An energy infrastructure company announced Thursday that it anticipates 2026 earnings will surpass Wall Street predictions, fueled by the artificial intelligence data center construction boom driving demand for electrical services.
Quanta Services saw its stock value climb 6% during early morning trading following the announcement.
The Texas-based contractor projects annual adjusted earnings per share will fall between $12.65 and $13.35 for the full year, beating the $12.44 per share that analysts had predicted, based on LSEG data.
“The convergence of utility, power generation, and large-load industries continues to create significant opportunities,” Quanta Services CEO Duke Austin said.
During its previous quarterly earnings presentation, the company indicated it was strategically positioned to capitalize on increasing electricity and infrastructure needs from data centers, manufacturing operations returning to the U.S., industrial expansion, electrification efforts, and power grid improvements.
The contractor – which delivers infrastructure solutions across utility, renewable energy, technology, communications, pipeline and energy sectors – is capitalizing on substantial AI data center investments from major technology companies.
For the quarter ending December 31, Quanta’s adjusted earnings climbed to $3.16 per share, up from $2.94 per share during the same period last year. Wall Street analysts had projected earnings of $3.02 per share on average.
Fourth-quarter revenue increased to $7.84 billion, compared to $6.55 billion in the previous year. Analysts had estimated revenue would reach $7.37 billion.
A telehealth company’s ambitious attempt to break into the lucrative weight-loss drug market has spectacularly collapsed, triggering increased federal oversight of medication compounding operations nationwide.
Hims & Hers Health, an online healthcare platform, quickly withdrew its announcement to sell a compounded weight-loss pill for $49 after facing immediate pushback from both federal regulators and a major pharmaceutical manufacturer.
The company had planned to offer an oral version of semaglutide, the active ingredient found in popular weight-loss medications, even as established drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly were already working to reduce prices on their branded products.
Within just two days of the announcement, Hims reversed course after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary publicly criticized the offering and similar medications as “illegal copycats.”
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk then escalated the situation by filing a patent infringement lawsuit against the telehealth company over its injectable weight-loss products.
The oral medication could have provided Hims access to patients who prefer pills over injections, according to industry analysts. However, the company’s future growth strategy now remains uncertain.
“They probably looked at this as their next big driver of growth in the business,” explained Needham analyst Ryan McDonald. He noted that Hims’ other recent service additions, including testosterone treatments and cancer screenings, were “nice add-ons” but wouldn’t generate substantial new customer subscriptions independently.
Hims representatives declined to provide comment on the situation.
The company, led by entrepreneur Andrew Dudum, has marketed itself as an affordable healthcare alternative, including through an expensive Super Bowl advertisement campaign.
Hims has also worked to increase its political influence, contributing $1 million to President Donald Trump’s inauguration – matching donations from much larger pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Gilead.
The telehealth platform’s recent expansion has been largely driven by injectable weight-loss treatments. Company sales were under $900 million in 2023, before introducing the injection services, but Wall Street projects revenues will surpass $2.3 billion when 2025 results are announced Monday. Analysts anticipate fourth-quarter sales of $620 million, representing a 28% increase.
While Hims has maintained sales growth rates between 59% and 94% over the past four years, forecasts suggest growth will slow to approximately 17% over the next two years.
Company stock prices have dropped to less than 25% of their mid-2023 peaks and have fallen more than 45% since the weight-loss pill announcement.
Industry experts project the obesity medication market will reach roughly $100 billion in annual sales by 2030. Novo Nordisk executives believe oral medications could account for one-third or more of that market, with Eli Lilly potentially launching its oral treatment as early as April.
Compounding pharmacies gained temporary permission to market their own versions of GLP-1 medications during widespread shortages in recent years. After branded medication supplies stabilized last year, companies like Hims continued selling what they termed personalized compounded versions, adjusting dosages or ingredients to address side effects and allergies.
However, analysts suggest Hims may have overstepped regulatory boundaries with its pill proposal.
GLP-1 compounds are fragile peptides requiring specialized technology to remain effective when taken orally. Hims couldn’t utilize Novo’s patented absorption technology for oral semaglutide, the primary component in Wegovy and Ozempic. Instead, the company planned to employ complex liposomal technology to enhance absorption.
Manufacturing experts indicated this technology would likely prove difficult to produce in personalized doses and could raise safety concerns with regulators, particularly since the manufacturing process lacked prior FDA approval.
“It’s a tricky technology,” said Prashant Yadav, a professor of technology and operations management at INSEAD business school. Yadav likened liposomal particles to bubbles, explaining that incorrect application could render the medications ineffective.
“Each of those bubbles has to be precisely the right size,” Yadav detailed. “If some are too big or are too small, then it has the problem that it won’t carry the payload, or it may carry the payload, and when it’s time to release, it may not release it in the right quantity.”
BMO Capital Markets pharmaceutical analyst Evan Seigerman, who follows Lilly, predicts compounded GLP-1 sales will continue declining as branded medication prices decrease, insurance coverage expands, and regulatory oversight intensifies.
“That’s the problem with a platform that’s kind of based on selling of a gray-market product,” Seigerman observed. “Lilly and Novo are always going to be able to make their product more efficiently. They have the scale, so they’re going to win.”
While major airlines chase after big-spending travelers, Frontier Airlines is taking a different approach by betting on budget-conscious passengers who are watching their wallets more carefully.
The airline’s newly appointed CEO James Dempsey shared with Reuters that concentrating on lower fares and encouraging travel during slower periods remains a viable approach for 2026. This strategy aims to grab customers previously served by Spirit Airlines, which entered bankruptcy protection for the second time in August 2025.
After taking over as CEO in January following the sudden exit of former chief executive Barry Biffle, Dempsey addressed recent media speculation about Frontier’s future. Reports had surfaced suggesting passengers couldn’t reserve flights beyond April, raising concerns about potential bankruptcy.
“They are categorically untrue,” Dempsey stated regarding the bankruptcy speculation. He explained that booking limitations were actually the result of schedule restructuring in preparation for spring and summer seasons. “We are very focused on the go-forward plan on Frontier and right-sizing our fleet,” he added. “It puts us in a very strong position to bring the airline back to profitability.”
However, Wall Street remains doubtful about the carrier’s strategy of returning to its traditional high-utilization approach, where airlines maximize aircraft usage to spread operational expenses across more flights and reduce per-unit costs. Frontier’s stock has plummeted 19% over five days and dropped 44% during the past year.
“We offer value to customers at fares that enable people to travel who would not otherwise travel,” Dempsey explained. “We think that the model is phenomenally beneficial to consumers.”
Aviation industry experts note that this high-utilization strategy has faced difficulties since the pandemic began, as operational expenses have increased while established airlines have moved into discount carriers’ territory. Should demand for budget travel weaken, Frontier could see deeper financial losses under growing investor scrutiny.
JP Morgan equity analyst Jamie Baker wrote in a research report: “Frontier’s deeply negative margins are second only to Spirit’s, and remain among the worst peacetime margins we’ve ever witnessed.”
These difficulties have sparked industry discussions about potential consolidation, including possible partnerships between Frontier and Spirit.
CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
Baker’s estimates show Frontier’s fourth-quarter earnings dropped 9.6% when excluding profits from sale-leaseback deals, while costs per available seat mile without fuel increased 7% compared to the previous year. A company representative attributed higher expenses in 2025 to reduced aircraft utilization.
Data analytics company Cirium reported that Frontier expanded seating capacity by 18% at the start of 2024. However, the airline operated 3.5% fewer seats in 2025 versus 2024 due to weakened demand conditions.
Speaking after the February 11 quarterly earnings report, Dempsey expressed optimism about recent demand improvements as the company enhances its loyalty program and Spirit withdraws from competing markets.
Frontier reported a 10% increase in revenue per available seat mile during the current quarter, suggesting stronger pricing capabilities.
“It’s a testament to some of the changes that we’ve made around disciplined pricing and giving customers clarity and transparency around what they’re purchasing,” Dempsey noted.
Despite focusing on budget travelers, the airline still pursues higher-paying customers through plans to launch first-class seating later this year and install Wi-Fi service by the end of 2027.
“We’re very focused on having a diversified product in the cabin,” he said. “You’ve seen post-COVID the change in customers’ appetites to pay for premium products.”
Following the pandemic’s end, numerous U.S. carriers including Delta Air, United Airlines, and American Airlines have emphasized luxury travel to boost profits and minimize exposure to economic fluctuations.
Dempsey announced Frontier’s intentions to shrink its fleet size while pursuing $200 million in yearly cost reductions by 2027 to improve operational performance. According to Cirium data, Frontier ranked at the bottom among 10 North American airlines for on-time performance in 2025.
SPIRIT NEGOTIATIONS
Merger discussions between Spirit and Frontier have continued since 2022 without reaching a final deal. Dempsey refused to comment on whether negotiations remain active.
During Spirit’s initial Chapter 11 bankruptcy process, the airline turned down multiple Frontier proposals in early 2025, including a $2.16 billion bid. After Spirit’s second bankruptcy filing in August 2025, Frontier submitted another offer that sources described to Reuters as unfeasible.
“We look at opportunities as they arise, and we’ll be disciplined in how we assess those opportunities,” Dempsey said. “If it’s favorable to Frontier, we would pursue it.”
In January, smaller airlines Sun Country and Allegiant revealed merger plans, as post-pandemic changes in pricing dynamics have highlighted weaknesses among low-cost carriers.
Jeff Potter, who served as Frontier’s CEO from 2002 to 2007, commented: “Sun Country and Allegiant make business sense, and I’m not sure that same box is checked when you look at a Frontier-Spirit.”
“You have two companies that for lack of better terms are finding their way through some financial challenges and I don’t think that improves if there were a combination now,” Potter added.
Dense fog conditions have developed across Delaware, creating hazardous driving conditions throughout the First State. The Delaware Department of Transportation is urging all drivers to exercise extreme caution while on the roads.
Visibility has been significantly reduced in multiple areas across Delaware, with fog intensity varying from location to location. The atmospheric conditions have created a safety concern for motorists traveling on state highways and local roads.
Transportation officials recommend that drivers reduce their speed, increase following distances, and use low-beam headlights when navigating through the foggy conditions. Motorists should also avoid using high-beam headlights, which can reflect off the fog and further reduce visibility.
The fog advisory remains in effect as weather conditions continue to impact travel safety throughout Delaware.
A tragic avalanche has claimed eight lives in the backcountry terrain northwest of Lake Tahoe, authorities report. The deadly slide struck a group of backcountry skiers in the mountainous region.
Search and rescue operations continue for one person who remains unaccounted for and is believed to have perished in the avalanche. However, hazardous weather and terrain conditions are hampering efforts to locate the missing individual.
The incident highlights the ongoing dangers facing winter recreation enthusiasts in mountainous backcountry areas, where avalanche risks can be severe.
Agricultural professionals are encouraging Delaware area farmers to begin inspecting their machinery immediately to prevent potential setbacks when the busy spring planting season arrives.
Alex Case, a retail sales agronomist with Brevant Seeds, notes that many producers have likely already begun examining their equipment. “Those planters, tending vessels, all those things out and look them over. And not just the bearings, bushings, belts, pulleys, motors, the technology piece right,” Case explained.
The recommendation comes as farmers across the region prepare for another planting season, with proper equipment maintenance being crucial for avoiding expensive delays during the narrow window when field conditions are optimal for planting operations.
With Ash Wednesday marking the beginning of Lent this week, Catholic clergy nationwide are preparing for increased activity in their confessionals. Believers throughout America are rediscovering the sacrament of reconciliation, which has transformed from an uncomfortable listing of wrongdoings into a healing journey toward divine grace.
“They come to confession feeling as if they are terrible, but … they are displaying the fact that they want to be good,” said the Rev. Patrick Gilger, a Jesuit priest in Chicago. “The fact that somebody shows up to confession is a lived act that they desire holiness.”
While many religious traditions incorporate periods of self-denial, repentance and forgiveness before significant holy days, Catholics view the sacrament of penance as an ongoing practice meant to occur weekly or monthly. During confession, individuals share their sins with a priest, promise to avoid repeating them, receive absolution, and complete assigned penance before returning to receive Communion.
“This becomes kind of a marker for Catholics. It’s something they do, which their Protestant and other non-Catholic neighbors don’t do,” said James O’Toole, a Boston College professor emeritus and author of a new history of confession.
Prior to the final decades of the 1900s, Catholic confession followed a predictable pattern. Churches and educational institutions maintained categorized lists of transgressions, ranging from serious mortal sins like adultery that violated commandments to minor venial sins such as disrupting church services.
The process typically moved quickly – penitents would detail their sins and frequency, recite an act of contrition, then receive penance such as reciting ten Hail Marys. However, O’Toole noted that confession participation experienced a dramatic decline afterward, influenced by expanding psychological understanding of human nature, shifting cultural attitudes toward sexuality, and scandals involving clergy misconduct.
According to the Rev. Thomas Gaunt, who directs Georgetown University’s Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate, the Catholic Church doesn’t collect confession statistics, making current participation trends difficult to measure precisely.
Nevertheless, American parishes report growing interest, and priests describe how the sacrament now emphasizes conversations about divine mercy and love while still maintaining acknowledgment of sins and receiving forgiveness as central elements.
“There’s only so many ways to go wrong. There’s an infinite number of ways to be right and to have God’s life coursing through you,” said the Rev. Mike Nugent, who was ordained in 2023 and is parochial vicar at Saint Ambrose Catholic Church in Annandale, Virginia.
Modern confessors aren’t simply offering easy forgiveness – priests cannot grant absolution without genuine willingness to change from the penitent. However, they strive to demonstrate the same compassion that Gospel accounts show Jesus extending to various sinners.
“What sinfulness is in the Catholic Church’s theological understanding is the intentional, willful distancing of oneself from God,” said Gilger, who also teaches at Loyola University. “The point of confessing your sins, of attending to sins, is only to allow the God who wants to be with us to rush back into the emptiness that those sins have created.”
Multiple priests describe confession as having therapeutic benefits for both participants, particularly in today’s society that tends toward judgment rather than forgiveness.
“The individual can both confront him or herself, sort of acknowledge these things, and at the same time experience, from God through another person, mercy, forgiveness, and hope,” said the Rev. Brendan Hurley. He oversees the penance preparation program at the Pontifical North American College, next to the Vatican, where Nugent studied.
The confidentiality of confession remains absolute, with the Vatican consistently opposing legislative attempts to require certain disclosures.
Whether kneeling before a traditional wooden confessional screen or meeting face-to-face with their confessor, most people seek to release emotional burdens and receive concrete encouragement, according to priests.
“It’s about healing,” said the Rev. John Kartje, rector of Mundelein Seminary in Illinois and a priest for nearly a quarter century. “You need trust, you need openness, you need vulnerability, you need honesty.”
This approach results in what Nugent humorously calls confession having “a strong customer satisfaction rating.” His parish, along with others in the Diocese of Arlington, will begin offering Wednesday evening confessions simultaneously starting next month.
“Knowing that I’m loved even with my struggle, even with sin, even with the things that are challenging and shameful in my life, that I am still loved perfectly — my gosh, that is good news,” Nugent added.
Priests encounter dramatically varied confession experiences, from individuals with only hours to live to those revealing major secrets like infidelity or theft that they’ve never previously spoken aloud.
Other situations require guiding overly vague penitents who might only say “I haven’t been true to myself” or those struggling to accept church teachings on widely accepted practices like contraception.
What clergy emphasize they avoid is showing disapproval or adopting harsh, judgmental approaches. Instead, they concentrate on reinforcing God’s continuing love and presence.
“Then people know what the thing that they’re doing is that’s keeping them away from God,” Gilger said.
Traditionally, seminary students studied moral theology through detailed manuals that functioned as “clear rule books,” which influenced what Catholics learned through religious education, according to O’Toole.
While seminaries still include penance courses near graduation, today’s training emphasizes “creating a space where the penitent can feel comfortable,” Hurley said.
Seminary students now practice with faculty and fellow students while also regularly participating in confession themselves – a practice maintained by all priests, including the Pope.
Both receiving and administering confession ultimately represents an expression of faith.
“I think the learning curve when you first get out (of seminary) is … don’t fall in the trap of thinking this is all on you, because sometimes that leads to being overly strict,” Kartje said. “I’m hearing your confession. I’m saying the words of absolution. But the only real healer is the Holy Spirit.”
The understanding that they serve as channels for divine grace to struggling individuals motivates many priests to spend hours listening to admissions of wrongdoing.
“You’re not just there for what Jesus is doing in healing that person. You also have this privileged role in being present as someone shows incredible virtue,” Nugent said. “When someone comes and says, ‘Father, these are the things I’ve done,’ there’s so much honesty, there’s so much humility, a great generosity of spirit, a great faith in the God who will forgive them.”
While serving as confessor can be emotionally demanding, it also provides significant rewards, Gilger noted.
“I remember some confessions, the hard things people said, but … mostly what I remember is how amazing people are, and it’s immensely consoling,” he said.
A 19-year-old Palestinian-American man died Wednesday night during violent confrontations in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, according to Palestinian health officials.
Palestinian Health Ministry officials identified the victim as Nasrallah Muhammad Jamal Abu Siyam, who they say was fatally shot by settlers in Mukhmas village, located north of Jerusalem.
Israeli military officials provided a different account, stating that their forces responded to violent disturbances in the region and worked to break up rioting. Military representatives said unidentified individuals opened fire on several Palestinians, who were then transported for emergency medical care.
Abu Siyam’s mother confirmed to The Associated Press that her son possessed U.S. citizenship. The American Embassy has not responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Extremist settler violence throughout the West Bank has dramatically increased over recent years.
Palestinian communities and human rights organizations maintain that Israeli authorities consistently fail to bring settlers to justice or hold them responsible for acts of violence. Data from Israeli human rights organization Yesh Din shows that investigations into settler attacks have dropped significantly under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s leadership.
Israeli prosecutors made an unusual announcement earlier this week, revealing plans to file charges against a settler for killing a Palestinian activist during an altercation that was recorded on video.
The occupied West Bank and east Jerusalem house more than 3.4 million Palestinians alongside 700,000 Israeli settlers. Israel seized these territories during the 1967 war, and Palestinians view them as essential for establishing a future independent state. Most of the international community views Israeli settlement expansion in these areas as violating international law and hindering peace efforts.
A new report from the Committee to Protect Journalists reveals that dozens of Palestinian journalists detained by Israel during the Gaza conflict endured harsh treatment, including beatings, forced uncomfortable positions, isolation tactics, sexual abuse and inadequate medical attention.
The organization has verified the detention of at least 94 Palestinian journalists and one media worker throughout the Gaza war. This includes 32 journalists and one media worker from Gaza, 60 from the West Bank, and two from Israel. Thirty journalists remain imprisoned, according to CPJ findings.
The investigation revealed that half of the detained journalists never faced formal charges and were imprisoned through Israel’s administrative detention system, which permits holding individuals considered security threats for six-month periods that can be extended without limit.
Israeli prison authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment about the report, though they previously dismissed a similar January report about Palestinian prisoner conditions as containing “false allegations,” maintaining they operate within legal bounds, face proper oversight and investigate complaints.
The extensive damage throughout Gaza will require a minimum of seven years just to clear away debris, according to United Nations Development Program estimates.
Former Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, who recently visited Gaza, reported that UNDP workers have cleared only 0.5% of the rubble, and Gaza residents are living in “the worst living conditions that I have ever seen.”
De Croo described how 90% of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are living in “very, very rudimentary tents” surrounded by debris, creating serious health risks and dangers from unexploded ordnance.
He noted that UNDP has constructed 500 improved temporary housing units with 4,000 more prepared for deployment, but estimates show the actual need ranges from 200,000 to 300,000 units. These temporary structures are designed to provide shelter during the reconstruction process. He urged Israel to allow greater access for reconstruction materials and goods, and called for private sector involvement in development efforts.
LONDON — British authorities have taken Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor into custody Thursday, charging the former royal with suspected misconduct in public office.
Following standard UK procedures, Thames Valley Police did not publicly identify the detained individual by name. However, when questioned about Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, officials referenced their statement about apprehending a man in his sixties. The former Prince Andrew is currently 66 years old.
Thames Valley Police released the following official statement:
“During our ongoing investigation, we detained a man in his sixties from Norfolk today (19/2) under suspicion of misconduct in public office. We are currently conducting searches at properties located in both Berkshire and Norfolk.”
“The detained individual continues to be held in police custody.”
“In accordance with national protocols, we will not be disclosing the identity of the arrested individual. We also remind everyone that this matter is now an active case, so caution must be exercised in any reporting to prevent contempt of court violations.”
Assistant Chief Constable Oliver Wright provided additional details about the investigation:
“After conducting a comprehensive review, we have initiated a formal investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office.”
“Maintaining the integrity and impartiality of our investigation is crucial as we collaborate with our partners to examine this alleged violation.”
“We recognize the considerable public attention surrounding this matter, and we will share additional information when it is appropriate to do so.”
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Major labor organizations across Argentina launched a country-wide work stoppage Thursday in opposition to President Javier Milei’s proposed changes to workplace regulations, escalating tensions between the libertarian president and influential union groups while lawmakers consider the controversial legislation.
The strike brought widespread disruption as financial institutions and government schools shuttered, public transit systems halted operations, air carriers grounded hundreds of scheduled flights, and medical facilities delayed non-critical procedures. The work stoppage coincided with legislative discussions in Argentina’s lower chamber, occurring one week following the Senate’s preliminary endorsement of the workplace reform measure.
This demonstration of union strength — encompassing employees from transit, building trades, food industry, and other essential sectors — reflects growing discontent with Argentina’s unsteady economic progress under Milei’s administration. While his government has achieved monetary stability in a nation previously troubled by soaring prices, challenges remain with joblessness, wage stagnation, and sluggish economic expansion.
The president views updating Argentina’s five-decade-old employment regulations as essential for attracting international investment, enhancing worker productivity, and generating employment opportunities in a nation where approximately 40% of the workforce operates in the informal economy.
Labor organizations contend the proposed changes would erode established worker safeguards by diminishing severance compensation, limiting strike rights, simplifying employee termination procedures, and permitting extended 12-hour shifts.
“The labor reform project is entirely regressive,” stated Cristian Jerónimo, a prominent figure within the General Confederation of Labor, Argentina’s primary union alliance, during a media briefing about the strike. “The only thing it prioritizes is the restriction of workers’ rights.”
Strong union resistance has previously blocked government initiatives to modernize Argentina’s outdated employment framework, which experts consider among Latin America’s most expensive for businesses to navigate.
The labor reform’s outcome represents Milei’s first major political challenge since his emerging libertarian movement, La Libertad Avanza, secured victory in Argentina’s recent midterm contests with support from key partner U.S. President Donald Trump.
The timing proved awkward for the Argentine leader, who was attending Trump’s inaugural Board of Peace gathering in Washington during the strike.
Should the workplace legislation survive Thursday’s lower house proceedings, it requires Senate approval next week before enactment into law.
This additional step became necessary after a last-minute provision reducing wages by half for workers on medical leave for non-workplace injuries sparked outrage among opposition legislators, forcing government modifications to the Senate-approved version.
Union data indicates roughly 40% of Argentina’s 13 million documented workers maintain union membership, with many connected to the labor-focused populist Peronist movement that controlled the previous administration and influenced national politics for generations.
The Arkansas-based retail giant continued its winning streak during the holiday shopping season, attracting customers across all income levels with its commitment to affordable prices, the company announced Thursday.
Despite the strong performance, Walmart’s stock dropped nearly 3% in pre-market trading after the company provided a conservative outlook for the months ahead, suggesting potential economic headwinds.
For the quarter ending January 31st, Walmart posted profits of $4.24 billion, translating to 53 cents per share. When adjusted for one-time items, earnings reached 74 cents per share, slightly beating analyst predictions of 73 cents according to FactSet data.
This represents a decline from the previous year’s net income of $5.25 billion, or 65 cents per share.
Revenue climbed 5.6% to reach $190.7 billion, up from $180.6 billion in the same period last year, surpassing Wall Street forecasts.
Same-store sales, which include both physical locations and online purchases, increased 4.6% following a 4.5% gain in the prior quarter.
The company’s worldwide online business surged 24%.
This marks the first quarterly report under new leadership in over ten years. John Furner, age 51, who previously oversaw the company’s domestic operations, replaced Doug McMillon as CEO earlier this month. McMillon had transformed the nation’s largest retailer into a technology-driven powerhouse and led a period of strong revenue growth since taking the helm in 2014.
Walmart’s stock value has jumped more than 25% since its previous quarterly announcement, and the company recently achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first non-technology corporation to surpass a $1 trillion market valuation.
This success comes as American consumers remain cautious about their spending due to persistent inflation, making Walmart’s performance a key indicator of overall consumer health given its enormous customer reach. The retailer serves more than 150 million shoppers weekly across its digital platforms and physical locations.
Although inflation has moderated, consumer costs have climbed approximately 25% over the last five years. Economic experts anticipate that additional companies may start transferring increased expenses from higher U.S. import duties to consumers in the coming months.
Walmart’s focus on competitive pricing has expanded its customer demographic to include more affluent buyers, with the most significant market share increases coming from families earning more than $100,000 annually.
The retailer has navigated rising costs through strategic product mix adjustments while absorbing some increased expenses internally.
Looking forward, Walmart projects current quarter sales growth between 3.5% and 4.5%, with earnings per share expected to fall between 63 and 65 cents. For the full year, the company anticipates reaching $706.4 billion in sales with earnings per share of $2.64.
These projections fall slightly below Wall Street expectations. Financial analysts surveyed by FactSet had predicted first-quarter earnings of 68 cents per share and annual earnings of $2.64 per share on revenues of $712.6 billion.
Walmart’s newly appointed CEO John Furner is taking a measured stance on future growth projections, setting expectations below what Wall Street analysts had hoped for as he begins leading the retail giant.
Despite strong performance during the holiday shopping season, Furner’s team announced Thursday they anticipate annual sales growth between 3.5% and 4.5% for the upcoming year. This forecast falls short of analyst predictions, which had estimated roughly 5% growth.
The cautious projections come as Furner steps into his leadership role, having previously guided Walmart’s domestic operations through the pandemic. Market observers had anticipated this conservative approach as the new CEO establishes his strategy.
However, the company’s recent performance tells a positive story. Fourth-quarter revenue climbed 5.6% to reach $190.66 billion, slightly exceeding projections. Same-store sales in the United States jumped 4.6%, surpassing the 4.2% increase that analysts had expected.
“The pace of change in retail is accelerating… For our customers and members, the future is fast, convenient, and personalized,” Furner stated. The company simultaneously revealed plans for a substantial $30 billion share repurchase program.
Walmart’s digital commerce division particularly impressed investors, with online sales climbing 27% during the quarter. This marked the fifteenth consecutive quarter of double-digit e-commerce growth for the Arkansas-based retailer.
The company has successfully attracted higher-income shoppers, with households earning over $100,000 annually driving much of the market share gains over the past two years. These more affluent customers have embraced Walmart’s expanded delivery options, including same-day service and curbside pickup.
Store-fulfilled delivery services experienced explosive growth, increasing more than 50% during the quarter. Foot traffic data from Placer.ai showed customer visits to Walmart’s 4,600 locations rose every month of the reporting period.
While other retailers have struggled with consumers avoiding higher-priced merchandise, Walmart has maintained its appeal through competitive pricing and grocery dominance. The influx of wealthier shoppers has boosted sales of profitable items including apparel, kitchen goods, furniture, and toys.
Furner takes over as Walmart becomes the first retailer to surpass $1 trillion in market capitalization, with shares gaining 22% over the past year. David Guggina now leads the U.S. division, which generates nearly 70% of the company’s total revenue.
The retailer’s resilience stands out amid broader economic pressures, including tariff impacts on imported goods from China and other countries. While overall U.S. retail sales showed weakness in December, Walmart continued attracting value-seeking customers across all income levels.
Looking ahead, the company projects adjusted earnings per share between $2.75 and $2.85, which also trails analyst expectations of $2.96. Walmart shares dropped 2.6% in pre-market trading following the announcement.
Software services company EPAM Systems announced Thursday that its projected first-quarter financial performance matches Wall Street expectations, driven by continued corporate investment in artificial intelligence system upgrades that increase demand for the firm’s technology services.
The Pennsylvania-based business offers comprehensive information technology solutions, including advisory services, cloud computing, artificial intelligence transformation, and software development.
Even with widespread economic concerns, companies have maintained their spending on software creation and AI-powered modernization initiatives as they work to stay competitive in the artificial intelligence marketplace.
EPAM projects first-quarter earnings between $1.38 billion and $1.40 billion, with the middle estimate matching analyst predictions compiled by LSEG data.
The company anticipates adjusted earnings per share ranging from $2.70 to $2.78, which also aligns with Wall Street forecasts.
During the fourth quarter, EPAM reported $1.41 billion in revenue, surpassing analyst expectations of $1.39 billion, along with adjusted earnings per share of $3.26, which also exceeded predictions.
Stock prices for the Newtown, Pennsylvania-headquartered company dropped more than 4% during pre-market trading sessions.
Agricultural equipment manufacturer John Deere announced Thursday it has increased its yearly earnings projections, driven by recovering construction and compact farming equipment sectors along with expense reductions that helped offset sluggish machinery demand. The news boosted the company’s stock price by 4.7% in pre-market trading.
The Illinois-based equipment giant had previously reduced manufacturing output to address declining demand for new machinery, as farmers face lower commodity prices and increased operating expenses that delay major equipment investments.
Deere is collaborating with its dealer network nationwide to decrease stockpiled inventory levels.
American agricultural producers are preparing for another year of depressed crop values and high operational costs, creating difficult choices about continuing their farming operations amid abundant grain supplies that keep market prices low.
The machinery manufacturer now projects 2026 net earnings between $4.5 billion and $5 billion, an increase from the previous estimate of $4 billion to $4.75 billion.
“While the global large agriculture industry continues to experience challenges, we’re encouraged by the ongoing recovery in demand within both the construction and small agriculture segments,” CEO John May said.
“These positive developments reinforce our belief that 2026 represents the bottom of the current cycle.”
The company has revised its 2026 revenue expectations for its Small Agriculture & Turf and Construction & Forestry divisions, anticipating approximately 15% growth in each sector compared to the earlier projection of roughly 10% increases.
President Donald Trump’s extensive tariff policies have impacted the company’s operational earnings, placing Deere among numerous industrial firms affected by recent White House policy changes.
The Moline, Illinois-headquartered manufacturer has faced difficulties from increased production expenses due to tariffs, as the company depends heavily on imported raw materials for producing its signature green and yellow tractors.
Quarterly net earnings reached $656 million, equivalent to $2.42 per share, representing a decline from the previous year’s $869 million, or $3.19 per share.
First-quarter revenue for Deere increased 13% to $9.61 billion, compared to $8.50 billion in the same period last year.
Technology stocks found some relief Wednesday following news that Nvidia secured a significant multi-year agreement to provide artificial intelligence chips to Meta Platforms, though rising oil prices are creating new market concerns.
The chip manufacturing giant, currently the world’s most valuable company, will supply Meta with millions of both existing and next-generation AI processors. While financial terms weren’t disclosed, Nvidia shares climbed 1.6% on the announcement, building momentum ahead of the company’s earnings report scheduled for next Wednesday.
The partnership highlights the massive capital expenditures planned by major technology companies through 2026, with Meta preparing to nearly double its AI-focused investment spending. The deal also addresses recent investor worries about increasing competition facing Nvidia in the semiconductor market.
However, the agreement underscores how concentrated artificial intelligence development remains among a small group of companies. Nvidia’s most recent financial results revealed that four customers alone accounted for 61% of the company’s revenue growth.
Market sentiment appears to be shifting again, with S&P 500 futures trading lower ahead of Thursday’s opening bell. Adding pressure to equities, crude oil prices surged more than 4% Wednesday, approaching yearly highs amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, plus ongoing diplomatic discussions involving Ukraine and Russia.
Parallel negotiations in Geneva addressed both international conflicts this week. The Ukraine-Russia talks concluded Wednesday without significant progress, while U.S.-Iran discussions continue despite both nations increasing military activities and exercises.
Oil prices also gained support from data showing U.S. industrial production and manufacturing posted their largest monthly increase in nearly a year during January.
Rising energy costs contributed to higher U.S. Treasury yields after Federal Reserve meeting minutes revealed strong opposition to additional interest rate cuts. The central bank documents also showed divided opinions on how the AI revolution might affect productivity and inflation rates.
The dollar retreated but remained above recent lows.
Thursday’s economic calendar includes Walmart’s quarterly earnings, weekly unemployment claims, and the Philadelphia Federal Reserve’s latest business activity surveys.
In commodity markets, prices for two critical rare earth elements used in electric vehicle magnets and defense equipment have doubled over seven months due to supply constraints and growing demand. The price surge for neodymium and praseodymium has risen above the $110 per kilogram threshold established by the U.S. government, meaning taxpayers won’t need to subsidize domestic miner MP Materials’ production.
These four-year price highs also benefit other rare earth companies that Western governments hope will reduce dependence on China, the world’s dominant producer.
Key economic data releases Thursday include December trade balance figures, weekly jobless claims, and Philadelphia Fed business surveys, all at 8:30 AM. Several Federal Reserve officials are scheduled to speak, including Michelle Bowman, Atlanta Fed President Raphael Bostic, and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee.
LIVIGNO, Italy – Olympic officials moved several freestyle skiing competitions to Friday after heavy snowfall made conditions unsafe Thursday at the Italian Alpine venue, though organizers say the schedule adjustments won’t significantly impact the Games concluding this weekend.
Competition organizers rescheduled the men’s aerials qualifying rounds and finals to begin Friday at 9:30 a.m. GMT, with the men’s halfpipe qualifying sessions starting an hour later.
Women’s halfpipe qualifiers remained on Thursday’s evening schedule, though officials planned to assess conditions before making a final decision on those events.
“Snow is an occupational hazard of winter sports,” International Olympic Committee spokesperson Mark Adams said during a press briefing.
“They are well used to dealing with delays, changes and bad weather … We are used to it, the federations are used to it. It is something we have to work with, unfortunately.”
Weather-related schedule modifications aren’t unusual for the mountain resort of Livigno, situated near Switzerland’s border and nicknamed “Little Tibet” for its remote Alpine location.
Winter Olympic organizers routinely adjust competition schedules when weather conditions interfere with events.
Earlier this week, officials delayed the women’s snowboard slopestyle finals and postponed the start of freestyle aerials competitions for both male and female athletes.
The Olympic closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday evening at 7:00 p.m. GMT in Verona.
A devastating blast tore through a New York church building on Tuesday, leaving five people injured including the church’s pastor and emergency responders. The explosion occurred at Abundant Life Church in Boonville after firefighters arrived to investigate reports of gas fumes in the structure.
New York State Police are looking into the incident that produced massive clouds of dark smoke. Four individuals were located in the church’s lower level when the heating system activated, causing the explosion. The house of worship, situated approximately 50 miles northeast of Syracuse, relied on propane tanks for heating. Authorities report the structure suffered severe damage from the blast.
In other religious news, the Lenten period has begun as Christians worldwide prepare for Easter Sunday. While different denominations may vary in their calculation methods, the traditional 40-day observance holds deep significance. This timeframe reflects biblical references to the number 40, often associated with periods of trial, cleansing, and spiritual preparation. The tradition most closely mirrors Jesus Christ’s 40-day fast in the desert following his baptism, as he prepared for his ministry.
Throughout this sacred season, believers concentrate on spiritual disciplines including prayer, acts of service, and fasting. Many participants choose to abstain from certain activities during Lent, with modern observers often choosing to limit their use of electronic devices and social media.
California pastor Greg Laurie has announced plans for a summer evangelical gathering in Ohio. The single-evening Harvest Crusade will take place on June 13th at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton. Laurie, who oversees the Harvest megachurch in California, organizes multiple similar events annually. The free public event will showcase Christian musicians Chris Tomlin and Jeremy Camp. “We’re seeing a remarkable openness to spiritual things among this generation. My prayer is that the Harvest Crusades add fuel to the fire, so to speak, of the spiritual awakening we’re seeing across our nation,” Laurie stated.
LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations have filed legal action against the current administration over the removal of a Pride flag from the Stonewall National Monument in New York. The historic site honors the LGBTQ+ rights movement and received federal designation under the previous administration. The rainbow banner had been on display since 2022, marking the first permanent installation of such a flag on federal property. Park officials removed the flag earlier this month, referencing a January directive that restricts flag displays to the American flag and the POW-MIA banner. The legal challenge argues the Pride flag provided important “context” to the memorial site and claims its presence is “essential.”
Extremist terror cells linked to ISIS have infiltrated Russia and occupied regions of Ukraine, posing a growing danger to Christian populations, according to a newly released annual report on religious persecution.
The study from Global Christian Relief documents how these terrorist networks have conducted fatal assaults targeting Christian congregations, clergy members, and houses of worship throughout the region. The organization warns this represents a growing trend of extremist violence against religious minorities.
The report states that “ISIS-linked groups have carried out lethal attacks affecting Christian communities, religious leaders, and places of worship—revealing an expanding pattern of extremist violence.”
Intelligence sources indicate these Islamic extremist factions are specifically targeting Russia in response to Moscow’s military assistance to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government throughout the ongoing Syrian conflict.
Fresh research from Religion Unplugged reveals that nearly half of American church members – 44% – admit their wrongdoings to God on a daily basis, while an additional 26% engage in this spiritual practice multiple times throughout the week.
The study’s findings indicate a significant portion of religious Americans maintain regular confession habits. Scott McConnell from LifeWay Research views these statistics positively, noting the practice goes against current societal trends. “The confession of sins to God is counter-cultural. Today, many people in America want to set their own moral compass, but we see large numbers of churchgoers acknowledging God’s authority in their lives,” McConnell stated.
The data suggests that despite broader cultural movements toward individual moral decision-making, a substantial number of religious Americans continue embracing traditional spiritual practices that recognize divine guidance in their personal conduct.
A recent study from Real Clear Investigations has uncovered a significant shift in American religious attendance patterns, showing that male churchgoers now outnumber female attendees for the first time in 25 years.
The research highlights a notable demographic change occurring alongside evolving political alignments, where increasing numbers of men are aligning themselves with the Republican Party as women gravitate toward the Democratic Party.
Additionally, the study suggests that the long-standing decrease in Christian faith participation across the United States may be stabilizing, with some areas experiencing signs of religious renewal and growth.
New York’s Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer has put forward legislation that would extend federal protections currently reserved for the American flag to include the rainbow Pride flag. The bill comes in response to the Trump administration’s refusal to display the Pride flag at a memorial site in New York dedicated to LGBTQ rights.
Schumer described the Stonewall memorial location as “sacred ground” when discussing his proposed legislation. However, political observers note that the measure faces slim chances of advancement given the current Republican control of Congress, with some viewing the proposal as a politically motivated move rather than serious policy.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – While Lindsey Vonn drew worldwide attention with her ambitious return to Olympic competition, it was American skiing legend Mikaela Shiffrin and Italy’s Federica Brignone who ultimately stole the show on the alpine slopes.
Vonn’s inspiring story of attempting to become the oldest Olympic alpine medalist at age 41, despite battling a severe knee injury, captivated audiences worldwide. However, her dreams came to a devastating end when she suffered a horrific crash during the downhill event, her screams echoing across the mountain as she was airlifted to the hospital.
The dramatic accident overshadowed teammate Breezy Johnson’s surprising gold medal victory in that same downhill race. The 30-year-old Johnson claimed Olympic glory despite never winning a World Cup event and having just one podium finish this season, adding the Olympic crown to her world championship from the previous year.
Johnson’s unexpected triumph set the stage for more remarkable comeback stories to unfold.
Brignone’s journey reads like a movie script. The 35-year-old Italian was riding high as giant slalom world champion when disaster struck last April – a devastating multiple leg fracture that left many wondering if her racing career was over.
Fighting her way back from that injury, Brignone entered her home Olympics with modest expectations, simply hoping to participate. Instead, she delivered what can only be described as miraculous performances.
In the super-G, Brignone completely dominated the field, defeating France’s Romane Miradoli by a commanding 0.41 seconds.
“I told myself that it was a ‘make it or break it’, but I never thought I would win,” Brignone reflected.
But her fairy tale wasn’t finished. Brignone went on to capture a second gold medal in the giant slalom, completing an incredible double victory.
“I think my secret was not to feel any pressure, just to be happy to be here,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Shiffrin faced her own mountain to climb. The World Cup’s most successful racer, with a record-breaking 108 victories, hadn’t claimed Olympic gold since 2018. Her struggles continued early in these Games when she and Johnson finished fourth in the team combined event, missing out on a medal after Austria’s Ariane Raedler and Katharina Huber took the victory.
Things looked even bleaker when Shiffrin managed only 11th place in the giant slalom, a discipline that has troubled her mentally since a serious crash at the end of 2024.
“When I think about where I was last year I was like, ‘I don’t know, maybe I’ll never race again.’ So here we are in a totally different position,” Shiffrin said, trying to find silver linings after the giant slalom disappointment.
Having left the 2022 Beijing Olympics without any medals despite high expectations, Shiffrin faced the very real possibility of another empty-handed departure.
But with one final opportunity in the slalom, Shiffrin rose to the occasion spectacularly. She didn’t just win – she absolutely demolished the competition.
Her margin of victory over Switzerland’s Camille Rast, the only skier to defeat her in slalom this season, was an astounding 1.5 seconds. To put that dominance in perspective, all the winning margins in women’s Olympic slalom races dating back to 1998 combined total just 1.51 seconds. The 2022 Olympic slalom was decided by a mere 0.08 seconds.
Like Brignone before her, Shiffrin had delivered a performance for the ages when it mattered most.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to address economic concerns during a Thursday appearance in Georgia, as he continues efforts to convince voters that Republicans can deliver relief from persistent high prices before November’s congressional elections.
Trump secured his 2024 re-election victory largely by pledging to combat inflation, yet polling data indicates he faces challenges in demonstrating meaningful progress on reducing costs that burden American families.
Rising anxiety over expenses has become a significant concern for Republican lawmakers as they defend their congressional control in the upcoming November races.
The president’s address in Rome, Georgia, will focus on his strategies “to make life affordable for working people,” according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt’s Wednesday briefing with reporters. Trump is anticipated to speak at the Coosa Steel Corporation, based on Republican Party promotional materials.
While Trump won’t appear on November ballots, he has taken the lead role in communicating his party’s position on living costs. However, his recent economic addresses have sometimes wandered off-topic and have seldom recognized the financial pressures many Americans continue experiencing while shopping for groceries.
A Reuters examination of Trump’s five economic speeches since December revealed he claimed nearly 20 times that inflation had been defeated or significantly reduced, and stated almost 30 times that prices were dropping – claims that conflict with economic statistics and voters’ real-world experiences.
January’s annual inflation rate reached 2.4%, declining from December’s 2.7%. However, food costs increased nearly 3% year-over-year, meaning grocery bills continue rising for Americans, while housing expenses have also climbed.
Republican political advisors have indicated to Reuters that Trump’s inconsistent messaging on this voter frustration issue could damage credibility for both him and the Republican Party before the midterm contests.
Republicans maintain a narrow House majority and face potential loss of control, while Democrats require a net gain of four Senate seats to regain that chamber – a more difficult objective given their current defensive positions.
A new Reuters/Ipsos survey released this week shows Trump’s economic approval rating at 34%, dropping from last month’s 36%. Additionally, 57% of poll participants expressed disapproval of his economic performance.
During his Georgia appearance, Trump will likely promote his tax reduction measures that began last month, providing increased savings for millions of families, along with eliminated taxes on tips, overtime pay, and Social Security benefits.
Trump has also outlined proposals for reducing mortgage rates and housing costs, plus agreements with health insurance providers to cut prescription drug expenses.
The president will speak in a strongly conservative district previously held by Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene, formerly a devoted Trump supporter, left her congressional position in January following a contentious break with the president.
A special election for Greene’s vacant seat is scheduled for March 10. Trump has endorsed a local prosecutor hoping to consolidate support, but his endorsement hasn’t prevented 14 other Republicans from joining the race, making this contest a measure of Trump’s influence within his Make America Great Again movement.
Car manufacturers across the nation are facing an unprecedented regulatory split as the Trump administration and California wage a legal battle over electric vehicle standards, with major financial consequences for both traditional automakers and electric vehicle companies like Tesla.
The Golden State is fighting back against a Republican congressional effort to eliminate California’s special authority to create its own vehicle emissions rules. Should California succeed in court, automakers could find themselves navigating two completely different regulatory frameworks: Trump’s policies that discourage electric vehicles versus California’s push toward zero-emission transportation, which a dozen other states have embraced.
The state has mandated that automakers must sell only electric vehicles or other zero-emission cars by 2035, with demanding intermediate goals that were supposed to start this year. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has eliminated federal electric vehicle incentives and support programs, causing a sharp decline in electric car sales across the country.
For many years, California has maintained its own stricter vehicle pollution standards with support from both Republican and Democratic federal administrations. Under recent Democratic leadership, California’s regulations generally matched federal policies that encouraged electric vehicles and improved fuel economy.
However, current California and federal regulations are moving in completely different directions. Trump relaxed emissions rules during his first presidency, but President Joe Biden reversed those changes. Now in his second term, Trump is taking an aggressive stance against federal electric vehicle support.
Republican lawmakers eliminated a $7,500 electric vehicle tax credit last year and removed penalties for automakers who failed to meet fuel efficiency requirements. Trump’s Environmental Protection Agency reversed an Obama-era scientific determination last week that classified greenhouse gas emissions as a public health threat — the legal basis for EPA vehicle pollution regulations established in 2010.
Eliminating California’s special waiver represents a crucial part of Trump’s approach, but the state’s legal challenge claims Congress acted unlawfully. The administration has requested dismissal of the case, with a federal court hearing scheduled for Thursday in Oakland, California.
California contends that Trump’s EPA and Congress used questionable tactics to reclassify California’s waivers as administrative “rules” that can be overturned through the Congressional Review Act. For decades, the EPA has stated in its California decisions that waivers are “not a rule” and the Congressional Review Act “does not apply” — a central argument in California’s lawsuit.
Should the administration prevail, traditional car manufacturers would experience reduced pressure to sell unprofitable electric vehicles in California and 11 additional states, which collectively represent 29% of U.S. new vehicle sales, according to S&P Global Mobility data. Tesla and other electric vehicle manufacturers could lose significant income from selling regulatory credits to other automakers for compliance purposes.
If California wins, traditional automakers might need to create separate vehicle lineups to satisfy two conflicting regulatory systems within the United States. The Alliance for Automotive Innovation, representing the industry, argues this would limit consumer vehicle options and has described California’s rules as an “unaccountable, unachievable regulatory wormhole.”
Mike Murphy, a former Republican strategist who helped establish the advocacy organization EVs for All America, explained that the California-federal conflict demonstrates how automakers are being “whipsawed” by political changes that disrupt their vehicle development and manufacturing strategies. Following Trump’s election, automakers have recorded $55 billion in electric vehicle investment writedowns.
“What I hear from all of them is, ‘This short-termism is killing us,’” Murphy stated. “We have a monkey at the controls in Washington, and it’s very hard to plan.”
White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers dismissed California’s lawsuit as “frivolous” and said Trump has “canceled unpopular green-energy subsidies that wasted Americans’ hard-earned tax dollars.”
California began establishing its own vehicle emissions standards during the 1950s while combating serious air quality issues from automotive and industrial pollution, including dense smog covering Los Angeles.
The Air Quality Act of 1967 allowed California to maintain this authority, granting the EPA power to approve California waivers for pursuing independent regulations. Administrations from both parties have subsequently approved more than 100 such waivers for the state.
During 2019, Trump’s EPA canceled portions of a waiver through formal rulemaking procedures, a lengthier process that California also contested in federal court. The Biden administration restored the waiver in 2022. In Trump’s second term, Republicans attempted a faster approach — eliminating the waiver through the Congressional Review Act.
The Government Accountability Office, an independent agency that historically determines whether agencies comply with the act, concluded last March that waivers are not rules because they represent a “case-specific, individual determination” rather than a “broad application of general principles.”
Congressional Republicans ignored the GAO finding, maintaining that Congress holds authority to define what constitutes a rule. California filed suit the same day Trump signed the legislation in June.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta described the case to Reuters as highlighting the Trump administration’s “contempt for the law” and use of “fringe” legal theories to justify violations.
“They were told. They knew. They did it anyway,” Bonta said during an interview, characterizing the action as a dangerous expansion of congressional review authority.
The EPA responded in a statement that “the only ‘contempt for the law’ here is California’s.”
“We live in a democracy, and Congress writes the laws,” the agency stated, adding that California’s regulations would have “crippled American industry” and increased consumer costs.
Legal experts note that many aspects of the case have never been examined in court, providing limited precedent to predict the court’s decision.
“The level of instability and confusion here is unprecedented,” said Paul Libus, an attorney at Van Ness Feldman LLP who focuses on vehicle emissions policy.
California’s Air Resources Board has informed automakers they can currently choose whether to follow its new standards — but cautioned they might face penalties for non-compliance later if California wins in court. CARB records indicate many automakers are choosing compliance.
California initially adopted these regulations in 2022, when U.S. electric vehicle sales were expected to surge. The state now confronts challenges in achieving its ambitious electric vehicle adoption objectives as consumer interest declines, raising doubts about whether the goals are achievable. Electric vehicles represented 21% of the state’s new car sales last year, slightly lower than the previous year. CARB has announced it will not enforce this year’s electric vehicle sales target due to regulatory uncertainty.
Murphy, the former Republican electric vehicle advocate, predicted automakers will negotiate with California regulators because they cannot risk betting that Trump’s pollution standard rollback will survive beyond his administration — and they must remain competitive globally. Electric vehicles are crucial in markets including China and Europe, where regulators are strengthening vehicle emissions controls.
Automakers recognize, he noted, that “the drunken holiday with the federal regs is probably not going to last.”
LONDON — British law enforcement officials took Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor into custody Thursday, charging him with misconduct in public office.
Thames Valley Police, which serves regions west of London including where Mountbatten-Windsor previously resided, announced they are examining allegations that the former royal family member shared confidential trade information with Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender, back in 2010.
The investigation began after authorities reviewed extensive documentation from a U.S. probe into Epstein’s activities. Mountbatten-Windsor’s name appears multiple times throughout these released documents.
Following standard British legal protocol, police did not publicly identify the arrested individual by name. However, when questioned about Mountbatten-Windsor specifically, officials referenced their announcement about detaining “a man in his 60s.” Mountbatten-Windsor is currently 66 years old.
“Following a thorough assessment, we have now opened an investigation into this allegation of misconduct in public office,” the statement said. “We understand the significant public interest in this case, and we will provide updates at the appropriate time.”
Mountbatten-Windsor has consistently rejected any allegations of improper conduct regarding his connections to Epstein. In recent months, King Charles III removed Andrew’s royal designations, including his princely status, as the monarchy sought to distance itself from ongoing scandals surrounding the king’s brother and his ties to Epstein. These controversies have cast a shadow over the British royal family for more than ten years.
Social media posts showed what appeared to be unmarked law enforcement vehicles stationed at Mountbatten-Windsor’s residence, Wood Farm located on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with investigators visible near the property.
WASHINGTON — Mid-sized American companies saw their import tax payments increase threefold during the past year, according to fresh research from the JPMorganChase Institute released Thursday. The findings add to mounting evidence that President Donald Trump’s strategy of imposing higher levies on foreign goods is creating economic challenges.
These additional costs have impacted businesses employing a total of 48 million Americans — precisely the type of companies Trump pledged to strengthen. These firms are now being forced to manage the increased expenses by raising customer prices, reducing their workforce, or accepting smaller profit margins.
“That’s a big change in their cost of doing business,” said Chi Mac, business research director of the JPMorganChase Institute, which published the analysis on Thursday. “We also see some indications that they may be shifting away from transacting with China and maybe toward some other regions in Asia.”
While the study doesn’t detail how these extra expenses are rippling through the broader economy, it demonstrates that American companies are bearing the cost of import taxes. This research joins a mounting collection of economic studies that challenge the administration’s assertions that foreign entities shoulder the tariff burden.
The JPMorganChase Institute examination focused on payment records from businesses that may not possess the market influence of major international corporations to counteract tariff impacts, yet might be agile enough to rapidly adjust their supply networks to reduce exposure to tax hikes. These enterprises typically generated revenues ranging from $10 million to $1 billion and employed fewer than 500 workers — a sector referred to as the “middle market.”
The findings indicate that the Trump administration’s objective of reducing direct dependence on Chinese manufacturing is taking effect. Payments to China from these businesses dropped 20% below their October 2024 figures, though it remains uncertain whether this reflects China redirecting products through other nations or actual supply chain relocations.
The study’s authors stressed during interviews that businesses are still adapting to the tariff environment and indicated they will continue monitoring this situation.
The Trump administration maintains that import taxes benefit the economy, businesses, and workers. Kevin Hassett, director of the White House National Economic Council, strongly criticized research by the New York Federal Reserve on Wednesday that found nearly 90% of Trump’s tariff costs fell on American companies and consumers.
“The paper is an embarrassment,” Hassett told CNBC. “It’s, I think, the worst paper I’ve ever seen in the history of the Federal Reserve system. The people associated with this paper should presumably be disciplined.”
Trump raised the average tariff rate from 2.6% to 13% last year, according to New York Fed researchers. He justified taxes on various products including steel, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities as essential to national security — and proclaimed an economic emergency to circumvent Congress and establish a baseline tax on goods from much of the world last April during an event he termed “Liberation Day.”
The elevated rates triggered financial market turmoil, leading Trump to reduce his rates and subsequently enter negotiations with various countries that resulted in new trade agreements. The Supreme Court is anticipated to decide soon whether Trump exceeded his legal powers by declaring an economic emergency.
Trump won the 2024 election promising to control inflation, yet his import taxes have added to voter concerns about affordability. Although inflation hasn’t surged during Trump’s current term, job growth has slowed significantly, and academic economists estimate consumer prices are approximately 0.8 percentage points higher than they would be otherwise.
LAS VEGAS – The entertainment capital is experiencing a tourism downturn that mirrors nationwide economic concerns, as visitor numbers dropped to their lowest levels since the pandemic.
Las Vegas welcomed 3.1 million fewer tourists in 2025 compared to the previous year, marking a 7.5% decline that represents the steepest drop since record-keeping started in 1970, excluding pandemic years. The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority released the concerning figures this week.
James Chrisley, who directs the Clark County Aviation Department, described the pattern at Harry Reid International Airport: “Our peaks are still peaks, and our valleys are softer.”
The decline becomes most apparent during weekdays, when Friday’s bustling crowds with rolling luggage and packed ride-share lines give way to a much quieter Monday atmosphere at the airport.
Airport passenger volumes dropped approximately 6% in 2025, with December seeing a particularly sharp 10.3% decrease despite typically strong holiday travel patterns. Major airlines including American, Southwest, and Allegiant serve the facility.
University of Nevada economist Andrew Woods believes the situation reflects consumer behavior rather than broader economic trends. “I think this is more of a microcosm of where the American consumer is than necessarily telling us where the American economy is going,” Woods explained.
Unlike other major vacation destinations such as Honolulu, Orlando, and Disneyland, Las Vegas faces unique challenges from escalating costs and additional fees that particularly impact budget-conscious travelers, according to Woods.
The tourism decline primarily affects leisure travel, while business conventions continue performing well. This distinction matters significantly since leisure visitors form the backbone of the city’s economy.
Federal Reserve surveys and airline earnings reports indicate a growing divide between high-income travelers who maintain their booking patterns and middle-income households reducing travel expenses due to financial pressures.
Tourist Fernanda Loiza from Guatemala suggested that current immigration policies under the Trump administration may discourage some international visitors who fear complications during their stays. “Some people are afraid of coming and openly and freely enjoying Las Vegas,” she observed.
Tour guide Michael Hillman pointed to pricing concerns among visitors he encounters. “Ten bucks for a bottle of water,” he noted. “People don’t see a deal anymore.”
The financial impact appears clearly in casino company earnings. MGM Resorts reported decreased revenue and profits at Las Vegas properties during the fourth quarter and full year 2025, with budget-oriented hotels like Luxor and Excalibur showing particular weakness.
Caesars Entertainment announced similar results Tuesday, with Las Vegas segment profits falling roughly 20% year-over-year on approximately 5% lower revenue for 2025.
Hotels have responded with increased promotional offers and dining credits since late 2025, while CoStar Group data shows midweek revenue per available room declined about 11% during the year.
“Las Vegas remains a predominantly leisure-driven hotel market,” said CoStar senior market analyst Michael Stathokostopoulos, noting that inflation and economic uncertainty push travelers to cancel trips, reduce stay lengths, or choose less expensive options.
Airlines have adjusted schedules accordingly, with U.S. carriers scheduling approximately 7% fewer seats into Las Vegas for the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year.
International travel shows similar patterns, particularly from Canada, a crucial overseas market. Canadian airlines have reduced capacity by roughly 30% for the quarter, partly due to political tensions including tariff disputes and immigration policy concerns.
Casino workers experience the downturn most directly through reduced tips and fewer available hours. Joe Spica, a Cosmopolitan bellman and Culinary Workers Union representative, described the impact on his family of three.
“They’re not tipping as much,” Spica said. “Tips have gone ridiculously down. And then when I go to the grocery store, every single thing I buy has somehow gone up.”
Ted Pappageorge, secretary-treasurer of Culinary Workers Union Local 226, explained that economic slowdowns typically begin with disappearing extra shifts rather than major layoffs, affecting part-time and on-call employees first.
Federal statistics highlight the local economic squeeze, with Las Vegas wages remaining below national averages while local inflation and unemployment rates exceed national levels.
Job seekers like 26-year-old Shuang Woo face particular challenges, receiving multiple automated rejections and struggling to secure interviews. She recently enrolled in dealer training as an alternative.
“It’s been really tough,” Woo explained. “The entire city runs on tourism.”
Industry observers note that Las Vegas follows two consecutive record-breaking years and may be adjusting to more sustainable levels. The crucial test period approaches this spring as families make summer vacation decisions.
Drive-in traffic from Southern California, a key visitor source, will provide an early indicator of recovery prospects for the tourism-dependent economy.
MILAN, Feb 19 – The Italian government is challenging the International Paralympic Committee’s controversial decision to permit athletes from Russia and Belarus to participate with their national symbols at the upcoming Milan Cortina Winter Paralympics next month.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani and Sports Minister Andrea Abodi expressed strong opposition to the ruling, stating it conflicts with the Games’ fundamental values during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In a Wednesday evening statement, the Italian officials declared their government “categorically disagreed” with the IPC’s September General Assembly decision. They emphasized that Italy stands with 33 other nations and the European Commission in opposing the restoration of these privileges.
Italian leadership is formally “asks the International Paralympic Committee to reconsider this decision,” arguing that “the prolonged violations of the ceasefire by Russia, and of Olympic and Paralympic ideals, supported by Belarus, are incompatible with participation except as neutral individual competitors.”
The Milan Cortina Winter Paralympic Games are scheduled to take place from March 6 through March 15 in Italy.
Following Russia’s 2022 military invasion of Ukraine, both nations faced exclusion from Paralympic events. However, they regained complete membership status within the IPC after member organizations voted in September 2025 to remove their partial suspensions.
Belarus served as a crucial launching point for the invasion operations.
Although individual sports federations within the Paralympic program had maintained their prohibitions on competitors from these nations, Russia and Belarus successfully challenged the International Ski and Snowboard Federation’s ban through the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December.
The situation differs from the current Winter Olympics, where a restricted number of Russian and Belarusian competitors are participating as independent neutral athletes without national symbols, as the International Olympic Committee continues to sanction both countries’ Olympic Committees.
French spirits manufacturer Pernod Ricard announced Thursday that revenue declined across all five of its key markets during the first six months of its fiscal year, with company earnings taking a hit from currency fluctuations and increased expenses alongside struggles in American and Chinese operations.
The company, which produces Absolut vodka and Martell cognac, saw results that matched analyst predictions and demonstrated second-quarter improvements thanks to stronger performance in markets like India and international duty-free sales. Management anticipates stronger results in the year’s second half.
Despite facing an industry-wide downturn in consumer demand, Pernod Ricard maintained its projection for sales increases between 3% and 6% from 2027 through 2029.
Chief Executive Alexandre Ricard stated the company can achieve this target range even if American and Chinese markets, where revenues have declined due to stretched consumer budgets, inventory reductions, and China’s sluggish economic conditions, expand by less than 3%.
“Beyond the U.S. and China, we have the rest of the world,” Ricard explained during a phone interview with Reuters.
Company stock prices rose 0.32% at 0931 GMT Thursday, though shares have dropped more than 22% over the past year.
The spirits industry is experiencing a prolonged sales decline that has caused company valuations to fall, executive departures, and corporate restructuring including asset sales and expense reductions.
Pernod Ricard has implemented a reorganization strategy aimed at achieving 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) in cost reductions between 2026 and 2029, which resulted in workforce reductions during the first half.
Ricard denied reports suggesting the company plans to take its Indian operations public, contradicting Wednesday media speculation about a potential stock listing review.
The company is pursuing additional measures to safeguard earnings and boost sales, including reducing finished product inventory levels and introducing more affordable options such as smaller package sizes.
Pernod Ricard’s organic operating earnings decreased 7.5%, performing slightly better than forecasts, but the decline reached 18.7% on a reported basis when including factors like currency exchange impacts.
Chris Beckett, an analyst at Pernod investor Quilter Cheviot, noted that even this “strikingly negative” financial performance failed to trigger share price declines because investor expectations for the sector have become so pessimistic.
“It says quite a lot about where we are,” Beckett observed.
WARSAW – Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Thursday that his nation will have the capability to install anti-personnel mines along its eastern frontier within just two days once it formally exits the Ottawa Convention, a move set to take effect shortly.
Poland’s departure from the international treaty comes as nearly all of Russia’s European neighbors, with the exception of Norway, are moving to abandon the agreement that prohibits the manufacturing and deployment of anti-personnel mines. The country intends to use these weapons as part of its comprehensive ‘East Shield’ initiative designed to fortify its boundaries with Belarus and Russia’s Kaliningrad territory.
‘We are in the process of finalising this mine project, which is crucial for our security, for the security of our territory and border,’ Tusk stated during a press briefing.
Back in December, Deputy Defence Minister Pawel Zalewski revealed to Reuters that Warsaw plans to restart anti-personnel mine manufacturing for the first time since the Cold War era, with intentions to place them along the eastern frontier and possibly supply them to Ukraine.
The withdrawal process from the Ottawa Convention began in August, with Poland set to formally leave the agreement after completing a six-month exit period that concludes on February 20, 2026.
German pharmaceutical company Bayer announced Thursday that global supplies of glyphosate will remain unaffected following a presidential executive order that invoked the Defense Production Act to secure domestic herbicide availability.
The company stated that the executive order highlights the critical importance of ensuring American farmers maintain access to the widely-used weedkiller, but emphasized that the action will not create supply disruptions in international markets.
Last August, Bayer warned it might halt glyphosate manufacturing in the United States without regulatory reforms to address ongoing litigation that has significantly impacted the German corporation. While Bayer remains the sole domestic producer of glyphosate, American agriculture also relies heavily on generic versions imported from China.
The pharmaceutical giant has spent years defending against disputed liability claims alleging the herbicide causes cancer. This week, Bayer announced a settlement agreement worth up to $7.25 billion to resolve thousands of related lawsuits.
In a separate legal development, Bayer successfully petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to review an appeal that could substantially reduce the company’s exposure to future litigation, primarily filed by residential gardening consumers.
The Supreme Court agreed to consider the case after the Trump administration endorsed Bayer’s position that federal glyphosate regulations, which generally favor the company, should override state laws cited by lawsuit plaintiffs.
Good morning, Delmarva! We’re starting this Thursday with some patchy fog that should lift by 9 AM, but don’t put that umbrella away just yet.
Today brings cloudy skies and a 70% chance of rain, with temperatures reaching a cool 45 degrees. You’ll feel a gentle east wind at 5 to 10 mph, and while we’re expecting rain, the good news is rainfall amounts will be light – less than a tenth of an inch.
Tonight, rain becomes more likely as temperatures dip to around 40 degrees. Friday continues the wet pattern with light rain throughout the day, though it’ll be a bit milder with highs near 52 degrees – a nice little warm-up for us!
Friday night offers some hope as we transition from a chance of light rain to mostly cloudy skies, with lows dropping to 36 degrees.
While it’s not the most exciting weather pattern, this gentle rain will be great for early spring preparations. Keep those rain jackets handy, and remember – we’re getting closer to those beautiful spring days ahead!
Stay dry, Delmarva!
Advances in genetic detective work that were once reserved for decades-old cold cases are now being applied to current criminal investigations, potentially offering new leads in active cases like the Nancy Guthrie matter.
Federal investigators have gathered DNA evidence from locations in and around Guthrie’s Arizona home, according to law enforcement officials. The FBI’s Evidence Response Team conducted searches of the area surrounding her Tucson residence in February.
Authorities indicate they are exploring “additional investigative genetic genealogy options” as part of their ongoing probe. This approach represents a significant evolution in how forensic genetic analysis is being utilized by investigators.
While DNA analysis has been a cornerstone of criminal investigations for many years, the field of investigative genetic genealogy has expanded beyond its original application to unsolved historical cases. These sophisticated techniques are increasingly being deployed to assist with contemporary investigations where traditional forensic methods may need additional support.
Artists across the country are picking up their sketchbooks and heading to city streets, finding extraordinary beauty in ordinary urban landscapes through a growing movement known as urban sketching.
These community-minded artists gather in groups to capture cityscapes, architecture, and street scenes with watercolors, pens, and other traditional art supplies. The movement encourages people to document their immediate surroundings while fostering a greater connection to their urban environment.
According to participants, the practice of creating artwork together in metropolitan settings provides them with an opportunity to document specific moments in time while developing a heightened awareness of the cities they encounter daily.
The collaborative nature of urban sketching creates a unique social experience where artists of varying skill levels come together to interpret their shared environment through individual artistic perspectives. These gatherings often take place at recognizable landmarks, busy intersections, parks, and other public spaces that define a city’s character.
The movement emphasizes the importance of drawing on location rather than from photographs, encouraging artists to spend extended time observing and interpreting their surroundings in real-time.
Court documents have revealed how convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein and his associate Ghislaine Maxwell strategically used their wealth to gain access to a prestigious arts camp, ultimately targeting vulnerable teenagers.
The pair made substantial financial contributions to Michigan’s Interlochen Center for the Arts, a renowned summer program that has attracted young artists for decades. Their donations were significant enough to fund construction of an on-campus lodge where Epstein and Maxwell would stay during visits to the facility.
According to the documents, this calculated generosity served a darker purpose – providing the duo with direct access to teenage students at the camp. Court records indicate that at least two minors were drawn into Epstein’s criminal network through connections made at Interlochen.
The revelations shed new light on how Epstein, who had previously attended the elite arts program as a student, later exploited his connection to the institution. By positioning themselves as benefactors, Epstein and Maxwell were able to move freely within the camp environment and establish relationships with potential victims.
This pattern of using charitable donations and institutional connections to facilitate criminal activity was a hallmark of Epstein’s operation, allowing him to maintain a veneer of respectability while pursuing illegal activities.
When tragedy struck Barbara Alvarez’s family in 2017, she found herself navigating uncharted territory as a newly widowed mother. Her husband’s death came at a particularly challenging time – just as their daughter Monica Dreesen was preparing to begin her college journey.
The timing couldn’t have been more difficult. Alvarez was dealing with her own grief while trying to support her daughter through a major life transition. The responsibilities of helping Monica settle into college life felt overwhelming for someone adjusting to life as a single parent.
During this vulnerable period, an unexpected source of support emerged. A stranger recognized Alvarez’s struggle and offered assistance that would prove invaluable. This individual’s intervention came at exactly the right moment, providing the help Alvarez needed to find her footing as a single mother.
The assistance this good Samaritan provided helped Alvarez discover inner strength she didn’t know she possessed. With this support, she was able to be present for her daughter during the crucial college transition period, despite dealing with her own profound loss.
The story highlights how acts of kindness from unexpected sources can make all the difference during life’s most challenging moments. For Alvarez and her daughter, this stranger’s willingness to help became a turning point in their journey through grief and adjustment to their new reality.
Northern Kenya is confronting a devastating return of drought conditions, leaving communities struggling with severe food shortages as international relief organizations face significant funding cuts that limit their ability to provide assistance.
Just four years following a catastrophic dry period that ravaged the region, insufficient rainfall has once again brought widespread hunger to northern Kenya, with humanitarian groups forced to reduce operations and serve fewer people in need.
In Turkana county’s desolate landscape, 76-year-old widow and grandmother Echakan Amaja endures harsh conditions outside her earthen dwelling in Loperot village, relying on wild gingerbread fruit she gathers and minimal relief supplies.
Her family’s situation became even more dire two weeks ago when cattle thieves killed her son during a livestock raid and made off with all their animals. “When my livestock were stolen by bandits, all my grandchildren came back home,” Amaja explained to Reuters, describing how she now bears responsibility for feeding her five daughters and seven grandchildren.
The household depends on gathered wild fruit and approximately 43.2 kilograms of food supplies plus 3.2 liters of cooking oil provided monthly through the United Nations’ World Food Programme.
According to Kenya’s National Drought Management Authority, more than nine counties throughout the nation – primarily in northern and eastern regions – were experiencing developing drought conditions as of December, potentially severely impacting food availability, water supplies, and grazing land.
Officials have cautioned that repeated dry periods are intensifying competition over limited resources and heightening the potential for violent disputes as the emergency extends into previously unaffected areas.
Sarah Ayodi, who leads the WFP’s Turkana field operations, stated that 333,000 county residents need food assistance, but warned the organization cannot continue supporting them beyond next month.
Save the Children reported last August that at least four African nations, Kenya among them, would exhaust their supplies of specialized nutrition products for severely undernourished children due to shortages resulting from aid reductions.
The United States has dramatically reduced humanitarian funding under President Donald Trump’s administration, while other Western countries have similarly decreased their contributions as part of broader long-term cuts.
Families in Turkana report that even wild fruits, which have historically sustained them during difficult periods, are vanishing or withering due to the extreme dry conditions. Asinyen Akol, 81, characterized the current drought as unlike anything she has witnessed.
“This year is so bad that this is the worst drought I have ever experienced. You can’t survive here because of drought … even trees and wild fruits are nowhere to be seen, not even a green leaf,” Akol stated.
The drought has created a visible path of destruction throughout Kenya, with dead cattle scattered across pastoral lands.
The emergency has also impacted other Horn of Africa nations, with Somalia announcing a national drought emergency in November following consecutive seasons of poor precipitation.
The WFP issued a warning last month that millions of Somalis are confronting acute hunger, with nearly half of all children suffering from malnutrition and requiring immediate medical intervention.
BAGHDAD – A representative from the Kurdistan Workers Party described Turkey’s parliamentary commission decision to endorse a peace plan as a significant breakthrough that signals a major shift in Turkish government policy, according to statements made to Reuters Thursday.
The commission delivered an overwhelming endorsement Wednesday of the comprehensive report, which outlines legal changes paired with the dissolution of the PKK militant organization, moving forward a peace initiative aimed at concluding decades of warfare.
“The vote is considered an achievement and an important step toward consolidating democracy in Turkey,” said the PKK source.
The PKK – classified as a terrorist entity by Turkey, the United States and European Union – suspended its attacks in the previous year and announced in May its intention to dissolve and abandon armed resistance.
Wednesday’s parliamentary decision moves the peace initiative into the legislative arena, as President Tayyip Erdogan, who has led Turkey for over twenty years, works to conclude a conflict responsible for more than 40,000 deaths, creating significant internal division and extending violence beyond Turkey’s borders into Iraq and Syria.
LONDON – British law enforcement officers made an appearance Thursday at the home of Prince Andrew, brother to King Charles III, according to reports from The Daily Telegraph.
The publication reported that half a dozen unmarked police vehicles along with approximately eight officers in civilian clothing were observed arriving at Wood Farm, located on the Sandringham royal estate in eastern England, during Thursday morning hours.
This development follows earlier announcements from Thames Valley Police in February regarding their examination of claims that Prince Andrew provided classified government materials to convicted sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, based on information from recently disclosed documents.
The Duke of York has rejected any allegations of misconduct and has expressed regret over his association with Epstein. However, he has remained silent regarding specific inquiries following the release of the most recent files by United States authorities.
When contacted about Thursday’s reported police presence, Thames Valley Police declined to provide immediate commentary on the matter.
SEOUL, South Korea — Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was handed a life sentence Thursday by a Seoul court for his December 2024 martial law declaration, which judges determined amounted to rebellion against the state.
The historic ruling concluded nearly a year of intense legal battles, throughout which Yoon showed no remorse and continued defending his actions as proper presidential powers used to fight his political opponents. The sentence brings closure to South Korea’s worst political upheaval in recent memory.
Below is a timeline of critical moments leading to Yoon’s unprecedented conviction:
According to prosecutors, Yoon instructed Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun about plans for “emergency measures” targeting liberal opposition lawmakers in the National Assembly, following their majority votes to impeach government officials and slash budgets.
Around 10:30 p.m., Yoon shocked the nation with a televised martial law announcement, calling the opposition-led legislature a “den of criminals” that was crippling government operations. He promised to “eradicate” what he termed “anti-state” liberal opponents. Armed forces and police quickly surrounded the National Assembly building.
Just after midnight, National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik announced via YouTube that lawmakers would use “constitutional procedure” to counter Yoon’s declaration. By 1 a.m., 190 legislators—including 18 from Yoon’s own People Power Party—unanimously voted to end martial law. Military and police forces withdrew from the assembly grounds. At 4:30 a.m., a Cabinet meeting officially terminated martial law.
An impeachment attempt against Yoon failed when most ruling party members refused to participate in the vote.
Authorities arrested former Defense Minister Kim for his involvement in planning and implementing the martial law order.
The Justice Ministry prohibited Yoon from leaving the country as multiple agencies launched competing investigations into rebellion and related charges.
Kim received formal arrest on charges of conspiring with Yoon and others in the martial law plot. Officials revealed Kim attempted suicide hours before a Seoul court approved his detention warrant.
Yoon characterized his martial law order as legitimate governance and rejected rebellion accusations, promising to “fight to the end” against impeachment efforts.
Lawmakers successfully impeached Yoon with a 204-85 vote, elevating Prime Minister Han Duck-soo to acting president.
The National Assembly also impeached acting President Han for refusing to appoint Constitutional Court justices before the court’s decision on Yoon’s removal.
Seoul Western District Court authorized Yoon’s detention for questioning.
Investigators attempted to arrest Yoon at the presidential residence but were prevented by security personnel and physical barriers.
Anti-corruption officials and police successfully raided the presidential compound and detained Yoon, marking the first arrest of a sitting South Korean president.
Seoul Western District Court issued Yoon’s formal arrest warrant over evidence tampering concerns. His arrest sparked violent protests by supporters who stormed the courthouse, breaking windows and damaging equipment. Police arrested approximately 90 rioters.
The Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office charged Yoon with orchestrating attempted rebellion, alleging he illegally tried to control the legislature and election facilities while planning to arrest political rivals.
Seoul Central District Court ordered Yoon’s release from custody due to unresolved questions about investigators’ detention authority. He was freed the next day.
The Constitutional Court reversed Prime Minister Han’s impeachment, reinstating his role as acting leader.
The Constitutional Court confirmed Yoon’s impeachment and presidential removal, mandating an election within 60 days. Officials set June 3 as the election date.
Seoul Central District Court conducted the initial hearing for Yoon’s rebellion case.
Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae Myung, Yoon’s liberal opponent, won the presidential election.
Seoul Central District Court approved Yoon’s re-arrest after special prosecutors argued he might destroy evidence.
Authorities arrested Yoon’s wife, Kim Keon Hee, as investigators prepared bribery and other criminal charges.
Special prosecutors charged Kim Keon Hee and former Prime Minister Han with assisting Yoon’s martial law declaration, document falsification and destruction, and perjury.
Investigators added charges against Yoon for allegedly ordering drone flights over North Korea to increase tensions and justify martial law plans.
A special prosecutor requested the death penalty for Yoon on rebellion charges.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to five years for resisting arrest and fabricating the martial law declaration in the first verdict against him.
Seoul Central District Court gave Han a 23-year sentence for supporting Yoon’s martial law and other offenses.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon’s wife Kim to 20 months in jail on corruption charges.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon’s former interior minister Lee Sang-min to seven years for supporting the martial law decree.
Seoul Central District Court imposed a life sentence on Yoon for rebellion charges. His attorneys expressed disappointment with the verdict and said they would consider whether to file an appeal.
A prominent economist is warning that Japan’s anticipated interest rate increase to 1% could spark a major reshuffling of money that might make monetary policy more difficult to manage for the country’s central bank.
Japan’s central bank ended its decade-long massive economic stimulus program in 2024 and has increased rates multiple times, reaching 0.75% in December – the highest level in three decades. Financial markets expect another possible increase to 1.0% as early as March or April.
Ikuko Samikawa, the chief economist at Japan Center for Economic Research, explained that as Japan moves away from its extended period of zero interest rates, the country could witness massive fund movements as citizens transfer money into interest-earning bank accounts.
According to Samikawa, who serves on a finance ministry advisory panel and regularly participates in central bank discussions, historical patterns show households typically move cash into bank deposits when the policy rate climbs above 0.5%.
Such an increase in bank deposits would boost the total reserves that financial institutions maintain with Japan’s central bank, creating downward pressure on money market rates.
“The next anticipated rate hike to 1% could be a trigger point of such inflows… If the flow of funds back to bank accounts turns out to be big, it could complicate the BOJ’s effort to guide short-term interest rates around its target,” Samikawa explained.
She noted that the extended period of aggressive money printing has made it extremely difficult to forecast how funds might shift as interest rates climb.
Japan’s central bank is working to reduce its balance sheet, which expanded five times larger over the past twenty years to approximately 756 trillion yen ($4.88 trillion), primarily due to stimulus measures implemented in 2013.
Currently, financial institutions maintain reserves of about 454 trillion yen with the central bank.
Samikawa estimates the central bank could decrease this balance to around 280 trillion without causing short-term rates to spike, though she cautioned these figures could change based on future bank lending activity.
BORMIO, Italy – Thursday marked a historic day for winter sports as ski mountaineering, known as SkiMo, made its Olympic premiere amid heavy snowfall in the Italian Alps.
The preliminary rounds for both men’s and women’s sprint competitions kicked off at Bormio’s renowned Stelvio slope, drawing 36 elite athletes from around the world. Despite challenging weather conditions, enthusiastic spectators filled the venue to near capacity for this groundbreaking event.
SkiMo represents the first addition to Winter Olympic competition since snowboarding was introduced in 1998. The discipline traces its origins to 19th-century mountain skiing, developed long before mechanical lifts existed to transport skiers uphill.
The sprint format features multiple challenging segments. Competitors begin by ascending steep terrain using specialized skis equipped with “skins” – adhesive strips that provide traction for uphill movement. Athletes then transition to running up stairs while carrying their equipment on their backs, return to uphill skiing, and conclude by removing the skins for a downhill slalom run to the finish line.
Each race lasts approximately three minutes, with seamless transitions between segments proving crucial for success. Competitors spend countless training hours perfecting these changeovers, as time penalties during transitions often determine race outcomes.
The competition structure begins with three preliminary heats containing six athletes each. The top three finishers from each heat advance to semifinals, joined by the three fastest remaining competitors. Semi-final races will also feature six participants each, with the fastest six earning spots in the medal rounds.
Women’s finals are set for 1:55 PM local time, followed by men’s competition at 2:15 PM.
France’s Emily Harrop enters as the favorite in women’s competition, currently holding the top ranking in International Ski Mountaineering Federation standings for 2025. Her main challengers include Spain’s Ana Alonso Rodriguez, who recently returned from injury, and Switzerland’s Marianne Fatton.
In men’s competition, Spain’s Oriol Cardona Coll leads the world rankings, with Switzerland’s Jon Kistler and France’s Thibault Anselmet considered strong medal contenders.
Mining heavyweight Rio Tinto delivered disappointing annual financial results on Thursday, with profits remaining unchanged from the previous year despite strong performance in its copper operations.
The global mining giant, recognized as the world’s top iron ore producer, announced underlying profits of $10.87 billion for the year ending December 31. This figure matched the previous year’s earnings but came in below analyst forecasts of $11.03 billion.
The company announced it would pay shareholders a final dividend of 254 cents per share, representing 60% of underlying profits and an increase from the 225 cents distributed in 2024.
Trading in London saw Rio Tinto shares drop 3.4% by mid-morning, performing slightly worse than other mining companies in the market.
The earnings report underscores the mining industry’s growing emphasis on copper production as demand surges from artificial intelligence data centers and renewable energy infrastructure development.
This strategic shift toward copper has sparked numerous acquisition attempts throughout the mining sector as companies compete for long-term copper assets.
Rio Tinto’s potential merger discussions with Glencore fell apart in February when both companies couldn’t reach agreement on company valuation and control structure. The failed deal would have formed the world’s biggest publicly traded mining operation and substantially increased copper production capacity.
Competitor BHP, the world’s largest publicly listed mining company, reported earlier this week that copper revenues exceeded iron ore income for the first time in company history.
“A good result, perhaps as not as impressive as BHP, particularly with capital liberation,” said Andy Forster of Argo Investments in Sydney, commenting on Rio’s asset divestiture strategy.
Both mining leaders have committed to liquidating existing assets to generate funds for reinvestment and shareholder returns. BHP announced this week a $4.3 billion agreement with Wheaton Precious Metals for future silver production from a Peruvian mining operation.
Rio Tinto revealed it is exploring market interest in selling its titanium and borates business units while examining opportunities to monetize portions of its infrastructure holdings across all operational divisions.
“Without M&A, we expect freed up cash to be used to strengthen Rio’s balance sheet and maintain returns within its 40-60% dividend payout range,” analysts at Jefferies said.
Iron ore earnings dropped to approximately 60% of total company profits, declining from 70% in the previous year. Meanwhile, copper division earnings doubled annually to represent roughly 30% of total profits, with aluminum and lithium operations accounting for the remaining portion.
The iron ore business faced challenges from increased annual production costs at the company’s Pilbara operations in Western Australia, rising about $0.50 per metric ton compared to 2024 due to inflation and weather-related operational interruptions.
Pilbara production costs are projected to climb further this year, reaching between $23.50 and $25 per ton.
The copper division reported average selling prices increased 17% year-over-year in 2025, while production volume grew 11% from 2024, boosted by expanded operations at the Oyu Tolgoi facility in Mongolia.
European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde reached out to her fellow policymakers to confirm her dedication to her current role following reports suggesting she might leave her position early, according to four sources who spoke with Reuters.
Earlier this week, the Financial Times published a story claiming Lagarde was considering departing from her ECB leadership role before France’s presidential election next year, potentially allowing outgoing President Emmanuel Macron to influence the selection of her replacement.
Following that report on Wednesday, Lagarde sent a private communication to her colleagues at the central bank, emphasizing that she continues to concentrate on her ECB responsibilities and promising that any future departure announcements would come directly from her rather than through media outlets, the sources revealed.
Those who received Lagarde’s message interpreted her communication as indicating she has no immediate plans to leave the European Central Bank, though they noted her statement didn’t completely rule out the possibility of a future departure.
When contacted for comment, a spokesperson for the ECB chose not to provide a statement on the matter.
Security officials in the nation of Georgia have taken two foreign nationals into custody after they attempted to buy nuclear materials worth $3 million, including uranium and a dangerous radioactive substance used in nuclear weapons programs, authorities announced Thursday.
The arrests took place in Kutaisi, where the State Security Service apprehended the suspects from undisclosed countries, according to an official statement.
“They were planning to illegally purchase nuclear material uranium and radioactive substance Cesium 137 for $3 million and illegally transport it to the territory of another country,” the security service stated.
Officials revealed that additional foreign individuals have been coming to Georgia in recent weeks with similar intentions to buy and smuggle nuclear and radioactive substances, though they provided no further details about these activities.
Authorities did not disclose how much material the suspects were trying to obtain, nor did they reveal where the substances came from or their intended final destination.
Cesium 137 represents a particularly dangerous radioactive material that typically appears following nuclear weapons tests and nuclear power plant disasters, including the catastrophic Chernobyl accident that occurred in what was then Soviet Ukraine in 1986.
Nuclear material security became a major international concern following the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991, when Georgia was still part of the former communist bloc. The country has experienced multiple serious cases involving illegal nuclear material trafficking over the past several decades.
In the most recent previous incident, authorities in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi arrested three Chinese nationals who were attempting to purchase two kilograms of uranium described as “nuclear material.”
The United States experienced a reduction in international tourist arrivals during the previous year, according to recent data analysis.
Travel industry experts are investigating the underlying causes of this decrease in foreign visitors, with some questioning whether political climate changes or broader economic factors played a role in deterring overseas travelers from choosing America as their destination.
The tourism industry continues to monitor these trends as they assess the impact on local economies that depend heavily on international visitor spending.
Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Meta, testified before a jury in a groundbreaking legal case examining whether social media platforms are intentionally designed to be addictive and cause harm to young users.
The Meta CEO answered challenging questions during what marks the first trial in the United States to examine the addictive nature of social media and its potential negative effects on children and teenagers.
The head of Facebook’s parent company faced questioning in court over claims that social networking platforms are designed to be addictive and cause harm to users. Mark Zuckerberg, who leads Meta, provided testimony as part of legal proceedings examining whether social media companies bear responsibility for negative effects on their users.
The case represents part of broader scrutiny facing major technology firms regarding their platforms’ impact on public health and user wellbeing. NPR’s Leila Fadel discussed the implications of the testimony with Darrell West, who studies technology policy at the Brookings Institution.
The legal challenge adds to mounting pressure on social media giants to address concerns about how their platforms affect users, particularly regarding potentially addictive design features and mental health impacts.
A devastating gas cylinder explosion brought down a multi-story residential building in Pakistan’s largest city Thursday, leaving at least 13 people dead, according to local authorities.
The deadly blast occurred on the ground level of the residential complex located in Soldier Bazaar, a neighborhood on the eastern side of Karachi, the major southern port city, officials reported.
Among the fatalities were seven children, with the youngest victim being just two years old, according to police official Summaiya Syed.
Authorities are still working to determine what caused the gas cylinder to detonate, police stated.
Rescue teams pulled more than a dozen injured survivors from the wreckage, though emergency responders warn additional victims may still be trapped beneath the debris.
This tragedy follows another deadly incident in Karachi just last month, when a massive blaze at a shopping mall claimed more than 70 lives.
SEOUL – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol received a life prison sentence Thursday from a Seoul court for orchestrating an insurrection during his short-lived martial law declaration in December 2024.
The dramatic events began on December 3, 2024, when Yoon announced on national television just before 10:30 p.m. that he was implementing martial law to eliminate what he called “anti-state forces” and break through political gridlock.
Within an hour, military orders banned all political party activities and legislative functions. Security forces surrounded the opposition-controlled parliament building, where staff members fought back using barricades and fire extinguishers against special operations troops. Lawmakers climbed over fences to bypass security barriers as demonstrators gathered outside.
By early December 4, with 190 legislators in attendance, parliament unanimously rejected Yoon’s martial law order, prompting military forces to withdraw. Approximately 3.5 hours later, Yoon reversed his decision. The entire martial law period lasted roughly six hours.
Opposition lawmakers immediately filed impeachment proceedings against Yoon. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that Yoon had “badly misjudged” his martial law decision.
On December 7, Yoon delivered a public apology to the nation, stating he would leave his political future to his ruling People Power Party (PPP), though he stopped short of announcing his resignation. An initial impeachment vote failed due to a PPP boycott that prevented the required quorum.
Criminal investigations began December 8, with prosecutors targeting Yoon over the martial law incident. Former Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun was taken into custody that same day.
Army Special Warfare Command leader Kwak Jong-geun testified before parliament on December 10 that Yoon had instructed him to “drag out” legislators from the parliament building following the martial law announcement.
Yoon declared he would “fight to the end” on December 12, making accusations that North Korea had infiltrated South Korea’s election systems and questioning his party’s significant electoral losses in April.
Parliament successfully impeached Yoon on December 14 with support from 204 out of 300 lawmakers, including at least 12 members from his own PPP. His presidential authority was immediately suspended, with Prime Minister Han Duck-soo stepping in as acting president.
The Constitutional Court started examining the impeachment case on December 16. However, parliament also impeached acting President Han on December 27, leading Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok to assume acting presidential duties.
A Seoul court issued an arrest warrant for Yoon on December 31 after he failed to appear for questioning. Yoon’s legal team denounced the warrant as illegal and claimed investigators lacked proper authority.
Between January 3-15, 2025, authorities made unsuccessful attempts to arrest Yoon during confrontations with presidential security and military personnel at his residence. Yoon eventually surrendered after a local court extended his arrest warrant.
During his Constitutional Court impeachment hearing on January 21, Yoon refuted claims that he had ordered military leaders to remove lawmakers from parliament by force.
Prosecutors formally charged Yoon with insurrection on January 26 and requested his continued detention.
A court canceled Yoon’s arrest warrant on March 9, leading to his release from custody.
The Constitutional Court ruled on April 4 that Yoon had breached his constitutional obligations and permanently removed him from the presidency.
The liberal Democratic Party selected former leader and 2022 presidential candidate Lee Jae Myung as their nominee for the special election on April 27.
Lee won the presidency in the emergency election held June 3.
Yoon returned to jail on July 10 after a court granted the special prosecutor’s detention request.
In a historic first for South Korea, Yoon’s wife, former first lady Kim Keon Hee, was detained on August 13 following court approval of an arrest warrant, making them the first presidential couple simultaneously imprisoned in the nation’s history.
Special prosecutors charged former first lady Kim with bribery and additional offenses on August 29.
On October 10, special prosecutors indicted Han Hak-ja, head of South Korea’s Unification Church, for allegedly orchestrating bribes to former first lady Kim.
Additional charges related to the martial law incident were filed against Yoon on November 10, including accusations of assisting an enemy nation.
Special prosecutors sought a 15-year prison term for former Prime Minister Han on November 26 for allegedly supporting insurrection and committing perjury.
On December 15, special prosecutors claimed Yoon had attempted to provoke North Korea into armed conflict to validate his martial law declaration.
The special prosecutor requested the death penalty for Yoon on insurrection charges on January 13, 2026.
Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon to five years in prison on January 16 for charges including obstruction of arrest attempts.
The same court imposed a 23-year sentence on former Prime Minister Han on January 21 for his central role in the insurrection.
Former first lady Kim received a 20-month jail sentence on January 28 for accepting bribes.
On February 12, Seoul Central District Court sentenced former Interior Minister Lee Sang-min to seven years in prison for his involvement in the martial law attempt.
The legal proceedings concluded Thursday with Seoul Central District Court’s life sentence for Yoon Suk Yeol for leading the insurrection.
The Japanese automaker Nissan announced Thursday it will pull nearly 643,000 Rogue SUVs from American roadways following two distinct mechanical failures that federal safety officials say could result in complete power loss while driving.
Federal transportation safety regulators reported that Nissan will retrieve 318,781 Rogue vehicles due to faulty throttle body components that have suffered mechanical breakdown.
In a second action, the car manufacturer will also collect 323,917 additional Rogue SUVs because of compromised engine bearing systems. These defective bearings may leak extremely hot engine oil, creating dangerous fire conditions and potentially causing complete engine failure.
Transportation safety officials have recommended that authorized service centers update the vehicles’ computer control systems and install new parts where necessary to address both mechanical problems.
Technology executives from around the world converged in New Delhi this week for a significant artificial intelligence conference, where they announced massive financial commitments to expand AI capabilities in India.
The India AI Impact Summit produced several major investment announcements totaling hundreds of billions of dollars over the coming decade.
Leading the charge was Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries and its telecommunications division Jio, with billionaire chairman Mukesh Ambani announcing Thursday that the companies will pour $109.8 billion into artificial intelligence and data infrastructure development over the next seven years.
Another major Indian corporation, the Adani Group, revealed Tuesday its plans to spend $100 billion on renewable energy-powered AI data centers by 2035. The ports-to-power company estimates this investment will generate an additional $150 billion in related sectors, including server production and sovereign cloud platforms, ultimately creating a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem throughout India over the next ten years.
Technology giant Microsoft announced Wednesday it is targeting $50 billion in investments by 2030 to expand artificial intelligence access across ‘Global South’ nations. The company had previously revealed $17.5 billion in AI investments specifically for India last year.
Indian data center company Yotta Data Services disclosed Wednesday it will construct one of Asia’s most extensive AI computing facilities using Nvidia’s newest Blackwell Ultra chips, with the project requiring more than $2 billion in funding.
In another significant development, Tata Consultancy Services announced Thursday it has secured ChatGPT creator OpenAI as the inaugural client for its data center division under the global AI infrastructure program Stargate.
Infrastructure company Larsen & Toubro also revealed a partnership proposal with Nvidia to develop AI-ready data center infrastructure, sophisticated computing platforms, and ecosystem support necessary for large-scale artificial intelligence operations.
In a thrilling double-overtime battle Wednesday night in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the 25th-ranked Crimson Tide mounted an incredible comeback from a 14-point deficit to edge 20th-ranked Arkansas 117-115.
Labaron Philon Jr. delivered a spectacular performance for Alabama, dropping a season-best 35 points while dishing out seven assists to lead the dramatic turnaround victory.
The Crimson Tide managed to secure the win despite allowing Arkansas freshman Darius Acuff Jr. to pour in an astounding 49 points, establishing a new school record for first-year players.
Alabama received strong support from Aiden Sherrell, who posted season-high numbers with 26 points and 13 rebounds, while Amari Allen contributed a double-double of 19 points and 11 rebounds. The victory extended the Crimson Tide’s winning streak to five games and improved their record to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in Southeastern Conference play.
For Arkansas, Meleek Thomas provided 24 points to complement Acuff’s record-setting night. Both Thomas and Acuff connected on six three-pointers each. The loss snapped a three-game winning streak for the Razorbacks, who fell to 19-7 overall and 9-4 in SEC action.
The decisive moment came when Houston Mallette drained a three-pointer with 51 seconds remaining in the second overtime period, giving Alabama a 117-113 advantage. Arkansas responded when Trevon Brazile slammed home a dunk to cut the deficit to two points, but Acuff’s floating layup attempt in the closing seconds missed its mark, sealing Alabama’s victory.
In other Top 25 action, fourth-ranked Arizona bounced back from a two-game losing streak by defeating 23rd-ranked BYU 75-68, with reserve Anthony Dell’Orso scoring a career-high 22 points. Creighton pulled off a major upset by knocking off fifth-ranked UConn 91-84, led by Josh Dix’s 21 points in an emotional performance following his mother’s recent passing from cancer.
Eighth-ranked Kansas handled Oklahoma State 81-69 behind Darryn Peterson’s 23 points, while 10th-ranked Illinois dominated USC 101-65 with seven players reaching double figures. Eleventh-ranked Gonzaga continued their dominance over San Francisco with an 80-59 victory, extending their winning streak against the Dons to 35 consecutive games.
Fourteenth-ranked Virginia crushed Georgia Tech 94-68 to extend their winning streak to seven games, and 17th-ranked St. John’s moved atop the Big East standings with a 76-70 victory over Marquette, pushing their winning streak to 12 games. In an upset, Missouri edged 19th-ranked Vanderbilt 81-80 after nearly blowing a 21-point lead in the final minutes.
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Military tensions between the United States and Iran escalated Thursday as both countries engaged in shows of naval force while nuclear negotiations remained uncertain, with Tehran conducting joint exercises with Russia as Washington moved an aircraft carrier closer to Middle Eastern waters.
The Iranian military exercise alongside the positioning of the USS Gerald R. Ford aircraft carrier near the Mediterranean Sea entrance highlight growing tensions between the two nations. Earlier this week, Iran also conducted live-fire exercises in the Strait of Hormuz, the critical waterway that handles one-fifth of global oil shipments.
The deployment of additional American naval vessels and aircraft doesn’t necessarily signal an imminent U.S. military strike against Iran, but it provides President Donald Trump with operational capabilities should he decide to take such action. Trump has thus far refrained from military action despite establishing clear boundaries regarding the deaths of peaceful demonstrators and Tehran’s mass executions, while attempting to restart nuclear discussions previously interrupted by the Iran-Israel conflict in June.
“Should Iran decide not to make a Deal, it may be necessary for the United States to use Diego Garcia, and the Airfield located in Fairford, in order to eradicate a potential attack by a highly unstable and dangerous Regime,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social website, seeking to pressure the United Kingdom over its plans to settle the future of the Chagos Islands with Mauritius.
Concurrently, Iran faces domestic turmoil following its harsh response to protests, with families now conducting memorial services for those killed 40 days after their deaths at the hands of security forces. Several of these gatherings have featured anti-government demonstrations, despite official warnings from authorities.
Thursday’s military exercise involved Iranian and Russian naval personnel operating in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean waters, according to Iran’s official IRNA news agency. The exercise focused on “upgrading operational coordination as well as exchange of military experiences,” IRNA reported.
While China participated in the “Security Belt” exercise in previous years, there was no confirmation of Chinese involvement in this iteration. Recently, what appeared to be a Russian Steregushchiy-class corvette was observed at Iran’s Bandar Abbas military facility.
Iranian authorities also issued warnings to regional pilots about potential rocket launches, indicating plans to test anti-ship missiles during the exercise.
Tracking information revealed the Ford positioned off Morocco’s Atlantic coast Wednesday afternoon, suggesting the carrier could pass through Gibraltar and potentially deploy to the eastern Mediterranean alongside its escort destroyers.
Stationing the carrier in that region would provide American forces with additional aircraft and defensive missile capabilities to potentially safeguard Israel and Jordan if hostilities with Iran develop. The U.S. employed similar naval positioning during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza to counter potential Iranian attacks.
Memorial ceremonies for protest victims killed by security forces last month have intensified. Iranian tradition calls for commemorating deceased family members 40 days after their passing. Eyewitness accounts and social media footage documented memorial gatherings at Tehran’s expansive Behesht-e Zahra cemetery. Some ceremonies featured participants chanting against Iran’s religious government while performing patriotic songs.
The protest movement started December 28 at Tehran’s historic Grand Bazaar, initially triggered by Iran’s currency collapse, then expanded nationwide. Tensions peaked January 8, coinciding with demonstrations organized by Iran’s exiled crown prince, Reza Pahlavi.
Iran’s administration has provided only one official casualty count for the violence, claiming 3,117 deaths. The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, which has maintained accuracy during previous Iranian unrest periods, estimates over 7,000 fatalities, with additional deaths suspected.
KARACHI, Pakistan — At least 16 people lost their lives Thursday morning when a devastating gas explosion tore through an apartment complex in Karachi, Pakistan’s major port city, causing a partial building collapse that trapped victims under debris, according to police and emergency response teams.
The deadly blast occurred as residents were cooking their pre-dawn meal to mark the beginning of Ramadan in a neighborhood within Karachi, located in Sindh province, local police commander Rizwan Patel reported. Emergency crews continued digging through the wreckage searching for anyone who might still be alive beneath the collapsed sections, Patel explained.
Officials initially confirmed 13 fatalities, but Patel announced the count climbed to 16 after rescue workers recovered three additional bodies from the destruction.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement expressing grief and offering sympathy to bereaved families while ordering officials to provide top-quality medical care for those wounded. He also demanded rapid completion of search and rescue efforts and pressed the Sindh provincial leadership to strengthen construction regulations, improve gas cylinder safety measures, and launch a comprehensive investigation to prevent future tragedies.
Throughout Karachi and other Pakistani cities, residential buildings typically receive natural gas service for cooking purposes. Many families supplement this with liquefied petroleum gas tanks due to inadequate natural gas pressure in their neighborhoods.
A similar tragedy struck Pakistan’s capital city of Islamabad this past July, when a gas explosion at a wedding celebration claimed eight lives, including the newlywed couple. Officials reported the deadly blast happened while wedding guests had come together to honor the bride and groom.
Detectives investigating the vanishing of Nancy Guthrie are exploring the possibility of utilizing DNA genealogy databases, the same approach that cracked high-profile cases including a string of California murders spanning decades and the brutal killings of four Idaho university students.
This approach shows promise: When unidentified DNA samples can be linked to individuals — including distant family members — within public genealogy databases, investigators gain valuable leads that could potentially identify a suspect in Guthrie’s Arizona abduction.
“It’s a fantastic tool,” explained Ruth Ballard, a California-based geneticist who focuses on DNA analysis and has provided expert testimony in hundreds of legal proceedings. “If it’s a good quality sample and they’re able to get a profile, they could find a hit on that fairly quickly.”
Officials with the Pima County Sheriff’s Department in Arizona confirmed that DNA samples gathered during their investigation have yielded no matches within CODIS, the national criminal database containing genetic profiles from individuals with criminal convictions and, in certain states, those arrested for specific offenses.
“Investigators are currently looking into additional investigative genetic genealogy options for DNA evidence to check for matches. CODIS is one option of many databases that are available,” the sheriff’s department announced Tuesday.
Department officials revealed Wednesday that biological material from Guthrie’s residence in the Tucson area is undergoing testing, with DNA profiles currently at a laboratory for examination.
Nancy Guthrie, whose daughter Savannah Guthrie co-hosts NBC’s “Today” show, vanished from her residence on February 1st. Federal investigators reported that gloves discovered approximately 2 miles away seemed to correspond with those seen on a masked individual captured by a doorbell camera.
Major genealogy platforms including Ancestry, 23andMe and MyHeritage indicate they will respond to judicial orders requesting data access. GEDmatch, another genealogy service, maintains a policy requiring users to specifically consent to law enforcement access of their information. The Associated Press contacted these companies Wednesday evening to inquire about any involvement in the Guthrie case.
GEDmatch played a crucial role in identifying the notorious Golden State Killer. Law enforcement used crime scene DNA to locate a distant family member and construct a family lineage that ultimately led to Joseph DeAngelo Jr. He admitted guilt in 2020 to 13 murders and numerous sexual assaults throughout California during the 1970s and 1980s.
In the Idaho case, genetic material from a knife cover helped investigators focus on Bryan Kohberger in connection with the 2022 deaths of four University of Idaho students. Detectives employed genealogy websites to develop family connections and collected discarded items from Kohberger’s family residence in Pennsylvania to establish a link. Kohberger entered a guilty plea and received a life sentence.
Ballard noted that the origin and condition of DNA samples in police possession can influence success rates when searching genealogy platforms.
“It does require a much better sample than CODIS searching does,” she explained.
Additional obstacles may arise as well.
“There are a lot of unknowns when you go into these databases,” Ballard observed. “The databases are not equal in terms of ethnic distribution. It’s comparatively easier to find a Caucasian because more have uploaded their data and there are more family trees to mine.”
An extended period without snowfall in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains created the dangerous conditions that led to Tuesday’s fatal avalanche near Lake Tahoe, according to avalanche experts analyzing the tragedy.
Craig Clements, a meteorology professor at San Jose State University who studies avalanches, explained that several feet of fresh snow landed on top of a hardened layer from earlier in the season. The two layers failed to properly connect, creating hazardous and easily triggered conditions.
“The new snow did not have time to bond to the earlier layer before the avalanche,” Clements said. The disaster claimed the lives of at least eight backcountry skiers, while six others survived the ordeal. Search teams continued looking for one missing person on Wednesday.
The skiing party had embarked on a three-day wilderness expedition in the Sierra Nevada mountains when the avalanche struck Tuesday morning, coinciding with a powerful winter storm battering the West Coast.
According to Clements, avalanche risks typically peak during the initial 24 to 48 hours following significant snowfall, and officials had already posted avalanche advisories for the region.
The meteorology expert described how prolonged dry conditions, which had persisted in the Sierra Nevada since January, cause snow crystals to transform and develop angular or rounded shapes over time.
When substantial amounts of new snow accumulate on these altered crystals, the different layers frequently cannot form proper connections. This creates what avalanche specialists call a storm slab positioned above a weaker foundation layer.
“Because it’s on a mountain, it will slide,” Clements explained, noting that any shift in pressure from above or below can trigger the slide. While some avalanches occur naturally, human activity in the area can also set them off. Officials have not yet determined what caused Tuesday’s avalanche to begin.
Clements noted that more regular snowfall throughout the winter season would have allowed different snow layers to bond more effectively. However, even when dangerous storm slabs develop, the hazardous conditions typically last only a few days before the new snow becomes more stable.
While climate change can create weather extremes including both drought conditions and intense precipitation events, scientists say it remains challenging to determine how this might influence avalanche patterns or locations.
Clements characterized this week’s avalanche as typical for California’s Sierra Nevada region and does not believe it connects to climate change impacts.
He described avalanches as dependent on snowfall amounts and the stability of underlying layers, calling this incident “a meteorological phenomenon, not a climate phenomenon.”
Weather reports indicate that between 3 and 6 feet of snow accumulated since Sunday, when the group began their expedition. The region also experienced below-freezing temperatures and powerful winds. The Sierra Avalanche Center warned Wednesday that additional avalanche threats remained, leaving snow conditions unstable and unpredictable.
Recovery teams located eight bodies near California’s Lake Tahoe following Tuesday’s avalanche, which authorities describe as the nation’s most deadly in nearly 50 years. Six members of the guided tour were rescued six hours after the slide occurred.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon announced Wednesday that investigators will examine the decision to continue with the planned trip despite storm forecasts.
The skiers had traveled Sunday to isolated mountain huts located at 7,600 feet elevation in Tahoe National Forest, bringing their own food and equipment. At 6:49 that morning, the Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch for the area, warning that large slides were probable within the following 24 to 48 hours.
A former prosecutor turned president has been sentenced to spend the rest of his life behind bars after his risky political maneuvers finally caught up with him.
Yoon Suk Yeol, 65, received a life sentence Thursday from Seoul Central District Court for orchestrating an insurrection, marking a dramatic conclusion to his meteoric rise and spectacular collapse from South Korea’s highest office.
The former leader’s reckless decision to impose martial law ultimately sealed his fate, according to those who worked alongside him during his career in law enforcement and politics.
A telling glimpse into Yoon’s mindset emerged from former judge Han Dong-soo, who recalled a 2020 dinner conversation where the then-powerful prosecutor made a startling admission.
“If I had gone to the military academy, I would have staged a coup,” Han quoted Yoon as saying during the evening gathering with flowing alcohol.
The court determined Thursday that Yoon violated constitutional principles by implementing martial law, sending military forces to invade parliament and attempt to arrest his political rivals.
Looking noticeably thinner than when he was arrested a year ago, Yoon appeared pale and shaken as he listened to the verdict while dressed in a dark suit. His legal team expressed opposition to the ruling and indicated they would consider filing an appeal.
Yoon has consistently maintained his innocence, claiming his martial law declaration served as a necessary alert that democratic principles and liberty faced danger from “anti-state” elements attempting to seize control of South Korea.
His path to the presidency began through his work as a prosecutor investigating sitting presidents, which made him widely recognized across the nation.
“Yoon Suk Yeol was the most powerful prosecutor-general ever,” Han observed, having overseen internal affairs at the prosecutor’s office during Yoon’s tenure.
“He used the office to carry out his plan to become president and in doing so, his actions were daring.”
By 2022, following his leadership of a corruption probe involving the justice minister, conservative voters who had grown frustrated with then-President Moon Jae-in’s liberal agenda embraced Yoon as their presidential nominee.
However, his time in office brought constant conflicts with opposition forces, which former prosecution colleague Lee Sung-yoon said revealed the reckless tendencies that had always characterized Yoon’s approach.
When Yoon declared martial law in December 2024, his political standing had severely deteriorated due to controversies surrounding his wife, Kim Keon Hee, who faced accusations of improperly receiving gifts, though charges weren’t filed initially.
Following Yoon’s removal from office, a special prosecutor’s investigation led to Kim’s bribery conviction in January, resulting in her current 20-month prison sentence.
The year leading up to Yoon’s martial law announcement was marked by continuous opposition battles that prevented his policy initiatives and legislative priorities from moving forward.
Despite domestic struggles, Yoon achieved notable success in international relations.
His efforts to end a longstanding diplomatic dispute with Japan and establish trilateral security partnership with Japan and the United States stand out as among his limited policy victories.
Yoon’s ability to connect personally with world leaders was memorably demonstrated at a 2023 White House gathering, where he surprised then-President Joe Biden and thrilled the audience by performing the 1970s classic “American Pie.”
Coming from a wealthy background, Yoon performed well academically and gained admission to prestigious Seoul National University law school. However, his love of social activities caused him to fail the bar examination multiple times before finally succeeding on his ninth attempt at 30 years old.
During his prosecution career, colleagues knew him for his relaxed demeanor, but associates noted increased ambition following his marriage to Kim, an accomplished art curator.
His presidency began controversially when he relocated the presidential office away from the historic Blue House complex, raising speculation about whether feng shui beliefs regarding the location’s supposed curse influenced the decision.
Yoon rejected claims that he and his wife had any connection to a shaman.
Critics accused him of protecting his “yes men” when he declined to dismiss senior officials after a Halloween crowd disaster claimed 159 lives.
Among those he protected was Safety Minister Lee Sang-min, a fellow graduate of Yoon’s high school, who later received a seven-year sentence for his involvement in the martial law declaration.
Another high school classmate, Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun, previously served as presidential security chief and now faces insurrection charges for allegedly being the primary advisor who encouraged Yoon to impose martial law. Kim has denied any wrongdoing.
Political science professor Shin Yul from Myongji University believes Yoon’s downfall resulted from following bad advice, suggesting the former president likely “still thinks he did the right thing” regarding his martial law decision.
Four individuals with ties to the Chagos Islands found themselves facing eviction orders from British officials after arriving on a remote atoll earlier this week in what they hoped would disrupt Britain’s plans to hand over the territory to Mauritius.
The group touched down Monday on Ile du Coin, located within the Peros Banhos atoll, with additional people expected to join what organizers described as a permanent community.
A British Foreign Office representative condemned their arrival as an “illegal, unsafe stunt” that would not assist the collaborative efforts between the UK and Mauritius to restart heritage visit programs to the Chagos Islands.
According to a 2025 deal, Britain plans to hand over control of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius while maintaining authority over the strategically vital U.S.-UK military facility on Diego Garcia through a 99-year lease arrangement.
British politician Nigel Farage, who leads the Reform UK party, described the four as British passport holders attempting to “reclaim their birthright” and indicated he was researching legal options to assist them.
“They were this morning served an eviction notice on behalf of the British government, and told that unless they comply, they could face up to three years in prison,” he stated during a London press conference.
Documents reviewed by Reuters show the eviction notices, sent to each individual by a British Indian Ocean Territory immigration officer, declared their presence unlawful and ordered their departure.
The paperwork cautioned that violating the directive by returning would constitute a criminal act carrying penalties of up to three years behind bars, a fine of 3,000 pounds sterling ($4,060), or both punishments combined.
During the 1960s and 1970s, as many as 2,000 Chagossians were forced from their homes in the archipelago and relocated primarily to Mauritius and Britain.
Some Chagossians have voiced opposition to the sovereignty transfer agreement, claiming Mauritius has ignored their needs for decades, though Mauritius disputes these accusations.
Technology giant Google has formed a strategic alliance with Sea Ltd, a major Southeast Asian tech company, to create advanced artificial intelligence applications for online retail and video game development, the companies revealed Thursday.
The partnership will focus on creating what the companies describe as “an AI agentic shopping prototype” for Shopee, Sea’s popular online marketplace, according to their joint announcement.
This collaboration represents part of a broader industry trend where technology companies are working to expand their AI capabilities beyond basic question-and-answer functions, aiming to handle more complex tasks like automated shopping across multiple platforms and managing sophisticated business processes.
The competitive landscape is heating up, as Chinese tech giant Alibaba introduced a new AI system earlier this week, marketing it as designed “for the agentic AI era.” Alibaba’s Lazada platform directly competes with Shopee across Southeast Asian markets.
According to research firm Momentum Works, Shopee maintained its position as the leading e-commerce platform in Southeast Asia throughout 2024, capturing 52% of the regional market.
The partnership will also extend to Sea’s gaming division, Garena, where both companies plan to implement AI technologies to “transform” how efficiently games are developed and produced.
This new agreement builds upon a previous collaboration established in 2024 between Shopee and Google’s YouTube platform, which targeted the Southeast Asian online commerce sector.
A United Nations investigation has concluded that the brutal takeover of a Sudanese city by paramilitary forces shows clear signs of genocide, according to a report released Thursday.
The UN Independent International Fact-Finding Mission for Sudan found that when the Rapid Support Forces seized control of al-Fashir in late October, they systematically murdered members of non-Arab ethnic groups during three horrific days of violence.
Al-Fashir had served as the final government stronghold in Sudan’s western Darfur region before falling to the RSF after an 18-month blockade. During that siege, investigators say the paramilitary group deliberately created living conditions designed to physically destroy the Zaghawa and Fur communities.
According to the UN mission, evidence shows the RSF systematically targeted people based on their ethnicity, gender, and perceived political loyalties. The attacks included mass executions, sexual assault, torture, and other acts that constitute core elements of genocide under international law.
Mission Chairman Mohamad Chande Othman emphasized the organized nature of the violence. “The scale, coordination, and public endorsement of the operation by senior RSF leadership demonstrate that the crimes committed in and around al-Fashir were not random excesses of war,” Othman stated.
“They formed part of a planned and organised operation that bears the defining characteristics of genocide,” he continued.
The report describes how al-Fashir’s population consisted primarily of the Zaghawa people, while surrounding refugee camps housed members of the Fur, Berti, Masalit, and Tama communities before the attack.
Survivors told investigators about explicit threats from RSF forces to “clean” the city. The paramilitary group used drones and heavy artillery to attack displacement camps, community kitchens, and medical facilities while conducting widespread killings, theft, beatings, and sexual violence throughout al-Fashir.
The investigation found that the RSF’s “exterminatory rhetoric” and other violations demonstrated clear intent to destroy the Zaghawa and Fur populations either completely or partially.
“Witnesses heard the Rapid Support Forces saying, ‘Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all’,” the report documented.
Survivors described point-blank executions of civilians and streets filled with the bodies of men, women, and children. The report also details how women and girls between ages 7 and 70 from non-Arab communities, especially the Zaghawa, were subjected to rape and other forms of sexual violence, including whipping and forced nudity.
British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper called for strong international action in response to the findings. “The findings of this UN report are truly horrific — atrocities including systematic starvation, torture, killings, rape and deliberate ethnic targeting used on the most horrendous scale during the Rapid Support Forces siege of al-Fashir,” Cooper said in a statement.
The UN mission received its mandate from Human Rights Council members, including Britain, to urgently examine violations of international law in and around al-Fashir. Investigators shared their final report with Sudan’s government but received no response, while the RSF declined to meet with mission leadership.
Neither the RSF nor Sudan’s Armed Forces immediately responded to requests for comment from Reuters. The RSF has previously rejected similar allegations, claiming such reports are fabricated by opponents while making counter-accusations against their enemies.
Britain’s foreign secretary is strongly denouncing Iran’s decision to hand down decade-long prison sentences to two UK citizens accused of spying, calling the punishment completely without merit.
Foreign Minister Yvette Cooper issued a sharp rebuke Thursday regarding the sentencing of Craig and Lindsay Foreman, who face 10 years in Iranian custody after being accused of collecting intelligence across multiple regions of the country.
“We will pursue this case relentlessly with the Iranian government until we see Craig and Lindsay Foreman safely returned to the UK and reunited with their family,” Cooper declared in her official response.
According to Joe Bennett, who is Lindsay’s son, the pair faced a three-hour court proceeding on October 27 where they were denied the opportunity to mount any defense against the charges.
“We have seen no evidence to support the charge of espionage,” Bennett stated, expressing his family’s serious worries about the couple’s well-being and criticizing the lack of openness in Iran’s legal proceedings.
Motorists traveling on Lancaster Pike in New Castle County should expect delays as utility crews have shut down the westbound right lane for ongoing work.
The lane closure affects the stretch of roadway between Hedgerow Place and Courtney Road, according to Delaware Department of Transportation officials.
Drivers are advised to use caution when traveling through the work zone and allow extra time for their commute. Traffic is being directed around the construction area using the remaining open lanes.
DelDOT has not provided an estimated timeline for when the utility work will be completed and normal traffic patterns restored.
Violent demonstrations erupted in Albania’s capital last week as citizens threw gasoline bombs at government offices while law enforcement deployed tear gas and water cannons to control the crowds. Protesters could be heard shouting demands for Prime Minister Edi Rama’s resignation, calling his administration corrupt.
The unrest stems from corruption charges filed in December against Deputy Prime Minister Belinda Balluku by Albania’s special anti-corruption prosecutor’s office, SPAK. Balluku faces allegations of manipulating the bidding process for two major infrastructure projects in 2021 valued at more than 200 million euros.
Balluku, considered a political rising star and potential heir to Rama’s leadership, maintains her innocence. The Prime Minister has continued supporting her despite mounting pressure.
The corruption allegations pose a significant threat to Albania’s European Union membership aspirations, with the country aiming to join the bloc by 2030. The ongoing crisis represents one of the most serious challenges for Rama, who has governed the Balkan nation since 2013 and secured his fourth consecutive term last year.
“Albania has to understand that to become an EU member, respecting the rule of law is a prerequisite,” stated Andi Hoxhaj, a Balkan expert at King’s College London. “That has to hit home, or it will not look good with the EU.”
Rama’s representative Manjola Hasa defended the government’s anti-corruption efforts when contacted by Reuters. “Albania deserves to join (the EU) for many reasons and fighting corruption with no second thoughts is one of them,” Hasa responded.
Following nearly five decades of communist isolation that ended in the early 1990s, Albania experienced widespread corruption issues common throughout post-communist Eastern Europe. The country made significant progress through judicial system overhauls in 2016, establishing SPAK in 2019, and achieving steady economic development.
EU membership negotiations commenced in 2022, and Albania reached a milestone on November 17 when it entered the final phase of accession discussions, positioning itself as a leading candidate in the EU’s Balkan expansion initiative.
Just three days following this achievement, SPAK announced the charges against Balluku.
The accusations center on two 2021 infrastructure projects – a highway tunnel construction contract and a section of Tirana’s ring road development. As infrastructure minister, Balluku allegedly manipulated the tender processes to benefit particular construction companies.
Court documents reviewed by Reuters contain text message exchanges between Balluku and associates, including the Albanian Road Authority director, who also faces charges.
One September 10, 2021 message shows Balluku apparently requesting the director arrange a meeting with a NOVA Construction 2012 representative.
Within four days of this meeting, NOVA partnered with two other firms to create a consortium that subsequently secured the ring road project.
According to SPAK, Balluku “predetermined the winner” and “created unfair advantages and privileges.”
Reuters could not confirm whether the requested meeting occurred. NOVA Construction declined to comment, as did Balluku’s legal counsel.
After an anti-corruption court suspended Balluku in November, she stated she would not address the case or respond to “half-truths and lies.”
Relations between SPAK and Prime Minister Rama have grown increasingly tense. The prosecutor’s office seeks to remove Balluku’s protection from pre-trial detention, but Rama opposes this action and accuses SPAK of exceeding its authority.
During Monday’s parliamentary session, Rama revealed he had rejected Balluku’s resignation attempts three times. “There is no such thing as a resignation under pressure from a power that has stepped outside its territory,” he declared while Balluku observed.
That same day, Rama announced plans to modify legislation protecting ministers from suspension during criminal investigations, a proposal opposition leaders claim is designed to shield him and his political allies.
European Union officials are monitoring the situation closely.
“Rhetoric that sows public mistrust in the judiciary and in the independence, impartiality and integrity of the judicial and prosecutorial systems is counterproductive,” the EU’s Tirana office stated to Reuters.
“Fighting corruption effectively is of paramount importance for Albania’s progress towards EU membership.”
MUNICH – Five senior European intelligence officials are casting doubt on President Trump’s optimistic assessment that a Ukraine peace deal is “reasonably close,” telling Reuters they believe Russia has no intention of ending the conflict anytime soon.
The intelligence chiefs, who requested anonymity when speaking with Reuters recently, indicated that Moscow is primarily using ongoing diplomatic discussions with the United States to pursue sanctions relief and business opportunities rather than genuine peace negotiations.
One European intelligence leader characterized the discussions – including the latest round held in Geneva this week – as “negotiation theatre.”
These assessments reveal a significant divide between European intelligence services and the White House, which according to Ukraine hopes to secure a peace agreement by June, ahead of November’s U.S. congressional midterm elections. Trump has expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin is interested in making a deal.
“Russia is not seeking a peace agreement. They are seeking their strategic goals, and those have not changed,” stated one intelligence chief. Moscow’s objectives continue to include removing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy from power and transforming Ukraine into a “neutral” buffer zone between Russia and Western nations.
A second intelligence official emphasized that Russia has neither the desire nor the necessity for rapid peace, noting that the Russian economy is “not on the verge of collapse.”
While the intelligence leaders did not reveal their information sources, their agencies employ human intelligence assets, communications intercepts, and various other collection methods. All five confirmed they prioritize Russia as a key intelligence target.
Russia’s foreign ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Putin has indicated willingness to pursue peace, but only under his conditions. Russian officials maintain that European governments have consistently misjudged Russia in their analyses.
DIPLOMATIC EFFORTS CONTINUE
Ukrainian and Russian representatives conducted their third U.S.-facilitated meeting of 2026 this week without achieving breakthroughs on major disputes, particularly territorial issues.
Russia demands that Ukraine withdraw its military forces from the remaining 20% of eastern Donetsk region not under Russian control, a requirement Ukraine categorically rejects.
According to the second intelligence official, while Russia might accept territorial gains limited to the rest of Donetsk, this would not satisfy Moscow’s broader goal of removing Zelenskyy’s pro-Western administration.
A third intelligence chief warned against assuming that Ukrainian territorial concessions in Donetsk would rapidly produce a comprehensive peace agreement.
“In the case of the Russians getting these concessions, I (think) that this is maybe the beginning of actual negotiations,” the official predicted, suggesting Russia would then present additional demands.
This same official also criticized what they described as “very limited” negotiating expertise regarding Russia throughout the West, including Europe, despite Zelenskyy’s call for active European participation in the talks.
The U.S. negotiating team is headed by Steve Witkoff, a real estate developer and longtime Trump associate, along with Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law.
While both men have handled other conflicts for Trump, neither possesses formal diplomatic training or specialized knowledge of Russia or Ukraine.
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly responded to the criticism by stating that anonymous complaints do not assist U.S. peace efforts. “President Trump and his team have done more than anyone to bring both sides together to stop the killing and deliver a peace deal,” Kelly said.
ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS
Two officials reported that Moscow is attempting to divide negotiations into separate tracks – one addressing the war itself and another focusing on bilateral U.S.-Russia agreements that would include sanctions relief.
Zelenskyy revealed that his intelligence services informed him that U.S. and Russian negotiators have discussed bilateral cooperation deals worth up to $12 trillion, proposed by Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
The European officials did not elaborate on these discussions.
The second intelligence chief suggested this proposal targets both Trump’s interests and Russian oligarchs who have not benefited from the war due to sanctions but whose support Putin requires as Russia’s economy faces increasing challenges.
This official characterized Russia as a “resilient society” capable of withstanding hardship.
However, the third official identified “very high” financial risks facing Russia in the latter half of 2026, citing factors including Moscow’s restricted capital market access due to sanctions and elevated borrowing costs.
Economic analysts suggest Russia’s economy is experiencing somewhere between stagnation and recession after achieving only 1% growth last year.
Russia’s central bank has set its key interest rate at 15.5%, directly affecting borrowing costs nationwide. The liquid portion of Russia’s emergency fund used to address budget deficits has decreased by more than half since the 2022 invasion began.
Food and beverage giant Nestle announced Thursday that it exceeded fourth-quarter sales projections while revealing plans to divest its ice cream operations as part of a strategic business restructuring.
The Swiss-based company, known for producing Maggi seasoning cubes and Nescafe coffee products, will concentrate its efforts on four primary divisions: Coffee, Pet Care, Nutrition, and Food & Snacks. Company officials disclosed they are in final-stage discussions to transfer the ice cream division to Froneri, a partnership between European investment firm PAI Partners and Nestle that currently owns the Haagen-Dazs brand.
CEO Philipp Navratil faces significant challenges in his mission to accelerate operations at the consumer goods corporation, particularly due to the company’s largest infant formula product recall in recent years. The recall has created inventory shortages and product returns that will affect sales volumes through 2026.
“While there is more to be done, we are confident that our faster execution of a more focused strategy will deliver sustained improvement through 2026 and beyond,” Navratil stated.
Company projections indicate organic sales growth of 3-4% for 2026, with expectations for enhanced underlying trading operating profit margins this year, improving from the 16.1% recorded in 2025.
Navratil, who assumed leadership in September and subsequently announced workforce reductions of 16,000 positions, continues to address obstacles including U.S. import duties, currency fluctuations, and reduced consumer spending power.
The company completed its evaluation of mainstream and budget vitamin and supplement product lines and is actively seeking potential purchasers. Additionally, Nestle anticipates removing its water business from consolidated reporting beginning in 2027, having initiated formal partnership discussions during the first quarter.
Revenue growth excluding currency changes and acquisitions reached 4% for the quarter ending December 31, surpassing analyst predictions of 3.4% growth.
SEOUL – Former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol was convicted Thursday on insurrection charges stemming from his unsuccessful effort to impose martial law on the nation in December 2024.
The court’s decision represents a major legal milestone in the case against Yoon, who was found guilty of orchestrating what prosecutors described as an insurrectionary plot when he attempted to declare martial law last year.
The failed martial law declaration had thrown South Korea into political turmoil before being quickly reversed.
TIVOLI, Italy (AP) — Centuries ago, Roman builders would travel to quarries near Tivoli to extract chunks of porous limestone called lapis tiburtinus — what we now call travertine — then transport the stone blocks on rafts down the river to construction sites.
This ancient process created the iconic Colosseum two millennia ago. The same method was used centuries later for St. Peter’s Basilica and Bernini’s magnificent colonnade.
The identical quarries that supplied Rome’s legendary travertine continue operating today, providing their signature hole-filled stone for modern religious structures, houses of worship, and mosques worldwide — plus banks, cultural institutions, government facilities and residential properties.
Although other nations produce similar sedimentary limestone, Roman travertine stands apart because workers extract it from underground sulfuric springs and pools surrounding Tivoli. Composed primarily of calcium carbonate minerals, this Roman stone developed over hundreds of thousands of years through calcium, sulfur and mineral deposits, displaying the area’s volcanic past, ancient forests and fossil remains in its layered bands.
Architects value the material for multiple qualities: durability, abundance and resistance to various weather conditions and environmental challenges. The cutting method and location determine its appearance, ranging from rough to smooth textures, warm white with irregular dark pockets to sandy tan with gray, brown or green streaks.
The Mariotti Carlo SpA stone-cutting company has shaped travertine to specification for four generations, completing some of the globe’s most notable architectural projects: Los Angeles’ Getty Center, Beijing’s Bank of China headquarters, and the Great Mosque in Algiers, Algeria.
During a recent work session, components for a temple reconstruction by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, commonly called the Mormon church, sat arranged across Mariotti’s Tivoli warehouse floor — travertine chunks extracted from local quarries and shaped into custom puzzle-like sections for assembly at the New York City location.
Following their travertine supply work for the Latter-day Saint temple in Rome, church architects selected Mariotti to renovate the Manhattan Upper West Side temple. This temple stands opposite Lincoln Center and Julliard School, both constructed with Mariotti-processed travertine decades earlier when the stone first entered American markets.
“Travertine represents a classic stone recognized globally. It’s similar to spreading Rome’s illumination everywhere, since travertine’s light reflection qualities are truly unique,” explained Fabrizio Mariotti, who leads the family enterprise.
Throughout the Tivoli quarry areas, sulfur odors fill the atmosphere alongside continuous hammering, chiming and splitting sounds from massive jackhammers breaking ancient rock formations.
At Degemar quarries, excavated 30 meters below sea level, brilliant blue sulfur spring pools collect travertine debris while flatbed trucks transport 33-ton stone slabs to ground level.
This location provided Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the renowned Baroque sculptor and architect, with brilliant white travertine for the 284 columns and 88 pillars forming St. Peter’s Square colonnade, plus his other Catholic and Roman masterpieces.
Bernini visited so frequently to choose his stones that he maintained a residence overlooking the quarry, which remains standing.
Current quarry director Vincenzo De Gennaro points out that Bernini’s tower still contains the pigeon coop that housed homing birds carrying stone measurement orders from Rome to the quarry.
Today, the quarry serves clients across much greater distances: Riyadh’s new airport in Saudi Arabia and the Chinese governing party’s new Shenzhen headquarters, among others.
“This is exceptional, a unique stone because it lives and breathes, born from a mixture of mineral waters,” De Gennaro commented while navigating earth-moving equipment and walking past sulfur pools.
Anyone doubting travertine’s longevity need only examine Rome itself, he noted.
“We have the physical proof of a civilization spanning thousands of years that remains visible today, glowing continuously for 2,000 years,” he stated. “That serves as our warranty.”
Marco Ferrero, civil engineering professor at Rome’s La Sapienza University, explained that travertine’s attraction partly stems from its connection to ancient Rome “and consequently to the enchantment of the classical era.”
He said the stone captures Rome’s character in multiple ways: Travertine demonstrates strength, endurance and dignity without the flashiness of marble, which deteriorates faster when facing weather exposure.
“Here’s an appropriate comparison: Marble communicates in elegant Italian, in literary Italian, while travertine speaks in Roman dialect,” he observed. “It truly represents the Romans’ stone. Similar to Roman cooking, which features simple meals often using leftover ingredients, travertine remains an authentic and traditional material.”
NEW DELHI (AP) — At a major technology conference in New Delhi on Thursday, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi promoted his nation as a crucial force in the worldwide artificial intelligence landscape, emphasizing India’s goal to create technology domestically and share it globally.
“Design and develop in India. Deliver to the world. Deliver to humanity,” Modi declared to an audience of international leaders, tech industry executives, and policy makers at the India AI Impact Summit in New Delhi.
Modi’s statements reflect India’s ambitions as one of the world’s rapidly expanding digital markets to capitalize on its expertise in creating extensive digital public infrastructure and establish itself as an affordable center for AI development.
The conference also featured addresses from French President Emmanuel Macron, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, who proposed a $3 billion funding initiative to assist developing nations in establishing fundamental AI capabilities, including training, data accessibility, and affordable computing resources.
“The future of AI cannot be decided by a handful of countries, or left to the whims of a few billionaires,” Guterres declared, emphasizing that AI must “belong to everyone.”
India is utilizing the conference to establish itself as a connector between developed nations and the Global South. Government representatives point to the nation’s digital identification and electronic payment infrastructure as examples of how to implement AI affordably, especially in emerging economies.
“We must democratize AI. It must become a tool for inclusion and empowerment, particularly for the Global South,” Modi stated.
With close to one billion online users, India has emerged as a crucial marketplace for international technology corporations expanding their artificial intelligence operations.
In December, Microsoft revealed a $17.5 billion commitment over four years to enhance cloud computing and AI infrastructure within India. This followed Google’s $15 billion investment spanning five years, which includes establishing its first AI center in the nation. Amazon has similarly committed $35 billion through 2030, focusing on AI-powered digital transformation.
India is additionally pursuing up to $200 billion in data center investments in the upcoming years.
However, the nation falls behind in creating its own comprehensive AI systems comparable to U.S.-based OpenAI or China’s DeepSeek, revealing obstacles including restricted access to cutting-edge semiconductor technology, data facilities, and the challenge of processing hundreds of regional languages.
The conference began Monday with operational problems, as participants and vendors experienced extended waiting times and delays, with some reporting on social platforms that personal items and exhibition materials had been taken. Event organizers later announced the missing items were found.
Issues continued Wednesday when a private Indian university was removed from the summit after a staff member presented a commercially available Chinese-manufactured robotic dog while falsely claiming it as the school’s original creation.
The difficulties persisted Thursday when Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates canceled a planned keynote presentation. Officials provided no explanation, though the Gates Foundation stated the decision was made “to ensure the focus remains on the AI Summit’s key priorities.”
Gates has been facing scrutiny regarding his connections to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
International human rights investigators have concluded that paramilitary forces in Sudan conducted operations in October that exhibit characteristics of genocide against ethnic minority groups in the Darfur region.
The United Nations-supported fact-finding team released findings Thursday showing the Rapid Support Forces executed mass killings and other brutal acts in el-Fasher following an 18-month blockade. The investigators determined these actions were designed to physically eliminate non-Arab populations, specifically targeting Zaghawa and Fur ethnic groups.
According to UN officials, the RSF’s conquest of el-Fasher resulted in several thousand civilian deaths. The city had been the Sudanese military’s final remaining position in Darfur. Of el-Fasher’s 260,000 inhabitants, only 40% successfully escaped the assault, with thousands suffering injuries. The whereabouts of remaining residents is unclear.
The conflict in Sudan began in April 2023 when tensions between military and paramilitary leadership erupted in Khartoum before spreading to additional areas including Darfur.
This devastating conflict has claimed over 40,000 lives based on UN data, though humanitarian organizations believe the actual death toll could be significantly higher.
The RSF along with allied Arab militia groups called Janjaweed captured el-Fasher on October 26 and conducted widespread violence throughout the area. Their offensive included mass executions, sexual assault, torture, and kidnappings for financial gain, according to the UN Human Rights Office.
Between October 25 and 27, the forces killed more than 6,000 people within the city limits. Prior to the main attack, rebels attacked the Abu Shouk displacement facility near the city, killing at least 300 individuals over two days.
The RSF did not provide a response to requests for comment. Their leader, General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, has previously admitted to misconduct by his troops while questioning the extent of reported atrocities.
The international Genocide Convention from 1948 establishes five standards for determining genocide: killing group members; causing severe physical or psychological damage; implementing birth prevention measures; intentionally creating conditions for physical elimination; and forcibly moving children to different groups.
The investigation team found evidence of at least three criteria being satisfied by RSF actions. The convention allows for genocide determination if even one criterion is met.
According to the team, RSF activities in el-Fasher included murdering members of protected ethnic groups, inflicting serious physical and mental trauma, and intentionally creating life conditions designed to destroy the group partially or completely.
The findings cited systematic ethnically-motivated killings, sexual violence, destruction, and public declarations calling for non-Arab community elimination.
Mohamed Chande Othman, the team’s chairman and former Tanzania chief justice, stated the RSF operations were not “random excesses of war” but indicated a deliberate and coordinated effort displaying genocide characteristics.
“Physically exhausted, malnourished, and in part unable to flee, leaving them defenseless against the extreme violence that followed,” the report described el-Fasher residents. “Thousands of persons, particularly the Zaghawa, were killed, raped or disappeared during three days of absolute horror.”
The investigation documented mass killings, extensive rape, sexual violence, torture, arbitrary imprisonment, extortion, and forced disappearances during the RSF takeover in late October.
The report recorded survivor accounts of fighters making statements such as: “Is there anyone Zaghawa among you? If we find Zaghawa, we will kill them all” and “We want to eliminate anything black from Darfur.”
Investigators noted “selective targeting” of Zaghawa and Fur women and girls, “while women perceived as Arab were often spared.”
The Geneva-based Human Rights Council, the UN’s primary human rights organization with 47 member nations, established the fact-finding team in 2023.
The team demanded accountability for those responsible and emphasized that civilian protection is needed “more than ever” as the conflict spreads to additional Sudanese regions.
Throughout the conflict, both sides have faced accusations of international law violations, though most atrocities have been attributed to the RSF. The Biden administration recently declared the group committed genocide in Darfur.
UN experts and rights organizations report that the United Arab Emirates has supported the RSF during the war, though the UAE denies these claims.
The RSF originated from Janjaweed militias that gained infamy for atrocities in the early 2000s during a brutal campaign against people of East or Central African identity in Darfur. That earlier campaign resulted in approximately 300,000 deaths and displaced 2.7 million people.
TRUCKEE, Calif. — A devastating avalanche in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains has claimed eight lives and left one person missing after striking a group of experienced backcountry skiers attempting to return home following days of harsh winter conditions.
The deadly slide occurred Tuesday as 15 skiers departed from remote mountain cabins at high elevation, making their way back toward the trailhead. The incident represents the most fatal avalanche in the United States in nearly five decades.
Recovery efforts for the victims’ remains have been delayed as avalanche warnings remain active through early Thursday, with officials waiting for the dangerous storm system to pass. Authorities have not yet disclosed the identities of those who perished.
The skiing party had strong connections to Lake Tahoe’s mountain recreation scene, particularly the prestigious Sugar Bowl Academy. The institution released a statement Wednesday evening expressing grief over losing individuals with “strong connections to Sugar Bowl, Donner Summit and the backcountry community.”
The academy did not specify the exact relationship between the victims, who ranged from 30 to 55 years old, and the school that provides alpine and backcountry skiing training along with education for aspiring young athletes.
“We are an incredibly close and connected community,” Sugar Bowl Academy executive director Stephen McMahon was quoted as saying in the statement. “This tragedy has affected each and every one of us.”
Among the group were four professional guides from Blackbird Mountain Guides, a company specializing in mountaineering expeditions and backcountry skiing adventures throughout the western United States and abroad. One guide survived the disaster.
The three-day excursion, which started Sunday, was designed for skiers with intermediate to advanced abilities, according to information on the outfitter’s website.
Blackbird Mountain Guides announced Wednesday evening that it has initiated a comprehensive investigation and suspended all field activities through the weekend at minimum while focusing on assisting the families of those affected.
The company’s guides possessed training and certification in backcountry skiing techniques and served as instructors with the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education.
During expeditions, guides “are in communication with senior guides at our base, to discuss conditions and routing based upon conditions,” founder Zeb Blais explained in the company’s statement.
“We don’t have all the answers yet, and it may be some time before we do,” the company stated. “In the meantime, please keep those impacted in your hearts.”
Mill Valley Mayor Max Perrey, representing the Marin County community located approximately 14 miles north of San Francisco, verified that several group members were women from his city. He declined to share additional information via email to The Associated Press but indicated more details would be made available later.
The Sierra Avalanche Center had issued an avalanche watch Sunday morning, which was upgraded to a warning by 5 a.m. Tuesday, signaling that avalanche conditions were anticipated. It remains unclear whether the guides received notification of this escalation before beginning their descent.
Officials described a tragic scene as survivors searched through snow for their missing companions and endured a six-hour wait for rescue teams to reach them amid blizzard conditions. The survivors located three bodies, according to Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon.
All skiers carried emergency beacons capable of transmitting location signals to rescue personnel, and at least one guide managed to send text messages for help. However, it’s uncertain whether the group used avalanche airbags, which are inflatable safety devices designed to keep skiers closer to the snow surface during slides, noted Sheriff’s Captain Russell “Rusty” Greene.
One survivor remained in hospital care as of Wednesday, Sheriff Moon reported.
The region has received between 3 and 6 feet of fresh snowfall since Sunday, accompanied by below-freezing temperatures and powerful winds reaching gale force.
This avalanche stands as the most deadly in the United States since 1981, when 11 mountain climbers lost their lives on Washington state’s Mount Rainier. It also marks the second fatal avalanche near Castle Peak this year, following the death of a snowmobile rider in January. Avalanches typically claim 25 to 30 lives annually across the country, according to National Avalanche Center data.
The location near Donner Summit where the skiing expedition occurred ranks among the snowiest regions in the Western Hemisphere and remained off-limits to public access until recent years. The summit bears the name of the notorious Donner Party, pioneer travelers who became stranded there during the winter of 1846-1847 and resorted to cannibalism for survival.
A major French alcoholic beverage company experienced declining sales during the first six months of its fiscal year, though conditions began showing improvement in recent months.
Pernod Ricard, the company behind well-known brands including Absolut vodka, Mumm champagne, and Martell cognac, saw revenue drop by 5.9% during the six-month period ending December 31. The company brought in 5.25 billion euros, equivalent to about $6.19 billion.
While the overall numbers remained negative, the second quarter showed signs of recovery with a 5% decrease in comparable sales – an improvement from the steeper 7.6% drop experienced during the first quarter. Company officials attributed the better performance to stronger business in India and improved sales in global travel retail locations.
The beverage manufacturer, which ranks as the world’s second-largest Western spirits company after Diageo, continues facing headwinds from reduced consumer spending and inventory reductions by retailers in both the United States and China.
Company leadership indicated they anticipate fiscal year 2026 will serve as a transitional period, with sales improvements expected to accelerate during the latter half of the year. The company’s fiscal calendar begins July 1.
Operating profits also declined during the reporting period, falling 7.5% on a comparable basis. Industry analysts had projected a slightly larger decrease of 7.7%, making the actual results marginally better than expected. The sales figures also aligned closely with analyst predictions of a 5.7% decline.
One of India’s most prominent business leaders announced Thursday that his company will commit a staggering $110 billion toward artificial intelligence development over the coming seven years.
Billionaire businessman Mukesh Ambani, who serves as Chairman of Reliance Industries, revealed that his conglomerate along with its telecommunications subsidiary Jio will dedicate 10 trillion rupees to AI initiatives through 2031.
The massive financial commitment represents one of the largest private sector investments in artificial intelligence technology announced by any company worldwide.
French hospitality giant Accor announced Thursday that its annual core earnings narrowly exceeded Wall Street forecasts, buoyed by strategic portfolio diversification and growth in its customer loyalty initiatives.
The company behind popular hotel chains including Ibis and Novotel posted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of 1.20 billion euros ($1.41 billion) for the past year, up from 1.12 billion euros in 2024. The figure topped analyst projections of 1.19 billion euros.
“The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into our digital roadmap and the robustness of our pipeline allow us to accelerate our development and be even more efficient,” Accor CEO Sébastien Bazin said in a statement.
Earlier this month, the hospitality company unveiled an artificial intelligence booking platform powered by ChatGPT technology, designed to decrease reliance on third-party travel booking sites and lower distribution expenses.
Revenue per available room, a key hospitality industry metric, climbed 4.2% to reach 76 euros in 2025.
The hotel group reaffirmed its medium-term financial projections and announced plans to maintain its stock repurchase program, targeting 450 million euros in buybacks during 2026.
SYDNEY – Law enforcement officials in Australia have opened an investigation following the delivery of a menacing letter to Sydney’s largest Islamic worship center, marking the third threatening incident as Muslims prepare for their holy month of Ramadan.
The correspondence, delivered Wednesday to Lakemba Mosque in western Sydney, included an offensive drawing of a pig along with death threats targeting what the sender called the “Muslim race,” according to local news outlets.
Authorities have collected the letter for laboratory analysis and announced plans to increase patrols around houses of worship, including the targeted mosque, as well as community gatherings.
This most recent threat follows a previous menacing message delivered to the same mosque several weeks earlier, which showed an image of Muslim worshippers trapped in a burning religious building.
Law enforcement has also apprehended and filed charges against a 70-year-old individual connected to a third threatening correspondence sent to mosque personnel in January.
The organization that operates the mosque, the Lebanese Muslim Association, has contacted government officials requesting additional funding for extra security personnel and surveillance equipment, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corp.
During Ramadan, approximately 5,000 worshippers are anticipated to visit the mosque nightly. Government census data shows that more than 60% of Lakemba’s population identifies as Muslim.
Canterbury-Bankstown council Mayor Bilal El-Hayek, whose jurisdiction includes Lakemba, described the community as feeling “very anxious.”
“I’ve heard first-hand from people saying that they won’t be sending their kids to practice this Ramadan because they’re very concerned about things that might happen in local mosques,” he said.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed strong disapproval of the recent series of threats.
“It is outrageous that people just going about commemorating their faith, particularly during the holy month for Muslims of Ramadan, are subject to this sort of intimidation,” he told ABC radio.
“I have said repeatedly we need to turn down the temperature of political discourse in this country, and we certainly need to do that.”
A government-commissioned study indicates that hostility toward Muslims has increased across Australia since the Gaza conflict began in late 2023.
The Islamophobia Register Australia has recorded a 740% surge in incident reports following the December 14 Bondi mass shooting, where officials say two attackers with Islamic State connections killed 15 people at a Jewish holiday gathering.
“There’s been a massive increase post-Bondi,” Mayor El-Hayek said. “Without a doubt, this is the worst I have ever seen it. There’s a lot of tension out there.”
WASHINGTON – Federal immigration authorities now have enhanced powers to detain legal refugees while they undergo additional background screening, according to a new government directive that marks a significant policy shift.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a memorandum on February 18 requiring refugees to report back to government custody for “inspection and examination” one year after entering the United States. This coincides with when refugees are required by law to apply for permanent resident status.
“This detain-and-inspect requirement ensures that refugees are re-vetted after one year, aligns post-admission vetting with that applied to other applicants for admission, and promotes public safety,” department officials stated in the memo, which was filed in federal court.
The directive represents a complete reversal from 2010 guidance that specified failing to obtain permanent resident status was not grounds for detention or removal from the country. Immigration officers can now hold individuals throughout the entire re-inspection period.
The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to requests for additional information about the policy change.
Refugee assistance organizations have strongly condemned the new approach.
Shawn VanDiver, who leads AfghanEvac, described the policy as “a reckless reversal of long-standing policy” that “breaks faith with people the United States lawfully admitted and promised protection.”
HIAS, previously called the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, warned the “move will cause grave harm to thousands of people who were welcomed to the United States after fleeing violence and persecution.”
Immigration detention numbers have surged under President Trump’s leadership, reaching approximately 68,000 people this month – a 75% increase since he returned to office last year.
Immigration enforcement served as a central campaign theme that contributed to Trump’s 2024 electoral victory.
Federal courts have already intervened in some cases. In January, U.S. District Judge John Tunheim in Minneapolis issued a temporary restraining order blocking enforcement of the policy against roughly 5,600 legal refugees in Minnesota who are waiting for green cards.
Judge Tunheim determined that federal agents likely broke multiple federal laws when they arrested some of these refugees for additional screening purposes.
KHENIFRA, Morocco (TV Delmarva) — A man who spent decades building trust as a community helper and educator in Morocco now faces shocking criminal charges that have stunned two North African nations.
Jacques Leveugle, a 79-year-old French citizen, is currently imprisoned and facing formal charges in France for allegedly raping and sexually assaulting 89 boys spanning more than 50 years across multiple countries. French prosecutors revealed the case to the public last week, also stating that Leveugle admitted to suffocating his terminally ill mother and later murdering his 92-year-old aunt.
For years in the Moroccan city of Khenifra, residents knew Leveugle as a skinny French man who cleaned streets before sunrise, provided no-cost language instruction, and arranged educational trips for local students. His fluency in Arabic, Morocco’s local dialect, and Shilha — a regional Berber language — allowed him to become deeply embedded in the community, according to neighbors.
The unassuming man would bicycle to local markets wearing simple jeans and collared shirts, and established a small children’s library in the working-class Lassiri district.
Most of the alleged sexual crimes took place in North Africa, where Leveugle established himself as a dedicated educator and trustworthy individual throughout his lifetime.
Authorities uncovered the alleged crimes after a family member discovered Leveugle’s electronic diary on a USB device and provided it to law enforcement.
Grenoble Prosecutor Etienne Manteaux confirmed to The Associated Press that Leveugle is suspected of victimizing more than a dozen boys in Morocco, where he resided until his 2024 arrest. During his eight-year tenure as a foreign language instructor in Algeria during the 1960s and 1970s, he allegedly abused at least two children.
The disturbing allegations have created widespread shock throughout both nations and brought renewed focus to child exploitation issues in a region where advocates report abuse continues to be widespread and frequently unreported.
“This case demonstrates exceptional gravity and understandably creates profound outrage,” stated Najat Anwar, who leads the Moroccan child protection organization Don’t Touch my Child. “We stand ready to participate as a civil party in legal proceedings if Moroccan witnesses or victims step forward.”
The Associated Press interviewed twelve individuals who personally knew Leveugle, including Moroccan neighbors and former Algerian students, plus Moroccan officials familiar with the investigation. Those acquainted with him characterized a person widely regarded as reserved, supportive, and someone who enjoyed spending time around children.
Throughout the narrow pathways of Khenifra’s Lassiri district, populated by many traditional Moroccans, the pleasant atmosphere of a winter morning stands in stark opposition to what locals describe as deep embarrassment they’ve experienced since prosecutors disclosed Leveugle’s alleged offenses last week.
Community members report feeling disrespected and degraded. Several are now contemplating relocating. All requested anonymity due to concerns about potential harassment or retaliation.
They indicated Leveugle’s residence, an incomplete, unpainted single-level structure encircled by fig trees, positioned beside a river where children frequently play nearby.
Local residents explained that “Monsieur Jacques,” his common nickname, financially supported community initiatives and assisted people in securing employment, occasionally distributing cash directly. Khenifra has historically maintained among Morocco’s highest jobless rates, with many inhabitants working in unofficial employment sectors. Residents frequently relocate seeking improved opportunities.
Community members recalled how Jacques once brought children to Agelmam Agezga, a popular regional lake, and instructed them to swim without clothing, beginning with himself and claiming health benefits. This behavior conflicts with Moroccan cultural norms and broader Islamic customs, which prohibit men from being unclothed in each other’s presence.
One neighbor explained that the revelations have so severely damaged his ability to trust others that he now refuses to allow his 5-year-old son to spend nights at his brother’s home.
According to a knowledgeable Moroccan official, Leveugle was born during the 1940s in Annecy, France, and initially came to Morocco in 1955. His father served at the French Embassy, and Leveugle attended school in Morocco’s capital city during the concluding years of French colonial rule.
A Moroccan justice official confirmed that Leveugle maintained Moroccan residency status and faced no documented criminal complaints within the kingdom. Both officials requested anonymity in accordance with Moroccan governmental protocols.
Neighbors reported that Leveugle relocated to Khenifra’s Lassiri neighborhood during the early 2000s. Local residents noted his regular interactions with teenage boys ranging from 13 to 15 years old.
He operated as a private instructor and, according to community members, provided complimentary lessons, coordinated educational excursions, and occasionally offered financial support to families. Some neighbors reported that he also purchased homes and vehicles for local residents and assisted with European immigration processes.
His extensive time spent with teenage boys sometimes raised questions about his minimal engagement with adult community members.
French investigators identified 89 victims of Leveugle, all boys between ages 13 and 17, through examination of a 15-volume electronic memoir discovered on a USB drive that a relative provided to police, according to the Grenoble prosecutor. He confirmed that Leveugle’s Moroccan victims date to at least 1974.
French authorities believe additional victims exist and have issued a global request for witnesses. The prosecutor informed The Associated Press that French investigators plan to travel to Morocco for evidence collection. Moroccan authorities have not issued public statements.
The French prosecutor did not indicate whether Algeria has opened an investigation, despite Leveugle’s teaching positions at three Algerian schools. The revelations have deeply affected his former students.
“I felt completely shocked upon learning this information,” Ali Bouchemla, who studied French under Leveugle during the late 1960s at a northern Algerian school, told The Associated Press. He remembered a “committed and excellent teacher” who never aroused suspicion.
Lahlou Aliouate, another former student, similarly described a dedicated educator who maintained professional conduct.
Child protection experts say Leveugle’s characteristics mirror patterns observed globally.
“Offenders frequently present themselves through educational or cultural programs, develop respectable reputations and use social or cultural influence to establish trust,” explained Najat Anwar from Don’t Touch my Child. “They subsequently focus on children experiencing vulnerable emotional or social circumstances.”
The militant organization Hamas is strengthening its authority across Gaza by positioning loyal supporters in crucial government positions while resuming tax collection and salary payments, according to Israeli military intelligence documents obtained by Reuters and Palestinian sources within the territory.
This expanding control by Hamas has raised serious questions about the viability of President Donald Trump’s Middle East peace initiative, which demands the organization surrender its weapons in return for Israeli forces withdrawing from Gaza.
Trump’s newly formed international Board of Peace, tasked with overseeing Gaza’s transition period, convened its first session in Washington on Thursday.
“Hamas is advancing steps on the ground meant to preserve its influence and grip in the Gaza Strip ‘from the bottom up’ by means of integrating its supporters in government offices, security apparatuses and local authorities,” military officials stated in documentation provided to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during late January.
While Hamas claims readiness to transfer administrative control to a U.S.-supported panel of Palestinian technical experts led by former Palestinian Authority official Ali Shaath, the organization maintains that Israel has prevented committee members from entering Gaza to begin their duties.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to inquiries regarding Hamas’ territorial control. However, an unnamed Israeli government representative rejected any future involvement by the group as a “twisted fantasy,” declaring: “Hamas is finished as a governing authority in the Gaza Strip.”
Israeli military leadership declined commentary on Hamas’ claims.
Military sources indicate that Hamas, which continues to refuse disarmament, has utilized the October ceasefire agreement to reestablish dominance in regions previously occupied by Israeli forces. While Israel maintains control over more than half of Gaza’s territory, nearly all 2 million residents live within Hamas-controlled zones.
Reuters was unable to verify the complete extent of Hamas’ personnel appointments and revenue collection efforts.
The organization has designated five regional governors, all connected to its military wing known as the al-Qassam Brigades, according to two Palestinian sources with direct operational knowledge. Additionally, Hamas has installed new leadership within Gaza’s economic and interior departments, which oversee taxation and security functions, these sources confirmed.
A newly appointed deputy health minister appeared in ministry footage touring Gaza medical facilities released this month.
“Shaath may have the key to the car, and he may even be allowed to drive, but it is a Hamas car,” one source explained to Reuters.
Israeli military analysis appears to support this assessment.
“Looking ahead, without Hamas disarmament and under the auspices of the technocrat committee, Hamas will succeed, in our view, to preserve influence and control in the Gaza Strip,” the military evaluation concluded, initially reported by Israel’s Channel 13 news.
Ismail al-Thawabta, spokesperson for the Hamas-controlled government’s media department, disputed claims of new appointments, explaining that interim replacements were necessary for positions vacated during wartime to “prevent any administrative vacuum” and maintain essential services for residents while peace negotiations continue.
Neither the U.S. State Department nor Shaath’s National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) immediately provided responses to requests for comment.
A source familiar with the 15-member NCAG indicated awareness of Hamas’ activities and expressed dissatisfaction with these developments.
On Saturday, the committee released a statement calling on international mediators to accelerate resolution of pending issues, noting it cannot fulfill its responsibilities “without the full administrative, civilian, and police powers necessary to implement its mandate effectively.”
The establishment of Shaath’s committee in January initiated the subsequent phase of Trump’s Gaza war resolution strategy, despite incomplete fulfillment of first-phase requirements, including complete cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hamas.
The Board of Peace anticipates receiving progress reports on the committee’s activities Thursday.
Trump is also expected to announce participating countries that will provide personnel for a U.N.-authorized stabilization force and assist in training new Palestinian police units, which the NCAG would supervise.
Hamas seeks to integrate 10,000 of its police officers into the new force, Reuters previously reported. This includes hundreds from its influential internal security division, which has merged with police operations, according to two Gaza sources.
Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding this claim.
When asked whether Israel would address Hamas’ entrenchment concerns during Thursday’s meeting, Netanyahu’s office provided no comment.
Israel has repeatedly stated its opposition to any Hamas involvement in Gaza following the group’s October 2023 attack on southern Israel, which killed over 1,200 people according to Israeli records. Israel’s subsequent air and ground offensive has resulted in more than 72,000 deaths, according to Palestinian health ministry figures.
“Dismantling Hamas governing capabilities” in Gaza was identified as a primary objective of Israel’s military campaign.
Hamas assumed territorial control following a brief 2007 civil conflict with political rival Fatah. Since then, government ministry and municipal appointments have been determined by Hamas’ political leadership, which also established an independent civil service employing tens of thousands.
Currently, at least 14 of Gaza’s 17 ministries are operational, compared to five during peak warfare, according to Israeli military documentation. Additionally, at least 13 of 25 municipalities have resumed services.
Hamas spokesperson Thawabta characterized “this relative recovery” as unrelated to “political considerations.”
“The organisational measures taken during the past period were necessary to prevent the collapse of the service system and do not conflict with any future arrangements agreed upon,” he stated to Reuters.
According to sources, Hamas appointed five governors and four mayors to replace individuals killed or removed during the conflict. The selection of candidates with armed wing connections for gubernatorial positions was intended to suppress criminal gangs, some of which had received weapons and funding from Israel, sources explained.
Netanyahu acknowledged Israeli support for anti-Hamas tribal groups in June, though Israel has disclosed limited details.
Following a violent crackdown against opponents during the truce’s initial weeks, Hamas has concentrated on maintaining public safety and collecting taxes within its portion of the “yellow line” demarcating Israeli and Hamas territories, according to Israeli military officials and Gaza sources.
“There is no opposition to Hamas within the yellow line now, and it is taking over all economic aspects of daily life,” an Israeli military official told Reuters.
Gaza political analyst Mustafa Ibrahim reported that theft and robbery have ceased.
“Hamas is trying to organise markets and streets through the traffic police,” Ibrahim observed. “Police stations have reopened… The tax department and economy ministry are working and collecting.”
Hamas primarily collects revenue from private sector businesses, according to military documents. This includes fees imposed on Gaza merchants importing smuggled items such as cigarettes, batteries, solar panels, and mobile phones, according to three additional sources, including one merchant.
The organization has generated hundreds of millions of shekels through cigarette smuggling taxes since the war began, according to an Israeli indictment filed this month against a suspected smuggling network that includes Israeli reservists deployed in Gaza.
Hamas has continued salary payments to government employees and fighters, averaging approximately 1,500 shekels (about $500) monthly, according to at least four Hamas sources.
“Every moment of delay in allowing the technocratic committee to enter the Gaza Strip leads to the imposition of a de facto reality,” stated Palestinian political analyst Reham Owda, “increasing the administrative and security control of the Hamas government in Gaza.”
Chemical giant Bayer’s Monsanto division has unveiled a massive $7.25 billion settlement proposal designed to resolve tens of thousands of current and future cancer lawsuits linked to its popular Roundup herbicide. The company is positioning this agreement as the long-sought solution to end years of costly legal battles.
The proposed settlement, which requires court approval, would establish a compensation fund distributed over as many as 21 years. This program would provide payments to individuals claiming their non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnosis resulted from Roundup exposure.
Compensation amounts would be determined by several factors including the claimant’s age, level of exposure, and cancer severity. Workers with occupational exposure who received aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma diagnoses before turning 60 could expect average payments of $165,000. Meanwhile, qualifying patients over 78 years old would receive $10,000.
The agreement aims to address most of the 65,000 existing claims currently pending in state and federal courtrooms nationwide. Additionally, it would provide compensation for individuals who used Roundup and later develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the coming years.
However, the level of plaintiff support remains uncertain. While Bayer states that multiple law firms representing Roundup claimants back the settlement, the company hasn’t revealed specific numbers. Bayer retains the right to withdraw from the agreement if insufficient plaintiffs participate, though they won’t specify the minimum participation threshold required.
The negotiating attorneys are seeking to represent all current and future claimants rather than guaranteeing specific client numbers for the deal. Legal experts suggest Bayer’s approach of creating a new class action to override existing cases, rather than addressing current claims directly, may face resistance from claimants or the presiding judge.
Several major law firms are still evaluating the proposal, with at least one already expressing opposition to the settlement terms.
The extended 21-year timeframe is specifically designed to capture future cancer claims and compensate people who used Roundup before February 17, 2026, and subsequently develop cancer. Bayer didn’t eliminate glyphosate—Roundup’s active ingredient that plaintiffs claim causes cancer—from residential products until 2023. Since non-Hodgkin lymphoma may have a latency period of a decade or longer, new claims could emerge for years to come.
The settlement mandates yearly public notifications to inform potential future claimants, who would have two years following their cancer diagnosis to decide on participation.
Bayer is gambling that future claimants will choose the settlement over the uncertainty of litigation. However, since individuals can decline participation, the company may still face jury trials in the future. Previous verdicts demonstrate the significant financial risks involved—while Bayer has won several recent Roundup trials, plaintiffs have secured substantial judgments, including a $2.1 billion Georgia jury award in 2025 and a $332 million California verdict in 2023.
A crucial Supreme Court case adds another layer to Bayer’s legal strategy. Oral arguments are scheduled for April 27 in a case that could determine whether Bayer can face state law lawsuits for allegedly failing to warn about Roundup’s cancer risks when federal regulations don’t mandate warning labels.
A favorable Supreme Court ruling could eliminate thousands of claims potentially worth billions in damages, as most current litigation relies on failure-to-warn theories. Even with a Supreme Court victory, plaintiffs might pursue alternative legal theories, making the settlement important for addressing other potential liability risks.
The proposed agreement doesn’t guarantee complete legal closure for Bayer. The deal could collapse without adequate support, or courts could reject it entirely. Even if finalized, there’s no mechanism to force all claimants to participate, as current and future plaintiffs retain the right to opt out and pursue individual claims.
Should both the settlement gain approval and the Supreme Court rule in Bayer’s favor, plaintiffs would face increased pressure to resolve their claims through the settlement, which could provide faster compensation, particularly if the high court makes litigation more challenging.
Markets across Asia remained subdued Thursday as many regions continued observing Lunar New Year festivities, while global investors kept a watchful eye on mounting tensions between the United States and Iran that could spark the next major geopolitical crisis.
The two countries have maintained a contentious relationship centered around Iran’s nuclear program, with American officials claiming Iran harbors military intentions while Iranian leaders maintain their nuclear activities serve peaceful purposes. Although this week’s diplomatic discussions in Geneva showed some advancement, the White House confirmed Wednesday that significant gaps remain between the nations.
According to a senior U.S. official speaking to Reuters, Iran plans to present a proposal outlining potential solutions to resolve the ongoing disputes.
However, heightened American military presence in the oil-rich region has kept market watchers anxious. Rabobank Senior Global Strategist Michael Every warned that risks favor a potential U.S. military action after markets close Friday, suggesting any such operation would likely extend for weeks rather than concluding by Monday’s market opening.
These concerns have driven oil prices higher, building on gains from the previous trading session as fears mount over possible supply interruptions. Thursday saw Brent crude futures climb 0.36% to reach $70.60 per barrel, while U.S. crude increased 0.43% to $65.47.
In contrast, equity markets found support from renewed enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence developments, particularly after Nvidia revealed this week a multi-year agreement to supply Meta Platforms with millions of current and next-generation AI processors.
Market analysts noted this announcement provided crucial relief for technology shares, which had declined this month due to concerns about excessive valuations and uncertainty regarding when AI investments might translate into meaningful revenue increases.
Currency markets saw the U.S. dollar strengthen after Federal Reserve meeting minutes revealed no urgency to reduce the central bank’s benchmark interest rate, with multiple officials expressing willingness to implement increases if inflation remains persistent.
The released minutes exposed internal disagreements at the Fed, especially regarding artificial intelligence’s impact on America’s economy, with some policymakers anticipating a productivity surge that could help control inflation, while others warned that substantial AI investments might create financial instability.
Thursday’s key market-moving events include Walmart’s earnings report, weekly U.S. unemployment claims figures, and speeches from Federal Reserve officials Bostic, Bowman, Kashkari, and Goolsbee.
BEIJING — While President Donald Trump implements tariffs against various nations, China is seizing the opportunity to restructure international commerce in ways that could shield its $19 trillion economy from American influence for decades to come.
According to a Reuters investigation, Beijing is taking advantage of the disruption caused by Trump’s policies to integrate China’s massive manufacturing sector into major economic partnerships worldwide, including deals with the European Union, Gulf nations, and trans-Pacific trading groups. This strategy involves fast-tracking approximately 20 trade agreements that have been under development for years, despite global concerns about China’s excess production capacity, limited market openness, and weak domestic consumer spending.
An analysis of 100 Chinese-language publications by government-supported trade experts since 2017 shows a coordinated effort by China’s policy consultants to counter U.S. trade strategies and undermine Washington’s efforts to limit Chinese economic influence.
China is now implementing this strategy. The agreement signed with Canada during Prime Minister Mark Carney’s January trip to Beijing — reducing tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles — represents the first of multiple deals designed to diminish U.S. economic leverage, according to conversations with 10 sources including Chinese government representatives and trade officials.
“Don’t interrupt your opponent when he is making a mistake,” commented one Chinese official regarding Trump’s disruptive trade policies.
The analysis, based on more than 2,000 trade strategy documents endorsed by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences and Peking University, which provide guidance to senior leadership, demonstrates that policy experts widely believe that difficult structural adjustments are worthwhile for China’s long-term control of international trade. These document contents are being disclosed publicly for the first time.
If Beijing succeeds, it could overturn more than ten years of American trade policy by positioning itself as the center of a new, Chinese-influenced multilateral system, according to two Western diplomatic sources.
“The Chinese have a golden opportunity now,” stated Alicia Garcia Herrero, senior fellow at the Bruegel think tank.
China’s commerce ministry did not respond to requests for comment regarding Beijing’s approach.
When asked about China’s strategy, a U.S. official told Reuters it was predictable that nations with significant trade surpluses would try to preserve globalization.
“President Trump is fixing the problems globalization caused for the United States while other countries are trying to double down on globalization as free market access to the United States goes away,” the official stated.
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS
The change in China’s messaging reflects its strategic thinking. Twelve months ago, Beijing was using military-style rhetoric, referencing Mao Zedong and China’s resistance against Western forces during the Korean War.
Currently, as China prepares for Trump’s April visit, its diplomats are traveling globally, encouraging trade partners to join in protecting multilateral cooperation and open commerce.
In January, China sent its senior diplomat to small nation Lesotho — initially targeted by Trump with a 50% tariff — to promise development assistance. On Saturday, state media announced China would eliminate tariffs on imports from 53 African nations. Meanwhile, China is promoting AI-enhanced customs technology to neighboring countries and working to modernize digital infrastructure supporting international trade.
These actions highlight an objective outlined in policy documents: to integrate China so thoroughly into global trade networks that partners cannot afford to disconnect under U.S. pressure.
“In countering U.S. strategic competition with China, ‘anti-decoupling’ should become China’s primary focus,” wrote Ni Feng, fellow at CASS’s Institute of American Studies, in 2024.
Chinese representatives are now working to expedite delayed trade negotiations. Since 2017, China has been in discussions with nations including Honduras, Panama, Peru, South Korea and Switzerland.
“We are willing to negotiate bilateral and regional trade and investment agreements with interested countries and regions,” commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian told Reuters during Carney’s visit, without providing details.
China’s foreign minister Wang Yi caught European negotiators off guard in November by suggesting a free-trade agreement with Brussels during discussions with his Estonian counterpart.
One month later, Wang urged the Gulf Cooperation Council to finalize ongoing free-trade negotiations. In January, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer agreed with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to begin a feasibility study for a services trade agreement that could lower barriers for British companies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has announced plans to pursue “strategic partnerships” with China during an upcoming trip.
China’s commerce minister Wang Wentao has made membership in the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) a top priority. This agreement originated from the U.S.-supported Trans-Pacific Partnership, created partly to counter China before Washington withdrew in 2017.
However, China’s massive trade surplus complicates these efforts. Some member nations worry Chinese manufacturers might use improved market access to export excess low-cost products while China’s domestic consumption remains weak.
Wendy Cutler, chief negotiator during the Obama administration for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, recognized Beijing’s opportunity to promote trade and multilateralism but emphasized China needed to move beyond rhetoric.
“And with its huge trade imbalances, as well as some of the coercive measures it’s now taking against countries like Japan, it’s hard to see how they’re walking the walk,” Cutler told Reuters.
A senior European trade diplomat characterized Beijing’s proposals as “pure Chinese propaganda,” stating Brussels had no intentions for a trade agreement.
Chinese advisers remain determined. Speaking to Reuters, one referenced the EU and China’s landmark 2020 investment agreement negotiated during Trump’s first presidency. However, the deal was suspended in 2021 before implementation due to disputes over human-rights sanctions.
STRATEGIC INSIGHTS
Some Chinese advisers argue in the documents that Beijing should examine how Washington has “weaponized” international organizations to contain China, and take advantage of opportunities created by Trump’s willingness to abandon or marginalize multilateral institutions like the World Trade Organization.
Others suggest Beijing should concentrate on shaping global standards in areas such as intellectual property through programs like Xi’s Belt and Road initiative and China’s participation in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, covering approximately 30% of worldwide GDP.
China is now implementing these strategies.
Its recently enhanced agreement with Southeast Asian nations, for instance, emphasizes AI-driven and digital commerce, where China aims to establish early dominance.
China’s customs processing vision is demonstrated at its “Friendship Port” on the Vietnamese border, where state media reports domestically-developed AI technology has reduced waiting times by 20%, enabling faster deliveries. Reuters could not independently confirm this claim.
MASSIVE TRADE SURPLUS
The challenges that China’s $1.2 trillion trade surplus creates for trading partners’ manufacturing industries are difficult to ignore.
Pascal Lamy, former WTO director-general and EU trade commissioner, said Chinese companies are exporting more goods to Europe than the region can handle.
“It’s a mystery how, given the nature of the regime, given the sort of collective cleverness, how is it that they have not succeeded in rebalancing their economic model?” he stated.
Not everyone views closer Chinese relationships as the best method to reduce U.S. dependence.
Stephen Nagy, China project lead at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute in Ottawa, said Carney’s tariff-reduction agreement with Xi appears intended to create negotiating power before discussions over the U.S.-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) trade agreement.
“I think his bet is wrong,” he added, predicting Trump would not be influenced.
Carney has stated Canada honors its USMCA commitment to avoid free-trade agreements with non-market economies. His office did not respond to comment requests.
Mexico, meanwhile, is cautious about risking U.S. market access by developing closer Chinese ties.
“We see no need for a free-trade agreement with China right now,” said a Mexican trade official. “We are already in the CPTPP and have 60% of world GDP covered.”
Beijing’s trade partners genuinely need China to boost its consumer spending, said Fred Neumann, chief economist for Asia Pacific at HSBC.
Wang, China’s commerce minister, has stated that increasing imports is a priority as Beijing prepares to unveil its next five-year plan in March, consistent with commitments to raise consumption’s portion of GDP.
But economic rebalancing is a long-term undertaking. Trump has three years remaining in office, and the following administration could return to building coalitions to contain China.
China must “study in depth the logic of U.S. actions within international institutions and the possible next steps it may take to better respond to increasingly fierce strategic offensives in the future,” Zhao Pu, then at Renmin University and now a researcher at CASS’s Institute of American Studies, wrote in 2023.
Stock markets throughout Asia climbed Thursday, following a strong performance on Wall Street powered by semiconductor leader Nvidia.
However, U.S. market futures dipped slightly while crude oil prices increased amid growing media speculation about potential military confrontation with Iran.
President Donald Trump continues to evaluate possible military action against Iran while his administration increases military presence in the region and maintains indirect negotiations with Tehran regarding its nuclear activities. These developments have sparked fears that any military strike could escalate into broader Middle Eastern warfare.
Trading remained suspended in Greater China due to Lunar New Year celebrations, though several other regional markets resumed operations.
Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 climbed 0.8% to reach 57,582.93, while South Korea’s Kospi surged 2.8% to 5,661.22 as trading resumed after earlier holiday closures.
Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 0.9% to finish at 9,088.70.
Markets across Southeast Asia showed strong performance, with Thailand’s SET rising 0.9%. India’s Sensex posted modest gains of 0.1%.
During Wednesday’s European session, London’s FTSE 100 jumped 1.2% following fresh inflation data that strengthened predictions the Bank of England might reduce interest rates soon.
On Wall Street, the S&P 500 increased 0.6% to 6,881.31 while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3% to 49,662.66. The Nasdaq composite advanced 0.8% to 22,753.63.
Nvidia drove market gains with a 1.6% increase after Meta Platforms revealed an extensive partnership utilizing millions of Nvidia chips and additional hardware for Meta’s artificial intelligence data facilities.
“No one deploys AI at Meta’s scale,” stated Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. Given Nvidia’s position as Wall Street’s most valuable company, its stock movement served as the primary force driving the S&P 500 upward.
This performance highlighted artificial intelligence development’s positive impact on U.S. markets. However, investors have recently concentrated on AI’s potential negative effects, creating volatile price movements.
Meta’s shares initially dropped as much as 1.7% before bouncing back to close up 0.6%.
Another concern involves AI’s potential to develop cost-effective tools for complex tasks, which could threaten businesses across diverse sectors including software development, legal services, and transportation logistics. Investors have rapidly sold shares of companies perceived as vulnerable, adopting what analysts describe as a “shoot first-ask questions later” approach.
Multiple corporate earnings reports contributed to Wednesday’s stock gains, extending what has been a robust reporting period for major S&P 500 companies.
Beyond earnings announcements, Moderna soared 6.1% after announcing that Food and Drug Administration regulators would review its flu vaccine candidate following an earlier rejection.
In bond markets, Treasury yields increased following economic reports that exceeded economist predictions. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.08% from Tuesday’s close of 4.05%.
One report showed industrial production expanded more than anticipated last month. Another indicated orders for computers, fabricated metal products, and other durable manufactured goods rose beyond December forecasts when excluding aircraft and transportation equipment. A third report revealed homebuilders started construction on more new homes in December than expected.
Such robust economic data might encourage the Federal Reserve to maintain current interest rates.
The Fed has paused rate reductions, though many Wall Street observers anticipate resumption later this year. The prevailing expectation points to summer timing, coinciding with a new Fed chair’s scheduled appointment.
Wednesday’s released minutes from the Fed’s most recent meeting revealed many officials prefer seeing further inflation decline before supporting additional rate cuts this year.
Reduced rates can stimulate economic growth and investment prices, but risk intensifying inflation.
In early Thursday trading, U.S. benchmark crude oil rose 30 cents to $65.36 per barrel. Brent crude, the international benchmark, increased 27 cents to $70.62.
Gold and silver prices remained stable.
Bitcoin’s value declined 1.3% to approximately $67,000.
SEOUL, South Korea — Ousted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol appeared in a Seoul courtroom Thursday to learn whether he’ll face the ultimate punishment for rebellion charges connected to his failed martial law declaration.
The charges stem from what experts call South Korea’s worst political upheaval in decades, when Yoon declared martial law and deployed military forces to encircle the national legislature on December 3, 2024.
Prosecutors are pushing for capital punishment against Yoon, arguing his actions threatened the nation’s democratic foundations and warrant the harshest available penalty.
However, legal experts widely anticipate a life imprisonment sentence instead, noting that Yoon’s bungled power seizure didn’t lead to deaths. The country hasn’t carried out an execution since 1997, maintaining what’s effectively a freeze on death sentences while abolition advocates push for reform.
Seoul Central District Court Judge Jee Kui-youn was scheduled to announce the ruling and punishment Thursday.
Outside the courthouse, competing demonstrations unfolded as Yoon’s transport arrived under heavy police presence. His backers voiced support while opponents demanded his execution.
The court will simultaneously decide cases against seven former military and law enforcement leaders accused of implementing Yoon’s martial law order, including former Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun.
The conservative leader has justified his martial law declaration as essential to counter liberal opposition lawmakers he branded as “anti-state” forces blocking his political agenda through their parliamentary control.
The emergency order survived roughly six hours before collapsing when enough legislators broke through military barriers and voted unanimously to overturn it.
Parliament suspended Yoon from his presidency on December 14, 2024, following his impeachment, and the Constitutional Court officially ousted him in April 2025. He’s remained in custody since July while battling various criminal cases, with the rebellion charge carrying the severest potential consequences.
A separate court handed Yoon a five-year prison term last month for resisting detention, creating fraudulent martial law documents, and bypassing required Cabinet consultations before announcing the measure.
Seoul Central Court has also found two of Yoon’s Cabinet officials guilty, including Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who received 23 years behind bars for trying to validate the decree through forced Cabinet approval, document falsification, and perjury. Han is challenging that conviction.
WASHINGTON — A scene of political cooperation unfolded in the nation’s capital this week that has become increasingly uncommon in today’s polarized environment.
Republican Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt and Democratic Maryland Governor Wes Moore appeared together on stage, exchanging friendly banter and praise rather than the heated rhetoric that typically dominates political discourse. The two leaders represent the National Governors Association, among the few remaining bipartisan organizations in American politics.
The association is conducting its yearly gathering this week, though maintaining its reputation as a haven from political division may prove challenging. President Trump has departed from longstanding protocol by choosing not to extend invitations to all governors for the customary White House reception and dinner.
Trump has publicly criticized Stitt, who serves as the NGA’s chairman, labeling him a “RINO” (Republican in name only). The president has also continued his disputes with Moore, the organization’s vice chairman, holding him responsible for a sewage incident involving a federally overseen pipeline.
This departure from established customs mirrors Trump’s overall strategy for his second presidency. He has adopted an adversarial position toward certain states, threatening to withhold federal funding or deploy military personnel despite local officials’ opposition.
As the Republican-led Congress appears reluctant to check Trump’s authority, numerous governors are positioning themselves as a balance against White House power.
“Presidents aren’t supposed to do this stuff,” remarked Utah Governor Spencer Cox regarding the growth of executive authority in recent years. “Congress needs to get their act together. And stop performing for TikTok and actually start doing stuff. That’s the flaw we’re dealing with right now.”
Cox, also a Republican, stated that “it is up to the states to hold the line.”
Moore shared similar views during his conversation with The Associated Press.
“People are paying attention to how governors are moving, because I think governors have a unique way to move in this moment that other people just don’t,” he explained.
Despite these challenges, governors maintained a positive outlook during Wednesday’s discussions and interviews. Stitt described the conference as “bigger than one dinner at the White House.” Moore anticipated “this is going to be a very productive three days for the governors.”
“Here’s a Republican and Democrat governor from different states that literally agree on probably 80% of the things. And the things we disagree on we can have honest conversations on,” Stitt commented while seated next to Moore.
Disputes over White House event invitations highlighted the week’s uncertainties. During the ongoing disagreement, Trump clashed with Stitt and declared that Moore and Colorado Governor Jared Polis were excluded because they “are not worthy of being there.”
Whether the cooperative spirit demonstrated Wednesday evening will persist throughout the conference and beyond remains uncertain.
“We can have disagreements. In business, I always want people around me arguing with me and pushing me because that’s where the best ideas come from,” Stitt noted. “We need to all have these exchange of ideas.”
WASHINGTON — Maryland Governor Wes Moore finds himself repeatedly in President Donald Trump’s crosshairs, but the Democratic leader says he harbors no ill will toward the commander-in-chief.
Trump has excluded Moore from an upcoming White House gathering with state leaders from across the political spectrum, declaring the governor “not worthy” of attending. The president has also blamed Moore for a sewage leak contaminating the Potomac River, despite the damaged pipeline being under federal jurisdiction.
Additional friction may arise as Moore, currently the nation’s sole Black governor, pushes to restructure Maryland’s congressional districts to benefit Democrats. This effort is part of a broader national map-drawing fight that Trump initiated to aid Republican prospects in upcoming midterm races.
Speaking with reporters Wednesday during the National Governors Association’s annual Washington conference, Moore addressed the president’s escalating attacks with measured restraint.
Regarding Trump’s blame for the Potomac sewage incident, Moore called the situation almost laughable if it weren’t so serious. “This is a Washington, D.C., pipe that exists on federal land. How this has anything to do with Maryland, I have no idea. I think he just woke up and just said, I hate Maryland so I’m just going to introduce them into a conversation. This literally has nothing to do with us, with the exception of the fact that when we first heard about what happened, that I ordered our team to assist Washington, D.C.,” Moore explained.
When asked whether Trump’s criticism feels personal, Moore took the high road. “I know it’s not for me. I have no desire to have beef with the president of the United States. I didn’t run for governor like, man, I can’t wait so me and the president can go toe to toe. I have no desire on that. But the fact that he is waking up in the middle of the night and tweeting about me, I just, I pray for him and I just feel bad for him because that has just got to be a really, really hard existence,” he said.
The governor, who serves as vice chair of the National Governors Association and is often mentioned as a potential Democratic presidential contender, defended his redistricting efforts as a response to Trump’s actions. “All we’re asking for is a vote. And however the vote goes, however the vote goes. But that’s democracy,” Moore stated after meeting with Democratic House leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Moore characterized his redistricting push as necessary oversight rather than partisan politics. “I don’t look at it as I’m doing it because I’m trying to help a party per se. I’m doing it because I think we have an unchecked executive and right now Congress does not seem interested in actually doing its job and establishing real checks and balances,” he explained.
He placed responsibility for the current redistricting battles squarely on Trump’s shoulders. “This would not be an issue had it not been for Donald Trump saying, you know what, let me come up with every creative way I can think of to make this pain permanent. And one of the ways he did was he said, let’s just start calling states — the states I choose — to say let’s have a redistricting conversation mid-decade. This would not even be an issue had Donald Trump not brought this up and introduced this into the ecosystem.”
When questioned about Trump’s relationship with Black Americans during Black History Month, Moore pointed to what he sees as a troubling pattern. “Listen, I think the president has long had a very complicated history with the Black community. We’re talking about a person who has been sued from his earliest days from his treatment of Black tenants. We’re talking about a person who is one of the originators of birtherism. We’re talking about a person who has now spent his time trying to ban books about Black history, a person who has spent his time now doing the greatest assault on unemployment of Black women in our nation’s history. You know, so, I’m not sure what anyone is going to gain from an event by Donald Trump about Black history.”
Looking at the broader political landscape, Moore emphasized governors’ crucial role as “the final line of defense” and stressed the importance of remaining true to one’s principles. “You stay consistent with who you are. I think if you’re a polarizing person or polarizing personality, then that’s just who you are. That’s just never been me,” he concluded.
MINNEAPOLIS — A staffing crisis at Minnesota’s federal prosecutor’s office has allowed dangerous criminals to walk free as career attorneys abandon their posts over disagreements with current administration policies.
The chaos enabled repeat offender Cory Allen McKay, with a dozen felony convictions spanning three decades, to escape justice. McKay, whose violent history includes choking a pregnant woman and placing a shotgun beneath someone’s chin, was facing methamphetamine trafficking charges that carried a potential 25-year sentence. However, when his assigned prosecutor retired unexpectedly, authorities dropped the case entirely.
The Trump administration credits its strict immigration enforcement efforts in Minnesota with enhancing community safety. However, this approach has severely damaged the U.S. Attorney’s Office, where numerous prosecutors have expressed frustration with how Trump’s Justice Department appointees have managed operations.
Similar resignation waves have struck prosecutor offices nationwide, from New York to Virginia, as attorneys protest what they perceive as political interference in legal decisions under Trump’s leadership. Minnesota’s office has experienced particularly severe impacts.
An increasing number of accused criminals like McKay are avoiding consequences as overwhelmed remaining prosecutors must abandon cases, halt investigations before filing charges, and negotiate plea deals and postponements.
Regional authorities express concern that the office may temporarily lose its capacity to prosecute the state’s most dangerous criminals.
“The consequence will be reduced capability to pursue dangerous con artists, sexual predators, violent criminal organizations and narcotics dealers,” stated John Marti, a Minneapolis attorney who previously served as a fraud prosecutor in the office until 2015.
Following a request for additional time to assign someone to McKay’s case, the office under Trump appointee Daniel Rosen dismissed it so suddenly that McKay’s attorney learned of her client’s release only afterward.
“This development completely caught me off guard,” McKay’s attorney Jean Brandl remarked. Though she hasn’t contacted him yet, “I can assure you he’s pleased with this outcome.”
During the past year, the Minnesota office’s assistant U.S. attorney count has dropped from more than 40 prosecutors before Trump’s return to office to under two dozen. This information comes from a former federal prosecutor who requested anonymity due to lack of authorization to discuss staffing issues with The Associated Press.
The departures started last year as multiple prosecutors “anticipated changes ahead” regarding their positions and the government’s approach to justice under the new administration, the former federal prosecutor explained.
The situation worsened after Trump’s Justice Department appointees intervened to halt a collaborative state-federal investigation into the January 7 fatal shooting of Renee Good by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Jonathan Ross. While Trump administration officials labeled Good a “domestic terrorist” and claimed Ross acted in self-defense, some office members considered the killing potentially criminal.
Career prosecutors also opposed orders to redirect significant resources toward immigration cases and were frustrated by repeated ICE violations of court orders that angered judges.
“They could not in good conscience participate in what they have seen,” stated a letter published last week by eight former permanent or acting U.S. attorneys in Minnesota.
Notable departures last month included former acting office leader Joe Thompson and criminal division chief Harry Jacobs. Thompson, a Justice Department veteran recognized for major fraud investigations, worked with Jacobs to expose the $300 million Feeding Our Future scandal, resulting in charges against more than 75 defendants for defrauding a COVID-19-era child nutrition program.
When experienced attorneys depart, leadership evaluates their caseloads and determines how many cases can be transferred to remaining staff and which must be abandoned due to reduced resources.
Court documents reveal the office operating in emergency mode, bringing in out-of-state prosecutors, requesting hearing delays from judges, and attempting to resolve cases through dismissals and plea agreements. Defense attorneys are capitalizing by demanding swift trials and filing motions requiring prosecutor responses.
The Justice Department and U.S. Attorney’s Office have not responded to comment requests. Former office spokesperson and prosecutor Melinda Williams was among those who departed.
McKay, age 47, is not the sole drug trafficking defendant to benefit from this situation.
The office also dismissed a case last month against a man arrested in September after investigators allegedly discovered him with drugs intended for Twin Cities distribution, including 7,600 fentanyl pills and 15 pounds of cocaine.
A third dropped case involved a man charged with methamphetamine distribution conspiracy after Rochester police discovered three pounds of the drug during a January 2025 vehicle search.
“With the mass departures there, it’s creating difficulties for everyone statewide,” said Clay County Sheriff Mark Empting, who described McKay as presenting “a major public safety threat” if he returns to Moorhead. “Hopefully they will reconstruct the office and resume handling these cases.”
McKay’s case originated in 2024 when FedEx workers in Fargo, North Dakota, found a package containing nearly 10 pounds of high-purity methamphetamine shipped from California and addressed to McKay. Police valued the drugs at $80,000 on the street.
An undercover detective disguised as a FedEx worker delivered the package to McKay, leading to his arrest. Investigators claim cellphone searches revealed text messages connecting McKay to suspected drug dealers in Minnesota, California, Chicago and Mexico.
McKay remained in jail nearly a year awaiting state charges before a federal grand jury issued an indictment in May 2025 with two methamphetamine distribution charges. The indictment included enhanced sentencing due to his multiple prior violent felonies.
His record includes aggravated assault in 2013, domestic assault by strangulation in 2017, and assault causing substantial bodily harm in 2021. Prosecutors noted at least a dozen felony convictions, beginning at age 16 when he fired a short-barreled shotgun under a victim’s chin.
Veteran assistant U.S. Attorney Thomas Hollenhorst argued last summer that McKay posed too great a danger for pre-trial release, even to substance abuse treatment, stating his violent history would “endanger numerous people.”
A judge concurred, observing McKay’s pattern of missing court appearances, providing false identities to police, and violating probation terms.
However, last month the U.S. Attorney’s Office announced Hollenhorst was “retiring unexpectedly” and requested a delay. A judge rescheduled the trial from February 12 to March 2. The office dismissed the case days later without explanation. A judge ordered McKay’s immediate release. Hollenhorst declined to comment.
On January 31, McKay left the Sherburne County Jail in Elk River, 30 miles from Minneapolis. AP attempts to contact him were unsuccessful.
McKay’s attorney Brandl said while the result favored her client, Hollenhorst’s retirement after 40 Justice Department years represented “a significant loss.”
“He was an excellent prosecutor,” she said. “He was fair and viewed our clients as people, not just case numbers.”
ATLANTA — While President Donald Trump juggles multiple policy initiatives including potential military action against Iran and immigration enforcement, his administration says Thursday’s Georgia visit will center on economic messaging to strengthen Republican prospects before crucial midterm elections.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized the strategic importance of the trip, stating that “Georgia is obviously a very important state to the president and to the Republican Party.” She indicated Trump’s Georgia speech would emphasize “his efforts to make life affordable for working people.”
The president’s chosen location reveals additional motivations beyond economic messaging. Trump is visiting the congressional district formerly held by Marjorie Taylor Greene, his one-time ally who stepped down in January following public disputes with the president. Voters will select Greene’s replacement in a special election scheduled for March 10.
Despite administration promises to prioritize economic themes — an area where Trump frequently argues he receives insufficient recognition — recent months have been overshadowed by other controversies, including violent incidents during deportation operations in Minneapolis.
Thursday’s schedule reflects Trump’s competing priorities, beginning with a gathering of representatives from over two dozen nations participating in his Board of Peace initiative, an alternative diplomatic framework to the United Nations.
The Georgia appearance occurs just weeks after federal authorities confiscated voting materials and ballots from Fulton County, the state’s most Democratic stronghold.
Georgia remains central to Trump’s persistent and debunked assertions that Democrats fraudulently secured the 2020 presidential election. He reinforced these false claims Wednesday during a White House Black History Month event, declaring: “We won by millions of votes but they cheated.”
Multiple audits, state election officials, judicial rulings, and Trump’s former attorney general have all dismissed allegations of widespread electoral irregularities sufficient to change the outcome.
Several Republicans now advocate for Georgia’s Trump-majority State Election Board to assume control of Fulton County elections, utilizing powers granted by contentious 2021 state legislation. The timing of any potential board action remains uncertain.
When questioned about Trump’s weekend social media hints regarding a possible executive order targeting voter fraud, Leavitt said the president was “exploring his options.”
Trump’s social media post, prominently displayed on his account, branded Democrats as “horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS” and urged Republicans to emphasize such accusations “at the top of every speech.”
The president may face additional criticism from Greene, who has transformed from ardent supporter to prominent conservative opponent. Anticipating Trump’s visit, Greene criticized White House and Republican leadership strategy sessions, suggesting they were “on the struggle bus” regarding healthcare costs affecting her former constituents.
“Approximately 75,000 households in my former district had their health insurance double or more on January 1st of this year because the ACA tax credits expired and Republicans have absolutely failed to fix our health insurance system that was destroyed by Obamacare,” Greene wrote. “And you can call me all the petty names you want, I don’t worship a man. I’m not in a cult.”
Early voting has commenced for Greene’s replacement, with leading Republican contenders expressing strong Trump loyalty.
Trump recently backed Clay Fuller, a district attorney handling prosecutions across four counties. Fuller characterized the presidential endorsement as “rocket fuel” for his campaign and promised to maintain America First policies beyond Trump’s presidency.
Another Republican candidate, former state Senator Colton Moore, gained recognition defending Trump against Georgia legal proceedings. Despite Trump’s Fuller endorsement, Moore claims ongoing communication with the president while calling the endorsement decision “unfortunate.”
“I think he’s the greatest president of our lifetimes,” Moore stated.
Democrat Shawn Harris, who previously challenged Greene in 2024, leads his party’s ticket. While Democrats express optimism about potential victory, the Cook Political Report ranks this district as Georgia’s most Republican.
MINNEAPOLIS — A federal court will consider Thursday whether to extend safeguards for legally admitted refugees in Minnesota who face potential arrest and removal from the country.
Federal Judge John Tunheim issued a temporary court order last month preventing the government from targeting these refugees, stating the case plaintiffs would likely succeed in proving “their detention and arrest, along with the policy used to justify these actions, violate the law.” The judge’s January 28 restraining order expires February 25 unless he approves a longer-lasting preliminary injunction.
Advocacy organizations for refugee rights filed suit against federal authorities in January following the December launch of Operation PARRIS by the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The operation’s name stands for Post-Admission Refugee Reverification and Integrity Strengthening.
Officials described the effort as a “comprehensive initiative” to review cases involving 5,600 Minnesota refugees who had not yet received permanent resident status, commonly called green cards. Federal agencies pointed to fraudulent activity in Minnesota public programs as their reasoning.
The operation was one component of the Trump administration’s wide-ranging immigration enforcement efforts focusing on Minnesota, which included deploying thousands of federal agents to the state. Homeland Security called it their most extensive immigration enforcement action in history. The operation prompted widespread demonstrations following the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. White House border czar Tom Homan said last week the large-scale operation was concluding, though some federal personnel would stay.
According to the legal challenge, ICE agents conducted home visits under Operation PARRIS, detaining refugees and transporting them to Texas detention facilities where they couldn’t access legal representation. Some detainees were subsequently released onto Texas streets and had to arrange their own transportation back to Minnesota, the lawsuit claims.
Tunheim dismissed the government’s argument that it had authority to detain and arrest refugees who hadn’t secured green cards within one year of U.S. arrival. The judge called this position illogical and unreasonable, noting refugees cannot submit permanent residency applications until completing one year in the United States.
In his ruling, which only applies to Minnesota, Tunheim emphasized that refugees undergo thorough screening by multiple government agencies before U.S. resettlement. He noted that none of those detained in the operation had been classified as community threats or flight risks, and none faced criminal charges that could warrant deportation.
The judge referenced specific cases from lawsuit plaintiffs, including an individual identified as U.H.A., a refugee with no criminal background. This person entered the U.S. in 2024 and was detained by ICE on January 18 while traveling to work. “He was stopped, forced from his vehicle, restrained with handcuffs, and held in custody without a warrant or clear justification,” Tunheim wrote.
The judge emphasized that refugees covered by his order had been admitted to the U.S. due to persecution in their native countries. He banned additional arrests under Operation PARRIS and mandated the release and return to Minnesota of all individuals still detained from the operation.
“These individuals are not engaging in criminal activity in our communities, nor did they enter the border illegally. Refugees possess legal authorization to remain in the United States, authorization to work, authorization to live in peace — and crucially, authorization not to face the fear of warrantless or unjustified arrest and detention in their homes or while attending religious services or shopping for necessities,” he stated.
“At its finest, America provides sanctuary for individual freedoms in a world frequently marked by oppression and brutality. We betray that principle when we subject our community members to anxiety and disorder,” he added.
In a subsequent February 9 order, Tunheim denied a government request to remove the temporary restraining order.
Four men wrongly implicated in a notorious 1991 Texas murder case are seeking official recognition of their innocence from a judge on Thursday, including one individual who was originally sentenced to death for the brutal slayings of four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop.
State District Judge Dayna Blazey will hear arguments for a formal innocence declaration that would bring closure to the men, their families, and a community that remained haunted by the unsolved crime for more than three decades.
Last year, investigators working cold cases revealed they had identified the actual perpetrator as someone who died during a police confrontation in Missouri back in 1999.
Two of the four original defendants, Michael Scott and Forrest Welborn, plan to attend Thursday’s proceedings. Robert Springsteen, who faced execution after his initial conviction and remained on death row for years, will not be present. Maurice Pierce passed away in 2010.
Travis County District Attorney José Garza emphasized the significance of the moment when announcing the hearing, stating: “It has been over twenty-five years since the four men wrongfully accused have been waiting for the criminal justice system to clear their names.”
An official “actual innocence” determination would enable the men and their relatives to pursue monetary compensation for the time they spent incarcerated.
The victims were Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15. All four were restrained, silenced with gags, and executed with gunshots to their heads at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” shop where two held jobs. The perpetrator then ignited the building.
Law enforcement pursued countless tips and investigated multiple bogus admissions of guilt before taking the four men into custody in late 1999.
Courts convicted Springsteen and Scott primarily on confessions both men claimed police had forced from them through coercion. Appeals courts reversed both verdicts during the mid-2000s.
Authorities charged Welborn but never brought him to trial after two separate grand juries declined to issue indictments. Pierce remained behind bars for three years until prosecutors dropped the charges and freed him.
Officials planned to retry Springsteen and Scott, but a judge dismissed all charges in 2009 after advanced DNA testing unavailable in 1991 identified genetic material from an unknown male suspect.
The investigation stalled until 2025, when an HBO documentary series examining the unsolved murders brought renewed public interest to the case.
Authorities announced in September that fresh evidence analysis and reexamination of existing materials identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the killer.
Beginning in 2018, law enforcement had used sophisticated DNA technology to connect Brashers to the strangulation murder of a South Carolina woman in 1990, the sexual assault of a 14-year-old Tennessee girl in 1997, and the shooting deaths of a mother and daughter in Missouri in 1998.
The Austin connection emerged when DNA material collected from beneath Ayers’ fingernail matched Brashers’ genetic profile from the 1990 South Carolina homicide.
Austin detectives also discovered that officers had arrested Brashers at a border checkpoint near El Paso just two days following the yogurt shop killings. His stolen vehicle contained a handgun matching the same caliber used to kill one of the Austin victims.
Investigators noted striking parallels between the yogurt shop crime and Brashers’ other offenses: victims were restrained using their own garments, subjected to sexual assault, and several crime scenes were deliberately set ablaze.
Brashers took his own life in 1999 during an extended police standoff at a motel in Kennett, Missouri.
HONOLULU (AP) — Mason Aiona’s day begins with unwelcome sounds long before dawn breaks over his Hawaiian residence.
However, the 74-year-old retiree says the 3 a.m. rooster calls aren’t his biggest concern. Instead, he spends his days constantly chasing off feral chickens that create holes throughout his property, enduring nonstop noise and wing-beating, and confronting individuals who provide food to these wild birds at a nearby park.
“It’s a big problem,” he said of the roosters, hens and chicks waddling around on the narrow road between his Honolulu house and the city park. “And they’re multiplying.”
Municipalities throughout Hawaii have struggled with widespread fowl populations for numerous years. Honolulu has invested thousands in trapping efforts with minimal success. State legislators are now evaluating potential remedies — including proposals allowing citizens to eliminate wild chickens, classify them as a “controllable pest” on Honolulu public property, and impose penalties on those feeding or abandoning them in parks.
However, what troubles some residents serves as a cultural emblem for others, a tension that has emerged in Miami and additional cities hosting wild chicken populations.
Kealoha Pisciotta, who practices Hawaiian culture and advocates for animals, opposes eliminating feral chickens merely due to inconvenience. Many current chickens trace their lineage to those transported to the islands by original Polynesian travelers, she explained.
“The moa is very significant,” she said, using the Hawaiian word for chicken. “They were on our voyaging, came with us.”
The Hawaiian Humane Society opposes letting residents kill the chickens “as a means of population control unless all other strategies have been exhausted.”
Democratic Representative Scot Matayoshi, who serves the Honolulu suburb of Kaneohe, explained he began developing chicken management legislation after learning from a local elementary educator that the birds were intimidating students.
“The children were afraid of them, and they would kind of more aggressively go after the children for food,” Matayoshi said.
Representative Jackson Sayama explained he proposed the chicken elimination legislation due to currently restricted removal options. The lethal approach would remain up to individual property owners.
“If you want to go old-school, just break the chicken’s neck, that’s perfectly fine,” said the Democrat who represents part of Honolulu. “There’s many different ways you can do it.”
Previous chicken elimination proposals have been unsuccessful over the years, Matayoshi noted. Chicken reproductive control was one concept considered during his neighborhood board tenure.
“I think there are people who are taking it more seriously now,” he said.
Aiona has resided for over three decades in a valley close to downtown Honolulu in his wife Leona’s childhood home. Wild chickens didn’t appear in their area until approximately ten years ago, the couple reported. The bird population expanded significantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
He witnessed someone remove a chicken from their vehicle, abandon it in the park, and depart, he recalled.
When chickens initially appeared near his residence, he captured one manually and placed it in a plastic garbage container, then transported it to a park close to the airport. “I took off the cover, tipped it over and the chicken ran right out,” he said. “I said … ‘Don’t come back again.’”
However, he soon recognized the labor-intensive approach was pointless.
He personally has no interest in eliminating chickens, preferring someone collect them for relocation to a countryside farm. A municipal trapping initiative costs too much, he noted.
The city employs a pest management company for chicken trapping services. Property owners pay $375 for week-long service, plus $50 for cage rental and $10 per chicken for disposal.
The program captured over 1,300 chickens during the previous year, according to Honolulu Department of Customer Services spokesperson Harold Nedd, who noted the department experienced a 51% rise in feral chicken complaints in 2025.
Wild chickens don’t provide an economical meal option. The meat is more difficult to chew than commercially raised poultry, and these feral birds may carry diseases.
One of Aiona’s neighbors uses a leaf blower to drive them away. “I have a blower, too, but mine is electric,” Aiona said. “It can only go so far with the cord.”
Aiona has grown weary of spending his retirement years instructing park visitors to stop providing food to the chickens. While he doesn’t suggest anyone consume them, he welcomes anyone interested in taking one.
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump hosted the first meeting of his newly formed Board of Peace on Thursday, bringing together officials from more than 40 nations and the European Union to discuss rebuilding Gaza and establishing international peacekeeping forces in the war-torn region where a fragile ceasefire continues.
Before the gathering, Trump revealed that board participants have committed $5 billion toward reconstruction efforts, though this represents only a small portion of the estimated $70 billion experts say will be required to rebuild the Palestinian territory following two years of devastating conflict. Attendees are also expected to announce commitments involving thousands of personnel for international security and police operations in the area.
“We have the greatest leaders in the world joining the Board of Peace,” Trump stated to reporters earlier this week. “I think it has the chance to be the most consequential board ever assembled of any kind.”
Originally conceived as part of Trump’s comprehensive 20-point peace proposal to resolve the Gaza conflict, the board’s mission has expanded significantly since the October ceasefire agreement. Trump now envisions the organization taking on a broader role that extends beyond achieving lasting peace between Israel and Hamas to addressing global conflicts worldwide.
However, as the board holds its inaugural session, the Gaza ceasefire remains unstable, and Trump’s expanded ambitions for the organization have raised concerns among some that the U.S. president seeks to establish an alternative to the United Nations. Earlier this week, Trump expressed hope that the board would encourage the U.N. to “get on the ball.”
“The United Nations has great potential,” he remarked. “They haven’t lived up to the potential.”
According to a senior administration official who spoke anonymously, representatives from more than 40 countries and the European Union confirmed their attendance at Thursday’s session. Several nations including Germany, Italy, Norway, and Switzerland, while not board members, are participating as observers.
The United Nations Security Council conducted a high-level session Wednesday addressing the ceasefire agreement and Israel’s expanding activities in the West Bank. Originally planned for Thursday, the U.N. meeting was rescheduled earlier to avoid conflicts with the Board of Peace gathering that would have complicated diplomatic travel arrangements.
Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin expressed this week that “at the international level it should above all be the U.N. that manages these crisis situations.” The Trump administration responded to these Vatican concerns on Wednesday.
“This president has a very bold and ambitious plan and vision to rebuild and reconstruct Gaza, which is well underway because of the Board of Peace,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated. “This is a legitimate organization where there are tens of member countries from around the world.”
U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz also addressed skeptical allies, emphasizing that the board is “not talking, it is doing.”
“We are hearing the chattering class criticizing the structure of the board, that it’s unconventional, that it’s unprecedented,” Waltz commented. “Again, the old ways were not working.”
A primary focus of Thursday’s discussions involves establishing an armed international stabilization force to maintain security and ensure the disarmament of Hamas militants, which represents both a key Israeli requirement and a fundamental element of the ceasefire agreement.
However, only Indonesia has made a concrete commitment to Trump’s proposed force so far. Hamas has shown little indication of willingness to proceed with disarmament. While the administration acknowledges it is “under no illusions on the challenges regarding demilitarization,” officials report encouragement from mediator feedback, according to a U.S. official speaking anonymously.
Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto committed to collaborating closely with other prominent Islamic nations invited by Trump to “join in the endeavors to try to achieve lasting peace in Palestine.”
“We recognize there are still obstacles to be overcome, but at least my position is at least we have to try, and we have to do our best,” he said during a Wednesday event at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, where he engaged with business community members.
Thursday’s agenda includes updates from the Gaza Executive Board, the organization’s operational division, regarding efforts to establish functional government systems and services for the territory, according to the anonymous official who outlined the meeting’s general framework.
Alongside Trump, other scheduled speakers include Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, executive board high representative Nickolay Mladenov, and Waltz.
Michael Hanna, U.S. program director at the International Crisis Group, a nonprofit organization dedicated to conflict prevention, indicated that skepticism from some U.S. allies appears justified.
“Without any clear authorization for the expansion of its mandate beyond Gaza, it is unsurprising that many U.S. allies and partners have chosen to decline Trump’s offer to join the board,” Hanna explained. “Instead, many of the states most invested in Gaza’s future have signed up with the hope of focusing U.S. attention and encouraging Trump himself to use the influence and leverage he has with Israel.”
Microsoft has pushed back against allegations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement is utilizing the company’s technology to conduct widespread surveillance of civilians, though the tech giant confirmed it does supply cloud-based services to the federal agency.
The company’s response came after The Guardian published a report Wednesday suggesting ICE has significantly expanded its dependence on Microsoft’s cloud services while intensifying arrest and deportation activities. The news outlet based its findings on internal documents that were leaked.
According to The Guardian’s investigation, ICE increased the volume of information stored on Microsoft’s Azure cloud system by more than 300% during a six-month span ending in January 2026. This timeframe coincided with substantial budget increases and rapid staff expansion at the immigration agency. The report indicated ICE appears to be utilizing multiple Microsoft productivity applications, including artificial intelligence-powered tools, to examine and process data housed in Azure.
A Microsoft representative addressed the allegations in an official statement: “As we’ve previously said, Microsoft provides cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools to DHS (Department of Homeland Security, of which ICE is a part) and ICE, delivered through our key partners.”
The spokesperson added: “Microsoft policies and terms of service do not allow our technology to be used for the mass surveillance of civilians, and we do not believe ICE is engaged in such activity.”
Microsoft called on lawmakers, the executive branch, and judicial system to establish “clear legal lines” defining acceptable ways law enforcement can utilize new technologies.
ICE declined to provide detailed information about investigative methods and tools used in active criminal cases, but stated the agency employs various technological resources to assist in apprehending criminals.
President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement policies have drawn criticism from human rights organizations, who argue the approach creates dangerous conditions and fails to provide adequate legal protections. ICE has emerged as the primary face of Trump’s immigration crackdown, particularly following last month’s deadly shootings involving two American citizens.
Trump has defended his administration’s actions, stating they are designed to enhance national security and reduce illegal border crossings.
Technology companies have worked to strengthen relationships with Trump during his current presidential term.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has faced questions about government use of its services. In September, the company terminated certain services being used by an Israeli military division after initial findings supported media reports of widespread monitoring of Palestinian communications. The connection to Israel’s armed forces had sparked internal company protests, resulting in the termination of some employees who participated.
Delaware Department of Transportation officials have shut down the exit ramp connecting northbound Interstate 295 to Route 141 after a vehicle accident occurred in the area.
The closure is currently impacting traffic patterns as emergency responders and cleanup crews work at the crash site. Motorists traveling northbound on I-295 who planned to exit onto Route 141 will need to find alternate routes.
DelDOT has not yet provided information about when the ramp might reopen or details about the severity of the collision. Drivers are advised to expect delays and plan accordingly if their commute typically includes this route.
New Mexico state authorities announced Wednesday they are examining disturbing allegations that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein directed the burial of two foreign girls near his secluded ranch property.
The claims surfaced in recently disclosed federal documents, prompting the New Mexico Department of Justice to seek complete, unredacted versions of the materials from federal officials.
“We are actively investigating this allegation and are conducting a broader review in light of the latest release from the U.S. Department of Justice,” stated Lauren Rodriguez, spokesperson for the New Mexico Department of Justice, in response to media inquiries about the case.
Federal authorities have not yet responded to requests for comment, and the FBI has declined to provide statements regarding the matter.
Just one day prior, New Mexico’s state legislature initiated its first thorough examination of claims that Epstein sexually victimized girls and women at the Zorro Ranch, located 30 miles south of Santa Fe, spanning over twenty years.
The disturbing allegations originated from a partially censored 2019 email that was included in the most recent batch of Epstein-related documents released by federal justice officials. The message was sent several months following Epstein’s death to Eddy Aragon, a New Mexico radio personality who had previously discussed the Zorro Ranch on his show.
The email’s author, who identified themselves as a former ranch worker, demanded payment of one bitcoin in exchange for videos allegedly taken from Epstein’s residence showing the financier engaging in sexual acts with minors.
During a telephone conversation, Aragon confirmed he considered the email credible and immediately shared it with the FBI. He indicated he never received payment from or maintained further communication with the sender, though he recently attempted to respond but found the email address was no longer active.
According to the censored email sent to Aragon, two foreign girls had been interred on Epstein’s instructions “somewhere in the hills outside the Zorro” and that both had perished “by strangulation during rough, fetish sex.”
A 2021 FBI document, also part of the recent file disclosure, confirmed Aragon visited an FBI facility to report the email, which proposed seven videos documenting sexual abuse and the burial location of two foreign girls at Zorro Ranch in return for one bitcoin.
A review of additional documents within the Justice Department’s releases revealed no other mentions of these specific allegations or investigators’ assessment of the claims.
Federal justice officials cautioned last year that some disclosed files from their Epstein investigation “contain untrue and sensationalist claims,” noting they include anonymous allegations that investigators could not verify, or in certain instances determined to be fabricated.
New Mexico State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard revealed Wednesday that her office discovered the censored email while reviewing the latest Epstein document release.
In a February 10 correspondence to federal justice officials and accompanying statement, Garcia Richard urged both federal and state authorities to thoroughly examine allegations of criminal activity on Epstein’s ranch and surrounding state property.
Epstein had leased approximately 1,243 acres of state land surrounding the ranch in 1993. Garcia Richard terminated these leases in September 2019 after determining Epstein failed to use the property for ranching or farming purposes, instead utilizing it as a privacy barrier around his ranch.
Epstein died in a New York detention facility in August 2019. Officials determined his death was suicide.
Philadelphia Union delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, overwhelming Defence Force 5-0 in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, during the opening match of their CONCACAF Champions Cup first-round matchup.
The Union now holds a commanding advantage heading into the return leg scheduled for February 26 in Chester, Pennsylvania. Should they avoid a historic meltdown in the home match, Philadelphia will earn a spot against Mexican club powerhouse Club America in next month’s round of 16.
The scoring began in the first half when Milan Iloski bent a free kick around the wall and into the near post during the 30th minute. Just two minutes later, Ezekiel Alladoh found the back of the net with a well-placed header to make it 2-0.
Philadelphia’s offensive explosion continued after halftime. Olwethu Makhanya rose high to connect with Iloski’s corner kick service in the 64th minute. Substitute Bruno Damiani then took over the show, netting two goals to complete the rout. His first came in the 69th minute when he finished off a crisp feed from Cavan Sullivan, followed by a penalty conversion to the bottom left corner in the 81st minute.
The Union dominated the statistical categories as well, registering eight shots on goal compared to Defence Force’s single attempt. The Trinidadian squad struggled with discipline throughout the match, collecting four yellow cards before Joevin Jones received a straight red card during stoppage time for bringing down Sullivan on a breakaway opportunity.
Meanwhile, FC Cincinnati also secured a convincing 4-0 victory over O&M FC in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. The Orange and Blue scored twice in each half to take control of their first-leg encounter.
Cincinnati will look to seal their advancement when they return home on February 25. The victorious team from this two-leg series will advance to meet Tigres UANL, who already secured their spot with a 4-0 combined victory over Hamilton, Ontario’s Forge FC last week.
Substitute Ayoub Jabbari provided the finishing touches for Cincinnati with a pair of late strikes. He found the near post from a difficult angle in the 86th minute, then hammered home a half-volley from near the penalty area during the second minute of added time.
Tom Barlow got Cincinnati on the scoreboard early, firing home a rebound with his left foot from distance in the 12th minute. Kevin Denkey extended the lead in the 33rd minute when his 20-yard effort slipped between the legs of O&M goalkeeper Omry Bello.
The twentieth-ranked Texas Tech Lady Raiders delivered a commanding performance Wednesday night, crushing fifteenth-ranked Baylor 87-56 in Lubbock, Texas, behind a stellar bench effort from Snudda Collins who poured in 23 points.
Bailey Maupin contributed 22 points as the Lady Raiders (24-4, 11-4 Big 12) controlled the contest from opening tip to final buzzer, recovering impressively from their weekend defeat to Oklahoma State. Sarengbe Sanogo and Gemma Nunez each chipped in 10 points for Texas Tech, which connected on an efficient 55.7% of their field goal attempts.
Baylor (22-6, 11-4) received 13 points each from Darianna Littlepage-Buggs and Taliah Scott, but the Bears have now posted a 3-3 record since their eight-game victory streak came to an end.
After establishing a 22-15 advantage following the opening quarter, Texas Tech opened the second period with a Sanogo layup followed by a Maupin three-pointer. The margin never shrunk to single digits again, eventually ballooning to as many as 35 points.
In other Top 25 action, top-ranked UConn defeated Villanova 83-69 as Azzi Fudd tallied 25 points while connecting on 4 of 6 attempts from beyond the arc, helping the Huskies preserve their perfect season.
Sarah Strong recorded 21 points and 12 rebounds for UConn (28-0, 17-0 Big East), extending their winning streak to 44 consecutive games dating to last year’s championship team. The Huskies shot an impressive 53.3% from three-point range and 52.5% overall from the field.
Villanova (21-6, 14-4) got 26 points from Jasmine Bascoe and 21 from Denae Carter, but saw their six-game winning streak snapped. The Wildcats held a three-point halftime lead before UConn opened the second half with a decisive 12-2 run.
Twenty-third-ranked Minnesota knocked off tenth-ranked Ohio State 74-61, using a dominant 27-13 third-quarter run to pull away from the Buckeyes in Minneapolis for their ninth straight victory.
The Buckeyes (22-5, 11-4 Big Ten) led 29-26 at intermission, but Minnesota (21-6, 12-4) seized control early in the third quarter. Sophie Hart scored two layups around a Mara Braun three-pointer, then Tori McKinney added another layup to give the Golden Gophers a 35-29 advantage they would not relinquish.
Hart and Braun each finished with 18 points to pace Minnesota’s attack. Amaya Battle recorded a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, while Grace Grocholski added 12 points. Ohio State received 23 points from Jaloni Cambridge and 17 from Chance Gray.
Twelfth-ranked TCU maintained their Big 12 Conference lead with a 72-50 road victory over Houston, as Marta Suarez posted 21 points and nine rebounds in the wire-to-wire triumph.
Olivia Miles added 18 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals for TCU (24-4, 12-3 Big 12), which captured its third consecutive win to stay one game ahead of Texas Tech, Baylor and West Virginia in the conference standings.
Houston (7-19, 1-14) managed just one double-figure scorer in Kyndall Hunter, who finished with 20 points. The Cougars have now dropped five games in a row.
Eighteenth-ranked Michigan State reached triple digits for the first time in Big Ten play this season, overwhelming Northwestern 104-68 in East Lansing as five Spartans reached double figures in scoring.
Grace VanSlooten equaled her season-best performance with 22 points for Michigan State (21-6, 10-6 Big Ten). Kennedy Blair nearly recorded a triple-double with 17 points, 10 assists, seven rebounds and five steals. Jalyn Brown contributed 15 points, Marah Dykstra had 14, and Sara Sambolic added 13.
Northwestern (8-18, 2-13) got 23 points from Grace Sullivan and 14 from Casey Harter but suffered their eighth consecutive defeat. Despite shooting 51.9% from the field, the Wildcats committed 17 turnovers that Michigan State converted into 22 points.
NBA point guard LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets walked away without harm after being involved in a vehicle collision in downtown Charlotte on Wednesday, according to news reports from multiple outlets.
The basketball star appeared to be in good condition as he stepped out of the driver’s seat of his customized 2022 Hummer following the crash.
Television station WSOC-TV secured dashcam video that captured the collision as it happened.
According to the footage, Ball was driving westbound on Trade Street when he tried to make an unprotected left turn onto Tryon Street, which is a one-way road. At the same time, a Kia sedan was heading eastbound on Trade Street. Ball’s Hummer tried to dodge the oncoming sedan but couldn’t avoid contact, striking the Kia’s front passenger side.
Emergency responders transported the Kia’s driver to a local medical facility with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. Tow trucks removed both damaged vehicles from the crash site.
This season, Ball has seen his playing time reduced to career-low levels, currently posting averages of 19.3 points per game along with 7.4 assists and 4.8 rebounds.
KITENGELA, Kenya — In the classrooms of an innovative Kenyan institution, traditional teaching methods have been completely transformed. Rare Gem Talent School has revolutionized education by replacing standard lectures with interactive, sensory-based instruction specifically designed for students living with dyslexia.
While Kenya has made significant strides in expanding educational opportunities, children with learning differences often struggle to keep pace in conventional settings. Rare Gem represents one of only a few educational facilities nationwide that caters specifically to youngsters facing dyslexia and similar learning obstacles, requiring only minor adjustments to standard academic programs.
Research shows dyslexia impacts approximately 10% of all students and creates significant barriers to developing reading skills. Without proper support, this condition could sideline enormous numbers of young people throughout Kenya and the broader African continent.
Student Jason Malak Atati experienced firsthand the difference specialized instruction can make. “Teachers didn’t understand me,” he explained about his previous educational experience. “This school is much better.”
Dennis Omari, who specializes in teaching students with special needs, explained that dyslexic children typically struggle with fundamental literacy skills, often confusing letters such as ‘b’ and ‘p’ or even numbers like ‘9.’ “The early signs to look out for are if children have issues with phonological awareness — not able to listen to exact sounds in a particular language — and when kids fail to read,” Omari noted.
The school tackles these obstacles through what Omari describes as a comprehensive sensory-based teaching strategy, with instructors focusing on different learning preferences. Methods include visual techniques like assigning specific colors to represent different sounds, audio approaches such as teaching spelling through musical patterns, and hands-on activities using physical objects to demonstrate how words are built.
Dorothy Kioko, an instructor at the facility, emphasized the personalized nature of their teaching philosophy. “You teach step by step until the learner gets what you’re teaching, not a lecture method where the teacher stands in front,” she said. “You have to have additional knowledge on how to handle them with patience.”
The institution was established in 2012 by the Dyslexia Organisation Kenya, beginning operations with fewer than 10 pupils. Currently, the school serves approximately 210 students, primarily those with dyslexia, while also supporting children with additional learning differences including autism.
Phyllis Munyi, who founded Rare Gem after witnessing her own son’s struggles with unaddressed dyslexia, stressed the importance of early intervention. “If they are identified early and intervention given early, they improve their skills and learn to identify their talents — and they complete school,” she stated.
Families pay tuition costs of $180 per semester, which falls below fees charged by elite private institutions but remains considerably more expensive than government-funded schools that serve most Kenyan students.
According to Munyi, the primary obstacles preventing children from accessing specialized education like that offered at Rare Gem include social stigma and insufficient awareness, particularly among parents. Additionally, many students arrive having endured harassment at their former schools.
Geoffrey Karani, a Rare Gem graduate who now works as an art instructor there, recalled his own difficult experiences. “In other, normal schools, there was a lot of discrimination, a lot of bullying,” he shared. Karani views mentoring as essential to his current role. “I’m not only teaching, I’m showing kids that I’ve been on the same journey,” he explained.
Kenya has achieved remarkable progress in educational expansion over recent decades, with primary school enrollment climbing from 5.9 million students in 2002 to 10.2 million in 2023—growth that has exceeded population increases.
However, educational opportunities for students with disabilities continue to lag significantly. Despite 11.4% of Kenyan children having special needs, only 250,000 such students participate in the nation’s educational system, according to data from So They Can, a nonprofit organization working to expand educational access across Africa.
Rare Gem potentially demonstrates how to broaden educational access without requiring extensive curriculum overhauls. Rather than creating entirely new academic content, the school adapts Kenya’s standard curriculum to better serve students with dyslexia and other learning challenges, Munyi explained. She emphasized: “The curriculum was not designed as a standalone … nor is it limited to dyslexia.”
Federal immigration officials are facing criticism after a Texas congressman accused them of sending a seriously ill 2-month-old infant back to Mexico despite the baby’s deteriorating health condition.
Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas claimed Tuesday on social media that Immigration and Customs Enforcement removed the infant, who was suffering from bronchitis and had become unresponsive for several hours before being released from medical care.
According to Castro, the baby was sent back to Mexico alongside a 16-month-old sibling and both parents. The congressman said he verified these details through the family’s legal representative.
Castro condemned the action, stating: “To unnecessarily deport a sick baby and his entire family is heinous.”
The lawmaker promised to “hold ICE accountable for this monstrous action.”
However, Department of Homeland Security representative Tricia McLaughlin disputed Castro’s characterization Wednesday, explaining that medical professionals determined the infant was in “stable condition and medically cleared for removal.” She added that doctors provided the parents with nasal saline solution and a bulb syringe for continued treatment.
McLaughlin detailed that Border Patrol agents detained the infant’s mother, Mireya Stefani Lopez-Sanchez, after she illegally crossed near Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 21st.
The mother decided to keep her child with her during the transfer to ICE custody, McLaughlin explained.
“All of her claims were heard by a judge and found not to be valid,” McLaughlin stated.
A federal judge ordered Lopez-Sanchez’s removal on February 8th, and she was sent back to Mexico with her child this past Tuesday, according to McLaughlin.
“She received full due process,” McLaughlin emphasized.
Immigration authorities’ handling of children has faced increased examination since the Trump administration intensified border enforcement efforts.
Public attention recently focused on 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, who was photographed wearing a bunny hat while surrounded by ICE agents in Minnesota last month. A judge subsequently ordered the release of both the child and his father.
The father and son were detained at the same Dilley, Texas family facility where Castro said Lopez-Sanchez and her infant were held.
Previous court documents from last year revealed that families and oversight groups reported problems at federal facilities, including contaminated meals and inadequate access to healthcare and legal representation. The filings also indicated that hundreds of immigrant children remained in federal custody longer than court-imposed time limits, with some detained for more than five months.
According to the National Institute of Health, bronchitis occurs when lung airways become inflamed, resulting in persistent coughing.
Spain’s top-ranked Carlos Alcaraz booked his place in the Qatar ExxonMobil Open quarterfinals following a dominant 6-2, 7-5 victory over French player Valentin Royer during Wednesday’s round of 16 action in Doha.
The world No. 1 controlled the opening set effectively, successfully defending against two break point chances while claiming two service breaks from his opponent. Despite Royer building a commanding 5-2 advantage in the second set, Alcaraz mounted an impressive comeback by capturing 21 of the match’s final 27 points to secure his advancement.
Italy’s second-seeded Jannik Sinner also moved forward with a convincing straight-sets triumph over Australia’s Alexei Popyrin, winning 6-3, 7-5. Remarkably, Sinner has maintained his serve throughout both of his tournament matches without facing a single break point.
The tournament’s lone major surprise came when Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas eliminated fourth-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev with a 6-3, 6-4 victory.
Additional players earning quarterfinal berths included fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev, sixth-seeded Jakub Mensik, seventh-seeded Karen Khachanov, eighth-seeded Jiri Lehecka, and Arthur Fils. All competitors except Khachanov completed their victories without dropping a set.
Delray Beach Open
Hong Kong qualifier Coleman Wong delivered a stunning upset by defeating seventh-seeded American Brandon Nakashima 6-4, 7-6 (4) during round of 16 play in Delray Beach, Florida.
Wong demonstrated exceptional serving prowess, successfully landing 32 of 38 first serves for an impressive 84 percent conversion rate while losing his serve just once during the match. His quarterfinal opponent will be third-seeded Italian Flavio Cobolli, who eliminated France’s Terence Atmane 7-5, 6-4.
In an all-American matchup, Sebastian Korda overcame Alex Michelsen 6-3, 7-6 (6) by capitalizing on four of his 13 break point chances.
Rio Open
Argentina’s Thiago Agustin Tirante scored an unexpected victory over compatriot and tournament top seed Francisco Cerundolo, winning 6-2, 3-1 when Cerundolo withdrew mid-match due to a back injury during round of 16 competition in Rio de Janeiro.
Tirante was in complete control before his opponent’s retirement, firing seven aces and breaking serve three times. He will next meet Chile’s Alejandro Tabilo, who rallied from a set down to defeat Italy’s Francesco Passaro 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2.
Juan Manuel Cerundolo, Francisco’s older brother, prevailed over Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann 6-4, 6-7 (1), 6-4, while Czech Republic’s Vit Kopriva dominated Argentina’s Roman Andres Burruchaga in straight sets 6-3, 6-1 to also reach the quarterfinals.
