks. Sale delivered 53 strikes out of 75 total pitches and gave up just one run – a solo home run by Nick Fortes with one out in the sixth inning.
Atlanta put up four runs in the second inning and held an 8-0 advantage after five frames. Eli White, who posted a career-high 10 homers in 2025, launched a two-run home run in the fourth after recording a single in the second. White is batting .414 during spring play. Mike Yastrzemski finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored, boosting his spring average to .448, while Drake Baldwin connected on a three-run homer in the eighth inning.
Tampa Bay starter Nick Martinez, who inked a one-year, $13 million contract last month, struggled against Atlanta’s offense, surrendering seven runs on 10 hits across four innings. The 35-year-old utility pitcher now carries a 9.90 ERA this spring.
Blue Jays 5, Marlins 4 (6)
George Springer opened the contest with a leadoff home run as Toronto added four more runs in the third inning to defeat Miami in a weather-shortened contest that ended after six innings in Jupiter, Florida.
Daulton Varsho sparked the four-run rally with a two-run double down the right-field line. The veteran outfielder has collected five doubles this spring while maintaining a .432 batting average in Florida.
Miami got home runs from Otto Lopez, who went deep for a solo shot in the first, and Daniel Johnson, who connected for a solo blast in the fifth. Janson Junk, who became a dependable starter for the Marlins in 2025, was charged with four runs on four hits while walking two and striking out two in two innings of work.
Twins 5, Pirates 1
Making just his second spring appearance, probable Opening Day starter Joe Ryan went four innings as Minnesota beat Pittsburgh in Fort Myers, Florida.
Ryan allowed one run on five hits and one walk while striking out six Pirates batters in a 68-pitch outing. Luke Keaschall broke a 1-1 deadlock with a three-run blast in the third inning, followed two batters later by Victor Caratini’s solo home run.
Pittsburgh starter Noah Davis, who appeared in four games with Boston in 2025, was tagged for all five Minnesota runs in four innings. Henry Davis drove in a run with a single in the third inning for the Pirates.
Tigers 13, Phillies 6
Top prospect Kevin McGonigle launched a three-run home run to cap a seven-run Detroit first inning as the Tigers rolled past Philadelphia in Lakeland, Florida.
Spencer Torkelson added a solo homer in the second inning while Jahmai Jones (2-for-4, 5 RBIs) cleared the bases with a double in the third. Detroit starter Jack Flaherty was charged with five runs on five hits over five innings.
Philadelphia minor leaguer Charles King was hammered for 10 earned runs in just 1 2/3 innings. Felix Reyes and Otto Kemp each hit three-run homers to account for all the Phillies’ scoring.
Red Sox, Orioles, canceled
Monday evening’s scheduled matchup between Boston and Baltimore was called off due to approaching weather in Sarasota, Florida. The game will not be rescheduled.
The Trump administration is set to reveal an international alliance of countries committed to providing naval escorts for vessels navigating through the Strait of Hormuz, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. government sources. The announcement could come within days as part of Washington’s broader strategy to protect the crucial shipping lane during heightened tensions with Iran.
American officials indicate that deliberations continue regarding the timing of when these maritime protection operations would commence – whether during the current standoff with Iran or following its resolution.
On Sunday, foreign ministers from Britain and the Gulf Cooperation Council, which represents six regional nations, released a unified declaration stating that GCC member countries have the right to implement any measures deemed necessary to protect their security, stability, territories, and populations.
According to Ynet’s reporting, President Trump confirmed ongoing conversations with multiple nations about monitoring the strategic waterway while encouraging their participation in defending this essential trade route. Trump noted that “Israel is working with the US to secure the Strait of Hormuz.”
Meanwhile, European nations are evaluating potential contributions to efforts aimed at preserving safe passage through the waterway.
“It is in our interest to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, and that’s why we are also discussing what we can do in this regard from the European side,” stated EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas during remarks to reporters before an EU foreign affairs gathering in Brussels.
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the situation directly with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian during a recent phone call. In a post on social media platform X, Macron described urging Iran to cease its regional activities.
“I called on him to immediately end the unacceptable attacks that Iran is carrying out against countries in the region,” Macron wrote, emphasizing that “freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored as soon as possible.”
A traffic accident has shut down multiple lanes on southbound Interstate 495 near Edgemoor Road, causing significant delays for commuters.
According to Delaware Department of Transportation officials, the three leftmost lanes are currently blocked due to the crash. The right lane remains open to traffic, but drivers should expect heavy congestion in the area.
DelDOT has not provided an estimated time for when the lanes will reopen. Motorists are advised to seek alternate routes or allow extra travel time if they must use this section of highway.
Traffic crews are on scene working to clear the accident and restore normal traffic flow.
The nation’s highest court has issued a temporary halt on deportations while agreeing to review the federal government’s authority over a program that protects certain migrants from being sent back to their home countries.
The Supreme Court’s intervention affects roughly 356,000 people – including about 6,000 Syrians and 350,000 Haitians – who had been granted protection under the Temporary Protected Status program.
The justices have scheduled expedited oral arguments to examine the scope and limitations of this immigration protection mechanism, which provides temporary relief from deportation for individuals from countries experiencing armed conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary circumstances.
This legal pause prevents the current administration from proceeding with removal proceedings against these protected individuals while the court deliberates on the broader constitutional and statutory questions surrounding the program.
The case represents a significant test of executive authority over immigration policy and could establish important precedents for how future administrations handle similar protection programs.
University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball standout Dani Brown has received recognition from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, earning the title of Pitcher of the Week.
The Hawks player’s exceptional mound performance caught the attention of conference officials, leading to this weekly honor. Brown’s achievement adds to the growing list of accolades for the UMES softball program.
This recognition comes as the Hawks continue their competitive season in MEAC play, with Brown serving as a key contributor to the team’s pitching rotation.
DELMARVA — Soybean futures tumbled Monday with several contracts hitting their daily loss limits as trade concerns with China intensified. May soybeans closed down $0.70 at $11.55¼ per bushel. Traders are worried that negotiations scheduled for late March could be delayed due to Gulf region tensions.
Meanwhile, Middle East conflict continues driving up input costs for growers across the nation. Fertilizer and fuel prices are climbing, putting pressure on farm budgets as planting season approaches.
May corn settled at $4.54 per bushel, down $0.13¼. May wheat fell $0.11½ to $4.83¾. Soybean meal closed at $312.20 per ton, down $10.50.
On the livestock side, April live cattle jumped $2.35 to $233.25 per hundredweight. April feeder cattle surged $6.75 to $349.85.
Severe weather is moving through this evening with showers and thunderstorms. A wind advisory remains in effect through 2 a.m. with gusts up to 45 miles per hour. Growers should hold off on field work tonight. Temperature is dropping to 31°F with southwest winds 20 to 30 miles per hour.
Tuesday turns much colder with a high of 44°F and scattered snow showers. Northwest winds 20 to 25 miles per hour. Better conditions return Wednesday with partly sunny skies and a high near 40°F.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Evening Edition, March 16, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
BEER-SHEVA, Israel, March 16, 2026 – Archaeologists have uncovered a stunning 1,400-year-old church decorated with brilliantly preserved colorful mosaics at Nitzana National Park in Israel. The excavation, conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Archaeology Department, provides extraordinary insight into the wealth and architectural sophistication of the Byzantine and Early Islamic eras spanning the 5th through 7th centuries CE.
The church floors showcase elaborate geometric designs, botanical motifs, and circular medallions created from small, brightly colored mosaic tiles. Combined with a newly discovered hospice and bathing facility complex, these findings demonstrate that Nessana once functioned as a thriving, prestigious religious center catering to local inhabitants and international pilgrims by the thousands.
Positioned along the main pathway leading to Saint Catherine Monastery and Mount Sinai, Nessana served as an essential waystation for worldwide travelers. Historical graffiti discovered at the location provides evidence of pilgrims journeying from distant lands including Georgia and Armenia, underscoring the area’s significance as an international hub for religious devotion and trade.
“The magnitude of the building projects and the opulence of the ornamental details indicate a thriving and prosperous religious establishment,” explains Prof. Yana Tchekhanovets from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev’s Archaeology Department. “Each excavation season uncovers additional hidden treasures buried within Nessana’s ruins, confirming its importance as an essential destination along the historic pilgrimage pathway.”
The BGU research team seeks to link Nessana’s archaeological evidence with its renowned historical collection known as the “Nessana Papyri,” which was found at this location a century ago. This combination of ancient documents and fresh archaeological discoveries enables scholars to piece together everyday existence in the Negev desert more than a thousand years ago with remarkable precision. Notable findings from the ongoing dig include a substantial hospice containing a bathhouse equipped with marble-lined tubs, the mosaic flooring, and the rediscovery of a Greek inscription establishing the church’s construction date to the early 7th century CE.
“The papyri and additional inscriptions discovered here confirm that pilgrims traveled to this location from numerous regions,” states Prof. Tchekhanovets. “Our work will continue revealing Nessana’s captivating mysteries and uncovering additional information about ancient life and travel patterns throughout the Negev.”
This investigation, funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation, brings together international volunteers and BGU students, reflecting the University’s commitment to advancing historical knowledge and development within the Negev region. The excavation also received support from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.
During a lengthy presentation at a crowded San Jose arena on Monday, Nvidia’s chief executive Jensen Huang shared his strategy for maintaining the company’s leadership position in artificial intelligence technology, projecting that chip orders will reach $1 trillion within twelve months.
Wearing his characteristic black leather jacket, the 63-year-old executive spent over two hours walking around the stage, describing how Nvidia’s computer processors have become essential components for AI systems and showcasing new products designed to extend the company’s market dominance.
Huang revisited familiar themes he has emphasized since becoming one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent figures in recent years, particularly his belief that artificial intelligence development is still in its early stages.
“We reinvented computing, just like the PC (personal computer) revolution and the internet revolution,” Huang proclaimed. “We are now at the beginning of a new platform change.”
To emphasize his message, Huang forecasted that Nvidia will face a $1 trillion backlog of chip orders by December, which represents double his projection from the previous year.
The Santa Clara, California-based company has used its commanding position in AI chip manufacturing to boost yearly revenue from $27 billion in 2022 to $216 billion in the most recent year — explosive growth that has propelled the company to a $4.5 trillion market valuation.
However, Nvidia’s previously soaring stock price has declined since the company momentarily became the first to exceed $5 trillion in market value last October, as investors question whether AI enthusiasm has become excessive.
“This is just a white-knuckle period for the technology industry,” said Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives.
Despite Nvidia publishing quarterly earnings in late February that significantly beat analyst predictions and company leadership offering optimistic forecasts, the stock price remains 6% lower than before those results were announced.
Although analysts project Nvidia’s revenue will exceed $330 billion in the coming year, the company confronts its first substantial competition in the AI processor market as technology giants including Google and Facebook’s parent company Meta Platforms work to create their own chips.
U.S. security and trade restrictions are also limiting Nvidia’s potential expansion by blocking the company’s ability to market advanced processors in China.
Huang sees Nvidia preserving its central AI role by continuing to supply the intense demand for processors that run chatbots such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, while also entering the developing market for inference chips.
After an AI system completes its training phase, inference processors allow the technology to apply its knowledge and generate responses — whether composing text or producing images — more effectively than the chips used during the initial model development.
“The inference inflection has arrived,” Huang said.
To assist with its move into the inference sector, Nvidia completed a multi-billion dollar licensing agreement with industry specialist Groq that involved recruiting that startup’s leading engineers.
“Nvidia isn’t going to cede any market share to Google or Meta,” said Ives, who anticipates Nvidia’s market value will surpass $6 trillion within the next year.
A group of Apache women has filed an emergency petition with the U.S. Supreme Court following the completed transfer of sacred Arizona forest land to Resolution Copper, marking their final legal attempt to prevent a massive copper mining operation.
Federal officials finalized the land conveyance on Friday after an appeals court rejected challenges from the San Carlos Apache Tribe and environmental advocates who sought to halt the transfer.
The appellate judges concluded that the challengers’ legal arguments were unlikely to prevail and removed an emergency restraining order that had been in effect since last summer.
The transferred property encompasses Oak Flat, a location that Apache peoples and other Native American communities have utilized for religious rituals, spiritual practices, and medicinal plant collection for hundreds of years. Tribal members refer to this sacred area as Chi’chil Bildagoteel, and the San Carlos Apache Tribe, along with Apache Stronghold and other advocacy groups, have waged a lengthy legal battle to preserve it.
While acknowledging the severe impact on Native American religious practices, the appeals court noted in Friday’s decision that the land transfer would permanently change the character of the area and result in the destruction of sites considered sacred by the tribe and other parties.
“Despite those grave harms to Native religious practice, Congress has chosen to transfer this land, and plaintiffs have not raised any viable challenges to that decision,” the court stated.
Legal representatives for the U.S. Forest Service have consistently maintained in court documents that the agency lacks authority to prevent the exchange, as Congress required the transfer through provisions inserted into essential defense spending legislation that former President Barack Obama signed in 2014.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, whose department oversees the Forest Service, released a statement Monday describing the project as integral to President Donald Trump’s energy independence goals.
“Completing this land exchange unlocks a major domestic source of copper, essential for defense, grid modernization and next-generation energy, and positions the nation to secure its future by expanding mineral production and unleashing America’s full resource potential,” she said.
Resolution Copper, owned by mining corporations Rio Tinto and BHP, projects the operation will contribute $1 billion annually to Arizona’s economy while creating thousands of employment opportunities. The initiative has garnered backing from residents in the nearby town of Superior.
Company officials maintain that the project underwent comprehensive Forest Service evaluation, including discussions with tribes having historical connections to the area.
“Courts at every level have consistently ruled in favor of Resolution Copper, and three different presidential administrations have supported this project,” stated Vicky Peacey, Resolution’s president and general manager. “It is time for the meritless litigation to end.”
The company has not yet responded to inquiries regarding construction timelines at the location.
Wendsler Nosie Sr. from Apache Stronghold expressed ongoing concerns about water usage and potential environmental contamination from the mining activities in a social media statement.
“The fight for Oak Flat raises critical issues about the environment and our nation’s commitment to Native rights and religious freedom,” Nosie said. “But at its heart, it is a battle for our sacred and holy land, the faith that has always been defined by it, and the right to have our religious traditions respected and protected.”
A federal judge issued a temporary restraining order Monday preventing Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. from reducing childhood vaccination guidelines, ruling that Kennedy likely broke federal procedures when he overhauled a critical vaccine advisory panel.
The court order stops Kennedy’s January directive that would have eliminated universal recommendations for children to receive vaccines against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain types of meningitis, and RSV.
Major medical organizations sounded the alarm over Kennedy’s vaccination policy changes, warning they would weaken defenses against six different diseases. The American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups modified their existing lawsuit filed in July, requesting the court intervene to prevent the reduction of the nation’s childhood immunization guidelines.
The initial legal challenge, filed in Boston federal court, targeted Kennedy’s move to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccines for most children and expectant mothers.
The lawsuit was expanded as Kennedy implemented additional measures that concerned medical associations, prompting plaintiffs to ask Judge Brian E. Murphy to address these policy shifts as well. The updated legal filing requested court review of Kennedy’s actions regarding the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which provides guidance to public health authorities on vaccination recommendations for healthcare providers and patients.
Kennedy, who was a prominent vaccine opponent before assuming the nation’s highest health position, dismissed all 17 committee members last year and installed a new group that includes multiple vaccination critics.
Murphy, appointed to the federal bench by President Joe Biden, determined that Kennedy’s restructuring of ACIP likely broke federal statutes. He suspended the new appointments and all decisions made by the reconstituted committee.
Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon responded: “HHS looks forward to this judge’s decision being overturned just like his other attempts to keep the Trump administration from governing.”
The committee had planned to convene this week to review COVID-19 vaccines and other matters, but that meeting is now delayed.
“ACIP as currently constituted cannot meet,” stated Richard Hughes IV, legal counsel for the AAP. “How can a committee meet without nearly the entirety of its membership?”
TACOMA, Wash. – Salisbury University’s men’s tennis squad delivered a dominant performance against the University of Puget Sound Loggers on Monday, securing a commanding 6-1 victory at the indoor Tennis Pavilion.
The decisive win launched the Sea Gulls’ three-match spring break journey across the Pacific Northwest, giving the team strong momentum as they continue their West Coast swing.
Playing indoors in Tacoma, Washington, the Sea Gulls controlled the match from start to finish, capturing six of seven total points against their hosts to begin the road trip on a high note.
The Walt Disney Company made a significant leadership announcement Monday, appointing Debra OConnell to serve as chairman of Disney Entertainment Television.
In her new executive position, OConnell will be responsible for managing multiple high-profile entertainment divisions within the Disney portfolio. Her oversight will include ABC Entertainment, Disney Branded Television, Hulu Originals, and National Geographic Content operations.
The appointment represents a major restructuring move for the entertainment giant as it continues to organize its television and streaming content operations under unified leadership.
Plant-based meat manufacturer Beyond Meat announced Monday it will postpone filing its annual report while citing significant weaknesses in its internal financial oversight systems.
The company’s stock price dropped approximately 5% during after-hours trading following the announcement.
Beyond Meat indicated it requires extra time to conduct a thorough examination of its inventory records, particularly focusing on calculations related to surplus and outdated stock. The company anticipates submitting its Form 10-K filing to securities regulators no later than March 31.
Company officials stated they are examining their internal oversight processes and are working to create a corrective action plan.
The plant-based food producer disclosed preliminary fourth-quarter earnings of approximately $61 million, falling short of analyst projections of $62.6 million according to LSEG data compilation.
For the complete 2025 fiscal year, Beyond Meat projects net earnings of roughly $275 million, slightly below analyst expectations of $276.5 million.
The company acknowledged it has not yet calculated how the inventory assessment might affect its financial reporting.
Beyond Meat plans to release its complete fourth-quarter financial results following market closure on March 25.
Swedish car manufacturer Volvo Cars announced Monday that it plans to halt sales of its compact electric SUV, the EX30, along with the EX30 Cross Country variant, in the American market by the end of this year.
According to a company spokesperson’s statement to Reuters, both models will be phased out following the 2026 model year in the United States, though the EX30 will continue being sold in neighboring markets like Canada and Mexico.
The decision was first reported by Business Insider earlier Monday.
Sales figures show the EX30 had limited success in the U.S. market, with approximately 5,400 units sold in 2025, representing roughly 4.4% of Volvo’s total American sales volume.
The automaker has faced broader challenges recently, with overall sales dropping 10% during the first quarter through February, attributed to trade tariffs and various market obstacles, even as electric vehicle sales showed growth.
The electric vehicle market has experienced difficulties globally, with February sales declining once again, particularly hurt by China’s steepest sales decline since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This downturn comes as governments worldwide have reduced incentive programs that previously encouraged electric car purchases.
Volvo introduced the EX30 in 2023 during a period when automakers were racing to offer more budget-friendly electric vehicles to consumers.
At the vehicle’s debut, former CEO Jim Rowan characterized it as a “small SUV doing Volvo things” during the launch presentation.
WASHINGTON – American military officials announced Monday that roughly 200 U.S. service members have sustained injuries during the ongoing conflict with Iran, marking an increase as the confrontation moves into its third week.
The updated casualty figures represent a rise from previous reports, with Reuters having documented approximately 150 wounded troops just last week, underscoring the risks posed by Iran’s counter-offensive operations.
According to U.S. Central Command’s official statement, most personnel experienced relatively minor trauma, with 180 service members having resumed their regular assignments.
Beyond those injured, 13 American military personnel have lost their lives since Iranian forces began launching counter-strikes against U.S. military installations after hostilities commenced on February 28.
Tehran’s offensive operations have extended beyond military targets, with strikes hitting diplomatic facilities, commercial hotels, airport infrastructure, and energy systems throughout Arab Gulf nations.
American forces have conducted operations against more than 7,000 Iranian targets throughout the campaign. Former President Trump revealed last week that U.S. forces targeted military installations at Kharg Island, Iran’s critical petroleum export hub responsible for processing 90% of the nation’s oil shipments.
TACOMA, Wash. – Salisbury University’s women’s tennis squad began their four-match Pacific Northwest road swing on a high note, dominating the Puget Sound Loggers with an impressive 6-1 victory on Monday.
The Sea Gulls secured the decisive win at Tacoma’s indoor Tennis Pavilion, showcasing strong performance across the lineup in their season opener on the West Coast.
The commanding victory sets a positive tone for Salisbury as they continue their multi-match journey through the Pacific Northwest region.
Weather officials have put a coastal flood advisory into effect for the Delmarva Peninsula, beginning Saturday, March 16th at 3:15 PM and continuing through 2:00 AM on Sunday, March 17th.
The National Weather Service office in Mount Holly, New Jersey issued the advisory to alert residents of potential minor coastal flooding conditions along shoreline areas.
Residents in coastal communities should remain aware of possible flooding in low-lying areas near the water during this time period.
Delaware transportation officials are warning drivers about significant flooding that has made Airport Road impassable in both directions.
According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, standing water has covered the roadway between Exit 5A and Meadow Road, creating hazardous driving conditions.
Motorists are advised to find alternate routes and avoid the flooded area until conditions improve and the water recedes.
DelDOT continues to monitor the situation and will provide updates as road conditions change.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers have started adopting tactical gear that resembles equipment used by military special forces units during their operations.
The federal agents are now outfitted with camouflage uniforms, protective body armor, and tactical helmets while conducting enforcement activities. Officials indicate these equipment changes serve broader operational purposes that extend beyond standard immigration apprehension procedures.
The shift toward military-style equipment represents a notable change in how immigration enforcement personnel are equipped for their duties in the field.
Alaska wildlife officials are implementing a controversial strategy to protect the state’s dwindling caribou herds by eliminating their natural predators, including grizzly bears and wolves.
NPR’s Ailsa Chang recently discussed this contentious wildlife management approach with Max Graham, who writes for High Country News. The conversation focused on Alaska’s shrinking caribou numbers and the state’s decision to address the problem through targeted killing of predatory animals.
The predator control program represents Alaska’s latest effort to reverse the troubling decline in caribou populations across the state. Officials believe that reducing the number of bears and wolves will give caribou herds a better chance to recover and grow.
This approach to wildlife management has generated significant discussion among conservationists, hunters, and wildlife experts about the best methods for maintaining ecological balance in Alaska’s wilderness areas.
Motorists should expect delays and seek alternate routes as a vehicle collision has shut down several lanes at the intersection of US Route 13 and Carter Road.
The crash has caused significant traffic disruptions with multiple lanes currently blocked at the busy intersection. Authorities are on scene managing the incident.
Drivers are advised to use caution in the area and consider alternative routes until the roadway can be fully reopened. The Delaware Department of Transportation is monitoring the situation.
Community organizations dedicated to assisting individuals navigating the criminal justice system have existed for years, but a particular model has seen remarkable expansion recently.
These specialized support networks, known as participatory defense hubs, have experienced substantial growth throughout the last ten years, transforming how defendants engage with their legal cases.
The approach allows people charged with crimes to become active participants in building their own defense strategies, rather than remaining passive observers in the legal process.
The U.S. Defense Department made public Saturday the identities of six military personnel who perished in the crash of a military refueling aircraft.
The service members lost their lives when their refueling plane went down in what officials are calling a tragic accident.
Sometimes the smallest gestures create the biggest impact, as one Miami woman discovered when her taxi driver father received an unexpected gift from a regular passenger.
The woman recounts how her father, who drove a cab in Miami, would regularly discuss her dreams and goals with a frequent customer during their rides together. These conversations about his daughter’s aspirations clearly made an impression on the passenger.
Eventually, the customer presented the taxi driver with fifty dollars earmarked specifically for his daughter. While the amount might seem modest, it proved to be precisely what she needed to seize a pivotal opportunity that would alter the course of her future.
The story highlights how meaningful connections can form in unexpected places, and how one person’s generosity – even in small amounts – can create ripple effects that transform someone else’s entire life path.
Fire departments across the nation may finally have a solution to a toxic problem that has plagued emergency responders for generations. A revolutionary device known as the ‘PFAS Annihilator’ has been developed to eliminate hazardous forever chemicals from firefighting foam.
Emergency responders have relied on foam containing PFAS chemicals for many years to combat fires. These so-called forever chemicals have been linked to cancer and numerous other serious health conditions, creating significant risks for firefighters and communities.
The innovative technology promises to neutralize these persistent toxic substances in the foam, potentially offering a safer alternative for fire suppression operations nationwide.
Weather officials have issued a tornado watch for the region, urging residents to remain vigilant for dangerous weather conditions through early evening hours.
The National Weather Service office located in Mount Holly, New Jersey activated the tornado watch at 4:41 PM on March 16th, with the alert remaining in effect until 7:00 PM the same day.
A tornado watch indicates that atmospheric conditions are favorable for the development of severe thunderstorms capable of producing tornadoes. Residents should monitor weather conditions closely and be prepared to take shelter if warnings are upgraded or tornado activity is spotted in their area.
The weather service recommends having a safety plan in place and staying tuned to local weather updates throughout the duration of the watch period.
ROME — Pope Leo XIV demonstrated his expanding focus on addressing Catholic Church abuse scandals Monday by conducting two prominent meetings that addressed the protection of vulnerable adults and allegations against the influential Opus Dei organization.
The pontiff scheduled consecutive sessions focused on abuse prevention: a meeting with the Vatican’s child protection advisory board and a separate audience with investigative journalist Gareth Gore, who authored “Opus: The Cult of Dark Money, Human Trafficking and Right-Wing Conspiracy Inside the Catholic Church.”
The Vatican made a point of publicizing the Gore meeting, including it on the pope’s official schedule and distributing photographs of their encounter.
During his address to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, Leo acknowledged how the #MeToo movement has brought worldwide attention to abuse cases involving adults in vulnerable positions within the church.
These situations encompass seminarians and religious sisters who experience spiritual, psychological, physical or sexual mistreatment from their supervisors, along with regular churchgoers who become victims of manipulative spiritual advisors.
Church leadership has historically overlooked such adult-focused abuse cases, concentrating primarily on the institution’s devastating record of clergy sexual abuse involving minors.
This year, the Pontifical Commission is examining adult vulnerability issues, and Leo offered encouragement to commission members Monday. He emphasized the importance of the church hearing from victims.
“By reading these ‘signs of the times,’ you help the church to address safeguarding challenges courageously, and respond with pastoral clarity and structural renewal,” he said.
Leo has previously demonstrated awareness of alleged misconduct within Opus Dei, the powerful organization established by Spanish priest Josemaría Escrivá in 1928, which received strong support from St. John Paul II.
The organization, whose Latin name translates to Work of God, counts 90,000 members across 70 nations.
Gore, who works as a financial journalist and editor, released “Opus” in 2024, documenting alleged financial misconduct and other abuses within the organization. Opus Dei strongly disputed the publication, releasing a 106-page response with “clarifications” for media outlets following its release.
During 2024, Argentine prosecutors determined sufficient evidence existed to pursue criminal charges against senior South American Opus officials for human trafficking and labor exploitation involving 44 women who claimed they were recruited for household work.
Several complainants had informed AP in 2021 that they labored under “manifestly illegal conditions” including unpaid work shifts exceeding 12 hours with only meal and prayer breaks, lack of Social Security registration, and other fundamental rights violations.
Formal charges have not yet been filed in the matter.
Argentina’s Opus Dei organization has rejected these allegations.
“We categorically deny the accusations of human trafficking and labor exploitation,” stated the Argentine Prelature of Opus Dei office in a 2024 announcement.
During 2022, Pope Francis implemented reforms targeting Opus Dei that reduced its privileged church position: the organization now answers to the Vatican clergy office rather than reporting directly to the pope, and Francis directed Opus to revise its governing documents. One year later, he issued additional instructions allowing the Holy See to draft the statutes independently.
Leo indicated from his pontificate’s beginning that Opus Dei matters were a priority. Just six days following his election, on May 14, he conducted a meeting with Opus moderator Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz Braña.
Last month on February 16, Leo met with Opus leader Monsignor Fernando Ocáriz and his assistant Monsignor Mariano Fazio. Opus reported at that time that statute revisions remained ongoing, and stated the officials had updated Leo regarding their stance “regarding certain specific controversies in Argentina.”
Monday’s Gore audience was arranged through Pedro Salinas, a former member of the abusive Peruvian organization Sodalitium Christianae Vitae, who had known the pope during his time as a Peruvian bishop.
Then-Cardinal Robert Prevost played a key role in assisting Francis with Sodalitium’s suppression last year, largely due to revelations from Salinas and investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, who documented the group’s abusive behavior in their 2015 publication “Half Monks, Half Soldiers.”
Leo has expressed appreciation for investigative journalists’ contributions in exposing abusive church practices.
In a Substack post following Monday’s meeting, Gore reported briefing Leo on his research findings and providing supporting documentation, while encouraging Leo to initiate an independent Opus investigation.
The Vatican provided no details about the audience.
Gore acknowledged his strong criticism of how the Holy See has managed years of Opus Dei abuse allegations. He pointed out, for instance, that the Vatican had never contacted former Opus members or victims.
“I deduced that the Vatican was content to make a few superficial changes and move on without properly understanding or addressing the problem. But my meeting with the pope compels me to reevaluate those conclusions,” he wrote.
Opus declined to comment Monday, referring to their previous statement regarding their February 16 meeting with Leo and their extensive response to Gore’s book.
MADRID (AP) — During a diplomatic encounter on Monday, Spain’s King Felipe VI acknowledged that his nation’s historical colonization of the Americas contained significant wrongdoing and moral problems, offering a more diplomatic approach to ongoing tensions with Mexico regarding centuries-old colonial injustices.
The monarch delivered these comments during a conversation with Mexico’s Spanish ambassador, Quirino Ordaz, at a Madrid museum showcasing an exhibit focused on women’s roles in pre-Columbian Mexican society.
Reflecting on Spain’s historical conquest activities, Felipe VI stated: “There are things that, when we study them, we come to know them, and well, with our current values, they obviously cannot make us feel proud.”
“But they must be understood in their proper context, not with excessive moral presentism, but with an objective and rigorous analysis,” he said.
These symbolic statements from the Bourbon monarch follow years of diplomatic friction between the two nations stemming from Mexico’s insistence that Spain formally apologize for its 1519-1521 Mexican conquest, which led to widespread deaths among the country’s pre-Hispanic communities.
Former Mexican leader Andrés Manuel López Obrador sent correspondence to both King Felipe and Pope Francis in 2019, requesting that Spain “publicly and officially” acknowledge the wrongs committed during Mexico’s conquest period. Spain’s rejection of this demand deteriorated governmental relationships between both countries.
Diplomatic relations further soured in 2024 when current Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum excluded King Felipe from her inauguration ceremony due to the royal palace’s continued refusal to offer a formal apology. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized this exclusion as “unacceptable,” leading Spain to boycott Sheinbaum’s inauguration entirely.
However, diplomatic ice began melting last autumn when Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares recognized the “pain and injustice” experienced by Mexico’s Indigenous communities under Spanish colonial rule. These statements occurred at the opening of the same museum exhibition the king visited Monday.
“There has been pain, pain and injustice toward the indigenous peoples to whom this exhibition is dedicated,” Albares said.
Sheinbaum viewed the foreign minister’s statements positively, describing them as initial progress and noting that “this is the first time that a Spanish government authority has spoken of regretting the injustice.”
The king’s recent statements do not represent an official royal palace apology from Spain. Sheinbaum indicated Monday that she requires time to evaluate his comments.
QUITO, Ecuador — Ecuador’s government announced Monday the mobilization of 75,000 military and law enforcement personnel across four violence-plagued provinces, where authorities have instituted nighttime curfews prohibiting residents from venturing outside between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
Authorities reported 253 arrests for curfew violations since the restrictions began Sunday evening in Guayas, El Oro, Los Rios and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas provinces. The two-week emergency measure encompasses Guayaquil, the nation’s largest city, but excludes the capital Quito and the tourist destination of the Galápagos Islands.
Interior Minister John Reimberg announced Monday that military forces utilized approved artillery strikes against three designated targets, though he declined to elaborate on the specific nature of these operations. “Let whatever must fall, fall — and whoever must fall, fall,” he declared to reporters, emphasizing that no casualties were documented during these missions.
The South American nation faces an escalating battle against drug-fueled violence as competing criminal organizations wage war for dominance over Pacific coast shipping facilities crucial for transporting cocaine to American markets.
Government data from the Ministry of the Interior reveals Ecuador experienced its most deadly year on record in 2023, with homicides reaching 50 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants.
Murder rates have surged fivefold since the coronavirus pandemic began, driven by Colombian and Mexican trafficking networks fighting over smuggling corridors while forming alliances with domestic criminal groups.
President Daniel Noboa recently renewed emergency powers that authorize military forces to conduct joint operations with civilian police and search private residences without obtaining warrants.
The conservative president has pointed fingers at neighboring Colombia, claiming its administration fails to adequately combat criminal organizations operating across their shared border. This January, Noboa imposed import duties on Colombian goods, vowing to maintain these penalties until cross-border security conditions improve.
This month, Ecuador’s armed forces announced a collaborative strike with U.S. forces targeting a Colombian narcotics training facility, deploying unmanned aircraft, helicopters and naval vessels in the assault.
Military officials identified the compound as being situated within Ecuadorian territory and controlled by Comandos de la Frontera, a faction that broke away from FARC following the rebel group’s 2016 peace agreement with Colombia’s government.
Human rights organizations have criticized Noboa’s aggressive approach, arguing his hardline tactics have failed to decrease criminal activity while endangering innocent civilians.
A controversial incident last year highlighted concerns about the president’s anti-crime strategies when eleven military personnel received sentences exceeding 30 years for kidnapping four minors, whose remains were discovered near a Guayaquil-area military installation.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court will consider the Trump administration’s effort to terminate temporary protected status for individuals who have fled conflict and disasters in Haiti, Syria, and other nations worldwide.
On Monday, the Supreme Court justices declined to immediately remove these protections, which means hundreds of thousands of individuals can continue residing and working legally in the United States for the time being.
The case is scheduled for oral arguments next month.
The court, which has a conservative majority, has previously supported the Trump administration on immigration matters and permitted the termination of comparable protections for 600,000 Venezuelan nationals while legal challenges continue, potentially subjecting them to removal proceedings.
The administration filed urgent appeals after federal courts blocked the immediate termination of temporary protected status for 350,000 Haitian nationals and 6,000 Syrian nationals.
The Justice Department contended that the Department of Homeland Security possesses exclusive authority to terminate these protections, which were initially intended as short-term measures.
However, immigration lawyers maintained that both nations remain in significant crisis and that returning individuals would be unsafe.
Federal courts in New York and Washington, D.C., have issued orders postponing the termination of protections, with one court determining that “hostility to nonwhite immigrants” likely influenced the decision to end Haitian protections. Circuit courts of appeals upheld these rulings.
Approximately 1.3 million individuals who have fled armed conflicts and natural disasters globally have received temporary protected status. The administration seeks a comprehensive ruling that would prevent courts from interfering when Homeland Security chooses to terminate a country designation.
Officials have stated that conditions in the designated countries have stabilized and have rejected claims that racial bias influenced their decisions.
Temporary protected status permits individuals to legally reside and work in the United States, although it does not offer a pathway to citizenship. Since Republican Donald Trump’s return to office, Homeland Security has initiated termination procedures for the program covering multiple countries.
WASHINGTON — Directors at the Kennedy Center reached a unanimous decision Monday to cease operations for two years after this summer’s Independence Day festivities. The anticipated move follows a wave of artist departures and performance cancellations throughout President Donald Trump’s current administration, though Trump has pointed to necessary building renovations as justification for the temporary closure.
“We’re going to ensure it remains the finest performing arts facility of its kind anywhere in the world,” Trump stated to White House reporters prior to Monday’s board session.
Board members simultaneously selected Matt Floca to serve as the organization’s new CEO and executive director, taking over from Trump associate Richard Grenell. Grenell had implemented sweeping modifications at the cultural institution that sparked significant backlash from the artistic community and worsened the center’s fiscal difficulties. Trump offered praise for Grenell on Monday, describing him as a long-standing friend, while extending his best wishes to Floca “good luck with everything.”
According to the Kennedy Center, the decision received full board support, although Rep. Joyce Beatty abstained from voting. The Democratic representative from Ohio holds ex officio board status and filed legal action to prevent the Trump administration from barring her attendance at Monday’s session. A federal judge ruled over the weekend that she had the right to attend the gathering but stopped short of mandating her voting privileges.
Trump conducted the board meeting at the White House, demonstrating his considerable sway over the Kennedy Center throughout his second presidency. After resuming office last year, Trump removed the institution’s existing leadership and installed his chosen board of trustees, who subsequently appointed him as chairman. He also recruited Grenell, who had fulfilled various roles during Trump’s initial term when the former president largely disregarded the Kennedy Center.
The venue’s programming has since featured more Trump-aligned content, including hosting the debut of first lady Melania Trump’s documentary film “Melania.” Board members also declared they had rechristened the institution as the Trump Kennedy Center, a modification that legal experts and legislators argue requires Congressional approval, and physically mounted the president’s name on the structure’s exterior.
The artistic community’s response was immediate and severe. Performers including actor Issa Rae, musician Bela Fleck, and writer Louise Penny canceled scheduled appearances, while advisors like musician Ben Folds and vocalist Renée Fleming stepped down from their positions. This month, National Symphony Orchestra executive director Jean Davidson departed to lead the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Los Angeles.
Trump announced in February his intention to close the Kennedy Center for repairs to address what he characterized as a deteriorating structure, without acknowledging the canceled performances.
Before the shutdown, Grenell alerted employees about upcoming workforce reductions that would maintain only “skeletal teams.”
Floca, who succeeds Grenell, previously held the position of vice president of operations. His LinkedIn profile indicates he began working at the Kennedy Center in January 2024, during the Biden presidency.
A center announcement from that period characterized him as “an experienced facilities management professional with a construction management background and an appreciation for whole building design principles.”
Floca’s professional history on LinkedIn shows several roles within the District of Columbia government, including associate director of sustainability and energy and director of facilities management. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in construction management from Louisiana State University in 2009.
Exchange operator Cboe Global Markets announced Monday that it has filed documentation with federal securities regulators seeking authorization to provide nearly continuous trading of U.S. stocks on one of its trading platforms.
The filing reflects growing efforts by major exchanges to meet increasing investor appetite for around-the-clock access to American stock markets.
Competitor Nasdaq, which hosts major technology firms including Nvidia, Apple, and Amazon, previously indicated to Reuters in December that it planned to file similar documentation for continuous trading operations.
Under Cboe’s plan, the extended trading hours would launch on its EDGX Equities Exchange in December 2026, subject to Securities and Exchange Commission approval. The system would enable stock transactions from 9 p.m. Sunday through 8 p.m. Friday Eastern Time, with just one hour of downtime each weekday evening between 8 p.m. and 9 p.m.
“Cboe’s filing with the SEC is the latest step in ensuring we are ready to offer overnight trading once the industry launches in December,” stated Oliver Sung, head of North American Equities.
The company reported experiencing a 590% increase in average daily trading volume between February 2022 and February 2026, noting that it already provides early morning trading from 4 a.m. to 7 a.m. Eastern Time on two of its four exchange platforms.
Cboe operates trading systems for both stocks and derivatives, including instruments tied to its well-known VIX volatility index, commonly called the market’s “fear gauge.”
WASHINGTON – American diplomatic envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi have reportedly resumed direct communication through a previously established channel, according to sources cited by Axios on Monday.
The news outlet reported that officials familiar with the situation confirmed the renewed contact between the two representatives, though the depth and substance of their exchanges remains unclear. This represents the first documented direct dialogue between the nations since military operations began involving the United States and Israel against Iran.
According to Axios sources, Araghchi initiated contact by sending text messages to Witkoff. However, a U.S. official told the publication that Washington was “not talking” to Tehran, suggesting limited engagement from the American side.
Earlier reporting from Drop Site News had indicated that Witkoff was the one reaching out to the Iranian minister through messages. That outlet quoted Iranian officials who claimed Araghchi was disregarding communications from Witkoff.
The conflicting reports highlight the sensitive and complex nature of any diplomatic contact between the two countries amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Afghan Taliban officials accused Pakistan of conducting an airstrike that struck a drug treatment facility in Kabul on Monday, resulting in an unknown number of casualties, while Pakistani authorities denied hitting civilian targets.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting stated on social media platform X that their forces had struck “military installations” and “terrorist support infrastructure” in both Kabul and Nangarhar provinces.
According to Pakistani officials, the targeted locations housed weapons stockpiles and equipment utilized by Afghan Taliban forces and “Fitna al-Khawarij” militants, which is Pakistan’s designation for extremist fighters.
Pakistan’s military has not yet provided an official response to requests for additional information.
Cross-border hostilities between the two countries began escalating last month when Pakistan launched aerial attacks into Afghanistan, claiming they were aimed at militant bases. Afghan authorities condemned these operations as violations of their territorial sovereignty and responded with retaliatory strikes.
The issue of militant activity has become a major source of tension between the neighboring countries, which were once allies but are now adversaries. Pakistani leadership maintains that Afghanistan serves as a safe haven for extremists who carry out attacks against Pakistan, while Taliban representatives reject these accusations and argue that addressing militancy is Pakistan’s domestic responsibility.
Investment funds worldwide have intensively targeted financial sector stocks with short-selling strategies during the week ending March 13, according to a Goldman Sachs client report obtained by Reuters on Monday.
The investment strategy involved betting against shares of banking institutions, insurance companies, financial technology firms, and trading organizations, making financials the most heavily targeted sector throughout this year.
Goldman Sachs described the approach as investment funds “aggressively shorting” global financial stocks, with the sector experiencing net selling activity across international markets.
Short-selling strategies generate profits when stock prices decrease.
Financial sector performance has struggled significantly, with the S&P financials index declining more than 11% year-to-date, while European banking stocks have dropped approximately 8%.
The selling pressure stems from multiple concerns affecting the sector and broader markets, including potential economic consequences from Middle Eastern conflicts and growing awareness of deeper connections between traditional financial institutions and private lending operations.
A recent Moody’s analysis revealed that U.S. banking institutions had provided nearly $300 billion in loans to private credit companies as of June 2025.
JPMorgan Chase recently decreased valuations on certain loans made to private credit funds following their assessment of market disruption affecting software sector companies, as Reuters reported last week based on Financial Times coverage.
“When a large institution like JPM (JPMorgan) starts marking deals lower, markets pay attention because it raises the possibility that others may eventually have to follow,” said Bruno Schneller, managing director at Erlen Capital Management.
Schneller explained that investor concerns about potential valuation adjustments throughout the financial system lead to protective strategies. “If investors worry the marks across the system could move, the easiest way to hedge that risk is through liquid proxies like banks, insurers and financial indices,” he noted.
According to Schneller, short positions targeting financial stocks may represent less of a direct opinion on banking institutions themselves and more of a protective measure against credit risks affecting the broader financial ecosystem.
He suggested this approach might also provide investors with a method to protect their investment portfolios against potential recession impacts.
The Goldman Sachs report indicated that all financial sub-sectors except regional banks experienced net selling activity this year, with capital markets companies, financial services firms, and consumer finance organizations leading the decline.
The company that produces Jack Daniel’s whiskey announced Monday it has selected Jim Peters, a veteran executive from Whirlpool, to serve as its new chief financial officer beginning March 31.
Peters will take over from Leanne Cunningham, who plans to retire May 1, according to Brown-Forman’s announcement. Cunningham held the CFO position for almost five years and worked at the company for more than 30 years.
During Cunningham’s time as finance chief, Brown-Forman’s stock price dropped 68% as the company struggled with declining alcohol sales across multiple markets, including the United States, while broader economic instability created additional headwinds for the spirits industry.
Although the whiskey producer reported better-than-expected quarterly earnings in early March, company officials warned that fiscal 2026 will likely bring continued difficulties due to economic uncertainty and cautious consumer spending.
Peters brings a decade of experience from Whirlpool, where he will step down March 30, according to the appliance manufacturer’s separate announcement. He had already transitioned out of his CFO role at Whirlpool at the end of December.
Time is running out for sports fans hoping to attend the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, with ticket registration set to end on Tuesday, March 18.
Olympic organizers announced Monday that more than 5 million people from 197 countries and territories have already signed up at tickets.la28.org since January, showing tremendous early interest in the Games scheduled to begin July 14, 2028.
Those who complete registration before the Tuesday cutoff will enter a lottery system for the chance to purchase tickets during the first sales window, set for April 9-19. A separate presale for qualifying Southern California and Oklahoma residents will run April 2-6, since Oklahoma City will serve as the venue for softball and canoe slalom events.
Winners of the lottery will receive email notifications between March 31 and April 7. Selected buyers can purchase up to 12 Olympic event tickets based on availability, though opening and closing ceremony tickets are limited to four per person.
Meanwhile, the Olympic baseball competition is beginning to take shape as the Dominican Republic and Venezuela earned their spots through the 2026 World Baseball Classic qualifiers from the Americas region. They join the host United States in what will be a six-team tournament.
Baseball makes its Olympic comeback for the first time since Tokyo, with games scheduled for Dodger Stadium from July 13-19. The sport was among those added to the LA28 lineup. Three remaining team slots will be filled through international qualifying competitions in 2027 and 2028.
Soccer competition received an extension from Olympic officials, with matches now starting July 10 — four days ahead of the opening ceremony. This expanded timeline provides teams with two extra rest days compared to previous Olympic tournaments.
Seven American cities will host preliminary soccer rounds and quarterfinals: New York, Columbus, Nashville, St. Louis, San Jose, San Diego and Pasadena. The Rose Bowl will stage both men’s and women’s championship matches.
Complete soccer schedules and game times will be announced later this year, organizers said.
BRUSSELS, March 16 – European Union member nations and parliamentary representatives reached an impasse Monday over continuing interim regulations that dictate how major technology companies including Google and Meta identify and address child sexual exploitation material online.
The existing framework, which allows companies to voluntarily scan for and eliminate such harmful content while being exempt from stringent digital privacy regulations, has operated since 2021 but is set to lapse on April 3rd.
A representative from Cyprus, currently leading the EU’s rotating presidency, expressed disappointment with the outcome. “Regrettably the European Parliament insisted on amending the scope of the interim measure in a way that, in the view of the vast majority of member states, would have made this measure ineffective,” the spokesperson stated. “Today’s development creates a vacuum.”
Parliamentary members recently demanded that the temporary regulations exclude end-to-end encrypted messaging from oversight requirements, alongside additional modifications to the proposed framework.
The European Union implemented these interim measures after being unable to reach consensus on permanent legislation addressing this contentious issue, which has created tension between those advocating for enhanced online safety protocols and privacy rights defenders concerned about potential government overreach.
Comprehensive legislation targeting child sexual abuse material, initially proposed by the European Commission in 2022, remains stalled amid ongoing disagreements between opposing factions who have raised objections to fundamental aspects of the proposal.
Major technology corporations have actively opposed any mandates requiring messaging platforms, application marketplaces, and internet service providers to identify and eliminate both existing and newly created exploitative images and videos, as well as instances of online predatory behavior.
Officials in Abu Dhabi confirmed Monday that a blaze erupted at a major oil and gas facility following an unmanned aircraft strike, with no casualties reported thus far, according to the emirate’s media office.
The incident occurred at the Shah energy complex, which ranks among the globe’s most significant facilities of its type and sits approximately 180 kilometers (111.85 miles) southwest of Abu Dhabi.
Authorities were actively responding to the situation at the facility on Monday, working to address the fire caused by the aerial attack.
Veteran NFL defensive back Darius Slay Jr. has decided to end his professional football career, making the announcement through an Instagram post on Monday.
The 35-year-old cornerback, who was selected in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft, earned six Pro Bowl honors throughout his 13-year career in the league.
“Dear football, I wanna thank you for all you’ve done for me,” Slay wrote in his Instagram announcement video. “I’ve been blessed to play the game I loved since I was 5yrs old for an amazing 13yrs at the highest level. Football was my peace, my joy, my everything.”
“This game put me in a position to help take care of my family and loved ones and I’m forever grateful. It’s hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I’m ready to turn the page and start my new journey.”
During his career, Slay earned three Pro Bowl nominations while playing for Detroit from 2013-19, and another three during his time with Philadelphia from 2021-24. After the Eagles cut him last March, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 season, appearing in 10 contests with nine starts before being waived in early December.
Though the Buffalo Bills picked him up off waivers, Slay chose not to join the team and remained inactive for the rest of the season.
Prior to announcing his retirement, Slay had made his intentions clear in a social media video about his future plans.
“No team can call me but Eagles. No team can call me, everybody knows,” Slay stated.
The cornerback, who earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2017, concludes his NFL tenure with impressive statistics: 655 total tackles, 28 interceptions with three returned for scores, 17 tackles behind the line of scrimmage, 163 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and six fumble recoveries including two touchdown returns across 187 games with 176 starts.
SELBYVILLE — Delaware transportation officials have scheduled a two-day road closure in Sussex County to remove dangerous trees that pose a safety threat.
According to the Delaware Department of Transportation, a portion of Cypress Road will be shut down to traffic from March 21st through March 22nd while crews work to eliminate hazardous trees from the area.
The closure will affect the section of Cypress Road running from Daisey Road to Cliff Road, with work scheduled from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. each day, assuming weather conditions allow the operation to proceed as planned.
Transportation officials are advising drivers to reduce their speed when passing through active work zones and to plan for possible delays when traveling through the surrounding area during the closure period.
Additional details about this and other transportation projects can be found on DelDOT’s official website at www.deldot.gov.
Salisbury city officials have called off tonight’s City Council session that was set to begin at 6 p.m. on Monday, March 16th.
Deputy City Clerk Hannah Long announced the cancellation in a public notice, citing anticipated weather conditions and concerns for resident safety as the reasons for postponing the meeting.
City officials stated they will reveal the rescheduled date for the council session in the coming days.
The notice also indicated that council members maintain their authority to modify meeting agendas when needed and may enter closed executive sessions as allowed under Maryland state law section 3-305(b).
Wetland conservation has become a top priority for federal agencies working to safeguard these essential coastal ecosystems that support both wildlife and local economies nationwide.
Marshlands serve as critical nurseries for fish species and provide protection for numerous threatened and endangered species while simultaneously supporting thriving coastal communities that depend on fishing and tourism industries.
Conservation specialists are implementing comprehensive restoration programs designed to rebuild damaged wetland areas and establish protective measures for existing healthy marsh systems.
These vital ecosystems face ongoing threats from development pressure, climate change impacts, and pollution, making restoration efforts increasingly important for maintaining biodiversity and coastal resilience.
The initiatives focus on rebuilding natural water flow patterns, replanting native vegetation, and removing invasive species that disrupt the delicate balance of these unique environments.
Federal funding supports collaborative projects involving state agencies, local communities, and environmental organizations to ensure long-term success of marsh conservation programs.
Delaware’s Division of the Public Advocate has announced the appointment of Samantha Hajek to the position of Deputy Public Advocate, marking a significant step in strengthening consumer protection services across the state.
In her new role, Hajek will work to enhance the DPA’s ability to serve utility customers throughout Delaware. Her responsibilities will include supervising investigations into consumer complaints, broadening community engagement efforts, and working more closely with lawmakers and stakeholders.
The appointment represents the division’s commitment to expanding its advocacy work on behalf of Delaware residents who need assistance with utility-related issues.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball team has reached a significant milestone in program history by earning their very first postseason tournament invitation.
The Hawks will take the court Thursday in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament (WNIT), representing a breakthrough achievement for the university’s athletic department.
This historic postseason berth marks a new chapter for UMES women’s basketball, as the team prepares to compete on the national stage for the first time in the program’s existence.
The milestone appearance in the WNIT demonstrates the growth and development of the Hawks’ women’s basketball program under current leadership.
Residents living in the Rabbit Run and Surfers Way neighborhoods need to prepare for a planned water service disruption scheduled for March 24.
The advance notification was posted to alert community members about the upcoming interruption to their water supply. Households and businesses in these specific areas should make necessary preparations for the temporary loss of water service.
The public advisory was issued on March 16 to provide residents with adequate notice of the scheduled maintenance work that will affect water availability in their neighborhoods.
A new collection of photographs has been released showing the current situation on the ground in the Middle East, as military operations involving the United States and Israel against Iran continue into their third week.
The visual documentation has been assembled by Associated Press photography editors to provide a comprehensive look at the ongoing conflict in the region.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro’s health has taken a turn for the better, allowing doctors to move him from intensive care to a less critical unit at a Brasilia hospital, according to his wife Michelle Bolsonaro.
The 70-year-old ex-president showed significant improvement over a 24-hour period, with medical tests revealing decreased inflammation levels since his admission to the ICU on Friday due to pneumonia complications, Michelle Bolsonaro announced on her Instagram account.
“We remain confident he will overcome this moment too,” Michelle Bolsonaro said.
Medical staff at DF Star hospital reported on Sunday that Bolsonaro’s kidney function had shown improvement, though they had planned to keep him in intensive care due to his pneumonia diagnosis. The hospital has not yet issued a statement regarding his move to the semi-intensive care unit.
The former president, who held office from 2019 to 2022, was brought to the medical facility on Friday from the correctional facility where he is currently incarcerated, serving a 27-year term for orchestrating a coup attempt in 2023.
The controversial former leader was moved from the federal police headquarters to an expanded cell in January. Bolsonaro’s family members and political supporters have made numerous appeals to Brazil’s Supreme Court requesting permission for him to complete his sentence under home confinement.
This hospitalization marks another in a series of medical episodes for the right-wing politician, who has required hospital care on several occasions following a stabbing incident during a campaign rally prior to the 2018 presidential race.
Senator Flávio Bolsonaro, the former president’s son, is anticipated to launch a presidential campaign this year, challenging current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Jair Bolsonaro faces convictions on multiple charges, including orchestrating an armed criminal organization and attempting to violently dismantle democratic institutions. The former president maintains his innocence regarding all accusations.
HAVANA (AP) — Cuba’s entire population of 11 million people was left without electricity Monday as authorities confirmed a total power grid failure amid the nation’s worsening energy and economic struggles. The Caribbean island attributes its current difficulties to what it calls a U.S. energy embargo, implemented after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs in January against any nation providing oil to Cuba.
Cuba’s Ministry of Energy and Mines posted on X that the nation’s electrical infrastructure experienced a “complete disconnection” and announced they were looking into the cause.
Last Friday, President Miguel Díaz-Canel revealed the nation hasn’t received any oil deliveries for over three months, forcing reliance on solar energy, natural gas, and thermoelectric facilities. The power shortage has forced authorities to delay medical procedures for tens of thousands of citizens.
Just over a week ago, another major power failure struck the island’s western region, cutting electricity to millions of residents.
Essential oil deliveries from Venezuela stopped flowing after the United States took action against the South American nation in early January, including the arrest of former president Nicolás Maduro.
Although Cuba manages to produce 40% of its own oil and generates some electricity domestically, these resources fall short of meeting the population’s needs as the electrical infrastructure continues deteriorating.
President Díaz-Canel revealed Friday that Cuban officials are currently engaged in discussions with the U.S. government as the crisis continues to worsen.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Children swarmed onto the Dolby Theatre stage as Conan O’Brien began hosting the 98th Academy Awards, setting the tone for a ceremony where ‘One Battle After Another’ claimed the top prize and youthful energy seemed to dominate the evening.
An atmosphere of uncertainty about both immediate concerns and future generations hung over this year’s Academy Awards, influenced by ongoing conflicts, political upheaval, and questions about cinema’s direction in an AI-driven era. These Oscars carried a heavy dose of anxiety, with presenters and winners attempting to find hope amid widespread concerns.
‘We honor tonight not only cinema, but the principles of worldwide artistic expression, teamwork, perseverance, strength and that most uncommon trait in today’s world — hope,’ O’Brien declared during his opening remarks. ‘We will celebrate tonight. Not because everything is perfect, but because we continue working and hoping for improvement.’
The previous time the Academy Awards occurred immediately following a U.S. military engagement in the Middle East was in 2003, when ‘Chicago’ earned best picture honors just days after the Iraq War commenced.
However, Sunday evening told a different tale. The ceremony’s major victor, Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘One Battle After Another,’ a multigenerational story exploring revolution, immigration detention, and white supremacist themes, seemed perfectly suited for current times. The production, which earned six Academy Awards, succeeded partly because it resonated with contemporary issues.
When questioned about his film’s relevance and America’s trajectory during backstage interviews, Anderson, still processing his first Oscar victories — including best director and best adapted screenplay — after three decades in filmmaking, seemed momentarily surprised. ‘I assumed we were here to celebrate,’ he quipped.
However, Anderson, who had mostly refrained from discussing his movie’s themes directly during the awards circuit, acknowledged that his film drew strength from its contemporary relevance.
‘Our production clearly contains numerous connections to daily news events,’ Anderson stated.
‘Regarding future developments, I’m uncertain,’ he continued with a shrug. ‘However, I understand that our story concludes with our protagonist, Willa, departing to continue battling malevolent influences, and, as I mentioned in my acceptance speech, working to restore basic reasoning and moral behavior to prominence.’
The relationship between screen narratives and real-world events created an appropriately unsettled atmosphere for the 98th Oscars. For perhaps the first time in years, cinema and the Academy Awards seemed aligned with current circumstances. This alignment appeared not only in ‘One Battle After Another,’ but also in the post-apocalyptic journey film ‘Sirāt,’ the Iranian vengeance story ‘It Was Just an Accident,’ and Ryan Coogler’s ‘Sinners,’ examining forces that exploit Black communities.
While ‘One Battle After Another’ and ‘Sinners’ (four victories, including best actor for Michael B. Jordan and, marking a historic first for women and Black cinematographers, best cinematography for Autumn Durald Arkapaw) potentially indicated promising prospects for high-budget, original American cinema, their success also highlighted Hollywood’s rapidly changing landscape.
Warner Bros., the studio distributing these films, collected a record-matching 11 Academy Awards. David Zaslav, in a Monday staff communication, described it as ‘an extraordinary achievement for Warner Bros. Discovery.’ This triumph might also represent the studio’s final major victory as an independent entity. Warner Bros. has agreed to join with David Ellison’s Paramount Skydance in a transaction valued at $111 billion.
The entertainment industry, having already witnessed Amazon’s acquisition of MGM and Disney’s purchase of 20th Century Fox, understands that consolidation inevitably reduces employment opportunities. Los Angeles film production has declined dramatically in recent years.
O’Brien himself suggested his position might be temporary, describing himself as ‘the final human presenter’ of the Oscars, which will transition from ABC to YouTube in three years. Through comedic segments during the broadcast, O’Brien highlighted cinema’s current challenges. One sequence mocked classic widescreen movies reformatted for smartphone-friendly vertical viewing. Another imagined ‘Casablanca’ — coincidentally a Warner Bros. production — simplified with constant plot explanations for distracted streaming viewers.
Consequently, promoting Hollywood’s traditional glamorous image has become significantly more challenging during the industry’s premier evening. The Oscars now resemble an embattled motivational speech encouraging continued perseverance. Beyond the discussion surrounding Timothée Chalamet’s concerns about movies potentially becoming as niche as opera or ballet lay genuine worries about this major entertainment medium’s survival.
‘The cinema experience faces some vulnerability currently,’ director Joachim Trier explained to reporters after earning best international film for ‘Sentimental Value.’ ‘Therefore, I feel tremendous pride that audiences have supported our movie.’
Numerous winners avoided political commentary. Neither ‘Iran’ nor President Donald Trump’s name was mentioned during the televised ceremony, though presenter Jimmy Kimmel came close. Before announcing the best documentary category, Kimmel sarcastically noted the omission of ‘Melania.’
‘Oh, wow,’ Kimmel remarked. ‘He’s going to be upset his spouse didn’t receive a nomination for this.’
Following an awards season that frequently avoided political topics, many speakers were more direct. Presenter Javier Bardem approached the microphone and declared clearly: ‘No to war, and free Palestine.’ During the best documentary Oscar acceptance for ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin,’ Pavel Talankin, the educator featured in the film, spoke through translation: ‘For our tomorrow, for all our young ones, end these conflicts immediately.’
Jessie Buckley, the best actress recipient for her portrayal of a mourning mother in ‘Hamnet,’ similarly focused on children, particularly her eight-month-old daughter Isla ‘who is completely unaware of these events and is likely dreaming about her next feeding,’ Buckley shared.
Buckley expressed more optimism than most regarding future possibilities. From the podium, she told her spouse she desired ‘20,000 additional children’ with him. Yet repeatedly, Sunday’s award recipients found difficulty expressing appropriate sentiments for an era of deteriorating American unity and expanding warfare, instead returning to discussions about the world younger generations will receive. Trier, during his acceptance remarks, referenced James Baldwin.
‘I want to conclude by echoing the brilliant American author James Baldwin, who reminds us that every adult bears responsibility for every child,’ he stated. ‘Let’s avoid supporting politicians who don’t seriously consider this obligation.’
Ultimately, ‘One Battle After Another’s’ victory seemed increasingly certain since it clearly reflected many people’s current concerns. Anderson’s movie concludes with its young lead character, portrayed by Chase Infiniti, hurrying toward a demonstration while Tom Petty’s ‘American Girl’ begins playing.
‘How do you handle the situation when your parents, who carry their own wounds, have passed down a challenging legacy?’ Anderson explained backstage. ‘That represents our narrative.’
Air travelers faced a perfect storm of problems Monday as severe weather systems and ongoing government shutdown issues combined to create widespread flight disruptions across the United States.
More than 3,600 flights scheduled within or traveling to the U.S. were grounded Monday, with an additional 6,800 experiencing delays, according to FlightAware flight tracking data. The chaos stemmed from dangerous storm systems moving through the eastern United States while Transportation Security Administration workers continue operating without pay during a partial government shutdown that entered its second month.
The timing couldn’t be worse for air travel, as airports are packed with spring break vacationers and college basketball fans traveling to March Madness tournament games. The shutdown, which started February 14, has created staffing challenges at security checkpoints nationwide.
Major aviation hubs bore the brunt of Monday’s disruptions. Chicago O’Hare International Airport saw nearly 500 flight cancellations, while Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International experienced over 300 cancellations and John F. Kennedy International Airport had more than 230 flights scrapped.
The National Weather Service issued warnings about the advancing storm system, which had already dumped feet of snow across the Midwest and was moving toward the East Coast with dangerous winds and potential for “producing strong and long track tornadoes.”
Federal Aviation Administration officials implemented ground stops at Hartsfield-Jackson and Charlotte Douglas International Airport due to severe weather conditions, while also ordering ground delays at JFK and Newark Liberty International Airport.
Stranded passengers shared their frustrations as travel plans fell apart. Kelly Price, attempting to return to Colorado following a family trip to Orlando, Florida, learned her Sunday evening flight was canceled only in the early hours of Monday morning.
“By that time the only place for us to sleep was the airport floor. So we’re all tired and frustrated,” Price explained, noting that her family’s next available flight wouldn’t depart until Tuesday afternoon.
Similarly, Danielle Cash found herself stuck in St. Louis Sunday while trying to reach Tampa, Florida, after a Las Vegas weekend trip. She’s now paying hundreds of extra dollars for hotel accommodations in a snowy climate she wasn’t prepared for.
“It was 80 degrees in Tampa when I left and then going to Vegas,” Cash noted. “And it was 90 degrees in the desert.” She’s now scheduled on a flight routing through Tennessee before finally reaching Tampa Tuesday afternoon.
The travel disruptions coincide with TSA employees missing their first complete paycheck over the weekend. The current partial government shutdown specifically impacts the Department of Homeland Security, TSA’s parent agency. This marks the third shutdown in under a year leaving TSA personnel temporarily unpaid, with back pay only coming after government operations resume.
Congressional Democrats have stated that Homeland Security funding won’t be restored until new limitations are imposed on federal immigration enforcement, following the deadly shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis this year.
Airport security checkpoint delays have increased at some locations due to staffing shortages, as TSA workers seek additional employment, struggle with commuting costs, or leave their positions entirely. Homeland Security reported on social media last week that more than 300 TSA agents have resigned since the shutdown began.
During the weekend, chief executives from major airlines including Delta, American, United and Southwest sent an urgent appeal to Congress requesting restored Homeland Security funding and bipartisan legislation protecting federal aviation worker pay during future shutdowns.
“It’s difficult, if not impossible, to put food on the table, put gas in the car and pay rent when you are not getting paid,” the airline leaders stated in their congressional letter.
MAIDUGURI, Nigeria – Four separate explosions shook Nigeria’s northeastern capital of Maiduguri on Monday evening, according to security officials and local residents who witnessed the incidents.
The detonations occurred in the capital city of Borno state, an area that has been plagued by insurgent violence. Local sources reported that three of the explosions happened in Maiduguri’s downtown area – one near a postal facility, another close to a marketplace, and a third in the vicinity of a medical facility. A fourth blast was reported in the Kaleri district, security officials and residents told Reuters.
Authorities have not yet determined what triggered the explosions, and neither police nor military officials provided immediate statements about the incidents.
Earlier on Monday, Nigerian military forces issued a statement confirming they had successfully fought off attacks launched by suspected Islamic militants on Maiduguri’s outer areas during the early morning hours.
SALISBURY, Md. – Three student-athletes from Salisbury University earned recognition as Jersey Mike’s A Sub Above Player of the Week recipients following outstanding performances that caught the attention of conference officials.
The honors came from two different athletic conferences, with the Coastal Lacrosse Conference (CLC) and Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference (C2C) selecting the Sea Gulls athletes for their exceptional play during the March 9-15 period.
Men’s lacrosse dominated the CLC weekly awards, with Connor Herraiz and Blake Malamphy claiming both available honors from their conference. The pair’s performances helped sweep the weekly recognition for Salisbury’s men’s lacrosse program.
Meanwhile, women’s lacrosse player Reagan Davis achieved a personal milestone by earning C2C Defensive Player of the Week honors for the first time in her collegiate career, marking a significant achievement for the defensive standout.
Salisbury University’s men’s golf team saw their tournament come to an abrupt end when severe weather conditions forced organizers to cancel the competition entirely.
The Marymount Bernie Shootout, taking place in Virginia’s capital region, was shut down after torrential rainfall created unsafe playing conditions during the early portion of the event.
Tournament officials made the decision to call off the remainder of the competition rather than attempt to continue play or reschedule for later in the day.
The Sea Gulls golf squad will now look ahead to their next scheduled competition as they continue their season.
Residents living in select neighborhoods of Ocean Pines should prepare for a temporary interruption to their water service scheduled for Monday, March 17.
The planned service disruption will impact certain areas within the Ocean Pines community, though specific streets and timeframes for the outage have not been detailed in the official notice.
Local officials issued the advance warning to give residents time to make necessary preparations for the temporary loss of water service.
Community members are advised to store water for essential needs during the planned maintenance period.
The nation’s hop inventory has experienced a notable decline, with stockpiles dropping 13 percent when compared to the same period last year, according to new agricultural data released for March 1.
The decrease in hop reserves could have implications for breweries and other industries that rely on this essential ingredient for beer production and other products.
The inventory figures represent the stored quantities of hops available across the United States as measured on the first day of March.
Drivers in New Castle County should plan for delays on a busy stretch of Baynard Boulevard as road crews begin repair work next week.
State transportation officials say one lane will be closed on Baynard Boulevard from Shipley Road to Marsh Road beginning Tuesday, March 24th. The Delaware Department of Transportation expects the warm mix patching project to wrap up around Friday, April 3rd.
Construction crews will work during daytime hours from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., with flaggers on site to direct vehicles through the work zone. Motorists should expect delays and consider alternate routes during peak travel times.
NEWARK, Del. – Weather conditions have forced the cancellation of Tuesday’s scheduled tennis matchup between the University of Delaware Blue Hens men’s team and Temple University.
The contest, which was slated to begin at 12:00 p.m. on March 17th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has been called off due to poor weather conditions affecting the area.
Officials have not yet announced when the postponed match will be rescheduled. The Blue Hens will now await word on a new date to take on the Temple Owls.
NEWARK, Del. – The Blue Hens baseball program has revealed modifications to their upcoming home contest versus St. Joseph’s University.
The University of Delaware made the announcement regarding the altered scheduling for the matchup against the Hawks at their Newark campus facility.
Detroit Tigers star pitcher Tarik Skubal stands poised to potentially shatter contract records for pitchers when he enters free agency following next season. The left-handed ace has captured consecutive American League Cy Young Awards and secured a $32 million salary for this season after prevailing in his arbitration case.
Skubal will be eligible for free agency for the first time following next fall’s World Series, joining a potentially lucrative class that includes two-time All-Star pitcher Freddy Peralta, infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., and veteran slugger Randy Arozarena. Additional All-Star left-handed starters Trevor Rogers and Kris Bubic, both 28 years old, may also enter the market.
However, this upcoming free agency period faces uncertainty due to a possible work stoppage. Major League Baseball’s collective bargaining agreement concludes on December 1st, with the league reportedly planning to propose implementing a salary cap, creating questions about how negotiations will impact the next free agent class.
The previous CBA expiration following the 2021 season resulted in a 99-day lockout by team owners, though several major contracts were finalized before the work stoppage began. Notable deals included Cy Young recipient Robbie Ray’s five-year, $115 million agreement with Seattle, Marcus Stroman’s three-year, $71 million contract with Chicago Cubs, and the Texas Rangers’ massive middle infield investment totaling half a billion dollars with shortstop Corey Seager ($325 million over 10 years) and second baseman Marcus Semien ($175 million across seven years).
The following players could enter free agency after the 2026 campaign:
Skubal, approaching his 30th birthday in November, compiled a remarkable 31-10 record with a 2.30 ERA across 62 starts during his two Cy Young seasons. His overall six-year career shows a 54-37 record with a 3.08 ERA. His February arbitration victory over Detroit came after the team proposed $19 million. Last season, he posted a 13-6 record with the American League’s lowest 2.21 ERA in 31 starts, striking out 241 batters while walking just 33 across 195 1/3 innings. Currently, the largest pitcher contract belongs to Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s 12-year, $325 million deal with Los Angeles Dodgers from two years ago. The highest annual average of $43.3 million was achieved by three-time Cy Young winners Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer in their New York Mets contracts before both were traded during the 2023 deadline.
Peralta topped the National League with 17 victories and recorded 204 strikeouts last season, concluding his eight-year Milwaukee tenure before joining the Mets, who named him their opening day starter. The June 30th birthday celebrant holds a 54-34 record with 3.30 ERA over five seasons as a regular starter. His 2020 pre-arbitration five-year contract includes team options for both 2025 and 2026.
Chisholm, age 28, earned All-Star recognition again last season for the first time since serving as Miami’s primary second baseman in 2022. The Marlins subsequently moved him to center field before dealing him to New York Yankees at the 2024 deadline, where he returned to infield duties. His 2024 performance included a .242 average with 31 home runs, 80 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases.
Arozarena, who earned 2020 AL Championship Series MVP honors with Tampa Bay before claiming 2021 AL Rookie of the Year, achieved career-high numbers with 27 home runs, 76 RBIs, and 31 stolen bases last year during his first complete season with Seattle following his 2024 trade deadline acquisition from the Rays.
Rogers, selected 13th overall by Miami in 2017’s amateur draft, debuted with the Marlins in 2020 before being traded to Baltimore at last year’s deadline and subsequently sent to minor leagues within a month. He’s now set to start Baltimore’s season opener after missing two months last season with a right kneecap injury before posting a 9-3 record with 1.81 ERA across 18 starts.
Bubic achieved All-Star status last year but made only one additional start for Kansas City following the Midsummer Classic due to rotator cuff strain. He finished 8-7 with a 2.55 ERA.
Three-time National League batting champion Luis Arráez, who completed each championship season with different teams, signed a one-year, $12 million contract with San Francisco after his first free agency experience. The 28-year-old maintains a .317 career batting average with merely 215 strikeouts in 3,533 career plate appearances. He accumulated 584 hits over the past three seasons, with 460 being singles.
Third baseman Bo Bichette, who joined the Mets this offseason on a three-year, $126 million free agent contract, possesses an opt-out clause after this season. Similarly, 30-year-old right-hander Michael King, following his first free agency experience last offseason, signed a three-year, $75 million deal to remain with San Diego Padres and also has an opt-out option.
Players who might become free agents if team options aren’t exercised for 2027 include Atlanta Braves’ second baseman Ozzie Albies and outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr., Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr., and Houston third baseman Isaac Paredes. First baseman Yandy Diaz, the 2023 AL batting champion with a .290 career average, has a vesting team option with Tampa Bay.
Ray, who was traded to San Francisco two years ago, enters the final year of his pre-lockout contract. The 34-year-old holds an 88-81 record with 3.94 ERA across 12 major league seasons, having played for Detroit, Arizona, and Toronto, where he won his 2021 Cy Young Award.
Right-hander Shane Bieber, Cleveland’s 2020 AL Cy Young winner, made just two 2024 starts before undergoing Tommy John surgery and entering free agency for the first time. His new Guardians contract included a $16 million player option for this season, which he’ll spend with Toronto after being traded last July and making seven starts. The 30-year-old Bieber has compiled a 66-34 record with 3.24 ERA in 143 career games.
Sandy Alcantara, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner who is also 30, is scheduled to make his franchise-record sixth opening day start for Miami. He missed the entire 2024 season following Tommy John surgery but initially struggled upon return last year before finishing 7-3 with a 3.13 ERA over his final 12 starts. Miami holds a $21 million team option for 2027.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Four people lost their lives and several others sustained injuries when a controlled demolition operation went catastrophically wrong Monday in Kenya’s capital city, according to government officials.
Military personnel and emergency responders are currently searching through the debris for anyone who may remain trapped, the Interior Ministry reported. Photos from the scene showed emergency workers transporting victims away from the wreckage on medical stretchers.
Officials have not yet explained what caused the demolition operation to fail so disastrously, resulting in the casualties.
The structure was among multiple buildings “earmarked for removal under the ongoing Nairobi River Regeneration Project,” according to the ministry’s official statement.
While rescue teams successfully pulled at least two survivors from the wreckage, an Associated Press reporter present at the Blue Estate community in Shauri Moyo witnessed at least three fatalities being recovered from the debris. Government officials confirmed the death count reached four.
Such structural failures occur frequently throughout Nairobi, where the demand for housing far exceeds supply and corrupt construction companies regularly ignore safety standards or completely disregard building regulations.
Following a series of eight building failures that claimed 15 lives across Kenya in 2015, the president mandated a comprehensive review of structures nationwide to determine code compliance. The National Construction Authority’s investigation revealed that 58% of Nairobi’s buildings were deemed unsafe for occupancy.
The Vatican announced Monday the itinerary for Pope Leo XIV’s historic 10-day journey across four African nations, highlighting themes of interfaith cooperation, supporting violence victims, and strengthening Catholic communities in former colonial territories.
The pontiff’s April 13-23 expedition will mark the first papal visit ever to Algeria, featuring a stop at Algiers’ Great Mosque and a gathering with fellow Augustinian clergy in the birthplace of St. Augustine of Hippo, the 5th-century saint who inspired their religious community.
During his travels, Leo XIV will conduct a peace conference in northwestern Cameroon, visit a significant Marian sanctuary in Angola, and offer prayers at a memorial honoring victims of a devastating 2021 explosion in Equatorial Guinea that claimed over 100 lives due to alleged negligence.
Throughout the journey, the Pope will conduct meetings with regional bishops, hold Mass services for believers, and engage in private discussions with leaders from all four countries, including two who have governed for multiple decades.
The following highlights key destinations in each nation:
Leo’s opening day in Algiers includes meetings with government officials, a mosque tour, and gathering with the local Catholic population.
He will subsequently travel to Annaba, located on Algeria’s eastern coastline and formerly called Hippo, where St. Augustine resided until his death in 430. This theological pioneer of early Christianity left a lasting legacy that Leo will honor by meeting with Augustinian religious communities and exploring archaeological remains.
The pontiff will also conduct Mass at the capital’s basilica dedicated to St. Augustine.
Leo’s second destination is Cameroon, previously visited by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. His itinerary includes the capital Yaoundé, the commercial center Douala, and Bamenda, a prominent city in the North-West region.
Western Cameroon has experienced ongoing violence since English-speaking separatists began an uprising in 2017, seeking to establish an independent English-speaking nation separate from the French-speaking majority. This conflict has resulted in over 6,000 deaths and displaced more than 600,000 residents, according to International Crisis Group data.
A major highlight of Leo’s visit will be a “peace meeting” he will oversee in Bamenda on April 16, though participant details remain undisclosed.
The nation also faces violence from Boko Haram militants in northern regions, as the Islamic extremist organization’s Nigerian insurgency has extended into Cameroonian territory.
Some Cameroonians worry the papal visit might be exploited by the country’s leadership following a contested presidential election.
Cameroonian Jesuit priest and opposition figure Ludovic Lado shared his concerns with Leo through a public letter, cautioning that the visit might be “interpreted as an implicit form of endorsement of a discredited and illegitimate government.”
The nation’s 92-year-old President Paul Biya, who has held power for 42 years, was declared victorious in October’s presidential race, earning another seven-year term. However, his primary opponent, former government spokesperson Issa Tchiroma Bakary, continues asserting his rightful claim to victory.
The Pope’s Angola visit takes him to a former Portuguese territory in southern Africa with a predominantly Christian population. Catholicism represents the largest religious group in this Portuguese-speaking nation of approximately 38 million residents, reflecting the former colonial power’s influence.
Angola achieved independence from Portugal in 1975 but immediately descended into an extended and devastating civil war that concluded in 2002.
The Pope will tour the capital Luanda, the town of Muxima, and the city of Saurimo.
In Muxima, the pontiff will visit the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima, a Marian shrine within the Church of Our Lady of Muxima that has evolved into one of Angola’s most significant Catholic pilgrimage destinations.
Portuguese colonizers originally constructed the church around the late 16th century after establishing a fortress at Muxima. It became a crucial location in the Portuguese trans-Atlantic slave trade, serving as a baptism site for enslaved individuals before their forced transport to the Americas.
Leo’s concluding destination is Equatorial Guinea, which maintains one of Africa’s highest Catholic population percentages, with approximately 70% of its 1.9 million citizens practicing the faith. This reflects its Spanish colonial heritage, as the Catholic Church remains a powerful and influential institution in this Central African nation.
Though officially secular, Catholic Mass ceremonies are incorporated into state functions, including Independence Day observances.
Leo’s visit to the country, only the second following Pope St. John Paul II’s 1982 tour, will encompass three of the nation’s five dioceses in Malabo, the capital, plus Bata and Mongomo.
In Bata, Leo will visit with incarcerated individuals and pray at the memorial honoring victims of a 2021 military barracks explosion that killed more than 100 people. The blasts resulted from careless dynamite handling at a barracks near residential neighborhoods.
Equatorial Guinea has been governed by Africa’s longest-serving president, Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, who has maintained power since 1982 and faces accusations of operating an authoritarian government.
Catholics in Equatorial Guinea endured severe persecution under former President Francisco Macías Nguema, who shuttered churches in 1975 and officially prohibited the Catholic Church in 1978. Nguema sought to eliminate colonial influences. This decree was overturned when Teodoro assumed power through a coup.
Despite the country’s oil and gas-driven economy, at least 57% of the population lives in poverty, according to World Bank statistics.
The British Broadcasting Corporation submitted court papers Monday requesting a federal judge throw out Donald Trump’s massive $10 billion defamation claim, arguing the lawsuit threatens press freedom and robust journalism.
Trump initiated the legal action in December through a Florida federal court, targeting how the BBC edited footage of his January 6, 2021 remarks in a documentary. His complaint demands $5 billion for defamation and an additional $5 billion for unfair business practices.
The British network contends the Florida court has no authority over the matter since the documentary never broadcast in Florida or anywhere else in the United States. A federal judge in the Southern District of Florida has tentatively scheduled a trial for February 2027.
“We have therefore challenged jurisdiction of the Florida court and filed a motion to dismiss the president’s claim,” the BBC stated.
In their 34-page filing, BBC lawyers maintain that Trump cannot demonstrate the network “knowingly intended to create a false impression.” They argue his case “falls well short of the high bar of actual malice.”
The network warns of serious consequences for journalism, stating “the chilling effect is clear” when someone “among the most powerful and high-profile individuals in the world” pursues such litigation against media outlets that cover his activities daily.
“Early dismissal is favoured given the powerful interest in ensuring that free speech is not unduly burdened by the necessity of defending against expensive yet groundless litigation, which would constrict the breathing space needed to ensure robust reporting on public figures and events,” the filing states.
The controversial documentary, called “Trump: A Second Chance?”, aired shortly before the 2024 presidential election. Editors combined three separate quotes from different portions of Trump’s January 6th address, creating what appeared to be a single statement that seemed to directly encourage supporters to attack the Capitol.
The editing removed a portion where Trump urged supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
Trump’s lawsuit describes the BBC’s work as a “false, defamatory, deceptive, disparaging, inflammatory, and malicious depiction” and characterizes it as “a brazen attempt to interfere in and influence” the 2024 election.
While the BBC’s chairman issued an apology to Trump regarding the speech editing, acknowledging it created “the impression of a direct call for violent action,” the organization disputes any defamation occurred. The controversy led to the departures of the BBC’s chief executive and news director last year.
Federal health authorities announced Monday that seven individuals across three states have contracted E. coli infections connected to raw milk cheddar cheese, with most victims being young children.
The Food and Drug Administration identified California company Raw Farm as the probable source of the contamination, though the agency noted that no Raw Farm products have shown positive E. coli results during testing conducted throughout the outbreak timeframe.
Health officials documented cases spanning from September 2025 through mid-February. California reported five infections, while Florida and Texas each recorded one case. Children age 3 and under accounted for more than half the victims, and two individuals required hospital treatment.
Despite FDA recommendations for a voluntary product withdrawal, Raw Farm has refused to remove its raw cheese items from store shelves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised consumers to “consider not eating” these products.
Raw Farm owner Mark McAfee defended his decision against recalling the cheese, stating investigators haven’t established a definitive connection between his products and the illnesses.
“They have found no pathogens in any of our products,” McAfee stated during an interview. He challenged the FDA’s conclusion that the cases showed genetic similarities and criticized the timing of the outbreak announcement as too early.
According to the FDA, interviews with three infected individuals revealed all had consumed Raw Farm brand raw milk cheddar cheese. Laboratory analysis of patient samples demonstrated that the E. coli strains responsible for their infections shared close genetic relationships.
Health investigators continue gathering details from the remaining four cases. The ongoing investigation aims to pinpoint the contamination source and determine if other products may be involved in the outbreak.
BRUSSELS – Nine European nations have sounded the alarm about a Russian natural gas tanker floating without power in the Mediterranean Sea, warning European Union officials that the vessel could trigger a major environmental catastrophe.
Italy and France led the group of countries in sending an urgent message to the European Commission on Monday, expressing grave concerns about the current state of the ship and its dangerous cargo.
“The precarious condition of the vessel, combined with the nature of its specialised cargo, gives rise to an imminent and serious risk of a major ecological disaster in the heart of the Union’s maritime space,” the correspondence obtained by Reuters stated.
According to Russia’s transportation department, the ship known as Arctic Metagaz was transporting liquefied natural gas from Murmansk, an Arctic port, when it came under assault from Ukrainian naval drones that were reportedly launched from Libya’s coastline earlier this month. Ukrainian officials have not confirmed their involvement in any such operation against the vessel.
The White House announced Monday that President Donald Trump’s upcoming summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping may face postponement as Trump dedicates his attention to ongoing military operations involving Iran.
The potential delay of Trump’s planned March 31 to April 2 visit to China threatens to heighten diplomatic friction between Washington and Beijing, particularly as the Iran conflict adds another layer of complexity to already strained relations over trade and Taiwan disputes between the world’s largest economies.
Following joint military strikes by the United States and Israel, Iran has issued warnings about attacking ships navigating through critical waterways, despite Iranian vessels continuing to pass through at typical volumes. Trump has appealed to multiple countries, including China, for assistance in ensuring safe passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz, which handles roughly 20% of global daily oil shipments.
So far, Trump’s appeals for help have met with limited response. China, which brought in approximately 12 million barrels of oil per day during the opening months of 2026 – more than any other nation – has yet to formally address Trump’s assistance request.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt addressed reporters about the situation: “The president looks forward to visiting China. The dates may be moved. As commander-in-chief, it’s his number-one priority right now to ensure the continued success of this operation, Epic Fury. So we’ll keep you posted on the dates as soon as we can.”
In a Sunday interview with the Financial Times, Trump indicated he might delay the China meeting if Beijing refuses to assist with resolving the Strait of Hormuz situation.
During an appearance on Fox News’ “Fox & Friends,” Leavitt clarified the administration’s position: “I don’t think the meeting is in jeopardy, but it’s quite possible the meeting could be delayed.”
Shipping data analyzed by Reuters reveals that Iranian oil continues moving through the Strait of Hormuz at nearly regular levels, although broader Middle Eastern exports have plummeted by over 60% since hostilities began. According to U.S. Energy Department statistics, China receives the majority of Iran’s oil exports.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explained Monday that any trip postponement stems from war coordination responsibilities rather than disagreements over China’s strait assistance or trade issues.
“The President wants to remain in DC to coordinate the war effort,” Bessent stated. “Traveling abroad at a time like this may not be optimal.”
Chinese foreign ministry officials have not yet responded to requests for comment. Beijing typically doesn’t announce specific dates for Trump’s visit or reveal Xi’s schedule details well in advance.
Despite uncertainty about timing, summit preparations continue moving forward. White House staff maintained logistical planning for the trip Monday, while Bessent conducted discussions in Paris with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to establish potential trade and other agreements for the Trump-Xi meeting in Beijing.
These Paris negotiations, which started Sunday, saw Chinese representatives express willingness to consider additional purchases of American agricultural products, including poultry, beef, and various non-soybean crops, according to one source ahead of the second day of meetings. The discussions also covered rare earth mineral supplies predominantly controlled by China and new strategies for managing bilateral trade and investment.
Both Treasury Department and U.S. Trade Representative office spokespeople declined to provide details about the ongoing talks.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian addressed Trump’s comments during a routine press briefing: “Head of state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance to China-U.S. relations.” Lin confirmed that both nations are maintaining communication regarding the visit arrangements.
JERUSALEM – Fragments from Iranian ballistic missiles and pieces of Israeli defense systems that intercepted them scattered around Jerusalem’s historic Old City on Monday, landing near some of the world’s most revered religious locations, according to Israeli authorities.
Officials reported no injuries or significant structural damage at either the Church of the Holy Sepulchre or the elevated complex known as the Al-Aqsa compound to Muslims and Temple Mount to Jews – a contested location considered sacred by both religions.
Police released photographs showing three officers removing what looked like a large circular metal missile component from a red-tiled rooftop near the Holy Sepulchre, which marks the traditional location where Christians believe Jesus was crucified and entombed, drawing pilgrims from around the globe.
Additional images revealed officers cordoning off a section of the Al-Aqsa compound’s courtyard, which also contains the iconic golden Dome of the Rock, with small debris pieces scattered across the ground.
“Jerusalem District police, bomb disposal teams, and Border Police units have secured the sites and are currently working to eliminate any remaining risk to the public,” authorities stated in an official announcement.
PRAGUE – Czech President Petr Pavel delivered sharp criticism Monday against his government’s decision to slash military spending, joining a chorus of disapproval that includes the United States and other NATO partners questioning the country’s commitment to alliance defense goals.
The controversy stems from budget cuts approved by Prime Minister Andrej Babis’ populist ANO party, which assumed control in December. The administration pushed through a revised 2026 spending plan that allocates 154.8 billion crowns ($7.28 billion) to the defense ministry, representing just 1.73% of the nation’s gross domestic product – a reduction from the previous administration’s proposal.
While government officials claim their defense allocation reaches nearly 2.1% of total spending, the nation’s fiscal oversight body has raised red flags, noting this figure incorporates questionable items such as road construction projects that likely fail to satisfy NATO standards.
During a Monday meeting with Finance Minister Alena Schillerova, Pavel – who previously served as a NATO official – expressed his strong opposition to the spending reductions, according to a presidential office statement.
“According to the president, it is not justifiable that defence expenditures stagnate or even decrease at a time of growing security threats,” the official statement declared.
Pavel has repeatedly cautioned that inadequate defense spending could damage relationships with allied nations, though he has indicated he will not use his veto power to block the budget.
Schillerova acknowledged that Pavel “did not hide” his desire for increased military funding, but she stood by the administration’s financial plans.
Babis has argued that resources must be directed toward other critical areas, particularly healthcare initiatives. He maintains that the Czech Republic will still fulfill its NATO obligation to spend 2% of GDP on defense.
The budget approval by Czech lawmakers last Thursday prompted U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker to post on social media platform X that all alliance members “must pull their weight,” echoing similar concerns voiced by the American ambassador in Prague.
NATO’s European member nations face mounting pressure to boost their military investments. Alliance countries committed last year to increasing defense spending to 3.5% of GDP, plus an additional 1.5% for other defense-related investments over the coming decade. However, Babis has acknowledged that his country is not positioned to achieve this ambitious new benchmark.
A European Union border patrol vessel went down Monday in waters near Megisti, Greece’s easternmost island, leaving four of five people aboard injured, according to Greek officials.
Those on the boat included four Estonian citizens – among them Estonia’s ambassador to Greece – plus one Greek coast guard officer working with Frontex, the EU’s border patrol agency. Coast guard crews and a nearby catamaran rescued all five from the water and transported them to Kastellorizo’s medical facility.
The four hurt passengers were subsequently flown by Greek Air Force Super Puma helicopter to a Rhodes hospital for treatment. Officials have not yet determined what caused the vessel to go down.
Three prominent dairy industry organizations celebrated on Friday after the United States and Ecuador signed a new trade agreement that will open doors for American dairy exports in what has historically been a challenging market with high tariffs and restrictive trade policies.
The new deal will remove tariffs on multiple American dairy products, acknowledge U.S. regulatory standards including eliminating facility registration requirements and accepting dairy certificates from American authorities, reform Ecuador’s complex import licensing procedures for farm products, and safeguard 40 commonly-used cheese names such as parmesan. American dairy companies have struggled with these specific issues when trying to enter Ecuador’s market.
“Ecuador has long been a difficult market for U.S. dairy exporters to crack,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “This agreement puts in place the strong nontariff disciplines needed for U.S. dairy exporters of ingredients and various cheeses to make headway in growing their sales to Ecuador, while also improving the tariff landscape in this market.”
“Ambassador Greer, Ambassador Callahan and the USTR team have racked up yet another win for American dairy farmers with this Ecuador agreement,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “With an unprecedented investment in U.S. dairy manufacturing capacity, deals like this are vital to making it easier for international buyers to source the great products our dairy companies are making.”
“The European Union has been working aggressively in Ecuador for several years now to pursue market restrictions impacting sales opportunities for both local product and other non-EU products,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “Our thanks to the USTR team, in particular Ambassador Callahan, for delivering strong common names protection that will provide greater opportunities to sell U.S. products like ‘parmesan’ and ‘bologna’ in a growing region of Latin America.”
This marks the tenth trade agreement reached by the current Administration that creates new market opportunities for American dairy exports. The National Milk Producers Federation, U.S. Dairy Export Council, and Consortium for Common Food Names have committed to collaborating with the Administration to ensure successful implementation of the agreement’s terms.
AMSTERDAM – Dutch authorities announced Monday that four young men arrested following a bombing at a Rotterdam synagogue will face terrorism charges for their alleged role in the Friday morning attack.
According to prosecutors, the suspects – ranging in age from 17 to 19 years old – deliberately targeted the Jewish house of worship with the goal of terrorizing the local Jewish population.
“The acts were meant to instill fear in the Jewish community,” the prosecutors said.
Law enforcement officials took the four individuals into custody shortly after they allegedly set fire to the synagogue during the early morning hours on Friday. The arson attack resulted in an explosion at the religious facility.
MOSCOW – Russia’s highest-ranking military official announced Monday that his country’s forces have seized a dozen Ukrainian communities during the opening two weeks of March, according to reports from Russian government-controlled media outlets.
General Valery Gerasimov, who serves as the chief of Russia’s General Staff, made these claims while visiting troops in the southern theater of operations. The top commander stated that Russian military units are conducting offensive operations along every front line of what the Kremlin refers to as its special military operation in Ukraine.
The announcement comes as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues into its third year, with both sides claiming territorial gains and losses across multiple fronts.
Drivers in New Castle County should prepare for overnight disruptions on Route 896 this week as state transportation officials implement final adjustments to traffic flow patterns.
Delaware’s Department of Transportation has announced that northbound Route 896 will be completely shut down during overnight hours on both Monday, March 23rd and Tuesday, March 24th. The affected section runs from Old Baltimore Pike to Welsh Tract Road.
The temporary closures are necessary for crews to put the finishing touches on new traffic configurations along the corridor. DelDOT officials noted that all construction activities depend on favorable weather conditions.
Motorists who regularly travel this route during late evening or early morning hours should plan alternate routes for both nights to avoid delays.
A traffic incident has forced authorities to completely shut down Choptank Road in both directions at its intersection with Armstrong Corner Road.
The road closure is currently in effect as officials respond to the incident. Drivers traveling through the area should seek alternative routes to avoid delays.
No additional details about the nature of the incident or expected duration of the closure have been released at this time.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University’s highly-ranked baseball squad encountered a rough outing Monday morning, falling 10-2 to Oswego State at their home venue, Donnie Williams Sea Gull Baseball Stadium.
The Sea Gulls, who entered the contest ranked second nationally, struggled throughout the matchup against the visiting Lakers. The lopsided defeat marked a significant stumble for the typically dominant Salisbury program on their own turf.
The loss represents a setback for the Sea Gulls as they continue their season, with the team looking to bounce back from this challenging performance against Oswego State.
A league source confirmed Monday that the Kansas City Chiefs have acquired quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets through a trade agreement.
According to the source, who spoke anonymously since neither organization has officially announced the transaction, Kansas City will send a sixth-round selection in the 2027 draft to New York in exchange for Fields. The Jets will also cover $7 million of Fields’ $10 million guaranteed contract for the upcoming season.
ESPN initially broke the story, though the agreement remains contingent on Fields passing a physical examination.
The 27-year-old signal-caller inked a two-year, $40 million contract with New York last March, including $30 million in guaranteed money. Fields started most games early in the season before losing his position to Tyrod Taylor during Week 12 in November. His season concluded when the team placed him on injured reserve in late December due to a knee problem, preventing him from taking another snap.
During his time as New York’s starting quarterback, Fields compiled a 2-7 record while throwing seven touchdown passes against just one interception for 1,259 passing yards. His struggles included four contests where he threw for under 55 yards, with his lowest output being 27 yards in a Week 2 defeat against Buffalo.
Kansas City has been seeking an experienced backup quarterback who could step in should two-time MVP Patrick Mahomes not be ready for the season opener while recovering from torn knee ligaments suffered late in the previous campaign.
Fields’ departure from New York became increasingly likely following the Jets’ acquisition of Geno Smith last week. Despite holding onto Fields through the beginning of free agency, general manager Darren Mougey ultimately found a trading partner in Kansas City.
Originally selected 11th overall by Chicago in the 2021 draft, Fields spent three seasons with the Bears before being dealt to Pittsburgh in 2024. When Russell Wilson was sidelined with a calf injury, Fields took over as Pittsburgh’s starter and helped lead the Steelers to a 4-2 record while contributing five passing touchdowns, five rushing touchdowns, and just one interception. However, once Wilson returned to health, Pittsburgh returned to the veteran quarterback and Fields returned to a reserve role.
Following his signing with New York last offseason to replace the released Aaron Rodgers, Fields expressed confidence in his ability to succeed as an NFL starter. Unfortunately, those results never materialized during his time with the Jets.
After New York stumbled to an 0-7 start in what became a disappointing 3-14 inaugural season under head coach Aaron Glenn, team owner Woody Johnson pointed to inadequate quarterback performance from Fields as a major factor in the team’s poor showing.
“The defense is pretty good. If we can just complete a pass, it would look good,” Johnson stated during the NFL’s fall owners meetings last October. “We’ve got to complete some passes. You’ve got to convince them that you can do something. Otherwise it’s hard to have a game that you can win.”
Throughout his professional career, Fields holds a 16-37 record as a starting quarterback with 9,039 passing yards, 52 touchdown passes, and 32 interceptions. He has also contributed 2,892 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.
The first American pope will receive Philadelphia’s prestigious Liberty Medal through a virtual ceremony from Rome, choosing to skip the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations this summer.
Pope Leo XIV will participate in the remote award presentation on July 3rd at Independence Mall, while he spends America’s birthday on Lampedusa, a Sicilian island where countless African migrants arrive seeking refuge in Europe.
The National Constitution Center announced Monday that the pontiff is being recognized for “his lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world — ideals enshrined by America’s founders in the First Amendment.”
The annual Liberty Medal recognizes individuals “of courage and conviction” who champion freedom globally. Previous honorees include Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and deceased civil rights icon U.S. Rep. John Lewis.
Born Robert F. Prevost in Chicago, Leo completed his education at Villanova University near Philadelphia in 1977 before entering religious life.
Vatican officials confirmed the pope’s extensive travel schedule includes touring Italy and visiting four African countries, but no U.S. trips are planned despite receiving an invitation from President Donald Trump.
Leo continues the work of his predecessor by drawing attention to global migration challenges.
Pope Francis made Lampedusa his inaugural journey beyond Rome following his 2013 papal election, conducting Mass using an altar constructed from wrecked migrant vessels while condemning the “globalization of indifference” — rhetoric that strained relations with Trump’s first presidency.
Francis previously visited Philadelphia during a six-day American tour in 2015.
A 41-year-old Afghan refugee who assisted U.S. military forces in his homeland has died at a Dallas-area hospital following his detention by federal immigration officials, authorities confirmed.
Mohommad Nazeer Paktyawal passed away at Parkland Hospital in Dallas on Saturday morning, just one day after U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers took him into custody.
Medical officials have not yet determined what caused his death. However, Paktyawal’s relatives say he showed no signs of illness before his arrest.
“We still cannot understand how this happened. He was only 41 years old and was a strong and healthy man. His children keep asking when their father will come home,” the family said in statement.
According to ICE officials, Paktyawal faced arrest on September 16th for allegedly defrauding SNAP, the nation’s largest food assistance program. The agency also arrested him on November 1st on theft charges.
During his Friday arrest and intake procedures, Paktyawal did not mention any existing health conditions, ICE reported.
While being held in an ICE Dallas field office processing room Friday evening, Paktyawal started experiencing difficulty breathing and chest pain, officials said. Emergency responders transported him to Parkland Hospital where medical staff treated him overnight.
Saturday morning, hospital staff observed that Paktyawal’s tongue had swollen while he was eating breakfast. Medical personnel attempted numerous life-saving procedures, but he died at 9:10 a.m., ICE stated.
“His passing is currently under active investigation,” ICE said.
Paktyawal had previously worked with U.S. military special operations forces in Afghanistan before arriving in America as a refugee after U.S. forces withdrew and the Taliban regained control in August 2021, according to #AfghanEvac, a San Diego organization that assists Afghan allies in resettling.
The father of six was residing in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, with his family while awaiting resolution of his asylum application, #AfghanEvac reported.
Fatalities in ICE detention facilities have increased dramatically during Trump’s current presidency.
The agency documented 14 deaths in custody between October 1st and January 6th of the current fiscal year, putting it on track to exceed last year’s total of 24 deaths. ICE recorded 12 custody deaths during fiscal year 2024 and 12 deaths total across the previous three years.
ICE has expanded its detention population to over 70,000 individuals from approximately 40,000 when Trump’s second term began. The agency plans to allocate $38.3 billion to increase capacity to 92,600 beds by November’s end, including converted warehouse facilities designed to hold up to 10,000 detainees each.
President Donald Trump announced Monday on social media that his White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles has received a diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer, though she intends to maintain her role throughout her medical treatment.
In his statement, Trump characterized Wiles’ medical outlook as “excellent” and praised her as “one of the strongest people I know.” He indicated that Wiles will start her treatment right away while continuing her responsibilities as one of his most trusted advisors.
“During the treatment period, she will be spending virtually full time at the White House, which makes me, as President, very happy!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “She will soon be better than ever!”
The announcement comes during a period when the Republican president faces numerous complex issues both domestically and internationally, including ongoing conflict in Iran, rising oil costs, upcoming midterm elections, and public concerns about economic affordability.
At 68 years old, Wiles has maintained a long alliance with Trump, advancing from serving as his campaign co-chair to becoming his most trusted advisor and counselor. Making history as the first female White House chief of staff, Wiles built her career over many years as both a lobbyist and political strategist in Florida, where she managed Trump’s 2016 state campaign efforts.
While Wiles typically avoids public attention, she gained notice in December following a remarkably frank interview with Vanity Fair where she offered criticism of several Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Attorney General Pam Bondi. Following the interview, Trump demonstrated his continued confidence in Wiles by dismissing the piece as a “hit piece” and calling Wiles “fantastic.”
In Monday’s announcement, Trump emphasized again that Wiles remains “tough and deeply committed to serving the American People.”
“Melania and I are with her in every way, and we look forward to working with Susie on the many big and wonderful things that are happening for the benefit of our Country,” Trump stated, referencing First Lady Melania Trump.
A federal antitrust case against entertainment giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary moved forward Monday in New York, with three dozen states continuing their legal battle after the U.S. Justice Department reached a settlement deal last week.
In Manhattan federal court, Judge Arun Subramanian asked jurors whether they had seen any media coverage during the week-long break in proceedings. When no hands went up, he informed them that Arkansas, Nebraska and South Dakota had reached settlements and dropped out of the lawsuit.
The trial then continued with state attorneys questioning Jay Marciano, who heads AEG Presents, Live Nation’s primary rival in the concert promotion business.
The case nearly collapsed last week when federal prosecutors announced their tentative agreement with Live Nation. State attorneys requested a mistrial, but later withdrew that motion after Judge Subramanian encouraged several days of negotiations between the parties.
On Friday, attorneys indicated seven additional states were close to joining the federal settlement, but the judge ruled that any state without a finalized agreement by Monday would stay in the case.
The 36 remaining states plus Washington D.C. maintain that Live Nation Entertainment and Ticketmaster use intimidation, punishment and other anti-competitive methods to dominate concert promotion and ticket sales, ultimately harming consumers with higher prices.
Defense attorneys for the companies argue the entertainment ticketing market is far more complex than states claim, contending it’s impossible to monopolize an industry where artists, sports franchises and venues ultimately control pricing and sales methods.
Federal officials announced their settlement after securing promises from Live Nation to allow competing ticketing companies greater market access, which they say will reduce consumer costs. However, multiple states have criticized the federal deal as insufficient, arguing the government didn’t extract enough meaningful changes from the company.
Multiple media sources confirmed Monday that Northern Illinois University has selected Matt Majkrzak from Northern Michigan to take over as head basketball coach for the Huskies.
During his tenure leading the Wildcats in Marquette, Michigan, Majkrzak posted an impressive 136-73 coaching record across seven seasons, successfully taking his teams to four straight Division II NCAA Tournament appearances.
The coach, who earned Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Coach of the Year honors twice, saw his most recent campaign conclude Sunday following an 86-68 defeat to Walsh University in the NCAA Tournament’s second round.
Majkrzak steps in to replace Rashon Burno, whom the university dismissed on March 7 after the team finished with a disappointing 9-21 record this past season.
The Huskies are preparing for a significant conference change, as they will move most of their athletic programs to the Horizon League later this year, ending a 29-year run in the Mid-American Conference.
Northern Illinois basketball has struggled to reach the NCAA Tournament, with their last appearance dating back to 1996 when they competed in the Midwestern Collegiate Conference, which later became known as the Horizon League.
Financial markets are showing signs of nervousness as bond investors retreat to safer positions amid escalating Middle East tensions, particularly focusing on short-term U.S. Treasury securities before the Federal Reserve announces its latest policy decision.
Market analysts anticipate the Federal Open Market Committee will maintain its current benchmark interest rate between 3.50% and 3.75% when its two-day meeting concludes Wednesday. Fed officials are carefully weighing how the Iran conflict might affect their core objectives of maintaining stable prices and full employment.
Despite growing caution, many market participants expect the Middle East situation to remain limited in scope and duration, potentially restricting oil price impacts on inflation. This scenario could provide the Federal Reserve flexibility to reduce rates later this year, potentially boosting Treasury bonds and broader debt markets, according to some investors.
However, the current mix of international tensions, persistent inflation, and employment market softening has created uncertainty about the Fed’s future policy path, leading portfolio managers to exercise increased caution. This ambiguity has driven some investors away from long-term bonds until greater clarity emerges regarding both the conflict’s progression and central bank responses.
Danny Zaid, a portfolio manager at TwentyFour Asset Management, explained the current market sentiment: “Investors are more cautiously positioned and have avoided riskier parts of the bond market.”
“Volatility in rates is going to continue to be high. We continue to be neutral in duration at least until we get more clarity on the conflict,” Zaid added.
Duration represents bond risk by measuring how security values respond to interest rate changes. Maintaining neutral duration involves matching portfolio composition to benchmark standards – essentially a cautious approach that avoids extended-term commitments currently.
Recent data from J.P. Morgan’s Treasury Client Survey reveals that active clients now maintain their highest short positions since early February, demonstrating efforts to minimize interest-rate exposure.
This month has seen two-year Treasury yields surge 31 basis points, heading toward their largest monthly jump since October 2024. This reflects concerns that central banks may be unable to cut rates due to oil price-driven inflation pressures. Current U.S. two-year yields stand at 3.69%.
Many investors believe two-year yields have room to decline, arguing that short-term Treasuries have absorbed most selling pressure since the war started, pushing yields to seven-month highs.
U.S. crude oil futures have surged 46% this month, tracking toward their biggest monthly increase since May 2020.
Brad Conger, chief investment officer at Philadelphia-based Hirtle Callaghan, which manages assets for endowments and charitable organizations, outlined a critical economic threshold: “There’s a tipping point where the increase from energy-driven inflation becomes demand destruction that starts to reduce consumer spending.”
“Treasuries are a hedge against a slowdown in the economy whether the war ends quickly or whether it drags on,” Conger noted.
Interest rate futures markets have essentially eliminated expectations for Fed cuts this year. Current pricing reflects just 24 basis points of potential easing, down from 55 basis points before the war began, according to LSEG data.
Seth Meyer, global head of client portfolio management at Janus Henderson Investors, sees opportunity in the current environment: “Rates to me are becoming an opportunity, particularly on the front end of the curve. You’re eliminating most cuts in the near term.”
Wednesday’s Fed meeting will provide sharper focus on rate direction when officials release their economic projections summary, including rate forecasts called the “dot plot.”
December’s “dots,” from the Fed’s last rate cut to the current 3.50%-3.75% range, indicated only one additional 25-basis-point reduction this year. The median policymaker’s neutral rate estimate – neither restraining nor stimulating economic growth – remained at 3%.
Investors generally don’t anticipate significant guidance changes from the Fed at the upcoming meeting, given the ongoing Iran conflict.
Olumide Owolabi, head of the U.S. rates team at Neuberger Berman, expressed the prevailing uncertainty: “Determining the next step is anybody’s guess at this point. I don’t see the Fed changing its long-term outlook…just because the level of uncertainty is super elevated.”
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Monday called on the Federal Reserve to convene an emergency session to lower interest rates immediately.
Speaking to members of the press, Trump said the central bank should organize a “special meeting” to reduce rates “right now.”
The president’s comments came as he addressed reporters in the nation’s capital on Monday.
Major League Soccer officials announced Monday that the league’s championship game for 2026 will occur on Friday, December 18.
The venue for the MLS Cup will be determined by which finalist had the superior regular-season performance, with that team earning home-field advantage.
The 2026 campaign represents the last complete season under the current format, as MLS plans to shift to a summer-spring calendar beginning in 2027-28. Between these seasons, the league will conduct a shortened 14-match transitional season running from February through May of next year.
Eighteen teams will advance to postseason play, with the top nine clubs from both the Eastern and Western conferences earning playoff berths. The postseason will kick off with wild-card contests on November 18.
First-round playoff action will feature best-of-three series from November 20 through December 2. Conference semifinal matches are set for December 5-6, while conference championship games will take place December 11-12.
Apple TV will provide live coverage of all playoff contests. Additionally, the championship final and selected other postseason matches will be available on Fox Sports for American viewers and on TSN and RDS for Canadian audiences.
Luxury retailer Saks Global announced Monday it has obtained access to an additional $300 million portion of its $1.75 billion bankruptcy financing arrangement, while also receiving endorsement from a bondholder group for its five-year recovery strategy.
The high-end retailer entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings in January, stating it required the financial resources to rebuild relationships with suppliers and gain additional time to restructure its outstanding obligations.
According to the company’s Monday announcement, this latest funding installment finalizes its “pre‑emergence financing package,” providing adequate cash flow to maintain day-to-day operations.
Major components of the bondholder-endorsed recovery strategy, which anticipates expansion and profit growth supported by strong cash reserves, will be incorporated into Saks Global’s reorganization proposal expected to be submitted to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas in the coming weeks.
During its bankruptcy proceedings, Saks Global has utilized the opportunity to close the majority of its budget-oriented retail locations. The company has shuttered 20 out of 33 Saks Fifth Avenue stores since entering Chapter 11 with $3.4 billion in outstanding debt.
The retailer reported improvements in its supply chain management, with nearly 600 brands resuming shipments and generating $1.4 billion in retail revenue.
“We have made significant progress over the past two months as we work to position Saks Global for the future, quickly stabilizing our business, improving inventory flow and investing in our transformation,” stated Geoffroy van Raemdonck, CEO of Saks Global.
Motorists in the Newark area should expect delays as emergency utility repairs have forced the closure of one westbound left turn lane on Route 72 at its intersection with Route 4.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that crews are currently working to address urgent utility infrastructure issues at this location. The lane restriction remains in place while repair work continues.
Drivers are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when navigating through this area. Officials have not provided an estimated timeline for when the lane will reopen to traffic.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that emergency utility repairs have forced the closure of one eastbound left turn lane on Route 72 at the Old Baltimore Pike intersection.
The lane restriction affects eastbound traffic attempting to make left turns at this location. DelDOT has not provided an estimated timeline for when the emergency utility work will be completed and the lane reopened to traffic.
Drivers are advised to expect delays and consider alternate routes if possible while crews work to address the utility issue. The closure remains in effect until further notice.
Drivers using DE-72 near Old Baltimore Pike should expect traffic delays as emergency utility repairs force the closure of one eastbound left turn lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that crews are currently working to address utility infrastructure issues at the intersection, requiring the temporary lane restriction.
Motorists are advised to use alternate routes when possible or allow extra travel time when navigating through the affected area. The duration of the emergency repairs has not been specified.
Traffic officials recommend exercising caution when approaching the work zone and following posted signs and flagging personnel directions.
The National Basketball Association could take a significant step toward growing from 30 to 32 teams when league governors convene next week to discuss adding franchises in Seattle and Las Vegas, according to two sources familiar with the plans who spoke to The Associated Press on Monday.
Team owners will vote on whether to proceed with these two cities as the exclusive focus for expansion efforts, the sources revealed.
The sources requested anonymity since the league has not made these details public.
Getting approval requires support from three-quarters of team governors, which means at least 23 of the 30 franchises must back the proposal. League officials will also receive updates about ongoing discussions between the NBA and FIBA regarding plans for a new European basketball league, one source indicated.
ESPN was first to report the scheduled vote.
The expansion discussion comes as no shock since the board meets just a few times annually, and Commissioner Adam Silver has repeatedly stated that a final decision about adding one or two new teams will come before the end of 2026.
“Not a secret, we’re looking at this market in Las Vegas. We are looking at Seattle,” Silver said in December, while in Las Vegas for the NBA Cup final. “We’ve looked at other markets as well. I’d say I want to be sensitive there about this notion that we’re somehow teasing these markets, because I know we’ve been talking about it for a while.”
Multiple complex issues remain under consideration, including determining expansion fees for new franchises — expected to reach billions of dollars, with some league insiders believing costs could surpass $6 billion — and evaluating how two additional teams might affect game quality.
Silver explained last July that team owners requested a comprehensive examination of expansion impacts, including how it might dilute player talent across the league and the various consequences of selling ownership stakes.
Adding both Las Vegas and Seattle would likely require moving one current Western Conference team to the Eastern Conference to balance the league with 16 teams per side. Based on geography, Minnesota, Memphis, and New Orleans appear to be the most logical candidates for such a switch.
Seattle previously hosted the SuperSonics until the franchise relocated to Oklahoma City in 2008. Las Vegas has pursued a team for years, with Basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson frequently mentioned among potential ownership groups for a franchise there.
Major League Baseball is advancing its automated umpiring technology experiment, promoting the robot umpire challenge system from Class A competition to the Triple-A level.
The league will simultaneously test repositioning second base completely within the infield boundaries, which would shorten the distance between bases by 9 inches, based on a memo distributed to teams recently.
Additional experiments include limiting pitcher disengagements from two attempts to one per batter and implementing tighter restrictions on batter timeouts and pitch clock resets related to PitchCom, the electronic communication system introduced in 2023.
At the lowest minor league levels, MLB will trial allowing starting pitchers to return to games after being removed. While this change isn’t anticipated for major league adoption, officials view it as a way to enhance player development and health management through more adaptable workload distribution.
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System, commonly known as the robot umpire, will debut when the season begins March 25 after undergoing testing in minor leagues since 2019. Under this system, batters, catchers, or pitchers can contest ball and strike decisions made by human umpires, with each team receiving two challenges that are retained if successful. Teams gain extra challenges during extra innings.
Testing for disputed swing calls began May 20 in the Class A Florida State League and continued through the Arizona Fall League.
Beginning May 5, the swing challenge experiment will expand to include the Triple-A Pacific Coast League alongside the Florida State League.
“The batter, pitcher or catcher may also appeal the umpire’s decision regarding whether the batter swung at a pitch,” stated the memo from MLB vice president of on-field strategy Joe Martinez to general managers and club executives. “A swing will be considered to have occurred if the maximum angle between the bat head and the bat handle exceeds 45 degrees.”
Martinez reported that strikeout rates decreased by 3% during the previous year’s trials.
Umpires working Triple-A International League games will receive instructions to use the 45-degree measurement when determining swings. Current Official Baseball Rules don’t establish specific criteria for checked swings, only stating: “A strike is a legal pitch when so called by the umpire, which is struck at by the batter and is missed.”
For decades since the 1970s, catchers have been permitted to request plate umpires appeal non-strike calls on checked swings to first and third base umpires, though no appeals were allowed when strikes were called on checked swings.
Starting pitchers may re-enter games after removal in the Arizona Complex League, Florida Complex League, and Dominican Summer League. Removed starters become eligible to return if they pitched at least 25 times during their final inning, can only return at inning starts, and may re-enter just once.
MLB expanded base sizes from 15-inch to 18-inch squares in 2023, resulting in increased stolen base attempts due to the 4.5-inch reduction in distance between first and second, and second and third bases.
Second base has traditionally been positioned centered on its designated spot, but the International League experiment will place it “entirely within the perimeter of the infield diamond during the second half” of the season.
Noting that average nine-inning game duration increased from 2 hours, 36 minutes in 2024 to 2:38 last season, and stolen base success rates dropped from 80.2% in 2023 to 77.8% last year, MLB plans to test modified pitch clock regulations.
Triple-A teams will be charged with a mound visit if play stops due to PitchCom malfunctions, and teams without remaining visits will receive an automatic ball.
At every level, clocks will continue running when catchers exit the catcher’s box to signal defensive positioning, and all personnel except pitchers and coaches must clear the mound before visit time expires. Violations will result in automatic balls.
High-A batters won’t be permitted to call time with empty bases, while Class A will prohibit all timeouts. Exceptions will apply for brushback pitches, potential injuries, or equipment malfunctions.
Double-A will see pitcher disengagement limits reduced from two to one attempt.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haitian law enforcement officials have taken into custody legislator Arnel Belizaire following accusations of terrorism financing and conspiring against national security, according to authorities.
This capture represents another chapter in Belizaire’s troubled legal history within a nation where influential political leaders have historically avoided consequences for their actions. Several of these figures have connections to funding and backing criminal organizations that maintain control over roughly 90% of Port-au-Prince, the nation’s capital city.
The country’s National Police revealed the arrest Sunday evening, bringing to a close their search for the prominent politician that began approximately two months earlier.
Previously, Belizaire dismissed the warrant for his arrest as politically motivated harassment. Legal representation for him could not immediately be confirmed.
Just days before his capture, Belizaire had completed registration for his newly formed political organization ahead of the scheduled general election.
The United States had already designated Belizaire for “significant corruption” in the previous year, implementing travel restrictions that prevent him and his close family from entering American territory.
Belizaire’s legal troubles date back to the early 2000s when he faced arrest on unlawful firearms possession, resulting in imprisonment. After breaking out of custody and being recaptured, he managed another escape during Haiti’s catastrophic 2010 earthquake.
Following his 2011 election to Haiti’s legislative body, authorities detained him again after discovering his earthquake-related escape. However, he gained freedom through political intervention.
Years later, Belizaire faced another arrest on weapons trafficking allegations, though prosecutors ultimately dismissed those charges.
Kansas City is close to completing a deal to acquire quarterback Justin Fields from the New York Jets, according to reports from several news sources on Monday.
In the transaction, New York will receive a sixth-round selection in the 2027 draft, while Kansas City will cover $3 million of Fields’ guaranteed $10 million contract.
This transaction creates approximately $4 million in salary cap relief for the Jets while providing Kansas City with additional depth at quarterback behind Patrick Mahomes, who is working back from an ACL tear he suffered during Week 15 of the previous season.
The 30-year-old Mahomes hopes to be ready for the season opener. Fields offers protection should the two-time league MVP and three-time championship winner need more recovery time.
The transaction awaits Fields passing a medical examination. The 27-year-old quarterback joined New York on a two-year, $40 million deal last March but only saw action in nine contests, posting a 2-7 record as a starter.
The Jets have added quarterback Geno Smith from Las Vegas and also have Bailey Zappe and Brady Cook on their roster. Kansas City’s quarterback group now features Mahomes, Jake Haener, Chris Oladokun, and Fields.
Chicago selected Fields with the 11th pick in the 2021 draft. Throughout his career with the Bears (2021-23), Pittsburgh Steelers (2024), and Jets, he holds a 16-37 starting record. His statistics include a 61.4% completion rate, 9,039 passing yards, 52 touchdown passes, and 32 interceptions, plus 2,892 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns.
The Los Angeles Dodgers have made history by reportedly securing their inaugural field naming rights partnership since their ballpark debuted more than six decades ago.
According to The Athletic’s Sunday report, the baseball franchise has struck an agreement with Japanese clothing company Uniqlo to serve as the field’s official presenting sponsor.
While the Dodgers haven’t officially verified the partnership, the arrangement is expected to result in the venue being called Uniqlo Field at Dodger Stadium. Team officials are anticipated to make a formal announcement before their March 26 home opener against Arizona.
The organization has been actively seeking a field sponsorship arrangement since 2022.
Based on the report’s details, the Uniqlo partnership will encompass comprehensive branding throughout the 64-year-old Chavez Ravine facility, including all official references and signage. The deal also features a new centerfield sign installation and provides Uniqlo with exclusive marketing and promotional privileges.
Wall Street’s biggest banks are pulling back on lending as turbulence in the private credit market creates widespread concern among investors and financial institutions.
The upheaval stems from worries about how these investments are valued and questions about transparency, made worse by high-profile bankruptcies including auto-parts company First Brands and car dealer Tricolor, where private credit lenders had significant exposure.
According to Moody’s data, U.S. banks have nearly $300 billion in outstanding loans to private credit providers as of June 2025, plus another $285 billion loaned to private-equity firms and $340 billion in unused credit lines available to these borrowers.
Stock prices for alternative investment managers have dropped this year as concerns mount about the value of software companies in their portfolios, with artificial intelligence advances potentially disrupting established business models.
Billions of dollars have flowed out of major private credit funds during the first quarter, with more outflows potentially ahead.
Investment firms including Ares Management, Apollo Global, Oaktree and Goldman Sachs have not yet disclosed results from their first-quarter withdrawal programs at their private credit funds.
JPMorgan Chase Actions
The nation’s largest bank has lowered the assessed value of certain loans made to private credit funds following a review of market disruption affecting software companies, Reuters reported last week, according to two sources with knowledge of the situation.
JPMorgan conducted a comprehensive review of its financing portfolio, examining individual names and entire sectors, then applied different valuations to loans with underlying software exposure, one source explained.
While such revaluations don’t occur frequently, this isn’t JPMorgan’s first time adjusting loan values, the first source noted, calling the action “important to do when markets warrant it rather than waiting for a crisis to come along.”
JPMorgan’s lending agreements for private credit allow the bank to adjust valuations based on fund collateral during market disruptions, the source said, though the adjustments are not substantial.
The decision to reduce certain loan values will result in decreased lending to these funds, Reuters reported, citing a knowledgeable source.
Morgan Stanley Limits
The investment bank restricted withdrawals from one of its private credit funds after investors requested to pull out nearly 11% of outstanding shares, according to regulatory documents.
Morgan Stanley’s North Haven Private Income Fund, which held investments in 312 borrowers across 44 industries as of January 31, returned approximately $169 million, representing about 45.8% of what investors requested for the quarter.
In correspondence to investors, Morgan Stanley Private Credit cited multiple challenges facing the direct-lending sector, including uncertainty about merger and acquisition recovery, declining asset yields, and concerns about credit quality deterioration.
“By maintaining appropriate limits on the quarterly repurchase offer, the company seeks to avoid asset sales during periods of market dislocation,” the bank’s investment management division stated in the letter.
BlackRock Restrictions
The world’s largest asset management company announced March 6 that it limited withdrawals from its primary HPS Corporate Lending Fund following increased withdrawal requests.
The fund received $1.2 billion in withdrawal requests during the first quarter, equivalent to approximately 9.3% of its net asset value. Fund managers informed investors they would distribute $620 million through their quarterly withdrawal program, hitting the 5% threshold where managers can restrict additional withdrawals.
The fund explained the 5% restriction prevents “a structural mismatch between investor capital and the expected duration of the private credit loans in which HLEND invests.”
New investments in the fund totaled $840 million in the first quarter, falling short of the $1.2 billion investors initially sought to withdraw. Company records show 19% of the fund’s portfolio involves software investments.
Blackstone Increases Cap
Alternative investment firm Blackstone reported March 2 that its primary private credit fund, BCRED, experienced a dramatic increase in withdrawal requests during the first quarter.
The company allowed clients to withdraw a larger-than-normal $3.7 billion from the $82 billion fund. With $2 billion in new commitments, net withdrawals reached $1.7 billion.
The spike in requests prompted the fund to increase its typical 5% quarterly withdrawal limit to 7%, while Blackstone and its staff contributed $400 million to fulfill all withdrawal requests, the firm announced.
JPMorgan analysts noted this marked the first quarter of outflows for BCRED, the largest fund of its type that doesn’t trade publicly.
Blue Owl Asset Sales
Private capital company Blue Owl Capital announced February 19 it would sell $1.4 billion in assets from three credit funds to return money to investors and reduce debt, while permanently stopping withdrawals from one fund.
The debt being sold spans 128 different portfolio companies across 27 industries, with the largest concentration of 13% in the struggling software and services sector, the company reported.
The loans come from three credit funds: $600 million from Blue Owl Capital Corp II, $400 million from Blue Owl Technology Income Corp, and $400 million from Blue Owl Capital Corp.
“We’re not halting redemptions, we are simply changing the method by which we’re providing redemptions,” Blue Owl co-President Craig Packer explained.
Cliffwater Caps Withdrawals
Investors in Cliffwater LLC’s main private credit fund sought to withdraw approximately 14% of shares in the first quarter, leading the company to limit repurchases at 7%, Bloomberg News reported.
As an interval fund, it must repurchase shares quarterly. The company set that rate at 5%, with authority to repurchase up to 7%, the report stated.
