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.
Federal officials have issued provisional approval to relocate 30 beluga whales and four dolphins from the shuttered Ontario park to accredited U.S. aquariums, averting an immediate euthanasia threat pending final health and care plans.
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.
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.
Three men face felony charges following a viral New Year's shooting from a Dallas overpass, with investigators linking suspects to a separate road-rage attack and uncovering a cache of firearms.
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.
A routine online marketplace transaction ended in tragedy when a 19-year-old man allegedly stabbed a pregnant mother dozens of times during a vehicle sale, prosecutors revealed. The victim's family describes the attack as 'pure evil' as they mourn a life built on kindness.
A new Fox News survey reveals Democrats leading Republicans 52% to 46% in a generic congressional ballot for the 2026 midterms, the highest level of support recorded for either party in this poll series. Voter priorities and sharp partisan divides on key issues shape the early political landscape.
The abduction of nearly 200 residents from Kurmin Wali has shattered community life, triggering a wave of departures as survivors lose faith in state protection and face an uncertain future.
Russian troops have taken control of three villages across Ukraine's Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia regions, according to a Defense Ministry statement reported by state media. The latest gains come amid intensified fighting along the front lines.
German defense giant Rheinmetall has inked a significant, multi-year framework agreement to supply the Dutch armed forces with a range of hand grenades, deepening a strategic partnership that now spans artillery shells to infantry ordnance amid heightened European security concerns.
Tesla is discontinuing its flagship Model S sedan and Model X SUV, a strategic shift underscored by plummeting sales figures and Elon Musk's pivot toward robotics and autonomy.
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.
In a departure from long-standing restrictions, approximately 1,500 Israeli Jews held morning prayers at the contested Joseph's Tomb in Nablus. A senior settler official called the event a move toward cementing Israeli sovereignty over the site, which lies in an area under Palestinian administrative control.
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.
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.
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.
