Soybean producers in Brazil’s Mato Grosso region are launching a campaign to showcase their environmental efforts and transform their image from climate destroyers to sustainability champions. However, experts are concerned that the potential breakdown of a major deforestation prevention initiative could reverse the gains they’ve made in recent years.
The latest federal agriculture data reveals mixed trends in chicken production, with weekly figures showing a slight decline while annual comparisons remain positive.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, approximately 254.065 million eggs intended for meat chicken production were placed in incubators during the reporting period. This represents a decrease of 321,000 eggs compared to the previous week, though the total still exceeds last year’s figures by 2 percent.
The report also noted that hatching success rates dropped below 79 percent during this period. Meanwhile, roughly 194 million newly hatched chicks destined for meat production were transferred to growing facilities, marking a decline of 1.717 million birds from the week prior.
These statistics provide insight into the poultry industry’s production patterns, which can influence future meat supplies and pricing in the coming months.
Two public restroom facilities in Lewes are now available for residents and visitors following temporary closures due to winter weather conditions.
The restrooms at Mary Vessels Park and the Trail Head located at the Lewes Public Library have been reopened to the public as of February 25, 2026.
According to city officials, they will continue to evaluate conditions on a daily basis to determine when additional public restroom facilities can safely resume operations as winter ice and snow continue to clear from the area.
SÃO PAULO — A historic soccer jacket once worn by legendary player Pelé during the 1966 World Cup has gained renewed attention after Puerto Rican pop sensation Bad Bunny borrowed it for his debut concerts in Brazil.
The reggaeton star donned the iconic piece during his São Paulo performances, marking his first shows ever held on Brazilian territory. Bad Bunny’s homage to the soccer icon, who passed away in 2022 at 82 years old, extended beyond just wearing the jacket — he also modified lyrics in his song MONACO, replacing “Messi and Maradona” with “scoring a goal after Pelé and Maradona.”
The valuable garment belongs to Cássio Brandão, who runs Alambrado Futebol e Cultura, a specialty shop focused on historic soccer collectibles and uniforms. His collection spans more than 7,000 pieces, with 115 items specifically connected to Pelé. Brandão played a role in selecting the jacket for Bad Bunny’s tribute.
“He took very good care of the piece. It came back only with sweat, wet with sweat, but it was perfect, in the same condition. They were very careful. It returned in the same suitcase,” Brandão said.
The tribute resonated beyond the concert venue, with Pelé’s official Instagram account expressing gratitude to the artist. The post noted that when someone of Bad Bunny’s stature honors “the King on Brazilian soil, it means the crown is still shining.”
Brandão believes the crossover moment will introduce Pelé’s legacy to a new generation of fans worldwide.
“I think that today, when I see Bad Bunny doing this, it warms my heart to imagine that many kids across Brazil and around the world are going on YouTube trying to learn more about Pelé, watching his goals and better understanding the magnitude and greatness of this figure, who is the greatest football player in history and, to me, the greatest Brazilian who has ever lived,” Brandão said.
WASHINGTON — The nominee selected to oversee a newly established Justice Department fraud unit promised Wednesday to conduct investigations “without fear or favor” amid growing concerns about potential political interference in the division’s operations.
Colin McDonald’s appointment to head the proposed National Fraud Enforcement Division has drawn scrutiny because fraud cases are already handled by the department’s existing Criminal Division, and because the White House has indicated it will play an unprecedented role in supervising the new unit’s activities.
The nomination comes as the Trump administration has intensified focus on alleged fraud schemes in Minnesota. During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, President Trump announced that Vice President JD Vance would spearhead the administration’s “war on fraud,” making accusations that Minnesota’s Somali community members have “pillaged” billions in taxpayer funds.
When questioned during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing about whether he would comply with presidential directives to launch specific investigations, McDonald avoided giving a direct response. The experienced prosecutor, who currently serves in Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche’s office, stated only that he bases decisions on evidence and legal standards.
“The vision that we have is a division that is large enough where no fraud is too big, and no fraud is too small, so that we can reach all actors within the chain of criminal culpability and no one more than that,” McDonald testified. “Those are the ones that we are going to be looking after, investigating and following the facts — without fear or favor.”
Vance’s January announcement that the new fraud division chief would answer directly to the White House surprised many Justice Department officials, even within an administration that has dismantled traditional barriers between the department and executive branch.
The administration has since modified its position, stating that McDonald would report to the deputy attorney general like other division leaders, though questions remain about Vance’s specific involvement in overseeing cases and prosecutions.
Federal investigators have been examining extensive fraud allegations in Minnesota for several years, with dozens of defendants — primarily of Somali heritage — facing charges under both the Biden and Trump administrations. The alleged fraud gained heightened attention during the current administration’s immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis. A federal prosecutor has estimated that potentially half of approximately $18 billion in federal program funding distributed in Minnesota since 2018 may have been fraudulently obtained.
If confirmed, McDonald may immediately encounter staffing challenges as the Minnesota U.S. attorney’s office has experienced mass resignations following controversial fatal shootings of civilians by federal agents during recent immigration raids. Joseph Thompson, the prosecutor overseeing the extensive Minnesota fraud investigation, is among those who have resigned amid tensions over the Justice Department’s handling of the shootings.
Skeptics have questioned the necessity of creating the new division when the department’s Criminal Division already handles fraud prosecutions effectively. The existing fraud section filed charges against 265 individuals last year, representing a more than 10% increase from the previous year. These cases involved over $16 billion in attempted fraud losses, setting a record for the section and more than doubling 2024’s total.
Despite these achievements, McDonald told committee members that significant additional work remains “to ensure that our taxpayer funded programs are free of fraud.”
“The problem is massive,” McDonald stated. “And so President Trump and the attorney general were right to identify this as a place where we needed to put significantly more focus.”
A winter snowball battle in New York City has sparked tension between Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the police department after officers were targeted and injured during the chaotic event.
The mayor has characterized the incident at Washington Square Park as young people enjoying themselves after a major snowstorm. However, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch and the NYPD view the situation much more seriously.
Authorities are now hunting for four individuals and have released their photographs after officers sustained injuries from thrown snow and ice during Monday’s gathering, which social media influencers had promoted online.
Mamdani has indicated he doesn’t think criminal prosecution is necessary in this case.
“I’ve said time and time again that, having seen these videos, to me it was a snowball fight that got out of hand and it should be treated accordingly,” he told reporters Wednesday when asked if anyone should be prosecuted.
Commissioner Tisch condemned the events as “disgraceful” and “criminal.” The police officers’ union immediately pointed to the incident as proof that officer respect has eroded under the new mayor’s leadership.
“This was not just a ‘snowball fight.’ This was an assault,” the Police Benevolent Association said in a statement.
The controversy could potentially develop into a significant political challenge for Mamdani, who entered office facing criticism from multiple directions due to his previous statements about law enforcement.
The Monday snowball event attracted large crowds to Washington Square Park following a major winter storm that hit the Northeast, resulting in pandemonium as participants hurled snowballs throughout the famous city park.
As any parent understands, snowball battles naturally tend to escalate into conflicts or injuries. Participants can become overly aggressive, and not everyone appreciates being struck with snow.
Social media footage revealed two officers who walked into the park being bombarded with snowballs from multiple directions, leaving them covered in snow as they moved along a pathway. The officers knocked at least two individuals to the ground while snowballs continued flying and bystanders recorded with their devices. One officer’s face appeared injured and he was seen touching his eye.
More video footage captured people launching snowballs at additional officers positioned on the street outside the park boundaries.
The police department subsequently issued a statement confirming that several officers were hit in the face with snowballs. A union representative reported that two police officers received medical treatment at a local hospital for injuries to their face, head and neck areas.
The responses to this week’s snowball incident mirrored reactions following a 2019 summer episode when energetic young people engaged in water fights were captured on video splashing police officers.
Those water incidents also generated anger from police leadership, who condemned it as unacceptable disrespect and even suggested officers who would tolerate such behavior should find different careers.
On Tuesday night, the police department published photos of four suspects they’re seeking regarding the incident while requesting public assistance in identifying them. These images were distributed just hours after Mamdani minimized the confrontation during an unrelated press event earlier that day.
Mamdani stated Wednesday that he has communicated with Tisch and values her efforts but avoided addressing questions about their conflicting views on the snowball incident.
During his election campaign, Mamdani, a progressive Democrat, issued an apology for previous language he’d used to describe the police department, having once called it in a social media post “racist, anti-queer & a major threat to public safety.”
He also disappointed some left-wing supporters when he kept Tisch, a moderate establishment figure, as police commissioner, indicating his intention to take a balanced approach to law enforcement matters.
A federal judge has declared that the Trump administration’s practice of sending immigrants to nations where they lack any connections violates the law and must be halted, according to a Wednesday ruling in a case that previously went before the Supreme Court.
Federal District Judge Brian E. Murphy in Massachusetts has given the government a 15-day window to appeal his latest decision by temporarily suspending the ruling. Murphy referenced how the Supreme Court sided with the administration last year, putting his earlier decision on hold and allowing a deportation flight carrying multiple migrants to proceed to conflict-ridden South Sudan, despite the deportees having no connections there.
According to Murphy, immigrants who are challenging the Department of Homeland Security’s approach deserve “meaningful notice” and a chance to contest their removal to a third nation before it happens. The current policy “extinguishes valid challenges to third-country removal by effecting removal before those challenges can be raised,” the judge determined.
“These are our laws, and it is with profound gratitude for the unbelievable luck of being born in the United States of America that this Court affirms these and our nation’s bedrock principle: that no ‘person’ in this country may be ‘deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law,’” Murphy stated in his ruling.
The Supreme Court’s conservative majority decided in June that immigration authorities could rapidly remove individuals to third nations. Justice Sonia Sotomayor and Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, both liberal justices, opposed the decision, arguing it provided preferential treatment to the government.
Murphy pointed out that the Trump administration has consistently broken or attempted to break his court orders. He highlighted how the Defense Department sent at least six individuals covered by the case to El Salvador and Mexico last March without following the procedures mandated by a temporary restraining order he had issued.
“The simple reality is that nobody knows the merits of any individual class member’s claim because (administration officials) are withholding the predicate fact: the country of removal,” Murphy, who received his judicial appointment from Democratic President Joe Biden, explained in his decision.
The judge noted that DHS’s third-country deportation approach has focused on immigrants who had received protection against being returned to their native countries, where they faced potential torture or other forms of persecution.
According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, eight men deported to South Sudan in May had criminal convictions in the United States and faced final removal orders.
A Texas federal court has given ExxonMobil permission to move forward with defamation claims against California Attorney General Rob Bonta regarding his public statements about the oil company’s plastic recycling programs.
U.S. District Judge Michael J. Truncale from the Eastern District of Texas determined in his recent decision that Bonta loses his official immunity protection for certain public statements, particularly those made in a fundraising email distributed to Texas voters.
The legal battle stems from Bonta’s September 2024 lawsuit against ExxonMobil, where he accused the petroleum company of misleading consumers by promoting plastic products as recyclable when effective recycling systems don’t exist. According to Bonta’s claims, fewer than 5% of plastic materials actually get transformed into new plastic items, and the recycling technologies that Exxon promotes are ineffective. ExxonMobil countered by blaming California’s recycling infrastructure for the problems.
In response, ExxonMobil filed its own lawsuit in Texas against Bonta personally and several environmental organizations, claiming defamation and alleging that the public statements damaged existing and potential business relationships. The company chose to file in Texas, close to its headquarters location.
While Judge Truncale threw out the claims against the environmental groups, he permitted the case against Bonta to continue.
The court focused particularly on a campaign fundraising email Bonta distributed to Texas residents, which stated that only 5% of plastic gets recycled while the remainder pollutes the environment and enters human bodies, adding: “Exxon Mobil knew, and Exxon Mobil lied.” The Democratic attorney general maintained he was simply informing subscribers about his office’s work.
However, Judge Truncale ruled that the presence of a campaign donation link transformed the message into political activity rather than official government business, stripping away Bonta’s immunity protections.
“Here, the contribution request betrays the email’s true nature: a campaign promotion. Campaigning is not within Bonta’s scope of employment,” the judge wrote.
Bonta’s office has not yet provided a response to requests for comment.
ExxonMobil released a statement declaring that the “campaign of lies designed to derail our advanced recycling business must stop.”
Cuban authorities announced that a deadly confrontation in territorial waters on Wednesday resulted in four fatalities and multiple injuries after a Florida-registered speedboat allegedly fired upon Cuban border patrol forces, prompting return gunfire from Cuban officials.
According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, all four individuals who lost their lives were passengers on the Florida vessel, while six additional occupants sustained injuries. Cuban officials also reported that their border patrol commander was wounded during the exchange.
Cuban authorities stated that the injured individuals from the attacking vessel were transported for emergency medical care following the incident.
This deadly encounter occurs during a period of escalating friction between Cuba and the United States. The U.S. has imposed severe restrictions on oil deliveries to the Caribbean island, creating additional strain on Cuba’s Communist leadership. The situation became more complex following the January 3 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro by American forces in Caracas, effectively removing one of Cuba’s most important regional allies.
In an official statement, Cuban officials declared: “Faced with the current challenges, Cuba reaffirms its commitment to protecting its territorial waters, based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban state in safeguarding its sovereignty and stability in the region.”
PARIS – French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s administration weathered a parliamentary challenge Wednesday, defeating the first of two attempts to remove the government from power over controversial energy legislation.
The no-confidence measure, brought forward by the far-right National Rally party, secured support from 140 lawmakers but fell significantly short of the 289 votes required to succeed in ousting the government.
The political showdown stems from the administration’s decision to bypass the National Assembly and implement new energy regulations through executive decree, denying elected representatives their traditional final approval authority.
Parliamentary leaders are preparing for a second no-confidence vote, this one initiated by the hard-left France Unbowed party, which is anticipated to take place in the coming hours.
Lecornu’s administration operates without a clear parliamentary majority and has already weathered two previous attempts to remove it from office earlier this year, both triggered by the government’s decision to force through a delayed national budget without legislative approval.
Pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences announced Wednesday that their investigational HIV medication in single-tablet form demonstrated strong patient tolerance with minimal dropout rates during clinical testing, potentially offering HIV patients a new treatment option once their viral levels are controlled.
The company shared comprehensive findings from an advanced clinical study at a Denver medical conference Wednesday, as they prepare to seek regulatory approval for the experimental drug combination.
Study data revealed that patients stopped taking the medication due to side effects at rates of just 1.6% and 0.5% across the two study groups, figures researchers considered notably low.
After 48 weeks of treatment in the same study, only 0.8% of participants taking the new single-pill combination showed detectable virus levels in their bloodstream, while 1.1% of those continuing their previous multiple-pill treatments had detectable viral loads.
Researchers tested the medication in HIV patients who already had suppressed viral levels, including individuals transitioning from complicated multiple-pill treatment plans or from currently recommended single-tablet therapies.
Study participants also indicated greater satisfaction with their treatment after making the switch to the investigational medication, based on findings published in The Lancet medical journal.
The pharmaceutical company stated they intend to provide data from both clinical trials to regulatory agencies for review. No regulatory body has yet granted approval for this drug combination.
Health authorities in South Carolina are seeing hopeful signs that the country’s most significant measles outbreak in over three decades may be beginning to subside, with infections declining for two consecutive weeks.
During a Wednesday briefing, state epidemiologist Dr. Linda Bell credited the dedicated efforts of public health workers for the positive trend. “The hard work and long hours that frontline, often entry-level epidemiologists, have put into this response are largely responsible for this downward trend that is actually occurring a bit earlier than previously projected,” Bell stated, while cautioning that the outbreak “is not by any means over.”
South Carolina has enlisted assistance from infectious disease specialists through the nonprofit CDC Foundation to help manage the crisis, which has become the most extensive measles outbreak nationwide since 1992. As of Tuesday, health officials have documented 979 confirmed cases.
The disease surge started in October and has primarily affected communities in the state’s northwestern counties, particularly around Greenville and Spartanburg areas.
The American poultry industry is showing signs of steady growth, with new federal statistics revealing a 2 percent increase in both broiler egg production and chick placement across the country.
According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, the number of eggs designated for meat chicken production has risen by 2 percent compared to previous periods. Similarly, the placement of young chickens destined for meat production has also climbed by the same percentage.
This upward trend in poultry production could signal positive news for Delaware’s significant agricultural sector, where chicken farming plays a major economic role. The state is home to numerous poultry operations that contribute substantially to the local economy and food supply chain.
The statistics reflect the ongoing demand for chicken products nationwide and suggest continued stability in the poultry farming industry, which employs thousands of workers across the Delmarva Peninsula region.
After a stretch of winter chill across the region, the long range outlook is signaling a noticeable shift in the overall pattern heading into early March. The Climate Prediction Center’s 6 to 10 day and 8 to 14 day outlooks both favor above average temperatures across much of the eastern United States, including the Delmarva Peninsula.
For the 6 to 10 day period, Delmarva sits on the edge of the warmer pattern, but still leans toward above normal temperatures. While the strongest warmth is centered over the Plains and Midwest, milder air is expected to expand eastward into the Mid-Atlantic.
By the 8 to 14 day timeframe, confidence increases that much of the East Coast, including Delaware, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, and coastal Virginia, will see above average temperatures. This suggests a sustained stretch of milder weather heading into the first week of March.
For this time of year, average highs are typically in the mid to upper 40s across much of Delmarva. If this pattern verifies, temperatures could frequently climb into the 50s, with even warmer afternoons possible on select days.
The overall setup points toward a reduced risk of prolonged Arctic intrusions and a lower likelihood of significant winter weather systems during this period.
When it comes to precipitation, the signal is more subtle for Delmarva.
In the 6 to 10 day outlook, the wetter pattern is focused mainly across the central United States. Delmarva trends closer to near normal precipitation during this timeframe.
Heading into days 8 to 14, the peninsula remains near normal overall, though there are hints of slightly above average precipitation nearby across portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Ohio Valley. That means we cannot rule out periodic rain chances, but there is no strong signal for an especially wet or dry stretch at this time.
Given the expected milder temperatures, any precipitation that does occur would favor rain rather than wintry weather.
LOS ANGELES — In a shocking turn of events Tuesday night, Dallas superstar Luka Doncic found himself with the basketball and an opportunity to secure victory for the Los Angeles Lakers, but the league’s top scorer chose to pass instead.
The decision caught everyone off guard, including LeBron James, who received Doncic’s unexpected pass during the closing seconds of Los Angeles’ 110-109 defeat to the Orlando Magic.
“I thought he had a great look, but that’s my POV,” James said.
The closing sequence unfolded exactly as head coach JJ Redick had designed: James delivered the inbound pass with 6.7 seconds remaining, while Doncic emerged from behind a screen completely unguarded approximately one step beyond the three-point arc.
Despite typically being willing to attempt shots from nearly 30 feet when given such space, Doncic uncharacteristically wavered before pump-faking twice against approaching defenders and ultimately delivering a bounce pass back to a startled James.
“I know I was open, but I just thought I was a little bit far,” Doncic said. “Tried to take one dribble to get a little closer. Probably shouldn’t have picked up the ball, just tried to attack.”
James hurriedly attempted a contested three-pointer that missed badly, sealing a 110-109 defeat that concluded a mediocre 4-4 homestand where the team appeared far from championship caliber.
Los Angeles understands their championship aspirations depend on Doncic and James delivering in crucial moments, yet both stars faltered in the clutch after the team surrendered a 12-point second-half advantage. This marked the Lakers’ first loss this season after holding a lead entering the fourth quarter.
Doncic’s reluctance to shoot surprised observers, particularly his claim that standing just behind the three-point line was too distant for someone who routinely attempts shots from that range.
He later acknowledged that his struggles from beyond the arc might have influenced his decision-making. When questioned whether his 2-for-10 three-point shooting performance against Orlando affected his surprising choice, he responded: “Maybe a little bit.”
James recognized he had minimal time to react when the ball returned to him, but couldn’t manage a quality attempt while facing perimeter pressure from 6-foot-10 defender Jonathan Isaac.
“Obviously you’ll have to ask Luka what he saw on that,” James said. “I thought he had a good look, and it looked like he kind of just lost his balance. Didn’t have the rhythm of the ball, whatever the case may be, and it kind of allowed them to get back in front of him. I was kind of off balance when he gave it to me.”
The duo had collaborated successfully on the preceding play, with Doncic’s baseline inbound finding James for a go-ahead dunk with 26 seconds left. Orlando regained the lead when Wendell Carter Jr. converted a putback layup, leaving Los Angeles with the final possession.
Doncic finished 8-of-24 from the field, with his 22 points representing his lowest output in over three months for a game he completed without early departure due to injury. A final-second heroic shot could have overshadowed his struggles, but the opportunity slipped away.
“I didn’t want to lose the ball, and we didn’t have timeouts,” Doncic said. “But like I said, shouldn’t have picked up the ball. I should attack. That’s on me.”
Coach Redick indicated he hadn’t yet discussed the final possession with Doncic, planning to address it during Wednesday’s flight to Phoenix, where the Lakers will meet a Suns squad closely trailing them for sixth place in the Western Conference standings.
“We obviously ran a play for him to get a look,” Redick said. “I felt like he had a decent shot.”
PEORIA, Ariz. — Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has already launched his first spring training home run, but the switch-hitting slugger says he’s not specifically chasing another 60-home run campaign after his record-breaking 2024 season.
The 29-year-old backstop, who topped Major League Baseball with 60 long balls last year, smacked a 427-foot blast against the Chicago White Sox during Tuesday’s exhibition matchup. The homer marked his first of the spring in just his third game.
“I think the elephant in the room is 60 home runs. That’s not something I’m setting out to do,” Raleigh explained to Seattle Sports this week. “To me, I’m just trying to be as consistent as possible, trying to do what I did last year.”
Raleigh’s 60 home runs in 2024 established a new benchmark for players who spent most of their time catching, as he started 119 games behind the plate while adding 38 more as a designated hitter. The player known as “Big Dumper” also posted career-best numbers with 125 RBIs and earned runner-up honors in American League MVP balloting, finishing behind three-time winner Aaron Judge of the New York Yankees.
Both Judge and Raleigh will represent Team USA in the upcoming World Baseball Classic, with pool play starting next week. Judge previously established the American League record by belting 62 homers during the 2022 campaign.
The two sluggers join an exclusive group of just seven players who have reached the 60-home run milestone. Only Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa have accomplished the feat in back-to-back seasons, doing so in 1998 and 1999. McGwire and Sosa remain the lone players with multiple 60-homer seasons, with Sosa adding a third such campaign in 2001.
The head of streaming service Netflix is set to hold discussions at the White House this Thursday, highlighting the political considerations surrounding the company’s potential takeover of Warner Bros Discovery, according to a Wednesday report from Politico.
Ted Sarandos, who serves as Netflix’s chief executive officer, will participate in the White House meetings, two sources with knowledge of the planned discussions told the publication. The scheduled visit demonstrates how high-level government attention is being paid to Netflix’s proposed acquisition deal.
The meetings come as Netflix explores the possibility of purchasing Warner Bros Discovery, a move that would significantly reshape the entertainment industry landscape.
Former University of Virginia basketball coach Tony Bennett has accepted a position with the Los Angeles Lakers as a consultant for NBA draft operations, the team announced Wednesday.
Bennett, who stepped away from his coaching career in October 2024, earned recognition as NCAA national Coach of the Year on three occasions during his tenure.
During his time leading the Cavaliers, Bennett secured a national title in the 2018-19 season and collected four Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year awards.
“We’re thrilled and honored to welcome Tony as an advisor to the Lakers basketball operations department,” Lakers president of basketball operations and general manager Rob Pelinka said. “As we refine and build out our NBA draft and scouting processes, we could think of no better basketball mind than Tony Bennett to have as a resource. Tony’s track record of forming culture, with high-character, high-skill and high-IQ players is revered and respected across all basketball circles. Tony will be an incredible asset to our basketball leadership, to our scouts and to our draft department as a whole. We are truly excited.”
The 56-year-old coach posted an impressive 364-136 record while at Virginia between 2009 and 2024. Prior to his success with the Cavaliers, Bennett coached at Washington State from 2006 to 2009, where he went 69-33.
“When Rob and I began talking, what stood out to me was the chance to help out such a storied organization,” Bennett said. “The Lakers carry a tradition that speaks for itself, so to be connected to it and assist Rob and the Lakers in any way I can is exciting.”
Throughout his coaching career, Bennett developed 13 players who eventually entered the NBA draft, including former NBA Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, two-time NBA three-point shooting percentage champion Joe Harris, and active players De’Andre Hunter with the Kings, Ty Jerome on the Grizzlies, Ryan Dunn playing for the Suns, and Trey Murphy III with the Pelicans.
WASHINGTON – The departing head of the Atlanta Federal Reserve issued a stark warning Wednesday about the damage political conflicts are inflicting on Americans’ faith in the central bank’s independence.
Raphael Bostic, whose tenure concludes this Friday, penned a farewell message expressing deep concern that current political disputes are shaking public confidence in the Federal Reserve’s ability to operate free from outside influence – a cornerstone of American economic stability.
In his departure letter, Bostic cautioned that America’s position as an economic powerhouse and global financial safe harbor “is not guaranteed. Safeguarding our special status includes protecting the Fed’s independence.”
The outgoing Fed president described witnessing firsthand how recent controversies have affected public perception during his recent travels across the country.
“My travels over the past several months have made clear that the legal and rhetorical battles raging around the central bank right now have caused people across a wide cross-section of our population to begin to doubt the Fed’s independence,” Bostic wrote.
He stressed the critical importance of maintaining the central bank’s autonomy, noting extensive research supports this approach.
“It’s important that the public understand what is at stake. Decades of lived experience, as well as a large body of academic research, makes clear that a nation’s economic outcomes are better when there is an independent central bank. Inflation is lower, economic performance is more robust, and consumers and businesses alike are more confident that long-run investments will be worth making.”
While Bostic’s letter didn’t specifically name President Donald Trump or his administration, the recent controversies include Trump’s attempts to remove Fed Governor Lisa Cook, an ongoing Justice Department probe of Fed Chair Jerome Powell, and the president’s repeated public calls for reduced interest rates.
Earlier this year, Powell took the unusual step of publicly criticizing the DOJ investigation as an attempt to influence monetary policy decisions – a rare public confrontation between a Fed chair and a sitting president.
Fellow Federal Reserve officials and international central bank leaders have supported Powell, echoing Bostic’s concerns about the potential consequences if the Fed’s credibility becomes compromised.
PARIS – A new survey indicates French citizens have shifted their political concerns, with more voters now willing to block far-left parties from gaining power compared to far-right groups, marking a significant change in the country’s political landscape.
The Elabe polling firm found that approximately two-thirds of respondents would cast ballots against the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party in a runoff election, while only 45% said they would vote to prevent the far-right National Rally (RN) from taking office.
This change in public sentiment follows the recent death of 23-year-old far-right activist Quentin Deranque, who was allegedly killed by far-left extremists. The incident has deeply disturbed French society and turned public opinion against the LFI party. Seven individuals, including a staff member working for an LFI legislator, face formal charges in connection with Deranque’s death.
All accused individuals have rejected the charges against them, according to prosecutors.
The National Rally, historically associated with racist and antisemitic positions, has attempted to leverage concerns about far-left violence to build broader acceptance among mainstream voters. The party now holds the most seats in France’s parliament and is considered a strong contender for the 2027 presidential race.
Traditionally, the RN faced a strategy where opposing parties would unite in second-round elections to prevent their victory. Following the recent killing, RN officials have demanded that other parties establish a “sanitary cordon” against the LFI. The polling data suggests voters are responding to this appeal.
Former center-left President Francois Hollande has called for his Socialist Party to distance itself from LFI.
St. Louis Blues center Robert Thomas will temporarily step away from the team to address a personal situation, the organization announced Wednesday.
Blues General Manager Doug Armstrong revealed the news and indicated that Thomas should rejoin the squad by Friday.
The temporary absence means Thomas will miss Thursday evening’s matchup when St. Louis hosts the Seattle Kraken in their first game following the Olympic break. The Blues currently hold a 20-28-9 record this season.
At 26 years old, Thomas has been a key offensive contributor for St. Louis, tallying 33 points through 42 games this year with 11 goals and 22 assists, making him the team’s second-highest scorer.
Since St. Louis selected him 20th overall in the opening round of the 2017 NHL Draft, the Canadian-born player has accumulated 429 points across 508 games in a Blues uniform, including 118 goals and 311 assists. Thomas earned All-Star recognition during the 2023-24 campaign.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Wednesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture is moving forward with plans to sell its South Building as part of a broader agency restructuring initiative.
Speaking at a Wednesday press conference, Rollins explained that putting the South Building on the market represents the next step in the USDA’s reorganization strategy, which aims to reduce unnecessary expenses and improve how the department’s staff is distributed.
The Agriculture Secretary indicated that the current state of the South Building demonstrates the need for this change, beginning to describe what visitors would encounter if they entered the facility today.
Political spending has reached unprecedented levels in Texas’s competitive U.S. Senate primary, driven largely by Democratic candidate James Talarico’s impressive fundraising efforts and Republican groups working to protect Senator John Cornyn’s lengthy political career.
As voters prepare for Tuesday’s primary contest, advertising expenditures and reserved airtime have exceeded $110 million, establishing a new benchmark for Senate primary races nationwide, according to AdImpact, which monitors political advertising. This massive financial commitment in Texas offers a glimpse of the substantial monetary investments anticipated throughout this year’s midterm campaigns nationwide, as both parties battle for congressional control.
In the Democratic contest, Talarico is competing against U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett for the party’s nomination. His most recent television commercial, released Wednesday before the primary, criticizes the previous Trump administration’s harsh immigration policies, referring to Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as “secret police.”
Financial reports show Talarico has collected over $21 million through the previous week, while Crockett has accumulated nearly $8.6 million, with most of those funds transferred from her congressional campaign after joining the Senate race in December, three months behind Talarico’s entry.
Crockett has branded herself as the more aggressive advocate, creating a stark contrast with Talarico’s final advertisement, which differs from his previous appeals to disenchanted Republican voters through discussions of his Christian beliefs.
During a campaign event Tuesday in Tyler, located in northeastern Texas where President Donald Trump won decisively in 2024, Talarico declared, “We can transform this broken political system.”
Texas Democrats haven’t secured a Senate victory since 1988, yet Cornyn confronts his most challenging primary battle against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt.
Independent expenditure groups, operating separately from candidate campaigns, have contributed more than $75 million of the total Texas spending, AdImpact data reveals.
Republican-aligned organizations dominate this outside spending, with groups supporting Cornyn’s quest for a fifth term investing nearly $57 million. Texans for a Conservative Majority, a pro-Cornyn organization, has allocated over $22 million specifically for advertisements opposing Hunt.
Cornyn’s official campaign has generated more than $11 million, while two additional organizations using his name have contributed another $10 million toward his candidacy.
Political observers anticipate Paxton will advance to a May 26 runoff election, despite conducting a relatively quiet campaign until recently and facing ongoing legal challenges.
Cornyn and Senate Republican leadership express concern that the party may need to invest tens of millions more to retain the Texas seat should Paxton become the nominee.
South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott expressed this worry Wednesday on “Fox & Friends,” stating, “It is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee.”
However, other Republicans dispute this assessment. Paxton traveled to Washington Tuesday, attending President Trump’s State of the Union address as the invited guest of Texas Republican Representative Troy Nehls.
Campaign finance records indicate Paxton has raised approximately $6 million, while Hunt has collected about $2 million, though he possessed roughly $3 million in his House campaign account when entering the Senate race in October, based on Federal Election Commission filings.
The combined $19 million raised by all Republican candidates falls short of Talarico’s individual campaign total, highlighting the critical importance of outside group support for GOP efforts to maintain the seat.
Talarico received a significant financial surge this month when his campaign reported collecting $2.5 million within 24 hours after late-night television host Stephen Colbert canceled a scheduled interview for his February 16 program, citing concerns from CBS legal representatives. Donations under $1,000 during this period won’t appear in public reports until after the primary.
During a recent campaign appearance, Crockett reminded supporters of her 2020 Texas House race, two years before winning her Dallas-area congressional seat, when opponents outspent her campaign by a 5-to-1 margin.
“People said, ‘There’s no way she’s going to win,’” Crockett recalled emotionally. “I show up, authentically me. That makes some people cringe, but the people are tired of politics as usual.”
The University of Delaware Blue Hens women’s basketball squad is gearing up for their next home contest as they prepare to welcome Western Kentucky University to campus.
The matchup represents an opportunity for the Blue Hens to showcase their talents in front of their home crowd and build momentum as the season progresses.
Delaware will be looking to make the most of playing on familiar territory as they take on the visiting Western Kentucky team in what promises to be an exciting collegiate basketball showdown.
Fans are encouraged to come out and support the Blue Hens as they compete against their conference opponents in this highly anticipated home game.
Agricultural families in Missouri now have access to assistance from Farm Rescue, a charitable organization that steps in when farming operations face difficult circumstances. The volunteer-driven initiative provides crucial support to families who are struggling to manage their agricultural responsibilities.
The organization deploys trained volunteers equipped with up-to-date machinery to assist with essential farming operations including crop planting, hay production, transportation duties, harvest activities, and livestock care. Beginning this autumn, Missouri farmers can access harvesting support, with additional services planned to become available in the future.
This expansion brings Farm Rescue’s mission of supporting agricultural communities to a new state, offering a lifeline to families who might otherwise struggle to maintain their farming operations during challenging periods.
JOHANNESBURG — Eleven South African citizens touched down at King Shaka International Airport in Durban on Wednesday, immediately facing police interrogation after allegedly being recruited to battle for Russia in the Ukrainian conflict.
Upon their arrival, the men were escorted directly to the airport police station for questioning regarding their involvement in the war zone. Airport witnesses observed one individual being removed from the plane in a wheelchair, while his companions carried what appeared to be military-style duffel bags.
This homecoming increases the total count of returned South Africans to 15, though two individuals remain in Russia. President Cyril Ramaphosa announced Tuesday that one person continues receiving medical treatment at a Russian hospital, while another awaits completion of travel paperwork before departing.
According to Police Colonel Katlego Mogale, authorities launched an investigation last week focusing on violations of South African legislation that forbids citizens from participating in overseas military conflicts without government approval.
The probe has expanded to include five suspects connected to recruiting these men for Russian service, notably featuring Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former President Jacob Zuma. Despite denying any criminal activity, she stepped down from her parliamentary position following these allegations.
Reports indicate several recruits have family ties to the Zuma clan and were personally enlisted by Zuma-Sambudla herself.
December arrests resulted in five individuals facing recruitment-related charges, with their court appearances scheduled for April.
LIMA, Peru — Interim President José María Balcázar issued an emergency declaration Wednesday covering more than 700 districts throughout Peru as devastating rainfall, mudslides, and floods continue wreaking havoc across nearly half the nation’s territory.
The emergency order, which appeared in Peru’s official government publication, is designed to expedite financial assistance to local and regional governments as they work to protect critical infrastructure such as highways, bridges, electrical systems, and water supplies while safeguarding residents’ lives and well-being. The declaration encompasses districts spanning Peru’s Pacific coastline, Andean mountains, and Amazon rainforest regions.
Weather officials attribute the extreme conditions to the Coastal El Niño climate pattern, which has caused ocean temperatures to rise dramatically. While the rainfall has grown more intense recently, the new administration couldn’t act on emergency measures until this week. Balcázar’s cabinet members were only sworn into office Tuesday, concluding a ministerial vacancy that started February 17 when his predecessor José Jerí was ousted amid corruption and influence-peddling allegations.
Transportation officials reported Wednesday that approximately 580 miles of roadways have sustained damage across the country, with the worst destruction occurring in four regions experiencing the heaviest precipitation. These transportation arteries provide essential access for more than 500,000 people each week.
Government officials have revised the casualty count upward, confirming that 68 individuals have perished from weather-related incidents since December began. Recent fatalities include a father and his son who were killed by a mudslide in Arequipa, along with a Lima police officer who lost his life in the Rimac River while trying to save a dog caught in Andean floodwaters.
Weather experts say Pacific Ocean temperatures continue climbing, with the Coastal El Niño phenomenon anticipated to intensify somewhat during March. The elevated sea surface temperatures create excessive evaporation and produce torrential downpours while causing rivers to swell beyond their banks.
Samsung introduced its newest Galaxy smartphone series on Wednesday during a San Francisco event, showcasing devices packed with advanced artificial intelligence features and a groundbreaking privacy display technology designed to prevent others from viewing your screen.
The Galaxy S26 collection will be available in stores starting March 11, with Samsung implementing price hikes of 10% to 13% on entry-level and middle-tier models. The base Galaxy S26 will retail for $899, while the Plus version carries a $1,099 price tag — both representing $100 increases from comparable models over the past two years. However, the Galaxy S26 Ultra maintains its previous pricing at $1,299.
Following industry trends, Samsung has enhanced both camera functionality and battery performance for the Galaxy S26 series, recognizing these elements as crucial factors influencing consumer upgrade decisions.
The company is introducing an exclusive feature called “Privacy Display” available solely on the Ultra model. This innovative technology modifies pixel behavior so the screen remains visible only when viewed straight-on, appearing blank when seen from angles, effectively preventing “shoulder surfing” by nearby individuals. Users can configure the system to automatically activate privacy mode for specific applications containing financial or sensitive data.
Samsung continues emphasizing artificial intelligence as a central selling point for its Galaxy devices, building upon a strategy launched two years ago when the company began incorporating AI to enhance device capabilities and appeal.
“AI must become part of our infrastructure,” stated TM Roh, Samsung’s CEO of device experience, during the San Francisco presentation. “You should be able to enjoy its benefits through the devices you use every day.”
The company promises this year’s Galaxy models contain AI functioning as multi-purpose assistants that gather information and content, eliminating the need for users to perform these tasks manually.
“This is the agentic AI phone,” Roh declared regarding the Galaxy S26.
While Samsung continues utilizing Google’s Gemini technology for AI capabilities, the company is also incorporating Perplexity, an emerging assistant known for operating its own “answer engine” for online information searches.
The Galaxy S26 series will feature additional photo-editing tools, including automatic skin tone softening for selfies captured with the front-facing camera.
Although AI technology appears across various smart devices from manufacturers like Apple and Google, consumer reception remains uncertain.
Despite Apple promoting its AI capabilities for nearly two years, the company has struggled to deliver promised features. Apple’s AI limitations have become so apparent that it’s relying on Google to improve its often-problematic virtual assistant Siri.
Nevertheless, Apple’s iPhone has maintained its position as the world’s best-selling smartphone for three consecutive years — a title Samsung last held in 2022, according to International Data Corp research.
“AI is still not a sought-after feature among users,” explained Paolo Pescatore, an analyst with PP Foresight. “The big opportunity is making AI feel like a daily habit rather than a party trick, with tighter integration across core apps. AI must be boringly useful. Less ‘look what it can do,’ more ‘this saves me time every day.’”
TAUNTON, Mass. — A devastating blast tore through a Massachusetts neighborhood Wednesday morning, destroying a multi-family residence and sending a young mother and toddler to local hospitals with critical injuries.
Fire crews rushed to the three-unit dwelling around 9:50 a.m. after reports of an explosion, according to local fire department officials. A 25-year-old woman suffered extensive burns while a 2-year-old sustained severe injuries in the incident, both requiring immediate hospital treatment.
Fire Chief Steven Lavigne addressed the severity of the situation, stating: “The situation is now under control, but this was a very serious incident. The weather conditions present unique challenges, but we plan for these situations.”
The primary residence was completely destroyed, leaving eight people without homes, fire department officials confirmed. Two neighboring houses also sustained significant fire damage. City officials quickly established an emergency warming shelter for those forced from their homes Wednesday.
Mayor Shaunna O’Connell spoke to media on a street crowded with emergency vehicles and snow banks, acknowledging she was uncertain whether the victims were inside the structure when the explosion occurred.
Given the tight spacing between residences in the area, O’Connell noted that neighboring families were also forced to evacuate their homes. The powerful blast was heard by residents living several blocks from the scene.
Local resident William James Shivers Jr. rushed to assist with evacuation efforts when he heard the explosion. “Neighbors helping neighbors, as it should be,” Shivers commented. “Taunton police and fire are amazing and I’m blessed to be a part of this community.”
Jake Wark, representing the state Department of Fire Services, confirmed multiple casualties and urged community members to stay clear of the area to allow emergency responders unobstructed access.
State police fire investigation teams and the state fire marshal’s office have joined Taunton fire officials to investigate what triggered the explosion, according to Wark.
The incident occurred as Taunton and much of the Northeast continued recovering from a major winter storm that dumped over two feet of snow on the community of approximately 60,000 residents, located roughly 38 miles south of Boston.
Consumer products company Colgate-Palmolive will urge shareholders to reject a conservative organization’s attempt to eliminate diversity considerations from the company’s board member selection criteria, according to correspondence obtained by Reuters on February 24.
The National Legal and Policy Center submitted the proposal as numerous major corporations including Goldman Sachs, Walmart, Target and Meta have either abandoned or are reconsidering their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. This shift comes as President Donald Trump and conservative advocacy groups intensify their campaign against corporate diversity programs.
Many businesses expanded their diversity initiatives beginning in 2020 following the Black Lives Matter protests, but have since retreated from these commitments over the last year due to increasing political pressure from the current administration.
By maintaining its diversity standards, Colgate would align with a limited number of companies like Costco and Apple that have preserved their inclusion policies during this period. In its response to the conservative group, Colgate noted that approximately two-thirds of its revenue comes from international markets beyond U.S. borders.
In the company’s Monday submission to the National Legal and Policy Center, Colgate stated: “It is important that our directors bring a broad range of skills, experiences, perspectives and backgrounds to the Board.”
The company has not yet provided an independent statement to Reuters regarding this matter.
According to Colgate’s 2025 proxy filing, three board nominees represent “members of underrepresented communities,” though the National Legal and Policy Center noted the company failed to define what constitutes “underrepresented.”
Bloomberg News initially broke the story about Colgate’s response to the conservative group’s proposal.
A Spanish Civil Guard officer whose dramatic attempt to overthrow democracy became one of the most memorable moments in modern European history has passed away at age 93.
Antonio Tejero died peacefully Wednesday in Alzira, Valencia, surrounded by family members and after receiving last rites, according to his family’s legal representatives at A. Cañizares Abogados.
Television cameras captured the shocking scene on February 23, 1981, when Tejero marched into Spain’s parliament chamber at 6:23 p.m. wearing his distinctive three-cornered hat and waving a handgun. He commanded legislators to remain quiet and drop to the ground as additional rebel guards entered with automatic weapons, firing shots into the air while terrified lawmakers cowered behind their desks.
The national television network RTVE recorded thirty minutes of the dramatic takeover before being forced to shut off their equipment. That footage, broadcast the following day and repeatedly over the years, became permanently etched in Spanish collective memory.
For approximately seventeen hours, Tejero and his followers kept parliament members captive, disrupting the ceremonial installation of Spain’s newly elected democratic leadership.
The conspirators sought to restore authoritarian rule, just five years after dictator Francisco Franco’s passing had opened the door to Spain’s first democratic elections in forty years.
This coup attempt represented a crucial test for Spain’s young democracy and its constitution, which had been established only three years prior. King Juan Carlos I strengthened his democratic credentials by swiftly condemning the uprising through a televised address backing the legitimate government.
Born April 30, 1932, in Malaga province to teacher Antonio Tejero Camacho and Dolores Molina Labrada, Tejero grew up in military surroundings that shaped his worldview. His family relocated to a military installation shortly before his birth, where they experienced the early years of Spain’s 1936-1939 civil conflict.
According to historian Roberto Muñoz Bolaños, this military upbringing instilled in young Tejero the fascist principles of Franco’s government: opposition to communism and liberalism, resistance to regional autonomy, and “most importantly, belief in military supremacy over civilian authority.”
At nineteen, Tejero entered Spain’s military academy and was placed in the Civil Guard, a military branch handling civilian law enforcement. His advancement through officer ranks came rapidly due to his ideological alignment with commanding officers.
Following Franco’s death, Tejero transformed from exemplary soldier to disruptive force as Franco supporters lost military influence. He attributed Spain’s problems to democratic governance.
Disciplinary actions became frequent for insubordination, and in 1977 he lost his command position at a Civil Guard facility in Malaga after blocking an approved public demonstration, claiming the date should honor a fallen Civil Guard member from Barcelona.
The emergence of the now-defunct Basque separatist organization ETA and perceived efforts to diminish military power motivated him to develop “Operation Galaxia” in 1978 with fellow officers. Their scheme involved seizing the Moncloa presidential palace in Madrid and holding the prime minister and cabinet members hostage.
However, one conspirator exposed the plot before execution. Tejero received a prison sentence of seven months and one day, as reported by ABC newspaper.
Upon his release, Tejero immediately began organizing the 1981 attempt that would make him infamous.
He gained support from Lieutenant General Jaime Milans del Bosch for the operation, with the condition they claim royal authorization. When Juan Carlos declined to endorse their actions and instead supported democratic institutions, the coup collapsed.
Tejero and Milans del Bosch faced trial as primary conspirators, receiving thirty-year sentences.
While imprisoned, he established a far-right political organization called Solidaridad Española, but managed only 28,451 votes – insufficient for parliamentary representation.
Muñoz Bolaños wrote in the academic publication Aportes that Tejero’s path “demonstrates, more clearly than any other military leader, how a segment of the armed forces failed to adjust to Spain’s transformations since the 1960s and grasp that democracy requires consensus, dialogue and acceptance of opposing viewpoints.”
“Such concepts remained incomprehensible to a military officer shaped by Francoist ideology,” the historian noted.
Released in 1996, Tejero spent his remaining years largely out of public view, reportedly supplementing his military pension by selling artwork to supporters, according to La Sexta television.
His rare public statements showed no remorse for his actions.
“It cost me my career and my freedom, but despite that I do not regret having tried,” Tejero told Alvaro Romero Ferreiro in an interview for the 2021 book “Tejero: Man of Honour.”
One notable recent appearance was witnessing Franco’s remains being moved to Mingorrubio cemetery near Madrid in 2019 after exhumation from the mausoleum the dictator had constructed for himself.
Tejero wed schoolteacher Carmen Diez Pereira, with whom he raised six children: Carmen, Dolores, Antonio, Elvira, Ramon and Juan. His son Ramon, a Catholic priest, conducted the religious service before Franco’s reburial.
At Franco’s daughter’s 2017 funeral, Tejero stated he continued praising Franco for providing Spain with “40 years of happiness.”
The bullet holes created by Tejero’s forces on February 23, 1981, remain visible in the parliamentary chamber’s ceiling today.
The country’s biggest exchange operator experienced a significant technical disruption Wednesday, forcing CME Group to temporarily suspend trading activities across its metals and natural gas markets.
The Chicago-based company announced that its CME Globex platform for metals and natural gas futures and options had to be shut down while technical teams worked to address the problems.
CME Group later provided an update, announcing that natural gas futures and options trading would resume with a pre-opening session at 12:45 Central Time, followed by full market opening at 12:50 Central Time.
Company officials confirmed that their technical support teams were actively working to investigate and resolve the underlying issues causing the disruption.
As a result of the technical problems, the exchange announced that all daily orders and good-till-date orders scheduled for Wednesday would be automatically canceled. However, good-till-canceled orders that had previously been processed and confirmed would continue to remain active in the system.
The difference between these order types is significant for traders: good-till-date orders only remain active until their specified expiration date, while good-till-canceled orders stay in the trading system until traders manually remove them.
CME Group holds the distinction of being the world’s most valuable exchange operator by market capitalization, offering trading services across a diverse portfolio that includes interest rates, stock indices, precious metals, energy commodities, digital currencies, and agricultural products.
This technical disruption follows another recent issue earlier in February, when the exchange experienced problems with publishing final settlement prices for metals trading.
Federal health officials announced Wednesday that they have cleared a new liquid medication designed to treat a rare hormone disorder in children, providing families with a more convenient treatment option.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized Eton Pharmaceuticals’ medication called Desmoda, an oral liquid version of desmopressin specifically formulated to treat central diabetes insipidus, also known as arginine vasopressin deficiency. This uncommon condition occurs when the body cannot produce enough of the hormone responsible for controlling water balance, leading to extreme thirst and frequent urination.
Medical experts say the new approval tackles a significant treatment challenge, as physicians must precisely calibrate medication doses to maintain proper fluid levels and prevent harmful changes in sodium concentrations, particularly in young patients.
Company officials project that Desmoda could bring in between $30 million and $50 million in yearly revenue at its peak performance.
Chicago Bears management has given veteran linebacker Tremaine Edmunds clearance to explore potential trades this offseason, according to Wednesday reporting from the Chicago Tribune.
The accomplished defender, who has earned Pro Bowl honors twice, is scheduled to receive $15 million in salary and bonuses for the 2026 season, creating a salary cap impact of $17.43 million for the team.
Despite being sidelined for four contests due to a groin injury, the 27-year-old Edmunds topped Chicago’s defensive statistics with 112 tackles across 13 games during the previous season. His defensive contributions also included four interceptions and one fumble recovery. Edmunds will celebrate his 28th birthday in May.
Throughout his eight-year NFL career, Edmunds has consistently reached the 100-tackle milestone each season. His professional statistics include 900 total tackles, 8.5 quarterback sacks, and 14 interceptions across 119 games, all as a starter, during his time with both Buffalo (2018-2022) and Chicago. The Bills selected him as the 16th overall draft choice in 2018, and he earned Pro Bowl recognition in both 2019 and 2020.
Food delivery giant DoorDash announced Wednesday it will shut down services in four international markets as part of a strategic refocus on more profitable regions.
The California-based company will cease operations in Qatar, Singapore, Japan and Uzbekistan following an extensive evaluation of market conditions in each country. Company executives say they want to concentrate resources on areas where DoorDash can achieve dominant market position and sustainable expansion.
“Our priority is supporting our teams and partners through an orderly transition as we focus on the geographies where we can offer the best products and build for long-term success,” stated Miki Kuusi, who leads DoorDash’s international operations.
The delivery service entered some of these markets well behind established competitors. DoorDash launched in Japan in 2021, arriving five years after competitor Uber Eats had already established operations. In Qatar, DoorDash’s subsidiary Deliveroo – acquired by the company last year – only started service in 2022, nearly ten years after Dubai-based Talabat began dominating that market.
The company also struggled against well-established competitors including GrabFood and Foodpanda in Singapore, while facing competition from Russia-based Yandex Eats in Uzbekistan.
Company officials said the market exits won’t affect DoorDash’s financial projections. Stock prices jumped 5% during midday trading following the announcement.
While DoorDash leads the delivery market in the United States, it has struggled to match Uber Eats’ international presence. The company purchased Finnish delivery service Wolt in 2021 and acquired Deliveroo to strengthen its European operations.
Agricultural producers attending this year’s Commodity Classic are making efficiency improvements their top priority as economic pressures mount across the farming industry. Rob Shafer, an Illinois farmer serving as co-chair of the conference, explains that growers are experiencing significant financial strain due to expensive input costs combined with declining commodity market values.
“If you can save a buck here, or a buck there in today’s economy that is the way,” Shafer noted, highlighting how even modest cost reductions have become essential for farm operations navigating the challenging economic landscape.
Municipal operations in Salisbury will remain suspended on Tuesday, February 24, despite the end of the official State of Emergency declaration, as electrical service disruptions continue to affect city facilities.
Officials have postponed the scheduled City Council session that was set to begin at 6 p.m. on February 24th because power remains out at the Government Office Building. City leaders say they will inform residents about rescheduled agenda matters when details become available.
Residents with questions can reach the City Clerk’s office by calling 410-548-3140.
The Salisbury Zoo will continue its closure during this period.
Regular collection of trash and recycling will proceed as planned on Tuesday.
Residents who receive municipal water service and require emergency water shut-off can contact Salisbury Police Department’s non-emergency number at 410-548-3165.
Additional details about snow clearing operations and ongoing storm-related updates are available at https://salisbury.md/ or through the city’s Facebook and Instagram social media accounts.
Traffic is being rerouted around a section of Faulkland Road near East Oakland Drive after a tree fell across the roadway.
The Delaware Department of Transportation reports the intersection remains impassable while crews work to remove the fallen tree and restore normal traffic flow.
Motorists should seek alternate routes and expect delays in the area until the roadway reopens.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A standout performance against a top-10 opponent has earned Riley Strub from Salisbury University’s men’s lacrosse program national recognition this week.
The midfielder was selected for the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association (USILA) Division III Team of the Week, officials announced Wednesday afternoon. Strub’s selection comes following his pivotal role in helping the second-ranked Sea Gulls secure a 15-12 victory against tenth-ranked Gettysburg.
The recognition highlights Strub’s impact as the primary offensive force during the crucial matchup, where his contributions proved instrumental in the team’s success against highly-ranked competition.
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iranian families face a daily struggle at the grocery store as prices continue climbing sharply. Many citizens share images on social platforms showing their diminished shopping baskets as they battle to afford essential items for their households. This financial burden adds to existing concerns about potential military conflict with the United States and ongoing recovery from recent nationwide demonstrations.
“Everybody is under pressure: merchants, civil servants, laborers,” said Ebrahim Momeni, a 52-year-old retired civil servant. “The weaker class of people is being crushed.”
International sanctions and poor economic management have plagued Iran’s financial system for years.
The country saw temporary improvement following a 2015 nuclear agreement that removed numerous sanctions, but President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of that deal in 2018. After returning to office over a year ago, Trump reinstated his “maximum pressure” strategy, broadening sanctions targeting Iran’s banking system and oil exports. His administration added fresh sanctions Wednesday against 30 individuals and entities allegedly supporting Iran’s missile and drone manufacturing, plus illegal petroleum sales.
This pressure has sped up the collapse of Iran’s national currency, the rial. When the nuclear agreement was established in 2015, the rial exchanged at approximately 32,000 per dollar. By late December, it had fallen to 1.3 million per dollar. Wednesday saw it hit a record low of 1.65 million rials per dollar — worsened by concerns over potential U.S. military action.
Price increases have exceeded 46% compared to January last year. Financial experts caution that the rial’s rapid deterioration could create a destructive pattern of rising costs and diminished buying power. They predict Iran’s economy — already burdened by significant youth unemployment — will face substantial inflation for years ahead.
The currency’s dramatic decline helped spark demonstrations that started in late December at Tehran’s central marketplace before spreading across the nation.
Costs for daily necessities, including food and personal care items, are climbing rapidly.
Momeni reported earning approximately 700 million rial (roughly $540) monthly. Over just the past month, a kilogram of red meat jumped from 13 million rials ($10) to 22 million rials ($17). During the same timeframe, milk prices doubled from 520,000 rials to 1.1 million per liter, while pasta increased from 340,000 to 570,000 rials per box.
“Those with lower incomes and fixed salaries are suffering because of the price hikes,” said Farhad Panahirad, a 44-year-old taxi driver. He and his spouse together earn about 600 million rials monthly, he explained.
Multiple shoppers at Wednesday markets described their strategies for managing increasing financial strain — monitoring social media daily for current pricing information, or shopping during evening hours when some vendors reduce produce prices by half to clear inventory before spoilage.
With fears that U.S. strikes could happen without warning, Iranians are rushing to buy emergency provisions. This includes flashlights, portable gas stoves, and window tape for blast protection, according to a tool shop owner in central Iran who requested anonymity due to retaliation concerns.
Some attempt purchasing large quantities of beans, bread, rice and preserved foods despite elevated costs. “I am not happy to buy this much stuff, but my wife said we had to be prepared for uncertainty in the coming days,” said Saeed Ebrahimi, 43, an electrical technician and father of two.
Even household appliances like washing machines, vacuum cleaners, and refrigerators have seen prices double, Iranian media reports indicate.
Tehran economist Farbod Molavi noted in the independent Dona-e-Eghtesad publication that elevated prices stem from market uncertainty and increased raw material expenses. Iran faces both economic downturn and widespread joblessness, he noted.
Official unemployment reached around 7.8% in October, rising from 7.2% during the same 2024 period, with youth unemployment reaching 20%. Approximately 24 million citizens fall between ages 15 to 34, government data shows.
Recognizing public hardship, the government began distributing monthly payments of 10 million rials in January to roughly 70 million people, representing about 75% of the population, for food purchases. Officials have pledged to boost these payments if prices continue rising.
However, the economic pressure seems set to persist. Trump has warned of strikes against Iran unless it accepts a new agreement limiting its nuclear activities. He has assembled the region’s largest concentration of naval vessels and aircraft in decades. Both nations have completed two negotiation rounds recently, with a third scheduled for Thursday in Geneva.
Panahirad, the taxi driver, expressed doubt that negotiations will help those struggling to afford food. “(Trump) is bullying them, to some extent. After all, he is a superpower and says what he wishes must be done,” he said.
“Wherever you go now people are talking about war. If you go to a bakery to buy bread you see people talking about war,” said Momeni. “This state of limbo is worse than war.”
Agricultural producers across the country launched a coordinated telephone campaign Wednesday morning, targeting members of Congress with a unified demand for action on E15 ethanol fuel policy.
The corn farming community organized the phone blitz to pressure lawmakers into supporting year-round sales of E15, a gasoline blend containing 15% ethanol that is currently restricted during summer months.
Agricultural researchers are launching an extensive nationwide study designed to help corn farmers maximize their harvests through improved seed choices and farming practices.
According to a data analyst involved in the project, the expanded research initiative could provide valuable guidance to farmers looking to optimize their corn production. Jim Schwartz, who serves as director of research, agronomy, and PFR at Beck’s Hybrids, explained that experimental plots nationwide will evaluate 18 distinct management strategies for each corn hybrid variety.
“We’re looking at different nitrogen rates,” Schwartz stated, describing one aspect of the comprehensive testing program that aims to determine the most effective approaches for managing corn crops.
The research focuses on two critical areas that significantly impact farm profitability: selecting the right seed varieties and implementing optimal crop management techniques. The findings are expected to provide farmers with data-driven insights to enhance their corn yield performance across different growing conditions.
Rehoboth Beach officials announced they cannot provide a timeframe for when snow will be cleared from public street parking spaces as city workers focus on more urgent storm recovery tasks.
Municipal crews are currently prioritizing the removal of fallen trees, supporting Delmarva Power’s efforts to restore electricity, and providing assistance for the Polar Plunge event following the significant snowfall that hit the area.
City officials acknowledged the importance of street parking availability to residents and visitors, stating they will address snow removal from these areas once higher-priority storm response duties are completed.
The city expressed appreciation for residents’ understanding during recovery efforts from what they described as an unprecedented winter weather event.
The University of Delaware women’s tennis program is celebrating after one of its standout players received conference recognition this week.
Amelia Gorman has been selected as the Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week for the period ending February 25, officials announced Wednesday from the conference headquarters in Dallas.
The Blue Hens also claimed additional honors as Gorman partnered with teammate Navya Vadlamudi to secure the CUSA Women’s Tennis Doubles Athletes of the Week award.
The weekly recognition highlights the strong performance from Delaware’s tennis program as the spring season continues. Both individual and doubles achievements demonstrate the team’s competitive level within Conference USA play.
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s national legislature has given final approval to a plan that will gradually shorten the country’s standard work week from 48 to 40 hours over the next several years.
The constitutional amendment, championed by President Claudia Sheinbaum, received overwhelming support in the lower house early Wednesday morning, passing by a margin of 411 to 58. The upper chamber had already given its endorsement earlier this month.
The legislation now moves to Mexico’s state-level assemblies for final ratification, where Sheinbaum’s political party holds commanding majorities.
Rather than an immediate change, the new work schedule will be phased in over four years, cutting two hours annually starting in 2027 until reaching the 40-hour target in 2030. Legislators chose to keep the current structure of one rest day for every six work days, turning down a proposal that would have mandated two weekly rest days.
Government estimates suggest the policy shift will directly impact 13.5 million Mexican workers, though some experts believe the actual number could be significantly higher.
“The gradual implementation should help businesses adjust without hitting their finances,” said Oscar Ocampo from the Mexican Institute for Competitiveness.
The reform will align Mexico with workplace standards already adopted across much of Latin America, Europe, and Asia, where some nations are even testing shortened four-day work schedules.
WASHINGTON — During his inaugural State of the Union address, President Donald Trump painted a picture of economic prosperity with declining inflation and robust job creation, but polling data reveals Americans hold a far more pessimistic outlook on the nation’s financial health.
Just hours before Trump’s Tuesday evening speech, The Conference Board published consumer confidence data showing economic optimism remains at historically weak levels, hovering near the depths seen during the COVID-19 recession.
The February confidence index registered 91.2, significantly lower than the four-year high of 112.8 recorded in November 2024. Survey respondents expressed concern about elevated costs and limited employment opportunities.
Additional research supports these findings: Trump’s economic stewardship receives approval from only 39% of Americans, based on the most recent Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll. The University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment measurements also remain stuck at levels typically associated with economic downturns.
Trump attempted to counter this pessimism by highlighting positive economic indicators, a strategy previously employed unsuccessfully by President Joe Biden. However, Tuesday’s address contained discrepancies between presidential assertions and the financial realities confronting many citizens.
“Inflation is plummeting, incomes are rising fast, the roaring economy is roaring like never before,” Trump declared.
However, current economic expansion falls short of truly “roaring” growth patterns.
The economy grew 2.2% in the previous year, declining from Biden’s final year rate of 2.8% and 2023’s 2.9% expansion. While Americans expressed widespread frustration with Biden-era price increases that drove inflation to 9.1% in 2022 — a four-decade record — current growth remains modest.
Historical “roaring” economies typically resemble the late 1990s, when expansion exceeded 4% for four consecutive years, or the 1980s, which saw growth of 3.5% or higher for six straight years.
While inflation has decelerated recently, Americans continue identifying high prices as their primary economic concern in surveys.
Trump accurately stated that core inflation, excluding volatile food and energy sectors, reached a five-year low in January. Nevertheless, alternative price measurements indicate inflation remains persistently high: The Federal Reserve’s preferred core price gauge showed 3% year-over-year growth in December, exceeding the Fed’s 2% objective. This measure assigns less significance to housing costs, which have moderated, compared to Trump’s cited metric.
Nearly half of University of Michigan survey participants in February “spontaneously mentioned high prices eroding their personal finances,” according to survey director Joanne Hsu.
While Trump noted egg prices have dropped substantially from peak levels — which is accurate — most essential items Americans depend on, including groceries, housing, and utilities, cost significantly more than five years ago. Electricity prices alone increased 6.3% over the past year.
Trump’s trade tariffs have elevated costs for numerous imported goods, encompassing furniture, automotive components, tools, and clothing. Grocery items like ground beef, coffee, and bananas have experienced sharp price increases recently, with ground beef costs rising 17%.
Consumer pessimism likely stems partly from last year’s dramatic hiring slowdown. Employers created merely 181,000 positions in 2025 — approximately 15,000 monthly — marking the weakest job growth outside recession periods since 2002.
Despite Trump’s commitment to revitalizing American manufacturing, factories eliminated 108,000 positions in 2025, adding to the 202,000 jobs lost during Biden’s final two years. Automotive and parts manufacturing has shed nearly 74,000 positions over two years.
Trump’s tariffs bear partial responsibility, forcing manufacturers to pay premium prices for imported materials and components. High interest rates have also damaged manufacturing over recent years. Many companies hired extensively — perhaps excessively — during 2021 and 2022 as the economy recovered from pandemic restrictions. Automation additionally reduces factory workforce requirements.
January hiring showed unexpected strength with 130,000 new positions, and manufacturing added jobs for the first time in over a year.
Trump suggested his tariffs directly fuel American economic growth, though most citizens likely experience minimal benefits.
“Moving forward, factories, jobs, investment and trillions and trillions of dollars will continue pouring into the United States of America,” Trump stated.
Trump again portrayed tariffs as costless, claiming foreign nations pay them. Actually, U.S. importers pay these fees and frequently transfer costs to customers through higher prices. Foreign companies might suffer if they reduce prices to maintain American market share, but import prices haven’t decreased significantly, indicating overseas exporters aren’t experiencing substantial impact.
Harvard University economist Alberto Cavallo and colleagues found American consumers absorb 43% of increased tariff costs, with U.S. businesses covering most remaining expenses.
Trump’s comprehensive import taxes haven’t achieved meaningful progress toward reducing America’s substantial trade deficit — the difference between exports and imports.
The U.S. goods trade deficit in products like automobiles and appliances — the target of Trump’s protectionist measures — reached a record $1.24 trillion last year, increasing 2% from 2024.
A record-breaking $110 million has been spent on television advertisements and reserved airtime for Texas’ U.S. Senate primary contest, making it the most expensive Senate primary in American history according to advertising tracking company AdImpact.
The massive financial investment reflects the high-stakes battle between Democratic candidates James Talarico and U.S. Representative Jasmine Crockett, while Republican Senator John Cornyn fights to survive a primary challenge that could end his decades-long political career.
This unprecedented spending in the Lone Star State offers a glimpse of the enormous sums expected to flow into congressional races nationwide this year as both parties battle for control of the Senate.
On the Democratic side, Talarico has emerged as a fundraising powerhouse, collecting more than $21 million through last week’s reporting deadline. His opponent Crockett has brought in nearly $8.6 million, though most of that money came from transferring funds from her House campaign war chest after jumping into the Senate race in December, three months behind Talarico’s entry.
Talarico released his closing television advertisement Wednesday before Tuesday’s primary, taking aim at former President Trump’s immigration policies and characterizing Immigration and Customs Enforcement as “secret police.”
The ad’s aggressive tone marks a shift from Talarico’s earlier strategy of appealing to Republican voters by emphasizing his Christian beliefs and values.
“We can transform this broken political system,” Talarico declared at a campaign event Tuesday in Tyler, located in northeastern Texas where Trump won decisively in 2024.
Crockett has branded herself as the more combative candidate willing to take on tough fights.
Texas Democrats haven’t captured a Senate seat since 1988, but Cornyn faces his most challenging primary battle yet against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Representative Wesley Hunt.
Independent political organizations account for more than $75 million of the total spending, with the overwhelming majority supporting Republican candidates, AdImpact data shows.
Groups backing Cornyn’s quest for a fifth Senate term have invested nearly $57 million. The organization Texans for a Conservative Majority alone has poured over $22 million into negative advertisements targeting Hunt.
Cornyn’s official campaign has collected more than $11 million, while two additional organizations using his name have contributed another $10 million to his cause.
Political observers expect Paxton to advance to a May 26 runoff election despite running a relatively quiet campaign until recently and facing ongoing legal troubles.
Cornyn and Republican Senate leadership fear the party may need to invest tens of millions more to defend the Texas seat if Paxton becomes the nominee.
“It is a strong possibility we cannot hold Texas if John Cornyn is not our nominee,” Republican Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina warned Wednesday during an appearance on “Fox & Friends.”
Not all Republicans share that concern. Paxton attended President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday as the invited guest of Texas Republican Representative Troy Nehls.
Campaign finance reports show Paxton has raised approximately $6 million, while Hunt has collected about $2 million, plus roughly $3 million remaining in his House campaign account when he entered the Senate race in October.
The combined $19 million raised by all Republican candidates falls short of Talarico’s individual fundraising total, highlighting the critical role outside groups will play in helping the GOP maintain control of the seat.
Talarico received a significant financial windfall this month, with his campaign reporting $2.5 million in donations within 24 hours after late-night television host Stephen Colbert canceled a scheduled interview on February 16, citing concerns from CBS legal advisors.
During a recent campaign appearance, Crockett reminded supporters of her 2020 Texas House race where opponents outspent her campaign by a 5-to-1 margin before she won her current Dallas-area congressional seat two years later.
“People said, ‘There’s no way she’s going to win,’” Crockett said, becoming emotional. “I show up, authentically me. That makes some people cringe, but the people are tired of politics as usual.”
WASHINGTON — Days before critical nuclear negotiations are set to begin, the United States has levied fresh sanctions against Iran, targeting 30 individuals, businesses and vessels allegedly connected to the country’s weapons programs and illegal oil trade.
The penalties were announced Wednesday as President Donald Trump has deployed what officials describe as the most significant concentration of American naval and air power in the Middle East in recent decades, while maintaining the threat of military intervention to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Diplomatic talks involving U.S. representatives, including special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian officials are planned for Thursday in Geneva, with Oman serving as an intermediary.
The Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control rolled out restrictions against vessels it claims are part of Iran’s “shadow fleet” — aging tankers used to secretly transport oil for nations under heavy international sanctions.
The sanctions also strike at drone production facilities, notably Qods Aviation Industries, which according to Treasury officials has provided unmanned aircraft “to all branches of the Iranian military and buyers in Africa and Latin America.”
These financial restrictions block access to any American-held assets and prohibit U.S. businesses and individuals from conducting transactions with the sanctioned entities. However, their practical impact may be limited since many targets likely have minimal ties to American financial institutions.
“Treasury will continue to put maximum pressure on Iran to target the regime’s weapons capabilities and support for terrorism, which it has prioritized over the lives of the Iranian people,” Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a statement.
The Trump administration maintains that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons capability, escalating pressure following American military strikes in June against three Iranian nuclear facilities.
Iranian officials have consistently stated their nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes. Prior to the June attacks, the nation had been processing uranium to 60% purity — just a technical step away from the 90% enrichment level needed for weapons.
“We wiped it out and they want to start all over again. And they’re at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions,” Trump said during his State of the Union speech Tuesday night. “We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: We will never have a nuclear weapon.”
Federal agents executed search warrants Wednesday at both the Los Angeles Unified School District’s main offices and the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as part of an active federal investigation.
A source with knowledge of the investigation confirmed to The Associated Press that FBI officials carried out the warrant searches Wednesday, though they requested anonymity to discuss the ongoing probe. Authorities have not revealed what specific allegations or criminal activity they are investigating.
Neither the school district nor Carvalho’s office provided immediate responses to requests for comment about the federal action.
Television news cameras captured footage of federal agents wearing FBI identification outside Carvalho’s residence in San Pedro, a neighborhood located approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles. By mid-morning, no agents were visible at the district’s main administrative building.
Los Angeles Unified serves as the country’s second-largest school system, educating more than 500,000 students across over two dozen municipalities throughout the region.
Carvalho assumed leadership of the district in February 2022. Prior to his Los Angeles appointment, he led Miami-Dade County Public Schools—Florida’s largest district—for 13 years from 2008 to 2021, where he earned recognition for boosting graduation rates and student achievement.
Ukrainian officials revealed Wednesday that Russian forces have deceived more than 1,700 African citizens into joining their military campaign, according to Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
During a joint press conference with Ghana’s foreign minister in Kyiv, Sybiha disclosed that Ukrainian intelligence shows 1,780 African nationals are currently serving in Russia’s military ranks. These fighters represent citizens from 36 nations across the African continent.
“We clearly see that Russia is trying to drag African citizens into a deadly war,” Sybiha stated during the briefing. He indicated that Ukrainian officials are working with African governments to combat these recruitment schemes.
Ghana’s Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described the African fighters as victims of elaborate deception, explaining they were targeted through dark web platforms with promises of legitimate employment opportunities.
“They have no security background. They have no military background. They have not been trained,” Ablakwa explained. “They were just lured and deceived, and then put on the frontlines.”
Russian officials have previously rejected allegations of illegally recruiting African nationals for military service. However, documented cases of African men being misled with job offers only to end up in combat zones have increased significantly in recent months, straining diplomatic relationships between Moscow and several African nations.
Ablakwa expressed Ghana’s support for Ukraine and advocated for a ceasefire to end the conflict, which reached its fourth anniversary on Tuesday. He also announced plans to request Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s assistance in securing the release of two Ghanaian prisoners of war captured while fighting for Russian forces.
As Ghana prepares to lead the African Union next year, Ablakwa pledged to implement awareness campaigns designed to expose trafficking networks that deceive Africans into joining Russian military operations.
WASHINGTON – A prominent Democratic senator is pushing the House of Representatives to schedule another vote on aviation safety legislation that came up just one vote short of passage despite Pentagon resistance.
The House cast ballots with 264 members supporting and 133 opposing the ROTOR Act on Wednesday. The legislation had previously received unanimous approval from the Senate in December. The bill was drafted in response to a tragic mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional aircraft and an Army Black Hawk helicopter in Washington D.C. airspace that resulted in 67 fatalities. Senator Maria Cantwell is advocating for the House to hold another vote on the measure.
Because the legislation was considered under expedited procedures, it required approval from two-thirds of House members to advance – missing that threshold by a single vote.
Vancouver Whitecaps have locked in two crucial players for the long term, announcing new contract extensions for defender Tristan Blackmon and midfielder Andres Cubas.
Blackmon, who captured the 2025 MLS Defender of the Year award, has committed to stay with the club through the 2029-30 campaign.
Meanwhile, Cubas has agreed to terms that will keep him in Vancouver through 2027-28, with the midfielder no longer taking up a designated player roster spot.
The 29-year-old Blackmon enjoyed a standout campaign last season, earning both All-Star recognition and a spot on the Best XI team as Vancouver made impressive runs to both the MLS Cup and Concacaf Champions Cup championship matches.
Throughout his MLS career spanning time with Los Angeles FC from 2018-2021 and now Vancouver, Blackmon has contributed seven goals and seven assists across 173 league appearances.
“Since the day he arrived, Tristan has consistently pushed himself and grown into one of the league’s top defenders,” sporting director Axel Schuster said. “He has delivered countless memorable moments for our club, and we are excited to extend his contract and continue building together here in Vancouver.”
Cubas, also 29 years old, has tallied one goal and three assists over 97 MLS appearances since arriving at the Whitecaps in 2022.
“Andres embodies everything we value in our group,” Schuster said. “He is driven, relentless in his work ethic, and a true leader in our locker room, setting the standard for our younger players. On the pitch, he has been integral to our success and ranks among the very best in the league at his position.”
Both players bring international experience to the club, with Cubas earning 32 appearances for Paraguay’s national team and Blackmon having represented the United States Men’s National Team twice.
Armed militants carried out deadly coordinated strikes on two Nigerian villages Tuesday evening, leaving at least 25 people dead and multiple homes destroyed, according to local officials and witnesses.
The simultaneous assaults targeted Kirchinga village in Madagali district and Garaha in the neighboring Hong area, both located in Adamawa State in northeastern Nigeria. These communities sit along the borders of Sambisa Forest, a known stronghold for Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province militants.
Village leader Abubakar Lawan Kanuri from Kirchinga explained to Reuters that the attackers wore military clothing when they arrived Tuesday night, causing residents to initially believe they were government troops conducting routine patrols. Following the assault on his community, authorities recovered 18 bodies.
The second attack in Garaha claimed seven lives when militants riding more than 50 motorcycles descended on the village and launched an assault on a nearby military installation, according to local resident Musa Isa, who said he “narrowly escaped” the violence.
Isa described how the attackers approached from multiple angles before striking the military facility, where they killed three soldiers. Four civilians attempting to flee were also shot dead, and militants set fire to a local school. Many survivors have since evacuated to Mubi, the closest major town.
Adamawa State’s Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri issued a strong condemnation of the violence through his spokesperson, calling the incidents “cowardly acts of terrorism.” The governor pledged not to “let terrorists undermine our efforts to restore peace and stability” in the region.
These latest attacks underscore the persistent security threats facing northeastern Nigeria, which has remained the center of a 17-year Islamic extremist insurgency despite ongoing military operations aimed at restoring stability to the area.
SALISBURY, Md. – Two standout players from Salisbury University’s women’s basketball team have received top recognition from the Coast-to-Coast Conference for their exceptional performance both on the court and in the classroom.
Nicole Miller has been honored with the prestigious Scholar-Athlete of the Year award while also earning a place on the All-Conference First Team. Her teammate Abby Plaugher joined Miller on the First Team, giving the Sea Gulls a pair of players among the conference’s elite.
The dual recognition highlights the program’s success in developing student-athletes who excel academically while competing at the highest level of collegiate basketball. Miller’s Scholar-Athlete honor particularly emphasizes her ability to balance rigorous academic demands with athletic excellence.
The Coast-to-Coast Conference selections recognize the top performers from member institutions across the region, making these honors a significant achievement for the Salisbury women’s basketball program.
Pittsburgh Penguins star Sidney Crosby faces at least a month on the sidelines after sustaining a lower-body injury while representing Canada at the Winter Olympics, the team announced Wednesday.
The injury occurred during last Wednesday’s quarter-final match in Milan when the 38-year-old captain collided with Czech defender Radko Gudas. Crosby was forced to leave the game during the second period and did not return to action.
The veteran forward, who delivered Canada’s overtime victory in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics and later led his nation to back-to-back gold medals in Sochi, was unable to participate in Canada’s semi-final victory against Finland. He also sat out the championship game, which Canada lost in overtime to the United States, though he appeared on ice in uniform for the medal ceremony.
This marked the first Winter Olympics to include NHL talent since 2014. Various obstacles had previously prevented league participation, including financial concerns over insurance and travel expenses, worries about schedule conflicts, injury risks to star players, and pandemic-related complications.
Selected first overall by Pittsburgh in the 2005 NHL Draft, Crosby has captured three Stanley Cup titles with the Penguins. His individual honors include two Conn Smythe Trophies for playoff excellence and two Hart Memorial Trophies as the league’s most valuable player.
Agricultural chemicals giant Corteva announced Wednesday that it plans to complete its previously disclosed company division by the fourth quarter of 2024, creating two separate publicly traded entities.
The corporation revealed late in 2023 that it intended to divide its seed operations from its pesticide divisions in an effort to create more focused strategic direction for each business segment.
Speaking at the BofA Global Agriculture and Materials Conference, Corteva’s Chief Executive Chuck Magro indicated that the company will reveal the headquarters locations, top management teams, and chief executive officer for the restructured Corteva during the first six months of 2024.
Company leadership expressed confidence about the crop protection sector’s outlook, pointing to consistent demand increases and opportunities for additional industry consolidation.
“We’re seeing strong demand, essentially around the world, but there’s going to be some continued headwinds, in price, but volume should more than offset it,” a senior executive stated during the conference presentation.
The agricultural company maintains a $9 billion crop protection development pipeline, featuring six active compounds and additional biological products scheduled for market introduction in the coming timeframe.
“So the set up for our business is really strong,” the executive added.
According to Corteva, favorable policy developments in the United States may provide benefits not only for the domestic soybean industry but also for canola and mustard crop markets.
Attorneys representing close to 20,000 individuals who filed lawsuits against Bayer regarding alleged harm from its Roundup herbicide asked a Missouri court Wednesday to postpone consideration of the German corporation’s massive $7.25 billion nationwide settlement proposal. The legal teams contend that expediting the process would harm the rights of numerous cancer patients and their loved ones.
According to court documents filed in St. Louis state court, the lawyers stated the settlement agreement should not receive expedited treatment for potential preliminary approval scheduled for March 4, just fifteen days following the settlement announcement.
This legal challenge represents the first significant coordinated opposition to Bayer’s efforts to settle the majority of approximately 65,000 outstanding Roundup litigation cases pending in both state and federal courtrooms across the nation.
Most dairy commodity values climbed Wednesday during trading sessions at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, with several key products posting notable increases.
Dry whey maintained its position at $0.6375 per pound with no trading activity recorded at that level. Forty-pound blocks of cheese gained $0.0425 to reach $1.6025, supported by two transactions at $1.58 and $1.59. Cheese barrels experienced a stronger rise of $0.0700 to settle at $1.56, though no actual sales occurred at that price point.
Butter values advanced $0.0225 to $1.8350 per pound without any recorded transactions. Nonfat dry milk also increased by $0.0225 to finish at $1.6725, with two sales completed at the $1.67 level.
The upward movement in dairy commodities reflects ongoing market dynamics affecting milk product pricing nationwide.
New Castle County police have taken a suspect into custody after a violent early morning attack involving a hatchet left a young man seriously injured in the Bellefonte neighborhood.
The incident unfolded around 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, when law enforcement officers were dispatched to the 500 block of Maple Avenue following reports of someone being hurt. Emergency responders arrived to discover a 20-year-old man suffering from a severe, gaping laceration.
The New Castle County Division of Police confirmed that an arrest has been made in connection with the assault, though additional details about the suspect and circumstances surrounding the attack have not yet been released.
The investigation into this violent incident remains ongoing as authorities work to piece together what led to the hatchet assault in the residential area.
After a milder stretch this weekend, another potential system could bring a renewed chance of wintry weather to the Delmarva region early next week.
In the wake of Thursday night’s system, temperatures will moderate across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore. Highs are expected to climb into the 40s Friday through Sunday, with some locations possibly reaching the lower 50s on Saturday.
This brief warmup should help melt portions of the existing snowpack across the region, especially in areas that received measurable snowfall earlier this week.
A cold front is expected to sweep through later Sunday, ushering colder air back into Delmarva just as we head into the start of the new week.
Forecast guidance suggests a wave of low pressure may ride eastward along this boundary on Monday. With fresh cold air in place, this setup could support another round of wintry precipitation.
However, confidence remains low at this time. Not all forecast models show a well-developed system. Some solutions depict a weaker and drier disturbance with limited impacts, while others suggest a more organized system capable of producing more widespread precipitation.
If the system does materialize, it currently appears more likely to be a typical winter event rather than a major storm. At this stage, there are no indications of a significant or high-impact system for Delmarva.
We will continue to monitor model trends over the coming days as details regarding track, timing, and precipitation type become clearer.
Stay tuned for updates as we move closer to early next week.
Harvard University will lose one of its prominent faculty members as Larry Summers, who previously served as U.S. Treasury Secretary, plans to step down from his teaching position when the current academic year concludes, according to a Wednesday report from the New York Times.
The departure comes as Harvard continues to grapple with ongoing controversy surrounding Summers’ past associations with Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased financier who faced conviction on sex trafficking charges.
Summers’ decision to leave the prestigious university marks another chapter in the extended repercussions stemming from various academic and business leaders’ connections to Epstein, whose criminal activities have continued to impact institutions and individuals even after his death in federal custody.
For one agricultural broadcaster, the iconic blue corduroy jacket represents far more than professional expertise—it symbolizes a deep family tradition spanning four generations. This media professional wore the distinctive FFA uniform during high school, continuing a legacy established by their sister, father, and grandfather before them.
The broadcaster’s involvement with the Future Farmers of America extended beyond high school, participating as a collegiate member at Western University. This personal experience with the organization provides authentic perspective when covering agricultural topics and youth development stories.
The journey from student agriculture enthusiast to professional communicator demonstrates how FFA membership can create pathways to diverse career opportunities while maintaining strong connections to farming communities and agricultural advancement.
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Penguins face a significant challenge in their quest for the playoffs as they’ll be without their star player Sidney Crosby.
On Wednesday, the team announced they’ve added their veteran captain to the injured reserve list. Crosby suffered a lower-body injury while competing for Team Canada at the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
The veteran forward was injured during the second period of Canada’s quarterfinal victory against Czechia. While Canadian officials initially hoped their captain could return to action, Crosby remained sidelined for both the semifinal victory over Sweden and the championship game defeat to the United States.
While Crosby must sit out a minimum of one week, team officials expect his absence will likely extend well beyond that timeframe.
The timing couldn’t be more challenging for Pittsburgh, as the team currently sits in second place within the Metropolitan Division. The Penguins are working toward their first playoff appearance since the 2022 season.
This season, Crosby has delivered his trademark excellence on the ice. He tops Pittsburgh’s roster with 27 goals, 32 assists, and 59 total points, maintaining his remarkable streak of averaging at least one point per game — a record that now spans 21 consecutive seasons.
The injury creates additional pressure as Pittsburgh faces a demanding schedule following the Olympic break. The team returns to action Thursday night at home against New Jersey, beginning a grueling stretch of 13 games over just 24 days.
MILAN (AP) — Maria Grazia Chiuri unveiled her inaugural collection as Fendi’s creative director during Milan Fashion Week on Wednesday, presenting a cold-weather lineup that ranged from practical daily wear to luxurious evening pieces, with fur-heavy outerwear taking center stage.
The runway show attracted numerous celebrities, with Uma Thurman sporting a timeless white shirt beneath a dark jacket and Jessica Alba wearing a double-breasted suit. Their outfits mirrored styles featured in the collection.
Also attending were Dakota Fanning and Monica Bellucci, alongside several K-pop celebrities, including Fendi brand ambassador Bang Chan. Outside the venue, hundreds of K-pop enthusiasts gathered with handmade posters and artwork of their beloved performers, while roughly a dozen anti-fur demonstrators protested across the street.
Founded a hundred years ago in Rome as a fur and leather goods company, Fendi showcased its traditional fur expertise throughout the collection, displaying everything from bomber jackets to patchwork coats. Delicate fur trim enhanced silk dresses and transparent beaded evening wear, while fur-lined hoods decorated parkas and luxurious collars topped trench coats.
The show opened with dark blazers and overcoats styled over pants, relaxed dresses, and see-through lace pieces. Lace patterns appeared on laser-cut leather garments, paired with crisp white collars and delicate bracelets.
Brief appearances of bohemian floral designs and a transparent Art Deco-inspired dress added variety, while touches of denim and animal patterns broke up the predominantly black and navy color scheme.
Chiuri’s debut ranked among the most eagerly awaited during this Milan Fashion Week, which focused primarily on women’s collections. Her fashion journey began at Fendi as a handbag designer before she became co-creative director at Valentino and later creative director at Dior.
The recent wave of creative director changes in European fashion has been predominantly male-led, with Chiuri joining a select group of women assuming leadership roles at major fashion houses. This group includes Louise Trotter, presenting her second Bottega Veneta collection, and Meryll Rogge, making her Marni debut this week.
Silvia Venturini Fendi, who stepped down from her creative director position last fall, occupied a front-row seat for Wednesday’s presentation.
“It’s very moving,” Venturini Fendi commented, noting that until this season she had always been working behind the scenes during shows. “It’s the first time I have watched a Fendi runway show.”
Wednesday’s livestock trading activity remained sluggish across cattle markets, with buyers and sellers yet to establish clear price parameters. Industry observers expect meaningful trading volumes won’t materialize until later in the week, likely Thursday or Friday.
Boxed beef values showed upward momentum during midday trading, with Choice grade cuts climbing $1.92 to reach $379.35 per hundredweight. Select grade beef also posted gains, advancing 75 cents to $366.76. The price differential between Choice and Select grades currently stands at $12.59.
Norway’s 89-year-old King Harald V will spend several additional days in a Spanish hospital while doctors treat a skin infection on his leg, according to his physician.
The monarch was hospitalized Tuesday evening while vacationing with Queen Sonja on Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands, just days after celebrating his 89th birthday. His personal physician, Bjørn Bendz, flew to the island Wednesday to oversee his care.
In a palace statement, Bendz reported that the king’s overall condition remains good and he is showing positive response to infection treatment. However, the doctor emphasized the need for continued hospital care over the coming days.
“It’s always serious when people nearing 90 are admitted for treatment to an infection,” Bendz explained, adding that medical staff want to thoroughly assess Harald’s health before release, “even though his condition is stable now.”
This marks another health challenge for the Norwegian ruler, who experienced medical issues during a 2022 vacation in Malaysia. During that trip, he required emergency pacemaker surgery and was transported back to Norway via medical aircraft for a permanent device.
Harald has served as Norway’s king since taking the throne in 1991. His current hospitalization occurs during a difficult period for Norway’s royal family.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, wife of heir Crown Prince Haakon, has recently faced renewed questions about her past connections to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Additionally, Mette-Marit’s son from an earlier relationship is currently facing trial in Oslo on serious criminal charges, including allegations of rape.
TORONTO — Canadian officials announced Wednesday they will provide $8 million Canadian dollars (approximately $6.7 million USD) in humanitarian food assistance to Cuba, as the Caribbean nation grapples with a deepening fuel shortage that has disrupted oil deliveries due to U.S. economic pressure.
Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand stated she has not coordinated this aid decision with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio or other American officials.
“This is Canadian foreign policy,” Anand explained. “We are focused on the humanitarian situation.”
The assistance will be distributed through United Nations organizations rather than directly to Cuban government officials.
For over a year, Global Affairs Canada has issued travel advisories warning of “shortages of basic necessities, including food, medicine and fuel” throughout most of Cuba.
The island nation is experiencing a worsening energy emergency that has intensified in recent weeks after oil deliveries from Venezuela, Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, stopped when the U.S. took action against the South American nation in early January and detained its former leader. Mexico, another key oil provider, subsequently halted its shipments under American pressure.
Aviation fuel shortages on the island have forced Air Canada and other carriers to cancel flights to the Caribbean destination.
Cuban tourism depends heavily on Canadian visitors, and Canada ranks as the island’s second-largest source of foreign investment, especially in mining and tourism industries, according to Global Affairs Canada.
Mexico has dispatched a second round of humanitarian supplies to Cuba. Two Mexican naval ships carrying 1,193 tons of aid left the port of Veracruz on Tuesday and are scheduled to reach Cuba on Saturday, the Mexican Foreign Ministry reported.
The vessel Papaloapan is transporting 1,078 tons of beans and milk powder, while the Huasteco carries 92 tons of beans and 23 tons of additional food supplies. The remaining 23 tons of humanitarian goods were donated by various social groups with assistance from Mexico City’s government, according to ministry officials.
In February, Mexico delivered over 814 tons of food and hygiene items to Cuba while diplomatic discussions continued about restarting oil deliveries. These petroleum shipments ceased in mid-January, shortly before President Donald Trump announced a substantial strengthening of the economic embargo against Havana.
Cuba’s economic difficulties, ongoing since 2020, have been worsened by increased U.S. sanctions designed to pressure changes in the island’s government system. These restrictions have created critical supply shortages and widespread power outages that reached their worst point in early 2026.
Since Cuba only produces 40% of its fuel needs domestically, the nation remains extremely susceptible to external supply disruptions. Although strong allies including Russia and China have criticized the U.S. actions, their assistance has been mostly symbolic so far.
The gaming communication platform Discord has pushed back its controversial age verification system until the second half of 2026 after facing intense criticism from users worried about privacy concerns.
In a Tuesday blog post, Discord’s Chief Technology Officer and co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy admitted the company “missed the mark” with its original proposal and acknowledged user concerns about data collection.
“Many of you are worried that this is just another Big Tech company finding new ways to collect your personal data. That we’re creating a problem to justify invasive solutions,” Vishnevskiy wrote. “I get that skepticism. It’s earned, not just toward us, but toward the entire tech industry. But that’s not what we’re doing.”
The platform, which boasts over 200 million active users worldwide, had initially planned to launch the verification system in March. The proposal included facial scanning technology or requiring users to upload government identification for those whose ages couldn’t be automatically determined.
User outrage intensified after a recent data breach involving a third-party vendor that Discord previously worked with, which exposed government ID photos belonging to as many as 70,000 platform users.
Vishnevskiy addressed the security incident in his statement, noting that Discord no longer partners with that vendor and has implemented stricter security measures for all third-party relationships.
“Every vendor we work with goes through a security and privacy review before integration,” he wrote. “That includes contractual limits on data use, and strict retention and deletion requirements. Information submitted for age verification is stored only for the minimum time necessary, which in most cases means it’s deleted immediately. If a vendor doesn’t pass, we don’t work with them.”
Among the companies that failed to meet Discord’s requirements was Persona, an identity verification service that underwent limited testing in the United Kingdom during January. According to Vishnevskiy, Persona couldn’t satisfy Discord’s requirement that facial age estimation “must be performed entirely on-device, meaning your biometric data never leaves your phone.”
The partnership with Persona also drew criticism due to its backing by Founders Fund, the venture capital firm led by Palantir Technologies co-founder Peter Thiel. Critics often target Thiel and Palantir for the company’s government surveillance contracts, including a recent deal with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for deportation operations.
Rick Song, Persona’s co-founder and CEO, disputed Discord’s characterization of his company’s capabilities in a LinkedIn statement, claiming Discord made “untrue” statements about Persona’s age verification technology.
“I’m fine if they don’t want to use us. I’m not okay with them publicly saying untrue things about our age assurance technologies to try to shift responsibility away from their own decisions,” he wrote. “Doing so further erodes trust.”
Despite the controversy, Vishnevskiy emphasized that the verification system would affect a small minority of users, with “90%+ of users” experiencing no changes to their experience.
The platform can automatically determine most users’ ages through various account indicators, including account longevity, payment method information, server memberships, and general usage patterns. Vishnevskiy stressed that Discord doesn’t examine private messages, analyze conversations, or review account content for age estimation purposes.
For users whose ages cannot be automatically determined, Discord is now developing additional verification options beyond facial scanning and ID submission, including credit card verification. The company plans to “complete and expand” these alternatives before implementing the new system.
Users who decline age verification will retain access to their accounts, servers, friend lists, direct messages, and voice chat features, but won’t be able to view age-restricted content or modify certain safety settings designed to protect younger users.
Moving forward, Discord has committed to publishing detailed information about its automatic age determination processes and maintaining public documentation of all verification vendors and their practices on its website.
WASHINGTON — During Tuesday evening’s State of the Union address, President Donald Trump spotlighted his administration’s border security achievements, declaring that migrant arrivals at the southern border have dramatically decreased following his January 2025 inauguration.
However, the president largely avoided discussing the controversial aftermath of federal enforcement actions in cities including Minneapolis and Chicago, where local communities have protested against federal agents’ methods. The Minneapolis operation in January resulted in the fatal shootings of two American citizens, sparking significant public backlash and broader criticism of how immigration authorities are executing the Republican president’s directives.
“Today our border is secure,” Trump declared to Congress during his Tuesday evening remarks. “We now have the strongest and most secure border in American history by far. In the past nine months, zero illegal aliens have been admitted to the United States.”
Immigration policy has remained Trump’s cornerstone political issue and played a crucial role in securing his 2024 electoral victory. His initial year back in the Oval Office brought dramatic enforcement overhauls and billions in additional funding for agencies implementing his policies. These changes are fundamentally altering enforcement practices for Trump’s remaining presidency, affecting everything from detention numbers to asylum approval rates.
An examination of six critical immigration metrics reveals how his administration has performed.
Throughout Joe Biden’s presidency, Republican lawmakers consistently characterized migrant flows at the U.S.-Mexico border as a crisis they attributed to Democratic policies.
Illegal border crossing arrests peaked at nearly 250,000 in December 2023 before beginning to decline during Biden’s final months in office.
December 2024, Biden’s last complete month as president, saw approximately 46,000 arrests. By February 2025, that figure dropped below 8,000 and has remained at similar or lower levels since. January’s total reached 6,070.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement announced a transformed enforcement approach, eliminating previous restrictions on who could be detained and deported. This policy shift led to a dramatic increase in ICE apprehensions.
December 2024 saw ICE record 8,507 arrests. Throughout 2025, numbers climbed to 17,000 by February, approached 30,000 by June, and hit 32,771 by September, based on University of California, Berkeley’s Deportation Data Project research analyzed by The Associated Press. The most recent data release covered mid-October, preceding the Minneapolis operation.
Rising arrest numbers have correspondingly increased the immigrant population housed in ICE’s nationwide detention network.
The Department of Homeland Security received $45 billion to construct, purchase, or lease additional facilities for detained immigrants awaiting deportation.
ICE publishes detention population data biweekly. These figures change daily as individuals enter the system or are released through bond arrangements — now increasingly uncommon — or deportation.
December 2024 average daily detention populations stayed just below 40,000 individuals. Under Trump’s leadership, these numbers have risen sharply. February figures reached 70,000 people. With current ICE funding, the agency could potentially detain approximately 100,000 immigrants or more.
ICE has embarked on extensive spending following its $45 billion congressional allocation for enhanced immigration enforcement and border security. The agency is actively seeking additional detention space through rental or purchase agreements and collaborating with conservative states to establish facilities with distinctive names like “Alligator Alcatraz” and “Speedway Slammer.”
Approximately $30 billion will fund hiring 10,000 additional deportation officers. Another $46 billion supports completing Trump’s first-term border wall project. Additional funds support hiring more Customs and Border Protection personnel and strengthening immigration court systems.
Asylum seekers arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border have increased substantially in recent years, creating enormous immigration court backlogs.
These individuals are experiencing higher case rejection rates under the current Trump administration.
Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse data shows asylum application denial rates ranged from 40% to 60% before Trump’s initial presidency. Rejection rates increased annually during his first term before declining under Biden’s administration.
However, the data indicates asylum denial rates surged 22.5% during Trump’s second term’s first year.
The Trump administration consistently describes its mass deportation operations as targeting immigrants with criminal records or those posing public safety risks, labeling them “the worst of the worst.”
Yet Deportation Data Project information reveals the percentage of ICE arrests involving individuals with criminal histories has steadily decreased.
Prior to Trump’s inauguration, approximately 86% of ICE arrests involved people with criminal backgrounds — meaning they had been convicted or charged with U.S. crimes beyond illegal entry, which constitutes a civil violation.
This percentage has declined, with mid-October data showing about 55% had criminal backgrounds while 45% did not. Critics note that criminal arrests don’t necessarily indicate serious felonies like murder, often involving minor offenses such as shoplifting.
This trend partly reflects increased collateral arrests by immigration enforcement. When ICE targets specific individuals with criminal records, officers can arrest others encountered who are in the country illegally.
Traditionally, most ICE arrests involved transfers from state or local correctional facilities. While ICE continues this practice, the Trump administration has implemented additional arrest strategies. These include workplace raids and targeting individuals attending immigration court hearings or routine agency check-ins.
Federal lawmakers are pushing to stop the Department of Homeland Security from purchasing and using a controversial full-body restraint system following revelations about its deployment during deportation operations.
Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, a Democrat from Illinois, introduced the “Full-Body Restraint Prohibition Act” in the House Wednesday, which would block future acquisitions of the device known as the WRAP and establish new oversight measures.
Ramirez referenced an Associated Press investigation that uncovered multiple instances where U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement used the restraint system on individuals during deportation flights, sometimes for extended periods, in cases dating back to 2020.
“The WRAP fuels destruction in our communities and human suffering. This legislation is an additional step to end the pain and violence caused by DHS,” Ramirez said in a statement.
The restraint system, manufactured by California company Safe Restraints Inc., has become the focus of multiple federal court cases, with plaintiffs arguing its improper use constitutes punishment or torture. Civil rights advocates worry that ICE isn’t properly documenting WRAP usage as mandated by federal regulations governing use of force, creating challenges in determining how many people have been subjected to the restraints.
Beyond ICE’s deployment of the device, the Associated Press discovered twelve fatalities over the past ten years involving local police and jail officials using the WRAP, with medical examiners concluding that “restraint” contributed to the deaths.
The Department of Homeland Security has not provided detailed responses to Associated Press inquiries about WRAP usage and did not comment on the proposed legislation.
The investigation revealed that ICE continued using the device even after a 2023 internal report from DHS’s civil rights division raised concerns, partly based on fatality reports involving the WRAP’s use by local law enforcement. Ramirez also referenced Bloomberg Law reporting on the restraint system.
Federal procurement documents indicate DHS has paid Safe Restraints Inc. $268,523 from when purchases began in late 2015 during the Obama presidency through June 2025. Government records show the Trump administrations accounted for approximately 91% of that expenditure.
Company CEO Charles Hammond defended the device, stating the WRAP was created to offer a “safer, more humane, pain-free alternative to other restraint methods.”
“Eliminating The WRAP from these situations would not lead to safer outcomes; it would force the return to alternative restraints and tactics proven to cause pain, injury and even fatalities,” Hammond said.
Hammond explained that his company developed a specialized version for ICE, with modifications designed to accommodate use during flights and extended bus transportation.
However, the Associated Press found that ICE personnel deploy the WRAP under circumstances that fall well below the manufacturer’s recommended guidelines. Detained individuals who spoke with the Associated Press described officers applying the restraints after they were already shackled, claiming this occurred to intimidate or punish them for requesting legal counsel or expressing concerns about deportation to countries they had fled due to violence and persecution.
Hammond acknowledged to the Associated Press that if individuals were not acting violently and were only voicing protests, placing them in the WRAP might constitute inappropriate usage.
Following the October Associated Press investigation, eleven Democratic senators sent correspondence to senior immigration officials, referencing the reporting and stating that ICE’s deployment of full-body restraints during deportation flights raises “serious human rights concerns.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio touched down in the Caribbean nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis on Wednesday to meet with regional leaders expressing alarm over Cuba’s worsening conditions and potential regional fallout.
The discussions come as the Trump administration has cut off oil deliveries to Cuba, intensifying pressure on the island nation following the January 3 removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who had been a crucial Cuban supporter.
During his visit, Rubio participated in a private session with CARICOM, the 15-member Caribbean organization plus five associate members, and scheduled individual meetings with regional officials to address migration control and anti-drug trafficking efforts.
The Secretary’s Caribbean trip followed his attendance at the State of the Union address, where President Trump declared he was “restoring American security and dominance in the Western Hemisphere” and highlighted the military operation that captured Maduro while eliminating Cuban forces protecting him.
The administration has warned of potential tariff increases against countries that supply energy to Cuba, while encouraging Cuban leadership to negotiate an agreement that could prevent further humanitarian deterioration.
Prior to Rubio’s visit, Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness urged CARICOM to coordinate a unified response to Cuba’s crisis. Though Cuba isn’t a CARICOM member, it maintains relationships with the organization and has historically provided medical professionals and educators to neighboring nations. The U.S. is also pressuring countries to end participation in Cuba’s medical exchange program, which generates revenue for the Cuban government.
“Humanitarian suffering serves no one. Apart from our fraternal care and solidarity with the Cuban people, it must be clear that a prolonged crisis in Cuba will not remain confined to Cuba. It will affect migration, security and economic security across the Caribbean basin,” Holness stated Tuesday, advocating for “constructive dialogue between Cuba and the United States aimed at de-escalation, reform and stability.”
Saint Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister Terrance Drew, hosting the gathering, emphasized CARICOM’s potential role as a mediator in Cuba’s future. “A destabilized Cuba will destabilize all of us,” Drew warned.
RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazil’s Supreme Court delivered unanimous guilty verdicts Wednesday against five men connected to the 2018 murder of human rights activist and city councilwoman Marielle Franco, along with her driver Anderson Gomes, in Rio de Janeiro.
The four-justice panel determined that former Representative Chiquinho Brazao and his brother Domingos Brazao, who served on Rio de Janeiro state’s audit court, masterminded Franco’s killing to prevent her and her political allies from interfering with their unlawful land acquisition operations.
Franco, a 38-year-old Black lesbian progressive politician from Rio’s impoverished neighborhoods, had become a prominent figure in Brazil’s Socialism and Liberty Party. Her assassination sent shockwaves through Rio de Janeiro and triggered national and international condemnation, even in a city accustomed to violent crime.
This verdict concludes an eight-year legal battle to hold accountable those responsible for Franco’s high-profile murder in a nation where many homicides remain unsolved.
The Brazao siblings, who wielded significant political influence in Rio de Janeiro, accumulated substantial wealth through fraudulent schemes that seized government property in the city’s western districts for private development ventures.
The court also found Rivaldo Barbosa, who headed Rio’s police force at the time, guilty of obstructing the investigation. Two additional defendants received convictions for participating in the criminal enterprise. Each of the five men maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings.
Franco and Gomes died in a hail of bullets while sitting in her vehicle following a community gathering on March 14, 2018. The gunmen responsible for the shooting, former police officers Ronnie Lessa and Elcio de Queiroz, admitted guilt and received lengthy prison terms.
Authorities apprehended the Brazao brothers in 2024 after Lessa identified them as the architects of the double homicide while cooperating with prosecutors under a plea agreement.
A new warning from Goldman Sachs reveals that artificial intelligence technology could significantly increase unemployment across the United States this year, as major corporations continue eliminating positions in favor of automated systems.
According to Goldman Sachs economists, AI technology was responsible for between 5,000 and 10,000 monthly job eliminations in the most vulnerable U.S. industries during the previous year. The technology also contributed to 7 percent of all planned workforce reductions announced in January.
The following companies have announced significant layoffs connected to AI implementation since October:
Polish media company Agora announced plans in December to eliminate up to 166 positions, representing 6.56 percent of its staff, as part of digital business improvements.
German insurance giant Allianz intends to eliminate up to 1,800 positions in its travel insurance operations as artificial intelligence replaces human-performed tasks, according to a source familiar with the strategy who spoke to Reuters in November.
Technology leader Amazon confirmed 16,000 corporate position eliminations on January 28, while indicating additional cuts remain possible as the company pursues efficiency improvements through AI integration.
Design software company Autodesk announced on January 22 it would eliminate approximately 7 percent of its global staff, roughly 1,000 positions, while redirecting resources toward cloud platform development and AI programs.
British American Tobacco revealed on February 12 a new productivity initiative driven by AI technology that will result in workforce reductions, though the company did not specify how many employees would be affected.
Chemical manufacturer Dow announced on January 29 it will eliminate approximately 4,500 positions, representing 13 percent of its total workforce, as the company implements automation and AI across all operational processes.
Computer and printer manufacturer HP Inc stated in November it anticipates cutting between 4,000 and 6,000 positions globally by fiscal year 2028 as operations become more streamlined through AI adoption.
Brazilian e-commerce platform MercadoLibre eliminated 119 positions as part of AI expansion efforts, according to a January 12 report from Folha de S. Paulo.
Meta, which operates Facebook and Instagram, is eliminating more than 1,000 positions at its Reality Labs division as the company shifts focus from Metaverse technology to AI devices, Bloomberg reported on January 13. The social media company also cut approximately 600 positions from its Superintelligence Labs division in October.
Sportswear manufacturer Nike is eliminating 775 employee positions, a source told Reuters in January, as the company seeks to increase profits while accelerating automation implementation.
Social media platform Pinterest announced in January it will reduce its workforce by up to 15 percent to reallocate resources toward AI-focused positions and strategic initiatives.
French appliance manufacturer SEB announced on February 25 a restructuring initiative that will leverage AI capabilities and potentially impact up to 2,100 positions worldwide by 2027.
Australia’s largest telecommunications company Telstra plans to eliminate 650 positions through an AI-focused restructuring partnership with India’s Infosys, The Australian reported on February 11.
Australian software company WiseTech announced on February 25 it will eliminate approximately 2,000 positions, nearly one-third of its global workforce, as AI technology becomes integrated into customer software and internal operations.
St. Louis City SC has locked up midfielder Chris Durkin with a new deal that will keep him with the Major League Soccer club through June 2028, the team revealed on Wednesday. The contract also includes a club option for the 2028-29 campaign.
The 26-year-old midfielder has contributed one goal and six assists across 55 matches for St. Louis City following his acquisition in a trade from D.C. United prior to the start of the 2024 season.
“We are extremely happy to keep a team-first player like Chris at the club for years to come,” St. Louis City sporting director Corey Wray said. “He’s a reliable presence in midfield and brings a strong work ethic, professionalism, and leadership that are invaluable to our group. While we always want to bring in talented players, it means a lot to us to have players who are here and want to continue with our club.”
Throughout his MLS career, Durkin has tallied six goals and 13 assists over 143 regular-season appearances, making 112 starts between his time with D.C. United from 2017-23 and his current stint with St. Louis City.
SALISBURY, Md. – A standout player from Salisbury University’s men’s basketball program has received recognition at the conference level this week.
Jamison Graves has been selected to the All-C2C First Team, as announced by the conference on Wednesday afternoon. The honor recognizes Graves as one of the top performers in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference this season.
The prestigious selection highlights Graves’ exceptional contributions to the Sea Gulls’ basketball program throughout the current campaign.
A developing area of low pressure is expected to slide west to east just south of the Delmarva region Thursday into Thursday night, bringing another round of unsettled weather to the area.
While colder air will be in place behind Wednesday morning’s departing system, the latest forecast trends continue to push this upcoming storm track slightly farther south. That shift reduces the likelihood of any meaningful wintry weather across Delmarva.
At this time, temperatures across Delaware and Maryland’s Eastern Shore look warm enough to support primarily plain rain throughout the event. Unlike areas farther north, where a rain and snow mix is possible, Delmarva is expected to remain on the milder side of the system.
Rain chances will increase Thursday, continuing into Thursday night before tapering off as the system exits offshore.
Forecast guidance suggests that if any wintry precipitation were to occur locally, it would be very limited. Current projections show only a trace to a few tenths of an inch of snowfall in areas where mixing might briefly occur, and even that appears increasingly unlikely for most of Delmarva.
Overall, this system currently looks to be a minor event with no significant travel impacts expected at this time.
Agricultural industry representatives are expressing their disappointment with the sluggish progress on biofuel policy initiatives during recent industry discussions. Brett Grauerholtz, representing Kansas Corn, highlighted the complex challenges facing lawmakers as they work toward passing comprehensive E15 legislation on a national scale before today’s congressional deadline.
“There is so many people that have to get involved with this to get legislation that benefits everybody,” Grauerholtz explained, pointing to the intricate nature of advancing year-round E15 fuel availability across the United States.
The concerns emerged during conversations at the Commodity Classic, where farming leaders gathered to discuss pressing industry issues. The proposed legislation would expand access to E15 ethanol blends throughout the entire year, rather than the current seasonal restrictions that limit its availability during certain months.
NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cypriot officials announced Wednesday they will launch an extensive vaccination campaign targeting thousands of farm animals as they work to stop the spread of foot-and-mouth disease that has already forced the destruction of at least 13,000 livestock and poses a serious threat to the nation’s halloumi cheese industry.
Agriculture and Environment Minister Maria Panayiotou revealed that specialists from the European Union have arrived to supervise the first phase of immunizations at agricultural operations within a 1.9-mile perimeter around where the outbreak began.
The contagious viral infection has now impacted 11 agricultural facilities across four villages near Cyprus’s southern coast. Response teams are actively disinfecting vehicles as they enter the restricted area to prevent any potential transmission of the disease, which causes high temperatures and painful mouth lesions in animals while severely cutting milk output and weakening livestock.
“Strictly obeying biosecurity measures is absolutely essential as they are a key tool to containing the virus,” Panayiotou told a news conference, adding that private veterinarians have been recruited to help state authorities administer the vaccine.
Officials will initially use 10,000 vaccine doses obtained from the island’s northern Turkish Cypriot region before receiving more than 500,000 additional doses from European pharmaceutical companies.
Soteria Georgiadou, a top administrator with Cyprus’ Veterinary Services, explained that authorities had previously provided EU-supplied vaccines to Turkish Cypriot farmers when the disease first emerged in northern livestock operations at the end of 2025. The Turkish Cypriots have now agreed to return some of those doses.
Georgiadou confirmed that 263 cattle have been eliminated, with another 13,000 sheep, goats and pigs scheduled for destruction and burial at designated locations. She indicated the vaccination effort could expand to cover a 6.2-mile radius from the outbreak’s center, while disinfection procedures will continue for several more months.
The island nation was divided along ethnic boundaries in 1974 when Turkey launched an invasion after a coup attempt aimed at joining Cyprus with Greece. Only Turkey recognizes the Turkish Cypriot declaration of independence. While Cyprus became an EU member in 2004, solely the southern Greek Cypriot region where the internationally recognized government operates receives complete membership privileges.
President Nikos Christodoulides promised government assistance and financial compensation for affected farmers. He suggested the disease may have originated from the north due to “possibly illegal activities,” though he provided no additional details.
Officials have moved swiftly to safeguard the island’s halloumi production, the distinctive white cheese that can be grilled and has gained popularity in international markets. The cheese generated exports worth just over 200 million euros ($236 million) during the first six months of 2025, reportedly exceeding revenues from the island’s important pharmaceutical industry.
Marios Constantinou, who leads the Cheesemakers Association, assured that halloumi manufacturing and shipments to primary markets including the EU, United Kingdom and Australia remain secure thanks to safety protocols implemented during production.
Panayiotou reported no additional cases of the disease have been discovered beyond the 11 impacted farms, and rigorous testing procedures for animal samples are now in effect. She emphasized that consuming meat remains safe even following vaccination.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court delivered a setback Wednesday to a major private prison corporation battling claims that immigration detainees were compelled to perform labor for just $1 per day at a Colorado facility.
In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court rejected GEO Group’s request for an expedited appeal, though this represents a procedural loss rather than a final judgment on the merits. The company has been contesting a decade-old lawsuit from 2014 that accuses the firm of requiring detainees at its Aurora facility to carry out custodial duties and other tasks without compensation, or for minimal wages to help offset insufficient food provisions.
The GEO Group has maintained its employment practices are lawful and contended the litigation should be dismissed because the company enjoys immunity from civil suits due to its status as a federal contractor.
When a lower court rejected this argument, GEO petitioned the Supreme Court for permission to bypass normal appeals procedures. However, the justices declined to grant this request.
Based in Florida, GEO Group ranks among the nation’s largest private detention operators, controlling approximately 77,000 beds across 98 facilities nationwide. The company’s portfolio includes a recently opened federal immigration detention facility in Newark, New Jersey, where Mayor Ras Baraka was taken into custody during a May 2025 demonstration, though charges against the Democratic mayor were subsequently dismissed.
Comparable legal challenges have emerged at other locations where GEO operates, including litigation in Washington state that resulted in a court ordering the company to pay over $23 million in damages.
HARARE, Zimbabwe — America will terminate its health assistance program to Zimbabwe following the breakdown of negotiations over a proposed funding agreement that Zimbabwe declined due to requirements for sharing confidential health information.
The termination leaves Zimbabwe without its largest health funding partner, creating uncertainty for HIV treatment programs and public health services in a nation where medical facilities often lack basic supplies and patients frequently purchase their own medications due to shortages.
Zimbabwe’s leadership stated the funding proposal included unacceptable conditions. Government spokesperson Nick Mangwana explained Wednesday that the decision stemmed from worries about data sharing requirements, fairness issues, national sovereignty, and America’s broader retreat from global health organizations.
According to Mangwana, the American proposal demanded “comprehensive access to Zimbabwe’s sensitive health data, including virus samples and epidemiological information from our citizens.”
Mangwana reported that President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered the talks ended because America failed to provide “a corresponding guarantee of access to any medical innovations — such as vaccines, diagnostics, or treatments — that might result from that shared data.”
“The United States was not offering reciprocal sharing of its own epidemiological data with our health authorities,” Mangwana stated. “In essence, our nation would provide the raw materials for scientific discovery without any assurance that the end products would be accessible to our people should a future health crisis emerge.”
America had proposed $367 million across five years to fund Zimbabwe’s key health initiatives, covering HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health services, and disease outbreak readiness, according to the American embassy in Zimbabwe.
The arrangement would have marked the most significant potential health investment in Zimbabwe from any international ally, delivering “extraordinary benefits for Zimbabwean communities — especially the 1.2 million men, women, and children currently receiving HIV treatment through U.S.-supported programs,” stated U.S. ambassador Pamela Tremont on Tuesday.
“We will now turn to the difficult and regrettable task of winding down our health assistance in Zimbabwe,” Tremont declared, noting that Zimbabwe indicated readiness to manage its HIV response without external support. “We wish them well,” Tremont added.
America has served as Zimbabwe’s primary bilateral health funding source for years, contributing almost $2 billion in aid since 2006. The U.S. claims it “is directly responsible” for Zimbabwe’s achievement of United Nations HIV treatment, testing and viral suppression goals.
Zimbabwe recently began distributing lenacapavir, an innovative HIV prevention medication given twice yearly. The distribution received backing from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as PEPFAR, working with the Global Fund, creating questions about future program deliveries.
Zimbabwe’s College of Public Health Physicians has called for renewed discussions, emphasizing the necessity of continued American funding for “critical components” of Zimbabwe’s public health infrastructure.
“An abrupt discontinuation of such support could risk treatment interruption, increased transmission, the emergence of drug resistance, and additional strain on the health system,” the organization stated.
Zimbabwe, similar to other low-income nations, has struggled with reduced aid under President Donald Trump’s policies, though some programs persisted through PEPFAR. America also departed from the World Health Organization in January, reflecting a broader restructuring of global health involvement.
Under the current American approach, the Trump administration has pursued direct “America First” health funding agreements, replacing arrangements previously managed through the now-dissolved U.S. Agency for International Development.
The American embassy in Zimbabwe reported agreements exceeding $18 billion signed with 16 African nations, though recipient countries would provide approximately $7.1 billion of this total as part of America’s push for nations to increase their own health sector investments.
Multiple countries have already joined the new agreements. Nigeria secured a deal emphasizing Christian-based medical facilities. Rwanda and Uganda have also signed contracts, while some agreements, including those with Rwanda and Côte d’Ivoire, feature provisions for private American sector investment.
In Kenya, an agreement signed in December faces delays after the High Court halted implementation pending a lawsuit filed by a consumer rights organization regarding data security concerns.
Zimbabwean officials condemned the bilateral approach as “a departure from the multilateral frameworks” and argued that virus data with pandemic potential should be shared only through the WHO system.
“This system is designed to ensure that when a country contributes its data, the benefits — including vaccines and treatments — are shared equitably, not commercialized exclusively by those with the resources to develop them,” Mangwana explained.
Utility crews made significant progress overnight, restoring power to an additional 5,000 homes and bringing total restoration to 95 percent of customers impacted by the recent storm.
As of Wednesday morning, approximately 2,800 homes across the service territory remain without power. Officials say crews from across the Mid-Atlantic region are back in the field for extended 16-hour shifts as efforts continue to safely restore service to the remaining customers.
Additional assistance has arrived from Rappahannock Electric Cooperative, Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative, Northern Neck Electric Cooperative, along with local contractors and tree crews. Utility leaders expressed gratitude for the outside support, noting the collaboration has been critical in accelerating restoration efforts.
Crews are hopeful that power will be restored to another 1,000 to 2,000 homes by late tonight, with full system restoration expected sometime Thursday.
Despite substantial progress, widespread damage remains across Kent and Sussex Counties. Hundreds of homes are still affected by fallen trees and debris tangled in power lines, requiring crews to carefully clear hazards before repairs can be completed.
Customers who experience a new outage are encouraged to report it by calling 855-332-9090 or by using the utility’s online outage reporting portal. Officials note that those who have already reported an outage do not need to do so again. A live outage map remains available online to track restoration progress.
Utility representatives described this as the most severe storm to impact the system in more than 30 years. While many customers have been without power for several days, officials say they have been encouraged by the patience and support shown by the community.
Crews will continue working around the clock until every remaining home has service restored. Another update is expected later today.
During his State of the Union speech on Tuesday, President Donald Trump informed members of Congress that he will not require their approval to implement his tariff strategy moving forward. The president expressed confidence that existing trade agreements will remain in place, suggesting that other nations understand the consequences of backing out could be significantly more severe.
Trump’s remarks indicate he plans to move ahead with trade policy initiatives without seeking legislative backing from lawmakers, relying instead on executive authority to pursue his economic agenda.
Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley has expressed his backing for a recent executive order from President Trump focused on increasing the nation’s domestic glyphosate production capabilities.
The Republican senator emphasized the importance of the widely-used herbicide in American agriculture. “Glyphosate is the most widely used crop protection tool in the United States,” Grassley stated. He also noted that manufacturing of the chemical takes place in Muscatine, Iowa, saying “You may not know this but part of its production is also done in Muscatine, Iowa. I’m glad to see” the administration taking action on this issue.
The executive order seeks to strengthen agricultural input supplies while providing liability protections for farmers who use these products.
The Australian foreign ministry announced Wednesday that it has ordered the families of its diplomatic personnel to evacuate from Israel and Lebanon due to worsening security conditions across the Middle East region.
Officials from Australia’s foreign ministry stated that the decision was made in response to the declining safety situation in both nations, prompting the precautionary measure to protect diplomatic family members.
The evacuation order affects relatives of Australian diplomatic staff currently stationed in the two Middle Eastern countries.
Pakistani authorities have intensified security operations and taken dozens of suspects into custody following concerns about potential retaliatory militant strikes after conducting weekend airstrikes across the border in Afghanistan, according to officials in Islamabad.
Junior Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry confirmed Wednesday that Pakistani forces remain on heightened alert status. “Our forces are on high-alert to combat any attacks,” Chaudhry stated to Reuters. “You know the militants always react whenever we go after their hideouts in Afghanistan.”
The weekend military operations targeted what Pakistani officials described as militant positions responsible for recent suicide bombings within Pakistan’s borders.
Pakistani leadership continues to hold the Afghan government accountable for providing sanctuary to extremist groups, while Kabul maintains its position that such militancy represents Pakistan’s domestic issue rather than cross-border terrorism.
Border tensions escalated Tuesday when Pakistani and Afghan military units engaged in gunfire exchanges, with both nations placing blame on the other for initiating hostilities.
Recent militant violence has included an assault on law enforcement in Kohat city within Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, resulting in seven deaths including five police officers and two civilians, plus a checkpoint suicide attack that claimed two police lives.
According to Chaudhry, these revenge attacks demonstrate Pakistan’s assertions about militant connections operating from Afghan territory. He noted that security forces have successfully prevented multiple planned attacks recently while apprehending various suspects, including Afghan nationals.
“Security forces have accelerated search and intelligence based operations and have arrested dozens of suspected militants, their handlers and their facilitators,” the minister explained.
Intelligence sources revealed that Pakistani security agencies have issued warnings regarding anticipated increases in terrorist activities throughout the country in upcoming days.
Potential targets identified in these alerts include metropolitan areas, commercial districts, security installations, and religious facilities, according to intelligence sources.
“We have been given a strong caution about more terror attacks in our official communications. In this regard, we have almost doubled our search operations across Pakistan,” an intelligence official reported.
A second intelligence operative expressed concerns that while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan provinces already face ongoing terrorist threats, “we fear that Afghanistan will retaliate against Pakistan through terror networks in Punjab and Sindh as well.”
Extremist violence represents an escalating challenge for Pakistan, with incident numbers climbing annually since 2022, based on data from Armed Conflict Location & Event Data (ACLED), an international monitoring group.
ACLED statistics indicate attacks within Pakistan surged nearly four times to 2,425 incidents in 2025 compared to 658 in 2022, while TTP-related attacks during the same timeframe increased more than seven-fold from 118 to 838.
A major climate-focused investment alliance resumed operations Wednesday with relaxed membership requirements following intense political pressure that drove away dozens of American financial firms, including investment giant BlackRock.
The Net Zero Asset Managers initiative welcomed back more than 250 member companies after being shut down for a full year while leadership conducted an extensive review of its policies and procedures.
The organization’s updated membership guidelines no longer mandate that participating firms structure their investment portfolios to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, eliminating what was previously a core requirement. The revised standards also dropped obligations for companies to establish interim environmental targets.
These changes came in response to criticism from Republican lawmakers who argued that participation in such climate-focused coalitions could violate federal antitrust regulations. This political opposition led BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, to exit the group in early 2025.
Following BlackRock’s departure, 32 additional American firms withdrew from the initiative, including major players like Capital Group, JPMorgan Asset Management, and Franklin Templeton.
The political fallout significantly reduced American participation in the relaunched organization. Only 12 US-based companies rejoined, compared to the 44 American members before the suspension. Some firms like State Street Investment Management and Wellington Management chose to participate only through their European operations.
Rebecca Mikula-Wright, who chairs the organization’s steering committee, defended the remaining support level as meaningful. “The strong participation in today’s relaunch reflects the value NZAM signatories find in having a credible platform to demonstrate to their clients how they are addressing climate-related financial risks and capturing transition opportunities,” she stated.
Mikula-Wright added that the continued membership sends a “strong signal to clients, regulators and other key stakeholders” about participants’ commitment to addressing climate challenges.
Under the revised framework, member companies will independently establish their own environmental goals and develop customized strategies for reducing carbon emissions associated with their investments. They must provide annual progress reports on their efforts.
Dan Grandage, who serves as chief sustainable investment officer at Aberdeen Investments, explained the strategic shift. “The new statement reflects the evolution of climate investing from an original focus on decarbonising portfolios, towards a broader set of approaches that includes decarbonisation alongside transition investing, climate solutions, adaptation and resilience,” he said.
Home improvement retailer Lowe’s delivered disappointing projections for the coming year on Wednesday, signaling that consumers will continue holding back on major home renovation spending.
The company’s stock dropped 3% in pre-market trading following the announcement.
For 2026, Lowe’s anticipates comparable store sales will either remain unchanged or increase by up to 2%, falling short of the 2% growth that Wall Street analysts had predicted, based on LSEG data.
The retailer also set its adjusted earnings per share forecast between $12.25 and $12.75, missing analyst expectations of $12.95.
Lowe’s continues to face challenges in its do-it-yourself customer segment, as homeowners are postponing expensive projects like kitchen renovations and new flooring while they monitor job market conditions, interest rates, and overall economic stability.
“While the housing macro remains pressured, we are focused on directing what is within our control, which includes our ongoing productivity initiatives,” said Lowe’s CEO Marvin Ellison.
The company recently eliminated 600 positions in corporate and support functions last month, affecting less than 1% of its workforce, as part of efforts to maintain profit margins.
Meanwhile, competitor Home Depot reported stronger results the previous day, benefiting from steady business with professional contractors, though its leadership cautioned that housing market challenges will continue through 2026.
The broader housing market remains strained, with existing home sales in the United States dropping to their lowest point in over two years during January. Limited housing inventory has driven up prices, creating additional pressure from elevated borrowing costs.
Despite the cautious outlook, Lowe’s fourth-quarter performance exceeded expectations, with same-store sales climbing 1.3% and adjusted earnings reaching $1.98 per share, topping the anticipated $1.94.
SAO PAULO – A new survey released Wednesday reveals that Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva maintains his frontrunner status for October’s presidential election, but his once-commanding advantage has vanished in a potential second-round matchup against Senator Flavio Bolsonaro.
The AtlasIntel/Bloomberg survey indicates that in initial voting scenarios, the leftist incumbent would capture between 43% and 47% of ballots across five different simulated matchups. His right-wing opponent, Senator Bolsonaro, would secure between 33% and 40% across four separate scenarios.
However, the most striking finding emerges in a hypothetical runoff situation, where both candidates are essentially deadlocked – Lula at 46.2% and Flavio Bolsonaro at 46.3%. This represents a dramatic shift from January’s polling, which showed Lula ahead 49.2% to 44.9%, and an even steeper decline from his 12-percentage-point lead recorded in December.
While Lula would prevail against six other potential challengers, the survey shows he would narrowly lose to Sao Paulo Governor Tarcisio de Freitas in a head-to-head contest.
Financial markets have been closely monitoring these polling trends since December, when imprisoned former President Jair Bolsonaro endorsed his son Flavio. This announcement triggered a decline in Brazil’s currency and stock markets, as investors had anticipated the elder Bolsonaro would support a more business-friendly candidate like Freitas.
The 80-year-old Lula, who successfully defeated Jair Bolsonaro in 2022, is pursuing what would be his fourth non-consecutive presidential term. Under Brazil’s electoral system, any race where no candidate receives more than 50% of valid votes automatically triggers a runoff between the top two finishers – a scenario that has occurred in every presidential election since 2002.
The polling data comes from AtlasIntel’s survey of 4,986 respondents conducted between February 19-24, with a margin of error of one percentage point in either direction.
Agricultural industry representatives are stressing the importance of maintaining trade stability as officials prepare to review the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement in the coming months.
Industry leaders and farming representatives gathered for discussions at the historic location where the original North American Free Trade Agreement was signed, emphasizing that the current trade framework delivers essential predictability for agricultural producers across the United States.
According to the agricultural advocates, the scheduled USMCA evaluation will bring both potential benefits and risks for the farming sector as officials examine the agreement’s effectiveness and consider possible modifications.
The trade agreement has been viewed as crucial for providing the economic stability that agricultural businesses need to make long-term planning decisions and investments in their operations.
A United Nations investigation team has determined that Christians and other religious minorities in Sudan could be experiencing genocide at the hands of militant forces. The fact-finding mission recently returned from the African country with disturbing conclusions about the Rapid Support Forces, a rebel organization fighting for governmental control.
According to the UN report, this rebel group has conducted a “coordinated campaign of destruction against non-Arab communities in and around El-Fasher, the hallmarks of which point to genocide.” Sudan’s Christian population has endured persecution from Muslim groups for decades, with the nation currently holding the fourth position on Open Doors’ yearly ranking of countries with the most severe religious persecution.
In Australia, government officials have initiated a comprehensive investigation into the dramatic increase of anti-Semitic incidents throughout the nation in recent years. The inquiry follows the December killing of 15 individuals at a Sydney Jewish festival, reportedly carried out by two Muslim attackers with ISIS connections.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (al-buh-NEE-see) has authorized a royal commission, Australia’s most extensive form of public investigation. Anti-Semitic incidents have risen significantly in Australia following Hamas’s assault on Israel three years ago. The government appointed a special anti-Semitism envoy in 2024 to address the growing problem.
The World Council of Churches has issued a strong condemnation of violence occurring in Myanmar, where both government forces and rebel groups have attacked Christian communities. A village with a predominantly Mennonite population in the country’s western region was subjected to bombing earlier this month.
WCC General Secretary Jerry Pillay stated, “These ongoing attacks are grave violations of international law, of human dignity and the sanctity of life. We express our deep solidarity with the Mennonite church and with all the suffering communities in Myanmar.” Myanmar remains under the control of a military junta that violently overthrew civilian leadership five years ago.
As anti-Semitic sentiment increases globally, the Auschwitz Jewish Center Foundation recently welcomed delegates from 26 countries for an educational program. The representatives participated in a multi-day visit to Poland this month, focusing on Holocaust education and combating prejudice.
The delegation visited Auschwitz, the former Nazi concentration and death camp where hundreds of thousands of Jewish people were killed during World War Two. Anti-Semitic incidents have increased in virtually every nation worldwide since Hamas executed its large-scale assault on Israel in 2023.
A group of parents from Montgomery County has been awarded $1.4 million by a federal judge following a legal battle over their children’s education. The court ruled in favor of the mothers and fathers who challenged the school district’s decision to prevent them from withdrawing their kids from LGBT-related curriculum and coursework.
The families took legal action against the county, and their case ultimately reached the nation’s highest court. In a victory for the parents, the Supreme Court determined last year that they possess the authority to remove their children from such educational content.
Attorney Eric Baxter, representing the Becket Fund, emphasized the broader implications of the decision. “Public schools nationwide are on notice: running roughshod over parental rights and religious freedom isn’t just illegal — it’s costly,” Baxter stated.
Devastating blazes have consumed close to 850,000 acres across Kansas and Oklahoma during the past seven days, delivering severe blows to livestock operations and farming communities throughout both states.
The widespread fires have created major challenges for cattle operations and various farming enterprises as flames continue to tear through agricultural regions in the two-state area.
A major pharmaceutical company announced Wednesday it has signed a massive agreement potentially worth $2.1 billion to develop new pill-form treatments for obesity and diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, the Danish manufacturer behind popular weight loss drugs, has teamed up with American firm Vivtex Corp to create the next wave of oral medications for these conditions. The collaboration will focus on transforming biological drugs typically given through injections into pills that patients can take by mouth.
The financial arrangement includes an initial payment from Novo Nordisk to Vivtex, though the exact amount wasn’t disclosed. Additional payments will be made when certain development milestones are reached, plus ongoing royalties once products reach the market.
Vivtex will provide its specialized drug-delivery technology under the licensing agreement, while Novo Nordisk will handle worldwide development and bring the products to market. The U.S. company’s platform combines intestinal screening methods, advanced delivery systems, and artificial intelligence tools to help biological medications work effectively when taken as pills rather than injections.
The Danish pharmaceutical company already markets several GLP-1 medications for weight management and type 2 diabetes, including well-known brands Wegovy, Ozempic, and the oral diabetes treatment Rybelsus. Just last month, Novo Nordisk introduced the pill version of Wegovy in the United States, marking the first oral medication specifically approved for obesity treatment worldwide.
This partnership represents the latest effort by pharmaceutical companies to make weight loss and diabetes treatments more convenient for patients by eliminating the need for regular injections.
A construction company based in Gaza has been selected to develop a housing complex funded by the United Arab Emirates for tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians in territory currently controlled by Israeli forces, according to multiple sources familiar with the arrangement.
Four sources, including Israeli officials and Palestinian business leaders, identified the contractor as Masoud & Ali Contracting Co (MACC), a Gaza-based firm with decades of experience on major construction projects throughout Gaza and the West Bank.
The housing development represents an effort to begin rebuilding without waiting for Israeli forces to withdraw from Gaza, which is supposed to occur alongside Hamas disarmament in the next stage of President Trump’s ceasefire framework.
Using Palestinian workers for construction may help minimize local opposition to the project, though it’s uncertain whether significant numbers of Palestinians would choose to live or work in areas under Israeli control.
The UAE has not yet publicly announced the housing initiative, which some diplomatic sources have nicknamed “Emirates City.” Planning documents reviewed by Reuters show the development would be constructed near Rafah in southern Gaza, an area cleared and demolished by Israeli forces during the conflict with Hamas.
One Palestinian business source with inside knowledge of the plans said MACC would collaborate with two Egyptian companies on the project. He described the development as covering approximately 74 acres and designed to accommodate tens of thousands of residents in prefabricated trailer-style units arranged in multi-story configurations.
All sources requested anonymity when discussing plans that remain officially unannounced.
MACC representatives declined to provide comment. Israeli military officials did not respond immediately to requests for comment, and Hamas spokespeople also did not respond.
A UAE official avoided directly addressing the housing plans but stated the country remains “firmly committed to supporting all international relief and recovery efforts in Gaza, in close collaboration with partners, to ensure that life-saving assistance reaches those in need swiftly and effectively.”
Following the October ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, Israeli forces maintain control over 53% of Gaza, where they have destroyed numerous structures and established military installations. Gaza’s population of over 2 million people is now mostly restricted to a narrow coastal area still under Hamas control, living primarily in temporary shelters and damaged structures.
Reconstruction efforts beginning in Rafah form a central component of Trump’s war-ending strategy, though other crucial elements remain unresolved, including Hamas disarmament and Israeli military withdrawal.
Trump’s initiative operates through his Board of Peace, an international leadership group that supervises a Gaza-focused body comprising officials and business leaders, plus a Palestinian technical committee intended to take over Gaza governance from Hamas.
At a Board of Peace gathering last week, the UAE committed $1.2 billion for Gaza assistance. However, the housing compound plans were not part of the reconstruction presentations at that conference.
A U.S. official previously confirmed to Reuters that the UAE is coordinating the housing initiative with Washington, the Board of Peace, and the Palestinian technical committee.
Since fighting began in October 2023, the UAE has emerged as one of Gaza’s largest donors, contributing nearly $3 billion in aid according to its foreign minister. The UAE developed strong ties with Israel after normalizing relations in 2020 through a U.S.-mediated agreement.
The Palestinian business source familiar with the compound planning explained that MACC and the two Egyptian firms received their contracts through a major Egyptian company, which he declined to name. This Egyptian company would receive payment from the UAE, he said.
Construction has not yet started, partly because Israeli authorities have not approved the compound’s blueprints, according to the source.
A Western diplomat briefed on the project said contractors were supposed to visit the construction site earlier this month, though it’s unclear whether that inspection occurred.
MACC’s website indicates the company has constructed desalination facilities, water pumping stations, solar energy installations, bridges and buildings throughout Gaza and the West Bank, working with funding partners including the World Bank and USAID.
Palestinian political analyst Reham Owda said hiring a Palestinian company instead of bringing in foreign workers would be “more acceptable to Gazans” because it would generate employment opportunities and respect local cultural considerations.
“It will gain wide acceptance because it will help solve the housing crisis, accelerate reconstruction, and employ Gaza’s workforce,” Owda explained.
Recovery operations are ongoing throughout Mid-Atlantic and northern Atlantic coastal areas hammered by recent blizzard conditions, though more than 250,000 Massachusetts residents continue dealing with power outages. At the same time, weather concerns are now turning toward the Pacific Northwest, where northwestern California and southwestern Oregon face the prospect of significant rainfall accumulations of 1 to 4 inches expected to continue through tonight.
Case Reference: 50-26-5917
When: Sunday, February 22nd, 2026 at 1:21 a.m.
Where: Unit Block of Ironwood Court, Dover, DE
Contact: Dover Police Department Public Information Officer Master Corporal Ryan Schmid Email: [email protected]
Details: Law enforcement officials in Dover are working to solve an armed robbery case from the early hours of Sunday morning. Authorities first made contact with the victim at the Wawa store located at 2800 North DuPont Highway in Dover. Through their inquiry, officers learned that the victim had been at a home on Ironwood Court when four armed Black men confronted him with firearms. The perpetrators ordered the victim to hand over his belongings, which he did under duress. After taking his possessions, the group escaped and also took the victim’s car. Police have since located and recovered the stolen vehicle, but currently have no suspect information to share publicly.
Detectives continue working the case and are seeking public assistance with information. Anyone who may have details about this incident can reach the Dover Police Department by calling (302) 736-7130, with the option to remain unnamed. Additionally, tips can be provided through Delaware Crime Stoppers at 800-TIP-3333 or through their website at www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com, where monetary rewards may be available for information that leads to arrests.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Astronomers using a sophisticated telescope array in Chile have produced an extraordinary new photograph showing the star-forming region at the center of our Milky Way galaxy in remarkable detail.
The European Southern Observatory made the image public on Wednesday, showcasing a vast area of frigid cosmic material spanning more than 650 light-years. To put that distance in perspective, each light-year equals approximately 6 trillion miles or 9.7 trillion kilometers.
These massive clouds of gas and dust encircle the enormous black hole located at the very center of our galaxy.
This record-breaking photograph represents the most expansive image ever captured by the ALMA telescope array, positioned in Chile’s Atacama Desert, known as one of Earth’s most arid locations.
According to survey leader Steve Longmore from Liverpool John Moores University, examining star formation processes in this region, known as the Central Molecular Zone, helps scientists gain insights into galactic evolution.
Ashley Barnes from the European Southern Observatory, who participated in the research, described the significance of the discovery. “It’s a place of extremes, invisible to our eyes, but now revealed in extraordinary detail,” Barnes stated.
Shopping for a midsize SUV that can handle Delaware winters and summer adventures? Two standout options have emerged from the crowded field: the completely redesigned 2026 Honda Passport and 2026 Subaru Outback.
Both vehicles offer significant upgrades over their smaller counterparts – the Honda CR-V and Subaru Forester – featuring standard all-wheel drive systems and specialized trim levels designed for light off-road use. Each model received comprehensive redesigns for the 2026 model year, introducing fresh styling and updated technology. However, automotive experts at Edmunds conducted detailed testing to determine which SUV delivers better overall value.
When it comes to power and efficiency, the Subaru Outback provides two four-cylinder engine options: a standard 180-horsepower unit and an available turbocharged 260-horsepower variant. While the base engine can feel underpowered during highway merging, the turbocharged option delivers impressive acceleration for families who regularly carry passengers and cargo.
Track testing revealed the turbocharged Outback’s performance advantage, completing the zero-to-60 mph sprint in just 6.5 seconds compared to the Passport’s 7.9-second time with its standard 285-horsepower V6 engine.
Fuel efficiency also favors the Subaru, with the base Outback achieving an EPA-estimated 27 mpg combined and the turbocharged version earning up to 24 mpg combined. The Honda Passport manages only 21 mpg combined according to EPA estimates.
Interior space and cargo capacity tell a different story, however. Despite improvements to the Outback’s storage capacity and its lower height making roof rack access easier, the Passport claims victory in this category. The Honda’s taller and wider dimensions translate to a more spacious rear seat that better accommodates three passengers and large child safety seats. The Passport also offers superior cargo space and more practical storage solutions for personal items and beverages.
Price comparison reveals another Subaru advantage. The 2026 Outback Premium starts at $36,445 including destination charges, while the entry-level Passport RTL begins at $46,445. Although the Honda includes additional standard features and a more powerful engine, the Subaru maintains its value proposition across all trim levels. Fully-loaded models show the gap persisting, with top-tier Outbacks reaching approximately $50,000 compared to $55,000 for comparable Passports.
Technology systems in both vehicles have addressed previous shortcomings. The Outback features Subaru’s new 12.1-inch touchscreen with improved graphics, faster response times, and simplified climate controls. Large virtual buttons and wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration enhance usability.
The Passport counters with a 12.3-inch display incorporating Google Built-In services, enabling natural voice commands through Google Assistant and integrated Google Maps navigation. Both infotainment systems perform similarly well, and their advanced driver assistance features offer comparable functionality.
After comprehensive evaluation, Edmunds determined both SUVs represent excellent choices in the competitive midsize segment. However, the Subaru Outback narrowly wins the comparison based on its combination of superior performance capabilities and stronger overall value proposition.
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán announced Wednesday that he’s deploying additional security personnel to protect vital energy infrastructure, alleging that Ukraine is deliberately targeting Hungary’s energy supply system.
The Hungarian government has recently blamed Kyiv for intentionally blocking Russian oil shipments through the Druzhba pipeline, which passes through Ukrainian territory. Ukraine has rejected these accusations, maintaining that the pipeline serving Hungarian and Slovakian refineries was damaged during a Russian drone strike.
Speaking in a social media video, Orbán — who maintains Europe’s strongest ties with Moscow among EU leaders — accused Ukraine of implementing “an oil blockade” to pressure Hungary. He claimed Hungarian intelligence agencies have evidence that Ukraine is “preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary’s energy system,” though he offered no supporting evidence or specifics.
“We will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities,” Orbán stated. “The police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centers.”
While most European nations have dramatically cut or completely eliminated Russian energy imports following Moscow’s February 24, 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Hungary and Slovakia — both EU and NATO allies — have continued and even expanded their Russian oil and gas purchases, securing temporary waivers from EU restrictions on Russian oil imports.
This past Sunday, Hungary threatened to obstruct a massive 90-billion euro ($106 billion) EU loan package for Kyiv, and on Monday blocked new EU sanctions targeting Russia. Orbán has pledged to oppose any additional EU support for Ukraine until oil deliveries restart.
The Druzhba pipeline has remained offline since January 27. Ukrainian authorities say repairs are dangerous and the pipeline cannot function safely while Russia continues attacking energy infrastructure.
Orbán also implemented a drone flight ban Wednesday in Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg County, which shares a border with Ukraine.
The Hungarian leader has consistently accused Ukraine of “blackmail” aimed at forcing him to abandon his anti-Ukrainian stance, and of attempting to inflate Hungary’s energy costs ahead of a crucial election.
Orbán, who returned to power in 2010, confronts his most serious political challenge in an April 12 election. The EU’s most tenured leader and his right-wing Fidesz party are behind in most independent surveys against rising center-right opponent Péter Magyar.
Simultaneously, Orbán has initiated an intensive anti-Ukraine media blitz depicting the war-torn nation as a fundamental threat to Hungary.
His party has promoted the narrative that an electoral defeat would result in the Tisza party pulling Hungary into Ukraine’s conflict, financially ruining the country and sending Hungarian youth to die in combat.
SALISBURY, Md. – Salisbury University athletics are having a standout season with multiple Sea Gulls programs earning prestigious national recognition in the latest rankings released on the fourth Wednesday of February.
The university’s men’s lacrosse, women’s lacrosse, and baseball teams have all secured spots within the top five of their respective national rankings, showcasing the strength of Salisbury’s athletic programs.
Additionally, the men’s track and field squad saw some shifts in their national standing following recent conference championship competition.
These rankings highlight the continued excellence of Salisbury University’s athletic department and demonstrate the competitive level of play across multiple sports programs at the Maryland Eastern Shore institution.
