BUCHAREST – Romania’s President Nicusor Dan has scheduled a meeting of the nation’s highest defense council for Wednesday to evaluate an American request for military base access related to operations involving Iran, according to political sources.
The defense council will convene for its first session of the year to examine security consequences stemming from Middle Eastern conflicts, effects on Romania’s energy sector, and “the temporary deployment of military capability on Romanian territory.”
Political sources indicated that this deployment reference relates to an American request for access to the Mihail Kogalniceanu air base, though they provided no additional details.
Several European Union nations have responded differently to regional tensions – countries like France, Greece and Italy have deployed naval vessels to Cyprus following attacks by Iranian-manufactured drones on a British installation there, while other nations permit military base usage.
Approximately 1,000 American service members continue to be stationed in Romania. Last year, the United States pulled roughly 1,000 troops from Romania’s Mihail Kogalniceanu air base as America shifted focus toward its domestic borders and Indo-Pacific operations.
NATO maintains a permanent allied force of about 3,500 troops in Romania, which includes American soldiers.
Most European Union leadership has denounced Iranian attacks throughout the region and called for cessation of hostilities along with diplomatic resolution to the ongoing conflict.
Romania maintains a 650-kilometer border with Ukraine, and Russian drones have crossed this boundary while targeting Kyiv. Additionally, naval mines from the conflict in the Black Sea continue to disrupt crucial commercial and energy shipping lanes.
The Trump administration is pushing forward with plans to implement stricter requirements for commercial driving licenses following a series of fatal accidents involving foreign-born truck drivers.
Federal officials are calling for enhanced regulations governing who can obtain commercial driver’s licenses, citing recent high-profile collisions that have raised safety concerns on America’s highways.
However, transportation safety experts and advocacy groups are questioning whether these proposed changes would actually reduce traffic fatalities or improve overall road safety conditions.
The initiative represents part of the administration’s broader immigration enforcement strategy, now extending into the commercial transportation sector that plays a crucial role in the nation’s supply chain.
Industry observers note that any significant changes to commercial licensing requirements could have far-reaching implications for the trucking industry, which already faces driver shortage challenges across the country.
DAKAR, Senegal — Parliament members in Senegal have given final approval to legislation that significantly increases penalties for homosexual conduct in this predominantly Muslim West African country.
Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko introduced the legislation to parliament last month, with the new law characterizing homosexual conduct as “against nature.” The measure increases prison terms for those found guilty from the current range of one to five years to a new range of five to 10 years behind bars.
The parliamentary vote was decisive, with 135 legislators supporting the measure while none opposed it. Only three members chose to abstain from voting.
The updated legislation also establishes penalties for what it terms the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality, targeting organizations that advocate for sexual and gender minority rights.
Financial penalties have been increased substantially, with maximum fines now reaching 10 million CFA francs (equivalent to $17,609). However, lawmakers maintained the classification of these offenses as misdemeanors rather than upgrading them to felonies. Government ministers defended the changes during parliamentary debate, claiming the existing 1966 legislation was insufficiently strict.
The revised law includes provisions that penalize individuals who make accusations of homosexual conduct “without proof” against others.
Islamic advocacy organizations have staged public demonstrations supporting the legislation in recent weeks, while law enforcement has intensified enforcement actions against suspected gay individuals, resulting in at least twelve arrests.
The legislation represents the fulfillment of a campaign pledge made by the prime minister, who had previously attempted unsuccessfully to advance similar measures while serving in opposition.
LONDON, March 12 – The ongoing Middle East conflict has triggered the most severe oil supply shortage in global history, according to the International Energy Agency, which made the announcement Thursday following their decision to authorize a record release from emergency oil reserves.
Gulf nations in the Middle East have slashed their combined oil output by no less than 10 million barrels daily – representing nearly 10% of global oil consumption – due to the ongoing warfare, the agency reported in their most recent monthly market analysis. The IEA warned that unless maritime transport operations resume quickly, these production cuts will likely expand further.
Pharmaceutical manufacturer Eli Lilly has discovered a dangerous chemical contamination in unauthorized copies of its weight-loss medication, prompting the company to issue safety warnings and demand a nationwide product recall.
In a public statement released Thursday from Washington, Lilly revealed that compounded medications combining vitamin B12 with tirzepatide – the active component in both Zepbound weight-loss treatment and Mounjaro diabetes medication – contain a harmful impurity created during manufacturing.
This announcement represents Lilly’s most recent effort to combat drug compounding facilities that the pharmaceutical company claims are producing illegal versions of its medications.
The company has initiated legal action against compounding operations, wellness facilities, and various businesses selling products that allegedly contain tirzepatide.
Compounding companies have defended their operations, claiming legal protection under specific federal regulations that permit customized drug preparation when patients need medical modifications, such as vitamin additions or dosage variations unavailable in brand-name products.
Laboratory analysis conducted by Lilly on products acquired from compounding pharmacies, medical spas, and telehealth providers revealed “significant levels of an impurity that results from a chemical reaction between tirzepatide and B12,” according to the company’s official statement and research documentation provided to Reuters.
The contamination appeared in every sample examined during Lilly’s investigation, affecting all ten products tested.
“Nothing is known about its short- or long-term effects in humans, the potential impact on the drug’s interaction with the GLP-1 and GIP receptors, toxicity, immune reactions, or how it is absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and eliminated,” the company warned in its published letter.
David Hyman, Lilly’s chief medical officer, emphasized the regulatory concerns, stating: “FDA (the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) warns that compounded products can be risky for patients because they are not reviewed for safety, effectiveness, or quality. Adding a reactive substance like vitamin B12 without clinical testing or FDA review introduces additional unknown risks.”
Lilly has informed the Food and Drug Administration about these discoveries and requested immediate recall action for all products containing both substances.
Federal regulators previously sent warning notices to 30 telehealth companies in September for making false or deceptive statements about compounded weight-loss drug alternatives.
The FDA also issued threats against “illegal copycat drugs” following telehealth provider Hims & Hers Health’s February announcement that it would begin distributing a compounded version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy medication.
Hims subsequently abandoned its compounded pill plans and revealed this week that it will instead offer authentic Wegovy and Ozempic products through its platform.
Political leaders in Taiwan reached a breakthrough Thursday, giving their government the green light to move forward with signing agreements for four major U.S. weapons packages after defense officials warned of serious consequences for delays.
The disagreement over Taiwan’s military spending has created tension with the United States, which serves as the island nation’s primary supporter and weapons provider, even without official diplomatic relations, as Taiwan faces ongoing territorial claims from China.
While President Lai Ching-te’s administration has pushed for parliamentary approval of $40 billion in additional military spending, opposition parties controlling the majority of legislative seats have raised concerns about the proposals’ clarity, stating they won’t approve “blank cheques” despite their support for national defense.
Opposition groups have put forward alternative, lower-cost proposals, but defense officials emphasized that the formal letters of offer and acceptance for the weapons systems must be signed with the United States or Taiwan risks losing its position in the manufacturing and delivery schedule.
During Thursday’s session of parliament’s foreign affairs and defense committee, legislators from both sides reached consensus that the government should proceed with signing the agreements ahead of schedule, even if spending proposal reviews remain incomplete.
The military equipment covered by these agreements includes TOW anti-tank missiles, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers, Javelin missiles manufactured by Lockheed Martin, and the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system.
Defense Minister Wellington Koo informed reporters Tuesday that the HIMARS agreement expires March 26, covering 82 systems included in an $11-billion U.S. arms package designated for Taiwan.
According to ministry officials, this Sunday marks the deadline for signing agreements covering the remaining weapons systems.
A bipartisan coalition of 37 U.S. legislators expressed their concerns about the delayed plans to senior Taiwan lawmakers last month.
The Trump administration’s push for allies to boost their defense spending has found strong support from Lai and his government officials.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has demanded strict disciplinary measures against government officials who failed to properly recover victims’ remains from a devastating 2024 airline disaster, according to his office on Thursday.
The president expressed remorse and extended sympathies to families after a follow-up investigation revealed that body parts from seven victims had remained unrecovered for more than a year following the Jeju Air tragedy that claimed 179 lives, a presidential spokesperson announced during a briefing.
Lee has directed government agencies to investigate why these remains, alongside 648 personal belongings and 155 aircraft fragments, were neglected for such an extended period, according to the official.
Authorities have yet to release their complete investigation findings to the public, missing their initial one-year target date.
While the transportation department issued an apology Monday regarding the recovery delays, grieving families have condemned officials for abandoning remains and personal effects in outdoor storage facilities and are demanding accountability.
“We are appalled by the transport ministry’s late and inadequate apology, which the families say is like killing the victims a second time,” a family spokesperson stated Monday.
A different family representative praised Lee’s Thursday announcement, calling it “due time” for officials to demonstrate accountability.
The fatal December 2024 incident occurred when a Boeing 737-800 aircraft encountered bird strikes, performed an emergency belly landing, and slid beyond the runway at Muan International Airport. The plane collided with a concrete barrier supporting navigation equipment, killing nearly all passengers and crew. Only two cabin crew members seated in the aircraft’s rear section survived.
Thursday’s presidential directive follows a government audit published this week that revealed the transportation ministry had permitted defective airport safety infrastructure for over twenty years, contributing to the crash’s severity.
The audit determined that a solid concrete structure beneath navigation equipment at Muan airport – instead of the breakaway design mandated by international aviation standards – worsened the death toll.
Investigators also uncovered decades of inadequate certifications and overlooked safety inspections at similar installations across multiple airports nationwide.
Electric vehicle giant Tesla has received the green light to enter Britain’s residential electricity market after securing regulatory approval on Thursday, introducing fresh competition during a period when UK consumers are increasingly anxious about escalating energy costs.
Britain’s energy oversight body Ofgem announced that Tesla Energy Ventures, a division of the electric car manufacturer, has been authorized to serve as an electricity provider following an approval process that commenced in July of last year.
This regulatory clearance allows the Texas-headquartered company, controlled by wealthy entrepreneur Elon Musk, to broaden its operations across Britain. The firm plans to leverage its solar power technology and energy storage systems to challenge established residential energy providers including Octopus Energy, British Gas, and EDF.
Tesla already holds an electricity generation permit in the UK through another subsidiary, Tesla Motors Limited. Current Tesla vehicle owners frequently utilize Powerwall battery systems in their homes, which harness solar power to charge their cars and can feed surplus energy back to the electrical grid.
Energy costs have skyrocketed following the conflict in Iran, creating widespread anxiety among British consumers about their utility expenses.
Government-regulated pricing protects most UK households from immediate impacts of increased natural gas costs through July, but officials may face pressure to extend assistance if the international crisis continues beyond that timeframe.
Tesla’s vehicle sales in Britain have experienced a downward trend recently, dropping 8.9% compared to the previous year in 2025, as the company faces challenges from more affordable Chinese competitors and public criticism of Musk’s political positions.
The automotive giant behind Jeep, Ram, and Chrysler vehicles has completed a massive $5.8 billion bond sale to shore up its finances after taking significant losses from a major electric vehicle strategy overhaul.
Stellantis announced Wednesday that it successfully priced the multi-part bond offering, which comes just weeks after the company revealed it was absorbing 22.2 billion euros in financial charges. The substantial losses stem from the automaker’s decision to scale back its electric vehicle ambitions after CEO Antonio Filosa acknowledged the company had overestimated consumer appetite for electric cars.
The bond sale, which was completed Tuesday, was structured in three separate portions: 2.2 billion euros in perpetual notes with a 5.25-year period before potential redemption and 6.25% interest rate; 1.8 billion euros in perpetual bonds with an 8-year protection period and 6.875% rate; and 865 million British pounds in perpetual notes with a 6.5-year term initially offering 8.25% returns.
“This issuance will further strengthen Stellantis’ capital structure and liquidity position,” the company stated in announcing the bond completion.
The financial instruments are scheduled to be finalized on March 16.
The manufacturer, which also owns Peugeot, Fiat, and Citroen brands, is now pivoting toward greater focus on hybrid vehicles and traditional gasoline engines, moving away from former CEO Carlos Tavares’ electric-focused approach. Company leadership argues that consumer demand for fully electric vehicles has fallen short of earlier forecasts, especially in American markets.
Stellantis plans to unveil its revised long-term strategic plan on May 21.
DUBAI, March 11 – Four people sustained injuries Wednesday when two unmanned aircraft crashed near Dubai International Airport, according to officials from Dubai’s media office, marking another incident in an ongoing regional conflict that has severely impacted worldwide aviation operations for nearly two weeks.
“Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago,” officials announced on social media platform X, noting that flight operations continue without disruption.
Among those hurt in the incident were nationals from Ghana, Bangladesh, and India. Two Ghanaian citizens and one Bangladeshi citizen received treatment for minor wounds, while an Indian national suffered more serious injuries requiring additional medical attention.
The regional warfare involving the United States, Israel, and Iran that began February 28 has created massive disruptions for international aviation, forcing carriers worldwide to cancel flights, adjust schedules, and find alternate routes. Middle Eastern airspace, including Qatar’s, remains largely closed due to ongoing missile and drone threats. The conflict has simultaneously triggered an energy shortage, driving fuel costs significantly higher.
While major UAE carriers including Emirates from Dubai and Etihad from Abu Dhabi have partially restored service since the crisis began, both airlines continue operating well below normal capacity. Wednesday’s drone incident represents another setback for DXB, recognized globally as the busiest international passenger hub, which processed close to 100 million travelers in the previous year.
Federal officials have silently brought back a program that had been inactive for decades, one designed to return firearm privileges to individuals with felony convictions. The Justice Department’s revival of this initiative is now drawing scrutiny over how transparent the process has been.
At least one individual whose name appears on the restoration list has prompted particular concerns about whether the public has adequate visibility into how these decisions are being made and who qualifies for renewed gun ownership rights.
President Trump called on lawmakers during his State of the Union speech to prevent states from issuing commercial driver’s licenses to undocumented immigrants, despite federal regulations already prohibiting this practice.
The administration and supporters argue this measure would enhance highway safety across the country. However, opponents point out that the Department of Transportation has not provided evidence showing that immigrant drivers pose greater risks on the road compared to other motorists.
A Washington DC community program is preparing senior volunteers to offer their time and attention to individuals seeking someone who will simply listen without charge.
The initiative, known as Friendship Bench DC, draws its inspiration from the original Friendship Bench program that began in Zimbabwe. The local version focuses on teaching mature volunteers the skills needed to provide compassionate listening services to community members who need emotional support through conversation.
The program emphasizes creating meaningful human connections by pairing trained older adults with people who are looking for someone to talk through their concerns or experiences in a supportive environment.
Listen to the Morning Delmarva Farm Report Update — March 12, 2026
DELMARVA — A midweek crude oil rally pulled corn and soybean prices higher Wednesday as commercial buyers stepped in and energy sector gains boosted demand expectations for biofuels. Soybean oil led the agricultural rally on anticipated biodiesel demand.
The energy support comes even as authorities release record amounts from strategic reserves, showing strength in underlying market fundamentals.
Markets
May corn futures settled at $4.37/bu, up $0.03. May soybeans gained $0.08 to close at $10.72/bu. May wheat added $0.02, finishing at $5.19.
Local cash corn on Delmarva is trading near $4.20, while soybeans are bringing $10.50 at area elevators.
Forecast
Rain is already moving in this morning with temperatures climbing to 56°F. The precipitation will transition to a rain and snow mix later today as northwest winds pick up from 10 to 20 mph. Snow likely continues tonight as temps drop to 30°F.
Friday looks much better with mostly sunny skies and highs reaching 51°F as lighter south winds return. Field work is on hold until at least Friday.
This article is based on the Delmarva Farm Report Update Morning Edition, March 12, 2026. Hosted by Tom Bradley.
While numerous Western companies retreat from the Chinese market due to disappointing sales, British consumer health company Haleon is taking the opposite approach by significantly expanding its presence in the world’s second-largest economy.
The maker of popular dental care products is investing 65 million pounds ($87 million) in a new oral health manufacturing facility in Shanghai, bucking the trend that has affected major brands from BMW to Nike, all of which reported declining Chinese sales in recent years.
Haleon’s confidence stems from strong performance of its Sensodyne toothpaste line, which has experienced mid-teens growth rates in China. The company’s CEO Brian McNamara plans to bring the Parodontax gum health brand to more than 30 Chinese cities by 2027’s end.
“For us, China’s an incredible market,” McNamara explained to Reuters, pointing to the substantial 860 million-pound gum health sector in the country.
The executive emphasized the market opportunity, stating: “Over 70% of consumers in China suffer from gum health issues. We have a product to address it. There’s a clear consumer need.”
China represents approximately 10% of Haleon’s 11-billion-pound global business and nearly 13% of the worldwide oral health market valued at $59 billion, which analysts project will reach $80 billion by 2031.
The company recently relaunched its Parodontax brand in China during late 2024, marking a second attempt after an unsuccessful launch five years earlier, according to Jayant Singh, Haleon’s global oral health division leader.
This time, the company has customized the product specifically for Chinese preferences, creating a sweeter and more aromatic flavor profile, enhanced foaming action during brushing, and more attractive packaging design. The reformulated product is now available in 10,000 retail locations across 19 cities.
“It’s these minor nuances that you need to put into your mix to really drive acceptance,” Singh explained.
Despite this progress, Haleon’s flagship Sensodyne brand reaches only about 11% of Chinese households, significantly trailing the domestic market leader Yunnan Baiyao, which Haleon estimates captures 29.8% market share.
The expansion contrasts sharply with other Western companies’ recent China strategies. Starbucks sold majority control of its Chinese operations to Boyu Capital in November following weak performance, while Nike is restructuring its China approach after multiple quarters of declining sales.
Demonstrating its commitment to the market, Haleon purchased the Chinese government’s stake in their local joint venture for approximately 700 million pounds last year.
McNamara accompanied British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on his January diplomatic visit to China, where he held productive discussions with senior regulatory officials.
“We’ve found the Chinese government very supportive of what we’re trying to do,” the CEO noted.
Despite experiencing a decline in natural disaster costs during 2025, American homeowners may not see relief in their insurance premiums anytime soon.
While the financial impact from catastrophic weather events decreased last year, the United States still recorded more than $100 billion in weather-related losses for the fourth occurrence within a five-year span.
Insurance industry analysts indicate that this persistent pattern of massive financial damage will keep insurers cautious about lowering their rates, even during years with reduced disaster activity.
The ongoing trend of extreme weather events causing enormous economic losses continues to influence how insurance companies assess risk and set pricing for homeowners across the country.
States that experienced significant hail damage and tornado destruction from severe thunderstorms are particularly likely to see continued increases in home insurance costs this year, according to industry forecasts.
Federal food safety officials are moving to extend their authority to collect information about nutrition labeling requirements for raw meat and poultry products sold in stores across the country.
The Food Safety and Inspection Service has announced plans to seek renewal of its current information collection system, which covers nutrition labeling standards for basic cuts of raw meat and poultry, as well as ground and chopped varieties of these products.
The agency is following procedures outlined in the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 and related federal regulations as it prepares to request the extension. Officials indicated that no modifications will be made to the current information collection system.
The existing authorization for this data collection initiative is set to end on July 31, 2026, prompting the renewal request to maintain continuity in nutrition labeling oversight for meat and poultry products.
Kevin Ketels purchased his electric 2026 Chevrolet Blazer with future technology in mind, not fuel savings. The Detroit resident wanted to embrace what he saw as the next generation of transportation. However, with current international conflicts pushing gasoline prices higher, the 55-year-old is relieved he’s no longer dependent on his previous gas-burning SUV from over a decade ago.
“Electricity can go up, but it won’t go up nearly as much as gas will and it won’t go up nearly as fast, either,” said Ketels, who teaches global supply chain management at Wayne State University.
Industry analysts believe sustained elevated fuel costs could boost electric vehicle interest and purchases, particularly among consumers who expect their power bills to remain relatively unaffected by international turmoil.
However, numerous variables impact both consumer EV decisions and utility rates.
Owners of traditional gasoline vehicles face greater exposure to price swings caused by international tensions compared to those who plug in their cars. AAA reports the nationwide average for regular gasoline reached $3.57 this week, climbing from $2.94 just one month earlier.
In contrast, “residential electricity prices are regulated and are much less volatile than gasoline prices,” explained Erich Muehlegger, an economics professor at University of California, Davis. “As a result, EV owners are largely unaffected by oil price shocks.”
Still, analysts note that power costs have been climbing across the country due to multiple factors, including increased electricity demand from expanding data centers.
“This is an inflationary event,” stated Holt Edwards, principal in Bracewell’s Policy Resolution Group, referring to the current conflict. “Is this the driver in electricity prices? I think probably not. But it’s certainly a contributing factor.”
The degree to which oil and gas disruptions might impact the electricity sector remains unclear.
For EV owners, the cost of charging largely depends on what energy sources comprise their local power grid, according to specialists.
Since regulators establish residential electricity rates on an annual basis, most households avoid month-to-month fluctuations in natural gas costs. While higher natural gas prices can affect electricity generation expenses, natural gas hasn’t experienced the same rapid price increases as oil recently.
Natural gas represents just one of numerous energy sources—along with coal, nuclear power, and renewable energy—that supply the electrical grid.
“The energy component varies depending on the energy you’re using and the price of the energy that you’re using to generate electricity,” explained Pierpaolo Cazzola, an energy specialist at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. “What happens is that in the U.S., the variation of the price of the energy component is smaller than it is elsewhere.”
Researchers indicated that prolonged warfare could impact future electricity bills, providing additional justification for nations to embrace clean energy transitions.
“Clean power and electrification combined is what provides the most security,” noted Euan Graham, an analyst at energy think tank Ember.
Michael B. Klein, a 56-year-old software developer from Evanston, Illinois, has operated EVs for eight years to reduce fuel expenses and address environmental concerns.
Whenever electrical grid performance advances—particularly through renewable energy additions—”I get that benefit no matter what,” said Klein, who operates a Chevy Bolt. “They can improve the efficiency of gas engines, but you have to get a new car in order to reap the benefit of that.”
Multiple researchers identify elevated gasoline costs as a significant factor in EV sales, especially when high prices continue long-term. Motorists also explore more fuel-efficient hybrid options during such periods.
Automotive shopping platform Edmunds examined consumer research patterns for the week beginning March 2, following the start of the Iran conflict. Their data showed that interest in hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and battery EVs represented 22.4% of all vehicle research on their platform that week, increasing from 20.7% the previous week. When analysts reviewed the major nationwide fuel price spikes in 2022, they observed similar sharp increases in electrified vehicle consideration.
Whether this translates to actual EV purchases depends on buyers’ expectations for long-term savings, not just immediate benefits, researchers explain.
Adding complexity: A sudden surge in EV demand could increase vehicle prices, Graham observed.
“I think the real step change would be in whether this causes governments to shift tax, tariff policies around EVs,” Graham stated. Such changes would help decrease fossil fuel reliance, he added.
EV purchasers enjoy “really substantial” gasoline savings throughout their vehicles’ lifespans even without government tax incentives, according to Peter Zalzal, an attorney with Environmental Defense Fund.
“We’re talking about thousands and thousands of dollars” in savings, Zalzal noted. “And as gas prices increase, those savings are only greater. Fuel costs are a big piece of overall vehicle costs, and increases in fuel prices have significant impacts on people.”
Nevertheless, new EV purchase prices still exceed those of gasoline-powered vehicles; new EVs averaged $55,300 last month, while new vehicles overall averaged $49,353, according to Kelley Blue Book. Some specialists also raised national security concerns regarding EVs due to China’s dominance in significant portions of the EV supply chain.
Ketels, the EV owner and professor, believes EVs and renewable energy should become strategic priorities for both individuals and the United States because they could be manufactured domestically “and we don’t have those fluctuations and those worries.”
However, with the federal government reducing many incentives for both sectors, “it puts us at a disadvantage globally,” Ketels stated. “I think it’s been a terrible mistake to withdraw these incentives and to attack the sustainable energy industry,” and the current conflict “is just making it that much more obvious.”
BEIJING (AP) — Despite global focus on conflicts in Iran, China has continued advancing its domestic agenda with worldwide implications during its most significant annual political gathering.
While Beijing acknowledges the war’s effects on energy markets and international relations, the world’s second-largest economy remains focused on its technological competition with America rather than military conflicts elsewhere.
This priority became clear Thursday when the National People’s Congress approved a comprehensive five-year development plan during the conclusion of its yearly session, China’s most important political gathering. The plan reinforces China’s commitment to economic transformation and technological leadership. Government-controlled media portrayed China’s unwavering focus on economic progress as providing global stability during uncertain times.
“A stable and developing China injects more stability and certainty into a world fraught with change and turbulence,” the official People’s Daily newspaper said in a front-page column on Wednesday. Additional state-controlled outlets repeated similar themes.
These official statements avoided mentioning U.S. President Donald Trump, whose trade policies and military interventions from Venezuela to Iran are disrupting the international framework established after World War II. China openly supports this existing system while advocating for modifications to better serve developing nations alongside wealthy countries.
Trump plans to travel to Beijing in three weeks for discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
During its final session, the National People’s Congress also approved three pieces of legislation, including measures affecting ethnic minorities. These votes follow ceremonial procedures with near-universal approval, demonstrating support for the Communist Party’s national vision. The five-year plan received approval with 2,758 supporting votes, one opposition vote, and two abstentions.
“We are forging ahead at full speed in building a great country,” Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at an annual news conference during the Congress.
Economic experts argue China should prioritize putting more money in consumers’ pockets to increase domestic spending and decrease reliance on export-driven growth.
While Chinese leadership agrees conceptually, the approved five-year plan emphasizes technology as the central focus, confirming it remains the government’s top priority. Experts anticipate consumer spending improvements will occur slowly through expanded social services and healthcare benefits, while government investment flows into artificial intelligence, robotics and related fields.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang revealed an economic growth target of 4.5% to 5% for 2026 when Congress began, providing officials flexibility to pursue long-term objectives rather than achieving higher short-term targets.
The development plan avoids promising overall carbon emission reductions, instead committing to lower “emissions intensity” — measuring pollution relative to economic output. This approach allows total emissions to increase alongside economic expansion.
Officials set the intensity reduction goal at 17%, which analysts say could permit emissions to rise 3% or higher. “International good practice is to move away from intensity targets towards absolute emission reduction targets,” said Niklas Hohne of the NewClimate Institute in Germany.
China typically establishes modest targets, and its rapid solar energy expansion plus other clean technologies may reduce emissions regardless. As the world’s largest greenhouse gas producer, Chinese officials have consistently argued that population size and economic scale must factor into pollution assessments.
A comprehensive ethnic minorities law approved by Congress strengthens what opponents describe as government assimilation policies, emphasizing development of “a common consciousness of the Chinese nation.”
Officials claim the legislation aims to build stronger community bonds and shared economic development among ethnic populations. The law reflects Xi’s approach promoting unity over distinct ethnic cultures and languages.
“It puts a death nail in the party’s original promise of meaningful autonomy,” said James Leibold, a professor at Australia’s LaTrobe University who has studied China’s changing policies towards its ethnic minorities.
Official proposals and suggestions for reducing working hours in various ways attracted significant social media attention during this year’s Congress.
Many focused on establishing a “right to rest,” including proposals allowing employees to ignore work communications outside business hours. Most Chinese workers receive just five paid vacation days annually. Yu Miaojie, an economist and Congress representative, suggested increasing minimum statutory leave from five to 10 days.
These proposals’ popularity demonstrates concerns about China’s demanding workplace environment. Providing workers additional leisure time also represents a strategy for boosting consumer spending by creating more opportunities to spend money.
Swiss banking giant UBS has struck a preliminary settlement deal with Trevor Murray, a former employee who claimed the financial institution wrongfully terminated him for blowing the whistle on questionable business practices, according to Wednesday court documents.
Murray, who previously worked as a bond strategist for the bank, alleged that UBS dismissed him in 2012 as punishment for his refusal to create and distribute deceptive research materials to clients.
Both sides anticipate finalizing their settlement agreement within the next month, based on a joint filing submitted by UBS and Murray’s legal teams, bringing closure to litigation that has spanned more than a decade.
The resolution comes after a complex legal journey that saw Murray initially win a $2.6 million jury verdict, which the Supreme Court later upheld before a New York appellate court ultimately overturned the award last year. The high court’s earlier decision in 2024 had established more favorable legal standards for employees pursuing whistleblower claims against their former employers.
Stock market futures took a significant hit Thursday morning as crude oil prices climbed back above the $100 per barrel mark, raising fresh concerns about inflation and prompting investors to scale back their expectations for Federal Reserve rate reductions.
Oil prices surged after reports emerged of two oil tankers catching fire in Iraqi waters following what appeared to be Iranian attacks, marking part of a wider pattern of strikes targeting oil infrastructure and transportation networks throughout the Middle East region. Iranian officials have warned that crude prices could potentially reach as high as $200 per barrel.
Investment bank Goldman Sachs has revised its prediction for the Federal Reserve’s next interest rate reduction, moving the expected timing from June to September. Market futures now indicate traders are anticipating just one quarter-point decrease by year’s end, a reduction from the two cuts previously expected before the current conflict began.
International financial markets have experienced significant volatility this month as the ongoing conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran has disrupted petroleum supply chains and driven crude prices substantially higher, creating complications for central banks worldwide as they consider loosening monetary policies.
In separate developments, Washington announced the initiation of two new trade investigations examining excessive industrial capacity among 16 major trading partners and investigating forced labor practices. This long-anticipated action aims to restore tariff pressure following the Supreme Court’s dismantling of much of former President Donald Trump’s tariff framework last month.
As of 3:35 a.m., S&P 500 E-mini contracts had declined 47.5 points or 0.7%, while Dow E-mini futures dropped 387 points or 0.82%, and Nasdaq 100 E-mini contracts fell 171.25 points or 0.69%.
After a series of credit problems have emerged in recent months, market participants are closely examining the approximately $2 trillion private credit sector, with growing worries about loan quality and borrowers’ capacity to handle higher interest rates.
According to a Financial Times report, Glendon Capital Management has accused private credit companies like Blue Owl of concealing portfolio weaknesses.
Morgan Stanley restricted withdrawals from one of its private credit investment vehicles on Wednesday, while JPMorgan Chase wrote down the value of certain loans to private credit funds.
Bumble stock is expected to attract attention Thursday following the dating platform’s announcement of fourth-quarter revenue that exceeded analyst projections. The company’s shares gained approximately 20% in extended trading Wednesday evening.
Later today, market participants will review unemployment claims data and listen to remarks from Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman.
Four ex-employees of Deutsche Bank have launched legal action against Germany’s biggest bank, demanding more than 600 million pounds (equivalent to $800 million) in compensation related to a matter involving Italy’s Monte dei Paschi bank, according to Deutsche Bank’s annual report released Thursday.
Deutsche Bank characterized the legal challenges brought in English courts as “without merit.”
While these legal battles were previously known, the massive financial demands being sought had not been publicly revealed until now.
This enormous sum adds to another 152 million euro ($175.58 million) lawsuit filed by a separate former banker in a Frankfurt court during 2024, which is scheduled for a hearing this year.
The former employees bringing these cases claim Deutsche Bank damaged their professional careers.
In response, Deutsche Bank stated it “will defend itself against them robustly, including disputing the inflated, unrealistic alleged losses claimed.”
These legal challenges emerged during what became Deutsche Bank’s most successful financial year since 2007, which led to increased compensation for CEO Christian Sewing.
Sewing’s total pay package reached approximately 10.5 million euros ($12.12 million) for 2025, representing an increase from the previous year’s 9.75 million euros, as revealed in the bank’s annual filing.
Officials in Taiwan are raising concerns that Beijing’s recently enacted ethnic unity legislation may provide Chinese authorities with expanded legal authority to pursue Taiwanese individuals they classify as separatists, according to warnings issued Thursday.
The legislation, which China’s parliament approved this week, is designed to foster a unified national identity among the nation’s 55 minority ethnic communities, including Tibetans and Uyghurs. While Taiwan isn’t specifically referenced in most of the law’s text, it does include a provision encouraging residents on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to embrace Chinese identity.
Beijing already maintains existing statutes targeting supporters of Taiwanese independence, including 2024 guidelines that impose severe penalties on what it terms “diehard” activists – potentially including capital punishment – despite having no legal authority over the island.
The new statute mandates that Chinese citizens “shall protect the country’s sovereignty” and references President Xi Jinping’s declaration that all citizens must “consciously uphold national unity, national security, and social stability.”
Deputy Minister Shen Yu-chung of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council addressed reporters in Taipei before the law’s passage, warning that such provisions could “spill over into becoming a legal basis for handling cross-Strait issues.”
When questioned about whether Beijing might use the legislation to target independence advocates, Shen responded: “It is highly possible.”
“How exactly one is supposed to promote unification or promote unity is left vague and hollow, but the punishments are concrete,” Shen added.
China’s Taiwan Affairs Office declined to provide comment on the matter.
Taiwan has consistently criticized what its government describes as Chinese “lawfare” – Beijing’s practice of enacting legislation to justify targeting perceived separatists, including those living abroad.
The new statute contains provisions stating that individuals and organizations outside China’s borders may face legal consequences for undermining “ethnic unity and progress or inciting ethnic separatism.”
“Many of the Chinese communists’ actions are nominally presented as measures for maintaining domestic stability, but in reality they could also be transformed into long-arm jurisdiction,” Shen explained, referencing Beijing’s attempts to enforce its laws internationally.
According to Taiwanese officials, this legislation represents a tactical evolution from Beijing’s previous approach. Rather than simply opposing specific ideologies like Taiwan independence, the new law threatens punishment for those who fail to actively promote Chinese unity.
“In the past, you’d be punished for supporting Taiwan independence. Now, you also have to actively support unification, or you’ll get into trouble as well,” explained a senior Taiwanese official who requested anonymity due to the matter’s sensitivity.
Escalating tensions between the United States, Israel, and Iran have led to a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Persian Gulf, creating significant disruptions to international shipping routes that handle approximately 20% of global oil and liquefied natural gas traffic.
Since hostilities began on February 28, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have issued threats targeting any vessel attempting passage through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
The attacks began on March 1 when three separate incidents occurred. The Marshall Islands-flagged crude carrier MKD VYOM suffered a fatal casualty when a crew member was killed after the ship was struck by a projectile while traveling 50 nautical miles north of Muscat, Oman, according to vessel manager V.Ships.
That same day, the Gibraltar-flagged fuel supply vessel Hercules Star was hit by projectiles 17 nautical miles northwest of the UAE’s Mina Saqr port in Ras Al Khaimah, causing a fire that was later extinguished, the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported. Additionally, the Palau-flagged tanker Skylight, which faces U.S. sanctions, was attacked near Oman’s Kumzar, forcing crew evacuation according to Oman’s maritime security center.
March 2 saw the U.S.-flagged products tanker Stena Imperative struck twice while in Bahrain’s port, resulting in fire and crew evacuation, UKMTO stated.
The following day brought damage to two more vessels near the UAE’s Fujairah port – the Marshall Islands crude carrier Libra Trader and Panama-flagged bulk vessel Gold Oak both sustained minor damage approximately 7-10 nautical miles offshore, UKMTO confirmed.
March 4 witnessed the Maltese-flagged container vessel Safeen Prestige suffering projectile damage while navigating toward the strait’s northern section, two nautical miles from Oman. The strike ignited an engine room fire, forcing the crew to abandon the vessel, shipping sources reported.
On March 5, the crude tanker Sonangol Namibe was damaged by an explosion while anchored near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, according to U.S. representative company Sonangol Marine Services. Iraqi port security officials indicated preliminary findings suggest an Iranian remote-controlled explosive boat was responsible for the attack on the Bahamas-flagged vessel.
March 6 brought another incident when a tugboat operating with the previously damaged Safeen Prestige was hit by projectiles six nautical miles north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, UKMTO reported.
The next day, UKMTO cited an unnamed third party reporting a suspected drone strike 10 nautical miles north of Saudi Arabia’s Jubail, which resulted in most crew members being evacuated.
March 11 proved particularly devastating with multiple attacks. The Thailand-flagged bulk carrier Mayuree Naree was struck by a projectile 11 nautical miles north of Oman, causing a fire that forced crew evacuation, according to Bangkok-based owner Precious Shipping’s statement.
The Japan-flagged container ship One Majesty received minor damage from a projectile strike 25 nautical miles northwest of the UAE’s Ras Al Khaimah. Meanwhile, the Marshall Islands-flagged bulk carrier Star Gwyneth sustained hull damage from a projectile hit 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, though no environmental impact occurred and crew members remained safe, maritime risk management firm Vanguard and UKMTO reported.
The same day concluded with attacks on two fuel tankers near Iraq – the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and Maltese-flagged Zefyros. These incidents prompted Iraqi authorities to halt all oil port operations completely, according to port officials and state media. One port security official confirmed recovering the body of a foreign crew member from the water.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re looking at a pleasant spring day with some changes on the way. Today starts off partly sunny with temperatures climbing to a comfortable 78 degrees – perfect for getting outside early! However, keep an umbrella handy as we have a 30% chance of rain showers developing after 11am. You’ll notice a breezy south wind picking up throughout the day at 5 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching up to 25 mph.
Tonight brings a shift in our weather pattern with the possibility of showers and thunderstorms as temperatures drop to 51 degrees. Tomorrow is where things get interesting – we’re tracking rain showers likely in the morning, then a chance of mixed rain and snow showers as cooler air moves in. Thursday’s high will only reach 57 degrees, and by Thursday night, we could see our first freeze warning of the season with lows plummeting to 31 degrees!
Bundle up as we transition from spring-like to winter-like conditions. Stay weather-aware and have a wonderful Wednesday, Delmarva!
While animal-assisted yoga classes featuring puppies, goats, and even reindeer have become popular wellness trends, a new variation is taking the concept in an unexpected direction.
Snake yoga sessions are now being offered, where participants can practice their poses alongside pythons and a young Columbian Common Boa called Mango.
The unconventional fitness classes provide an alternative experience for those seeking something beyond the typical furry companions found in most animal yoga sessions.
This unique approach to wellness combines traditional yoga practice with the opportunity to interact with non-venomous serpents in a controlled environment.
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s government announced Wednesday it will release documentation concerning the selection of Peter Mandelson for the U.S. ambassadorship, amid an ongoing police probe into possible wrongdoing connected to his relationship with deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Parliamentary pressure has compelled Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration to make public thousands of records regarding the choice to appoint Mandelson to this crucial diplomatic role as Donald Trump begins his second presidential term, notwithstanding Mandelson’s previous association with the disgraced financier.
Officials indicate the released materials will demonstrate that Mandelson provided misleading information about how close his relationship with Epstein actually was.
The 72-year-old Mandelson, a veteran Cabinet official, former diplomat and prominent Labour Party figure, was taken into custody at his London residence on February 23 on charges of suspected public office misconduct. He remains free while the police continue their inquiry, with no bail restrictions imposed.
Mandelson has consistently maintained his innocence and faces no formal charges. No allegations of sexual impropriety have been made against him.
According to Cabinet minister Darren Jones, the “first tranche of documents” will become available Wednesday afternoon.
The materials are being made public in stages following examination by Parliament’s Intelligence and Security Committee. Law enforcement has requested that certain files remain sealed to protect their ongoing criminal probe of Mandelson.
Starmer dismissed Mandelson from his position in September following initial disclosures about his Epstein connections, yet continues to face political backlash for originally selecting him for the Washington assignment.
Records from an extensive collection of Epstein-related files released by the U.S. Department of Justice in late January indicated that Mandelson shared confidential market information with the convicted criminal during his tenure as the U.K.’s business secretary following the 2008 economic downturn.
This information included a classified government analysis exploring methods for Britain to generate revenue, such as divesting government properties. Evidence also suggests Mandelson promised to influence fellow government officials to lower taxes on banking executive bonuses.
Japan commemorated Wednesday the 15th anniversary of one of its most catastrophic natural disasters, as the nation’s leadership advocates for expanded atomic energy programs.
On March 11, 2011, a devastating 9.0-magnitude earthquake triggered massive tsunamis that decimated northeastern coastal communities, claiming over 22,000 lives and displacing nearly 500,000 residents, with most evacuations stemming from tsunami destruction.
The disaster’s impact was particularly severe in Fukushima, where approximately 160,000 people evacuated their communities following radioactive contamination from the tsunami-damaged Fukushima Daiichi nuclear facility. Today, roughly 26,000 former residents have not returned, either because they’ve established new lives elsewhere, their original communities remain restricted, or they harbor ongoing radiation fears.
At precisely 2:46 p.m. Wednesday — the exact time the earthquake struck 15 years ago — the nation paused for a commemorative moment of silence.
Speaking at a Fukushima memorial service, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi committed to maximizing regional reconstruction efforts over the coming five years while continuing to share “the valuable lessons we learned from the huge sacrifice of the disaster.”
Takaichi has championed accelerated nuclear reactor reopenings and promoted atomic energy as a reliable power source, following Japan’s significant 2022 policy shift that abandoned a decade-long plan to eliminate nuclear power.
In tsunami-affected coastal areas, survivors made early morning pilgrimages to shorelines, offering prayers for deceased family members and others whose bodies were never recovered.
The earthquake and tsunami damaged or demolished over one million residential, commercial, and educational structures throughout Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, and neighboring coastal regions. While essential infrastructure has been reconstructed, population exodus has slowed community and economic revitalization efforts.
The Fukushima Daiichi facility lost electrical power and cooling capabilities, resulting in meltdowns across three of its six reactors. These reactors contain a minimum of 880 tons of melted nuclear fuel debris, though radiation levels remain too hazardous to fully assess internal conditions.
Comprehensive melted fuel debris extraction has been postponed until 2037 or beyond.
Decontamination operations have generated enormous quantities of mildly radioactive soil — sufficient to fill 11 baseball stadiums — throughout the affected region.
Officials have committed to relocating this contaminated soil and have proposed incorporating some material into highway construction and other infrastructure projects, though public opposition has emerged.
RICHMOND, Va. — Virginia may soon see another member of the McAuliffe family in elected office.
Dorothy McAuliffe, who served as Virginia’s first lady and previously worked as a State Department official, announced Wednesday her intention to seek a congressional seat in a recently created district. The wife of former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe brings significant name recognition to the race.
“We need a leader who has a record of delivering and can finally bring down costs for families, who will increase access to affordable healthcare, and who will never back down from holding Donald Trump and ICE accountable,” McAuliffe stated in her announcement.
Virginia residents will vote on a constitutional amendment April 21 that would establish new congressional boundaries throughout the state.
Should voters approve the redistricting proposal, McAuliffe plans to seek election in the expansive 7th District, covering territory from Arlington County all the way to western Augusta County. The majority of constituents in this district would reside in the Washington, D.C. suburbs, and political analysts consider it one of four newly created seats likely to elect Democrats.
“I look forward to traveling this district — from Arlington to Augusta and Prince William to Powhatan — and sharing that vision for this community that I’ve long called home,” she stated.
A practicing lawyer and mother to five children, McAuliffe held the role of Virginia’s first lady between 2014 and 2018. During her tenure, she championed programs focused on children’s nutrition and worked to address Virginia’s backlog of unprocessed sexual assault evidence kits.
The former first lady considered challenging then-Republican Representative Barbara Comstock in 2017 but ultimately decided against entering that race. Most recently, she accepted a position in 2022 as the State Department’s special representative for global partnerships under the Biden administration.
McAuliffe faces stiff competition in what promises to be a contested Democratic primary. Virginia Delegate Dan Helmer, serving his fourth term, and former federal prosecutor J.P. Cooney both launched their campaigns last month. Cooney previously worked under special counsel Jack Smith and was dismissed from his position during the Trump presidency. Additionally, State Delegate Elizabeth Guzman, who made history as the first Latina immigrant elected to Virginia’s General Assembly, has indicated she may also enter the race.
All potential candidates, including McAuliffe, would need to reassess their campaign strategies should Virginia’s Supreme Court reject the redistricting plan or if voters defeat the constitutional amendment.
A Connecticut-based healthcare investment fund achieved impressive 28% returns in the past year by concentrating on artificial intelligence-powered medical companies, and now plans to expand those investments further.
Braidwell, headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, was established by Alex Karnal, a former Deerfield Management executive, and Brian Kreiter, who previously served as chief operating officer at Bridgewater Associates. The fund has positioned artificial intelligence technology as the core of its investment approach.
The investment firm raised $3.5 billion when it launched in early 2022, making it one of the largest hedge fund debuts following the coronavirus pandemic. According to a recent investor letter obtained by Reuters, Braidwell has invested over $1 billion across various biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies.
Major success stories from last year included cancer testing company Guardant Health, medical device manufacturer Alphatec, and molecular diagnostics firm Caris Life Sciences, according to Karnal and Kreiter’s investor communication. The Braidwell Partners Fund concluded the December quarter managing approximately $3.1 billion in assets.
The investment company operates through three distinct divisions. The primary Braidwell Partners Fund focuses on publicly traded stocks and bonds, while Braidwell Credit offers direct lending services to healthcare businesses. Additionally, the firm runs Braidwell Labs, which supports early-stage healthcare startups.
“We expect 2026 to show some incredible opportunities at the intersection of AI and Bio,” said Kreiter. “You will likely see us build or back both AI-enabled medicine companies as well as companies that are developing platforms and tools that will be used by medicine makers.”
Braidwell documented a 49.5% increase in overall gross performance from 2023 to 2025. The flagship fund generated 28% gross returns and 21% net returns last year, performing similarly to broader life sciences market indicators, which averaged gains of 27% to 35%. The fund’s strong performance was primarily driven by investments in non-therapeutic businesses.
Karnal currently holds the position of chief investment officer at Braidwell after spending approximately 16 years with Deerfield, a healthcare-focused investment company. He has also established a nonprofit organization called the Institute for Life Changing Medicines alongside gene-therapy pioneer James Wilson.
Before joining Braidwell, Kreiter worked as an assistant to Chicago’s mayor and later spent nearly 13 years at the prominent hedge fund Bridgewater.
The two founders have been developing their investment platform since 2022, seeking to combine conventional Wall Street investment strategies with medical research and artificial intelligence technologies.
Braidwell employs approximately 40 professionals, including molecular biologists, biostatisticians, commercial analysts, artificial intelligence engineers, and portfolio managers. Karnal and Kreiter, who had maintained a professional relationship for years, seriously began planning Braidwell’s launch during the COVID-19 pandemic.
While still employed at Bridgewater, Kreiter began developing an early natural-language artificial intelligence system, assembling a team of engineers who had previously contributed to IBM’s Watson computer platform. The co-founders began exploring potential healthcare solutions that could serve the broader population recovering from the pandemic.
One of their initial software applications was utilized by the NFL to help manage that year’s Super Bowl, though the NFL did not respond to requests for comment.
“We decided to build a company from scratch in our labs to support emerging venture-stage companies – and then we also wanted to buy the stock of public companies, and give loans to big, established companies because our view is that in most areas of investing that type of activity is very siloed,” Karnal said in an interview.
An artificial intelligence company is taking the Pentagon to court over a decision that could cost billions in revenue, and legal scholars believe the firm has solid grounds for its challenge.
Anthropic filed a federal lawsuit Monday contesting the Defense Department’s move to blacklist the company from military contracts by labeling it a supply chain security threat. The AI lab argues this action violated its constitutional rights to free speech and due process, claiming it was retaliation for the company’s stance on AI safety in military applications.
Company leadership revealed Tuesday that this blacklisting could slash Anthropic’s projected 2026 earnings by several billion dollars while damaging its reputation in the marketplace.
The Pentagon relied on an uncommon statute that permits blocking companies from specific contracts when they might expose military computer systems to hostile infiltration. According to a Reuters examination of legal records, this law has never faced court scrutiny or been applied against an American corporation.
While courts typically show deference to executive branch decisions on national security matters, five legal experts specializing in national security law told Reuters the Pentagon may have exceeded its authority.
“It’s not at all clear that the statute can even apply to an American company where there’s no foreign entanglement,” stated Alan Rozenshtein, a professor at University of Minnesota Law School.
The Defense Department declined to provide comments regarding ongoing litigation.
Anthropic, which operates as a U.S.-incorporated company with American headquarters, maintains it doesn’t qualify as an “adversary” under Trump administration definitions that include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba and Venezuela, according to court documents.
The company highlighted that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth offered no rationale for how Anthropic’s Claude AI system posed supply chain dangers, despite ongoing military use of the technology. The lawsuit references Hegseth’s February 24 meeting where he described Claude as “exquisite” technology the Defense Department would “love” to partner with.
Military forces utilized Claude as recently as last month during operations targeting Iran, based on Reuters reporting.
Hegseth classified Anthropic as a national security supply chain threat on March 3 following the company’s refusal to remove Claude’s built-in restrictions preventing military use for autonomous weapons or domestic surveillance operations.
In a February 27 social media statement announcing the designation, Hegseth criticized Anthropic for hiding behind the “sanctimonious rhetoric of ‘effective altruism’” to “strong-arm the United States military into submission.”
Anthropic maintains that AI technology lacks sufficient reliability for autonomous weapons systems and opposes domestic surveillance on ethical grounds. Pentagon officials counter that Anthropic’s limitations could jeopardize American military personnel.
Federal law defines supply chain risks as threats where adversaries might sabotage, infiltrate or disrupt government information technology infrastructure.
The statute invoked by the Pentagon, Section 3252, permits the defense secretary to exclude companies from certain contracts to prevent “adversaries” from sabotaging, introducing malicious functions, or otherwise compromising military information systems to “surveil, deny, disrupt, or otherwise degrade” their operations.
The Pentagon also designated Anthropic under separate legislation that could expand contract exclusions across civilian government agencies. Anthropic submitted an additional legal challenge to that designation Monday.
Section 3252 permits company exclusions only as final measures, and other defense contractors aren’t mandated to completely cease collaborating with designated firms.
Reuters couldn’t locate other companies publicly designated as supply chain risks under Section 3252, though this specialized procurement statute doesn’t mandate public disclosure of such designations.
Amos Toh, a national security law specialist at the Brennan Center for Justice, said Claude’s usage policies don’t appear to create foreign sabotage or subversion threats.
“These are basically safety protocols. You can debate whether these protocols are acceptable or not, but they run directly counter to the risk that the law is designed to regulate,” Toh explained.
Anthropic’s legal filing argues the supply chain risk designation punishes the company for its AI safety positions in violation of First Amendment constitutional protections for free speech and expression.
Legal scholars suggested Trump and Hegseth’s public criticism of Anthropic, including Trump’s social media post calling it a “RADICAL LEFT WOKE COMPANY,” could strengthen this constitutional argument.
“A lot of things Hegseth has said and the Pentagon has done undermine their case and suggest there was personal animus and bad blood between the parties, and that the Pentagon had it out for Anthropic,” said Joel Dodge, a legal expert at Vanderbilt University.
Anthropic also contends Hegseth’s supply chain risk order violated Fifth Amendment due process protections by imposing “draconian punishments” without “meaningful process,” factual determinations, or opportunities for the company to contest the decision.
Courts generally hesitate to challenge federal agency determinations but show particular deference to executive branch national security judgments.
This deference would likely form the core of the government’s legal strategy, according to legal experts who said Justice Department attorneys could reference numerous cases where courts determined judges shouldn’t second-guess presidential and military defense decisions.
The government might argue that the president and cabinet secretaries possess broad supplier selection authority and that the military cannot depend on vendors whose usage policies restrict military operations.
The Justice Department could also invoke legal precedent establishing that contract decisions don’t constitute First Amendment violations when supported by legitimate policy or operational justifications.
Eric Crusius, an attorney and government contract specialist not involved in the case, said the government is attempting to impose the “death penalty” on Anthropic and must demonstrate “there was no alternative and that they meticulously considered other options prior to pulling the trigger.”
Anthropic’s lawsuit claims Hegseth’s decision violated the Administrative Procedure Act, legislation allowing courts to overturn actions deemed “arbitrary, capricious, an abuse of discretion, or otherwise not in accordance with law.”
Legal experts identified apparent contradictions in the government’s position as strong evidence that Hegseth’s decision was arbitrary.
“The government was simultaneously threatening to use the (Defense Production Act) to force Anthropic to sell its services, using its services in active military operations, and saying it’s too dangerous to use them in government contracts,” said University of Minnesota Law School professor Alan Rozenshtein.
“Not all of these things can be true,” he concluded.
Drivers should expect traffic delays on Estates Drive as construction crews continue work that requires intermittent lane closures.
According to DelDOT, flagging personnel are directing traffic along the stretch of Estates Drive between Appleby Road and Colin Court. The traffic control operation is scheduled to continue until 6 PM today.
Motorists are advised to allow extra travel time when using this route or consider alternate paths to avoid potential delays during the construction period.
Motorists traveling on Foulk Road should plan for potential delays today as construction crews have blocked off the right lane near the intersection with Annwood Drive.
According to DelDOT traffic reports, the lane restriction will remain active until 3 PM this afternoon. Drivers are advised to use caution in the area and allow extra travel time.
The construction work is causing traffic to merge into the left lane, which may result in slower speeds and congestion during peak travel periods.
The British capital has claimed the crown as the world’s premier financial technology center, surpassing traditional powerhouses New York and San Francisco, new research reveals.
For the first time in history, European financial technology investment has reached the same level as the United States, with each region attracting 40 billion euros in funding, according to fresh analysis from hedge fund Finch Capital released Thursday.
The shift represents a dramatic change in the global landscape, with European FinTech investment climbing 37% from 2022 to 2025, while funding for America’s leading tech centers dropped 13% during the same period.
Despite this milestone, challenges remain for European companies seeking major funding rounds. According to the research, every European investment deal exceeding one billion euros required leadership from American investors.
Finch Capital partner Aman Ghei characterized a nine billion euro funding gap as “a policy gap, not a market verdict,” pointing to structural differences between the regions.
The data reveals stark contrasts in pension fund allocation strategies. European pension funds dedicate merely 0.02% of their assets to venture capital investments, far below the 1.9% rate seen in the United States. Closing this disparity could generate an additional 37.5 billion euros in annual funding, the firm estimates.
However, Europe demonstrates particular strength in highly regulated business sectors. Companies focused on chief financial officer services and regulatory compliance software deliver 2.54 times their investment value, significantly outperforming the 1.31 times return seen in American markets.
Ghei also noted that European corporations are missing investment opportunities that their American counterparts pursue more aggressively, citing technology giant ASML’s investment in artificial intelligence company Mistral as a prime example.
The hedge fund partner emphasized that European capital markets possess sufficient resources, making dependence on American investors unnecessary for future growth.
MARSEILLE, France – Campaign advertisements focusing on public safety by a far-right National Rally contender have energized supporters in Marseille’s mayoral contest, with one backer saying the messaging has swayed previously hesitant family members.
Franck Allisio’s promotional materials, set to stirring background music, pledge to expand the municipal police force threefold, install twice as many surveillance cameras, and establish law enforcement stations throughout every neighborhood to “restore joy” to Marseille residents.
Current polling data shows Allisio running neck-and-neck with sitting Socialist Mayor Benoit Payan before Sunday’s initial voting round, giving the RN party an unprecedented opportunity to control France’s second-most populous city.
The Mediterranean port city, renowned for its ancient harbor and coastal scenery, has emerged as ground zero in officials’ fight against a national cocaine epidemic, as documented in a 2024 senate study.
Public safety ranks as voters’ primary concern before France’s dual-stage municipal elections scheduled for March 15 and March 22, according to polling data, potentially favoring the RN’s hardline crime policies.
Allisio’s competitive position in Marseille mirrors nationwide patterns, with surveys indicating the RN – an anti-immigration organization historically associated with racial prejudice and antisemitism – might capture the presidency in 2027.
“We must secure victory in the municipal contests, and afterward our objective is the presidential race,” stated RN supporter Marie-Helene Martin, who works as an educator.
An Ifop survey from March revealed that Allisio’s chances depend on the number of opponents advancing to the runoff. Should leftist groups unite behind one nominee, Payan would likely prevail by ten percentage points. However, a four-way split could create a closer contest.
Municipal leaders in France possess restricted authority over local safety matters, overseeing city police departments that have fewer capabilities and resources than federal law enforcement.
Despite these limitations, both Allisio and Payan have positioned crime prevention as their campaign centerpieces.
“Clearly we have become the narcotics capital,” Allisio stated to Reuters. “We are experiencing an explosion in drug trafficking, and confronting this situation, for years… nothing has been accomplished.”
Payan rejected claims of negligence, highlighting improvements to the local police department.
“The far right is exploiting anxieties,” he explained to Reuters. “In the end, it’s not tackling the security problem, since what it suggests is essentially nothing or entirely impractical.”
Government statistics indicated a 4.1% drop in total criminal activity in Marseille during the previous year compared to 2024, and law enforcement records show drug-connected homicides decreased following a 2023 spike, though narcotics-related murders have alarmed citizens.
Claire Duport, a researcher with the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Addictive Trends, noted that while drug-associated violence wasn’t increasing in Marseille relative to earlier decades, killings had evolved from targeted revenge to more random attacks.
“The sense of danger is understandable – it simply doesn’t reflect broader patterns,” she explained.
To strengthen his public safety credentials, Payan has recruited Amine Kessaci, a prominent 22-year-old anti-narcotics advocate who lost two siblings in drug-connected killings, to join his campaign team.
Speaking from the left-wing alliance offices, Kessaci told Reuters that the RN’s proposals would not address the underlying social factors driving drug-related violence that the Socialists intended to tackle.
“We’re going to counter drug trafficking through healthcare, through education, through transportation, through housing,” he said.
In La Busserine, among the northern areas most impacted by narcotics violence, some locals also criticized the RN’s messaging. Fadella Ouidef, who does volunteer work at the community social center, expressed annoyance that security dominated campaign discussions.
“The far right always controls the conversation… All they can articulate is security, security, security,” said the mother of four, who worried the implicit message suggested Arab and Black residents were “the troublemakers.”
A quarter-hour stroll away, four young people were distributing drugs to sporadic customers near a towering, rundown apartment complex called “Le Mail.” Ouidef mentioned she stays away from Le Mail, but feels comfortable in the multicultural La Busserine neighborhood, where she has resided for 17 years.
“If the National Rally gains control… it will be catastrophic,” Ouidef said, expressing concerns about potential RN reductions to social programs and describing drug addiction as an urgent public health crisis.
“They believe that by generating more social difficulties, they’ll produce more security, but they’ll quickly discover it will generate more hardship and more crime,” she said. “People like them have no interest in people like us.”
Japanese automaker Honda Motor announced Thursday it anticipates significant financial losses ranging from $2.6 billion to $4.3 billion for the current fiscal year ending this month, following a major reassessment of its electric vehicle plans.
The company has decided to halt development and cancel market introductions of several electric vehicle models planned for U.S. production, citing what it called a “slowdown of the EV market in North America.” This strategic pivot is expected to generate expenses and losses totaling up to 2.5 trillion yen across several fiscal years.
The dramatic financial revision represents a sharp turnaround from Honda’s earlier projections, which had anticipated a profit of 300 billion yen for the fiscal year. Company officials scheduled a press conference for Thursday morning to discuss the changes in strategy.
The announcement reflects broader challenges facing automakers as they navigate shifting consumer demand and market conditions in the electric vehicle sector across North America.
Kawhi Leonard exploded for 45 points while Bennedict Mathurin contributed 22 as the Los Angeles Clippers continued their scorching March performance, demolishing the Minnesota Timberwolves 153-128 in Inglewood, California.
The victory marked another milestone for the surging Clippers, who improved their March record to 6-1 with contributions from Darius Garland’s 21 points and Jordan Miller’s 14. At 33-32, Los Angeles made NBA history by becoming the first franchise ever to climb above .500 in the same season after falling 15 games below that mark. Leonard’s explosive night represented his fifth 40-point game this season and his second such performance against Minnesota.
Los Angeles established a new season-high point total and extended their impressive home record to 15-5 since December 20, while getting revenge for a 94-88 home defeat to the Timberwolves on February 26.
Despite Anthony Edwards’ 36-point effort and Naz Reid’s 18 points, Minnesota suffered their third straight defeat. Jaden McDaniels, Julius Randle, and Jaylen Clark each contributed 11 points for the Timberwolves, who have fallen from third to fifth in the Western Conference standings during their current losing streak.
Pelicans 122, Raptors 111
Trey Murphy III’s game-leading 28 points propelled New Orleans past visiting Toronto, securing the Pelicans’ seventh victory in their last 10 contests.
Dejounte Murray delivered a season-best 27 points while Zion Williamson contributed 19 for New Orleans, which connected on 51.5% of their field goal attempts.
The triumph overshadowed the homecoming of former Pelicans standout Brandon Ingram, playing his first season in Toronto after six years in New Orleans. Ingram tallied 22 points, while Immanuel Quickley added 25 as Toronto dropped their fourth game in five outings.
Magic 128, Cavaliers 122
Desmond Bane’s 35-point outburst, including five crucial points in the final 18 seconds, lifted Orlando over visiting Cleveland for the Magic’s fifth consecutive victory.
Paulo Banchero recorded 25 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Tristan da Silva chipped in 23 points for the ascending Magic, who climbed into a fifth-place tie in the Eastern Conference with Toronto. Cleveland holds fourth place, three games ahead of both teams.
James Harden posted 30 points in his highest-scoring performance since joining Cleveland via trade from the Los Angeles Clippers, adding five rebounds and eight assists. Donovan Mitchell contributed 25 points and Keon Ellis provided 20 points off the bench for the Cavaliers.
Knicks 134, Jazz 117
Jordan Clarkson tallied 17 of his season-high 27 points during a crucial final 16-minute stretch as New York erased an 18-point first-half deficit to defeat Utah in Salt Lake City.
Jalen Brunson scored 28 points for the Knicks and completed a three-point play that gave New York the lead permanently at 96-94 with 1.6 seconds remaining in the third quarter. OG Anunoby added 22 points and Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 21 points while Mohamed Diawara provided 10 points from the bench.
Brice Sensabaugh led Utah with 29 points as five Jazz players reached double figures. Utah connected on 14 of their initial 18 three-point attempts — including eight consecutive makes in the opening quarter — before cooling down and suffering their 17th loss in 22 games.
Nuggets 129, Rockets 93
Nikola Jokic recorded 16 points, 13 assists and 12 rebounds, Jamal Murray led all scorers with 30 points, and host Denver defeated Houston to narrow the gap in Western Conference positioning.
Houston began the evening third in the West, holding a 1.5-game advantage over sixth-place Denver. Four franchises currently sit within one game of the third seed. Christian Braun scored 19 points, Cameron Johnson added 17 and Tim Hardaway Jr. provided 14 for Denver, which captured the season series 3-1.
Amen Thompson scored 16 points, Josh Okogie had 12, Kevin Durant and Jabari Smith Jr. each tallied 11, and Alperen Sengun finished with 10 for Houston, coming off a home victory over Toronto on Tuesday.
Hornets 117, Kings 109
Miles Bridges scored nine of his 26 points during a pivotal third-quarter surge, LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel combined for 11 three-pointers and 54 points, and Charlotte overcame a halftime deficit to win in Sacramento.
In a matchup between teams that had won 24 hours earlier, Ball led the way with 30 points, Knueppel added 24 and Brandon Miller contributed 20 for Charlotte, which captured their eighth victory in the past 10 games.
DeMar DeRozan erupted for a season-high 39 points for Sacramento, whose rare two-game winning streak ended. After trailing by five at halftime and being tied 73-73 in the sixth minute of the third period, Charlotte seized control for good with an 11-2 run.
Energy markets experienced significant turbulence Thursday morning as Brent crude oil prices momentarily climbed above $100 per barrel, marking another dramatic swing following recent spikes that approached $120.
The surge came as Iranian forces intensified attacks on commercial vessels navigating the critical Strait of Hormuz, raising fresh concerns about global oil supplies. This escalation occurs while U.S. military strikes against Iran continue into their second week.
Energy prices initially jumped more than 9% higher during early trading. U.S. benchmark crude increased 6.5% to approximately $93 per barrel, while Brent crude, used as the international pricing standard, rose 6.6% to around $98 per barrel.
Tehran has intensified its strategy of targeting commercial shipping and energy infrastructure to create economic pressure that would force the United States and Israel to halt the ongoing conflict. However, there are no indications that hostilities are diminishing.
Iranian forces have struck oil production facilities and refineries across Gulf Arab states while essentially halting cargo movement through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil trade.
To address the market disruption, the International Energy Agency announced Wednesday its largest emergency oil release in history, committing 400 million barrels to stabilize energy markets affected by the conflict. The United States plans to contribute 172 million barrels from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve next week to help combat rising prices.
This coordinated response followed a meeting Tuesday in Paris where energy ministers from the Group of Seven nations – Canada, the United States, France, Italy, Japan, Germany and Britain – discussed strategies to reduce energy costs.
Despite these measures, ongoing conflict and market uncertainty continue to fuel predictions that prices could climb even higher.
Asian financial markets declined in response, with Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 dropping 1% to 54,452.96. South Korea’s Kospi fell 0.5% to 5,583.25, while Hong Kong’s Hang Seng decreased 0.9% to 25,678.92.
China’s Shanghai Composite index declined 0.1% to 4,129.10, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell 1.3% to 8,529.00.
U.S. market futures also showed declines.
Currency markets saw the dollar weaken to 158.84 Japanese yen from 158.95 yen, while the euro dropped to $1.1553 from $1.1566.
Wednesday’s U.S. stock trading showed minimal movement as the S&P 500 edged down 0.1% for a second consecutive day of modest changes following volatile trading triggered by the Iran conflict. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% to its lowest point this year, while the Nasdaq composite gained 0.1%.
Throughout the conflict, dramatic oil price movements have created worldwide market volatility, sometimes changing by the hour. Energy prices reached their highest levels since 2022 this week due to concerns about prolonged Middle Eastern production disruptions, raising fears of damaging global inflation.
Oxford Economics noted in their analysis that “the swings in Brent crude oil prices over the past several days are eye-catching and odds are volatility will remain because of the absence of a timeline for when the conflict will de-escalate and when the Strait of Hormuz, which is effectively closed, will see traffic begin to recover.”
The firm suggested that depending on conflict developments, oil prices could potentially reach $140 per barrel.
Wednesday’s economic data revealed U.S. consumer prices increased 2.4% in February compared to the previous year for groceries, gasoline and other living expenses.
This figure matched the previous month and was lower than economists’ 2.5% projection, though it remains above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target and doesn’t account for this month’s gasoline price increases due to the war.
The combination of elevated inflation and economic stagnation could create a challenging “stagflation” scenario that Federal Reserve policy tools cannot easily address. These concerns stem not only from higher energy costs but also from weakening U.S. employment trends.
Rising oil prices have caused traders to delay expectations for when the Federal Reserve might resume interest rate cuts. President Donald Trump has publicly demanded such reductions, which would stimulate the economy and job market but could potentially worsen inflation.
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Legislators in South Korea approved new legislation Thursday designed to oversee the nation’s commitment to invest $350 billion in American projects, a deal struck last year to prevent the highest tariffs threatened by the Trump administration.
Government leaders had pushed for swift approval of the controversial legislation, first introduced in November, as concerns grow over the country’s export-reliant economy. Officials worry about President Donald Trump’s protectionist policies and potential economic consequences from his conflict with Iran.
The legislative vote occurred just hours after Trump’s administration escalated trade tensions by launching a fresh probe into manufacturing practices in several nations, including China and key allies South Korea and Japan. This investigation could lead to additional import duties if American officials determine these practices are unfair.
Trump and his advisors have indicated they plan to implement new tariffs to recover revenue losses following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down his broad emergency tariffs.
The Korean legislation, which received approval by a vote of 226 to 8, establishes a government-controlled entity to oversee the promised American investments. This organization will evaluate and choose projects using guidance from both Korean and American trade officials.
Several legislators voiced opposition before the vote, citing concerns about Trump’s latest trade investigations and potential effects from Middle Eastern conflicts. These issues have highlighted South Korea’s economic vulnerability due to its dependence on exports and imported energy.
“We cannot be the money machine Trump wants us to be,” said Son Sol, a member of the minor opposition Progressive Party. She argued the legislation fails to provide lawmakers adequate authority to examine and block investments that might harm Korean business or public welfare.
After months of difficult negotiations, South Korea reached a final agreement with the United States in November. The deal commits Seoul to investing $200 billion in American semiconductor and other advanced technology sectors, plus an additional $150 billion in shipbuilding. In return, Washington agreed to reduce reciprocal tariffs on Seoul from 25% to 15%.
The arrangement, which emerged from a breakthrough during an October meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, also limits Korean investments to $20 billion annually to safeguard the nation’s foreign currency reserves.
Lee’s liberal Democratic Party introduced the bill in November but encountered opposition from lawmakers concerned about economic consequences. The legislative delay angered Trump, who threatened in January to restore tariffs on Korean automobiles, pharmaceuticals and other products to 25%, putting additional pressure on opposition members to advance the legislation.
German luxury automaker BMW announced Thursday that it anticipates a moderate drop in company profits this year, with vehicle deliveries expected to remain unchanged as international trade barriers create challenges for the business.
The Munich-based manufacturer projects that increased tariff pressures will reduce profit margins in their automotive division by approximately 1.25 percentage points by 2026. The company forecasts margins between 4% and 6%, down from 5.3% recorded in 2025.
BMW’s pre-tax profits dropped 6.7% in the previous year to 10.2 billion euros (equivalent to $11.78 billion), with projections showing an additional decline of 5% to 9.9% for 2026.
Vehicle sales are expected to match 2025 levels, following a significant drop in the crucial Chinese market during that period.
While BMW’s manufacturing operations in the United States have helped reduce the impact of American import duties – with the company’s largest facility located in Spartanburg, South Carolina – the automaker still contends with European Union tariffs on its electric Mini vehicles produced in China.
A major legal battle has erupted in the fragrance industry as cosmetics powerhouse Estee Lauder takes British perfumer Jo Malone to court over naming rights, according to Thursday reports from the Financial Times.
The dispute stems from Estee Lauder’s 1999 acquisition of Malone’s original perfume company, a deal that included purchasing the commercial rights to use the entrepreneur’s name. After departing from Estee Lauder in 2006, Malone established a fresh fragrance venture called “Jo Loves” five years later in 2011.
According to the Financial Times, Wednesday’s lawsuit targets the appearance of “Jo Malone” on Jo Loves product packaging being sold through Zara’s United Kingdom operations.
The legal action accuses Malone of violating her original contract, infringing on trademark protections, and engaging in “passing off” – a legal concept that involves deceiving customers into believing products come from a different company than their actual source, the report indicated.
Representatives from Estee Lauder, Inditex (Zara UK’s parent company), and Jo Loves have not yet provided responses to media inquiries. Attempts to contact Malone directly were unsuccessful.
Global truck manufacturing giant Daimler announced Thursday its projection for maintaining steady profit margins in its industrial operations through 2026, with company officials anticipating stronger performance during the latter half of the year.
The major commercial vehicle producer forecasts its adjusted return on sales for industrial business will range from 6% to 8% in 2026, slightly below the 7.9% achieved in 2025.
Vehicle production is expected to increase, with Daimler Truck projecting unit sales between 330,000 and 360,000 vehicles in 2026, representing growth from the 315,000 units sold from ongoing operations during 2025.
Company officials cautioned that these projections depend heavily on broader economic conditions and international political developments, especially potential U.S. trade tariffs, while noting that supply chain interruptions or Middle Eastern conflicts could affect outcomes.
“For 2026, we are positioned for operational improvement on higher volumes and efficiency gains compensating materially higher tariff effects,” Chief Financial Officer Eva Scherer stated.
The truck manufacturing sector across Europe, including competitors Traton and Volvo, has faced challenges from declining North American demand as reduced freight activity and tariff-related uncertainty have impacted new orders.
Daimler Truck reported achieving cost reductions exceeding 100 million euros ($115.49 million) during 2025 through its European efficiency program and targets generating an additional 250 million euros in recurring savings throughout 2026.
ROME – Italy’s defense ministry confirmed Thursday that one of its military installations in northern Iraq came under missile attack during overnight hours, though all personnel escaped without harm.
The strike occurred at the Italian facility located in Erbil, within Iraq’s Kurdish region. Ministry officials posted on social media platform X just after midnight Thursday, stating: “A missile hit our base in Erbil. There are no casualties or injuries among the Italian personnel. They are all fine.”
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto maintained ongoing communication with top military leadership throughout the incident, according to ministry statements.
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani confirmed through his own social media post that Italian service members had successfully moved to protective bunker facilities and remained “well and safe” following the attack.
The targeted facility houses approximately 300 Italian military personnel whose mission involves providing training assistance to Kurdish regional security forces, the defense ministry’s website indicates.
ROME – Italy’s government-backed defense contractor Leonardo announced Thursday that the company anticipates substantial expansion ahead, forecasting increases in contracts, revenue, and core earnings throughout the coming year.
The defense manufacturer projects new orders will climb to approximately 25 billion euros ($28.85 billion), up from the 23.8 billion euros recorded in 2025. Revenue is expected to grow to 21 billion euros, compared to 19.5 billion euros in the previous year.
The company also anticipates its earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA) will reach 2.03 billion euros by year’s end.
In a company statement, the Rome-headquartered firm declared: “The Group is positioned on a path of strong growth, supported by a strengthening of profitability and cash generation.”
Based on the previous year’s financial performance, Leonardo announced plans to distribute a dividend of 0.63 euros per share to shareholders.
Religious liberty advocates delivered sobering testimony to United Nations officials, documenting a troubling surge in violence targeting Christians across European nations. The experts also highlighted growing campaigns to weaken or eliminate religious protection laws in multiple countries throughout the region.
Documentation shows that 2024 witnessed over 750 documented cases of anti-Christian hatred across Europe – a continent where Christian traditions have flourished for more than a millennium. The comprehensive data represents the most recent complete annual statistics available to international observers.
Motorists traveling on South DuPont Highway should expect delays this morning due to ongoing construction work in New Castle County.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials report that the left lane of Route 13 is temporarily closed between 2nd Avenue and Pulaski Highway (Route 40). The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 1:00 PM today.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone. Traffic may be moving slower than normal during the lane closure period.
Motorists traveling on Old Orchard Road should expect delays today as construction crews have closed one southbound lane between East Austin Street and East Edgemoor Street.
According to DelDOT, the lane restriction will remain in place until 5 PM as work continues in the area.
Drivers are advised to use alternate routes or allow extra travel time when passing through this section of Old Orchard Road.
SRN News has created a daily audio program that keeps listeners updated on faith-related developments worldwide. The two-minute segment, called “Global Landscape,” covers religious news stories and cultural developments from across the globe.
The brief audio feature focuses on delivering current information about how faith intersects with world events and social changes. Listeners can access these daily updates to stay informed about religious developments and their impact on communities around the world.
An advocacy organization focused on combating anti-Semitism reports that their New York City taxi advertising campaign was terminated before its planned conclusion. The initiative by Jew Belong was created in response to rising incidents of anti-Jewish hostility throughout the city. The advertisements described how Jewish individuals frequently feel the need to conceal their faith due to concerns about potential backlash.
According to Jonathan Greenblatt from the Anti-Defamation League, “If this campaign is considered controversial, that should alarm all of us. The problem isn’t the signs, it’s the climate that made the message resonate in the first place.”
In other news, the ride-sharing company Uber has expanded nationwide a safety feature that connects female passengers with female drivers, building on an earlier test program designed to address security concerns on their platform. Both Uber and Lyft have received numerous reports of sexual assault incidents involving both riders and drivers over recent years. However, transgender advocacy organizations are raising objections to the program because Uber bases gender identification on what appears on a person’s driver’s license. This policy means transgender women cannot access the service unless their state permits gender marker changes on official identification documents.
Wyoming’s Governor Mark Gordon has enacted legislation prohibiting abortion procedures once a fetal heartbeat is detectable, typically around six weeks into pregnancy. This action places Wyoming among five states with similar restrictions, joining Florida, Georgia, Iowa, and South Carolina. Additionally, thirteen states have comprehensive abortion bans with limited exceptions. The Republican governor expressed reservations about the law in correspondence with state legislators, noting his concerns about the absence of exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest, though the legislation does include provisions to protect maternal life.
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette Ziegler, who first won election in 2007, has announced she will not pursue a third ten-year term in the upcoming election. This decision provides liberal candidates another opportunity to strengthen their court majority as significant cases involving social issues, electoral maps, labor rights, and education funding approach the docket. Ziegler becomes the second conservative justice in consecutive years to step down following liberals gaining control of Wisconsin’s supreme court in 2023. Liberal justices maintained their advantage in last year’s election that set national campaign spending records and featured billionaire Elon Musk making campaign appearances in the state.
Protestant ministers nationwide are witnessing a notable uptick in younger worshippers, according to fresh research from the Barna Group. The survey reveals that four out of ten Protestant clergy members report observing increased attendance from Millennials and Generation Z members at their worship gatherings and church activities.
The data indicates that certain types of congregations are experiencing this youth resurgence more than others. Larger churches, those with younger pastoral leadership, and congregations outside traditional mainline Protestant denominations are seeing the most significant increases in young adult participation. The trend appears to be affecting both young men and women equally, according to the findings.
WASHINGTON — American military forces are rapidly adapting their defensive strategies after facing unprecedented swarms of low-cost Iranian drones that have challenged traditional air defense systems.
Iran’s massive drone offensive put U.S. capabilities to the test, with the Islamic Republic deploying so many unmanned aircraft simultaneously that several penetrated American defenses. The attacks resulted in the deaths of six U.S. service members at a military operations facility in Kuwait.
While military officials and defense analysts emphasize that American forces have successfully intercepted most Iranian drones and significantly degraded Iran’s drone production capacity, concerns remain about the cost-effectiveness of current defense methods. Critics have pointed out the economic inefficiency of using multi-million-dollar missiles to destroy drones worth only tens of thousands of dollars.
U.S. troops now face the challenge of rapidly implementing more economical defense solutions against Iran’s Shahed drones, which operate at low altitudes and produce a distinctive buzzing sound similar to motorcycles before striking their intended targets.
“We are crushing them — there’s no doubt about it — but if even one drone gets through our defenses and hurts an American, for me, that is enough to warrant fixing the problem,” explained drone warfare specialist Brett Velicovich, a former U.S. Army Predator drone operator who now co-owns a drone manufacturing business.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine reported Tuesday that Iranian drone launches have decreased by 83% since the conflict began on February 28. Military leaders revealed that Iran deployed over 2,000 drones in the initial days following the first U.S. and Israeli strikes.
Caine informed journalists that American forces have been targeting Iran’s military and industrial facilities “to deny them the ability to continue to generate those one-way attack drones.”
“We also have struck several one-way drone factories to get at the heart of their autonomous capability,” he stated.
The U.S. and allied nations have deployed hundreds, possibly thousands, of Patriot missiles throughout the Middle East to counter Iranian missiles and drones. However, military experts note a shift toward using attack helicopters and machine gun systems as more economical alternatives for drone interception, a strategy President Donald Trump has acknowledged.
“Now we have low-cost interceptors effectively combating Iranian drones,” the Republican president announced Monday.
The military is also deploying an anti-drone system called Merops, which has proven effective against similar Russian drones in Ukraine. This system uses drones to combat other drones, can be transported in a pickup truck, and employs artificial intelligence for navigation when electronic communications are disrupted.
Defense experts suggest that while the U.S. military has monitored the Ukraine-Russia conflict, it has been sluggish in updating its weapons and strategies to address the emerging drone threat.
“This is going to be a big wake-up call for how the U.S. military defends its citizens and fights wars forever,” Velicovich observed. “Because it’s sort of like we’re the best military on the planet, but stuff’s still getting by us.”
Pentagon officials have acknowledged in classified congressional briefings their difficulties in stopping Iranian drone waves, leaving American personnel and Persian Gulf allies exposed. Notable targets including a Dubai skyscraper and regional airports have suffered strikes.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated last week that “thousands of Iranian missiles and drones have been intercepted and vaporized.” However, he admitted, “this does not mean we can stop everything.”
The Shahed drones, available in large quantities, have demonstrated their ability to overwhelm air defense systems and cause significant damage. Despite their relatively slow speed of 180 kph (110 mph), these drones can travel up to 2,000 kilometers (1,240 miles) and carry 40 kilograms (88 pounds) of explosives.
Traditional U.S. military drone operations have focused on sophisticated reusable aircraft like the Predator, which launch missiles and return to base. Ukraine’s experience has shown that deploying numerous inexpensive drones that carry explosives directly to targets can be highly effective.
“There is going to be a learning curve, but the more that the Ukrainians can provide us in terms of guidance and expertise I think the better off we all are,” said Brandon Blackburn, a former CIA targeting officer with Middle East counterterrorism experience.
Ryan Brobst, a defense strategy researcher at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies think tank, noted that social media posts from U.S. military and allied forces show increased use of less expensive weapons like aircraft machine guns and laser-guided rockets against Iranian drones.
He referenced a United Arab Emirates military video showing an Apache helicopter destroying a Shahed drone with a large-caliber machine gun.
“The United States has made significant strides in counter-UAS warfare over the past few years,” Brobst commented, referring to unmanned aerial systems. “But it’s also true that we can still learn more from Ukraine.”
Northwestern University professor William Reno, who conducts Ukraine military training research for the Pentagon and regularly visits the country, observed that Ukraine has developed inexpensive drone defense methods using .50-caliber machine guns mounted on pickup trucks or fast-moving interceptor drones.
“The long-run effect will probably be that it’s going to focus minds wonderfully on thinking more seriously about cheap stuff that comes through the air,” Reno explained.
For decades, American military doctrine has emphasized air superiority in any conflict, but the focus was primarily on higher altitudes where fighter jets and bombers operate. Drone warfare now requires military planners to consider low-altitude airspace control.
“Ukraine was the wake-up call,” Reno stated.
According to Jerry McGinn, a former Defense Department official who specialized in manufacturing and industrial policy and currently works at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, the U.S. military already operates several low-cost drone programs.
One such program is the Low-cost Uncrewed Combat Attack System, or LUCAS, which American forces are deploying in Iran. The U.S. military described these American-made, single-use attack drones on social media as being “modeled after Iran’s Shahed drones.”
“It’s not public on how effective they’ve been or how they were used,” McGinn noted. “But there’s very much a focus in the U.S. of learning from the experience in Ukraine.”
While SUVs continue to dominate showroom floors, automotive specialists are highlighting the overlooked advantages of hatchback vehicles for 2026. These cars provide superior cargo flexibility compared to traditional sedans, featuring roomier and more accessible storage areas. Many models also deliver engaging driving dynamics with responsive handling and energetic powertrains.
Automotive research firm Edmunds has identified their top picks for affordable four-door hatchbacks currently available. This selection encompasses vehicles offering excellent fuel economy, spirited performance capabilities, and practical daily-use functionality. Listed prices reflect destination fees.
Toyota Corolla
The Corolla remains a go-to choice for buyers seeking dependable transportation without breaking the bank, providing comfortable operation and extensive standard equipment. The four-door hatchback variant offers 17.8 cubic feet of cargo capacity versus just 13.1 cubic feet in the standard sedan configuration. Power comes from a 169-horsepower four-cylinder engine as standard. For enthusiasts, Toyota offers the GR Corolla hatchback featuring a 300-horsepower turbocharged three-cylinder with all-wheel-drive capability. While a fuel-efficient hybrid variant exists, it’s only offered in sedan form.
Starting price: $25,575
Kia K4
Making its debut for 2026, the K4 hatchback showcases athletic, streamlined styling that commands attention on the road. This model complements the existing K4 sedan as one of Kia’s most accessible offerings. Cargo capacity significantly exceeds the sedan variant at 22.2 cubic feet behind the rear seating area. Three trim levels are available: EX, GT-Line and GT-Line Turbo. Base EX and GT-Line models utilize a 147-horsepower four-cylinder, while the GT-Line Turbo features a turbocharged 190-horsepower unit. The K4 also stands out with its comprehensive five-year bumper-to-bumper warranty protection.
Starting price: $26,235
Mazda 3
While Mazda offers both sedan and hatchback versions of the 3, the hatchback variant truly shines with its sophisticated European-inspired design and premium interior appointments. Edmunds noted the model’s practical nature with 20.1 cubic feet of storage capacity. Engine options include a standard 186-horsepower four-cylinder or an optional turbocharged unit producing 250 horsepower. The more powerful engine provides enhanced acceleration and comes with standard all-wheel drive, though AWD is available with the base engine as well. The Mazda 3’s rear seating area is more compact than other hatchbacks in this comparison.
Starting price: $26,785
Subaru Impreza
Edmunds notes that while the 2026 Impreza may not excite driving enthusiasts, it serves buyers seeking affordable, practical transportation. Performance lags behind many competitors, even with the upgraded 180-horsepower four-cylinder found in the top RS trim level. However, every Impreza includes standard all-wheel drive as a valuable feature. The model impresses with its spacious interior and excellent outward vision. Storage capacity reaches 20.4 cubic feet in the rear cargo area. For those requiring a sensible all-weather hatchback, the Impreza delivers solid satisfaction.
Starting price: $27,790
Honda Civic
The Civic maintains its excellent reputation for delivering outstanding value to car buyers. While available as both sedan and hatchback, the hatchback version excels in cargo room and overall performance. The rear storage area provides an impressive 24.8 cubic feet of space. The standard four-cylinder engine delivers reliable performance, while an optional hybrid system achieves up to 48 mpg combined according to EPA estimates. Performance enthusiasts can opt for the high-performance Type R variant with its 315-horsepower engine. However, Civic pricing typically runs higher than competitive models.
Starting price: $29,090
VW Golf GTI
The current Golf GTI generation launched for 2022, with recent updates bringing refreshed exterior appearance, enhanced infotainment technology with larger touchscreen display, and additional standard features. Edmunds praises the model’s combination of sporty dynamics and practical utility. Volkswagen no longer markets the standard Golf in America, leaving only the performance-oriented GTI with its 241-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Edmunds testing highlighted the GTI’s quick acceleration, upscale cabin materials, and 19.9 cubic feet of cargo capacity.
Starting price: $36,320
According to Edmunds, “SUVs get all the glory — and more sales — but these handy hatchbacks should not be discounted in any savvy new car search.”
This information was provided by automotive website Edmunds, with Nick Kurczewski contributing to the report.
GOMA, Congo — Multiple drone explosions devastated the center of Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday, resulting in at least one confirmed death, according to M23 rebel representatives and local witnesses.
The aerial assault targeted Lake Kivu and struck a private home situated approximately 50 meters (164 feet) away from where former Congolese President Joseph Kabila Kabange resides.
The M23 rebel organization accused the Congolese government of orchestrating the deadly bombardment. Government officials have not yet issued a statement regarding the allegations.
While M23 representatives claim three individuals perished in the strike, this casualty count remains unverified. Local witnesses report observing only one fatality.
Among the victims was Karine Buisset, a French citizen working for UNICEF, who died when the drone hit her residence, according to both M23 officials and area residents.
French President Emmanuel Macron offered his sympathies to the deceased woman’s relatives.
“I call for respect for humanitarian law and for the personnel on the ground who are committed to saving lives,” he posted on X.
Fighting has intensified throughout January 2025 between Congo’s military forces and the Rwanda-supported M23 movement, following the rebel group’s rapid territorial gains across eastern regions and capture of strategic urban centers. In February, another drone attack claimed the life of a high-ranking M23 spokesman and operations leader.
The ongoing violence continues despite peace efforts led by the United States and Qatar, creating a massive humanitarian emergency that has forced over 7 million people from their homes.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump continues to declare victory in his military campaign against Iran, but his administration has provided conflicting messages about how and when the 12-day conflict might conclude.
Global financial markets remain unstable and Trump’s approval ratings have declined since he initiated the military action against Iran. The president has alternated between demanding Iran’s complete capitulation and suggesting he might accept a scenario where one hardline Iranian leader simply replaces another.
The inconsistent messaging from Trump and his senior officials has heightened uncertainty surrounding the nearly two-week-old military engagement, which has affected virtually every region of the Middle East while creating economic instability worldwide. With both nations refusing to back down, the conflict’s trajectory remains uncertain with no clear resolution in sight.
On Tuesday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth informed journalists that Trump will determine “whether it’s the beginning, the middle or the end” of the military action. During a Monday address to House Republicans, Trump described the conflict as both a “short-term excursion” that might conclude quickly while also declaring “we haven’t won enough.”
These contradictory statements have drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers who argue the president lacks defined objectives. “They didn’t have a plan,” Arizona Democratic Senator Mark Kelly stated to reporters. “They have no timeline. And because of that, they have no exit strategy.”
Following his decision to begin bombing Iran, Trump has repeatedly modified his timelines and objectives for the military campaign, creating more confusion than clarity through his shifting rhetoric.
In recent days, the president has demanded Iran’s leadership accept “unconditional surrender” while simultaneously claiming he has already accomplished his goal of destroying Iran’s military capabilities.
Trump’s administration has attempted to reassure concerned Americans that this will not become a prolonged engagement, even as the president maintains that deploying ground forces remains a possibility.
Military officials report significant damage to Iran’s naval forces and substantial progress in neutralizing the country’s missile and drone capabilities used against regional neighbors. However, the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, which typically handles about 20% of global oil shipments daily, remains blocked for commercial traffic, and Iranian leadership shows no signs of yielding.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard has pledged to prevent “a single liter of oil” from passing through the crucial waterway until America ends its bombing operations. Ali Larijani, Iran’s senior national security official, responded defiantly on Tuesday after Trump threatened to strike Iran “TWENTY TIMES HARDER” if Tehran continues blocking oil shipments through the strait.
“The sacrificial nation of Iran doesn’t fear your empty threats,” Larijani posted on X. “Even those bigger than you couldn’t eliminate Iran. Be careful not to get eliminated yourself.”
Trump has found it challenging to justify to Americans why preventive military action against Iran was essential and how it aligns with his campaign promise to avoid the “forever wars” of recent decades that he has criticized for their financial and human costs. So far, eight American service members have died and approximately 140 have been wounded in Iranian counterattacks across the region.
Among Trump’s various justifications for initiating the war, he has stated he had a “feeling” that Iran was preparing to attack the United States.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt modified this explanation, telling reporters the president’s “feeling” was “based on fact.”
Despite this claim, Pentagon officials have privately informed congressional staff that U.S. intelligence agencies have no evidence suggesting Iran was planning a preemptive strike against America.
Recent surveys indicate Trump’s decision to attack Iran has not generated the typical surge of public support that usually accompanies the start of American military conflicts.
Approximately half of respondents in Quinnipiac and Fox News surveys said U.S. military operations in Iran make America “less safe,” while only about 30% in each poll believed it improved national security. A CNN survey found roughly half of American adults think the military action makes Iran “more of a threat” to the U.S., while only about 30% believed it would reduce the danger.
The CNN poll also revealed that about 60% of American adults trust Trump “not much” or “not at all” to make appropriate decisions regarding U.S. military force in Iran.
European partners are proceeding cautiously after British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez experienced Trump’s anger for what he considered insufficient support for his military campaign.
Even German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has generally supported the U.S.-Israeli operations against Iran, expressed concern on Tuesday that “more questions arise with every day of war.”
“Above all, we’re concerned that there is apparently no joint plan for how this war can be brought quickly to a convincing end,” Merz stated.
Merz emphasized that “Germany and Europe have no interest in an endless war” or in seeing Iran’s territorial unity collapse.
Trump has avoided taking responsibility for the bombing of a girls’ school in southern Iran during the conflict’s first day, an attack that resulted in at least 165 deaths.
On Saturday, Trump blamed Iran for the incident, claiming its security forces have “very inaccurate” weapons.
After the investigative organization Bellingcat published verified footage on Monday showing a U.S. Tomahawk cruise missile striking a Revolutionary Guard compound near the school and causing the explosion, Trump maintained it might still be Iran’s responsibility but said he would accept the findings of an ongoing U.S. investigation.
The president incorrectly stated that Tehran possesses Tomahawk missiles, a U.S.-manufactured weapons system available only to America and select close allies.
When questioned by a reporter, Leavitt avoided directly addressing why Trump made the false claim about Iran having access to the American-made missiles.
She responded partly that “the president has a right to share his opinions with the American public” while noting “he has said he’ll accept the conclusion of that investigation.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York told reporters that Trump’s assertion “is beyond asinine.”
“Again, he says whatever pops into his head no matter what the truth is,” Schumer stated. “And we all know he lies, but on something as formidable as this, it’s appalling.”
Senator Kevin Cramer, a North Dakota Republican, was among Trump supporters who gently urged the administration to clarify what occurred at the school.
Cramer said the military must “do everything you can to eliminate those mistakes going forward.”
Delaware Department of Transportation officials are alerting drivers to expect intermittent lane restrictions along South State Street today due to construction activities.
The affected roadway spans from Water Street to South DuPont Highway, where work crews are causing periodic lane blockages that will continue through 4 PM this afternoon.
Motorists traveling through the area should plan for potential delays and consider alternate routes if possible. DelDOT advises drivers to exercise caution when approaching the construction zone and to follow posted signs and flagging personnel.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are conducting construction work along a busy stretch of US Route 13, forcing the closure of one southbound lane through this evening.
The right lane traveling south on Route 13 is blocked between Brickyard Road and Ockels Road while construction activities take place. DelDOT officials indicate the lane restriction will remain active until 7 PM today.
Motorists using this section of Route 13 should expect delays and plan for extra travel time. Drivers are advised to merge safely into the left lane when approaching the construction zone.
Motorists traveling on Interstate 495 northbound should expect to see debris removal crews working along the roadway shoulder today between the Claymont and Edgemoor areas.
According to DelDOT traffic officials, the trash cleanup operation began this morning and is expected to wrap up by 12:00 PM. The work is taking place on the shoulder of the northbound lanes in that stretch of the highway.
Drivers are advised to use caution when passing through the work zone and to be aware of crews and equipment operating near the travel lanes.
In a thrilling finish at the Atlantic Coast Conference tournament in Charlotte, N.C., Ryan Conwell emerged as the decisive factor for 24th-ranked Louisville, netting five crucial points during the game’s final 77 seconds to secure a 62-58 triumph over SMU in Wednesday’s second-round matchup.
Despite missing freshman star Mikel Brown Jr., the Cardinals found offensive contributions from multiple sources, with Conwell finishing with 16 points total. Adrian Wooley contributed 14 points while Isaac McKneely added 10 to the winning effort. The Mustangs went scoreless over the game’s final 2 minutes and 43 seconds.
The sixth-seeded Cardinals (23-9) will face third-seeded Miami (24-7) in Thursday’s quarterfinal round, marking a rematch of Saturday’s regular-season finale that Louisville won on the road.
For the 11th-seeded Mustangs (20-13), Jaron Pierre Jr. topped all scorers with 17 points. Jaden Toombs contributed 13 points and nine rebounds, while Corey Washington chipped in 10 points. However, leading scorer Boopie Miller struggled significantly, managing just eight points on 4-of-17 shooting after averaging 19.5 points per game during the season. Miller missed all eight of his three-point attempts, part of SMU’s overall 9-for-27 performance from beyond the arc.
NC State 98, Pittsburgh 88
The Wolfpack dominated with exceptional shooting in their second-round triumph over the Panthers, led by Quadir Copeland’s outstanding 24-point, eight-assist performance.
NC State’s balanced offensive attack featured Ven-Allen Lubin with 18 points, Paul McNeil Jr. contributing 15, Tre Holloman adding 14, and both Darrion Williams and Matt Able scoring 12 points each. The Wolfpack connected on an impressive 60.8% of their field goal attempts and drained 13 of 23 three-point shots. Seventh-seeded NC State (20-12), winning just their second game in eight outings, earned a Thursday quarterfinal meeting with 10th-ranked, second-seeded Virginia.
Pittsburgh’s 15th-seeded squad (13-20) received a stellar 27-point effort from Cameron Corhen, who shot 9-for-12 from the field. Nojus Indrusaitis connected on five three-pointers and Omari Witherspoon each tallied 19 points, while Barry Dunning Jr. added 11. Despite shooting 57.1% as a team, the Panthers couldn’t match NC State’s offensive firepower.
Florida State 95, California 89
Robert McCray V’s explosive 30-point, eight-assist performance powered the eighth-seeded Seminoles past the ninth-seeded Golden Bears in their tournament clash.
Florida State (18-14) received additional scoring from Lajae Jones with 15 points and Chauncey Wiggins with 14. Kobe MaGee provided a crucial spark off the bench, scoring all 13 of his points in the opening half. The hot Seminoles have captured 10 victories in their past 12 games under rookie head coach Luke Loucks and will challenge top-seeded Duke in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
California’s tournament run likely ended their NCAA Tournament hopes, as the Golden Bears entered the week listed among the “next four out” in ESPN’s bracket projections. Dai Dai Ames paced Cal (21-11) with 27 points, while Chris Bell added 17, Justin Pippen scored 15, John Camden contributed 11, and Lee Dort recorded seven points alongside 18 rebounds.
Clemson 71, Wake Forest 62
The fifth-seeded Tigers used their characteristic defensive intensity and balanced scoring to eliminate the 13th-seeded Demon Deacons, with RJ Godfrey leading the way with 11 points and eight rebounds.
Clemson’s depth showed as Nick Davidson, Ace Buckner, Butta Johnson, and Dillon Hunter each scored eight points, while Chase Thompson added nine. The Tigers (23-9) advance to meet fourth-seeded North Carolina in Thursday evening’s quarterfinal as they chase their first ACC tournament championship since the event began in 1954.
Clemson’s signature aggressive defense created 12 turnovers while holding Wake Forest to 44.0% shooting from the field. The Tigers protected the basketball with just four turnovers and received a 34-20 scoring advantage from their bench players over the Deacons’ reserves. Juke Harris led Wake Forest (17-16) with 22 points.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Persistent Iranian strikes targeting maritime traffic and energy facilities drove crude oil beyond $100 per barrel Thursday, while U.S. and Israeli forces continued bombardments against the Islamic Republic amid an ongoing conflict with no resolution in view.
Tehran struck a cargo vessel near Dubai’s coastline, ignited fires close to Bahrain’s main airport, launched drone strikes at a significant Saudi petroleum facility, and compelled Iraq to suspend all operations at the nation’s oil export terminals following an assault on Basra port along the Persian Gulf.
The Islamic Republic disregarded a United Nations Security Council measure passed the day before calling for cessation of strikes against neighboring Gulf states, with fresh assaults also documented in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates.
Warning alarms sounded in the pre-dawn hours across Jerusalem after Israeli officials reported efforts to intercept incoming missiles fired from Iran. The nation simultaneously declared it had initiated a “wide-scale wave of strikes” targeting Tehran. In Lebanon, where Israeli forces claim to be engaging Iran-affiliated Hezbollah fighters, 11 individuals perished in two early morning bombardments.
Following the February 28 assault on Iran by the United States and Israel that triggered the current war, Tehran has launched a strategy designed to create sufficient worldwide economic pressure to force them to cease their military operations.
Beyond striking energy installations throughout the region, Iran maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, the crucial maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean that handles approximately one-fifth of global oil transportation.
With shipping through the Strait essentially halted, Brent crude oil prices, the global benchmark, climbed an additional 9% Thursday to exceed $100 per barrel, representing a 38% increase since hostilities began.
The U.N. Security Council approved a resolution Wednesday calling for an end to Iran’s “egregious attacks” on Gulf neighbors, though Tehran displayed no indication of altering its approach.
Thursday morning brought news of a container vessel struck by projectile fire off Dubai’s coast, causing minor fire damage, according to the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center. Officials confirmed the ship’s crew remained unharmed.
In Bahrain, an early Iranian assault triggered extensive fires on Muharraq Island, location of the nation’s primary airport. Officials advised residents to remain inside and seal windows to avoid smoke exposure. The airport houses aviation fuel storage, while additional tanks in the vicinity support the kingdom’s petroleum sector.
Kuwait’s Defense Ministry reported an Iranian drone crashed into a residential structure, injuring two civilians, while the UAE announced activating air defenses twice to shield Dubai from incoming attacks, and emergency crews extinguished flames at a Dubai Creek Harbor tower following a drone impact.
Saudi Arabia confirmed intercepting a drone aimed at Riyadh’s diplomatic district and reported downing additional drones in the kingdom’s eastern regions, including at least one attempting to strike the Shaybah oil field in the Empty Quarter desert.
After an attack on Iraq’s Basra port that claimed at least one life, officials announced Thursday they were compelled to cease operations at all national oil terminals.
Farhan al-Fartousi, director-general of the General Company for Ports of Iraq, explained the assault targeted a vessel in the Persian Gulf port’s ship-to-ship transfer zone.
Air raid sirens and powerful explosions echoed through Jerusalem and surrounding Israeli areas shortly after midnight. Israeli military officials announced they were responding with another “wide-scale wave of strikes” in Tehran.
Nighttime rocket launches from Iran and Hezbollah forced Israelis into shelters across multiple regions, including Tel Aviv and the northern Lebanese border area.
An Israeli strike Thursday hit a vehicle in Ramlet al-Bayda, a prominent beachfront tourist district of Beirut where numerous displaced individuals have sought refuge. Eight people died and 31 sustained injuries, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry. Israeli military representatives told The Associated Press they were “not aware” of conducting strikes at that location.
In Aramoun, located approximately 10 kilometers south of Beirut, three additional fatalities and one injured child resulted from another early Israeli attack.
Lebanese Health Ministry figures from Wednesday indicate at least 634 people have died in Lebanon since the current fighting commenced.
The U.N. refugee agency reported at least 759,000 people have been internally displaced within Lebanon.
Iranian officials state more than 1,300 people have been killed in their country, while Israel has confirmed 12 deaths. The United States has lost seven service members with another eight suffering serious injuries.
Mexico-based cement manufacturer Cemex announced Wednesday its intention to divest Colombian operations through transactions expected to generate approximately $555 million, continuing the company’s strategy of consolidating assets beyond its primary markets.
According to a company statement, Swiss competitor Holcim will acquire a cement production facility, grinding mill, and additional plant portfolio for $485 million, with the transaction anticipated to finalize before year’s end.
The Mexican cement producer indicated ongoing negotiations with unnamed buyers for additional Colombian assets valued at roughly $70 million.
Reports suggest Cemex has been pursuing an exit from Colombia following recent asset sales in Central America and the Philippines over the past two years.
The company will maintain ownership of two Colombian cement facilities with total annual production capacity of 1.6 million metric tons, along with a grinding operation, ready-mix concrete plants, and aggregate mining sites.
“We are pleased with the continued progress we are making in further streamlining our portfolio, while we focus on investing and strengthening our position in key geographies and businesses in the U.S., Europe and Mexico,” Chief Executive Jaime Muguiro said.
Holcim’s chief executive previously indicated to Reuters that significant acquisitions could occur in coming months, following the company’s 1.85 billion euro ($2.14 billion) purchase of German construction systems manufacturer Xella.
The Big East tournament opened with dramatic fashion Wednesday in New York as Xavier’s Jovan Milicevic delivered a clutch performance, netting 21 points to lead the 10th-seeded Musketeers past seventh-seeded Marquette, 89-87.
Milicevic’s decisive moment came with 1:14 on the clock when he drove to the basket for a go-ahead layup that broke an 80-80 deadlock. The senior guard shot efficiently throughout the contest, connecting on 7 of 11 field goal attempts and draining 4 of 7 three-point shots. His scoring output fell just two points short of his career-best performance, which ironically came against these same Golden Eagles in a February matchup that Xavier won 96-88.
The Musketeers (15-17) had to recover after watching a 10-point advantage evaporate before Milicevic’s heroics. Isaiah Walker sealed the victory by converting two free throws with eight seconds remaining, sending Xavier to Thursday night’s quarterfinal round against second-seeded UConn.
Marquette received a strong effort from Royce Parham, who tallied 22 points while grabbing nine rebounds. Big East Freshman of the Year Nigel James Jr. contributed 18 points but endured shooting struggles, managing just 6 of 17 attempts from the field. Chase Ross chipped in 16 points for the Golden Eagles (12-20), who connected on 11 three-pointers out of a season-high 40 attempts while shooting 42.5% overall.
In other tournament action, Providence mounted an impressive comeback to defeat Butler 91-81. Stefan Vaaks erupted for a personal-best 28 points, including a career-high eight three-pointers, as the Friars erased a 16-point first-half deficit. Ryan Mela added a career-high 23 points on outstanding 10-of-14 shooting, while Jaylin Sellers bounced back from a poor first half to score 19 of his 23 points after intermission. The Friars (15-17) earned a Thursday afternoon quarterfinal date with top-seeded St. John’s.
Butler (16-16) was paced by Michael Ajayi’s double-double of 21 points and 11 rebounds, though he played the final 10-plus minutes in foul trouble with four personal fouls. Finley Bizjack managed 17 points despite connecting on only 5 of 15 shot attempts.
Georgetown completed the opening round action with a 63-56 victory over DePaul. Reserve center Vince Iwuchukwu dominated with 17 points and 14 rebounds to propel the 11th-seeded Hoyas past the sixth-seeded Blue Demons. Jeremiah Williams also scored 17 points before fouling out late, while Malik Mack added 16 points. Georgetown (15-17) has now won consecutive games following a seven-game losing streak and will face third-seeded Villanova in Thursday night’s quarterfinals.
DePaul (16-16) got 16 points from bench player Layden Blocker, though he shot just 5 of 14 from the field. NJ Benson contributed 12 points, but CJ Gunn struggled significantly, scoring only seven points on 3-of-13 shooting.
Global markets are reeling as Iran escalates maritime attacks in Gulf waters, sending oil prices soaring and prompting warnings of $200-per-barrel crude from Tehran officials.
Two fuel tankers caught fire in Iraqi waters following strikes by Iranian explosive-laden vessels, forcing the nation’s oil ports to shut down operations. Oman has evacuated all ships from its primary oil export facility as a precautionary measure.
The attacks pushed Brent crude futures up nearly 9% to $100.07, after reaching $119.50 earlier this week. U.S. crude prices climbed 8% to $94.25.
When questioned about the escalating conflict, President Trump stated the United States was “going to look very strongly at the straits.”
The International Energy Agency’s announcement of a record 400 million barrel release has done little to calm markets, as analysts note this represents only about 20 days’ worth of lost supply, suggesting investors fear prolonged disruptions rather than short-term fixes.
Global stock markets tumbled on the news. The MSCI Asia-Pacific index outside Japan dropped 1.6%, ending two consecutive days of gains. Japan’s Nikkei fell 1.7%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures each declined 1%. European markets also retreated, with EUROSTOXX 50 futures sliding 1.1%.
The crisis is expected to fuel inflation concerns, pushing bond markets to increase borrowing costs worldwide. Market analysts are now abandoning expectations of interest rate cuts, with traders predicting none of the five central banks meeting next week in the United States, Europe, Britain, Australia and Canada will lower rates. Australia is expected to raise rates instead.
U.S. Treasury yields reflect the uncertainty, with two-year rates hitting their highest levels since August. The 10-year bond continues struggling after a weak auction, placing focus on today’s 30-year bond sale as investors question locking in current yields amid rising inflation threats.
Thursday’s key market events include the 30-year U.S. bond auction, January trade data release, initial jobless claims figures, and remarks from Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman.
An investment firm is raising red flags about potential problems lurking within the private credit industry, specifically targeting Blue Owl and similar companies for allegedly hiding portfolio weaknesses, according to a Financial Times report published Thursday.
Glendon Capital Management claims that Blue Owl and numerous competitors have “misrepresented” the actual loss rates within their investment portfolios and are concealing “larger losses than reported,” the Financial Times stated, referencing a company presentation.
The allegations surface as market participants prepare for potentially troubling developments following several recent credit problems that have intensified examination of the approximately $2 trillion private credit sector.
Reuters was unable to independently confirm the Financial Times report. Blue Owl has not yet provided a response to requests for comment made after standard business hours, and a Glendon representative has not replied to LinkedIn inquiries.
Blue Owl, headquartered in New York, oversaw more than $300 billion in assets at the end of December.
According to the Financial Times, Glendon specifically challenged Blue Owl’s loan valuations within Blue Owl Capital Corporation, one of its most significant funds.
The newspaper reported that Blue Owl’s elevated loan valuations at the close of 2025, when compared to current public market prices for debt from identical companies, raised Glendon’s “concerns about the true valuation” of the portfolio.
These worries have intensified due to Blue Owl’s recent difficulties, which became apparent late last year when the company restricted fund withdrawals. Additional investor anxiety emerged last month when the firm sold stakes in other alternative asset management companies.
The broader industry faced additional pressure Wednesday when Morgan Stanley imposed redemption limits on one of its private credit funds, while JPMorgan Chase wrote down the value of certain loans to private credit funds.
The Ole Miss Rebels delivered a stunning blow to Texas’ March Madness aspirations Wednesday night, controlling the entire game in a 76-66 upset victory during the opening round of the SEC Tournament in Nashville. The loss puts the Longhorns in a precarious position as they await Selection Sunday.
Leading the charge for the 15th-seeded Rebels (13-19) was Malik Dia, who poured in 23 points in the wire-to-wire victory. AJ Storr contributed 18 points while Ilias Kamardine added 16 for Ole Miss, which managed the win despite connecting on just one of ten attempts from beyond the arc. James Scott rounded out the scoring with 10 points and pulled down nine rebounds as the Rebels earned a Thursday matchup against seventh-seeded Georgia.
For the 10th-seeded Longhorns (18-14), Dailyn Swain delivered a double-double performance with 22 points and 12 rebounds. Jordan Pope contributed 16 points and Matas Vokietaitis added 10, but their efforts weren’t enough to prevent Texas from falling into dangerous territory regarding their NCAA Tournament chances, which will be determined during Sunday’s selection show.
Texas made a late push to steal the victory, cutting a nine-point deficit to just three points at 66-63 with 4:07 left on the clock. Camden Heide converted a three-point play before Pope drained a three-pointer to fuel the comeback attempt. However, Ole Miss responded immediately with six consecutive points to seal the outcome.
In other first-round SEC Tournament action, Auburn enhanced their tournament resume with a convincing 79-61 triumph over Mississippi State. Kevin Overton led the Tigers with 22 points, five assists, and four rebounds, while KeShawn Murphy added 15 points and nine boards. The Tigers (17-15) will take on fifth-seeded Tennessee (21-10) in Thursday’s second round.
Mississippi State’s Josh Hubbard, who had torched Auburn for 46 points in their regular season meeting, was held to 22 points on inefficient 8-of-25 shooting. The Bulldogs (13-19) saw their season come to an end.
Kentucky kept their tournament hopes alive with an 87-82 victory over LSU, led by Otega Oweh’s 23 points and eight rebounds. The Wildcats (20-12) took care of the basketball with only five turnovers while Brandon Garrison shot 7-of-9 from the field for 17 points. LSU’s Max Mackinnon led all scorers with 28 points in the losing effort for the Tigers (15-17).
Oklahoma continued their hot streak with an 86-74 win over South Carolina, extending their winning streak to five games. Nijel Pack knocked down five three-pointers en route to 24 points for the 11th-seeded Sooners (18-14), who overcame a 13-point first-half deficit. The victory sets up a Thursday night clash with sixth-seeded Texas A&M as Oklahoma fights to keep their tournament dreams alive.
Delaware Department of Transportation crews are actively removing debris from Interstate 495 northbound this morning, working along the shoulder between the Claymont and Edgemoor areas.
The cleanup operation began earlier today and is expected to wrap up by noon, according to DelDOT traffic reports. The debris removal work is being conducted on the shoulder of the highway to minimize disruption to traffic flow.
Motorists traveling through the area should exercise caution and be prepared for possible minor delays as crews complete their work. The operation affects the northbound lanes of I-495 in the specified section between Claymont and Edgemoor.
Students interested in pursuing agricultural studies can now apply for financial assistance through the Delaware Farm Bureau’s scholarship program, which provides awards of up to $2,500 per recipient.
The funding comes from collaborative efforts between the Delaware Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, the Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee, and Farm Bureaus across all three counties in the state.
These committees work year-round to raise money for the scholarship fund. The Women’s Committee contributes earnings from operating their food stand during the Delaware State Fair, while the Young Farmers & Ranchers group organizes fundraising activities including their annual Antique Tractor Pull event in July.
Connor Vincent, who serves as State Chair for the Young Farmers & Ranchers, expressed enthusiasm about the program’s mission. “We’re grateful for every opportunity to invest in the next generation of agricultural leaders,” Vincent said. “Supporting students through these scholarships is one of the ways our committee helps develop the future of agriculture.”
Students interested in applying can find the necessary forms on the organization’s website at defb.org/about-us/scholarships-and-programs/scholarships/. The deadline for submitting completed applications is Friday, May 1, 2026.
Additional details about the scholarship program are available by visiting defb.org or calling the Delaware Farm Bureau directly at 302-697-3183.
The most controversial play in World Series history has finally been put to rest by an official Major League Baseball investigation, revealing the dramatic finish wasn’t nearly as close as millions of viewers believed.
The heated debate centered around whether Isiah Kiner-Falefa should have taken a more aggressive lead off third base, the third base coach’s conservative positioning, and whether IKF should have run through home plate rather than sliding.
“I’ll think about it until the day I leave this earth,” Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider lamented.
The heart-stopping Game 7 conclusion appeared to leave the Blue Jays just inches away from defeating the defending champion Dodgers. Television coverage showed Los Angeles catcher Will Smith’s cleat briefly lifting off home plate before making contact again, creating the impression of a razor-thin margin.
However, that dramatic moment was irrelevant according to MLB’s findings.
“After reviewing all relevant angles, the replay official definitively determined the catcher’s foot was touching the plate when the ball contacted the interior of his mitt,” stated the official MLB report recently shared with The Associated Press.
This conclusive analysis reveals Smith maintained contact with home plate when he secured the ball, meaning Kiner-Falefa was already ruled out at that moment.
Rather than the perceived inches separating Toronto from victory in the ninth inning’s bottom half, the actual distance was closer to three feet.
“I never felt my foot come off,” Smith explained during a World Baseball Classic practice session this month. “I didn’t really realize it (was close) until I saw the replay, so I wasn’t trying to go back and touch it.”
The three-time All-Star acknowledged he hadn’t reviewed MLB’s official replay center report.
“I just cared that he was out,” Smith stated.
MLB’s Statcast technology lacks precise measurements for this specific play, though tracking data positioned IKF’s center of mass approximately five feet from home plate, with his extended left leg reaching closer.
“I’ve seen that video 3,000 times and 1,500 of them it looks like Will is off the plate. You know what I mean?” Schneider commented at December’s winter meetings, one month following the heartbreaking 5-4 defeat in 11 innings. “And the other half it looks like he’s on. So, that’s how close it was.”
Kiner-Falefa, who recently joined the Boston Red Sox, addressed the lingering controversy at his introductory press conference. Critics questioned his conservative 7.8-foot lead off third base throughout the offseason. He explained the Blue Jays had instructed him to remain close to the bag.
“Didn’t realize that it was actually going to be that close of a play,” he said. “If I was a step further, yeah, I would have been safe. But I wasn’t.”
The official report confirms he required several additional feet, not mere inches.
Miguel Rojas’ solo homer with one out in the ninth inning’s top half tied the score at four runs. Toronto loaded the bases with one out in their half, positioning Kiner-Falefa on third as a pinch-runner replacing Bo Bichette.
During Daulton Varsho’s at-bat against Dodgers ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto, third base coach Carlos Febles marked the basepath with his cleats, indicating how far Kiner-Falefa should lead off. This appeared unusually conservative, leading many supporters to blame this decision for costing Toronto the championship. Team officials explained their concern about Smith attempting a pickoff throw to third base.
Varsho’s ground ball caused the positioned Rojas to stumble briefly backward, but he recovered to deliver an accurate throw home. Following Smith’s catch, his back right foot momentarily lifted off the plate before reconnecting. Kiner-Falefa slid toward home, concentrating on preventing Smith from completing a double-play throw to first base.
Home plate umpire Jordan Baker called the runner out, prompting Toronto to challenge the decision. Replay official Dan Iassogna, an experienced crew chief with three World Series appearances, upheld the original call.
Television broadcasts clearly captured Smith’s foot re-establishing contact with the plate while Kiner-Falefa’s foot remained several inches away. Many spectators believed this represented the crucial moment, but the official report confirms IKF was already eliminated.
Smith’s 11th-inning home run helped secure the Dodgers’ consecutive championship. He has mentally revisited the home plate sequence multiple times, crediting his teammate’s defensive effort.
“I think it was more of an impressive play by Miggy in that situation. Tough hop,” he said. “All I had to do was catch the ball and get my foot down.”
Military personnel took to the streets of Johannesburg Wednesday as South Africa’s government launched a major offensive against organized criminal activity, deploying army units to assist law enforcement in the nation’s largest metropolitan area.
The deployment marks the first significant military action since President Cyril Ramaphosa declared during his recent state address that armed forces would be utilized to combat organized crime networks, which he described as the most serious threat facing the country’s democratic institutions and economic progress.
An Associated Press correspondent witnessed more than a dozen military vehicles moving through Johannesburg’s Riverlea neighborhood, where soldiers exited their transports to search residential buildings. This particular area has experienced significant problems with both criminal gang activity and unauthorized mining operations.
Neither the South African Police Service nor the Defense Department offered immediate details regarding the scope of the military operation.
Officials had initially scheduled the nationwide military intervention to begin March 1, but the timeline was pushed back to provide soldiers with additional instruction on civilian law enforcement procedures. During these operations, military units will function under police supervision and authority.
According to parliamentary notification from Ramaphosa, the initial phase will involve 550 military personnel operating throughout Gauteng province, which encompasses Johannesburg, with their mission extending through the end of April to support crime reduction and public safety efforts.
The broader military strategy encompasses operations across five of the country’s nine provinces, based on documentation provided to Parliament by police leadership. These expanded operations will target unauthorized mining activities in Gauteng, North West, and Free State provinces, while addressing gang-related violence in Western Cape and Eastern Cape regions.
Law enforcement officials indicated that certain aspects of the national deployment could continue for more than twelve months.
The nation struggles with exceptionally high violent crime statistics. Official police data shows 6,351 murders occurred between October and December 2025, averaging nearly 70 homicides daily in a population of approximately 62 million, alongside elevated rates of attempted murder and violent assault incidents.
Ramaphosa has specifically highlighted gang violence and illegal mining as particularly serious concerns, linking both issues to broader organized criminal enterprises. Several targeted areas include neighborhoods surrounding Cape Town, South Africa’s premier tourist destination, which has faced persistent gang violence problems for many years.
Wednesday’s initial deployment did not immediately clarify whether operations had commenced in other regions identified by the president.
The country has previously utilized military assistance during periods of criminal activity and civil unrest, including 2021 deployments when rioting and widespread looting across two provinces—triggered by former President Jacob Zuma’s imprisonment and public frustration over COVID-19 restrictions—resulted in over 350 deaths.
Ramaphosa acknowledged the sensitive nature of deploying military forces, given the army’s historical role in suppressing pro-democracy movements during the apartheid era of racial segregation that concluded in 1994.
“The deployment had become necessary due to a surge in violent organized crime that threatens the safety of our people and the authority of the state,” he stated.
While the military deployment has received broad public support, some political opposition groups have characterized it as evidence that police forces have been ineffective in controlling criminal activity.
LONDON — A centuries-old tradition in British politics will come to an end in the coming weeks after lawmakers voted to eliminate hereditary aristocrats from the House of Lords.
Members of Britain’s upper legislative chamber withdrew their opposition Tuesday evening to a measure previously approved by the House of Commons that will force out dozens of dukes, earls and viscounts who received their parliamentary positions through inheritance alongside their noble titles.
Government minister Nick Thomas-Symonds described the reform as ending “an archaic and undemocratic principle.”
“Our parliament should always be a place where talents are recognized and merit counts,” he stated. “It should never be a gallery of old boys’ networks, nor a place where titles, many of which were handed out centuries ago, hold power over the will of the people.”
While the House of Lords serves a crucial function in Britain’s democratic system by reviewing laws approved by the elected House of Commons, opponents have consistently criticized it as unwieldy and lacking democratic legitimacy.
Recent scrutiny of the upper chamber intensified following the Peter Mandelson situation, who stepped down from the Lords in February following revelations about his connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, highlighting ongoing concerns about misconduct among members.
With more than 800 current members, the chamber ranks as the world’s second-largest legislative body, trailing only China’s National People’s Congress.
Throughout most of its seven-century existence, the chamber consisted primarily of noblemen — rarely women — who inherited their positions, along with some bishops. The 1950s brought the addition of “life peers” — former politicians, community leaders and other distinguished individuals chosen by the government, who now constitute the chamber’s majority. Hereditary peers currently represent about one-tenth of the membership.
Tony Blair’s Labour administration removed most of the 750 hereditary peers in 1999, though 92 remained temporarily to prevent an aristocratic uprising.
Another 25 years passed before current Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour government introduced measures to eliminate the remaining hereditary members.
The nobles resisted the change, forcing a deal that will allow an unspecified number of hereditary members to remain by converting them into life peers.
The legislation will take effect once King Charles III provides royal assent — a ceremonial requirement — and the hereditary peers will depart when the current parliamentary session concludes this spring, finishing a political transformation started 25 years ago. By House of Lords standards, this represents rapid change.
Labour maintains its commitment to eventually replacing the House of Lords with an alternative second chamber that better “represents the U.K.” Based on historical precedent, such changes will likely occur gradually.
“So, here we are at the end of well over seven centuries of service by hereditary peers in this Parliament,” stated Nicholas True, the Conservative Party’s leader in the Lords.
“Many thousands of peers served their nation here and thousands of improvements to law were made,” he continued. “It wasn’t all a stereotypical history of reaction in ermine. Many of those people, no doubt, were flawed but for the most part, they served their nation faithfully and well.”
RICHMOND, Va. — After almost twenty years of tax incentives that transformed Virginia into the world’s largest data center hub, state senators are moving to eliminate breaks worth $1.6 billion per year to the tech industry.
The Senate proposal would force data center companies to start paying at least 5.3% in sales taxes on their equipment and software purchases. Industry representatives warn this change could bring new construction to a complete stop.
“We have now left the ‘NIMBY’ phase: Not In My Backyard,” Republican state Sen. Mark Obenshain said last month. “And we’ve entered the ‘banana’ phase: Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything.”
Virginia’s rise as a data center powerhouse began eighteen years ago when the state offered tax breaks to attract tech companies. The strategy worked beyond expectations, with the industry investing over $80 billion and generating thousands of jobs in just the past two years, according to state tax officials.
The push to end these incentives reflects nationwide concerns about data centers’ massive power consumption and impact on local communities. These facilities now rival small cities in their electricity needs, straining power grids as artificial intelligence drives demand even higher.
The Data Center Coalition, representing major tech companies, claims the proposed tax would “effectively halt investment” in Virginia. However, development continues, with Amazon Data Services purchasing land from George Washington University this month for another northern Virginia facility.
The Senate’s bipartisan vote — 21 Democrats and seven Republicans supporting the measure — has created friction within the Democratic Party as budget negotiations intensify before Saturday’s deadline.
Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s office expressed concern about “going back on Virginia’s commitments to businesses that have invested in the Commonwealth.”
Democratic Sen. L. Louise Lucas, who leads the finance committee and backs the tax change, responded on X: “Gov. Spanberger thinks our chicken isn’t cooked — then what is the Senate supposed to pluck out of our budget? Raises for teachers, health insurance assistance, transit support, a tax rebate, or childcare slots?”
The debate comes as data centers have evolved into sprawling complexes of server warehouses, electrical substations, and backup generators that dwarf traditional factories and stadiums. Many require more electricity than utilities have ever provided to a single customer.
House Democrats oppose eliminating the tax breaks, setting up a confrontation with senators as lawmakers race to finalize the state budget.
Republican Sen. Richard Stuart believes removing the incentives won’t slow Virginia’s data center boom: “This ain’t going to slow this train down one iota.”
Virginia isn’t alone in reconsidering data center tax policy. Minnesota eliminated sales tax exemptions on electricity for the largest facilities last year while adding usage fees and stricter regulations including water use oversight.
Washington state legislators are advancing a bill to maintain tax breaks for new data centers while ending them for existing facilities upgrading equipment — a change worth $83 million in the first year.
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker called for a two-year “pause” on data center incentives last month, citing rising residential electric bills. Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs wants to completely eliminate her state’s sales tax exemption, calling it a “corporate handout.”
Similar repeal bills have been introduced this year in Arizona, Michigan, and Georgia, though tech companies continue aggressive lobbying efforts in state capitals.
Georgia passed legislation for a two-year pause on data center tax exemptions, but Gov. Brian Kemp vetoed the measure in 2024.
Virginia senators still face organized opposition. The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers has lobbied lawmakers to preserve the data center industry.
“We need this industry,” said Dorian Hargrave, a Virginia-based electrical worker, in a statement. “If we lose it, our economy is going to take a very big hit.”
Devastating tornadoes ripped through Illinois and Indiana communities Tuesday evening, claiming two lives and leaving a trail of destruction as additional severe weather systems continued to threaten the region Wednesday.
Newton County Sheriff Shannon Cothran urged residents to stay away from affected areas during a video briefing recorded in front of a demolished residence in Lake Village, a small northwestern Indiana town. “Please do not come here. Do not try to help right now,” Cothran warned.
Lake Township Fire Department spokesperson Laurie Postma confirmed the two fatalities during a Wednesday press conference attended by the sheriff, state police, and local officials. The victims’ identities have not been disclosed.
Postma reported that fewer than 10 individuals sustained injuries from Tuesday’s severe weather, which also brought down numerous trees and electrical lines throughout the area.
An apparent tornado demolished several residences in the community, according to Indiana State Police Cpl. Eric Rot, who confirmed injuries but could not specify exact numbers or medical conditions.
Local paramedic David Ferris, who resides in Lake Village near the impacted zone, described sheltering with his wife and dogs in their downstairs bathroom during the storm. “We rode it out in our downstairs bathtub,” Ferris explained to The Associated Press. While they escaped injury and only lost electricity, Ferris later assisted in rescue operations, treating victims with various cuts, scrapes, and head injuries.
“We had another house where a guy crawled out,” Ferris recounted. “He was having some trouble breathing because he was covered in house insulation.”
Ferris observed extensive damage including the complete destruction of the local Family Dollar store and a gas station located across the street, along with numerous large trees that were completely uprooted.
The National Weather Service warned that severe storms bringing heavy rainfall and hail across Midwest regions posed continued threats of powerful tornadoes, destructive winds, and exceptionally large hail from the southern Plains through the southern Great Lakes. Tornado watches remained active Wednesday morning for portions of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Ohio.
Multiple tornadoes developed throughout northeastern Illinois and northwestern Indiana, though Storm Prediction Center meteorologist Andrew Lyons noted that precise counts await completion of official damage assessments.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker acknowledged the storm damage in a social media post, stating he had received briefings on the situation. “Keeping in our thoughts all Illinoisans impacted by the severe weather — we’ll be here to help them recover,” he wrote.
A tornado touched down near Kankakee fairgrounds, approximately 57 miles south of Chicago, before moving northeast into Aroma Park where it produced widespread damage, the Kankakee County Sheriff’s Office reported. No injuries were documented in that area.
“I want to remind area residents to check on their neighbors and loved ones but to avoid unnecessary travel, if at all possible,” Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey stated.
Social media footage captured the twister moving across agricultural fields near an airport while vehicles gathered along nearby roadways.
Weather officials placed over 2 million Americans under moderate severe weather risk across Illinois and Indiana. An additional nearly 22 million people faced slightly lower risk levels in an expanded zone encompassing Chicago, Fort Worth, Texas, and Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Two major European nations announced they will tap their emergency petroleum stockpiles following a coordinated international request aimed at stabilizing energy markets disrupted by escalating Middle East tensions.
Germany and Austria confirmed their participation in the International Energy Agency’s call for member countries to collectively release 400 million barrels from strategic reserves. Japan has also committed to beginning releases starting Monday.
This coordinated action represents the most significant emergency oil release in history, surpassing the 182.7 million barrels released by IEA nations following Russia’s comprehensive military assault on Ukraine two years ago.
The IEA reports its member countries maintain more than 1.2 billion barrels in public emergency petroleum reserves, supplemented by an additional 600 million barrels in industry stockpiles held under government requirements.
The current energy crisis stems from Iran’s retaliatory actions following strikes by the United States and Israel. Iranian forces have launched attacks against commercial vessels throughout the Persian Gulf, intensifying their strategy of disrupting the oil-rich region as worldwide energy anxieties escalate.
Iran has successfully halted most cargo movement through the strategic Hormuz Strait, a critical waterway that handles approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments traveling from the Persian Gulf to the Indian Ocean.
Iranian operations have also struck petroleum facilities and processing plants across Gulf Arab states, designed to create sufficient worldwide economic pressure to force the United States and Israel to cease their military operations.
Energy officials from the Group of Seven nations stated Tuesday their support “in principle” for “the implementation of proactive measures to address the situation, including the use of strategic reserves.”
Current export levels of crude oil and refined petroleum products have plummeted to less than 10 percent of pre-conflict volumes, according to IEA data.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury residents have an opportunity to dispose of large household items at no charge during a special collection week scheduled for March 16-20, 2026. The city requires advance registration, with a deadline of noon on Friday, March 13.
Homeowners interested in participating should contact the Department of Field Operations at 410-548-3177 to arrange their pickup. Callers need to mention they want the complimentary bulk collection service for the March 16 week and provide their regular garbage pickup day. The city warns that late requests may not be fulfilled.
Residents who encounter voicemail should leave a complete message with their full name, contact number, home address, regular collection day, and a description of items requiring pickup.
The program includes several restrictions:
Maximum of three large items per household.
Items containing fabric, including mattresses and box springs, require plastic wrapping secured with tape.
The service excludes appliances and building materials such as lumber, bathroom fixtures, toilets, and playground equipment.
Apartment and condominium complexes must handle their own bulk disposal as city services don’t cover multi-unit buildings.
Large items cannot go in regular trash or recycling containers.
All materials must be placed at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the resident’s normal collection day, with overnight placement recommended.
Questions about the program can be directed to the Department of Field Operations at 410-548-3177.
Motorists using Chapel Street in Newark are dealing with traffic restrictions today as construction crews continue their work in the area.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the right lane is currently blocked for northbound traffic on Chapel Street in the stretch between Old Baltimore Pike and Interstate 95.
The lane restriction is scheduled to remain in place until 3 PM today, according to DelDOT’s traffic incident reporting system.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time and use caution when passing through the construction zone. Traffic may be moving more slowly than usual during peak hours.
Salisbury municipal workers will tackle a sinkhole repair project Wednesday, October 8th, as part of the city’s continuous efforts to upgrade and maintain its sewer infrastructure. The Waterworks Utilities Division will address the damaged roadway in the 600 block of Monroe Street.
The repair operation will require shutting down Monroe Street to through traffic from Washington Street to Prince Street while crews work to fix and fill the sinkhole. City officials anticipate wrapping up the project by approximately 3:30 p.m., assuming no unexpected complications arise.
Utility location services and Central Alarm systems have received advance notification of the planned work.
Motorists in Wilmington are dealing with traffic delays on West Avenue today as construction crews have shut down one northbound lane.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports that the lane closure affects the stretch of West Avenue running between Delaware Avenue and Scanlon Street. Officials say the construction work is expected to wrap up by 3 PM this afternoon.
Drivers are advised to allow extra travel time or seek alternate routes while the work continues. DelDOT continues to monitor the situation and will reopen the lane once construction activities are completed.
Students at Warner Elementary School in Wilmington got a firsthand look at agriculture career possibilities when Liz Harrison visited their Junior Achievement Exploration Fair. Harrison, who serves as Chair of New Castle County Young Farmers and Ranchers, works as a farm insurance agent and spoke with students about her professional journey in the agricultural sector.
The exploration event featured multiple stations where business professionals and volunteers from various Delaware industries shared insights about their work. Harrison joined other community members in broadening students’ perspectives on potential career paths they might pursue in the future.
Young learners peppered Harrison with numerous inquiries about agricultural work and farming life. She detailed how farmers maintain demanding schedules with unpredictable hours, explaining that her role as their insurance representative requires her to remain accessible whenever clients require assistance. When students questioned how to recognize authentic food products, Harrison discussed whole food concepts and locations where they’re available, noting that farmers markets along with grocery store produce, meat, and dairy departments provide excellent opportunities to support area farmers while selecting nutritious options.
The interaction proved meaningful for Harrison, who appreciated learning about the students’ personal interests and career dreams. “I always ask kids what they want to change about their world when they grow up and the responses blew me away,” she said. “Our youth have big aspirations for their future!” Additional details about Junior Achievement of Delaware can be found at https://delaware.ja.org/, while Delaware Farm Bureau information is available at www.defb.org.
Two Delaware State University women’s basketball players received prestigious conference honors when the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference revealed its 2026 all-conference selections.
First-year players Amya Scott and Liliana Harrison both earned spots on the MEAC All-Rookie Team, as announced by the conference on March 10th, 2026, from Norfolk, Virginia.
The recognition highlights the exceptional debut seasons both players had with the Hornets women’s basketball program during their freshman campaigns.
A photography revival is sweeping through younger generations, with Gen-Z and millennial photographers embracing the distinctive aesthetic and hands-on experience of film cameras.
However, those accustomed to digital photography face a learning curve when switching to analog equipment. Terms like ISO, f-stop, and aperture can confuse newcomers to traditional photography methods.
Associated Press photojournalist George Walker IV, working from Nashville, shared fundamental principles of analog photography for photographers interested in making the transition.
Walker, who became an AP staff member in 2023 following three decades at The Tennessean newspaper, believes film photography teaches essential skills because it “forces me to be patient and concentrate to make the pictures that matter.”
“You have a finite number of frames on a roll of 35 mm film, usually 24 or 36. And you should make those pictures count.”
Prior to digital camera technology emerging in the early 2000s, photographers depended on physical film rather than electronic storage devices.
Film consists of light-sensitive cellulose material designed for image creation. The silver-halide surface captures light through camera lenses, forming a latent image that becomes the basis for printed photographs.
This process produces images with characteristic grain and natural imperfections that appeal to photographers seeking alternatives to overly polished digital images. Many enthusiasts view film as a remedy for digital overwhelm and smartphone instant gratification, joining a wider trend toward traditional activities including vinyl collecting, handicrafts, and handwritten correspondence.
Various film formats exist, though 35mm remains the standard for consumer cameras, sold in small metal containers. Photography stores and online retailers stock film supplies, while some pharmacies offer limited selections.
Film purchases require attention to ISO ratings, which indicate light sensitivity levels. Higher numbers mean greater sensitivity to available light.
Indoor sports venues or nighttime events typically require ISO 1600 or higher ratings. Bright outdoor conditions work best with ISO 400 or lower speeds.
Newcomers should consider starting with black and white film, which offers more exposure forgiveness than color varieties and emphasizes composition and lighting fundamentals.
Contemporary film camera production focuses mainly on specialty point-and-shoot models or premium equipment.
Secondhand vintage cameras remain widely available through online marketplaces, camera retailers, or personal connections who may have forgotten equipment in storage.
Reliable options include models from five major manufacturers that dominated pre-digital photography: Canon, Nikon, Pentax, Olympus, and Minolta.
Point-and-shoot models offer portability and simplicity with minimal controls beyond flash activation switches.
Single-lens reflex (SLR) cameras provide complete manual control through various dials, settings, and interchangeable lenses for advanced image creation. Manual cameras offer learning opportunities and creative flexibility but require more experience and handling comfort due to their size and complexity.
For undecided buyers, remember that having any camera available beats owning the perfect one left at home.
Loading film requires different approaches depending on camera type.
Manual cameras need the back opened to insert the film leader into the right-side spool slot. The winding lever advances film to ensure proper attachment before closing the camera back. Correct loading makes the left rewind knob rotate during film advancement.
Point-and-shoot cameras typically feature automatic winding systems with interior labels showing proper film leader placement. Incorrect loading triggers error messages or prevents frame counter advancement.
Once loaded, keep the camera back sealed until completing all exposures and rewinding film completely, as opening prematurely destroys the entire roll.
Manual camera operation requires understanding exposure control through shutter speed and aperture (f-stop) adjustments, plus ISO setting selection.
Exposure works like filling a glass from a faucet. F-stops regulate light flow, with f/16 allowing minimal light like a trickle, while f/2.8 permits maximum light like a fire hose. Shutter speed determines how long light reaches the film.
F-stops also affect depth of field, controlling how much of the photograph appears sharp. Smaller f-stop numbers create greater focus range.
Shutter speed captures motion effectively. Fast speeds like 1/250 or 1/500 second freeze moving subjects such as racing vehicles or flying birds.
Manual cameras include viewfinder light meters showing proper exposure settings.
Manual focusing requires practice and concentration. For portraits, ensure eyes remain sharp. For landscapes and still life subjects, focus on the most important visual elements like flower details or mountain peaks.
Despite technological differences, core principles remain consistent. Fill the frame with desired subjects and study accomplished photographers including Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Ansel Adams.
Film processing services operate through pharmacies, photo shops, or mail-order laboratories. Some communities maintain shared darkroom facilities for photographer members.
Development costs and timeframes vary based on urgency, color versus black and white processing, frame counts, and additional services requested.
Processing returns negatives – the developed film strips. Previously, photographers saved these for future printing needs. Modern labs provide digital files alongside physical prints, though experienced photographers typically retain negatives for archival purposes.
Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs has revised its timeline for anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate reductions, moving its predictions from summer to fall due to escalating concerns about inflation tied to Middle East tensions.
The financial institution now anticipates the Federal Reserve will implement quarter-point interest rate decreases in September and December, according to a Wednesday announcement. This represents a significant shift from Goldman’s previous projection, which called for the first rate reduction to occur in June, with an additional cut following in September.
In their Wednesday analysis, Goldman Sachs stated that “A June start now looks too early under our higher revised inflation forecast.” The bank noted that while their new timeline reflects current economic conditions, earlier rate cuts could still materialize if employment markets deteriorate more rapidly and significantly than currently anticipated.
An artificial intelligence company is taking legal action to challenge the Pentagon’s classification of the firm as a potential security threat to government supply chains.
Anthropic submitted documents to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday, requesting an immediate halt to the Defense Department’s risk designation while the matter undergoes court review.
According to court filings, Anthropic argues that the Pentagon’s classification would result in “irreparable harm” to the company’s operations.
The AI firm has simultaneously launched a separate legal challenge in California federal court, aiming to prevent the Pentagon from adding the company to a national security restricted list.
JAKARTA, March 12 – Following discussions with his Australian counterpart, Indonesia’s Defense Minister revealed plans Thursday to broaden bilateral security cooperation into multiple trilateral partnerships involving Japan and Papua New Guinea.
Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin announced the formation of two separate three-nation security frameworks – one linking Indonesia, Australia and Japan, and another connecting Indonesia, Australia and Papua New Guinea. The announcement came after meetings with Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles.
This expansion builds upon a security agreement signed by Indonesian and Australian leaders last month, which established a commitment for both nations to engage in consultations when either faces security threats.
According to Sjamsoeddin, the two countries will collaborate on intelligence operations, though he declined to elaborate on specific details of this cooperation.
The ministers also explored the potential development of a military training center on Morotai island in North Maluku, with proposals to enhance current defense infrastructure there. “We will work together to improve and utilise it,” Sjamsoeddin stated.
The planned Morotai facility would accommodate military personnel from multiple nations including the Philippines, Australia and Singapore, alongside another training center under development in North Kalimantan in partnership with Singapore.
Regarding international peacekeeping efforts, Sjamsoeddin indicated Indonesia’s willingness to contribute forces to an international security mission in Gaza, contingent upon developments involving U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace and the evolving Middle East situation.
While Indonesia initially prepared to deploy 20,000 troops, the country has adjusted its commitment to 8,000 personnel to be deployed in stages, responding to commitments from other participating nations to contribute smaller contingents numbering in the hundreds.
“The president has instructed us to prepare our troops, and we are ready to act, but we are awaiting developments from the BOP. I cannot confirm anything yet because the situation is very dynamic,” Sjamsoeddin explained.
Aviation companies across the globe are confronting a financial crisis as jet fuel costs skyrocket at rates far exceeding crude oil price increases, leaving even well-prepared carriers scrambling to adjust their operations.
Since the beginning of the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, jet fuel expenses have doubled while crude oil prices have climbed by only one-third, creating an unprecedented challenge for the aviation industry. This dramatic disparity has forced airlines to rapidly implement ticket price increases, additional fuel charges, and route reductions.
The situation has exposed a critical weakness in airline financial planning: most hedging contracts protect against crude oil fluctuations rather than jet fuel price variations. Cathay Pacific Airways Chief Financial Officer Rebecca Sharpe explained this vulnerability during earnings announcements in Hong Kong on Wednesday.
“It’s a dramatic increase,” Sharpe stated. “Our hedging is on crude oil rather than jet fuel. And therefore, while we do have some protection from that hedging, obviously, it’s not protecting against the jet fuel price in totality.”
The crisis has created distinct winners and losers across the industry. Large U.S. and Chinese carriers find themselves completely vulnerable, having no hedging agreements in place to buffer against fuel cost spikes. Aviation specialist Hans Joergen Elnaes notes that historically, elevated fuel prices during Middle Eastern conflicts tend to persist for months.
Budget airlines face particularly severe challenges, according to Nathan Gee, Bank of America’s head of Asia Pacific transportation research.
“Traditionally, the history is low-cost carriers that carry the most price-sensitive customers. They’re the ones that get squeezed the most in this environment,” Gee explained.
Hedging strategies present their own complications for airlines. While derivative contracts can provide protection against sudden fuel cost increases, they also create potential losses when prices decline, potentially locking carriers into above-market rates through swap agreements that have previously caused financial damage to some companies.
European carriers, where hedging practices are widespread, face significant profit impacts from sustained fuel price increases. J.P. Morgan analysis suggests that a continued 10% rise in jet fuel costs could reduce budget carrier Wizz Air’s operating profits by up to 31% this year, while other major European airlines including Air France KLM, Lufthansa, IAG (British Airways’ parent company), and Ryanair could see profit reductions between 3% and 10%.
Wizz Air, which reported a 50 million euro ($57.74 million) financial impact from the Middle Eastern crisis, has secured hedging coverage for 83% of its jet fuel requirements through March, but protection drops to only 55% for the period ending March 2027. CEO Jozsef Varadi told Reuters last week that the company maintains strong protection and is “not naked” in terms of fuel price exposure.
Asian markets have experienced particularly dramatic changes in fuel pricing structures. Before the conflict began, jet fuel typically cost about $21 per barrel more than crude oil. However, refining margins expanded dramatically to $144 on March 4 and remained elevated at $65 as of Wednesday.
“That’s what blew out last week and that’s where everyone is less protected,” BofA’s Gee observed.
Even airlines with no Middle Eastern routes have been forced to respond to the crisis. Air New Zealand and Australia’s Qantas Airways, despite maintaining more than 80% hedging coverage against crude oil for the six-month period ending in June, have already implemented fare increases to safeguard their profit margins.
Bank of America projects that Asian airlines could experience average net profit decreases of 6% for each $10 per barrel increase in refining margins sustained over 90 days, assuming carriers cannot implement offsetting price adjustments.
Most Asian carriers either lack hedging protection entirely or have only secured coverage against Brent oil price benchmarks. Industry analysts identify Singapore Airlines and Virgin Australia as exceptions, having established stronger defenses against jet fuel price increases.
Cathay’s Sharpe explained that jet fuel hedging remains uncommon due to market limitations and cost considerations compared to oil hedging options.
“The market is very thin and it makes it very expensive,” she noted. “Fuel prices can be highly volatile and we don’t have a crystal ball as to what the future will bring.”
Air New Zealand revealed Thursday it will eliminate approximately 1,100 flights, representing 5% of its scheduled services, extending through early May as ongoing Middle East warfare drives jet fuel costs to unprecedented levels.
The announcement from New Zealand’s flagship carrier follows similar moves by international airlines including Qantas Airways of Australia, Scandinavian airline SAS, and Thai Airways, all implementing fare increases this week due to dramatic fuel cost spikes affecting the worldwide aviation industry.
Ongoing Middle Eastern warfare has compelled numerous airlines to suspend regional flights or adopt longer alternative flight paths to avoid drone and missile attacks that have severely restricted airspace access, creating the aviation sector’s most significant disruption since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Oil markets rose Thursday following reports from Iraqi security sources that Iranian vessels loaded with explosives struck two fuel tankers, while Iranian officials warned global markets should prepare for oil reaching $200 per barrel amid widespread supply chain interruptions.
Air New Zealand’s chief executive Nikhil Ravishankar informed state radio that approximately 44,000 passengers out of 1.9 million expected travelers through early May will require rebooking due to domestic and international service reductions.
Regional destinations including New Zealand’s renowned Marlborough wine country and the western coastal city of New Plymouth will experience decreased flight availability in coming weeks.
However, the airline plans fewer reductions to long-distance routes, Ravishankar explained, as United States connections have gained popularity as European gateway options following extensive Middle Eastern airspace restrictions.
“People want to get to Europe still, and over the U.S. airspace we can get them into Europe, and that’s what we’re focused on doing,” he said.
Air New Zealand stock declined 1% Thursday, mirroring decreases seen in Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Australia’s Qantas Airways, and Japan Airlines.
Wednesday brought additional disruption when two unmanned aircraft crashed near Dubai’s primary airport—the planet’s busiest international passenger hub—while Bahrain relocated aircraft as infrastructure attacks throughout the Gulf region continued disrupting air traffic.
The warfare has additionally interrupted shipping through the globe’s most critical oil export corridor, driving petroleum prices higher and destabilizing international travel, causing ticket costs on certain routes to skyrocket while raising concerns about significant travel industry decline.
Passengers are rapidly switching to airlines avoiding Middle Eastern airspace, with Thai Airways reporting increased European passenger bookings.
Cathay Pacific suspended Dubai and Riyadh flights through March’s end while expanding London and Zurich services, capitalizing on increased demand for Asia-Europe routes bypassing the Middle East.
Demonstrating the conflict’s far-reaching impact beyond the Middle East, Vietnam’s government cautioned Wednesday that domestic airlines could face fuel shortages as early as next month.
Today marks the 15th anniversary of one of the most catastrophic natural disasters in modern history, when a massive earthquake off Japan’s northeastern coast unleashed devastating tsunami waves that claimed more than 18,000 lives.
On March 11, 2011, a magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck beneath the Pacific Ocean, approximately 70 kilometers east of Japan’s Tohoku region. The powerful seismic event generated towering tsunami waves that reached heights of up to 40 meters in some areas, devastating Japan’s northeastern coastline.
The disaster, officially known as ‘The Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami,’ left thousands of people missing and never recovered. Entire coastal communities were swept away as the massive waves surged inland, destroying buildings, homes, and infrastructure across hundreds of miles of coastline.
The coastal city of Miyako was among the hardest hit areas, where dramatic footage captured enormous waves crashing into buildings and sweeping away everything in their path. The disaster also triggered a nuclear emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, adding to the catastrophe’s long-lasting impact.
The 2011 tsunami stands as a stark reminder of nature’s devastating power and the importance of disaster preparedness and early warning systems for coastal communities worldwide.
Military conflict in Iran is causing significant turbulence in the aviation industry as jet fuel costs climb and carriers begin raising ticket prices, creating concerns for passengers worldwide who are planning upcoming trips.
The ongoing warfare is sending shockwaves through fuel markets, with airlines responding by adjusting their pricing structures to offset the increased operational expenses. This development is creating uncertainty for travelers booking flights, even those with destinations far removed from the conflict zone.
While the United States and allied nations have announced plans to release oil from strategic reserves, aviation industry analysts suggest this measure may not provide immediate relief for jet fuel pricing. The ripple effects of Middle Eastern violence continue to demonstrate how regional conflicts can impact global air transportation networks.
For passengers considering flight bookings in the near future, travel experts recommend monitoring price fluctuations closely and being prepared for potential fare increases as the situation develops.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Family members of enslaved individuals captured in what historians consider the earliest photographs of enslaved people express relief that these historic images are returning to South Carolina.
Following a seven-year court battle, Harvard University has agreed to transfer the photographs to Charleston’s International African American Museum, the institution announced Wednesday.
The daguerreotypes from 1850 show seven enslaved individuals: a man called Renty, his daughter Delia, and five others identified as Jack, Drana, Alfred, Fassena and Jem. These early photographic images captured the subjects unclothed from multiple perspectives and were originally created for a Harvard biologist’s racist studies that supported pro-slavery arguments during the pre-Civil War era.
Charleston’s museum intends to carefully preserve the original daguerreotypes while creating reproductions for public display as the centerpiece of an exhibition exploring the lives of these seven South Carolinians.
The lawsuit was filed by Tamara Lanier, who claims Renty as her great-great-great-grandfather. Lanier pushed for the photographs to be housed at the South Carolina institution because it sits in the same state where her ancestor lived in bondage and where the images were originally captured, according to her legal representative Joshua Koskoff.
“It’s almost spiritual they are coming home. They can breathe at the museum,” Koskoff said.
The court proceedings between Lanier and Harvard moved through Massachusetts courts until both parties reached a settlement agreement in 2025. University officials stated they had always supported transferring the images to an appropriate museum but contested the lawsuit because they could not verify Lanier’s ancestral connection to the photographed individuals.
According to Lanier’s legal team, Harvard generated revenue by licensing these historical images.
“Slavery robbed Renty and Delia of their humanity. But it was Harvard who robbed them of their story,” Koskoff said.
The International African American Museum recently opened at Charleston’s Gadsden’s Wharf, the historic site where nearly half of all enslaved Africans first arrived on American soil.
Two NFL quarterbacks may represent exceptional value opportunities in free agency if they can return to their previous high-level performance.
Despite NFL franchises spending massive amounts during the opening days of free agency negotiations, the Atlanta Falcons secured Tua Tagovailoa for just $1.2 million – the league minimum for veterans. Meanwhile, Miami remains responsible for $54 million of his contract.
Kyler Murray presents a similar opportunity at $1.3 million for any interested team, as Arizona will pay $36.8 million of his guaranteed remaining compensation.
While neither quarterback likely possesses championship-caliber ability like last year’s Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks found in free agency, both players don’t need to capture a title to provide significant value.
Atlanta hasn’t made the postseason since 2017 but competes in the NFC South, where they matched Carolina and Tampa Bay’s 8-9 record last season, missing the division crown only on tiebreakers. The franchise boasts offensive weapons including All-Pro running back Bijan Robinson. Should Tagovailoa help break their playoff absence, his minimal salary would represent tremendous value.
The 28-year-old former first-round selection from 2020 endured his most challenging NFL campaign recently but maintains a 44-32 record as a starting quarterback. In 2023, Tagovailoa topped the league with 4,624 passing yards and earned Pro Bowl recognition.
Surrounded by Robinson, receiver Drake London, and tight end Kyle Pitts, Tagovailoa inherits quality offensive talent. Two-time AP NFL Coach of the Year Kevin Stefanski must help unlock his abilities. Stefanski previously guided Cleveland to playoff appearances with both Baker Mayfield and Joe Flacco.
Tagovailoa might flourish within Stefanski’s offensive scheme, provided he maintains his health, overcomes recent struggles, and sharpens his ball-handling decisions.
Murray, who has earned two Pro Bowl selections, could join a franchise ready for immediate success. Both Minnesota and Pittsburgh represent potential destinations.
The Vikings have J.J. McCarthy, their 2024 first-round draft choice who posted a 6-4 record across 10 starts last season. However, his starting position isn’t secured, making Murray an attractive alternative for a roster with talent throughout.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell earned 2024 AP NFL Coach of the Year honors after helping Sam Darnold resurrect his career while leading the team to a 14-3 record. Among innovative offensive coordinators capable of maximizing Murray’s abilities, O’Connell ranks highly.
Pittsburgh also presents possibilities for Murray, particularly if Aaron Rodgers doesn’t return. The Steelers have strengthened their offense through free agency, trading for receiver Michael Pittman Jr. to join DK Metcalf while signing running back Rico Dowdle. Head coach Mike McCarthy captured a Super Bowl with young Rodgers in Green Bay 16 years ago and could provide Murray similar opportunities.
Multiple veteran quarterbacks remain available, except Daniel Jones, who received Indianapolis’s transition tag. The Colts retain matching rights for any offers he receives.
Kirk Cousins, Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Carson Wentz, and Joe Flacco are among available options. Rodgers also remains unsigned, though he’ll likely either return to Pittsburgh or announce retirement.
Geno Smith would have entered free agency Wednesday after Las Vegas planned his release, but the Jets acquired him through trade. New York hasn’t achieved a winning season since 2015.
Delaware State basketball secured a thrilling 75-70 overtime victory against Morgan State, powered by Miles Webb’s outstanding double-double performance.
Webb’s dominant showing on both ends of the court proved crucial as the Hornets battled through regulation and into the extra period to claim the conference win.
The game showcased Delaware State’s defensive intensity, which became the determining factor in the closely contested matchup. The Hornets’ ability to execute defensively in key moments allowed them to outlast their opponents in the additional five-minute period.
The overtime thriller demonstrates Delaware State’s resilience and ability to perform under pressure as they continue their season. Webb’s exceptional individual effort highlighted a complete team performance that secured an important victory for the Hornets.
Tuesday night delivered a harsh reminder that nothing in the NFL is final until paperwork is officially signed.
The Las Vegas Raiders experienced this reality firsthand when the Baltimore Ravens withdrew from a major trade agreement involving star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
According to a source familiar with Baltimore’s choice who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press due to the confidential nature of medical information, Crosby did not pass his physical examination.
The defensive star had undergone surgical procedures in January to address a meniscus tear in his left knee. The injury forced him to sit out the season’s final two contests, despite his desire to continue playing at that time.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who performed Crosby’s surgery, shared with ESPN that the player is “doing very well in the early part of his rehab and recovery from surgery to treat a significant meniscus tear and the related stress injury to the bone and cartilage in his knee. He is certainly on track in his planned program.”
Baltimore clearly felt uncomfortable proceeding with Crosby’s medical situation, particularly given that two first-round draft selections were part of the proposed exchange.
The Ravens swiftly changed course, reaching terms with four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Trey Hendrickson on a four-year, $112 million agreement, according to an anonymous source who informed the AP. This individual requested anonymity since contracts cannot be officially completed until the league year starts at 4 p.m. EDT.
Since Monday’s legal tampering period began, NFL franchises have pledged billions in spending on free agents and trade acquisitions.
Yet all these arrangements remain unofficial until the new league year commences, meaning trades can fall through and free agents may reverse their commitments. Such developments are simply part of the business.
A notable example occurred in 2015 when running back Frank Gore initially accepted Philadelphia Eagles’ terms before ultimately signing with the Indianapolis Colts two days afterward.
Gore, a seasoned veteran seeking championship opportunities, reconsidered after Philadelphia traded quarterback Nick Foles and allowed star receiver Jeremy Maclin to join Kansas City following his initial agreement.
Baltimore has previously canceled similar arrangements, backing away from deals with defensive tackle Michael Brockers in 2020 and receiver Ryan Grant in 2018 due to comparable concerns.
The Ravens now retain their 14th overall draft selection for next month’s draft while hoping Hendrickson can return to his pre-injury performance levels from last season.
Las Vegas must now determine their approach with Crosby following apparent tensions between the player and organization. Part-owner Tom Brady might potentially help repair the relationship between Crosby and team management. New head coach Klint Kubiak wasn’t present during last season’s difficulties, and general manager John Spytek has consistently expressed his preference to retain the elite pass rusher.
The Raiders have been active in free agency, allocating over $250 million to acquire three-time Pro Bowl center Tyler Linderbaum, linebackers Quay Walker and Nakobe Dean, receiver Jalen Nailor, and additional players.
With approximately $112 million in salary cap room entering free agency according to overthecap.com, Las Vegas has the financial flexibility to accommodate Crosby’s contract. He signed a three-year extension last year valued at $106.5 million with $91.5 million guaranteed, temporarily making him the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
Should the Raiders still pursue trading Crosby, securing equivalent value will prove challenging given his medical concerns. They may need to wait for further recovery progress or accept conditional trade terms. Potential arrangements could involve a second-round pick converting to a first-round selection if Crosby plays a specified number of snaps, with a third-round pick becoming a second-round choice. Teams often employ creative structuring in such situations.
Other franchises like the Eagles, Bears, Bills, Jaguars, or additional teams might show interest in Crosby. The outcome depends on Las Vegas’ willingness to compromise on return value. The rebuilding Raiders have added several new players and are anticipated to select Fernando Mendoza with the first overall draft pick.
Would they benefit from keeping Crosby through 2026? Absolutely. Would they be better served without him? That depends entirely on what they receive in return.
Federal officials have resumed the Global Entry service on Wednesday following a suspension that lasted more than two weeks due to the partial government shutdown.
The expedited entry service enables pre-screened travelers who pay a fee to bypass regular immigration lines by using automated kiosks when returning to the United States from international destinations, significantly reducing wait times at airports and border crossings.
When announcing the suspension on February 22, Department of Homeland Security leadership indicated the program would remain closed throughout the duration of the partial shutdown.
The agency redirected U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel who normally operated the Global Entry service to handle standard passenger processing duties.
Extended security queues at several major U.S. airports over the recent weekend sparked worries about potential disruptions during the upcoming busy spring travel period.
The government shutdown commenced on February 14 following failed negotiations between Democratic lawmakers and the White House over funding legislation for the Department of Homeland Security. The disagreement centers on Democratic demands for modifications to immigration enforcement policies that form a key component of President Donald Trump’s deportation initiatives.
The recent disruptions have renewed discussions about preventing airport security slowdowns during future political standoffs, with proposals including expanded privatization of security screening operations under continued TSA supervision.
Following former President Trump’s continued assertions that Democratic opponents must resort to fraudulent tactics to secure victories, news reporters ventured into Pennsylvania’s politically competitive regions to assess public sentiment on these claims.
The investigation involved multiple days of interviews across two key swing districts in Pennsylvania, areas that often serve as bellwethers for broader national political trends.
Reporter findings indicate substantial evolution in voter perspectives regarding election integrity concerns compared to attitudes held immediately following the 2020 presidential contest.
The Pennsylvania districts visited represent crucial battlegrounds where shifting voter opinions on election security could significantly impact future electoral outcomes.
Residents interviewed during the reporting trip offered varied responses to questions about election fraud allegations and their confidence in the democratic process.
These changing viewpoints among Pennsylvania voters highlight the ongoing national debate over election security measures and public trust in electoral institutions.
YouTube celebrity turned professional boxer Jake Paul faces an extended absence from the ring after undergoing a second surgical procedure on his jaw following his devastating December loss to Anthony Joshua.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday during a press conference for the Ronda Rousey-Gina Carano event, Paul revealed the lengthy recovery timeline ahead of him.
“I got my second surgery recently and the doctor said it will be four, five or six months to even be able to spar to see how the bone is healing,” Paul explained to the media. “So that puts us maybe late this year or early next year for a fight.”
The social media star’s jaw was broken in two places during his December 19 matchup against Joshua, which officials stopped in the sixth round. Paul, who now holds a 12-2 professional record, received his first surgical treatment the day after the fight, followed by the recent February procedure.
Upon his eventual return to competition, the internet personality plans to make a significant change by dropping down from heavyweight competition.
“Definitely will be a cruiserweight,” Paul stated. “Joshua’s punches hurt way more than people in my weight class. That’s where I’m best at, for sure, and where I want to continue to climb in the rankings and make some statements.”
Team Canada punched their ticket to the World Baseball Classic quarterfinals Wednesday night with a commanding 7-2 victory over Cuba in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The victory propelled Canada to the top of Pool A standings with a 3-1 record, tied with host nation Puerto Rico but holding the crucial head-to-head advantage. Cuba needed a win to advance but fell short at 2-2 in pool play.
Canada’s next challenge comes Friday when they square off against Team USA, which finished second in Pool B, in Houston.
Canadian pitcher Cal Quantrill dominated on the mound through five innings, surrendering just two hits and one unearned run. The strikeout parade continued as Quantrill recorded five strikeouts while reliever James Paxton added six more, combining for 11 of Canada’s 13 total strikeouts.
Abraham Toro provided the power with a home run, while Otto Lopez delivered the key blow with a two-run single. Owen Caissie contributed with both a sacrifice fly RBI and a run-scoring single. Brothers Bo and Josh Naylor each drove in runs as well.
For Cuba, Ariel Martinez managed an RBI single and collected three of the team’s five hits. Yoan Moncada’s double stood as the lone extra-base hit for the Cuban squad.
In Miami, the Dominican Republic completed a perfect 4-0 sweep of Pool D with a 7-3 triumph over Venezuela, though both teams had already secured quarterfinal spots before the first pitch.
Juan Soto launched the opening salvo with a first-inning home run, sparking a four-homer barrage for the Dominicans. Ketel Marte, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., and Fernando Tatis Jr. also went yard, with Tatis delivering the knockout punch via a three-run blast in the fourth inning that built a 7-3 advantage.
Guerrero paced the Dominican offense with a 3-for-4 performance, while Marte, Soto, and Tatis each collected two hits.
Venezuela mounted a late rally with two ninth-inning runs courtesy of a Luis Arraez sacrifice fly and an Elvis Alvarado error, but Alvarado recovered to induce a game-ending double play from Salvador Perez.
Maikel Garcia starred for Venezuela with a perfect 4-for-4 night including an RBI double. Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez struggled through 2 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while striking out five.
The Dominican Republic will face South Korea, Pool C’s runner-up, on Friday, while Venezuela takes on Pool C champion Japan on Saturday. Both quarterfinal matchups will take place in Miami.
At a psychiatric facility in Havana, dozens of individuals joined hands in a circle, reciting promises together to eliminate “the toxins that enslave” their bodies. This collective commitment to stay clean for the next 24 hours marked the beginning of their three-month detox program before entering rehabilitation.
Until this decade began, substance abuse was virtually nonexistent in Cuba. But a worsening economic situation, scarcity of essential items, and the arrival of affordable synthetic narcotics have dramatically altered the situation.
Throughout Havana and other Cuban cities, witnessing young individuals collapsed in public spaces, struggling to walk, or found unconscious has become commonplace.
Officials identify the main danger as “químico” (chemical) — a dangerous mixture of synthetic cannabinoids combined with toxic substances. Street dealers also call it “papelitos” or “little papers,” since the substance soaks into paper sheets that get cut into small portions for smoking. Each dose sells for approximately 250 Cuban pesos (50 cents), making it cheaper than basic bread or soft drinks.
“It’s very cheap…and it’s everywhere,” said David Morales, 25, who is in recovery after receiving help at government-funded health centers and is now in rehabilitation therapy at the Alcance Victoria Cuba evangelical Baptist church.
Recognizing the growing consumption problem, Cuba’s Ministry of Health and multiple government departments created a National Drug Observatory in July, designed to study, track, and reduce illegal drug effects across the nation.
While officials don’t maintain user statistics, Dr. Tania Adriana Peón, who leads mental health and addiction services at the General Directorate of Health, referenced emergency department records as an indicator of the growing problem. During 2024, 467 individuals requested assistance or were documented in Havana emergency facilities. In 2025, this number almost doubled to 886.
The island maintains strict anti-drug laws, with trafficking penalties reaching life sentences. Though Cuba doesn’t manufacture or store drugs domestically, officials recognize the country faces addiction challenges.
Occasionally, authorities report finding cocaine packages discarded by smugglers during pursuits that wash onto beaches, called “recalos” or washups. Narcotics also enter through imported merchandise, and authorities have discovered small-scale domestic marijuana growing operations.
“The primary challenge Cuba faces today is related to new psychoactive drugs or synthetic cannabinoids, which originate mainly from the United States,” said Col. Juan Carlos Poey Guerra of Cuba’s Interior Ministry.
Police laboratories identified 46 different synthetic compounds during the past year, he noted. Substances combined with cannabinoids included the seizure medication carbamazepine, formaldehyde, and fentanyl, among other chemicals. During 2024 and 2025, authorities prevented 72 drug smuggling attempts from 11 different countries.
According to Poey Guerra, the United States supplies the primary chemical components used in químico production.
Cuba operates free, government-controlled healthcare, making local family medical centers the initial detection points for substance abuse signs. Medical officials refer patients with serious or complicated cases for extended hospital treatment programs.
The Associated Press recently visited a 40-bed male unit at Havana Psychiatric Hospital, housing patients between 20 and 30 years old completing 90-day detoxification before starting rehabilitation.
The facility contained two-person rooms decorated with family photographs, plus a small library area, meal space, and recreational zone. Daily, patients wearing white shirts displaying “We win against drugs” messages take charge of maintaining their living areas.
“I was incredibly depressed…living on the streets; I just couldn’t take it anymore,” said 23-year-old Daniel Fulleda, who was admitted in January. His tone was enthusiastic as he shared his plans of getting married before the year end and start a family. “Next year, I’ll start my own business.”
For many years, the centralized government handled drug and alcohol treatment — particularly alcohol cases — but the current crisis magnitude has allowed other organizations to participate.
“There are neighborhoods that are infested… I’ve seen young people using drugs right in front of me,” said Pastor Abel Pérez of the Alcance Victoria Cuba church. “As a pastor, I’m not called to sit idly by.”
During the previous year, the congregation offered counseling to roughly 50 youth and their families, with more than twelve people currently attending regular sessions.
“In my youth, talking about drugs was extraordinary… The problem has grown so rapidly and in such a short time that, to some extent, it has overwhelmed the country’s capacity to address it,” said Alejandro Morales, a 57-year-old oceanographic engineer who accompanies his son David to meetings at the Alcance Victoria Cuba church.
In the same space, 64-year-old Vilma Arias sought assistance alongside her 36-year-old daughter. Her other son, 26, also battles substance abuse but won’t accept treatment.
“We have to pray a lot,” she said. “My daughter is a wonderful teacher and my son is a graduate in automotive mechanics. I don’t even know how they fell into this,” she added.
Following the cessation of penny manufacturing several months ago, state governments nationwide are establishing regulations for how cash transactions should be handled when exact change isn’t possible.
Former President Donald Trump declared an end to penny manufacturing last year, citing the wasteful expense of producing coins that cost 3.7 cents each to manufacture, according to U.S. Mint data from 2024. This decision created penny shortages at retail locations during the summer months, compelling both merchants and customers to adapt to transactions without the ability to make precise change.
The Treasury Department has indicated it will keep the approximately 114 billion existing pennies in circulation for as long as feasible, and businesses must continue accepting pennies as valid payment.
The primary approach being considered involves rounding cash payments to the nearest five-cent increment through a method known as symmetrical rounding. Under this system, final prices ending in one, two, six, or seven cents would round downward for cash payments. For instance, totals of $1.91 or $1.92 would become $1.90. Conversely, prices concluding with three, four, eight, or nine cents would round upward, meaning $1.98 or $1.99 purchases would cost $2 in cash.
Congressional legislation introduced previously and approved by the House financial services committee would implement symmetrical rounding nationwide. Representative Lisa McClain, a Michigan Republican, stated via email that federal legislation is necessary to avoid creating a “confusing patchwork of state policies.”
The legislation remains pending a full House vote and would require Senate approval before reaching Trump’s desk.
Meanwhile, six states—Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington—have enacted bills addressing cash transactions without pennies, awaiting gubernatorial approval. State approaches vary between permitting businesses to round purchases versus mandating the practice.
Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Braun signed legislation this month requiring businesses to round all cash transactions not ending in zero or five. However, lawmakers created a second bill making rounding voluntary, which would become effective Sunday pending Braun’s signature.
Both Indiana measures allow businesses to choose their rounding method: consistently rounding up to the nearest nickel, always rounding down, or using the symmetrical approach.
Tennessee’s Republican-controlled legislature passed measures exempting symmetrical rounding from state consumer protection lawsuits without requiring the practice.
“It is to provide safe harbor for private businesses,” explained Republican Representative Charlie Baum, the Tennessee bill’s sponsor, during legislative debate.
An Associated Press review using Plural bill-tracking services found approximately two dozen states have introduced rounding legislation since late last year.
Beyond legislative action, various state agencies have issued guidance recommending rounding occur after tax calculations, ensuring full taxed amounts reach state coffers.
While electronic payments have reduced cash usage, Federal Reserve survey data from 2024 shows roughly 80% of American adults recently used cash, with higher usage among seniors and lower-income households.
The Treasury Department has stated online that prices would be “rounded down just as often as they will be rounded up, so there should be no overall effect on consumer prices.”
However, Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond researchers analyzed 2023 survey data revealing prices not ending in zero or five frequently concluded with eight or nine. Though payment amounts vary based on multiple item purchases and tax rates, the prevalence of upward rounding could collectively transfer millions from consumers to businesses, though individual losses would amount to mere pennies per person.
Social media posts from Americans experiencing rounding have expressed feelings of being cheated, even over small amounts.
Nikki Capozzo-Hennessy, a 50-year-old Trumbull, Connecticut resident, prefers cash payments to monitor her spending habits. She shared her grocery receipt online after noticing a rounding adjustment on her $8.73 after-tax purchase, where the store rounded down, giving her three cents back.
Capozzo-Hennessy acknowledged potential frustration from consistently paying extra pennies but recognizes the practicality of uniform rules. As a food truck operator, she anticipates using symmetrical rounding for consistency.
“At the end of the day it’s three cents, but I can imagine with all the purchases that you make, it can add up,” Capozzo-Hennessy noted.
Washington State Representative April Berg, who sponsored rounding legislation there, understands consumer frustration over losing pennies but emphasizes that eliminating the physical currency leaves few alternatives.
“We did make sure that everyone is allowed to pay exactly what they owe,” Berg said regarding her legislation.
The Treasury estimates ending penny production will generate $56 million in annual savings, though rounding may increase nickel demand. Five-cent coins are also expensive to produce, costing nearly 14 cents each in 2024, according to Mint data.
Current federal legislation includes potential cost-reduction measures, permitting the Treasury to modify coin composition using less expensive zinc and nickel rather than copper and nickel.
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has maintained one of America’s strictest anti-gambling stances for over 100 years, with no casinos, lotteries, or betting tracks allowed within state boundaries. This prohibition stems from the conservative values of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, which considers gambling a harmful vice that promotes selfishness and addiction.
Now the state faces a modern challenge as it prepares to pass legislation targeting prediction market platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket. These smartphone-based services enable users to place wagers on everything from weather patterns in Los Angeles to potential military conflicts involving the United States.
While federal regulators and other states continue debating whether these platforms represent financial instruments or gambling operations, Utah officials have reached a definitive conclusion.
“We are putting a casino in the pocket of every single American, and they are targeting especially young people,” Governor Spencer Cox stated. “It is really awful what they are doing, and we are going to make sure this doesn’t happen in our state.”
Cox has committed to signing the proposed legislation, creating tension between conservative Utah and federal authorities. Kalshi has already filed a lawsuit against the state, with support from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the federal body overseeing financial market regulation.
This dispute places Utah, typically not known for confrontational stances, at the center of a nationwide cultural, political, and economic debate. On one side stands a state heavily shaped by Mormon church influence, where both elected officials and religious leaders treat this matter as a moral campaign. Opposing them is an expanding industry — both Kalshi and Polymarket carry estimated valuations of $20 billion following recent funding rounds — with Washington connections that may provide regulatory protection.
Donald Trump’s oldest son serves as an advisor to both companies and has invested in Polymarket. Additionally, Trump’s Truth Social platform is developing its own cryptocurrency-based prediction market called Truth Predict.
The outcome of this legal battle could influence how other states approach similar issues going forward.
“What’s at stake here is whether states will be able to regulate gambling or if gambling is going to be subsumed into finance and ultimately regulated by Congress,” explained Todd Phillips, a Georgia State University professor who has extensively studied prediction market regulation.
Both Polymarket and Kalshi operate by allowing users to purchase and sell contracts based on event probabilities. Contract prices typically range from one cent to 99 cents, roughly corresponding to the percentage of users who believe a particular outcome will occur.
These companies maintain their products help customers manage risk, similar to how farmers purchase corn futures to secure crop prices in advance. Traditional derivative markets like the Chicago Board of Trade and Chicago Mercantile Exchange have long provided binary options to investors, essentially betting on whether events will or will not happen.
However, unlike established derivative markets, most of Kalshi’s trading activity and approximately half of Polymarket’s now involves sports betting. Kalshi reported more than $1 billion in trading volume for the Super Bowl alone.
Utah’s strategy focuses on limiting prediction markets’ state operations by restricting proposition betting in sports, a potentially significant revenue source for these platforms.
The legislation Cox plans to approve would extend the state’s gambling prohibition to include wagers on specific in-game events rather than overall game results. Examples of these “prop bets” include individual player performance or teams reaching particular statistical benchmarks like rebounds.
The bill also targets sportsbook companies such as FanDuel and DraftKings that have established their own prediction markets, which analysts suggest could help these companies circumvent state gambling restrictions.
Due to vocal opposition from Utah officials, Kalshi filed a preemptive lawsuit in late February, requesting judicial intervention to prevent Utah from enforcing gambling restrictions on their platform. A federal judge has not yet ruled on Kalshi’s petition. Other judges in Nevada and Massachusetts have issued preliminary rulings supporting states seeking to ban Kalshi and Polymarket sports betting, while judges in New Jersey and Tennessee have ruled in Kalshi’s favor.
Kalshi maintains its product differs from sportsbooks or casinos because customers bet against each other rather than against the “house,” according to spokesperson Elisabeth Diana.
The Commodity Futures Trading Commission under Trump has supported Kalshi’s position, claiming exclusive regulatory authority over prediction markets. The agency contends states cannot prohibit these products from operating within their borders based solely on moral objections.
“To those who seek to challenge our authority in this space, let me be clear, we will see you in court,” chairman Michael Selig recently declared in a social media video.
This represents the first significant issue where Cox has opposed Trump since the Republican governor rebuilt his relationship with Trump over the past year and a half, after not supporting him in 2016 and 2020.
Patrick Mason, who chairs Mormon history and culture studies at Utah State University, expressed no surprise at Cox and other Utah Republicans taking this position against prediction markets, even when it means opposing their party’s Washington leadership. In Utah, where approximately half of the 3.5 million residents are Latter-day Saints, even church bingo games are uncommon.
“Maybe they play for M&Ms, but never money,” he noted.
All major state politicians, including the governor, lieutenant governor, and entire congressional delegation, belong to the Salt Lake City-headquartered church. When they perceive an issue as moral rather than political, religious teachings often override party loyalty, Mason explained.
Church doctrine forbids all forms of gambling, describing it as driven by “a desire to get something for nothing” and harmful to individuals and families.
“The idea that it goes against a sense of work ethic, a kind of fair exchange, has always been at the heart of the way a lot of people think about themselves in terms of Utah identity, and certainly Latter-day Saint identity and ethics,” Mason said.
Utah’s religious foundation led to gambling prohibition since statehood in 1895. Along with Hawaii, it maintains the nation’s most restrictive gambling laws, even excluding broad multi-state lotteries like Powerball or Mega Millions.
Phillips, the regulation-focused professor, indicated that without Congressional clarification on prediction market legality, courts will determine the outcome.
“The line between gambling and finance is very, very fine,” Phillips observed. “There’s a reason why Congress has, over and over again, stepped in to define and regulate financial markets when the products skew too close to gambling.”
Congressional movement has already begun, partially led by another Utah Republican.
Republican Representative Blake Moore of Utah and Democratic Representative Salud Carbajal of California introduced bipartisan legislation this week for stricter prediction market regulation. The bill would prohibit prediction markets from accepting bets on warfare, assassinations, terrorist attacks, or election results, while allowing states to ban sports-related betting.
“We, as a society, should not be taking bets on whether we are going to invade Cuba,” Moore stated.
Democratic senators have also announced plans to introduce legislation banning violence-related wagers.
“It’s insane this is legal,” Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy wrote on social media.
In court documents, Kalshi has attempted to demonstrate its sports prediction market’s economic value and utility. The company cites an example of insurance companies underwriting college athlete careers using prediction markets for risk hedging. Kalshi also suggests hotels, travel agencies, and stadium management companies might use prediction markets to hedge risks against underperforming sports.
Moore remains unconvinced by Kalshi and Polymarket’s economic arguments.
“Utah’s economic outlook has been strong for many years,” he said. “I see no need why we need to embrace these as an economic tool.”
Global energy markets are reeling as Brent crude oil prices climbed back above $100 per barrel Thursday following Iranian strikes against commercial vessels in critical Middle Eastern shipping corridors.
The surge comes as Iran intensified attacks on merchant ships operating near the Strait of Hormuz and Iraq’s Basra port facility, part of an escalating conflict that has now entered its second week. American airstrikes against Iranian targets are continuing for the 13th consecutive day, while Israeli forces maintain operations against Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, creating a humanitarian crisis that has forced over 800,000 Lebanese residents from their homes.
Energy markets responded sharply to the latest developments, with oil prices jumping more than 9 percent as supply disruption fears intensified. U.S. benchmark crude also spiked, reaching approximately $95 per barrel amid the uncertainty.
In Kuwait, defense officials reported that an Iranian drone crashed into a residential structure Thursday, injuring two civilians in the small Gulf nation.
Maritime authorities documented another incident involving a container vessel operating near Dubai in the Persian Gulf. The British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center reported the ship came under fire just before sunrise Thursday.
“An ‘unknown projectile’ hit the vessel as it was some 65 kilometers (40 miles) off the coast of Dubai’s Jebel Ali port,” officials stated, adding that crew members remained unharmed despite a small fire breaking out.
The most significant disruption occurred at Iraq’s Basra port, where an early morning assault claimed at least one life and prompted authorities to suspend all oil terminal operations nationwide. Farhan al-Fartousi, who heads Iraq’s General Company for Ports, announced the shutdown following the deadly incident.
“The attack targeted ships in the ship-to-ship transfer area of the Basra port on the Persian Gulf,” al-Fartousi explained in a statement released through Iraq’s state news agency. “It remained unclear if the ship was targeted by a flying or seaborne drone or a missile.”
Emergency responders retrieved one fatality and assisted 38 other individuals following the attack. While commercial port operations continue, all oil terminals remain closed as a precautionary measure.
Iraqi officials have identified the affected tankers as the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Malta-flagged vessel Zefyros.
School districts in rural America are grappling with the loss of international educators as new federal immigration policies make it increasingly difficult to retain teachers from overseas.
In South Carolina’s Allendale County, international educators make up 25% of the teaching staff in this rural, economically disadvantaged district. These teachers primarily hail from Jamaica and the Philippines.
District leader Vallerie Cave commends these foreign educators for their expertise and commitment, but she’s now bracing for departures as the current administration overhauls immigration visa procedures.
With rising costs for visa sponsorship and unpredictable immigration regulations, Cave explained the situation has become too uncertain to renew contracts for some international educators or recruit new ones.
“Some of my very best teachers are having to return to their countries,” Cave said.
Rural educational systems are particularly affected by President Donald Trump’s stricter immigration enforcement, which is disrupting a crucial resource for addressing teacher shortages that intensified following the COVID-19 pandemic. Remote rural districts face challenges attracting American educators to isolated communities with limited housing options, retail establishments, and services like healthcare, often while offering lower compensation than larger urban districts.
Cave hopes to recruit local educators to replace the departing international teachers. Should that effort fail, she may increase the district’s reliance on virtual instruction. Other districts are exploring options like hiring non-certified staff, merging classes, or eliminating certain course options.
The White House introduced a $100,000 charge for H-1B visas in September, which permits skilled international workers to work in America. The administration justified this by claiming American workers were being displaced, particularly in well-compensated technology sector positions. Opposition voices contend the fee will exacerbate worker shortages in non-technology fields.
Data from the National Education Association shows over 2,300 H-1B visa holders work as teachers across 500 school systems nationwide. Twenty states filed a December legal challenge against the fee, claiming it would essentially block school districts from recruiting international educators.
While the administration offers a waiver application process, education professionals and advocacy organizations maintain that exempting teachers serves the public good. Educators can also enter the country using J-1 visas, which support temporary cultural exchange programs and aren’t affected by the new charge.
Oregon’s Umatilla School District brought in two Spanish educators for mathematics and science classes. District leader Heidi Sipe described these teachers as “phenomenal,” though they departed during the summer break.
“Unfortunately, due to some things at home and then the stress of the unknown, they did choose to go back,” Sipe said.
The district avoided seeking international replacements due to expenses and uncertainty, instead advertising positions early and successfully finding local candidates, according to Sipe. However, other educational administrators doubt they’ll achieve similar results.
Allendale County’s international educators, working under both H-1B and J-1 visa categories, teach mathematics, science, language arts, and special education. Cave noted that even before the fee increase, sponsoring one teacher annually cost between $15,000 and $20,000.
Educational leaders acknowledge that hiring certified, in-person staff remains the ideal solution — educators who can work directly with students to clarify concepts and develop stronger relationships throughout the academic day. When this approach isn’t feasible, they must consider alternatives.
Cave plans to expand virtual teaching through Fullmind, a service the district currently uses for three state-certified instructors. Students gather in classrooms while their teacher connects through video technology. Fullmind announced Thursday its acquisition of Elevate K-12, now serving over 225 school systems with remote instruction.
While South Carolina permits districts to employ non-certified teachers during staffing crises, Cave would prefer expanding online instruction before considering that route. She explains that teacher shortage challenges have persisted since the pandemic, when numerous districts used federal emergency funding to create new positions but struggled to find adequate staffing.
“I can’t really do competitive pay,” she said. “For rural America, impoverished America, it is still a problem recruiting teachers.”
Halifax County Schools in rural North Carolina employs 103 international teachers among its 159-person teaching staff. The district is developing long-term recruitment strategies targeting potential educators during their high school junior and senior years.
In the immediate term, the district hopes to recruit international teachers from other systems seeking to convert their J-1 visas to H-1B status, potentially avoiding the $100,000 fee, explained Carolyn Mitchell, the district’s human resources executive director.
“You have to try to figure out every alternative way when you know that you may need people,” Mitchell said.
A comprehensive new study released Thursday reveals that approximately one-third of Americans have been forced to reduce spending on essential items like food and utilities in order to afford medical care, as healthcare expenses continue climbing alongside the general cost of living.
The extensive research, conducted by the West Health-Gallup Center between June and August 2025, surveyed nearly 20,000 adults across all 50 states and Washington D.C. The findings show that 33% of participants had to make at least one financial sacrifice in their daily spending to cover healthcare expenses.
The impact proves most severe for Americans without health insurance coverage, where 62% reported making financial compromises for medical care. Among uninsured respondents, 32% had to take out loans while 24% extended the use of current medications longer than recommended.
Even those with insurance coverage aren’t immune to these financial pressures, as nearly 30% of insured Americans have also made spending sacrifices, according to the survey results.
The situation has worsened in 2026 as most Americans with private insurance face increased premiums and higher out-of-pocket expenses, particularly affecting millions enrolled in government-subsidized Affordable Care Act plans where additional COVID-era financial assistance has ended.
Timothy Lash, president of West Health Policy Center, a nonprofit organization dedicated to healthcare and aging issues, expressed concern about the broader implications. “We’re actually finding that people are reporting higher incidences of metabolic disease or depression and anxiety. We’re not getting healthier as a society, we’re actually getting sicker, and the healthcare cost is going up on top of it,” Lash stated.
A separate study involving 5,660 American adults, conducted primarily through Gallup’s research panel from October through December of last year, examined how medical expenses are affecting major life decisions. The research found that Americans have postponed significant life events or changes over the past four years specifically because of healthcare costs, including purchasing homes or taking vacations.
The second survey, also released Thursday, found that nearly 9% of participants delayed their retirement plans due to medical expenses, while double that percentage reported putting off career changes for the same reason.
