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.
As states finalize legislation before the 2026 elections, a conservative-leaning watchdog group highlights vulnerabilities in the voting system, pushing for reforms to curb foreign influence and clarify citizenship requirements for voters.
Lawmakers are negotiating a short-term deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security, aiming to avoid a partial government shutdown this weekend. The talks occur against the backdrop of heightened political pressure following recent violence in Minneapolis and a shift in the administration's enforcement rhetoric.
A group of protesters in Lynwood, California, surrounded and harassed federal air marshals, incorrectly identifying them as immigration enforcement officers. The incident highlights the volatile climate surrounding immigration debates and the risks of misdirected activism.
Foreign women detained in Syria's Roj camp, linked to the Islamic State group, see a potential path to freedom following a government offensive that weakened their Kurdish guards. As political dynamics shift, their hopes for amnesty or repatriation collide with international reluctance and an uncertain future for the camps.
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.
The European Union has taken the unprecedented step of designating Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist entity, triggering a sharp diplomatic crisis. Iran has denounced the move as illegal and politically motivated, vowing to respond.
A revised price target for Rithm Capital (NYSE: RITM) has prompted a fresh look at the mortgage REIT's prospects, with analysts weighing its strategic shifts against a complex macroeconomic backdrop.
Coveo Solutions Inc. (TSE:CVO) shattered its own records in fiscal Q3 2026, fueled by historic new bookings and surging demand for its enterprise-grade AI relevance platform. The company's focus on grounding generative AI in secure, governed data resonates as clients move from experimentation to operational deployment.
Official figures reveal a sharp 26% increase in the annual cost of public sector pensions, now reaching £39bn, with taxpayers covering the bulk of the expense as employer contribution rates rise.
The UK government's £25m investment in Octopus Energy's Kraken Technologies through the British Business Bank raises critical questions about the use of taxpayer funds to back an already scaled, global, and recently loss-making platform.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrived in Shanghai Friday with over 50 business leaders, aiming to deepen UK-China commercial ties. The visit, the first by a UK premier in eight years, comes against a backdrop of renewed US skepticism over Western engagement with Beijing.
Analysts at Stifel have initiated coverage on sports data giant Sportradar Group AG (NASDAQ: SRAD) with a Buy rating and a $28 price target, citing its dominant market position and favorable industry dynamics as online sports betting consolidates.
Analyst firm Stifel has initiated coverage on sports data giant Genius Sports with a Hold rating, praising its foundational role in the online betting ecosystem but flagging a balanced risk-reward at current levels.
The French government has intervened to stop satellite operator Eutelsat from selling its ground antenna assets, framing the move as a defense of European strategic autonomy against rivals like SpaceX's Starlink.
PennyMac Financial Services capped a robust fiscal 2025 with Q4 net income of $107 million, overcoming headwinds from an unexpected wave of mortgage prepayments. While competitive pressures limited margin expansion, CEO David Spector pointed to strategic tech investments and a significant embedded refinance portfolio as catalysts for targeted mid-to-high teens ROE later this year.
Annaly Capital Management capped off a robust 2025 with a fourth-quarter economic return of 8.6%, driven by a constructive fixed-income environment and growth across its core strategies. The mortgage REIT highlighted conservative leverage, a secure dividend, and strategic capital deployment as it navigates evolving market conditions.
Despite a lowered price target following an analyst transition, TD Cowen maintains a bullish stance on Alphatec Holdings, citing undervalued growth drivers including a new regenerative bone graft partnership and a robust long-term revenue outlook.
PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust (PMT) reported a robust fourth quarter, highlighted by a 13% return on equity and strategic advancements in its securitization business. Executives outlined a confident outlook for 2026, emphasizing disciplined risk management and growth in targeted lending segments.
Defense contractor L3Harris Technologies capped off a record 2025 with surging orders and a strategic pivot, announcing plans to take its high-growth Missile Solutions unit public in 2026 while securing a novel $1 billion investment from the Department of War to accelerate production.
