From a record-breaking public health crisis in South Carolina to a stunning archaeological find in Mexico, here are the major developments you need to know this afternoon, alongside a look at how global politics is reshaping daily life from Havana to your local coffee shop.
The Department of Homeland Security has significantly softened its initial characterization of the events leading to the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti by border agents, now describing the scene as involving 'several civilians' rather than a riot, raising questions about the justification for the use of deadly force.
A mail carrier in Lauderhill faces three counts of animal cruelty following the release of surveillance footage allegedly showing him spraying a resident's three small dogs with a chemical irritant during his delivery route.
A rescue operation in Putnam County, Illinois, ended with one fatality and a second worker airlifted to hospital after both became buried in soybeans while working inside a grain storage bin.
Charles Broomfield, who once wore a '#1 Dad' lanyard, now faces murder charges after allegedly confessing to shooting his fiancée and her two teenage sons in their Grand Rapids home, while his own young child was spared.
Harris County deputies executing a parole warrant at a Channelview motel discovered the body of a 33-year-old man with multiple gunshot wounds. Authorities say the detained warrant subject is not currently linked to the killing.
Brendan Banfield's murder trial reaches its climax Friday with closing arguments after he testified he shot a man he found stabbing his wife. Prosecutors allege an elaborate murder-for-hire plot, while the defense claims a tragic act of self-defense.
Federal authorities have lodged an immigration detainer for a man charged with the brutal rape of an autistic teenager in Cathedral City, calling the case 'exceptionally heinous' and urging California officials to cooperate.
In a significant tactical shift, Islamist militants from the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) utilized armed drones in a pre-dawn assault on a Nigerian military base in Borno state, resulting in multiple casualties. The attack underscores the growing sophistication of insurgent groups in the region's long-running conflict.
Deutsche Bank and its asset manager DWS are in preliminary talks to acquire a significant minority stake in Fosun-owned Frankfurter Leben, signaling a strategic reversal a decade after exiting the sector.
Marsh & McLennan's insurance brokerage giant Marsh reported a 4.2% rise in Q4 net income to $821 million, capping a year of robust growth and strategic brand realignment under the new 'Marsh Risk' banner.
A major redevelopment of Newcastle University's Castle Leazes student village is moving forward, with contractor Bowmer + Kirkland appointed to deliver over 2,000 new affordable rooms, replacing 1960s-era facilities.
New analysis from NRC Health reveals that integrating real-time patient sentiment tools like Net Promoter Score with traditional HCAHPS surveys can accelerate improvements in care quality and directly impact Medicare reimbursements under value-based programs.
Ethereum enters February 2026 under pressure, testing key support near $2,690 after a historically weak January. Analysts are divided on whether seasonal trends or shifting on-chain dynamics will dictate the month's direction.
BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes argues that Bitcoin's recent downturn is a symptom of a broader $300 billion contraction in U.S. dollar liquidity, driven by Treasury cash management and tighter financial conditions, rather than crypto-specific weakness.
As data center demand surges, NextEra Energy emerges as a critical, and often overlooked, infrastructure player. Its partnerships with tech titans like Meta and Google highlight a strategic pivot in the energy sector.
Despite a premium valuation, AMD is positioning itself as a key challenger in the AI chip race, betting big on integrated data center systems to capture surging demand.
MarineMax's Q4 2025 results surpassed revenue forecasts, driven by robust premium boat sales, but profitability was hampered by industry-wide discounting and cautious consumer spending, leading to a wider-than-expected loss per share.
DoorDash is accelerating its expansion beyond food delivery with a nationwide partnership to deliver Hibbett's athletic gear and the appointment of a robotics and AI veteran to its board, underscoring its ambition to become a broader commerce platform.
A recent downgrade of Enbridge Inc. by J.P. Morgan analysts has intensified the debate over the pipeline giant's ability to balance future growth with its prized dividend stability, as macroeconomic headwinds pressure its core crude oil segment.
