Canadian government officials are demanding face-to-face explanations from ChatGPT’s parent company after learning the artificial intelligence firm kept quiet about warning signs involving a user who later carried out a deadly school attack.
The tragic incident occurred earlier this month when an 18-year-old struggling with mental health issues opened fire in a western Canadian community, injuring eight people before taking his own life. It was later discovered that OpenAI had previously suspended the shooter’s ChatGPT account due to policy breaches, but company officials determined these violations didn’t reach the threshold for alerting authorities.
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon announced Monday that he has ordered OpenAI’s top safety executives to travel from the United States to Canada’s capital for mandatory discussions about their security measures.
“I have summoned the senior safety team from OpenAI in the United States to come here to Ottawa … we will have a sit down meeting to have an explanation of their safety protocols,” Solomon informed the media.
When questioned about potential government action to shield Canadians from digital dangers, the minister responded that “All options are on the table,” though he declined to elaborate on specific measures under consideration.
Delaware’s poultry industry posted mixed results during January, according to new federal agriculture data released this week.
Egg production across the state increased by 2 percent compared to the same period last year, providing welcome news for producers in one of Delaware’s key agricultural sectors.
However, the numbers tell a more complex story when examining breeding patterns. Hatching of egg-type chicks dropped by 6 percent during the month, potentially signaling future supply challenges for egg producers.
On the broiler side, the news was more encouraging. Chicks destined for meat production saw a 2 percent uptick in hatching rates, suggesting continued strength in Delaware’s dominant poultry segment.
The data reflects ongoing adjustments within Delaware’s massive poultry industry, which represents a cornerstone of the state’s agricultural economy and provides thousands of jobs across rural communities.
These production fluctuations come as poultry operations continue adapting to market demands and recovery efforts following previous disease outbreaks that impacted flocks nationwide.
Farmers in Missouri will catch a break on their state taxes thanks to efforts by the Missouri Soybean Association, which successfully lobbied for tax relief on federal disaster assistance payments.
Ben Travlos, who serves as policy director for the Missouri Soybean Association, provided additional information about this development in a recent Spotlight on Soybeans segment.
The tax relief measure will benefit soybean producers who receive federal disaster payments, allowing them to avoid double taxation on assistance designed to help them recover from natural disasters and other qualifying events.
Delaware farmers and agricultural operations across the country should prepare for another difficult year ahead, according to a warning from a prominent agricultural economist. Carl Zulauf, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, predicts that American farming will continue to struggle in 2026 due to mounting financial pressures.
Rising costs for farming supplies and equipment, combined with uncertain government policies, are squeezing farmers’ ability to turn a profit, Zulauf explains. The economist warns that current financial struggles in agriculture are likely to extend into the coming year.
“If this year is a loss year, then next year is likely to be a loss year,” Zulauf stated, highlighting the ongoing challenges facing the agricultural sector nationwide.
Federal agricultural officials are highlighting a remarkable surge in corn shipments from American ports, with export inspections reaching exceptional levels during the week that concluded on February 19th.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, inspectors processed over two million tons of corn destined for international markets. The bulk of these shipments headed to Japan, South Korea, and Mexico – three major trading partners that have demonstrated exceptionally robust appetite for American corn throughout this marketing season.
The agricultural department also noted that wheat exports experienced weekly gains during the same period.
The Cambridge City Council has announced a scheduling change for their upcoming meeting, requiring residents to adjust their calendars accordingly.
Officials have moved the previously scheduled council session to accommodate necessary adjustments to the municipal agenda.
Community members who planned to attend the original meeting date are encouraged to mark the new date and time on their calendars to ensure they don’t miss important city business discussions.
The rescheduled meeting will maintain the same agenda items and public participation opportunities as originally planned.
An Iowa-based equipment manufacturing company is expanding its operations with a major new production facility to keep pace with surging market demand. Vermeer Corporation’s chief executive Jason Andringa announced that the Pella-headquartered company will construct a massive 300,000 square foot manufacturing plant in Bondurant.
According to Andringa, who serves as both president and CEO of Vermeer Corporation, the decision to build the cutting-edge facility stems from persistent innovation efforts and increasing customer demand for their products. The new plant is designed to produce industrial components and equipment, representing a significant expansion of the company’s manufacturing footprint in Iowa.
The state-of-the-art facility will add substantial production capacity as Vermeer works to meet growing market needs for their specialized equipment and parts.
MEXICO CITY – Mexican military forces successfully eliminated the nation’s most sought-after drug trafficking leader during a weekend operation that resulted in widespread violent backlash across the country.
Nemesio Oseguera, known by his criminal alias ‘El Mencho,’ died during a complex military assault on Sunday. Oseguera controlled the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, one of the primary organizations smuggling deadly fentanyl into American communities.
Mexican authorities provided a detailed account of the operation on Monday:
FEBRUARY 20: INTELLIGENCE BREAKTHROUGH
Intelligence operatives received crucial information from a confidential source connected to one of Oseguera’s romantic companions. This intelligence led authorities to track the companion to a compound located in Tapalpa, within Jalisco state, where the cartel leader was hiding. Government officials declined to release additional specifics about the location.
FEBRUARY 21: MILITARY MOBILIZATION
After the romantic partner departed the compound, Mexican intelligence agencies verified that Oseguera remained inside under armed protection from his security detail.
A massive force comprising army units, National Guard military police, elite tactical teams, combat aircraft and six helicopters deployed to the region under strict secrecy.
According to a U.S. defense official speaking to Reuters, a recently established American military task force focused on cartel intelligence gathering provided assistance during the operation.
FEBRUARY 22: THE ASSAULT
Before sunrise, Mexican ground troops surrounded the target area in preparation for a prolonged confrontation. Armed cartel members initiated combat, but specialized units successfully countered their assault, resulting in eight suspected criminal organization members being killed.
Oseguera and his closest associates escaped to a cabin compound situated in nearby forested terrain. Elite forces followed them into the wilderness, where additional armed confrontation occurred.
Once Mexican security personnel gained control of the scene, they discovered Oseguera and two of his bodyguards with serious injuries. Medical evacuation by helicopter was arranged to transport them to a treatment facility, however Oseguera succumbed to his injuries while airborne.
Meanwhile, the military action had sparked extensive violent retaliation from cartel operatives, preventing the helicopter from reaching its intended destination in Guadalajara, the Jalisco state capital. The aircraft was redirected to Morelia airport in neighboring Michoacan state, where Oseguera’s remains were transferred to a military aircraft heading to Mexico City.
FEBRUARY 22: ESCALATING RETALIATION
Violent responses rapidly expanded throughout the region.
Defense ministry officials identified an individual known as ‘El Tuli’ – described as Oseguera’s primary lieutenant and chief financial coordinator – as the organizer behind numerous roadway blockades, arson incidents and attacks targeting government facilities throughout Jalisco state.
Law enforcement reported that ‘El Tuli’ was providing financial incentives of 20,000 pesos ($1,100) for the assassination of military personnel.
Security forces tracked ‘El Tuli’ to El Grullo, a small municipality approximately 180 kilometers (110 miles) southwest of Guadalajara. When confronted, he attempted to escape by vehicle and engaged the arrest team in combat. He was fatally wounded during the confrontation.
Multiple commercial airlines suspended service to Puerto Vallarta, a popular Pacific coast resort destination in Jalisco state, where shocked vacationers recorded video of smoke columns rising above the city.
Throughout various municipalities, tourists and local residents received advisories to remain indoors while commercial truckers were instructed to utilize alternative routes or return to their facilities. Educational institutions including schools and universities suspended operations across Jalisco and multiple neighboring states.
Government officials reported Monday that approximately 30 suspected criminal organization members, 25 National Guard personnel, and one civilian died in the violence following the initial raid. Additionally, at least 70 individuals were detained across seven states, while authorities documented 85 cartel-organized roadblocks on Sunday alone.
FEBRUARY 23: RESTORING ORDER
During a Monday press briefing, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that roadblocks had been cleared as of Monday morning. She indicated that conditions were anticipated to return to normal and that airline operations should resume Monday or Tuesday.
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch stated that individuals considered potential successors to Oseguera’s cartel leadership position were under intensive government monitoring. He emphasized that authorities remained vigilant for additional retaliatory actions from the organization or competing cartels seeking territorial expansion.
U.S. President Donald Trump posted on social media that Mexico ‘must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!’ Mexico serves as America’s primary trading partner, and the North American trade agreement faces review this year.
Military officials announced Monday that American forces launched a fatal attack on a boat suspected of drug smuggling in Caribbean waters, leaving three individuals dead in what marks another recent incident of its kind.
The Trump administration has emphasized its aggressive stance against suspected narcotics smuggling operations throughout the region, highlighting these military interventions as successful counter-drug efforts.
According to a military statement posted on social media platform X, the targeted boat was “engaged in narco-trafficking operations.”
Independent confirmation of the military’s account was not immediately available through Reuters.
Seven Ukrainian police officers sustained injuries during a Monday blast in the southern city of Mykolaiv, with two officers suffering serious wounds, according to the country’s top police official.
National police chief Ivan Vyhivskyi reported that the officers were positioned near their patrol vehicles while awaiting a shift change when the blast took place.
Writing on his Facebook page, Vyhivskyi connected the incident to another recent attack on law enforcement personnel.
“The day before yesterday, a terrorist attack against police officers took place in Lviv,” Vyhivskyi stated, referencing the western Ukrainian city located close to Poland’s border.
“This is not a coincidence. The enemy is deliberately trying to kill Ukrainian police officers who defend people and the state every day,” he added.
The Saturday incident in Lviv resulted in the death of a female police officer and left 24 additional people with injuries.
A federal class action lawsuit filed recently accuses the Department of Homeland Security of unconstitutionally retaliating against individuals who legally observe and document immigration enforcement activities.
The legal action stems from incidents in Maine where people monitoring federal immigration operations say they were labeled as ‘domestic terrorists’ by agents and threatened with placement on government databases and watchlists.
According to the lawsuit, federal agents gathered personal information about these observers who were exercising their constitutional rights to watch and record law enforcement activities in public spaces.
The case challenges what plaintiffs describe as intimidation tactics used against citizens lawfully monitoring immigration enforcement operations. The observers claim agents violated their constitutional protections by collecting their data and using threatening language to discourage their legal activities.
This lawsuit represents a broader conflict over the rights of citizens to observe and document government law enforcement actions, particularly in immigration enforcement scenarios.
A leading agricultural commodities analyst is expressing renewed confidence that China will increase its purchases of American farm products, driven by political considerations rather than market forces.
Arlan Suderman, who serves as the top commodities economist at StoneX Group, recently shared his growing optimism about Chinese agricultural imports with Brownfield. According to Suderman, Chinese President Xi Jinping is currently navigating complex domestic political challenges and may seek American support to strengthen his position.
“My bias at this point is he will survive it, but in the meantime,” Suderman explained, suggesting that Xi’s political calculations could lead to increased cooperation with U.S. agricultural exporters.
The economist’s assessment indicates that geopolitical factors may play a more significant role than traditional market dynamics in shaping future trade relationships between the world’s two largest economies.
FRANKFURT, Germany — European lawmakers are demanding answers from Washington after President Donald Trump announced new import taxes that could undermine a trade agreement negotiated this summer, leading EU officials to delay ratification of the deal.
The European Parliament’s trade committee canceled Tuesday’s scheduled vote on the agreement following Trump’s Saturday announcement of a 15% worldwide tariff on imports. This move came after the Supreme Court rejected Trump’s previous attempt to impose tariffs using emergency powers, prompting the president to invoke different trade legislation to justify the new rates that begin Tuesday.
“A deal is a deal,” stated European Commission spokesperson Olof Gill, summarizing the EU’s stance. “So now we are simply saying to the US, it is up to you to clearly show to us what path you are taking to honor the agreement.”
The original US-EU agreement established a maximum 15% tariff rate on most European products entering America, while eliminating tariffs entirely on American industrial exports to Europe. Though the deal raised costs for consumers and businesses compared to the previous 4.8% average, it provided market stability that economists credit with helping Europe dodge recession last year.
Trade committee chairman Bernd Lange explained that Trump’s newly announced 15% rate would stack on top of existing tariffs, violating the ceiling established in their agreement. This prompted legislators to postpone Tuesday’s committee vote.
The situation also raises concerns about separate agreements negotiated with individual nations, including Brazil, India, and Britain. Britain’s deal caps tariffs at 10%, while India accepted 18% and Vietnam agreed to 20%. Though the Supreme Court ruling doesn’t directly impact these bilateral arrangements, they were negotiated using the threat of tariffs that have now been invalidated.
US Trade Representative Jamison Greer addressed these concerns Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” stating the administration had warned negotiating partners that Trump intended to pursue tariffs regardless of the court’s decision. “Whether we won or lost, there were going to be tariffs,” Greer explained.
Greer emphasized that the bilateral agreements “are good deals, we expect to stand by them, we expect our partners to stand by them.”
Berenberg bank economist Atakan Bakiskan noted that switching from country-specific rates to a uniform 15% global tariff “will have considerable implications elsewhere.” Some nations would see reduced rates, including Brazil, which would drop nearly 15 percentage points, and China, facing a reduction of almost 10 percentage points.
The legal authority Trump is using for these latest tariffs only permits them for 150 days unless Congress approves an extension. This timeframe could allow Trump to seek alternative legal justifications for his trade policies.
The uncertainty affects both European businesses and the American economy, where consumers and companies bear the cost of import tariffs. “Uncertainty around trade policy appears here to stay — putting continued pressure on the US economy,” Bakiskan observed.
QUITO, Ecuador — A dozen attackers wearing military uniforms invaded a coastal property in western Ecuador during the early morning hours Monday, fatally shooting at least seven individuals in what authorities describe as the newest chapter of escalating drug-related bloodshed plaguing the South American country.
Law enforcement officials reported that the assailants, posing as government soldiers while carrying firearms, targeted the seaside location in Manabi province and opened fire on multiple victims, including three adult male siblings.
The nation’s murder statistics have increased fivefold since 2020, with Ecuador documenting its most deadly year on record in 2023 when homicides reached 50 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants, data from the Interior Ministry shows.
This dramatic rise in deadly violence stems from battling criminal organizations linked to Mexican and Colombian drug cartels, along with their domestic partners, as they compete for dominance over narcotics smuggling corridors and shipping facilities used to transport cocaine northward to American markets.
President Daniel Noboa responded to the crisis in January by implementing emergency powers across seven provinces, granting law enforcement authority to conduct warrantless home searches while deploying military forces for city patrols.
Noboa has accused Colombia’s leadership of fueling the bloodshed by failing to adequately manage rebel factions and trafficking networks operating near their mutual boundary. Colombian officials have rejected these claims, sparking a commercial dispute between the adjacent nations.
Ecuador documented over 9,000 homicides throughout 2023, with the majority of these killings occurring within the coastal regions of Guayas, Manabi and Esmeraldas provinces.
Millions of residents across the northeastern United States found themselves confined to their homes as a powerful winter storm unleashed dangerous conditions throughout the region. The severe weather system brought fierce winds and blizzard conditions that created hazardous travel and prompted widespread precautionary measures.
The storm’s impact was felt far and wide, with transportation systems grinding to a halt and communities taking shelter from the harsh conditions. Educational institutions and businesses throughout the affected areas made the decision to close their doors as safety became the top priority.
Weather officials had issued blizzard warnings as the storm system moved through, urging residents to avoid unnecessary travel and remain indoors until conditions improved.
Utah’s newly drawn congressional districts that improve Democratic prospects for capturing a U.S. House seat will remain in place for this year’s elections, after a federal court on Monday rejected Republican efforts to halt their implementation.
This decision represents the GOP’s second consecutive legal defeat in recent days, following an unsuccessful challenge before Utah’s highest state court.
Last November, a Utah state judge implemented these revised districts after invalidating the congressional boundaries that Republican lawmakers had established following the 2020 census. The judge determined that state legislators had violated voter-approved measures designed to prevent gerrymandering.
This development places Utah at the center of a nationwide redistricting conflict unfolding across multiple states before the midterm elections. Former President Donald Trump has encouraged Republican-controlled states including Texas, Missouri and North Carolina to redraw their boundaries to benefit GOP candidates in November’s contests, leading Democratic-controlled states like California and Virginia to pursue their own redistricting strategies.
Currently, Republicans occupy all four of Utah’s House seats. The court-ordered map implemented by Judge Dianna Gibson last autumn maintains Salt Lake County largely within a single district, rather than splitting the Democratic stronghold across all four districts as occurred under the previous arrangement. This new configuration was proposed by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, which included the League of Women Voters of Utah and Mormon Women for Ethical Government.
GOP officials have contended that the judge lacked proper legal standing to implement district boundaries without legislative approval.
However, a three-judge federal panel rejected the Republican petition for a preliminary injunction to prevent use of the new boundaries in upcoming elections. The federal judges concluded that Republicans were unlikely to succeed with their legal challenge and determined that judicial intervention would come too late in the election cycle.
Utah’s congressional candidate filing period begins March 9, with party caucuses set for March 17 and state conventions planned for April 25. The court observed that some candidates have already begun their campaigns.
“An active primary is ongoing, and the election has drawn too close for the court to get involved,” the judges wrote, adding: “The possibility of voter confusion is a considerable risk were the panel to enjoin the current election map.”
University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s basketball standout Kaliya Perry has been selected as the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Rookie of the Week, marking her fourth time receiving this recognition during the current season.
The achievement underscores Perry’s consistent impact on the court for the Hawks throughout her debut collegiate campaign. Her repeated recognition by the conference demonstrates her ability to perform at a high level week after week.
Perry’s latest honor comes following the Hawks’ recent games, including their matchup against Coppin State. The freshman has established herself as a key contributor to the team’s efforts this season.
This marks Perry’s fourth weekly rookie honor from the MEAC, showcasing her emergence as one of the conference’s top first-year players. The recognition reflects her ongoing development and contributions to the UMES women’s basketball program.
Notre Dame’s star running back Jeremiyah Love is poised to make a spectacular impression at this week’s NFL Scouting Combine, with the potential to deliver a performance reminiscent of Saquon Barkley’s memorable showing.
The 20-year-old athlete is expected to clock a 40-yard dash in the low 4.3-second range, showcasing the explosive speed and athleticism that could create a highlight-reel moment in Indianapolis.
During his time with the Fighting Irish, Love accumulated 40 touchdowns while serving as the team’s primary ball carrier and currently sits at the number two spot on Field Level Media’s rankings of top 2026 draft candidates.
Love’s game-breaking velocity represents his strongest asset heading into the draft. While he may not reach the second overall selection that Barkley achieved with the Giants, his combination of skills positions him as a strong candidate for a top-10 pick, particularly given the number of franchises in that range seeking backfield help.
Several teams picking early could target Love, including the Arizona Cardinals (third pick), Tennessee Titans (fourth), New York Giants (fifth), Washington Commanders (seventh), New Orleans Saints (eighth), and Kansas City Chiefs (ninth) – all organizations that could view him as a crucial offensive weapon.
When Barkley tested at the 2018 combine, he registered 233 pounds with a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, 41-inch vertical leap, and 29 repetitions at 225 pounds on the bench press.
Love’s anticipated 40-yard dash and vertical jump measurements could surpass Barkley’s numbers, with his 10-yard split potentially showing exceptional acceleration compared to Barkley’s 1.54-second mark.
Scouts are drawing parallels between Love and former Arkansas speedster Darren McFadden, who posted a 4.33-second 40-yard dash in 2008.
For context, Virginia Tech’s Bhayshul Tuten recorded the fastest time among running backs at last year’s combine with a 4.32, eventually being selected 104th overall by Jacksonville.
The United States has evacuated dozens of diplomatic personnel from its embassy in Lebanon as tensions with Iran continue to escalate, raising fears of potential military confrontation in the region.
A high-ranking State Department official announced Monday that non-essential government workers and their eligible family members have been withdrawn from the Beirut facility as a precautionary measure.
“We continuously assess the security environment, and based on our latest review, we determined it prudent to reduce our footprint to essential personnel,” the official told reporters while requesting anonymity.
The official emphasized that operations will continue with skeleton staffing. “The Embassy remains operational with core staff in place. This is a temporary measure intended to ensure the safety of our personnel while maintaining our ability to operate and assist U.S. citizens,” they explained.
Sources indicate approximately 50 individuals were evacuated, with airport officials in Beirut confirming that 32 embassy employees and their family members departed on flights Monday.
This diplomatic pullback comes as the United States has assembled one of its largest military presences in the Middle East in recent years. President Trump issued stern warnings last Thursday, stating that “really bad things will happen” without progress on resolving the ongoing nuclear dispute with Tehran. Iranian officials have countered with threats to target American military installations throughout the region if attacked.
Internal State Department communications obtained by news outlets detailed instructions for remaining staff, advising those in critical roles to coordinate coverage arrangements and consult with regional offices before considering departure.
The State Department also revised its Lebanon travel guidance Monday, maintaining its recommendation against all travel to the country. Current embassy staff face restrictions on personal travel and may encounter additional limitations “with little to no notice due to increased security issues or threats,” according to the updated advisory.
Lebanon holds particular significance for American security concerns, as U.S. interests faced repeated attacks during the country’s 1975-90 civil conflict. The Iran-supported Hezbollah organization was blamed for devastating strikes, including the 1983 bombing of Marine barracks that claimed 241 American lives and a separate embassy attack that same year killing 49 diplomatic personnel.
Despite rising tensions, diplomatic efforts continue. Secretary of State Marco Rubio maintains plans to visit Israel this Saturday for discussions with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, though officials note scheduling could change based on developments.
The nuclear standoff remains at the heart of U.S.-Iran relations, with Washington demanding Tehran abandon its atomic program while Iran maintains its activities are peaceful and refuses to halt enrichment operations. American officials view Iran’s uranium enrichment as a potential route to weapons development.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed cautious optimism Sunday, confirming plans to meet with Trump’s special representative Steve Witkoff in Geneva Thursday. Araqchi suggested “a good chance” exists for diplomatic resolution.
However, significant disagreements persist between the nations, particularly regarding sanctions relief timing and scope, following two previous negotiation rounds. A senior Iranian source indicated both sides remain far apart on key issues.
Recent reporting suggests the situation is deteriorating rapidly, with diplomatic sources across the Gulf and Europe warning that military conflict appears increasingly likely as peaceful solutions seem less achievable.
Witkoff commented Sunday that President Trump questions why Iran has not yet “capitulated” and agreed to nuclear program restrictions.
Any potential military action would mark the second time within twelve months that U.S. and Israeli forces have struck Iranian targets, following coordinated attacks on military and nuclear sites last June.
The chief executive of logistics giant C.H. Robinson is pushing back against investor fears that artificial intelligence will disrupt the freight industry, arguing instead that the technology will benefit larger companies and drive consolidation.
CEO Dave Bozeman made the comments following a significant stock decline earlier this month. On February 12th, C.H. Robinson experienced its steepest single-day stock drop in approximately two years, falling 14.5% as part of a wider decline in transportation and logistics companies.
The market downturn was sparked by statements from AI technology firm Algorhythm Holdings, which claimed its SemiCab platform helps clients increase freight volumes by 300% to 400% while maintaining the same staffing levels.
Speaking with Reuters, Bozeman characterized the stock decline as a “short-term reaction” and emphasized his company’s competitive advantages. He pointed to C.H. Robinson’s size and extensive proprietary database as assets that would be expensive and challenging for competitors to match.
“We’re going to go into agentic artificial intelligence that’s going to make us faster and even better,” Bozeman stated.
The CEO predicts increased consolidation within the industry as smaller firms struggle to compete in an AI-focused marketplace that demands substantial data resources and specialized knowledge – capabilities that cannot be quickly developed even with significant investment.
C.H. Robinson recently announced fourth-quarter earnings that exceeded Wall Street projections, with AI-powered improvements contributing to streamlined operations and reduced manual work in routine business functions.
As of Monday afternoon trading, the company’s stock was trading at $178.44, down 6.1%, though it has regained some value since the mid-February selloff.
Anthropic, the company behind the Claude chatbot, announced Monday that three Chinese artificial intelligence firms illegally extracted technology from their system to enhance their own AI models. This revelation comes just weeks after OpenAI made similar accusations against Chinese competitors.
According to Anthropic’s blog post, the Chinese companies DeepSeek, Moonshot, and MiniMax established approximately 24,000 fraudulent accounts to generate over 16 million interactions with Claude. This activity violated the company’s user agreements and geographic access limitations.
The firms employed a method known as “distillation,” where an established AI system evaluates responses from a developing model, essentially copying the knowledge and capabilities of the mature technology, Anthropic explained.
In a previous memo obtained by Reuters, OpenAI had alerted U.S. government officials that DeepSeek was specifically targeting ChatGPT and other leading American AI companies to duplicate their models for training purposes.
“These campaigns are growing in intensity and sophistication. The window to act is narrow, and the threat extends beyond any single company or region,” Anthropic stated in their disclosure.
Each Chinese company focused on different aspects of Claude’s capabilities. DeepSeek concentrated on reasoning abilities across various tasks and developing alternatives to policy-restricted queries. Moonshot pursued advanced reasoning, tool integration, coding, and data analysis features.
MiniMax targeted coding capabilities, tool usage, and system coordination. Anthropic discovered this particular operation while it was still ongoing, before MiniMax had launched the model they were developing.
“When we released a new model during MiniMax’s active campaign, they pivoted within 24 hours, redirecting nearly half their traffic to capture capabilities from our latest system,” the blog post said.
None of the three Chinese companies responded to requests for comment regarding these allegations.
Michelle Wie West, the former U.S. Women’s Open winner, has announced she’s ending her retirement to participate in a cutting-edge indoor golf competition backed by golf superstars Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.
The Hawaiian golfer stepped away from professional competition in 2023 after capturing five LPGA Tour victories during her career. She holds a limited ownership stake in TGL’s Los Angeles Golf Club squad, which features players Collin Morikawa, Tommy Fleetwood, Justin Rose and Sahith Theegala.
“I’m excited for the chance to compete again through WTGL, which will be a powerful platform for women’s golf,” stated Wie West, who represented the U.S. in five Solheim Cup competitions. “I’m passionate about growing the game, and TGL has proved how new formats through the lens of innovation and creativity can bring golf to a broader audience.”
The LPGA partnered with TMRW Sports in January to launch the WTGL, featuring elite female golfers in rapid-fire team competitions at the SoFi Center located in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
Several top-ranked players have already committed to the league, including world number one Jeeno Thitikul, along with Charley Hull (ranked 3rd), Lydia Ko (6th), and Lottie Woad (8th).
Wie West made history in 2003 when she became the youngest player ever to survive the cut in an LPGA tournament at just 13 years old. Her career trajectory included a near-miss at making the cut in a men’s PGA Tour event the following year, though injuries and health issues plagued her throughout her professional journey.
Monday’s trading session at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange brought mostly declining values for dairy commodities, with block cheese standing as the lone exception to the downward trend.
Dry whey prices fell by 2.5 cents to settle at 65.5 cents, though no transactions were completed during the session. Meanwhile, 40-pound blocks of cheese bucked the overall trend, climbing 1.75 cents to reach $1.5150 per pound. Trading activity was robust for cheese blocks, with six transactions recorded at prices spanning from $1.49 to $1.5150.
Cheese barrels maintained their previous closing price of $1.49 per pound without any recorded sales activity. Butter experienced the steepest decline of the day, dropping 5.75 cents to $1.8125 per pound. This commodity saw significant trading volume with 18 transactions completed, with prices ranging between $1.81 and $1.87 per pound.
Nonfat dry milk rounded out the session with a 4-cent decrease, closing at $1.6450 per pound. Two sales were documented for this commodity, with transactions occurring at $1.64 and $1.6450 per pound.
The NBA handed down identical $35,000 fines Monday to Memphis Grizzlies guard Scotty Pippen Jr. and Miami Heat forward Myron Gardner following their involvement in a court brawl during Saturday’s game in Miami.
The incident unfolded during the final minutes of Miami’s 136-120 win over Memphis, with just 1 minute and 55 seconds left on the clock. After Pippen missed an attempt and began retreating down court, Gardner made contact with him from behind, sending Pippen tumbling to the ground. Pippen then pursued Gardner to the opposite end of the court, confronted him verbally while pointing, then delivered a forceful shove that sent both players tumbling off the court where they continued wrestling until officials and teammates separated them.
According to the league’s official statement, “Gardner initiated the incident by bumping Pippen from behind, causing Pippen to fall to the floor. Pippen further escalated the altercation by forcefully shoving Gardner in response.”
Officials issued technical fouls to both players and removed them from the contest, though neither received a suspension.
The 25-year-old Pippen is posting averages of 12.5 points and 4.8 assists through four appearances this season for Memphis, including one starting assignment.
Gardner, age 24, has appeared in 28 games for Miami this year with four starts, averaging 4.2 points and 3.0 rebounds per contest.
LONDON – Britain’s public broadcaster issued an apology Monday after failing to remove offensive language from its coverage of the country’s premier film awards ceremony, where a guest living with Tourette syndrome called out a racial slur during a presentation by two Black performers.
The incident took place Sunday evening at the British Academy Film Awards as actors Michael B Jordan and Delroy Lindo took the stage to present an award. John Davidson, whose life story inspired the award-winning film “I Swear,” shouted the offensive term from the audience. When the BBC aired its delayed broadcast approximately two hours later, the slur remained in the program and stayed available on the network’s streaming service until Monday morning.
Meanwhile, the broadcaster chose to remove director Akinola Davies Jr’s “Free Palestine” comment from his acceptance speech in the edited version.
Davidson had been invited to attend Sunday’s London ceremony after his personal journey with Tourette syndrome became the basis for “I Swear,” which received multiple honors at the awards show. The neurological condition causes individuals to experience sudden, uncontrollable sounds or movements called tics, which may sometimes involve profanity.
A BBC representative acknowledged Monday that audience members may have been exposed to “strong and offensive language” during the awards broadcast.
“This arose from involuntary verbal tics associated with Tourette syndrome, and as explained during the ceremony it was not intentional. We apologise that this was not edited out prior to broadcast and it will now be removed from the version on BBC iPlayer,” the spokesperson stated.
The British Academy of Film and Television Arts organization did not provide a response when contacted for comment.
During the live ceremony, host Alan Cumming addressed the situation later in the evening, explaining that the individual with Tourette’s could not control his words and stating: “We apologise if you were offended.”
Several prominent figures in the entertainment industry expressed frustration with how the situation was handled. Wendell Pierce, who appeared alongside Jordan in “The Wire,” took to social media platform X to voice his anger that the two presenting actors did not receive an immediate and comprehensive apology.
“The insult to them takes priority,” Pierce wrote. “It doesn’t matter the reasoning for the racist slur.”
Hannah Beachler, who worked as production designer on “Sinners,” described the circumstances as an “impossible situation” but criticized what she called a “throw-away” apology for making matters worse. “Of course we were offended,” Beachler commented.
The film “Sinners,” a vampire thriller highlighting blues music and Black culture during America’s segregation period, is experiencing a remarkable awards season that has been celebrated as historic for Black filmmakers.
The movie earned a record-breaking 16 Academy Award nominations and claimed three victories at the British awards: best original screenplay for writer-director Ryan Coogler, best supporting actress for Wunmi Mosaku, and best original score.
Jordan received nominations across multiple award ceremonies, including an Oscar nod, for his dual role as twin brothers in the film. Lindo, an accomplished stage and screen performer, also earned an Oscar nomination.
“I Swear” chronicles Davidson’s experience growing up with Tourette syndrome and how the condition shaped his life, leading him to become an advocate for raising public understanding of the disorder.
The advocacy organization Tourettes Action released a statement acknowledging the pain Davidson’s words caused at the awards ceremony while emphasizing that such outbursts do not represent a person’s true beliefs, intentions, or character.
“We are deeply sorry to the Black community for the harm caused but at the same time, it is vital that the public understands a fundamental truth about Tourette syndrome: tics are involuntary,” the group’s statement read.
Municipal leaders in Lewes have issued fresh guidance concerning winter weather conditions expected to impact the coastal Delaware community on February 23rd, 2026.
The Lewes administration, working alongside the Board of Public Works, has distributed updated advisories to help residents prepare for the incoming storm system.
City officials are coordinating with utility services to ensure essential operations continue during the weather event, while keeping the public informed about any potential service disruptions or safety measures.
Residents are encouraged to monitor official city communications channels for the most current information as conditions develop throughout the day.
A high-profile attorney who successfully represented American businesses before the Supreme Court in their fight against former President Trump’s trade tariffs is now calling for the federal government to issue refunds with interest to affected companies.
Neal Katyal, who served as the legal advocate for U.S. firms during the high court proceedings challenging the Trump administration’s tariff policies, maintains that Washington owes these businesses financial compensation for the fees they were forced to pay.
The Supreme Court case centered on whether the Trump-era tariffs imposed on various imported goods were legally justified, with Katyal’s clients arguing the trade measures caused significant financial harm to their operations.
According to Katyal, now that the legal challenge has been resolved in favor of the business community, the federal government has an obligation to return the collected tariff payments along with accumulated interest to the companies that were required to pay them.
The attorney’s push for reimbursement comes as businesses across the country continue to assess the long-term financial impact of the trade policies implemented during the previous administration.
The Las Vegas Raiders find themselves in a familiar position – starting from the bottom with hopes of climbing back to the top following a disastrous 2025 season.
After posting a league-worst 3-14 record, the Silver and Black have earned the top selection in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft as the new league year approaches in March.
The franchise faces substantial challenges in returning to competitive form, with extensive roster needs across multiple positions.
However, Las Vegas enters this crucial offseason period with significant resources at their disposal. The organization possesses ten draft picks and boasts more than $87 million in available salary cap room, providing ample opportunity to rebuild a depleted roster and challenge for relevance in the competitive AFC West division.
Financial flexibility highlights the Raiders’ rebuilding position:
Available salary cap space for 2026: $87.2 million
Largest individual cap hit: Defensive end Maxx Crosby at $35.791 million
Notable players entering free agency include offensive guard Dylan Parham, defensive end Malcolm Koonce, center Jordan Meredith (restricted free agent), quarterback Kenny Pickett, cornerback Eric Stokes, linebacker Elandon Roberts, and kicker Daniel Carlson.
Priority positions for improvement include quarterback, offensive line, wide receiver, and defensive line.
The Raiders’ 2026 draft capital includes:
Round 1: Pick 1
Round 2: Pick 36
Round 3: Pick 67
Round 4: Picks 102, 117, and 134
Round 5: Pick 174
Round 6: Picks 180 and 183
Round 7: Pick 220
This combination of draft assets and financial resources positions the Raiders to make substantial improvements as they prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine and a potentially franchise-altering offseason.
Four Syrian government security forces were killed Monday when ISIS militants attacked a checkpoint in northern Syria, according to the country’s state news agency, marking the terrorist organization’s most lethal strike against government troops since President Bashar al-Assad was removed from power.
The deadly incident occurred at a security post located west of Raqqa city and represents a significant increase in hostile activities by the extremist organization targeting President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration. This attack follows ISIS’s recent announcement just two days prior, when the group proclaimed “a new phase of operations” against Syria’s current leadership.
While ISIS has not yet taken responsibility for Monday’s deadly assault, the terrorist group did claim credit for two separate attacks over the weekend that targeted Syrian military personnel in the country’s northern and eastern regions, resulting in the deaths of one soldier and one civilian.
Syrian state media reported that government forces successfully repelled the Monday attack and eliminated one of the attacking militants. A security official confirmed to the news agency that ISIS was responsible for carrying out the assault.
Syria’s government became part of the U.S.-led international effort to defeat ISIS last year. During January, Syrian government troops took control of Raqqa city from the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces and secured significant portions of surrounding territory across northern and eastern Syria.
At the same time, American military personnel started their departure Monday from their primary base in northeastern Syria, according to three Syrian military and security officials. This withdrawal is part of a larger pullback of U.S. forces who were originally deployed to Syria ten years ago to combat ISIS.
A major winter storm is causing widespread transportation chaos throughout the northeastern United States, bringing air and rail travel to a complete halt across large portions of the region.
Weather experts are warning that driving conditions have become extremely dangerous and nearly impossible in the areas experiencing the storm’s most severe impact. The harsh conditions have forced the suspension of flight operations and train services in numerous locations.
The storm’s intensity has created hazardous situations for anyone attempting to travel, with authorities strongly advising people to avoid unnecessary trips until conditions improve.
LONDON — For the first time in nine decades, Britain may remove a royal family member from the line of succession to the throne. The UK government announced it’s exploring legal measures to formally exclude Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the monarchy’s succession order.
King Charles III’s younger brother currently holds the eighth position in line for the crown, even though he lost his prince title last October due to his connections with deceased convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Constitutional experts warn that eliminating him from succession could take considerable time since it would need approval from approximately a dozen nations that recognize the British monarch as their head of state.
However, support for this change appears to be growing following Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest last week on charges of suspected misconduct in public office. The 66-year-old faces accusations of providing confidential trade secrets to Epstein during his tenure as Britain’s trade representative between 2001 and 2011. These allegations emerged after the US Justice Department released extensive Epstein-related documents last month.
Authorities released Mountbatten-Windsor on Thursday after holding him for approximately 11 hours, though the investigation continues.
“The government is clear that we are not ruling out action in respect of the line of succession at this stage, and we will consider whether any further steps are required in due course,” Chief Secretary Darren Jones informed Parliament members on Monday.
Jones emphasized that any action would wait until police complete their investigation.
The current succession order places Prince William as heir apparent, followed by his three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Prince Harry ranks fifth, with his children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in sixth and seventh positions respectively.
Mountbatten-Windsor, who held second place at birth, now sits in eighth position. His daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, occupy ninth and twelfth places.
Parliamentary legislation would be necessary to remove him from succession, requiring lawmaker approval.
The Liberal Democrats have openly endorsed such action.
“I think it would be intolerable for Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor to succeed to the crown,” party leader Ed Davey stated last week. “It’s not as remote as some people think.”
Commonwealth nations where Charles serves as head of state would also need to approve succession changes.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed Monday his willingness to support any UK plan to exclude Mountbatten-Windsor.
“These are grave allegations and Australians take them seriously,” Albanese wrote to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. “I agree with His Majesty that the law must now take its full course and there must be a full, fair and proper investigation.”
Starmer’s administration hasn’t received comparable letters from the other 13 countries recognizing Charles as head of state, including Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and Tuvalu.
University College London politics professor Robert Hazell, who established the Constitution Unit, noted that some nations would need formal constitutional amendments while others could act through legislation. He questioned whether governments would invest time removing someone ranked eighth in succession.
“The last time this happened was for the Succession to the Crown Act 2013, which made the law of royal succession gender neutral,” Hazell explained. “It took two years of protracted negotiations for all the different countries to amend their own laws or constitutions.”
Questions remain about whether excluding Mountbatten-Windsor would impact his daughters and their children.
“Not necessarily — it depends how the legislation is framed,” Hazell said.
The most recent royal removal from succession occurred when King Edward VIII abdicated in December 1936 to wed American divorcee Wallis Simpson. That legislation eliminated both him and any future descendants from the succession list.
King Charles hasn’t publicly revealed his position on removing his brother from succession. The monarch has emphasized allowing the legal process to proceed, stating: “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all.”
British media reports suggest the palace wouldn’t oppose legislative changes to remove Mountbatten-Windsor from succession. The Times of London reported Saturday that an unnamed palace source said the royal family would “never get in the way” of Parliament’s decisions.
A coalition of environmental and conservation organizations has filed a federal court petition seeking to halt the agricultural use of dicamba herbicide on cotton and soybean crops.
The National Family Farm Coalition and Center for Food Safety, along with other advocacy groups, are challenging three recently approved product labels in their legal filing. The organizations argue that the Environmental Protection Agency failed to comply with requirements outlined in the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act during the approval process.
The lawsuit specifically targets the EPA’s authorization for over-the-top dicamba applications, a farming practice where the herbicide is sprayed directly over crops that have been genetically modified to resist the chemical.
LONDON — Authorities in Britain have detained Peter Mandelson, the former United Kingdom’s ambassador to America, as part of an ongoing investigation into his connections with Jeffrey Epstein. The arrest occurred on Monday, just days following the detention of former Prince Andrew in a related case involving the convicted financier.
The detention comes as authorities continue examining over 3 million pages of Epstein-related materials made public by the U.S. Justice Department.
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers detained a 72-year-old individual on charges related to misconduct in public office at a residence in northern London. The suspect was transported to a police facility for interrogation.
While police did not release the suspect’s identity following standard British protocol, the individual has been previously identified as the former diplomat, who is 72 years old. Video footage captured Mandelson being escorted from his London residence by two undercover officers on Monday afternoon.
British law permits authorities to detain suspects without formal charges for up to 24 hours, with possible extensions reaching 96 hours maximum. Mandelson may face formal charges, unconditional release, or release pending continued investigation.
Investigators are examining allegations that Mandelson shared confidential government data with Epstein approximately fifteen years ago. The case does not involve any sexual misconduct accusations.
His detention occurred four days following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Prince Andrew, on similar charges connected to his relationship with Epstein. Andrew was freed after spending 11 hours in custody while the investigation proceeds.
Mandelson lost his diplomatic position in September after published emails revealed he continued his relationship with Epstein following the financier’s 2008 conviction on sex crimes involving a minor.
Mandelson held high-ranking government positions under previous Labour administrations and served as Britain’s ambassador to Washington until Prime Minister Keir Starmer dismissed him in September due to his Epstein connections.
The Epstein documents indicate that Mandelson shared confidential government intelligence with Epstein in 2009, when Mandelson held a government position. This included an internal government analysis exploring methods for Britain to generate revenue following the 2008 financial crisis, including through government asset sales. Mandelson also reportedly informed Epstein he would advocate with other government officials to lower taxes on banking bonuses.
British authorities initiated a criminal investigation earlier this month and conducted searches of Mandelson’s residences in London and western England.
Starmer’s decision to appoint Mandelson nearly jeopardized his position as questions arose about his judgment regarding someone with a controversial political history spanning decades.
While Starmer has admitted his error and issued apologies to Epstein’s victims, his political future remains uncertain. His survival may depend on files related to Mandelson’s appointment. The government has committed to releasing these documents in early March, though his arrest may complicate this schedule.
Mandelson has remained a significant, though controversial, figure within the center-left Labour Party for decades. He is recognized as a skilled political strategist whose expertise in political maneuvering earned him the moniker “Prince of Darkness.”
As the grandson of former Labour Cabinet member Herbert Morrison, he helped orchestrate the party’s 1997 return to power as the centrist “New Labour” movement under Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Mandelson occupied senior government roles under Blair from 1997 to 2001, and under Prime Minister Gordon Brown from 2008 to 2010. He also served as the European Union’s trade commissioner during this period. Brown has expressed particular anger over these revelations and has assisted police in their investigation.
During the Blair years, Mandelson resigned from government twice due to allegations of financial or ethical violations, admitting errors while maintaining his innocence.
He subsequently returned to government service and resumed frontline politics when Starmer appointed him as ambassador to Washington at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second administration. Mandelson’s trade knowledge and ease with wealthy individuals were viewed as significant advantages. He successfully negotiated a trade agreement in May that protected Britain from some tariffs Trump imposed globally.
The agreement’s future remains uncertain following Trump’s announcement of new worldwide tariffs after a Supreme Court ruling overturned his previous import tax directive.
BOGOTA, Colombia — Unlawful gold extraction is expanding across Peru’s Amazon rainforest, pushing into pristine areas and Indigenous lands as environmental experts sound alarms about a growing ecological and health crisis that may cause permanent harm.
This expansion represents a new chapter for one of the Amazon’s most damaging industries, with operations spreading beyond traditional hotspots into previously pristine regions, according to environmental advocates, scientists, and Indigenous community leaders who spoke with The Associated Press.
The growth is speeding up forest destruction, poisoning waterways with mercury, and bringing violence and criminal organizations to isolated communities, despite government claims of increased enforcement efforts.
Previously concentrated mainly in the southern Amazon area of Madre de Dios, these activities are now spreading northward into areas including Loreto and Ucayali.
Peru’s top official fighting unlawful mining, Rodolfo García Esquerre, confirmed this trend during a television appearance in early February.
“Unfortunately, we have illegal mining in all regions of Peru,” he stated on TVPERU news channel.
Unlawful miners clear forests using bulldozers, dig pits in floodplains, and use floating equipment that removes river sediment while searching for gold. This process creates pools of contaminated, mercury-filled water and damaged riverbanks, while mining camps and access routes penetrate deeper into untouched forest areas.
Peruvian environmental attorney César Ipenza explained that this expansion has quickened recently as gold values have soared. Gold has been selling for approximately $2,000 per ounce throughout 2026 — approaching record levels and roughly twice its value from ten years ago.
“Illegal mining has increased considerably,” Ipenza stated, highlighting new operations in Huanuco, Pasco, Loreto, and near the Ecuador border as elevated gold prices make remote area operations financially feasible.
Julia Urrunaga, who directs Peru programs for the Environmental Investigation Agency nonprofit, reported that field observations show unlawful mining appearing in new locations this year, especially along river networks.
In affected areas, conservation workers report environmental changes become apparent quickly after unlawful mining begins.
“It happens pretty fast,” explained Luis Fernández, a research professor and senior fellow at Wake Forest University’s Sabin Center for Environment and Sustainability. “You’ll see changes in weeks to months once the machinery comes in … sediment plumes in the rivers almost immediately.”
At Peru’s Panguana Biological Station in the central Amazon, a private conservation site protecting some of the region’s most diverse forests, the damage is already apparent in 2026. The facility has become a frontline location in the unlawful mining expansion, administrator Fernando Malatesta told the AP.
“Where there were once intact forests … the rivers are now murky,” he explained. “You used to see crystal-clear water, but not anymore.”
Heavy equipment and road construction have invaded previously untouched forests. “It was an unrecognizable place,” Malatesta described after witnessing a nearby area cleared by dozens of machines in recent months.
Unlawful miners typically arrive via waterways with dredging machinery or by land with excavators, quickly clearing terrain and modifying water systems.
At Panguana, Malatesta and his staff were compelled to abandon the station after intimidation intensified in 2025 and early 2026.
“They started threatening us … there were people with machetes,” he recalled, describing confrontations with miners and local residents.
Scientists connect such violence to increasing participation by organized criminal networks.
“Transnational criminal groups are becoming more significant every day,” stated Ipenza, the environmental attorney.
Urrunaga explained that unlawful gold extraction has become a major revenue source for criminal organizations.
“Sadly, it’s very connected. It’s a source of income for many of the organized crime activities happening in the country,” she noted, adding that the operations are also “deeply linked to the political forces in the country right now.”
In late 2023, Peru’s administration established a high-level multi-agency commission to fight unlawful mining and supervise efforts to legitimize small-scale miners.
Government representatives report ongoing enforcement activities. Recent operations have led to confiscation and destruction of equipment valued at more than 60 million soles ($16 million) used in unlawful mining operations.
However, environmental advocates argue that ground-level enforcement remains insufficient.
The Peruvian government did not respond immediately to requests for comment. Rodolfo García Esquerre, Peru’s top official fighting unlawful mining who was appointed in 2024, declined to provide comment.
Indigenous community leaders report the expansion is impacting communities throughout the Amazon.
“This is already being heard in other parts of the Amazon. It is spreading through Loreto and Ucayali,” explained Julio Cusurichi, an Indigenous leader from Madre de Dios. He described how external miners arrive rapidly, clearing forests and contaminating rivers.
“There is fear,” Cusurichi stated, noting that more than 30 Indigenous leaders have been murdered in recent years while defending their territories.
At Panguana, Malatesta reported that Indigenous communities in some regions have started participating in mining due to financial necessity, while others attempt to resist.
“They are supporting illegal mining … they are selling their land thinking they are making the deal of the year,” he explained, cautioning that mining revenue “doesn’t last forever.”
Urrunaga emphasized that environmental destruction is directly connected to serious health dangers for communities.
“The devastation generated by gold mining is terrible in terms of the environment and through the environment also for human health,” she stated, explaining how mercury used for gold extraction contaminates rivers and the food and water consumed by Indigenous communities where fish is a primary food source.
“Mercury becomes the delivery system for poison,” Fernández explained, describing how it accumulates through food chains and impacts children’s brain development.
Claudia Vega, a scientist and mercury program coordinator at the Amazon Center for Scientific Innovation, CINCIA, warned that mining expansion into fish-dependent Amazonian communities could have devastating effects.
“Amazonian communities are already vulnerable … they eat fish every day,” she noted. “If you put mining in that type of place … you are adding more risk.”
She cautioned contamination could reach levels comparable to Japan’s Minamata disaster, where mercury poisoning caused widespread neurological harm.
“We can have deformities, loss of vision, loss of hearing,” she warned.
Scientists caution that mining expansion could have permanent consequences.
“We’re going to see a conversion of river corridors, flood plains and forests,” Fernández predicted.
Urrunaga argued that international gold purchasers “need to be accountable for the destruction that their consumption is generating in terms of the environment, but most importantly in terms of human lives.”
As gold values climb and global demand persists, scientists warn that continued expansion could push Amazon regions closer to an ecological breaking point, with vast rainforest areas transforming into damaged savanna-like environments.
“Every tree that falls, every river that is contaminated and every animal that disappears remind us that we are losing an irreplaceable treasure,” Malatesta concluded.
TORONTO — Canadian officials revealed Monday they are developing assistance measures for Cuba as the Caribbean nation grapples with widespread power outages and critical fuel shortages intensified by U.S. oil sanctions.
Foreign Minister Anita Anand refused to elaborate on specific details regarding the assistance package.
“We are preparing a plan to assist. We are not prepared at this point to provide any details of the announcement,” Anand stated.
The Caribbean island confronts a worsening energy emergency that has escalated in recent weeks following the suspension of oil deliveries from Venezuela, Cuba’s primary petroleum supplier, after U.S. actions against the South American nation in early January resulted in the arrest of its leader. Mexico, another key supplier, subsequently halted oil shipments following U.S. pressure.
Air Canada along with other carriers have suspended service to the Caribbean nation due to aviation fuel shortages on the island.
Tourism from Canada plays a crucial role in Cuba’s economic stability. Global Affairs Canada, a government department, reports that Canada ranks as Cuba’s second-largest source of direct investment, especially in mining and tourism industries.
Canada will be joining Mexico in offering assistance.
Earlier this month, two Mexican naval vessels carrying humanitarian supplies arrived in Cuba, occurring two weeks after U.S. President Donald Trump warned of imposing tariffs on nations selling oil to the island, further worsening an already critical economic and energy situation in the Caribbean country. The vessels delivered approximately 800 tons of supplies, plus an additional 1,500 tons of powdered milk and beans.
Cuba’s economic troubles that began in 2020 have been worsened by heightened U.S. sanctions designed to pressure changes in the island’s political system. These measures have created critical supply shortages and devastating blackouts that reached their worst point in early 2026.
Since Cuba only generates 40% of its needed fuel domestically, the nation remains extremely susceptible to external blockades. Although strong allies including Russia and China have criticized the U.S. actions, their assistance has been mostly symbolic to date.
The mother of Georgia school shooting suspect Colt Gray told a courtroom Monday that she warned the teen’s father to secure firearms in their home before the deadly attack at Apalachee High School.
Marcee Gray took the witness stand in the criminal trial of Colin Gray, testifying that she specifically asked him to store the weapons in his vehicle where her son couldn’t reach them.
“They need to be locked somewhere,” she informed jurors in the Winder, Georgia courtroom. “Initially he said he would.”
Her testimony launched the second week of proceedings against Colin Gray, who is facing 29 criminal charges including two second-degree murder counts and two involuntary manslaughter counts. Legal officials argue the father bears responsibility for providing his son with the firearm used in the attack, which he had given as a holiday present despite apparent warning signals about the boy’s mental state.
The younger Gray, age 14 during the September 4, 2024 incident, is charged with 55 counts including murder for the deaths of four individuals and 25 aggravated assault charges. Authorities allege he methodically planned the assault at the Winder school that claimed the lives of two educators and two students while injuring multiple others.
Last week’s court sessions included emotional testimony from Georgia students who described the terror of being wounded during their math class. Through tears, they recalled witnessing a fellow student lying in blood and discovering their own injuries while fearing for their lives. Evidence has also emerged about what prosecutors call a “shrine” honoring a Florida school attacker that Colt maintained near his home computer.
The case represents part of a growing trend nationwide where prosecutors seek to hold parents accountable when their children commit fatal school shootings.
During the months preceding the shooting, Colt’s parents had separated, with the teenager primarily residing with his father. Marcee Gray faces no charges related to the school attack.
She revealed that Colt showed fascination with Nikolas Cruz, who was convicted for the 2018 Parkland, Florida shooting that killed 14 students and three staff members at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. However, Marcee Gray explained she initially viewed her son’s interest as comparable to her own attraction to true crime programming.
She recounted a disturbing conversation where Colt mentioned using tactical gear his father purchased to complete what he called his “school shooter outfit,” though he claimed to be joking.
“He was talking about a vest, his dad buying him a vest, and he said it in what I thought was a joking manner because he was laughing,” she testified. “He was talking about getting the vest and he said ‘yeah, I’ve got to finish my school shooter outfit,’ or something like that or ‘dad’s going to finish my finish my school shooter outfit.’”
Defense attorney Brian Hobbs, representing Colin Gray, maintains that his client couldn’t have known about the shooting plans because “the planning and timing were hidden by Colt Gray from his father.”
“That’s the difference between tragedy and criminal liability,” Hobbs previously stated. “You cannot hold someone criminally responsible for failing to predict what was intentionally hidden from them.”
Investigators say Colt Gray concealed a semiautomatic rifle in his backpack, with the barrel protruding and covered by poster board, when he boarded his school bus. After leaving his second-period class, he reportedly retrieved the weapon from a restroom and opened fire in classrooms and hallways.
District Attorney Brad Smith told jurors during opening statements that Colin Gray had presented the firearm to his son as a Christmas present and subsequently purchased additional equipment, including “a lot of ammunition.”
An investigator testified that Colin Gray was aware of his son’s declining mental health and had contacted counseling services weeks before the tragedy.
“We have had a very difficult past couple of years and he needs help. Anger, anxiety, quick to be volatile. I don’t know what to do,” Colin Gray wrote about his son.
Despite these concerns, Smith noted that Colin Gray never completed the process of having his son admitted to an inpatient treatment facility.
When the overwhelming volume of Jeffrey Epstein-related documents becomes too much to handle, Ellie Leonard steps away from her computer for a brief walk outdoors. But she always returns to continue her work.
This New Jersey mother of four has joined hundreds of amateur investigators and citizen journalists who have become captivated by the materials tied to the deceased Jeffrey Epstein. Leonard is committed to uncovering the truth about his criminal sex trafficking operation and his connections to influential figures worldwide, sharing her findings through her Substack publication.
“I like a good puzzle,” Leonard said. “I like an investigation. I like things that we have to solve and looking for clues.”
Major news organizations jumped into action immediately after the Justice Department made public more than three million document pages and thousands of visual materials on January 30th. Hundreds of reporters from The Associated Press, CBS, NBC, MS NOW and CNBC are working together to analyze these files and distribute their discoveries.
The New York Times alone has assigned dozens of reporters to review the documents, employing artificial intelligence technology to accelerate their analysis. Despite these efforts, the publication acknowledged last week that they have only scratched the surface of the available material.
This is precisely where individuals like Ellie Leonard become valuable contributors.
A continuous flow of news reports has emerged as investigators uncover more information and various people and organizations respond. Some discoveries have resulted in high-profile departures – including the chief legal officer at Goldman Sachs, executive chairman at Hyatt Hotel, chairman of the law firm Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison, and government officials in Slovakia and Norway.
SmartNews has positioned itself as one independent platform claiming to provide trustworthy summaries of the coverage. “CNN is focused on one angle, Fox is pushing another, Twitter is a mess,” a narrator stated in one of their social media advertisements. “I’m seeing the same story with completely different narratives … Who do I trust?”
Given this landscape, there’s significant opportunity for people like Leonard. Her career has largely revolved around journalism-related work, operating a transcription services company until artificial intelligence made it mostly unnecessary. She briefly worked in education and contributed political and social commentary to her Substack publication, The Panicked Writer.
However, after witnessing the response generated when she began examining Epstein documents several months ago, she decided to dedicate her entire professional focus to this work.
Leonard describes her excitement at discovering, at 1 a.m. during a late-night research session, a document involving attorney Alan Dershowitz and Virginia Giuffre, who has accused multiple men in Epstein’s circle of sexual abuse. Her recent Substack articles have covered contents from a young victim’s diary and email exchanges between Epstein and Sarah Ferguson.
Leonard explained that she searches for details that others might overlook and enjoys demonstrating connections within Epstein’s extensive network. “I’m putting four kids into the world,” she said, “and I don’t want to see something like this happen again.”
Journalist Wajahat Ali, who operates the Left Hook Substack, expressed admiration for Leonard’s efforts and frequently highlights her work on his platform. Some citizen journalists investigating Epstein gather on livestreams to discuss their findings.
Throughout the past ten years, Ali has observed the emergence of a community fascinated by true crime stories who enjoy analyzing evidence and developing their own theories. Law enforcement officials involved in the Arizona search for the missing mother of NBC’s Savannah Guthrie have expressed frustration about interference from amateur investigators.
Ali described the Epstein files as “the mother lode.” “If you love conspiracy theories, if you love true crime, this is the ‘Citizen Kane’ of true crime. It is the unfortunately sordid gift that will keep on giving.”
Similar to Leonard, Anne P. Mitchell and Kassandra Mable Costa bring professional experience that aids their work with the Epstein documents. Costa, based in North Carolina, applies research skills from her marketing career. Mitchell, a former Colorado law professor, specializes in locating legal documents and translating their meaning into understandable language.
Both fascinated and disturbed by the story, Costa was attracted to the original source materials. Rather than publishing her discoveries, she uses her abilities to assist others, gathering evidence for a friend attempting to have former Maine Sen. George Mitchell’s name removed from an elementary school. The former senator has denied any wrongdoing, but the documents reveal he maintained contact with the sex offender.
“I am not really politically active,” Costa said. “There are ways that I try to help and ways that I try to create a better world. But I’m not overly political. I’m not looking for conflict, I’m not looking for controversy.”
Anne P. Mitchell’s “Notes From the Front” Substack functions as a hub for Epstein researchers; she organizes discussion groups and provides access to numerous documents for her few thousand paid subscribers. “We may have just found a smoking gun,” she writes about a file containing images that appear to show men with victims. Both Mitchell and Leonard provide some content free to followers while charging for premium material.
Mitchell praises people working through the Epstein files. “The more people who are doing it, the more that is going to come to light,” she said. “But I’m guessing that the more people who are doing it, the more it’s not going to be good for their mental health.”
Matthew LaPlante, a journalism professor at Utah State University, believes having more citizens applying reporting techniques – whether they realize it or not – can benefit society. He referenced Minneapolis residents who used cell phones to document immigration enforcement activities.
The drawback, he explains, is that few of these individuals have training in the meticulous process of fact verification – or understand the legal consequences of publishing unconfirmed information. The New York Times, in an article explaining their examination process to readers, emphasized this need for caution. “We don’t publish anonymous information that we can’t verify ourselves,” the newspaper stated.
LaPlante highlighted one Substack post from last week containing more than a dozen videos from the files, most heavily redacted and confusing without proper context – including footage of two unidentified men interacting with a sex doll.
The Epstein files contain numerous unverified allegations, some quite extreme. How much of this unvetted material will enter public discussion – not to mention false or manipulated information created by bad actors?
“What is in the files is damaging enough,” Ali said. “You don’t need to indulge in conspiracy theories. It would be a disservice to the survivors and would hurt the credibility of what is already there.”
There’s sufficient material to occupy the curious – both professionals and amateurs. Potentially, additional new or less-redacted documents may be released.
“I hope I’m around for 15 or 20 years,” said Mitchell, who is mostly homebound due to health concerns. “Because I really think it’s going to take that long for the full extent of this to be exposed.”
American skiing legend Lindsey Vonn disclosed Monday that emergency medical intervention following her devastating crash at the Milano Cortina Olympics prevented the amputation of her left leg. The 41-year-old athlete is now recovering at home and expects to transition from a wheelchair to crutches within weeks.
In a detailed Instagram video post, Vonn explained that her terrifying accident just 13 seconds into the highly-anticipated women’s downhill race resulted in compartment syndrome – a dangerous condition where trauma causes pressure buildup within muscle groups, cutting off blood circulation.
The 2010 Olympic gold medalist and second-most accomplished female World Cup skier in history praised Dr. Tom Hackett from Team USA for his life-changing intervention. Hackett happened to be present in Cortina specifically because Vonn was competing despite recently tearing her left knee’s ACL.
“He saved my leg from being amputated,” Vonn explained in her video message, detailing how she fractured her tibia, fibular head and tibial plateau. “He did what’s called a fasciotomy, where he cut open both sides of my leg, kind of filleted it open, so to speak, let it breathe. And he saved me.”
The dramatic accident occurred while Vonn was skiing with a knee brace. She struck a gate with her shoulder, lost control, and was thrown airborne before careening off the course at tremendous speed and crashing in a devastating heap. Television audiences could hear her agonized screams while spectators and fellow competitors watched in stunned silence.
Following the crash, Vonn endured four surgical procedures at an Italian medical facility before returning to the United States, where she underwent an additional six-hour operation.
“It has been quite the journey and by far the most extreme and painful and challenging injury I’ve ever faced in my entire life, times 100,” Vonn stated.
The skiing champion also fractured her right ankle in the accident and spent longer than anticipated in the hospital. She experienced dangerously low hemoglobin levels due to blood loss from multiple surgeries, struggled with severe pain management, and required a blood transfusion that marked a turning point in her recovery.
Vonn anticipates approximately one year for complete bone healing before deciding whether to undergo additional surgery to repair her ACL injury.
“But I’m going to get right to work on rehab and see what I can do and take it one step at a time, like I always do,” Vonn said. “But it’s been – I can’t tell you how painful it’s been. It’s been really hard. And it was definitely not the way I wanted to end my Olympics.”
Banking giant Citigroup appears ready to finalize another major sale of its Mexican retail banking division, according to a Bloomberg News report published Monday.
Sources with knowledge of the negotiations tell Bloomberg that Citi is close to completing a deal that would transfer a 24% ownership stake in Grupo Financiero Banamex to an investment consortium led by Blackstone.
This potential transaction would build on Citi’s previous divestment move in late 2022, when the bank sold a 25% portion of Banamex to a company controlled by Mexican billionaire Fernando Chico Pardo and his family members.
When contacted about the Bloomberg report, Citigroup representatives refused to provide comment. Reuters was unable to confirm the details independently.
According to the report, the American banking institution is also in talks to distribute smaller ownership pieces – each representing less than 5% – to various companies and wealthy Mexican family investment offices. The potential buyers mentioned include General Atlantic, leadership from Grupo Televisa SAB, Brazil’s Banco BTG Pactual SA, Afore Sura, and the Mexican retirement fund operated by Colombia’s Sura Asset Management.
Should this deal move forward, it would represent another success for Citigroup’s ongoing efforts to shed its Banamex holdings after spending years searching for suitable buyers or acquisition partners.
The transaction would also continue Citi’s broader withdrawal from Latin American markets, where the institution previously maintained significant retail banking operations across Brazil, Argentina and Colombia.
Last December’s stake sale to Mexico’s Pardo, who assumed the role of Banamex chairman as part of that agreement, resulted in a $726 million goodwill impairment charge for Citigroup during the third quarter. Such charges typically occur when assets are sold for less than their recorded book value.
Citigroup originally acquired Banamex through a $12.5 billion purchase in 2001. The Mexican bank represents the final international consumer banking divestiture in CEO Jane Fraser’s organizational restructuring strategy unveiled in 2021. Under that plan, the bank pledged to exit 14 markets spanning Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Mexico.
Financial markets are grappling with fresh trade policy uncertainty after President Donald Trump unveiled a 15% tariff this week, following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn his broader trade levies last week.
On Monday, domestic lumber companies saw their stock prices drop amid concerns that cheaper foreign imports could undercut their pricing power. Meanwhile, Wall Street experts predict that retailers and exchange-traded funds focused on emerging markets could see gains down the road.
Several market sectors are positioned to feel the effects of this latest shift in U.S. trade strategy:
RETAIL AND CONSUMER GOODS
Investment firm Jefferies identified several companies that could see the biggest gains from tariff reductions, including electronics retailer Best Buy, high-end fashion brand Ralph Lauren, and athletic wear company Nike.
Target and cosmetics company Elf Beauty are also expected to benefit, according to Jefferies research.
Morgan Stanley analysts noted that products like toys, sporting goods, and games – which previously faced very high tariff rates – may see improvements since Trump’s new levy represents a 4% decrease from earlier rates.
ONLINE RETAIL PLATFORMS
BofA Global Research suggests smaller and mid-sized e-commerce companies will see varied effects from the policy changes.
Following Friday’s court ruling, stocks of Etsy, eBay, Wayfair, and Chewy had climbed higher. But Trump’s new worldwide tariff approach is expected to create additional uncertainty.
According to BofA, Etsy appears best positioned to weather tariff fluctuations due to its global diversification across multiple trade routes and nations. Roughly half of the platform’s buyers and sellers operate outside the United States, with no individual importing country accounting for more than 4% of total sales revenue.
Pet supply retailer Chewy and furniture platform Wayfair are expected to face minimal impact, with Wayfair having already adjusted to previous year’s tariff changes, the investment firm noted.
PAPER, LUMBER, AND PACKAGING INDUSTRIES
The court’s tariff decision threatens to erode the competitive advantage that domestic packaging and lumber businesses previously held against lower-cost foreign competitors, industry analysts warn.
RBC analysts identified potential negative consequences for companies including Clearwater Paper, Rayonier, Sylvamo, and Smurfit WestRock.
A recent industry survey revealed that most U.S. purchasers reported declining containerboard prices in February, as increased European imports expanded supply and created additional pricing pressures.
Monday trading saw Smurfit and domestic competitor International Paper decline by 7% and 6%, respectively.
AUTOMOTIVE SECTOR
Traditional car manufacturers Ford Motor and General Motors have faced ongoing challenges from tariff policies throughout Trump’s second presidential term, but the recent ruling is unlikely to provide relief, according to Barclays analysts.
The majority of automotive industry tariffs fall under Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962 and remain unaffected by the elimination of IEEPA-level duties, they explained.
METALS: STEEL, ALUMINUM, AND COPPER
Companies producing steel, aluminum, and copper – such as Steel Dynamics, Alcoa, and Freeport-McMoran – are not expected to see changes since their tariffs will continue under Section 232 protections, according to analysis from ING and UniCredit.
INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
Multiple investment firms anticipate that China will be among the nations benefiting most from the restructured U.S. tariff approach.
Hong Kong’s primary stock index finished Monday’s session up 2.5%, with technology companies like Alibaba and Tencent posting significant gains.
Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan analysts project that tariff rates affecting China will drop to 24% and 27%, respectively, down from the previous 32% level.
Other regions expected to see overall benefits include India, most Southeast Asian nations, and Brazil.
BofA forecasts that most Southeast Asian countries will experience tariff reductions of approximately 4-5%, while Morgan Stanley analysts predict India’s levies will decrease to 14%.
Phoenix Suns guard Dillon Brooks faces a lengthy recovery after breaking his left hand during weekend action, with ESPN reporting Monday that the injury will keep him off the court for four to six weeks.
The 30-year-old player exited Saturday’s matchup against Orlando with under five minutes remaining in the opening quarter and was unable to continue playing. Despite his absence, Phoenix managed to defeat the Magic 113-110 in a thrilling double-overtime contest at home.
This season marks Brooks’ debut campaign with the Suns, where he has posted impressive numbers with 21.2 points per game and 3.7 rebounds across 50 contests, all as a starter. These scoring figures represent the highest average of his professional career.
The injury compounds Phoenix’s current personnel challenges, as star player Devin Booker remains out approximately one week due to a right hip strain, while Haywood Highsmith faces a two to three-week absence with a right knee issue.
Currently sitting in seventh position within the competitive Western Conference standings, Phoenix trails both the Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves by two games as of Monday.
Should Brooks require the full six-week recovery period, his return would coincide with early April, just days before the regular season concludes on April 12.
Throughout his NBA tenure spanning 542 games with Memphis (2017-23), Houston (2023-25), and now Phoenix, Brooks has compiled career statistics of 14.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.0 assists per contest, starting 515 of those appearances.
Two University of Maryland Eastern Shore softball standouts have earned recognition from the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference this week.
Paris Richards has been selected as the MEAC Softball Pitcher of the Week, while teammate Skinner received the conference’s Rookie of the Week honor.
The weekly awards highlight the strong early-season performance by the UMES Hawks softball program as they compete in conference play.
Both players contributed significantly to their team’s recent success on the diamond, earning them recognition among the top performers across the MEAC.
Pharmaceutical company AbbVie revealed Monday its plans to spend $380 million constructing two new manufacturing plants at its Illinois headquarters, boosting domestic production capabilities for brain-related and weight-loss medications.
This major investment comes as drug manufacturers rush to strengthen their American manufacturing operations following the Trump administration’s significant tariffs on pharmaceutical imports. Federal officials implemented a 100% tariff on brand-name medications in October, though companies that had already started building U.S. facilities were exempt.
Construction on the new North Chicago, Illinois facilities will kick off in spring 2026, with both plants expected to reach full operation by 2029, according to company officials.
The facilities will incorporate cutting-edge manufacturing technology and artificial intelligence to help produce medications currently in development, AbbVie stated. Company representatives noted that creating active pharmaceutical ingredients – the core chemical compounds in medications – represents one of the most challenging aspects of drug production.
AbbVie expects to bring on 300 new employees at the North Chicago location, including engineers, scientists, production workers, and laboratory technicians.
This latest announcement builds on AbbVie’s January commitment to invest $100 billion in American research and development over ten years, which included a separate $195 million expansion at the same Illinois site to increase production of treatments for immune system disorders, cancer, and neurological conditions.
The pharmaceutical company currently operates 11 manufacturing locations across the United States and is exploring additional projects with several states, with more investment announcements expected in 2026.
WASHINGTON – Following a surge of violence in Mexico after military forces killed a prominent drug kingpin, President Donald Trump issued a public demand Monday for the country to intensify its battle against criminal organizations.
The president took to social media to express his concerns about the ongoing drug crisis, stating: “Mexico must step up their effort on Cartels and Drugs!”
Trump’s message came one day after Mexican military forces conducted a raid that resulted in the death of a well-known drug cartel leader, triggering widespread violent retaliation throughout America’s southern neighbor.
The escalating situation highlights ongoing challenges both countries face in combating drug trafficking organizations that operate along the shared border.
Olympic skiing champion Lindsey Vonn revealed Monday through social media that she came dangerously close to losing her leg following a catastrophic accident during the women’s downhill event at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
The American athlete has endured five surgical procedures following a severe left tibia fracture that occurred when she struck a gate and went off course just 13 seconds into her February 8th race.
In her social media statement, Vonn praised Dr. Tom Hackett, the orthopedic surgeon for both herself and Team USA, for his life-saving intervention. Hackett performed an emergency fasciotomy to address compartment syndrome that developed after the crash, a condition where excessive internal pressure from bleeding and swelling can cut off blood circulation and cause permanent damage without immediate treatment.
“When you have so much trauma to one area of your body that there’s too much blood and it gets stuck and it basically crushes everything … all the muscle and nerves and tendons — it all kind of dies,” Vonn explained in an Instagram video. “He (Hackett) kind of filleted it open, so to speak, let it breathe, and he saved me.”
The surgeon’s presence at the Olympics proved crucial, as he was only there due to Vonn’s previous ACL injury before the games began.
“If I hadn’t had done that, Tom wouldn’t have been there. He wouldn’t have been able to save my leg,” she explained. “I feel very lucky and grateful for him.”
Speaking from a hotel room after her hospital discharge, Vonn detailed her medical journey. Her first four operations took place at an Italian medical facility after emergency crews airlifted her from the mountain. She later returned to America on a stretcher aboard an aircraft and immediately underwent a fifth procedure at an undisclosed U.S. hospital.
The skiing legend disclosed that she remains wheelchair-bound and “very much immobile” due to also fracturing her right ankle in the same incident. Her recovery timeline includes at least two months using crutches during rehabilitation.
“Now I will focus on rehab and progressing from a wheelchair to crutches in a few weeks,” she wrote alongside her video message. “It will take around a year for all of the bones to heal and then I will decide if I want to take out all the metal or not, and then go back into surgery and finally fix my ACL.”
The 41-year-old athlete had emerged from retirement with a partially reconstructed right knee and was considered a strong medal candidate before tearing her left ACL during a World Cup race one week prior to the Olympics. Despite the injury, she maintained she could still compete in the games.
Vonn was pursuing her second Olympic gold medal in downhill skiing, having previously claimed victory in Vancouver during 2010. She also holds two Olympic bronze medals.
Despite the disappointing conclusion to her Olympic campaign, Vonn expressed no second thoughts about her decision to compete.
“I’d rather go down swinging than not try at all, and I think what I was able to achieve was more than anyone expected to begin with,” Vonn stated. “I worked really hard to get back and it was so worth it.”
Throughout her distinguished career, Vonn accumulated 84 World Cup victories, ranking second among female competitors. Only her Olympic teammate Mikaela Shiffrin surpasses her record. Two of those victories occurred during this current season.
“It’s going to be a long road. But I always fight and I’ll keep going, no regrets,” Vonn concluded. “It really knocked me down but I’m like Rocky — I’ll keep getting back up.”
Delaware transportation officials announced updated travel restrictions across the state this morning, with conditions improving in the northern region while southern counties maintain strict advisories.
As of 11:00 a.m. today, New Castle County has been moved down to a Level 1 Driving Warning, which advises residents to stay off the roads unless they have essential safety, health, or business needs requiring travel. State officials continue to encourage all drivers to exercise extreme caution when venturing out.
Meanwhile, Kent and Sussex counties remain under Level 3 driving restrictions, the state’s most serious travel advisory. This designation typically indicates hazardous road conditions that pose significant risks to motorists.
The announcement originated from Smyrna, where state officials have been monitoring road conditions throughout the weather event. The varying restriction levels across Delaware’s three counties reflect the different impacts weather conditions are having on roadways from north to south.
Residents are encouraged to check current road conditions and heed all official travel advisories before making any non-essential trips.
A major French energy company is considering an unusual solution to maximize profits at its newest solar facility in Brazil: cryptocurrency mining operations.
Engie, the French utility giant, is exploring the possibility of adding bitcoin mining data centers or energy storage systems to its Assu Sol solar plant, according to Eduardo Sattamini, the company’s Brazil operations manager.
The massive solar facility in northeastern Brazil boasts 895 megawatts of installed capacity and reached full operational status this month, making it Engie’s largest solar project globally. However, the plant’s profitability has been hampered by forced production reductions needed to maintain grid stability.
“We are looking at some possible offtakers,” Sattamini explained to reporters during a conference call last week.
The production limitations, known as curtailments, occur when the electrical grid cannot handle all the renewable energy being generated. This issue has plagued Brazil’s solar and wind energy sectors since 2023, resulting in billions of reais in financial losses for energy companies.
Brazil’s curtailment problems stem from multiple factors: a rapid increase in new renewable energy facilities, sluggish electricity demand growth, inadequate grid infrastructure, and the explosive growth of distributed solar generation, including rooftop installations.
To address these challenges at Assu Sol, Sattamini said the company is evaluating options to create local energy demand, including cryptocurrency mining facilities and storage systems. However, he cautioned that implementation would not happen quickly.
“That’s not coming next month. It will take a couple of years for us to implement,” he stated.
Three decades after helping establish what would become a flagship agricultural conference, one of its founding organizers expresses amazement at the event’s transformation into a cornerstone gathering for the farming industry.
Kent Kleinschmidt, an Illinois agricultural producer, served as one of two original co-chairs responsible for launching the inaugural Commodity Classic in Phoenix, Arizona thirty years ago. The farmer recalls the extensive preparation that went into creating the event.
“We formed a committee about two years before the” first gathering, Kleinschmidt noted, reflecting on the early planning stages that laid the groundwork for what has since developed into one of agriculture’s most significant annual conferences.
The evolution of the Commodity Classic from its humble beginnings to its current status as a premier industry event demonstrates the growing importance of unified agricultural forums in bringing together farmers, industry leaders, and stakeholders from across the nation.
The week’s cattle trading activity has gotten off to a slow beginning, with minimal movement in the direct cash market. Market participants on both sides are currently conducting assessments of their inventory positions and making preparations for the days ahead.
No firm bid or offer prices have been established at this point in the week. Based on patterns observed over recent weeks, substantial trading activity may not materialize until later in the week as buyers and sellers continue to evaluate market conditions.
President Trump’s trade tariff strategy will undergo major changes following a Supreme Court ruling issued Friday, though the administration plans to continue imposing tariffs through alternative methods.
The nation’s highest court determined that Trump cannot utilize the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) as a mechanism for implementing tariffs as part of his broader trade agenda. However, the President indicated to members of the press that his administration possesses additional legal avenues to maintain tariff policies.
Speaking with reporters, Trump stated that while the Supreme Court’s decision affects one particular approach, his administration remains committed to using tariffs as a trade tool through other available legal frameworks.
The ruling represents a significant shift in how the administration will need to structure future tariff implementations, potentially requiring different justifications and legal foundations for trade restrictions moving forward.
Cambridge authorities are reaching out to the community with important reminders after the region experienced another major winter weather event that brought heavy snowfall with blizzard-like conditions.
The recent storm dumped significant amounts of snow across the area, prompting local officials to issue guidance to residents dealing with the aftermath of the severe weather.
This marks yet another instance where harsh winter conditions have impacted the Cambridge community, with Mother Nature delivering intense snowfall that created challenging conditions for residents.
The company behind the popular Facetune photo editing application is restructuring its operations by dividing into two distinct business units, according to internal company documents obtained by Reuters.
Lightricks, the design software developer, plans to separate its consumer application division from its artificial intelligence video platform called LTX. This strategic move reflects the company’s effort to better position itself in the rapidly expanding AI market while traditional software businesses face changing investor sentiment.
This restructuring follows a growing trend among technology companies that are isolating their established operations from emerging AI ventures as investment communities reevaluate older software models in favor of artificial intelligence opportunities.
The Facetune application represents a successful software model from the previous decade, built on repeat users and gradual product enhancements. A source with knowledge of the company’s finances indicates the app produced approximately $100 million in profits during the past year. Meanwhile, LTX operates within the generative AI sector, where investors demonstrate willingness to pay premium prices for potential rapid expansion similar to venture capital growth patterns.
LTX, which launched in 2024, has received roughly $150 million in funding from its parent organization Lightricks. The company reports that its open-source AI model platform achieved 3 million downloads during its initial month on Hugging Face, a widely-used platform for sharing and operating machine learning models.
Investment interest significantly influenced the decision to divide the business operations. The rapidly growing business-to-business LTX division has generated greater investor attention compared to the established business-to-consumer Facetune application, as financial backers pursue the substantial returns they anticipate from AI development. This separation may also create opportunities for LTX to secure outside funding or consider an independent spin-off, demonstrating stronger market enthusiasm for dedicated AI companies rather than diversified software platforms.
Shlomo Dovrat, who co-founded venture capital firm Viola Ventures and serves on Lightricks’ board, explained the valuation challenges facing traditional software companies. “Even if you grow 25%, the software business, you won’t get the same valuation you get for a pure disruptive AI, which has a $600 billion market opportunity ahead of it,” Dovrat stated.
Dovrat emphasized that the separation involves more than financial considerations, describing it as managing two different types of businesses. He noted that creating separate units provides various options, including potential spin-offs or other strategic moves, with the company founders planning to concentrate on leading the artificial intelligence division.
“We’re making amazing returns just on the software business, we believe we will do even much, much better on the AI side,” Dovrat added.
The nation’s agricultural heartland is experiencing harsh winter conditions as frigid, windy weather dominates the region. Areas near the Great Lakes are seeing snow showers forming where lake waters remain unfrozen.
Monday morning brought particularly brutal conditions to the upper Midwest, where thermometers registered readings below zero degrees Fahrenheit. Most locations throughout the farming region will see temperatures stay below the freezing mark for the entire day, with only the southwestern portions of the Corn Belt and some areas within the Ohio Valley expected to climb above 32 degrees.
Snow cover continues to blanket much of the region as the seasonal weather pattern persists across America’s primary agricultural areas.
A recent episode of ‘Facing the Middle East’ explores Iran’s escalating internal crisis, where economic desperation has evolved into a nationwide call for political transformation. Host Felice Friedson examines how what started as economic grievances in late December has morphed into widespread civil unrest.
According to the program’s analysis, the current upheaval represents more than isolated domestic unrest – it’s characterized as a rapidly developing crisis with international implications. The demonstrations reportedly began as a response to severe economic difficulties but have since grown into massive public gatherings spanning what observers believe to be hundreds of Iranian cities.
The economic backdrop driving the unrest includes a dramatically weakening Iranian currency and inflation that reached 42.2% by late 2025. These harsh economic realities have transformed public anger from financial concerns into broader demands for political freedom, with many participants now calling for complete governmental change.
Friedson’s program suggests that millions of Iranian citizens have joined the street demonstrations, indicating the scope and intensity of the current situation. The episode frames these events as having significance beyond Iran’s borders, potentially affecting regional and global stability.
BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia’s most significant remaining insurgent organization announced Monday it would temporarily halt military operations before next month’s crucial legislative elections, which have been disrupted by violent incidents targeting political candidates in remote regions.
The National Liberation Army, known as ELN, released a statement on its official website declaring it would suspend attacks on government forces and election officials to ensure voters can participate “in liberty,” though the organization did not specify an end date for the temporary truce.
The insurgent organization has faced longstanding allegations of targeting political figures who challenge its agenda and maintaining control over local government positions in territories under its influence to divert government resources.
The group disputed these accusations in its announcement, stating it does not seek electoral victories and “does not finance any campaigns as drug traffickers do.”
“For the ELN it is very important for the people to vote for whom they think is best, or to abstain if they feel that is most appropriate,” the statement read.
Colombian officials suspended negotiations with the insurgent organization last year after a series of ELN operations in the nation’s northeastern regions displaced over 50,000 residents from their communities.
On March 8, Colombian voters will select new members for both chambers of Congress, with political candidates vying for more than 300 legislative positions.
The same day will feature primary contests to determine representatives for a progressive political alliance and a moderate-conservative coalition in the upcoming May presidential race.
These legislative contests represent a crucial moment for President Gustavo Petro as he works to secure a congressional majority for his progressive movement, the Historical Pact, which could potentially support efforts to draft a new national constitution.
However, the electoral process has already been disrupted by violent incidents targeting candidates and campaign workers across multiple Colombian regions, where insurgent influence has expanded during the Petro presidency.
This month, Indigenous Senator Aida Quilcue was abducted while traveling between communities in the southwestern Cauca province but was freed without harm several hours later after military forces mobilized for her rescue.
In Colombia’s eastern territories, two security personnel protecting Senator Jairo Castellanos were killed when ELN militants opened fire on his convoy. The organization later claimed they had not targeted the senator specifically, explaining they fired on the vehicle after it failed to halt at their checkpoint.
Last year, conservative presidential candidate Miguel Uribe was wounded during a political gathering in Bogota and succumbed to his injuries two months afterward. This assassination represented the first attack on a Colombian presidential contender in thirty years and prompted some current candidates to reduce public campaign events due to safety considerations.
The Movement for Electoral Observation, a Colombian democracy monitoring organization, reported this month that 11% of the country’s municipalities face “extreme risk” of election-related violence.
This assessment considers various factors including armed group presence, recent population displacement incidents, and violence against civil rights advocates.
WASHINGTON — Federal health regulators unveiled plans Monday for a streamlined approval process designed to accelerate the development of personalized treatments for patients battling uncommon medical conditions, particularly rare genetic disorders that pharmaceutical companies have historically avoided due to limited profit potential.
The draft Food and Drug Administration framework would establish a fresh regulatory route for individualized therapies that have undergone testing in only small patient groups, given the difficulties of conducting extensive clinical studies. While the FDA’s announcement highlighted gene editing technologies, agency leaders indicated the new framework could apply to various other treatments and medications.
This represents a transformation that patient groups, advocates, and researchers specializing in uncommon diseases have pursued for years, as these conditions typically don’t align with standard pharmaceutical business models or the FDA’s conventional approval procedures.
“It is our priority to remove barriers and exercise regulatory flexibility to encourage scientific advances and deliver more cures and meaningful treatments for patients suffering from rare diseases,” FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said in a release.
The development follows Makary’s announcement last week that the FDA would eliminate its longstanding requirement for two clinical trials in standard drug evaluations. This marks another modification to FDA protocols and guidelines, many implemented without following traditional federal procedures for updating agency regulations.
Top FDA officials emphasized that these recent modifications, including Monday’s proposed pathway, don’t represent entirely new FDA policies. The agency will accept public feedback on its preliminary guidance for 60 days before moving toward finalization.
Academic scientists have recently demonstrated their ability to utilize cutting-edge technology to fix specific genetic defects in individual patients. In the previous year, researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania created a treatment using CRISPR, the Nobel Prize-recognized gene editing technology, to help an infant born with an uncommon condition causing dangerous ammonia accumulation in the bloodstream.
Under current procedures, the FDA mandates that pharmaceutical companies prove their experimental treatments are both safe and effective through clinical studies comparing patient groups receiving the therapy against those given placebo treatments or alternative interventions. Larger patient enrollment typically produces more reliable evidence.
However, for medical conditions affecting only a small percentage of the global population, drug manufacturers frequently lack motivation to invest the millions required to complete studies and navigate the FDA approval process, which can extend beyond a decade.
Monday’s announced pathway would establish a uniform process for authorizing experimental treatments while importantly providing companies opportunities to market these therapies commercially.
The FDA currently permits experimental drug use through “compassionate use” programs for individuals with no alternative treatment options. However, this process proves difficult to navigate and strictly prevents companies or researchers from earning profits on treatments not yet approved by the FDA.
The new pathway’s designation — plausible mechanism — refers to the standards FDA regulators will demand before approving any experimental therapies.
FDA officials indicate this approach will be limited to well-understood conditions where reasonable evidence suggests the therapy will target the disease’s underlying genetic or cellular mechanisms. Researchers must also verify that the therapy successfully addressed the patient’s specific genetic or biological abnormality.
Internal research conducted by Meta shows that almost one in five teenagers between 13 and 15 years old encountered unwanted sexual or nude content while using Instagram, according to federal court documents released Friday.
The revelation emerged from legal filings in a California federal lawsuit, which included excerpts from Instagram chief Adam Mosseri’s deposition scheduled for March 2025. A Meta spokesperson confirmed the survey data originated from 2021.
During his testimony, Mosseri acknowledged that the company typically keeps survey findings private, noting that user self-reporting can be unreliable. According to Meta spokesperson Andy Stone, the statistics reflect user experiences rather than a direct analysis of posted content.
The social media giant, which operates both Facebook and Instagram, currently faces mounting legal challenges from officials worldwide who claim its platforms damage young people’s wellbeing. Across the United States, numerous federal and state lawsuits allege the company deliberately creates addictive features that contribute to youth mental health problems.
The court documents also revealed that approximately 8% of users in the same age bracket reported witnessing self-harm or threats of self-harm on Instagram.
Mosseri explained in his deposition that most inappropriate sexual content reaches users through private messaging rather than public posts. He emphasized that reviewing private messages raises significant privacy concerns for the platform.
“A lot of people don’t want us reading their messages,” he stated during questioning.
Meta announced in late 2025 that it would implement stricter content policies for teenage users, including the removal of nude images and videos showing explicit sexual activity, even when created using artificial intelligence. The company plans to make exceptions for medical and educational materials.
“We’re proud of the progress we’ve made, and we’re always working to do better,” Stone commented regarding the company’s ongoing efforts to protect young users.
Digital payment giant PayPal has emerged as a potential acquisition target following a dramatic decline in its stock price that eliminated nearly half of the company’s market value, according to a Bloomberg News report released Monday.
Sources with knowledge of the situation indicate that the financial services company has conducted discussions with banking institutions as multiple potential acquirers have expressed unsolicited interest. The report reveals that at least one major competitor is considering purchasing the entire organization, while other interested parties are focusing solely on specific divisions or assets within PayPal’s portfolio.
When contacted for comment regarding these acquisition rumors, PayPal representatives chose not to provide a statement. Reuters was unable to confirm the Bloomberg report through independent sources.
Following the news of potential takeover interest, PayPal’s stock price surged 9% during late-morning trading sessions. The company currently maintains a market value of approximately $38.35 billion based on LSEG data compilation.
New research shows that vaccination rates for hepatitis B in American newborns were already falling significantly before federal health officials officially changed their guidance last December.
A study published Monday in JAMA found that the percentage of babies receiving hepatitis B shots within their first month of life dropped by more than 10 percentage points from 2023 to 2025.
For decades, vaccination rates had been steadily increasing as the federal government supported giving newborns their first hepatitis B shot shortly after delivery. However, under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently modified its recommendation, now only advising the vaccine when mothers are infected with the virus or their infection status is unclear.
Hepatitis B is a serious virus that damages the liver and represents the primary cause of liver cancer globally. While most adults can fight off the infection naturally, it becomes a lifelong condition in over 90% of infected babies and up to half of young children who contract it.
Government health records demonstrate that newborn vaccination reduced hepatitis B cases among American children by almost 90% following the 1991 recommendation for birth doses.
“If the rates of vaccination decline too significantly, we may see a resurgence in hepatitis B infections in infants and children,” said study leader Dr. Joshua Rothman, a pediatrician at the University of California, San Diego.
JULY 2023 TURNING POINT
The researchers found that vaccination rates began dropping in July 2023, a time that matched increased public discussion and news coverage about childhood immunizations.
During this timeframe, vaccine skeptic Kennedy appeared on a popular Joe Rogan Experience podcast episode that received widespread attention, according to the study authors.
Kennedy, President Donald Trump, and other prominent figures have made claims linking childhood vaccines to autism, despite scientific evidence showing no such connection. Federal authorities have withdrawn recommendations for six different childhood vaccines over the past year.
The study tracked vaccination data from 2002 through 2025, covering more than 12 million births through Epic Systems Corp records. From 2002 – three years before official guidelines recommended medically stable newborns receive the vaccine before leaving the hospital – until 2023, birth-dose vaccination rates climbed from approximately 21% to 83.5%.
By August 2025, that figure had decreased to 73.2%, the analysis showed.
In December 2025, an advisory committee selected by Kennedy eliminated the long-standing recommendation. The panel determined that when mothers test negative for hepatitis B, parents should work with their physicians to decide if and when their children should receive hepatitis B vaccines.
The advisors, many sharing Kennedy’s vaccine-critical perspective, presented no new evidence of harm from the immunization. Instead, they contended that widespread vaccination was excessive given infection risks. The CDC, which Kennedy oversees, quickly adopted this position.
Medical experts have cautioned that this policy shift could undermine decades of public health achievements.
Rothman noted he hasn’t seen research yet documenting increased infection cases.
“The reason pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommend the birth dose for all newborns is that it serves as a safety net,” Rothman said.
“If the maternal test ends up being a false negative, if there’s an unexpected household or caregiver exposure, or if the infant’s follow-up is delayed, this birth dose provides early protection.”
WASHINGTON – Federal health officials on Monday unveiled a new regulatory approach designed to accelerate the approval process for customized genetic treatments targeting rare, life-threatening conditions, permitting pharmaceutical companies to use smaller, tightly controlled research studies when conventional large-scale trials aren’t practical.
The initiative seeks to modernize approval criteria for personalized genetic medications, establishing a route for treatments designed for patient populations too limited in size for standard clinical trials.
This approach could grant patients faster access to potentially life-saving therapies that might otherwise become stalled due to insufficient data collection capabilities, while maintaining safety oversight through post-market monitoring requirements.
The regulatory framework provides pharmaceutical manufacturers with more definitive guidelines for creating genome-modification and RNA-based medications, while mandating they demonstrate why traditional randomized studies aren’t workable, gather real-world data following approval, and conduct confirmatory research for expedited authorization. Federal regulators cautioned they reserve the right to remove products from the market if follow-up studies prove unsuccessful or remain incomplete.
This draft guidance, initially presented in November, would enable companies to pursue approval using preliminary effectiveness indicators and a treatment’s scientific foundation, instead of requiring comprehensive randomized clinical trials. The framework encompasses genome-editing and RNA-based treatments, with potential expansion to additional precision therapies.
Companies would continue collecting real-world data post-approval to validate effectiveness and track safety, while ensuring patient safeguards including informed consent and independent review board supervision.
Regulators emphasized the importance of early collection of baseline and disease progression data. For treatments addressing various mutations within identical genes, they suggested observational research and coordinated protocol structures to enable data sharing among similar products.
“We anticipate that we’re going to get a flood of applications for treatments of rare diseases,” a senior FDA official told reporters.
Production standards would stay the same, though manufacturers may utilize previous experience and proven methodologies to expedite development timelines.
BRUSSELS – The head of the European Council is demanding that Hungary’s leader stick to a previously agreed-upon financial package worth 90 billion euros ($106 billion) for Ukraine, according to correspondence obtained Monday.
Antonio Costa, who leads meetings of European Union heads of state, sent a strongly-worded message to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban after Hungary threatened to obstruct the massive loan arrangement. Budapest’s opposition stems from its demand that Russian oil shipments resume through the Druzhba pipeline, which runs across Ukrainian territory.
In his correspondence to Orban, Costa emphasized that European leaders must stand by agreements they’ve already reached. “When leaders reach a consensus, they are bound by their decision. Any breach of this commitment constitutes a violation of the principle of sincere cooperation,” Costa stated in the letter reviewed by news agencies.
Costa further stressed that individual countries cannot be permitted to damage the reliability of collective European Council decisions, specifically referencing the Ukraine loan package that received approval from EU leadership during their December summit meeting.
BRUSSELS – European Union parliamentary members decided Monday to delay their scheduled vote on a trade agreement with the United States following President Donald Trump’s implementation of new 15% import tariffs, according to two sources within the parliament.
The delay comes after the Supreme Court overturned Trump’s earlier worldwide tariff policies, prompting the president to establish the blanket import duty as a replacement measure.
European legislators have been reviewing proposals that would eliminate numerous EU import taxes on American products, which represents a central component of the agreement negotiated in Turnberry, Scotland, during late July. The package also includes provisions to maintain duty-free status for American lobster imports, a policy originally established with Trump in 2020.
Both the parliament and EU member nation governments must give their approval for these measures to take effect.
The parliamentary trade committee had originally planned to conduct their vote on Tuesday, but this marks the second time EU legislators have suspended proceedings on this trade deal.
Previously, lawmakers had paused their deliberations in response to Trump’s efforts to purchase Greenland and his warnings of additional tariffs against European nations that rejected his proposal.
Numerous parliament members have expressed concerns that the trade agreement favors the United States unfairly, requiring Europe to reduce most of its import duties while America maintains its comprehensive 15% rate.
Despite these objections, legislators had shown previous willingness to move forward with the deal, though they wanted specific conditions including an 18-month expiration date and protective measures against potential flooding of European markets with American imports.
The nation’s highest court announced Monday it will examine an effort by major oil corporations ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy to dismiss a climate-focused legal action filed by Boulder, Colorado authorities.
The Supreme Court justices will review the companies’ challenge to a previous court decision that allowed the case to proceed. Boulder’s lawsuit claims the corporations violated state laws and demands monetary compensation for expenses the city has faced while addressing climate change impacts.
This legal battle represents just one among many similar climate-focused cases that American local governments have initiated against businesses involved in extracting, manufacturing, distributing or marketing fossil fuel products.
When fossil fuels are burned, they emit greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide into the air, which trap more solar energy and gradually increase Earth’s average temperatures.
Boulder officials filed their 2018 legal action claiming that American-based Exxon and Canadian-based Suncor deceived the public regarding how their products contributed to worsening climate conditions while generating profits from unrestricted fossil fuel commerce. Both corporations reject any wrongdoing.
City and county representatives have stated the petroleum companies should pay for previous and upcoming expenses related to climate impact reduction efforts, including infrastructure maintenance, environmental harm remediation, emergency response operations and public health protection measures.
The corporations asked lower courts to throw out the case, contending that Boulder’s legal action would unlawfully disrupt federal oversight of greenhouse gas emissions under Clean Air Act regulations.
Colorado’s highest court rejected their dismissal request in May 2025, leading to the current Supreme Court appeal.
The Trump administration has supported the oil companies’ appeal effort.
The Supreme Court previously declined to hear a comparable attempt by Sunoco and other petroleum corporations to eliminate a climate-related case from Honolulu after Hawaii’s supreme court permitted it to continue.
The Hawaiian lawsuit aims to hold the companies responsible for their suspected contribution to severe weather impacting the area, plus substantial sea level increases along Honolulu’s Pacific shores, which has caused flooding, coastal erosion and beach destruction.
The leader of the House Agriculture Committee has unveiled new legislation designed to address ongoing concerns about California’s animal welfare regulations affecting farmers nationwide.
Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson announced that his Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026 contains provisions specifically targeting California’s Proposition 12. In an interview with Brownfield, Thompson explained that his bill includes language he refers to as the ‘Save the Bacon Provision.’
“The base language in the bill is called ‘Save the Bacon Provision,’ that basically doesn’t interfere with the state’s policies on animal welfare,” Thompson stated.
The proposed legislation represents Thompson’s attempt to create a federal framework that would work alongside state-level animal welfare requirements, particularly California’s controversial Proposition 12, which has created compliance challenges for agricultural producers across the country.
BRUSSELS – The European Union’s top foreign policy official announced Monday her intention to recommend removing sanctions against Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez, following recent legislative action in the South American nation.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, made the announcement after Venezuelan lawmakers passed a limited amnesty bill for select prisoners last week.
“I will propose that we will lift the sanctions on Delcy Rodriguez as, the current … interim president in office. Whether we have consensus then we will see. We don’t know that yet,” Kallas stated during a press briefing with reporters.
The announcement came just days after Spain’s Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares publicly called on the European Union to move forward with such action on Friday.
According to ESPN, the Kansas City Chiefs are closely watching former wide receiver Tyreek Hill’s rehabilitation from ACL surgery as they explore the possibility of bringing him back to the organization.
Hill, who will celebrate his 32nd birthday on March 1, played for Kansas City from 2016 through 2021 before moving to the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins cut him loose on February 16 as part of budget reduction efforts.
Following his release, Hill made a public commitment to return from the knee dislocation and ACL tear he suffered during the fourth week of the 2025 season.
“The Cheetah don’t slow down. Ever,” Hill posted on Instagram. “So to everyone wondering what’s next … just wait on it. The Cheetah will be back…Born Again.”
Hill later shared on Snapchat that he had returned to Kansas City to spend time with family while continuing his recovery process, and his profile picture showed him in a Chiefs jersey.
When Chiefs head coach Andy Reid was questioned about Hill on Friday, he addressed the Pro Bowl receiver who earned eight Pro Bowl selections and five first-team All-Pro honors during his career, including a Super Bowl LIV championship with Kansas City.
“We go through everything and everybody (in free agency),” Reid told ESPN. “That’s how (general manager) Brett (Veach) does (it). I’m sure (Hill’s) working hard on that (rehab) part of it and trying to get all that straightened out. We talk about everything, so there’s nothing happening there, but we know he’s out there and cranking away trying to get himself back to where he can play.”
Kansas City failed to reach the playoffs in 2025, ending a decade-long postseason run. Their campaign concluded without two-time MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who suffered torn ACL and LCL injuries to his left knee during Week 15.
The Chiefs’ current wide receiver group includes five players: Rashee Rice, Xavier Worthy, Jalen Royals, Jimmy Holiday and Jason Brownlee.
Before his injury, Hill recorded 21 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown across four games. Throughout his professional career spanning 145 games with 127 starts between Kansas City (2016-21) and Miami (2022-25), Hill has accumulated 819 catches for 11,363 yards and 83 touchdowns since Kansas City selected him in the fifth round of the 2016 draft.
Major League Baseball Network announced Monday that veteran outfielder Michael Conforto has signed a contract with the Chicago Cubs as a free agent.
The financial details of the agreement have not been disclosed for the player who will celebrate his 33rd birthday on March 1.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2014 draft by the New York Mets, Conforto earned All-Star recognition in 2017. Most recently, he played for the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2024 season under a one-year contract worth $17 million.
His performance with the Dodgers marked the lowest point of his career, as he managed just a .199 batting average alongside 12 home runs and 36 RBIs across 138 games. Despite the team’s World Series championship, Conforto was excluded from their postseason lineup.
Throughout his major league career spanning 1,150 games, Conforto maintains a .245 batting average with 179 home runs and 556 RBIs. His career included stints with the Mets from 2015 to 2021, the San Francisco Giants in 2023 and 2024, and the Dodgers. A shoulder injury sidelined him for the entire 2022 season.
LONDON – Ukraine’s former military commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi brushed off speculation about running for president, calling such discussions “pub talk” while his nation remains under martial law due to the ongoing war with Russia.
During an appearance at London’s Chatham House think tank, Zaluzhnyi – who now serves as Ukraine’s ambassador to Britain – stated he won’t reveal any political intentions until the conflict concludes.
“When it is over, when martial law is lifted in Ukraine…only then will we be able to discuss my personal future,” he said.
The former general led Ukraine’s military forces until February 2024 before taking his current diplomatic post in London. While he hasn’t announced any campaign plans, polling data consistently positions him as the strongest potential opponent to current President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy has indicated willingness to conduct elections after the fighting stops, particularly as the United States pushes for a peace agreement.
Recent media interviews featuring Zaluzhnyi revealed fresh information about disagreements between him and Zelenskyy, fueling renewed discussion about future electoral contests and the widely reported friction between the two Ukrainian leaders.
However, Zaluzhnyi deflected questions about any presidential aspirations with humor.
“In order to answer this question, I should go to one of the wonderful pubs in this very city…it’s pub talk, actually, or bar talk,” he responded when pressed about his political intentions.
Five European Union member states are standing firm against proposals to weaken corporate merger oversight, according to documents obtained by news outlets.
Finland, Ireland, the Czech Republic, Estonia, and Latvia have collectively voiced opposition to relaxing current merger regulations, despite pressure from some businesses seeking less stringent review processes for their consolidation deals.
These companies argue they need more freedom to merge in order to compete effectively against international competitors from outside the EU.
The European Commission, responsible for enforcing competition policy across the bloc, is currently updating merger regulations that have been in place since 2004. Officials plan to release draft proposals for public comment in April, with sources indicating the goal is to promote cross-border European mergers.
However, the five dissenting nations argue in their joint statement that loosening current rules is unnecessary for creating strong European companies, since existing regulations already permit such consolidations when economic data justifies them.
“Size in itself should not be the primary objective” of corporate mergers, the countries stated in their document, which is scheduled for discussion during an EU ministerial meeting on February 26. They advocated for “undertakings that succeed through efficiency, innovation and fair competition instead of exemptions or special treatment.”
The nations specifically challenged arguments from European telecommunications companies claiming that larger corporate entities would lead to increased investment spending. Instead, they sided with regulatory officials who have found minimal evidence supporting such claims.
“The empirical link between higher concentration and stronger investment incentives in telecom markets is at best inconclusive and should be analysed on case-by-case basis,” the countries wrote.
They also dismissed assertions that bigger telecommunications operators would create more secure supply networks, warning this approach could actually weaken Europe by creating excessive dependence on too few suppliers.
“If strengthening resilience and secure supply chains is considered to require additional regulatory measures, these should be pursued through sectoral or industrial policy instruments rather than through changes to competition legislation,” the nations concluded.
President Trump is set to present his State of the Union address in the coming days, following a significant Supreme Court ruling that dismantled a major component of his trade agenda. Additionally, his disputed nominee for U.S. surgeon general is finally scheduled to appear before senators for her postponed confirmation proceedings.
Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee had planned to start deliberations on Monday regarding a Republican-backed farm bill, though inclement weather forced lawmakers to postpone the beginning of the markup process.
A Wisconsin state representative believes recent legislative action regarding renewable energy development demonstrates a clear position on safeguarding agricultural land from solar and wind projects.
Representative Travis Tranel indicated that the community solar legislation was moved from the Energies and Utilities Committee to the Agriculture Committee as the State Assembly concluded its Friday session. According to Tranel, this committee transfer resulted in Agriculture Committee members conducting proceedings on the matter.
The lawmaker views this procedural move as delivering a significant statement about the development of renewable energy infrastructure on valuable farming acreage throughout the state.
University students across Iran continued demonstrations against their government for a third consecutive day Monday, as tensions escalate between Tehran and Washington over potential US military action.
Iranian state media documented student demonstrations at multiple universities in the capital city, including anti-government chants at Tehran University, flag burning at the women-only al-Zahra University, and confrontations at Amir Kabir University.
Video footage confirmed by Reuters captured students at al-Zahra University shouting slogans such as “we’ll reclaim Iran,” though the exact timing of the recording could not be verified.
The demonstrations follow weeks after Iranian security forces suppressed widespread civil unrest that resulted in thousands of casualties.
Meanwhile, escalating Middle East tensions prompted the United States to withdraw non-essential embassy staff and family members from Beirut, according to a senior State Department official.
President Donald Trump has issued repeated warnings to Iran following January’s nationwide protests, stating Thursday that “really bad things will happen” should diplomatic negotiations fail to reach an agreement.
The US administration is demanding Iran significantly reduce its nuclear program, which Washington believes aims to develop weapons capability, restrict its missile range to short distances, and cease support for regional proxy groups.
American military forces have increased their presence throughout the Middle East, intensifying pressure on Iran while the country weighs its response to US demands during ongoing diplomatic talks.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confronts the most serious challenge of his 36-year leadership, facing an economy weakened by international sanctions and increasing domestic unrest that erupted into major protests in January.
Despite a second US aircraft carrier moving toward the Middle East, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Sunday that diplomatic talks with America had “yielded encouraging signals.”
Trump has not provided detailed information about potential military action against Iran. A senior White House official informed Reuters last week that the administration lacks “unified support” for proceeding with an attack.
MILAN (AP) — After more than a decade away from Olympic competition, the world’s elite hockey talent delivered the excitement fans had been craving.
Seven of the tournament’s elimination matches in Milan went into extra time, culminating with Team USA defeating Canada in a thrilling, high-speed championship game to claim the gold medal. The sport captured the attention it deserved as NHL stars returned to Olympic play after a 12-year absence.
“This is as good as it gets,” said U.S. forward Vincent Trocheck. “They’ve got to keep doing it.”
Officials plan to do exactly that.
An existing partnership between the league, players’ union, and International Ice Hockey Federation ensures participation in the 2030 Games in the French Alps, assuming final negotiations with the International Olympic Committee succeed. However, the next opportunity for elite international competition arrives sooner: February 2028 will host the World Cup of Hockey.
The NHL and NHLPA share common ground on numerous matters, particularly their goal of creating a regular international schedule featuring these high-level tournaments every two years. The IIHF supports this vision as well.
“The hockey world from NHL/NHLPA standpoint is in a better place when The Players’ Association and the league are cooperating and, internationally, when these three organizations are collaborating the hockey world is in a better place,” said NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman. “And it gives us an opportunity to grow the game in places where we’re not as strong as, say, we are in North America and we look forward to continuing to collaborate with (IIHF president Luc Tardif) in furtherance of growing the game. That’s the goal, and the more things that we can figure out to do together, the better it will be for everybody.”
Milan marked the sixth Olympic Games featuring NHL athletes since the tradition began in Nagano in 1998. Missing the 2018 Games and having 2022 cancelled due to the pandemic left many in Milan disappointed — yet the extended break somehow enhanced the overall experience.
“It’s been so long since the last one,” said Canada defenseman Drew Doughty. “Wish it had never happened this way, but here it is.”
Team USA secured their first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey during the NHL era, breaking Canada’s streak of two consecutive titles and three victories in four tournaments. This marked America’s first Olympic hockey championship since the legendary 1980 “Miracle on Ice,” though the only miraculous element this time was goaltender Connor Hellebuyck’s extraordinary performance — one of the greatest goaltending displays in international hockey history.
“He was our best player by a mile,” said Jack Hughes following his overtime winning goal, speaking with several missing teeth after taking a stick to the face during the match.
Hughes scored the decisive goal within two minutes of 3-on-3 overtime beginning, highlighting what many consider the tournament’s biggest flaw that needs addressing for future competitions — particularly in championship games and the upcoming NHL and NHLPA-organized World Cup.
Canada’s head coach Jon Cooper argued that 3-on-3 play rather than traditional 5-on-5 hockey, which decides NHL playoff contests, “is not hockey anymore.”
“There’s a reason overtime and shootouts are in play: It’s all TV-driven to end games, so it’s not a long time,” Cooper explained, referencing regular season game formats. “There’s a reason why (3 on 3) is not in the Stanley Cup Final or playoffs.”
After Team USA’s victory and before celebrations commenced, winning players expressed no objections to the current format.
“Right now, I think it’s great,” said Brock Nelson.
NEW YORK (AP) — When horses call out to locate companions, welcome familiar faces, or express excitement during meal times, they create one of nature’s most distinctive sounds.
For years, scientists have been puzzled by how horses create their characteristic whinny sound, which combines both deep and shrill tones simultaneously — resembling a mix of a growl and a shriek.
The deeper tones weren’t difficult to understand. These sounds result from air flowing across tissue bands within the larynx that create noise through vibration. This process mirrors how people produce speech and song.
However, the sharp, high-pitched element remained a puzzle. Generally speaking, bigger animals possess larger vocal systems and produce deeper sounds. So what allows horses to create these high notes?
A recent study reveals the answer: horses create whistles.
Scientists inserted tiny cameras through the nostrils of horses to record internal activity during whinnying and nickering, the gentler sound horses make. They also performed comprehensive scans and forced air through voice boxes from deceased horses.
The study found that the whinny’s puzzling sharp tones result from a whistling mechanism originating in the larynx. Air causes tissue vibration in the voice box while a region directly above tightens, creating a narrow passage for the whistle sound to emerge.
This differs from human whistling, which occurs using our mouths.
“I’d never imagined that there was a whistling component. It’s really interesting, and I can hear that now,” said Jenifer Nadeau, who studies horses at the University of Connecticut. Nadeau was not involved with the study, which was published Monday in the journal Current Biology.
While some small mammals like rats and mice produce similar whistles, horses represent the first large mammal discovered with this ability. They’re also the only known animals capable of whistling through their larynx while simultaneously vocalizing.
“Knowing that a ‘whinny’ is not just a ‘whinny’ but that it is actually composed of two different fundamental frequencies that are created by two different mechanisms is exciting,” said Alisa Herbst with Rutgers University’s Equine Science Center, of the study in an email.
One major remaining question involves how horses developed these dual-toned calls. Wild Przewalski’s horses demonstrate similar abilities, as do elk. However, more distantly related species like donkeys and zebras cannot produce the sharp-pitched sounds.
The dual-toned whinnies might enable horses to communicate multiple messages simultaneously. The varying pitch levels may help them express a broader spectrum of emotions during social interactions, according to study author Elodie Mandel-Briefer with the University of Copenhagen.
“They can express emotions in these two dimensions,” Mandel-Briefer said.
PANAMA CITY — Panama’s administration issued an official order Monday to take immediate control of two strategic ports positioned at the Panama Canal’s gateways, following the nation’s highest court’s final decision that deemed a Hong Kong corporation’s management contract unconstitutional.
The government directive gives the Panama Maritime Authority permission to assume control of the facilities citing “urgent social interest” as justification. This takeover encompasses all equipment and assets at both the Balboa and Cristóbal port facilities, including lifting equipment, transportation vehicles, computing infrastructure and operational software.
This port controversy reflects the larger geopolitical tension between America and China, with Panama finding itself in the crossfire after President Trump claimed last year that China was “running the Panama Canal.”
The Hong Kong firm CK Hutchison had planned to transfer ownership of both ports to a group including American investment giant BlackRock, but China’s government quickly stepped in to block the transaction.
Earlier this year in January, Panama’s highest court overturned the legislation that had approved the management agreement for Panama Ports Company, a CK Hutchison subsidiary. The court decision also cancelled a 2021 contract extension, leaving the port management without legal authorization.
Since 1997, PPC has managed these port facilities after Panama granted the company rights to oversee operations at both the Pacific and Atlantic canal entry points.
Just days earlier, Panama’s leadership promised to maintain uninterrupted port services and protect worker employment, announcing that APM Terminals, owned by Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk corporation, would handle interim management duties until new contracts are finalized.
In response, CK Hutchison Holdings has initiated dispute resolution procedures against Panama through the International Chamber of Commerce framework. The duration and potential consequences of these legal actions remain uncertain. The company has also warned of potential legal action against APM Terminals should they proceed with operations, though the Danish company maintains it has no involvement in the legal dispute.
Last week, a PPC representative informed local news outlets that the company was pursuing negotiations with Panama’s government to maintain their operational role.
CAMERON, N.C. — Family members are struggling to understand why a 21-year-old North Carolina groundskeeper drove through security barriers at President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort with a shotgun, leading to his fatal shooting by law enforcement early Sunday morning.
Austin Tucker Martin, who maintained golf course grounds and enjoyed creating artwork, had little to no interest in political discussions and appeared uncomfortable around firearms, according to his cousin Braeden Fields, who grew up alongside Martin.
“I wouldn’t believe he would do something like this. It’s mind-blowing,” Fields stated. “He wouldn’t even hurt an ant. He doesn’t even know how to use a gun.”
According to Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, Martin breached the secured area at Mar-a-Lago during the early morning hours on Sunday and pointed a shotgun toward two Secret Service personnel and a Palm Beach County deputy, prompting them to open fire “to neutralize the threat.”
President Trump was not present at his Palm Beach, Florida, property during the incident, as he was located at the White House.
Law enforcement officials have yet to determine what motivated Martin’s actions. This marks another security incident at the resort, following two separate assassination attempts against Trump during his 2024 campaign, including one that occurred just miles away from Mar-a-Lago when an individual was discovered with a rifle while Trump played golf.
Secret Service representative Anthony Guglielmi revealed that investigators believe Martin purchased the shotgun during his journey to Florida. Officials confirmed that Martin’s family had filed a missing person report prior to the incident.
Despite growing up in central North Carolina where firearms and hunting are common activities, Martin consistently avoided handling weapons during family outings, Fields explained to reporters on Sunday.
Martin resided with his mother in a simple manufactured home accessible via an unpaved sandy road near Cameron. When reporters visited Monday, no one responded at the residence, and the heavy law enforcement presence from the previous day had departed.
Fields shared that Martin’s sister died in an automobile crash several years ago, and he has an older sibling serving in the military.
Martin had been employed for three years as grounds maintenance staff at Pine Needles Lodge & Golf Club.
“It’s tragic. I feel for his family,” expressed Kelly Miller, who serves as president of the golf facility in nearby Southern Pines. “It’s just unfortunate what transpired. It was totally unexpected.”
State documentation shows Martin established a business last year focused on selling his pen-and-ink drawings. An online portfolio associated with his company name displays illustrations featuring golf courses, architectural structures, and ancient Roman designs.
Political matters appeared absent from Martin’s interests, his cousin noted.
“We are big Trump supporters, all of us. Everybody,” Fields explained, but described his cousin as “real quiet, never really talked about anything.”
Ukraine is experiencing its most severe economic downturn since the opening phase of Russia’s military invasion, as relentless aerial bombardments have devastated the nation’s electrical infrastructure during the conflict’s fifth year, compelling businesses to reduce production and diminishing government income.
Industrial leaders across Ukraine’s manufacturing sector – spanning steel production, mining operations, cement manufacturing, and food processing – report being compelled to slash output while absorbing increased operational expenses as they attempt to adjust work schedules and protect machinery from unexpected power failures, according to executives from eight major companies.
Sergii Pylypenko, who leads Kovalska Group – the nation’s top concrete and construction materials manufacturer – explained that backup diesel generators purchased by his company cannot sustain full production at their large-scale facilities.
“For more than two months now, we have been working under emergency power cuts without any predictable schedule,” Pylypenko stated.
“In certain periods, the lack of a stable power supply can reduce production volumes by up to 50%.”
The Ukrainian economy contracted by approximately one-third during the war’s initial year, and while experiencing slight expansion in following years, it remains significantly smaller than pre-invasion levels and depends heavily on public sector expenditure. Nearly 6 million citizens have departed Ukraine while over 3 million face internal displacement, representing more than one-fifth of the country’s pre-war population.
During February, the monthly business activity recovery index compiled by Kyiv’s Institute for Economic Research – which measures companies reporting improved versus deteriorated business conditions compared to the previous year – recorded its first negative reading since 2023.
Ukraine’s economic health proves essential not just for generating tax income to support military operations and service debt obligations, and manufacturing weapons, but also for creating employment opportunities and economic stability for veterans and returning refugees once peace is restored.
Oleksandr Myronenko, serving as chief operating officer at Metinvest – a mining and metals corporation generating approximately $7 billion in annual revenue – described how extended power interruptions complicate restarting operations following Russian attacks.
Metinvest, under the control of Rinat Akhmetov, among Ukraine’s wealthiest individuals, has served as a significant source of tax income and steel for military needs.
The company had projected expansion this year within Ukraine but failed to meet those targets during the first two months due to Russian bombardment effects, according to Myronenko.
“This included damage to generating capacities and also to the transport infrastructure, which affects not only steel makers but all producers in Ukraine: they have to decrease volumes,” he explained.
Nataliia Kolesnichenko, an economist with Kyiv’s Centre for Economic Studies, calculated that energy demand surpassed available supply by 30% during January and February. “The energy situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent months,” she noted.
Energy Minister Denys Shmyhal reported on February 12 that despite rising temperatures, maximum demand reached 16.4 gigawatts, considerably exceeding Ukraine’s production capacity of 12.3 gigawatts, with the country importing nearly 2 gigawatts during peak periods.
Companies must navigate reduced output, increased expenses, supply chain disruptions, and extended delivery periods. These factors impact competitiveness and will drive inflation higher, which already operates at approximately 7%, according to three economists.
The electrical crisis has already led Ukraine’s central bank to lower its annual economic growth projection to 1.8% from 2% – matching the 1.8% growth anticipated to be reported for the previous year.
Independent economic analysts express greater caution. Dragon Capital, an investment firm, predicts 1% growth this year due to electricity shortages, while ICU – a Kyiv-based asset management and investment banking company – has reduced its growth forecast to 0.8% from 1.2%.
ICU determined that roughly 20-25% of economic production depends on reliable electricity access.
Numerous small enterprises have fought to survive during the war’s coldest and darkest winter season, also dealing with reduced consumer spending caused by prolonged blackouts.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko revealed that the energy crisis cost the national budget approximately 12 billion hryvnias ($280 million) in customs duties and tax collections during January alone.
An increase in Ukraine’s debt burden to nearly 100% of gross domestic product – despite two restructuring efforts – has concerned some investors. Last week, when Geneva peace negotiations appeared to stagnate, Ukrainian bond prices declined.
However, Ukraine appears close to securing an agreement with the International Monetary Fund for a new $8.1 billion lending package after the IMF agreed to relax certain conditions, including controversial tax hikes, Svyrydenko has indicated.
IMF approval should facilitate European Union assistance valued at roughly 90 billion euros ($105 billion) across two years, provided Hungarian opposition can be resolved – crucial support following President Donald Trump’s administration’s termination of direct budget assistance.
Hungary recently threatened to block the aid unless Kyiv restores Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline.
More urgently, Hungary and Slovakia last week warned they would cease power exports to Ukraine if oil transportation did not resume. Kyiv attributed pipeline damage to Russian strikes and by Monday had provided no repair timeline.
Hungary and Slovakia supplied 68% of Ukraine’s imported electricity this month, according to Kyiv-based consultancy ExPro.
While businesses have invested millions of hryvnias in backup power systems, including generators, batteries, solar equipment, and gas, a recent survey by Ukraine’s European Business Association revealed that outages created difficulties for four out of five companies. Half reduced production, while 61% reported increased costs.
International steelmaker ArcelorMittal experienced approximately 10% losses in hot metal production and over 25% in finished rolled products due to electricity shortages in January.
ArcelorMittal halted one continuous casting machine to prevent emergency shutdowns and equipment damage, resulting in more than 70% losses in planned hot-rolled billet production.
WASHINGTON – American manufacturing experienced a setback in December as factory orders declined 0.7%, according to data released Monday by the Commerce Department’s Census Bureau. The decrease came primarily from a substantial drop in commercial aircraft bookings, though other sectors showed resilience.
The December decline followed a 2.7% surge in November orders that remained unchanged from previous reports. While economists surveyed by Reuters had predicted a 0.6% decrease, the actual drop was slightly steeper. Despite the monthly decline, orders still showed a healthy 3.7% increase compared to December of the previous year.
The data release was postponed due to last year’s federal government shutdown, which contributed to slower economic growth during the fourth quarter. Manufacturing represents 10.1% of the nation’s economy and continues to face challenges from President Trump’s comprehensive tariff policies, which business executives say have increased expenses for both factories and consumers.
However, certain manufacturing segments have benefited from the accelerating implementation of artificial intelligence technologies. The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Trump’s broad tariff measures on Friday, which were enacted under emergency powers legislation. Trump responded immediately by implementing a 10% worldwide tariff for 150 days to substitute for some emergency duties, then increased the rate to 15% on Saturday.
Wells Fargo economist Shannon Grein commented on the situation: “The Supreme Court ruling doesn’t reset trade policy, and President Trump’s swift actions signal tariffs are here to stay even if they are adjusted in coming months.”
The aviation sector saw dramatic fluctuations, with commercial aircraft orders plummeting 24.8% in December after a remarkable 98.2% jump in November. This sector typically experiences significant volatility. Boeing’s website indicated the company secured 175 aircraft orders in December, though most were for less costly aircraft models, compared to 164 orders received in November.
Several other manufacturing categories demonstrated positive growth. Computer and electronic product orders surged 3.1%, while electrical equipment, appliances, and components saw a 0.3% gain. Machinery orders increased by 0.5%.
Additional sectors showing strength included fabricated metal products and primary metals, both experiencing robust order increases. Motor vehicle bodies, parts, and trailers advanced 2.0%. While business investment beyond AI applications slowed during the fourth quarter, experts anticipate growth acceleration this year due to tax reduction policies.
The Census Bureau also provided updated figures for non-defense capital goods orders excluding aircraft, which economists use to gauge business equipment spending intentions. These orders actually increased 0.8% in December, higher than the initially reported 0.6% gain from last week.
Similarly, shipments of these core capital goods rose 1.0%, exceeding the previously announced 0.9% increase.
A major German pharmaceutical corporation announced Monday that it has initiated legal proceedings in a New York courtroom targeting Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Janssen Biotech Inc.
Bayer revealed the lawsuit concerns disputes related to Nubeqa, the company’s treatment for prostate cancer patients.
The legal action was filed in New York court, though specific details about the nature of the dispute between the pharmaceutical giants were not immediately disclosed.
Swedish automaker Volvo announced Monday it will recall more than 40,000 of its EX30 electric SUVs worldwide due to dangerous battery defects that could cause fires.
The recall affects 40,323 vehicles – specifically the EX30 Single-Motor Extended Range and Twin-Motor Performance models – whose high-voltage battery systems pose an overheating risk. The Swedish company, which is owned by Chinese manufacturer Geely, confirmed the recall details to Reuters.
“We are now contacting the owners of all affected cars to advise them of next steps,” Volvo stated.
This safety issue strikes at the core of Volvo’s brand identity, which has long been built around vehicle safety. The recall involves the company’s compact electric SUV that plays a key role in Volvo’s strategy to compete against lower-priced Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers.
Since December, Volvo has instructed EX30 owners across more than a dozen nations – including the United States, Australia, and Brazil – to park their vehicles away from structures and restrict battery charging to 70% capacity to prevent fire risks, according to regulatory documents and company statements.
The automaker will provide replacement battery modules at no cost to owners while maintaining the charging restrictions until repairs are completed. The defective batteries were manufactured by Shandong Geely Sunwoda Power Battery Co., a joint venture backed by Volvo’s parent company Geely. Volvo says the supplier has resolved the manufacturing problem and will provide the replacement battery components.
Industry expert Sam Fiorani from AutoForecast Solutions emphasized the stakes for Volvo: “The EX30 especially is very important to Volvo, so they have to get it right.”
Former Nissan executive Andy Palmer, who led the development of the pioneering Leaf electric vehicle, noted that Volvo faces unique pressure due to its safety-focused reputation. “Volvo can’t afford a safety issue because that strikes at the heart of their brand,” Palmer explained.
The recall comes as Volvo pursues cost-cutting measures worth $1.9 billion and works toward closer integration with its Chinese parent company. Battery safety remains a critical concern for both electric vehicle manufacturers and consumers, as defects can result in massive financial losses.
General Motors faced similar challenges in 2020 when battery problems forced the recall of 140,000 Chevrolet Bolt vehicles, with repair costs reaching $2 billion. Those batteries were supplied by South Korean company LG Electronics.
According to Reuters analysis, the replacement batteries alone could cost Volvo approximately $195 million, not including shipping and installation expenses. The company called these estimates “speculative in nature” and said it continues negotiating with the battery supplier.
Some EX30 owners have expressed frustration with the situation. British insurance agent Matthew Owen, who selected the EX30 for its driving range and Volvo’s safety record, believes the company should accept full responsibility for “producing a car that is dangerous.”
New Zealand owner Tony Lu reported increased costs due to the charging limitations reducing his vehicle’s range. “I would be absolutely delighted if they bought the car back,” Lu said.
The University of Maryland Eastern Shore women’s golf team has begun their spring competitive season, securing a tied eighth-place finish in their opening tournament of the season.
The Hawks returned to action after the winter break to compete in their first spring tournament, marking the start of what promises to be an active season for the UMES golf program.
This result represents the team’s initial performance as they work to build momentum heading into the remainder of their spring competition schedule.
Former tennis superstar Serena Williams has swapped championship matches for corporate meetings, but her competitive drive remains as fierce as ever.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner is featured prominently in Prime Video’s latest docuseries “The CEO Club,” which debuts Monday and follows successful female executives as they navigate the challenges of running major businesses while juggling family obligations and personal struggles.
Williams stepped back from professional tennis competition following the 2022 U.S. Open, describing her departure as an “evolution” from the sport. Though she recently re-entered the official drug-testing program, making her eligible to return to competition, her future playing plans remain uncertain.
The tennis legend now channels the same determination that dominated courts worldwide into her entrepreneurial ventures, finding striking similarities between athletic competition and business leadership.
“I think the biggest lesson is just never give up, and you have to keep trying,” Williams explained. “As a CEO, you don’t win everything. You have to make really hard decisions. Just like in sport and in tennis, you have to show up every day. You might lose, but you just have to show up again the very next day.”
Williams joins an impressive lineup of female leaders in the eight-episode series, including Latin music star Thalia, former model turned fashion designer Dee Ocleppo Hilfiger, Market America and Shop.com CEO Loren Ridinger, supermodel Winnie Harlow, wellness entrepreneur Hannah Bronfman, and jewelry designer Isabela Rangel Grutman.
In addition to starring in the show, Williams took on executive producer duties through her production company Nine Two Six Productions, a role she says allows her to maintain control over storytelling.
“Being in the public eye for so long, you really want to control the narrative and make sure the truth gets out there,” Williams stated. “Not only for me, but for these amazing women that are in the show as well, it’s super important that the right story is told.”
Market America CEO Loren Ridinger emphasized how the series reveals the hidden realities of executive leadership that the public rarely witnesses.
“Everybody thinks you’re just like an overnight success. They don’t realize it took 34 years to get where you’re at,” Ridinger noted. “Leadership is not that easy. You have to make tough decisions, tough calls. You’re not always a fan favorite of people who you’re working with.”
Ridinger stressed that successful business management while maintaining personal relationships requires strategic prioritization and unwavering discipline, especially for executives balancing professional responsibilities with family commitments.
“You cannot become a slave to emergencies,” Ridinger advised. “You have to learn how to prioritize. And the way I do that is very simple. I do the hardest things first every day.”
Both business leaders highlighted the critical importance of building strong support networks, describing this as a central theme woven throughout the documentary series.
“The curation of a positive circle is just part of life that we need to have,” Ridinger observed. “You’re not going to associate with somebody that doesn’t believe in what you do.”
Williams credits her athletic background with providing the mental toughness necessary to handle the pressures and criticism that come with leadership positions.
“When you’re the best, most people want you to not do so well,” she reflected. “You just have to lean into making those decisions anyway.”
QAMISHLI, Syria (AP) — American military personnel have begun evacuating a strategic base in northeastern Syria, according to security officials who spoke Monday about what appears to be a broader reduction of U.S. military presence in the region.
Security sources from Iraq and Syria confirmed that American forces started relocating personnel and military hardware from the Qasrak base to Iraq’s Kurdish-controlled northern territory.
Reporters from the Associated Press witnessed a large military convoy on Monday in Qamishli, a northeastern Syrian city, where dozens of trucks transported military vehicles and gear toward Iraq’s border while military helicopters provided aerial support.
Neither the U.S. military’s Central Command nor the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, which maintains control over the area surrounding the Qasrak installation, provided responses to requests for comment.
According to a high-ranking Iraqi security source, the base evacuation commenced Sunday, with American personnel and military assets crossing into Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region on Monday.
A Syrian security source reported that approximately 200 troops remained at the facility Monday, working to disassemble military communication jamming equipment, air defense installations, and the base’s engineering operations.
Both security sources requested anonymity since they lacked authorization to speak publicly about the matter.
This evacuation follows an announcement earlier this month from CENTCOM and Syria’s defense ministry confirming that American troops had departed from the al-Tanf installation in eastern Syria, located near Jordan’s border.
The military withdrawal occurs after U.S. forces completed relocating approximately 5,700 suspected Islamic State fighters from Syrian detention facilities to Iraqi prisons, where the detainees will face trial.
American troops stationed in Syria primarily focus on preventing Islamic State from regaining strength. While the extremist organization lost its final Syrian territory in 2019, dormant cells continue launching sporadic attacks throughout Syria, Iraq, and internationally.
The prisoner transfer decision followed clashes between Syrian government troops and the SDF last month, during which dozens of IS suspects escaped from a detention facility, while an undetermined number of families reportedly fled from al Hol camp, which housed relatives of Islamic State members.
The camp’s remaining occupants have since been relocated to alternative facilities or returned to their home countries.
CAIRO (AP) — Chad announced Monday that it has temporarily sealed its frontier with Sudan following incidents where armed combatants from Sudan’s civil war crossed into Chadian territory during recent battles.
The border closure will remain in effect indefinitely as a protective measure, according to government spokesperson Gassim Cherif Mahamat. “It aims to prevent any risk of the conflict spreading to our soil, to protect our citizens and refugee populations, and to guarantee the stability and territorial integrity of our country,” Mahamat stated.
The boundary shutdown follows weekend combat in the border community of Tine, where Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces launched an offensive. Sudan’s regular army and its allies reported successfully defending against the assault, forcing RSF combatants to retreat across the international border into Chad.
Tine represents one of the final strongholds maintained by Sudan’s military forces in the vast Darfur region, an area that has fallen under RSF dominance since October 2025.
Since Sudan’s civil conflict erupted, hundreds of thousands of Sudanese civilians have sought refuge in Chad. Officials indicated that the border restrictions will include “exceptional exceptions, strictly justified by humanitarian reasons” for those fleeing violence.
This marks Chad’s second temporary border closure since Sudan descended into warfare in April 2023, when tensions between the country’s military leadership and the RSF escalated into widespread combat throughout Khartoum and other regions.
United Nations data indicates the fighting has claimed over 40,000 lives, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual casualty count could be significantly higher.
The Sudanese crisis has generated what experts call the globe’s most severe humanitarian emergency, displacing more than 14 million individuals from their communities. The violence has also triggered disease epidemics and created famine conditions across portions of Sudan.
A Nebraska representative reports that members of Congress are working intensively to reach an agreement regarding nationwide, year-round availability of E15 ethanol fuel. Representative Mike Flood indicated that legislators are making significant headway in their negotiations.
“On the last call I was on, all I will say is, I felt like there was substantial progress and there was some coalescing on some of the concepts,” Flood stated. The congressman serves as a member of the Rural Domestic Energy Council, which has been involved in the ongoing discussions.
Weather forecasters are predicting an extended period of above-average temperatures for nearly the entire United States over the next week and a half. According to the extended forecast outlook, most of the country can expect warmer conditions than typically seen for this time of year.
The forecast shows that only the northernmost parts of the country are likely to experience temperatures at or below seasonal averages during this 6- to 10-day period. The rest of the nation should prepare for temperatures climbing above what’s considered normal for late winter.
Precipitation patterns are expected to vary dramatically across different regions. Western areas, particularly along the Pacific coastline, throughout the Desert Southwest, and in the northern Rocky Mountain region, are forecast to receive less rainfall than usual. In contrast, most other parts of the country should see typical or higher-than-average precipitation levels during this same timeframe.
This weather pattern represents typical seasonal activity for central portions of the United States, where dynamic weather systems frequently develop during late winter months.
WASHINGTON — Three Democratic senators are introducing new legislation Monday demanding the federal government return approximately $175 billion in tariff money following a Supreme Court decision that declared President Donald Trump’s tariff orders unlawful.
The proposed bill from Senators Ron Wyden of Oregon, Ed Markey of Massachusetts, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire would mandate that U.S. Customs and Border Protection distribute refunds within 180 days while paying interest on returned amounts.
The legislation would give priority to small business refunds and urges importers, wholesalers, and larger corporations to share their refunds with consumers.
“Trump’s illegal tax scheme has already done lasting damage to American families, small businesses and manufacturers who have been hammered by wave after wave of new Trump tariffs,” Wyden stated, emphasizing that the “crucial first step” toward addressing the issue involves “putting money back in the pockets of small businesses and manufacturers as soon as possible.”
While the legislation faces slim chances of passage, it demonstrates how Democrats are beginning to pressure a Trump administration that has displayed minimal interest in returning tariff money after the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision Friday.
The ruling has given Democrats ammunition heading into November’s congressional midterm elections, allowing them to argue that Trump unlawfully increased taxes and now refuses to reimburse American citizens.
According to Shaheen, addressing the damage from tariffs through higher consumer prices begins with “President Trump refunding the illegally collected tariff taxes that Americans were forced to pay.”
The Trump administration maintains its options are limited, arguing that refund decisions should come through additional court proceedings.
This stance could force Republicans into a defensive position as they attempt to justify why the government isn’t actively working to return the funds. GOP legislators had intended to campaign on Trump’s income tax reductions from last year, promoting this year’s tax refunds as beneficial for families.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNN Sunday that discussing refunds represents “bad framing” since the Supreme Court decision didn’t specifically address refund issues. The administration’s stance maintains that lawsuits moving through the court system, not presidential action, will determine any refunds.
“It is not up to the administration — it is up to the lower court,” Bessent explained, stating he would “wait” for judicial guidance on refunds rather than provide administrative direction.
Trump has defended his application of the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act for imposing widespread tariffs on nearly all U.S. trade partners, claiming his import tax authority helped resolve military disputes, generate federal income, and create negotiating leverage for trade agreements.
The University of Pennsylvania’s Penn Wharton Budget Model calculated refunds would reach $175 billion, equivalent to roughly $1,300 per American household. However, structuring reimbursements presents challenges since tariff costs affected the economy through direct customer payments and indirect costs passed along or absorbed by importers.
The president has previously argued that refunds would increase government debt and harm economic performance. During Friday’s press briefing, he indicated the refund process might extend beyond his presidency.
“I guess it has to get litigated for the next two years,” Trump told reporters, later extending his prediction: “We’ll end up being in court for the next five years.”
A powerful winter storm is wreaking havoc across the Northeast, forcing millions of residents from New York City through New England to remain indoors as authorities enforce travel restrictions and issue blizzard alerts throughout Monday.
The storm has been dumping snow at an aggressive pace of 2 to 3 inches per hour since early Monday morning, stretching from New York state up through Massachusetts. Multiple locations have already received more than 12 inches of accumulation since Sunday, accompanied by wind gusts exceeding 30 miles per hour that have created dangerous visibility conditions.
Air travel has been severely disrupted, with flight tracking service FlightAware reporting over 5,000 cancelled flights nationwide for Monday. The bulk of these cancellations have affected airports in New York, New Jersey, and Boston.
Meteorologists are describing this weather event as a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter off the Northeast coast.” This scientific term refers to storms that experience bombogenesis – a phenomenon where atmospheric pressure plummets by at least 24 millibars within a 24-hour period, according to the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The rapid pressure drop creates exceptionally strong storms that can generate severe precipitation, hurricane-force winds, and conditions leading to widespread power failures and fallen trees.
These rapidly intensifying weather systems typically form during autumn and winter months when Arctic air masses move southward and collide with warmer atmospheric conditions.
Transportation systems have ground to a halt in affected areas. Public transit services have been suspended in multiple cities, and food delivery company DoorDash halted operations in New York City overnight due to safety concerns.
“The combination of heavy snowfall and strong winds will continue to produce blizzard conditions along the Northeastern Seaboard,” weather officials stated Monday. “Sharply reduced visibility will make travel extremely treacherous across these areas.”
The National Weather Service has described current travel conditions as “nearly impossible” due to the combination of heavy precipitation and powerful winds creating whiteout scenarios.
Emergency alerts have been issued from Maryland northward to Maine. New York City residents received urgent mobile phone notifications Sunday evening announcing a prohibition on non-emergency vehicle travel through Monday afternoon due to “dangerous blizzard conditions.” Similar travel restrictions have been implemented in Rhode Island and New Jersey.
Snowfall totals across the region include 22.5 inches at Long Island MacArthur Airport, approximately 15 inches in Manhattan’s Central Park, around 18 inches in Newark, New Jersey, and 17 inches each in New London, Connecticut, and North Kingstown, Rhode Island.
A Wisconsin dairy operation owner is raising concerns that crossbreeding practices between beef and dairy cattle are creating financial headaches for the milk industry. Mike Yager, who operates a 325-head Holstein operation near Mineral Point, Wisconsin, argues that while these crossbreeding programs may seem lucrative on paper, they’re contributing to market oversaturation that’s driving down milk payments.
According to Yager, who spoke with agricultural news outlets, the current milk market is flooded with excess supply, partly due to dairy producers extending the productive life of their herds to capitalize on beef genetics opportunities. This practice of keeping cattle in production longer to benefit from crossbreeding programs is exacerbating the industry’s surplus challenges, he explained.
The dairy operator’s concerns highlight a growing tension in the industry between short-term profits from beef-on-dairy programs and the long-term stability of milk pricing for producers nationwide.
Severe winter weather battering the mid-Atlantic and northern East Coast regions is expected to diminish Monday evening as a major storm system moves northeast toward Canada’s Maritime provinces. The powerful weather system has brought blizzard conditions to coastal areas from the Carolinas through New England.
Simultaneously, the Pacific Northwest will experience continued unsettled conditions through Wednesday, with precipitation in the form of rain and snow affecting areas from central California northward and extending into the northern Rocky Mountain region. Weather forecasters indicate that storm systems originating over the Pacific Ocean will continue moving eastward across the continental United States in the coming days.
Journalists from National Public Radio who covered the Winter Olympics in Italy are looking back on their most memorable experiences from the international sporting event.
The news organization’s correspondents spent weeks reporting from various locations throughout Italy as athletes from around the world competed in winter sports competitions.
According to NPR, their reporting team described the Olympics as both geographically spread out and filled with non-stop action, creating unique challenges and opportunities for coverage.
The Olympic flame burned at Milan’s Arco della Pace throughout the games, serving as a symbolic centerpiece for the international competition.
NPR’s on-site reporting staff are now sharing their personal reflections about what stood out most during their time covering the winter games across Italy’s Olympic venues.
WASHINGTON — The nation’s highest court announced Monday it will review arguments from major energy corporations attempting to shut down legal actions that could hold them responsible for billions in climate-related damages.
The court, which has a conservative majority, decided to examine a dispute originating in Boulder, Colorado, part of numerous legal challenges claiming these corporations misled Americans about fossil fuels’ role in climate change.
Local and state governments nationwide are pursuing damage claims worth billions of dollars, contending the money is needed to fund recovery efforts following wildfires, coastal flooding, and extreme weather events made worse by changing climate conditions. These legal battles are part of a broader movement spanning states like California, Hawaii, and New Jersey, as well as international efforts to force climate action through judicial proceedings.
After Colorado’s top court allowed the Boulder lawsuit to move forward, Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil petitioned the Supreme Court for review. These corporations maintain that emissions represent a nationwide concern that belongs in federal courts, where comparable cases have been dismissed.
“The use of state law to address global climate change represents a serious threat to one of our Nation’s most critical sectors,” company lawyers stated.
The Trump administration has backed the energy companies, urging the justices to overturn Colorado’s Supreme Court ruling. Officials warn this could result in “every locality in the country could sue essentially anyone in the world for contributing to global climate change.”
Trump, a Republican president, has denounced these lawsuits through executive action, while the Justice Department has worked to prevent some cases from advancing in court.
Boulder’s legal team argued the case remains in preliminary phases and belongs in state court. “There is no constitutional bar to states addressing in-state harms caused by out-of-state conduct, be it the negligent design of an automobile or sale of asbestos,” their attorneys stated.
Aviation operations ground to a halt throughout the northeastern United States on Monday as a severe winter storm delivered heavy snowfall and fierce winds to the region.
Flight disruptions mounted rapidly during Monday morning hours. By approximately 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time, close to 5,500 flights traveling to or from the United States had been cancelled, data from FlightAware showed. Additional hundreds of flights faced delays.
John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in New York experienced the most significant number of cancellations on Monday, with airports in Boston, Newark, New Jersey, and Philadelphia following close behind.
Weather officials described driving conditions as “extremely treacherous” and “nearly impossible” throughout the areas most severely impacted by the winter weather system.
The storm’s effects extended well beyond aviation disruptions, as millions of residents remained confined to their homes under mandatory travel restrictions during blizzard warnings. Sunday evening brought emergency alerts to mobile phones throughout New York City, announcing a prohibition on non-essential street travel lasting until Monday at noon due to “dangerous blizzard conditions.” Both Rhode Island and New Jersey enacted comparable travel limitations.
WASHINGTON — A federal court has issued a permanent injunction preventing the public disclosure of special counsel Jack Smith’s investigative report concerning President Donald Trump’s handling of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago property.
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, approved the Republican president’s petition to suppress the report from a criminal probe that previously threatened significant legal consequences for Trump.
Smith’s office compiled a comprehensive two-part report examining Trump’s attempts to reverse the 2020 election results following his defeat by Joe Biden, as well as his possession of classified materials at his Florida Palm Beach residence after departing the White House at the end of his initial presidency.
Criminal charges stemming from both probes were dropped by Smith’s prosecutors following Trump’s victory in the November 2024 election, adhering to established Justice Department policy prohibiting federal criminal cases against incumbent presidents.
Judge Cannon, who previously threw out the case in 2024 by determining Smith lacked proper appointment authority, declared that making the report public would constitute a “manifest injustice” against Trump and his two fellow defendants.
“Special Counsel Smith, acting without lawful authority, obtained an indictment in this action and initiated proceedings that resulted in a final order of dismissal of all charges,” she wrote. “As a result, the former defendants in this case, like any other defendant in this situation, still enjoy the presumption of innocence held sacrosanct in our constitutional order.”
The judge acknowledged that special counsels traditionally publish reports when concluding their investigations, but noted this typically occurs either when no charges are filed or “after adjudications of guilt by plea or trial.”
“The Court strains to find a situation in which a former special counsel has released a report after initiating criminal charges that did not result in a finding of guilt, at least not in a situation like this one, where the defendants contested the charges from the outset and still proclaim their innocence.”
WASHINGTON — A Federal Reserve official said Monday that January’s unexpectedly strong employment numbers might lead the central bank to postpone an interest rate reduction at its upcoming March meeting, a move that could draw criticism from President Donald Trump.
Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller noted that employers hired 130,000 workers last month, exceeding forecasts, but cautioned this improvement might be temporary. He emphasized the need to see similar positive employment data in February before determining whether the job market is truly recovering from its weakness throughout 2024.
This cautious stance marks a change for Waller, who previously advocated for rate cuts. In January, he was among two Fed governors who opposed keeping interest rates unchanged after the central bank had reduced rates three times late last year. The Fed’s benchmark rate currently sits around 3.6%.
Lower Federal Reserve rates typically translate to reduced borrowing costs for home mortgages, car loans, and business financing over time, though market conditions also influence these rates.
Regarding the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn several of Trump’s tariffs, Waller suggested this would have minimal economic impact and wouldn’t influence his rate decisions. The ruling might create “a positive impact on spending and investment,” he noted, but “how large the impact may be and how long it could last is unclear.”
Waller pointed out that the White House plans to reinstate tariffs through alternative legal mechanisms, generating “considerable uncertainty over to what extent tariffs will continue.”
Speaking at a National Association for Business Economists conference, Waller outlined two scenarios for March. If February’s employment report matches January’s strength, “indicating that downside risks to the labor market have diminished, it may be appropriate” to maintain current rate levels “and watch for continued progress on inflation and strength in the labor market.”
However, he added, “But if the good labor market news of January is revised away or evaporates in February, a cut should be made at the March meeting.”
“As things stand today, I rate these two possible outcomes as close to a coin flip,” Waller concluded.
The Fed governor also discussed what many economists find puzzling about today’s economy: relatively strong growth alongside minimal job creation last year. Waller predicted that even the modest employment gains reported for 2024 will eventually be revised downward to negative territory.
“This would be the first time in my career, my life, that I saw an economy growing like this, and zero job growth,” Waller explained. “I don’t even know quite how to think about this.” He suggested that hiring might increase this year, resolving this apparent contradiction.
Another possible explanation involves increased productivity following the pandemic, as businesses discovered ways to maintain output with fewer employees.
President Trump criticized the Fed Friday after government data showed economic growth slowed to 1.4% annually in the fourth quarter, down from 4.4% in the previous quarter.
“LOWER INTEREST RATES,” Trump wrote on social media. “‘Two Late’ Powell is the WORST!!” he added, misspelling his typical nickname for Fed Chair Jerome Powell, whom he usually calls “Too Late.”
WASHINGTON — American diplomatic personnel and their families have been directed to evacuate Lebanon following escalating military tensions between the United States and Iran, according to a State Department official who spoke Monday.
The evacuation order affects non-essential staff members, with the official describing the move as a “prudent” response based on ongoing evaluations of regional security conditions. Only critical embassy personnel will remain to maintain operations.
The official, who requested anonymity since no formal announcement had been made, emphasized that the evacuation is temporary and that embassy operations continue as of Monday.
Military tensions have intensified as Iran conducted joint exercises with Russia last week while a second U.S. aircraft carrier moved toward the Middle East region. Both Washington and Tehran have indicated readiness for military action should nuclear negotiations collapse completely.
Speaking Thursday, President Donald Trump stated his belief that Iran has “enough time” within 10 to 15 days to negotiate an agreement. However, nuclear discussions have remained stalled for years, with Iran rejecting broader American and Israeli demands to reduce its missile capabilities and cut support for armed militant organizations. Recent indirect diplomatic efforts have shown minimal advancement, raising concerns that either side may be stalling while making final military preparations.
A separate State Department source, also speaking anonymously about unannounced plans, indicated Secretary of State Marco Rubio might postpone his planned weekend trip to Israel.
MEXICO CITY – Violence erupted across Mexico after the death of the nation’s most notorious drug cartel leader, resulting in the deaths of 25 National Guard members, according to Mexican officials.
Security Minister Omar Garcia Harfuch announced during a Monday press briefing that the fatalities occurred during attacks in Jalisco state following the capture of Nemesio Oseguera, known by his alias “El Mencho,” on Sunday. An additional state prosecutor’s office official was also killed in the violence, Harfuch confirmed.
Oseguera had been the country’s top fugitive cartel leader, with authorities offering a $15 million reward for information that would lead to his arrest. His death sparked retaliatory violence throughout Mexico as members of his criminal organization launched revenge attacks against government forces.
Defense Minister Ricardo Trevilla revealed Monday that intelligence which led to Oseguera’s capture and subsequent death came from a romantic relationship the crime boss maintained.
The United Nations confirmed Monday that Pakistani military operations in eastern Afghanistan resulted in the deaths of at least 13 civilians and left seven others wounded, marking a dangerous escalation in tensions between the two neighboring nations.
These casualties raise concerns about a potential return to retaliatory violence between Pakistan and Afghanistan, putting at risk a delicate ceasefire along their 1,600-mile shared border and worsening diplomatic relations as both countries blame each other for militant attacks.
According to the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA), the organization received “credible reports” that Pakistani air operations conducted during the night of February 21-22 resulted in civilian casualties in the Behsud and Khogyani areas of Nangarhar province.
Zabihullah Mujahid, a Taliban representative, had previously stated that dozens were killed or wounded in the military actions, which also targeted areas in Paktika province. Reuters was unable to confirm these casualty figures independently.
Pakistani officials justified the military action by pointing to recent suicide bombings, including attacks during Ramadan, which they attributed to militant groups operating from Afghan soil.
Pakistan’s information ministry stated on X that the “intelligence-based” mission targeted seven facilities belonging to the Pakistani Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan Province, claiming they possessed “conclusive evidence” that terrorist operations against Pakistan were coordinated by “Afghanistan-based leadership and handlers.”
Afghan authorities have consistently rejected claims that they permit militant organizations to use their territory for launching attacks against Pakistan.
The military strikes occurred just days after Kabul freed three Pakistani military personnel through a Saudi-brokered prisoner exchange designed to reduce months of border tensions.
Afghanistan’s defense ministry denounced the strikes as violations of national sovereignty and international law, warning that an “appropriate and measured response will be taken at a suitable time.” Additionally, the Afghan foreign ministry summoned Pakistan’s diplomatic representative.
In response to the February 21-22 operations, Afghanistan’s education ministry reported that eight students – five male and three female – died in Behsud within Nangarhar province, while one religious school student was injured in Barmal in Paktika province. The ministry added that numerous other civilians were killed or wounded and educational facilities were damaged. Reuters could not verify this information independently.
These recent military actions follow months of border conflicts and repeated frontier closures that have disrupted commerce and travel along the mountainous boundary region.
TUNIS – Family members confirmed Monday that a Tunisian court has ordered the freedom of lawyer Ahmed Souab, who had been imprisoned while serving a five-year sentence.
Souab, known for his vocal opposition to President Kais Saied, was released following the court’s decision on Monday.
