Hyundai expected to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lack hybridsCox analysts said Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag because they don't have many hybrid vehicles.{}
Mortgage rates top 7% for first time since early 2025The average rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage rose this week to 7.03%, according to the latest Freddie Mac data released Thursday. That is up from last week's reading of 6.95%.
Mortgage rates rose to more than 7% for the first time since January 2025, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday.
Freddie Mac's latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey, released Thursday, showed the average rate on the benchmark 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 7.03% from last week's reading of 6.95%.
The average rate on a 30-year loan was 6.3% a year ago.
AMERICA'S BEST AND WORST CITIES FOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY RANKED
The average rate on a 15-year fixed mortgage climbed to 6.42% from last week's reading of 6.26%.
THE US CITIES WHERE HOME PRICES ARE FALLING THE FASTEST
Mortgage rates are affected by several factors, including the Federal Reserve and geopolitics. Though mortgage rates are not directly affected by the Fed's interest rate decisions, they closely track the 10-year Treasury yield. The 10-year yield hovered around 5.1% as of Thursday afternoon.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/mortgage-rates-9-24-2026Darden Restaurants stock falls as Olive Garden reports slower growthOlive Garden's same-store sales growth has slowed in recent quarters.{}
MGM Resorts shares sink 9% after Barry Diller's People Inc. rescinds takeover offerBarry Diller's People Inc. has rescinded its offer to buy the remaining public shares of MGM Resorts.{}
Darden Restaurants stock falls as Olive Garden reports slower growthOlive Garden's same-store sales growth has slowed in recent quarters.{}
Cat owners are spending more and boosting pet retailersSpending on cats remains strong despite softening dog sector and tightening consumer discretionary spending.{}
Hyundai expected to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lack hybridsCox analysts said Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag because they don't have many hybrid vehicles.{}
Norway’s Development Rethink Should See Ocean Investment as a Strategic Interest
OSLO, Norway, September 24 (IPS) - As Norway undertakes Vendepunkt, or “Turning Point,” its reflection on the future of Norwegian development policy, it is critical that oceans remain a priority. Donors around the world are running similar audits, deciding which long-term partnerships to keep, and why. Norway has decades of expertise to offer, but also something significant at stake: healthy and well-governed oceans underpin food, livelihoods and economic activity in partner countries while supporting global seafood supply chains in which Norway itself participates.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44144 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/AmandaCotton_23-100x100.jpg"}From Vienna to New York: Nuclear Governance Faces New Tests Ahead of First TPNW Review Conference
VIENNA, September 24 (IPS) - The international nuclear order is facing another test as governments move from an inconclusive review of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in New York to renewed disputes over safeguards and nuclear security in Vienna—and toward the first Review Conference of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) later this year.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44147 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/iaea_1-100x100.jpg"}Peter Schiff predicts economic 'downturn,' higher oil prices: 'I don't think it's over'Peter Schiff indicated during an interview that he expects oil prices to head higher regardless of whether the Iran war ends, and thinks that there will be an economic "downturn."
Oil prices will rise even higher regardless of whether the Iran war ends, U.S. economic and political commentator Peter Schiff predicted during an interview with Fox News Digital on Wednesday, noting that he expects an economic "downturn."
Schiff, chief economist and global strategist of Euro Pacific Asset Management and host of "The Peter Schiff Show" podcast, described the elevated prices as "a tax on the economy," opining, "I don't think it's over."
"I think oil prices are headed significantly higher from here — not just oil, but everything related to, to energy," he explained, "especially … diesel, which is gonna have a particularly harmful impact because that is the fuel ... that is used in, in agriculture, it's used in transportation, all the trucks are diesel," he noted, adding that this will "affect the price of pretty much everything."
The AAA national average price for diesel recently hit the highest recorded average price of $6.5276 as of Tuesday, but has inched down to $6.5141 as of Thursday.
While Americans have been facing elevated fuel prices amid the Iran war, Schiff also pointed to the Federal Reserve as part of the reason for the energy prices.
SENATORS PRESS PRESIDENT TRUMP TO RELEASE HOME HEATING OIL RESERVES AMID SOARING PRICES
"But the Fed's monetary policy has been much too loose for much too long," he said. "The quarter-point rate hike ... last week is too little too late to really derail the inflation train. And I think you're gonna see a lot of upward pressure on all prices" due to "Fed policy," Schiff explained.
He also pointed out that the U.S. will eventually "have to stop selling" oil from its Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).
"And I think the same thing is gonna happen with other countries that have been liquidating reserves in order to … artificially suppress prices," he said, noting, "imagine what happens if we have to start replenishing those depleted reserves. That would put even more upward pressure on prices."
The supply of crude oil in the U.S. SPR has fallen significantly this year from over 400 million barrels down to more than 284 million as of the most recent data posted by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
"Look, I think the prices will be lower if we manage to get ourselves outta this war. How much lower it's hard to say. Because I think even if we have some kinda deal to end the war, I don't know that you could trust it," he said. "I think that there's gonna be a risk premium for many years now because you have no idea when the war would resume."
"Maybe we get some kind of deal, a ceasefire or something, but ... we've seen these deals before and ... they immediately blow up," he noted.
Schiff said that he believes "oil prices are going up regardless of the outcome of the war and whether we end it or not. It's just that if the war continues, I think the prices will be higher than if it doesn't continue," he said, predicting that prices will increase "either way."
President Donald Trump asserted in part of a Truth Social post last week that "The World’s Diesel price rise is mostly caused by the Russia/Ukraine War, not Iran."
Schiff expects unemployment to rise and consumer spending to fall, speculating that the Fed may "not raise interest rates as much as they should to contain inflation. In fact, they may even end up cutting rates if the economy is weak enough."
"If the Fed tries to stimulate the economy or fight rising unemployment by rate cuts or quantitative easing, that's gonna fuel the fire that's already burning in, in consumer prices," energy included, he noted.
IRAN WAR COSTS US HOUSEHOLDS $860 MORE IN HIGHER ENERGY PRICES, ECONOMIST SAYS
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Fox News Digital reached out to the White House on Thursday.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/peter-schiff-predicts-economic-downturn-higher-oil-prices-i-dont-think-its-overHyundai expected to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lack hybridsCox analysts said Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag because they don't have many hybrid vehicles.{}
The BBNJ Agreement: From Paper to Protection – The Real Test for Global Ocean Governance
VICTORIA, Seychelles, September 24 (IPS) - After decades in which the high seas were too often treated as a distant frontier—vast, ownerless and beyond meaningful protection—the High Seas Treaty entered into force on 17 January 2026.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44146 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/ocean_2409_2-100x100.jpg"}When African Smallholders Access Finance, They’ll Show You What’s Possible
NAIROBI, Kenya, September 24 (IPS) - I was born in Rwanda, but my family soon became refugees in Uganda during the conflict and unrest on the cusp of independence. My father was a teacher and went to great lengths to make sure I was well educated. My parents were also smallholder farmers, and I saw firsthand the challenges my parents and other refugee families faced.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44145 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/Agnes_Matilda_-100x100.jpg"}Hyundai expected to outsell Ford in third quarter as Detroit automakers lack hybridsCox analysts said Ford and General Motors are seeing sales lag because they don't have many hybrid vehicles.{}
MGM Resorts shares sink 9% after Barry Diller's People Inc. rescinds takeover offerBarry Diller's People Inc. has rescinded its offer to buy the remaining public shares of MGM Resorts.{}
MGM Resorts shares sink 9% after Barry Diller's People Inc. rescinds takeover offerBarry Diller's People Inc. has rescinded its offer to buy the remaining public shares of MGM Resorts.{}
Darden Restaurants stock falls as Olive Garden reports slower growthOlive Garden's same-store sales growth has slowed in recent quarters.{}
Starbucks to shutter about 250 stores in latest round of cafe closuresStarbucks will close about 1% of its North American cafes in the latest stage of its turnaround.{}
Starbucks to close 250 stores: 'Difficult decision'
Starbucks announced plans to close roughly 250 stores across North America this week, company COO Mike Grams revealed Thursday.
Grams announced the closure in a public statement, saying that while most of its 18,000 North American stores were profitable, a small portion has been struggling.
"We have carefully reviewed our North America coffeehouse portfolio and identified locations where we do not believe we can consistently deliver the experience we want for customers and partners or where we don’t see a path to acceptable financial performance," Grams said in the announcement, which was in the form of a letter to "Partners."
STARBUCKS RESOLVES FLORIDA DEI LAWSUIT WITH BLOCKBUSTER AGREEMENT
"As a result, we will close approximately 250 coffeehouses later this week. This represents approximately 1% of our more than 18,000 North America coffeehouses," he added.
"Closing any coffeehouse is a difficult decision, and we know today’s news will be hard for the partners, customers and communities affected," the statement said.
CORPORATION TARGETED BY BRANDON GILL DIGS IN ON 'DIVERSE WORKFORCE' AFTER FIREBRAND OPENS DEI PROBE
The announcement comes just days after Starbucks resolved a DEI lawsuit in Florida last week. The coffee giant will pay Florida $1 million and will not use race-and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in employment practices companywide under a sweeping settlement.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier's office confirmed to Fox News Digital that the agreement applies to all Starbucks operations nationwide, not just the company's locations in Florida.
GOP FRESHMAN FIREBRAND TARGETS GLOBAL CONSULTING GIANT OVER 'PLAINLY ILLEGAL' DEI PRACTICES
"Every Floridian deserves to be hired, promoted and compensated based on merit, qualifications and character — not race or sex," Uthmeier told Fox News Digital. "This resolution ensures that Starbucks’ policies and practices fully comply with Florida’s civil rights laws. DEI can never be an excuse to violate civil rights."
The negotiated resolution ends the lawsuit Uthmeier filed in December 2025 accusing Starbucks of violating the Florida Civil Rights Act through racial and sex-based goals, quotas and preferences in its workplace policies.
Under the agreement, Starbucks committed to complying with the state civil rights law, which prohibits race and sex-based preferences in hiring, promotions, pay, executive compensation, mentorship programs, supplier selection and board composition.
The company also agreed it will not participate in organizations that require it to increase the racial diversity of its board of directors.
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Starbucks' chief legal officer will be required to submit annual certifications of the company's continued compliance for four years. The company will also pay $1 million to the Florida Department of Legal Affairs to reimburse the office for the time, expenses and costs of bringing the case.
Fox News' Stepheny Price contributed to this report.d.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-food-drink/starbucks-close-250-stores-difficult-decisionDarden Restaurants stock falls as Olive Garden reports slower growthOlive Garden's same-store sales growth has slowed in recent quarters.{}
Google partners with veterans groups to help 25,000 enter skilled trades careers amid worker shortageGoogle revealed to FOX Business an initiative addressing the workforce shortage in skilled trades by training veterans for roles like electrician and pipefitter.
Exclusive: Google on Thursday announced a new initiative to partner with veterans groups to help 25,000 veterans, service members and military spouses enter the skilled trades, according to an announcement viewed by FOX Business.
Google's announcement will feature a partnership with several prominent organizations that serve veterans around the nation, including Hiring Our Heroes, Student Veterans of America and the Home Builders Institute.
The move comes against the backdrop of a shortage of workers in the skilled trades amid surging demand driven in part by the artificial intelligence (AI) buildout.
Tim Chadwick, Google's data center operations area lead for Ohio and Indiana who served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years, said in the company's announcement that the initiative is "making it easier for veterans to make career transitions to high-growth careers like mine."
GOOGLE PARTNERS ON AI TRAINING FOR THOUSANDS OF AMERICAN MANUFACTURING WORKERS
"As a leader for Google's data centers in Ohio and Indiana, I know there's a major need for these types of professionals," Chadwick said.
"Currently, there are hundreds of thousands of skilled trade roles open across the U.S. just waiting to be filled. These are jobs like master electrician, lead pipefitter, and project manager – high-growth careers that offer long-term financial stability."
"But beyond just the growing need, these roles also make the most of the kinds of skills veterans and military families know better than anyone – skills like problem-solving under pressure, teamwork, and getting a job done right," Chadwick wrote.
Cory Boatwright, president and CEO of Student Veterans of America (SVA), said in a statement to FOX Business that the group's "work with Google took us to 11 states to host 22 roundtables, and one lesson that stood out was that veterans want more pathways to meaningful careers."
"We're broadening what 'student veteran' means to anyone continuing their education in pursuit of something more: a degree, a certificate, a skilled trade. The student decides the path and what is meaningful to them," he said.
"Our job is to make sure their pursuit is successful and leads somewhere great – skilled trades are an important part of that equation, particularly as states and employers look for talent to fill critical workforce needs," Boatwright added. "If we weren't thinking about skilled trades, then we'd be left behind."
GOOGLE COMMITS $1B TO NORTH CAROLINA DATA CENTERS AS AI DEMAND SURGES
Google's announcement follows a move to co-found the Alliance for America's Skilled Trades with BlackRock, Ford and Carhartt to train 1 million workers in the skilled trades by 2030.
It also comes in addition to prior investments such as a $15 million partnership with the electrical training Alliance (etA) to put AI-powered learning tools on the trade floor, and a $4 million grant to Student Veterans of America to bring career certificates and AI courses to veterans nationwide.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/google-partners-veterans-groups-help-25000-enter-skilled-trades-careers-amid-worker-shortageLowe's is launching a drone delivery service in partnership with DoorDash, AlphabetLowe's is launching a drone delivery service in a partnership with DoorDash and Alphabet's Wing, CNBC has learned exclusively.{}
Starbucks to shutter about 250 stores in latest round of cafe closuresStarbucks will close about 1% of its North American cafes in the latest stage of its turnaround.{}
Starbucks to shutter about 250 stores in latest round of cafe closuresStarbucks will close about 1% of its North American cafes in the latest stage of its turnaround.{}
Bank of America to hire 1,000 more apprentices, invest $150M in workforce developmentBank of America is adding 1,000 apprentices and committing $150 million to workforce development in a push to expand career pathways beyond traditional college degrees.
Bank of America is expanding its skills-based hiring efforts, announcing Thursday that it will hire 1,000 additional apprentices over the next two years while investing $150 million in workforce development programs.
The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank said the new apprenticeship positions will span consumer banking, technology, operations and other business areas, building on the more than 800 apprentices it already hires each year through paid work-based learning programs.
"This is one more way for us to do what we can to help create a skilled American workforce for tomorrow," Brian Moynihan, chair and CEO of Bank of America, said in a statement.
"Our apprenticeship and workforce development programs underscore our continued commitment to expanding opportunity and helping talented individuals develop the skills to succeed."
BANK OF AMERICA UNVEILS $250B INITIATIVE TO MODERNIZE US INFRASTRUCTURE
Moynihan added, "We appreciate the spirit of reform and practicality that the Department of Labor is bringing to this important work, which will lead to opportunities for the private sector to do even more."
The announcement comes as employers across industries increasingly adopt skills-based hiring practices that place less emphasis on college degrees.
Bank of America said about 40% of its current hires do not have a bachelor's degree.
The bank has also committed to hiring 10,000 additional workers with military backgrounds over five years and another 8,000 people from community colleges.
BOFA CEO BRIAN MOYNIHAN DISMISSES RECESSION FEARS DESPITE WALL STREET'S MOST HAWKISH FED FORECAST
Alongside the hiring push, Bank of America said it will invest $150 million over the next five years in workforce development organizations that "equip individuals with in-demand skills and connect them to career opportunities."
The commitment follows nearly $40 million the bank invested in workforce development last year through partnerships with more than 100 colleges and universities and over 600 nonprofits.
"American workers deserve the opportunity to build successful careers without leaving their hometowns," Acting Secretary of Labor Keith Sonderling said in a statement.
"I applaud Bank of America for investing in apprenticeship and workforce development programs that prepare Americans for high-skilled, high-paying jobs while helping employers build the skilled workforce they need in their local communities," Sonderling added.
BANK OF AMERICA TO HIRE NEARLY 4,000 SUMMER INTERNS AND CAMPUS RECRUITS
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The apprenticeship expansion comes as Bank of America continues to invest in its workforce and the broader U.S. economy.
Last month, the bank unveiled a $250 billion initiative to finance infrastructure projects, including data centers, semiconductor facilities, power generation and transportation. Earlier this year, it also announced plans to hire nearly 4,000 summer interns and full-time campus recruits.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/bank-of-america-hire-1000-more-apprentices-invest-150m-workforce-developmentTesla Full Self-Driving repeatedly exceeded speed limits, attempted prohibited cyclist passes in Belgium testTesla's Full Self-Driving system exceeded speed limits in most 30 km/h zones tested around Brussels, a Belgian road safety group's report found.
Tesla's Full Self-Driving system frequently exceeded speed limits and attempted to pass cyclists where overtaking is prohibited during testing conducted over hundreds of miles in Belgium by a road-safety advocacy group, according to a road-safety advocacy group.
Belgian pedestrian and cyclist safety group Johanna.be tested FSD over three days in July, covering roughly 400 kilometers, or 249 miles, according to Reuters.
The group said it found repeated problems in 20 km/h and 30 km/h zones, including the system displaying incorrect speed limits.
According to the group's report, FSD exceeded the limit in the majority of 30 km/h, or roughly 19 mph, zones tested around Brussels, traveling at an average speed of 44 km/h, or roughly 27 mph.
TESLA REOPENS ROADSTER RESERVATIONS – BUT YOU'LL NEED $50K
The report said that while the vehicle's screen showed the system recognized speed-limit signs along the road, it frequently displayed incorrect limits, potentially misleading drivers about how fast the vehicle should travel.
"It is akin to a passenger constantly reassuring the driver that the speed limit is 50 km/h in nearly every 30-zone through which they pass," the report said.
Videos collected by Johanna.be also reportedly show FSD-enabled Teslas attempting to overtake cyclists on streets where doing so is prohibited, according to Reuters.
Still, the group's findings were not entirely negative.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER RECALLS 23,000 SUVS OVER RISK OF SUDDEN DRIVE POWER LOSS
The report noted that Tesla's system "behaved cautiously and courteously around pedestrians and cyclists, often yielding proactively."
Earlier this month, Tesla released a study saying that FSD-equipped vehicles do not speed excessively and generally travel at speeds consistent with surrounding traffic.
Xavier Lesenne, spokesperson for the Flemish government's transportation ministry, which authorized the use of FSD in Belgium earlier this year, described it as "a learning system that continuously processes new and additional information" and adapts over time.
Lesenne also noted that the driver "remains 100% responsible" and must be ready to intervene "should the system make an error or fail to correctly apply a traffic rule."
The report comes after Dutch regulator RDW approved the system in April, followed by Belgium and several other countries.
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An EU-wide vote on the system could take place as early as next month.
FOX Business has reached out to Tesla for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/tesla-full-self-driving-repeatedly-exceeded-speed-limits-attempted-prohibited-cyclist-passes-belgium-testAnthropic CEO says AI could cure most major diseases within next decadeAnthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicts AI could help cure most diseases in five to 10 years after Claude discovers a potential new gene editing mechanism.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei predicted Wednesday that AI could help cure most diseases within the next five to 10 years, making the case that advanced technology will change how scientists study biology and medicine.
The company announced a Claude-led discovery of a molecular machine that it believes could represent a new gene-editing mechanism, though Anthropic said its precise biological function remains unclear.
"Its precise function, biotechnological utility (if any), or level of significance is not yet clear, but at minimum it is work I would have been proud to do as a PhD student," Amodei wrote on X.
MELANIA TRUMP URGES AI 'VIGILANCE,' SAYS AMERICANS NEED TO GET EDUCATED
"The work was done mostly, though not entirely, by Claude: our life sciences team suggested a broad area of research, Claude read through the literature and a bunch of genome data and discovered something interesting, then Claude proposed experiments to verify the discovery and our team carried them out."
He said the company has repeatedly seen a pattern in which AI performance in new intellectual domains goes from weak to "superhuman" in just a few years.
"In 2023, models struggled to do math at the level of an average high-school student. In 2024, they started to do well on math competitions for the best high-schoolers in the country, in 2025, they started to solve minor open problems, in early 2026 more significant open problems, and in late 2026, they are beginning to solve the top few open problems in all of mathematics. We believe AI for biology is on a similar exponential trend," he said.
Amodei noted that the main difference between biology and mathematics is that math can be done purely theoretically and biology needs experimentation. He said while some point to this to argue that AI’s utility in biology will be limited, his company believes that suspicion is wrong.
He said humans can collaborate with AI to perform the experiments, validate key results in a few weeks and, if needed, work with the AI to repeat what they find.
"Eventually it may even be possible for Claude itself to safely perform the experiments by autonomously controlling lab equipment, with appropriate safeguards in place, but we aren’t doing that today," he explained.
Accelerating fundamental biology discoveries could expand and speed the broader biomedical pipeline by identifying new drug targets, therapies and research tools, he said. While it would not shorten clinical trials, he said it could produce more promising candidates for testing, emphasizing that any resulting treatments would still require standard testing and regulatory review.
"In Machines of Loving Grace, I wrote about AI’s potential to 'cure most diseases in 5-10 years' — a goal that sounds impossible, but one I believe is just barely possible if AI is applied to every stage of the pipeline. The first step is showing that AI can first help with, and then drive, biological discoveries," Amodei wrote.
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"I’m proud of the resources Anthropic has invested in accelerating the public benefits of AI through the life sciences, and we’re aiming both to grow our life sciences team and to work with other scientists to extend this approach to a broad range of problems," he added.
Earlier on Wednesday, Amodei spoke before the U.N. Security Council about the need for the AI industry to establish international standards and cooperation to manage the threats posed by rapid AI developments and capabilities.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/anthropic-ceo-says-ai-could-cure-most-major-diseases-within-next-decadeAustralian prime minister says OpenAI agent accessed government health website, raises 'extreme concern'Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said investigations are ongoing into the June incident involving Australia's Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Wednesday that an OpenAI agent gained unauthorized access to an Australian government website earlier this year, though the company said its review found no evidence that patient records were accessed.
Albanese told reporters in New York that the activity occurred in June and involved an OpenAI agent accessing the public-facing Medicare Statistics Reporting Service portal, which is administered by Services Australia.
"I spoke with the CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman, to express Australia's extreme concern about this incident," Albanese said.
"And I also expressed my disappointment that it took the company way too long to inform the government what had occurred, and the nature of the way that that notification occurred as well was unacceptable."
ANTHROPIC, OPENAI CEOS WARN AI COULD THREATEN HUMANITY WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS
Albanese said no personal information is believed to have been accessed and that investigations remain ongoing.
"Nonetheless, this situation is obviously unacceptable," Albanese said.
In a statement provided to FOX Business, OpenAI spokesperson Drew Pusateri said the company identified activity involving several Australian government websites during an internal evaluation.
Pusateri said OpenAI is conducting an extensive review of "misaligned model activity" during training and evaluation and is notifying third parties when it "identifies potential impacts to their systems."
SAM ALTMAN IDENTIFIES TWO BIGGEST RISKS FACING AI'S FUTURE
"During this review, we identified activity involving several Australian government websites and services as our models attempted to look up answers and available statistics for questions about Australia during an internal evaluation," Pusateri said. "In the course of that, our models took actions we did not intend."
Pusateri said OpenAI's review found no evidence that patient records were accessed.
"The information accessed included aggregate health statistics and internal file names," Pusateri said. "We notified the organizations and are providing technical information to support their investigations and help address potential security vulnerabilities.
"Our overall review is ongoing, and we remain committed to transparency about these issues and to sharing what we learn as that work continues."
The company said it notified Services Australia Sept. 10 after validating what information had been accessed.
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The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of AI models and their capabilities.
Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei warned the United Nations Security Council Wednesday that rapidly advancing AI could threaten humanity if governments and industry fail to keep it under human control.
"We could lose control of the future to AI," Altman said. "The risk is that it moves so fast that people can no longer follow what's happening or intervene when needed. This would obviously be terrible."
Reuters and FOX Business' Isabel McKean contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/australia-pm-says-openai-agent-accessed-government-health-website-raises-extreme-concernMelania Trump urges AI 'vigilance,' says Americans need to get educatedFirst lady Melania Trump advocates for vigilance and education regarding artificial intelligences and shares how she uses the technology during and appearance on "The Big Money Show."
Fresh off ringing the opening bell at the New York Stock Exchange on Wednesday, first lady Melania Trump discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence during a wide-ranging interview on "The Big Money Show," sharing advice for Americans and revealing how she has used the technology herself.
"I know, now a big topic. It's AI, and everybody's scared about it. I feel that they need to be vigilant. We need to use it wisely," Trump told the "The Big Money Show" hosts Wednesday
The first lady stressed that AI users should also not "believe everything" and should educate themselves on platforms to see what's real or not.
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Artificial intelligence has become a focal point for Americans as the U.S. seeks to press forward with the technology while addressing regulation and the concerns over its "threat" to humanity.
President Donald Trump advocated for the push for American AI dominance during his speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday.
"Whoever wins AI, you have to remember this, and now I say whoever wins SI, whoever wins ‘superintelligence,’ wins. That's the group that wins," Trump said. "We're leading now over China by a lot and everyone else. We're going to keep it that way. We're going to keep it very straight and very strong."
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As the U.S. presses on in its AI adoption, the first lady was asked how it should be incorporated into schooling and family life.
"I think it should be incorporated," she said.
Mrs. Trump hinted at the AI race with China as President Xi Jinping is in the U.S. for a state visit.
"You know, for example, China, they're coming to visit, right? But they will not stop. We need to move ahead, and we need to be educated," she stressed.
The first lady continued touching on its educational use for children.
"For the children as well, I was just in North Carolina and I brought Nvidia and they donated a subscription to North Carolina schools," she said. "So they know what they're doing, and it's very important that you know to be vigilant and also have, you know, a time when you could be on, because AI can be very educational as well."
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"But you need to be very careful how you use it," she reiterated.
Turning towards her own application of AI, the first lady revealed to "The Big Money Show" co-hosts how she uses it.
"I use it more for research," Trump explained. "I research and it's easy. When you don't know something, I like to know everything. So for me, I research it, and you type it in, and you have information right away."
Trump highlighted how she verifies the AI responses.
"Of course, if something is saying, oh, is that true or not? You need to check it somewhere else, right? But that's how I use that, for search and for knowledge."
FOX Business' Eric Revell contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/melania-trump-urges-ai-vigilance-says-americans-need-get-educatedFlorida woman died after eating E coli-tainted frozen blueberries from Publix, lawsuit allegesA Florida family is suing Publix and Quirch Foods, alleging contaminated GreenWise frozen blueberries caused a woman's death and hospitalized her son.
A Florida family is suing Publix and food distributor Quirch Foods, alleging contaminated frozen blueberries sold by the grocery chain caused the death of a woman and hospitalized her son.
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges Karla Mullins became sick after eating GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries purchased from a Publix store on Ulmerton Road in Largo.
Her son ate the same product and was hospitalized after also becoming sick, according to the complaint.
Mullins died June 20, the lawsuit says. Her husband and son are seeking damages from Publix and Quirch Foods.
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"This family lost a treasured mother and wife because a product that was supposed to be safe was contaminated with a dangerous and deadly pathogen," Morgan & Morgan said in a news release. "Karla Mullins should be alive today. We intend to hold Publix and Quirch Foods fully accountable for the role they played in putting this product on store shelves and into the hands of unsuspecting customers."
The lawsuit accuses Publix, which sold the GreenWise blueberries, and Quirch Foods, which it identifies as an intermediate distributor, of liability over what it describes as a defective and unreasonably dangerous product.
Representatives for Publix, Quirch Foods and Morgan & Morgan did not immediately respond to FOX Business' requests for comment.
JAGUAR LAND ROVER RECALLS 23,000 SUVS OVER RISK OF SUDDEN DRIVE POWER LOSS
The lawsuit follows a recall of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries tied to a multistate E. coli O145:H28 outbreak.
Chilean supplier Frutas y Hortalizas del Sur S.A. initially recalled one lot of GreenWise Organic frozen blueberries July 3.
Publix expanded the recall July 29 to cover all lots of GreenWise Organic Whole Blueberries and Whole Mixed Berries.
Federal health officials have linked the frozen berries to an outbreak of E. coli O145:H28, a Shiga toxin-producing strain that can cause severe stomach cramps, diarrhea and vomiting.
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The lawsuit was filed in Pinellas County Circuit Court.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/florida-woman-died-eating-e-coli-tainted-frozen-blueberries-publix-lawsuit-allegesLARRY KUDLOW: Getting rid of the IRGC and the Houthis is better than a Diesel price control banCutting back diesel for export means cutting back oil, which means cutting back gasoline, which means shortages of gasoline and higher gasoline prices
Price controls are always a bad idea. They create shortages, profit losses, and eventually much higher prices when the controls are finally lifted. So this administration idea of a diesel export ban, is a problem if it really goes through.
Think of it this way, President Trump would be taking some number of barrels per day of diesel fuel off the market. That’s what a ban is. I don’t know the exact numbers, but the American Petroleum Institute says that of the 8 million barrels of diesel fuel that is traded by sea, America supplies about 1.5 million barrels of diesel, that’s about 20 percent.
So an export ban would take a big chunk off the market. And that will jack up even higher international prices. Because it’s an internationally traded commodity. There’s really no way around it. Here’s another problem with the diesel export ban. Diesel comes from export production. You can’t just stop producing diesel. If you enforce this ban, presumably it would end drilling and production of oil, because diesel is a distillate of oil.
Yet that includes another distillate of oil which is gasoline. If you knock down crude oil runs, in order to clear the 1.5 million barrels of oil a day diesel surplus that we currently export, gasoline production would fall by roughly between 550,000 and 750,000 barrels of oil per day. Some oil companies think that would translate roughly to a 30 cent hike in the price of a gallon of gasoline, which is not what we want.
So in other words, cutting back diesel for export, means cutting back oil, which means cutting back gasoline, which means shortages of gasoline and higher gasoline prices. Not to speak of the world price of diesel going up. So it would be pretty self defeating. By the way the Northeast will feel the brunt of this, because the Northeast and East Coast import all manner of fuel from overseas. So they’d get slaughtered. Maybe all those climate change greenies deserve it.
Now as I understand it, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent all oppose this diesel export ban. On the other hand, Vice President Vance and some Republican senators favor the ban. The president may be leaning toward it, but I hear the final decision has not yet been made.
Back to the economics of it, we need to increase the nation’s refining capacity everywhere. We need more crude oil, gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, all of it. The administration has tried hard to streamline permitting rules and regulations, which is the key, but these things take time.
There may be 65 billion barrels of oil reserves in Venezuela, but lifting that is going to take time. Meanwhile, somehow I have a better solution to the diesel and oil price problem, and that is regime change in Iran, as the president hinted at in his historic United Nations speech yesterday.
And then, while we’re waiting for that, how about taking out the Houthis and reopening the Red Sea, that might get us another 2 million to 3 million barrels of oil coming to market. Getting rid of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a lot better policy than price controls. Just saying.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-getting-rid-irgc-houthis-better-than-diesel-price-control-banAdidas becomes Unrivaled's official uniform and performance apparel partner in multiyear partnershipAdidas became Unrivaled's official uniform and performance apparel partner in a multi-year deal debuting in the 2027 season of the 3-on-3 league.
As the Unrivaled women’s basketball league continues to grow, Adidas is jumping on board with a multiyear partnership to become its official uniform and performance apparel partner.
The fast-growing women’s 3-on-3 league, founded by WNBA stars Breanna Stewart and Napheesa Collier, will now be outfitted with Adidas’ gear, while introducing a broader assortment of officially licensed merchandise, including authentic jerseys and lifestyle collections, to fans.
Adidas will also become the apparel provider for Unrivaled’s youth camps, clinics and related community basketball programming.
The partnership will debut on the Unrivaled court at the start of the 2027 season.
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"We continue our journey to be the next generation brand of basketball," Max Staiger, global general manager of Adidas Basketball, said in an official statement. "Unrivaled shares our belief for what’s possible in women’s basketball, and investing in athletes is the best way to grow the game. We’re excited to partner with the league to advance that vision through innovation, athlete empowerment and new opportunities that grow the game at every level."
This partnership aims to strengthen women’s basketball by enhancing the athlete and fan experience, while opening new doors for the next generation of young players.
"Our partnership with Adidas represents an important next step in Unrivaled’s growth and evolution," Alex Bazzell, Unrivaled co-founder and CEO said.
"Adidas shares in our vision and commitment to investing in the future of women’s basketball, and together we’ll elevate the athlete experience, create new opportunities for our players and service our fans even better."
Since the league’s debut in 2025, Unrivaled has quickly emerged as one of the fastest-growing properties in sports, putting together some of the world’s best women’s basketball players across eight different clubs, and most players have equity in the league.
Because Unrivaled is so focused on athlete empowerment and expanding the sport, it was only natural to bring in Adidas, a global leader with a similar mission.
"Adidas has a long history of investing in the athletes and moments that define this game," women’s basketball legend Candace Parker, who serves as president of Adidas Women’s Basketball, said in a statement.
"Through this partnership, Adidas will bring elite performance innovation to Unrivaled athletes while continuing to invest in the future of women’s basketball at every level."
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In August, Unrivaled announced that its Series C fundraiser, led by Ten Pillars Sports Fund, surpassed an initial $100 million target and was oversubscribed at a league valuation of $650 million.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/sports/adidas-becomes-unrivaleds-official-uniform-performance-apparel-partner-multi-year-partnershipEffective AI governance doesn't slow innovation, AI expert tells House panelEqualAI CEO Miriam Vogel urged AI governance across the full lifecycle, citing simulations where ordinary agentic AI deployments escalated into crises.
A House panel held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the need for the U.S. and China to responsibly pace artificial intelligence (AI) development ahead of this week's meeting between President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party held a virtual shadow hearing led by Ranking Member Ro Khanna, D-Calif., with a focus on calls for controlling AI development to address risks like the loss of control or misalignment that could have economic and social consequences.
EqualAI CEO Miriam Vogel told the panel that there is a need for international engagement over AI governance, including between the U.S. and China, explaining that while "our institutions and values are different, if the U.S. wants to shape global AI norms, we first have to define and operationalize our own."
Vogel added that "American leadership on AI requires leadership on AI governance," and said that it can also help foster innovation, saying that "effective governance does not slow down innovation. It's the infrastructure that allows innovation to scale."
ANTHROPIC, OPENAI CEOS WARN AI COULD THREATEN HUMANITY WITHOUT SAFEGUARDS
Vogel compared AI governance to regulations covering the automotive and aviation industries that are relied upon every day around the country.
"We fly 45,000 flights across the U.S. airspace daily because passengers trust international safeguards for certification, inspection, maintenance and investigation. We put our families in our vehicles daily because we know they've met global and national safety standards," she said.
"AI needs that same institutional discipline and we need an AI-literate workforce. This is a workforce issue, a competitiveness issue, and a national security issue," she added.
TRUMP REBRANDS AI, REJECTS 'GLOBALIST SCHEME' TO CONTROL TECH
Vogel discussed additional elements of what she sees as a plan for AI governance, saying that there is a need for "governance throughout the AI lifecycle."
"Too often, proposed safeguards end with the model development. Some of the highest-stakes AI interactions occur during deployment in financial institutions, hospitals, workplaces, and public institutions where governance can be weakest," she said.
Vogel noted findings by the World Economic Forum that less than 1% of companies have strong AI governance, while McKinsey reported that under a third of companies have AI governance in place.
Agentic AI, which can take actions and interact with other systems with a measure of autonomy granted by the user, may pose a concern without sufficient governance. Vogel explained that a simulation at EqualAI's agentic AI governance summit showed a lack of governance can lead to scenarios where "ordinary deployments quickly escalated into incidents and then crises."
TRUMP TO DECIDE WHETHER TO GREEN LIGHT US-CHINA ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE 'HOTLINE' AGREEMENT: SOURCES
The Trump administration is reportedly considering creating a "hotline" between the U.S. and China, similar to those used by the military, to give the two sides a direct line of communication if AI-related problems arise, like hacking, national security concerns, rogue AIs or other issues.
President Donald Trump has argued against regulations that could rein in AI development, telling the UN General Assembly this week that he doesn't want to stifle the growth of a technology that could be transformational for the economy.
AI leaders like Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman have said they need to pace the development of cutting-edge frontier models to ensure the AI remains aligned and doesn't elude developers' ability to control it.
"Discussions about a pause in AI development must include China. American leadership requires governance that allows AI systems to earn and deserve, and safeguards should extend across the AI life cycle," Vogel said.
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"We have navigated technological transformation before, not by stopping innovation, but by building the institutions capable of governing it," she added.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/effective-ai-governance-doesnt-slow-innovation-ai-expert-tells-house-panelAs Trump and Xi meet, Chinese automakers could be a Pandora's box for U.S. auto industryTrump’s meeting with Xi comes as U.S. automakers and lawmakers push to keep restrictions on Chinese vehicles and manufacturers.{}
McDonald's CEO expects high inflation, lackluster traffic are here to stayMcDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said that he expects that high inflation and flat traffic will continue to weigh on the restaurant industry.{}
The Overlooked Fast Track for Cutting Planetary Warming
NEW YORK, September 24 (IPS) - Among the three of us, we have 15 decades of high-level experience in climate science, policies and actions, and we have never been more alarmed than we are at this moment. The United Nations has just officially declared that the world has failed in limiting global warming to a safe level. During the last decade, heat-trapping pollutants nearly doubled the rate that heat is being added to the planet—a rate that will push temperatures across the 1.5°Celsius threshold in five years or less and breach the first barrier of the Paris Agreement. This will further destabilize natural climate systems and amplify weather extremes, which are already costing the world economy more than $ 2 trillion annually. At the current rate of warming, the global temperature is likely to cross 2° Celsius in about 15 years, the outer limit of the Paris Agreement, taking us into a climate not witnessed by homo sapiens, ever.
Read the full story, “The Overlooked Fast Track for Cutting Planetary Warming”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44134 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/Matt-Palmer-100x100.jpg"}A New Arms Race is Threatening to Take-off—this time in Outer Space
UNITED NATIONS, September 24 (IPS) - The world’s ongoing arms race is threatening to extend beyond planet earth—and spillover into outer space.The US has deployed weapons in space and will use them to defend American forces, Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said last week, according to Cable News Network (CNN). His comments marked the first public acknowledgment of such capabilities, though he offered no details about the weapons or when they were put into orbit.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/24/44135 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/copuos_2-100x100.jpg"}Anthropic, OpenAI CEOs warn AI could threaten humanity without safeguardsThe OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs urged world leaders to move quickly on AI governance, warning the technology's rapid advancement could outpace human oversight.
The CEOs of two of the world's leading AI companies warned the United Nations Security Council on Wednesday that rapidly advancing AI could threaten humanity if governments and industry fail to keep it under human control.
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said AI has enormous potential but also carries significant risks if it is not developed responsibly.
"If managed poorly, I even believe AI could be a risk to humanity as a whole," Amodei told the 15-member council during a special meeting on AI held alongside the U.N. General Assembly.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman delivered a similar warning, saying AI's development could move "so fast" that humans no longer have the ability to understand or intervene.
SAM ALTMAN IDENTIFIES TWO BIGGEST RISKS FACING AI'S FUTURE
"We could lose control of the future to AI," Altman said. "The risk is that it moves so fast that people can no longer follow what's happening or intervene when needed. This would obviously be terrible."
The meeting comes as concerns grow over increasingly advanced AI systems.
"For all the differences of the people in this room, we must put aside those differences in order to confront this global opportunity and global threat that is being presented to us at the same time," Amodei said. "No leader, no company and no nation can manage this alone."
EMPLOYEES AT AI COMPANIES BACK BERNIE SANDERS BILL CRACKING DOWN ON DEVELOPMENT
Altman also urged countries to work together on AI as the technology continues to advance.
"If AI is to be democratic, the most important decisions cannot be made by labs in San Francisco alone," he said. "They must be shaped through democratic processes and by governments, accountable to the people that they serve. At the international level, this will require cooperation."
He added, "In our history, there have been times where countries who compete and don't always like each other very much still come together for shared interests and the collective good in the face of a powerful new technology. We believe this must be one of those times."
TRUMP REBRANDS AI, REJECTS 'GLOBALIST SCHEME' TO CONTROL TECH
The debate over how to develop and govern AI has intensified in recent weeks.
Earlier this month, Amodei published an essay urging the industry to "slow the pace" of frontier AI development. The essay drew public support from Altman and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
The discussion at the U.N. also came a day after President Donald Trump said the U.S. would reject what he described as a "globalist scheme" to control AI, while emphasizing that the U.S. should remain the global leader in the technology.
French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Pascal Confavreux told Fox News Digital in an interview that France is seeking to bring artificial intelligence to the center of international security discussions, with a special UN Security Council meeting on Wednesday featuring executives from OpenAI, Anthropic and Hugging Face.
"For a few weeks now, we wanted to bring AI at the center stage," Confavreux said, explaining that the meeting was the first of its kind to feature briefers at this level from leading AI companies.
He said recent cybersecurity concerns, including a reported hacking incident involving Hugging Face, underscore the need to address AI-related security risks at the international level.
"We need to bring that into the discussions of the global community," he said.
The meeting was chaired by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, alongside the Security Council's 14 other members.
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Confavreux also highlighted a separate meeting led by French President Emmanuel Macron focused on protecting young people from the risks associated with AI and the digital age.
"AI is a fantastic accelerator for many things in our daily lives," he said, adding that protecting young people in the digital age must be addressed globally rather than solely at the national level
FOX Business' Eric Revell and Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/anthropic-openai-ceos-warn-ai-could-threaten-humanity-without-safeguardsCracker Barrel upgrading 3 popular dinner items as chain completes 26-store property dealCracker Barrel announced plans to upgrade three popular dinner items. Separately, the chain said it used proceeds from a property deal to pay down debt and strengthen its balance sheet.
Cracker Barrel is upgrading three of its most popular dinner offerings while separately using proceeds from a real estate transaction involving 26 company-owned restaurants to reduce debt and support future growth.
The Lebanon, Tennessee-based chain said Wednesday that it plans to improve the quality of its chicken, hamburger and steak dinners, calling dinner its "biggest opportunity" as it works to improve guest satisfaction.
"We are making investments to improve food quality," President and CEO Dave Deno said during the company's fourth-quarter earnings call. "Dinner is our biggest opportunity, and we plan to upgrade our chicken, hamburger, and steak offerings."
Deno said Cracker Barrel wants to ensure its food consistently meets guests' expectations for "taste, temperature, and quality on every visit."
NEW CEO INHERITS CRACKER BARREL STILL RECOVERING FROM REBRAND BACKLASH
The chief executive said his priorities are centered on food, the guest experience and employees as Cracker Barrel works to build on improving traffic and profitability.
"A big part of my management philosophy is doing fewer things better and concentrating on opportunities that could have the greatest impact," Deno said. "For restaurants, the formula is pretty straightforward. You must offer great food, provide a great guest experience, and hire and retain excellent employees who deliver both."
"These are the priorities that we will be focused on: food, experience and people," he added.
Alongside the menu upgrades, Cracker Barrel said it completed a sale-leaseback transaction involving 26 company-owned restaurants that generated approximately $77 million in net proceeds.
"The sale leaseback transaction generated $77 million in net proceeds, which were used to pay down debt and partially offset the $150 million debt related to the 0.625% convertible senior notes that matured and was repaid in June," Chief Financial Officer Craig Pommells said. "The quarter ended with total debt of $337.2 million, which was $147.4 million below the prior year."
CRACKER BARREL CEO JULIE MASINO TO STEP DOWN
Deno said Cracker Barrel continues to see pressure among lower-income consumers, though customer trends have improved.
"When it comes to us specifically, yes, we do see some pressure with our low-income guests, but our trends, as I said, have gotten better," Deno said.
Still, Chief Financial Officer Craig Pommells said the chain's value remains an advantage, noting the average guest check is about $16.
"If you're feeling pressured from a discretionary income perspective, there are a lot of ways you can still have a great experience at Cracker Barrel," Pommells said.
The company also said higher freight costs, including fuel surcharges, are already factored into its fiscal 2027 outlook.
"We are seeing fuel surcharges and so on related to freight, both from the perspective of retail, but to a lesser degree on the restaurant side. All of that's built into our projection with the best information that we have today," Pommells said.
CRACKER BARREL RESPONDS TO REPORTS ABOUT EMPLOYEE DINING REQUIREMENTS DURING WORK TRAVEL
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Deno took over as CEO in August following the departure of Julie Masino, whose tenure included a rebrand that drew criticism from some longtime customers.
The overhaul, part of a roughly $700 million investment across Cracker Barrel's restaurants, included updates to store interiors, menu changes and the temporary removal of the chain's iconic "Old Timer" logo before it was later restored.
FOX Business' Eric Revell contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/cracker-barrel-upgrading-3-popular-dinner-items-chain-completes-26-store-property-dealWhy McDonald's is following Walmart and Amazon into the advertising businessMcDonald's is following the lead of Amazon and Walmart as it starts its own media network.{}
McDonald's stock falls as it unveils plan to spend big on restaurant upgradesThe plans are part of the fast-food giant's new growth strategy, called McDonald's > NEXT.{}
Former MLB All-Star Albert Pujols backs AI revolution, says it's 'great for baseball'Albert Pujols says the new ball-strike challenge system puts umpires in a tough situation but calls the changes great for baseball and fans.
Albert Pujols is embracing baseball's technology-driven changes, arguing that a new way to challenge ball-and-strike calls could give players another chance when a game is on the line.
The former MLB All-Star joined FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." to discuss the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System, which allows batters, pitchers and catchers to contest ball-and-strike calls, and how changes to the game could benefit fans.
The system gives batters, pitchers and catchers a way to challenge an umpire's ball-or-strike call rather than leaving a potentially pivotal decision unchanged. For Pujols, who finished his career with 703 home runs, its appeal is especially clear in the final moments of a close game.
NEW YORK OVERTAKES SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AS LARGEST US TECH TALENT MARKET BY WORKFORCE SIZE
"I love it," Pujols said, "I didn't play… My career with it but now covering in baseball and watching some of the guys taking a chance and opportunity what I love the most is that there might be a chance in the bottom of the ninth and they might call strike on you… And you might get a chance to come back… And probably win so it's a second opportunity."
Pujols acknowledged that challenges can put umpires in a difficult position, but he connected the latest change to baseball's broader push to improve the pace of play. He pointed to the pitch clock as another adjustment that initially drew questions but has helped shorten games.
META'S MUSE BECOMES APP STORE'S HOTTEST DOWNLOAD
"We put the umpires in a tough situation… But this is where we are in baseball right now," he said. Later, discussing the changes and their effect on spectators, he added, "This is great for baseball."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/former-mlb-all-star-albert-pujols-backs-ai-revolution-says-its-great-baseballMcDonald’s to spend $8.5B on revamping restaurants, tech and franchise supportMcDonald's plans to provide $8.5 billion in franchisee support through 2036 as part of its NEXT strategy to modernize restaurants and boost growth.
McDonald's on Wednesday announced new details as part of its long-term growth strategy, which will include a focus on upgrading restaurants and staff training, at an investor day at the corporate headquarters in Chicago.
The fast-food giant announced its NEXT growth and productivity strategy in June and outlined plans to implement changes throughout its system.
McDonald's said that to speed up the modernization of restaurants, deployment of technology and other operational improvements, it plans to provide about $8.5 billion in NEXT partnering support for franchisees through 2036, with roughly $5 billion provided through 2030.
The NEXT support for franchisees will include a combination of capital support and rent relief.
MCDONALD'S SAYS US SALES SLOWED AFTER VALUE DEAL PUSH FELL SHORT
The support comes with a target of about 250 basis points of gross restaurant-level efficiency improvements amounting to about $100,000 in annual cash flow benefits for the average restaurant, with the company saying the majority of that would benefit the restaurant's bottom line over time.
McDonald's announcement noted that the restaurant component of the plan aims to boost growth and productivity through simplified operations, elevated execution, modernized restaurant design and deploying generative AI-enabled ArchIQ at scale.
MCDONALD’S SHAKES UP FALL COFFEE LINEUP AS PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON HEATS UP
The company also announced a multiyear training program called "Make it Golden" that will begin on Founder's Day, Oct. 5, which aims to improve customer service to create more consistency for patrons and increase repeat visits.
"McDonald's has the unmatched scale, customer insights, brand loyalty, and operational capabilities to not only adapt to the next wave of change in our industry, but to turn it into an advantage," said McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski. "That's what McDonald's > NEXT is about: to be the first choice for more customers, more often – while making our restaurants stronger and easier to run."
MCDONALD'S SERVING UP NEW KIND OF ENERGY BOOST ON MENUS NATIONWIDE
"We are confident that executing across the key components of NEXT will unlock stronger restaurant economics, generate attractive returns for the Company, our franchisees and shareholders, and increase capacity to keep investing in growth," Kempczinski added.
McDonald's announcement also included new market share targets, calling for 1.5 percentage points of growth in both chicken and beverages by 2030, while also maintaining the company's leadership in beef market share.
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Sales growth from unit expansion is also targeted to contribute nearly 2.5% to system-wide sales growth in 2027, moderating to about 2% by 2030.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/mcdonalds-spend-8-5b-revamping-restaurants-tech-franchise-supportMcDonald’s to spend $8.5B on revamping restaurants and staff training to boost salesMcDonald's plans to provide $8.5 billion in franchisee support through 2036 as part of its NEXT strategy to modernize restaurants and boost growth.
McDonald's on Wednesday announced new details as part of its long-term growth strategy, which will include a focus on upgrading restaurants and staff training, at an investor day at the corporate headquarters in Chicago.
The fast food giant announced its NEXT growth and productivity strategy in June and outlined plans to implement changes throughout its system.
McDonald's said that to speed up the modernization of restaurants, deployment of technology and other operational improvements, it plans to provide about $8.5 billion in NEXT partnering support for franchisees through 2036, with roughly $5 billion provided through 2030.
The NEXT support for franchisees will include a combination of capital support and rent relief.
MCDONALD'S SAYS US SALES SLOWED AFTER VALUE DEAL PUSH FELL SHORT
The support comes with a target of about 250 basis points of gross restaurant-level efficiency improvements amounting to about $100,000 in annual cash flow benefits for the average restaurant, with the company saying the majority of that would benefit the restaurant's bottom line over time.
McDonald's announcement noted that the restaurant component of the plan aims to boost growth and productivity through simplified operations, elevated execution, modernized restaurant design and deploying generative AI-enabled ArchIQ at scale.
MCDONALD’S SHAKES UP FALL COFFEE LINEUP AS PUMPKIN SPICE SEASON HEATS UP
The company also announced a multiyear training program called "Make it Golden" that will begin on Founder's Day, Oct. 5, which aims to improve customer service to create more consistency for patrons and increase repeat visits.
"McDonald's has the unmatched scale, customer insights, brand loyalty, and operational capabilities to not only adapt to the next wave of change in our industry, but to turn it into an advantage," said McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski. "That's what McDonald's > NEXT is about: to be the first choice for more customers, more often – while making our restaurants stronger and easier to run."
MCDONALD'S SERVING UP NEW KIND OF ENERGY BOOST ON MENUS NATIONWIDE
"We are confident that executing across the key components of NEXT will unlock stronger restaurant economics, generate attractive returns for the Company, our franchisees and shareholders, and increase capacity to keep investing in growth," Kempczinski added.
McDonald's announcement also included new market share targets, calling for 1.5 percentage points of growth in both chicken and beverages by 2030, while also maintaining the company's leadership in beef market share.
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Sales growth from unit expansion is also targeted to contribute nearly 2.5% to system-wide sales growth in 2027, moderating to about 2% by 2030.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/mcdonalds-spend-8-5b-revamping-restaurants-staff-training-boost-salesTech giant CEO announces she will attend Trump-Xi state dinnerAMD CEO Lisa Su confirmed she will attend the Trump-Xi state dinner alongside tech leaders Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Jensen Huang and Tim Cook.
As U.S. leadership in artificial intelligence (AI) and the semiconductor industry remains a central economic and national security issue, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Chair and CEO Lisa Su said she will attend President Donald Trump's state dinner for Chinese President Xi Jinping.
"I'm honored to say that I will be at the dinner tomorrow night," Su told FOX Business' Liz Claman in a fireside chat on Wednesday during a trip to the New York Stock Exchange celebrating women in business. "It is an honor… to be there."
"This summit between the presidents, President Xi and President Trump, is very impactful, very important. I think technology is one of those areas where we rely on the global ecosystem to come together. So, yes, I think we're anxiously looking at what will come out of it. And the truth is, we want to ensure that there's good stability across the global ecosystem as it relates to technology."
DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS URGE TRUMP TO PRESERVE BAN ON CHINESE AUTOMAKERS AS HE PREPARES TO MEET XI
Su will join other prominent American tech leaders, including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Apple's Tim Cook. The tech leaders' anticipated attendance at the Trump-Xi state dinner comes at a time of geopolitical tensions, including over the development of AI and access to both models and the chips that power them.
The U.S. and China are competing to develop increasingly capable AI tools, a source of tension between the two countries. China's access to specialized chips that power advanced AI models has been restricted through U.S. export controls on advanced semiconductors, including those made by Nvidia.
President Trump recently described AI as potentially the greatest industrial revolution in history. As demand for compute capability grows, leaders in the industry face a dual responsibility to expand U.S. technology while establishing technical safeguards.
"I am an AI optimist," Su said. "You know, I will say that for sure… And I'm not, you know, just saying this because I'm a technology person. In terms of power, of technology and what I've seen over my career over the last 30 plus years, it is the most powerful technology I've ever seen."
"The world is going to be very ambitious with AI. The world should be very ambitious with AI. And I think we as technology companies and we as the American U.S. ecosystem must continue to be very aggressive while also ensuring that everybody comes together and realizes that we must build trust in AI," she continued. "It is absolutely non-negotiable that we must build trust in AI."
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A red carpet rollout is planned for when Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, arrive at Joint Base Andrews on Wednesday evening, replete with an arrival ceremony for the man who has found himself at odds with Trump on issues ranging from artificial intelligence and intellectual property theft, trade practices, rare-earth minerals to the communist country's support for Iran during America's military conflict there. Xi hasn't visited the nation's capital in more than a decade.
AI will be a major topic of discussion during the two-day summit, which officially begins Thursday morning and ends Friday evening, according to a senior administration official.
FOX Business' Eric Revell and Fox News' Peter D’Abrosca and Ashley J. DiMella contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/tech-giant-ceo-announces-attend-trump-xi-state-dinnerMcDonald's will spend big on restaurant upgrades, training to drive growthThe plans are part of the fast-food giant's new growth strategy, called McDonald's > NEXT.{}
IRAQ: ‘Art Is the Only Weapon That Doesn’t Hurt or Kill’
CIVICUS discusses public art, gender-based violence and censorship in Iraqi Kurdistan with Tara Abdullah, a multidisciplinary visual artist from Sulaymaniyah who is currently based in Oslo, Norway as part of the Safemuse – Safe Havens for Artists residency.
Read the full story, “IRAQ: ‘Art Is the Only Weapon That Doesn’t Hurt or Kill’”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/23/44126 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/Tara-Abdullah-100x100.jpg"}Floods, Hunger and Disease Pile on Myanmar’s Civil War Misery
YANGON, Myanmar, September 23 (IPS) - Isolated and at constant war with itself, Myanmar’s humanitarian crisis is deepening as global challenges far exceed the capacity to respond of a military regime increasingly focused on its own survival.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/23/44125 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/IMG_9782-100x100.jpg"}Employees at AI companies back Bernie Sanders bill cracking down on developmentSen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Greg Casar are pushing to halt advanced artificial intelligence development and establish a new cabinet-level AI agency.
Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and Rep. Greg Casar, D-Texas, are introducing sweeping legislation Wednesday that would permanently ban artificial "superintelligence" and temporarily halt advanced AI development, an effort that has garnered support from several tech industry insiders.
The formal rollout of the legislation and an accompanying statement of support from employees at leading AI firms were first reported by The Associated Press.
The lawmakers' proposal would establish a new cabinet-level agency, the Department of Artificial Intelligence, to oversee advanced AI systems. Under the bill, advanced AI development would be paused until the new agency establishes federal safety rules and a model review process, after which advanced systems would be subject to federal approval before deployment.
The legislation would permanently prohibit the development and deployment of artificial superintelligence and impose penalties on people or companies that attempt to violate or circumvent its restrictions. Individuals could face up to 20 years in prison, according to a legislative framework released by Sanders' office.
TRUMP REBRANDS AI, REJECTS ‘GLOBALIST SCHEME’ TO CONTROL TECH
The bill defines artificial superintelligence as systems that surpass human intelligence or possess certain dangerous capabilities, including the ability to subvert shutdown commands.
Multiple employees at leading AI companies, including OpenAI and Google DeepMind, signed a statement supporting the legislation, the AP reported.
"Superintelligence could either go extremely right or extremely wrong," OpenAI Safety Systems researcher Juan Felipe Cerón Uribe said in a statement supporting the bill obtained by the AP, adding that society "shouldn't be playing such games."
"It doesn't take a genius to say, 'slow it down,'" Sanders told the AP in an interview.
FOX Business has reached out to Sanders' and Casar's office for comment as well as OpenAI and Google DeepMind.
The legislation comes amid a broader debate in Washington over whether rapid advances in AI require stronger federal safeguards. While some tech leaders have warned about potentially catastrophic risks, President Donald Trump has resisted calls for additional AI regulation and emphasized maintaining U.S. leadership in the rapidly developing sector.
Trump reiterated his opposition to new AI regulations during an address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, while saying the Justice Department could step in if necessary to rein in the industry.
The prospect of slowing American AI development while China continues advancing has emerged as a central concern among opponents of sweeping restrictions as the two countries compete for technological dominance.
Sanders has argued that avoiding the most dangerous forms of AI will ultimately require international cooperation. His legislation would make it U.S. policy to pursue international agreements, coordination with allies and other measures aimed at preventing the development of artificial superintelligence around the world.
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The Vermont senator has repeatedly compared the challenge to nuclear arms control during the Cold War. In public remarks last week, Sanders called for binding international AI safety rules and urged Trump to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jinping on a potential pause in advanced AI development and a ban on superintelligence.
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National Grocers Association CEO warns America could be left with just 'five or six national chains'The National Grocers Association warns America is facing an "inflection point" where independent grocers could vanish, leaving just five or six national chains.
Independent grocers are facing mounting pressure from national retailers, with the head of the National Grocers Association warning that weak competition could eventually leave Americans with only a handful of major grocery chains.
Greg Ferrara, president and CEO of the National Grocers Association, told FOX Business that independent stores are fighting to maintain access to products and competitive terms in an increasingly consolidated industry.
He warned that America was approaching an "inflection point."
"Independent grocers want to make sure they're going to be around for the next generation. They're going to be around for their Main Street and their communities and all the organizations they support there," Ferrara said. "But they're not going to be here, quite frankly, if they aren't able to compete."
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"If we don't have free markets, we don't have open markets, if we don't allow the best entrepreneur out there to win and serve their customers, we're gonna wake up one day in this country and we're gonna have just five or six national chains that are gonna be serving most of our customers," Ferrara said.
"I think at the end of the day, that's bad for America, that is bad for the communities that we serve, and it's bad for consumers," he continued.
Ferrara said independent grocers sometimes struggle to obtain the same products, promotions and purchasing terms available to the largest national retailers. For example, he said new products can be offered exclusively to a large chain for a period of time, leaving local competitors unable to sell something their customers want.
"Consumers want those products and they want to be able to buy them at their local stores, but they can't," he said. "So they're now being boxed out and forced to go to one national chain that often has it."
THE FAST-FOOD CHAIN WHERE MANAGERS AVERAGE MORE THAN $200K A YEAR
Ferrara stressed that independent grocers aren't seeking favoritism: "They're not asking for special treatment. They're not asking for a leg up. All they're saying is give me a chance to compete."
According to NGA, independents represent more than 38% of total supermarket spending. Ferrara argued they can purchase products efficiently and at scale.
"They buy in truckloads and they buy efficiently," he said. "They just need the access to those products and to those items to be able to be successful."
Ferrara said independent grocers operate on net profit margins of less than 2%, leaving little room to absorb additional costs or competitive disadvantages.
"When you're effectively having one arm tied behind your back because you can't get access to the products that the consumer wants or the package size that they want, that's a challenge," he said.
He said some NGA members believe the situation in certain product categories is "worse than ever."
The Justice Department recently expanded its beef affordability investigation to include eight major grocery retailers — Kroger, Publix, Walmart, Albertsons, Aldi, Ahold Delhaize, Costco and Amazon — after previously opening an antitrust investigation into major meatpackers.
DOJ is examining retail beef prices, margins, purchasing arrangements and other factors influencing prices, FOX Business previously reported.
Ferrara said he did not want to prejudge DOJ's investigation but argued that greater competition would benefit consumers.
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"We believe the more competition there is in the marketplace, that will ultimately benefit consumers, that will drive prices down," he said. "It gives consumers choice and it gives our retailers the ability to serve and support local ranchers and farmers."
"Ultimately, the DOJ needs to run their course," Ferrara said. "I won't weigh in on that."
Beef prices remain high, Ferrara acknowledged, but he said independent grocers are seeing consumers adjust rather than abandon beef altogether.
"The price definitely may cause consumers to pull back a little bit," he said. "Instead of buying a roast, they're going to buy a smaller cut... or ground versus a steak, and they're gonna trade down."
To counter the potential sticker shock, Ferrara said independent stores might run stronger promotions on ground beef or offer smaller packages so shoppers don't face as high a total price at checkout.
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Looking ahead, Ferrara said he remains optimistic about the future of independent grocers.
"I think we're gonna see a future that corrects course because ultimately that's what consumers want," he said. "We want to make sure that we're taking the steps today to ensure that these businesses will be successful tomorrow."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/national-grocers-association-ceo-warns-america-could-left-just-five-six-national-chains