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Meta CEO to testify in high-stakes trial that could cost Big Tech billionsMark Zuckerberg will testify in a landmark trial over claims that Meta's platforms harm children. The historic case could set a precedent for tech company liability.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will testify Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court in a landmark trial over claims that social media platforms harm children — his first time answering youth safety allegations before a jury.
The bellwether lawsuit, K.G.M. v. Meta Platforms, Inc., et al., was filed by a 20-year-old California woman identified by her initials. She alleges that Meta and other social media companies engineered their platforms to hook young users, fueling her depression and suicidal thoughts, and is seeking to hold the companies accountable.
Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube deny the allegations, citing years of expanded safety features and parental controls as part of their defense. The tech titans are expected to point to other factors in K.G.M.’s life, highlight their investments in youth safety and argue they should not be held responsible for harmful content uploaded by users.
A verdict for the plaintiff, K.G.M., could set a precedent for holding tech companies responsible for harmful design decisions, despite years of successfully invoking Section 230’s content liability shield. Section 230 is a federal law that largely shields online platforms from lawsuits related to user-posted content.
A rejection of that defense could pave the way for similar lawsuits across the country, exposing Meta and other tech companies to billions in damages and pressuring them to redesign their platforms.
BIG TECH'S TOBACCO MOMENT IS HERE — AND THE TRUTH ABOUT HARMING KIDS IS OUT
Beyond this case, Meta and Google face more than 2,300 related lawsuits filed by parents, school districts and state attorneys general in federal court.
The wave of lawsuits reflects a growing backlash against social media companies over concerns about their impact on children’s mental health and safety. Lawmakers, parents and regulators have increasingly accused platforms of prioritizing growth and engagement over protecting young users.
In New Mexico, opening statements began Monday in a separate case brought by the state’s attorney general accusing Meta of exposing minors to sexual exploitation and profiting from it — allegations the company denies.
The scrutiny isn’t limited to the United States.
Countries including Australia and Spain have moved to restrict social media access for users under 16, citing concerns about addiction, online harms and mental health. Other governments are weighing similar age-based limits as pressure mounts worldwide.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/meta-ceo-testify-high-stakes-trial-could-cost-big-tech-billionsTesla dodges California license suspension after dropping misleading 'autopilot' marketing termsTesla avoids California license suspension after stopping "autopilot" use in marketing following state DMV order over misleading advertising practices.
Tesla will avoid a 30-day suspension of its dealer and manufacturer licenses in California after complying with a state order to stop using the term "autopilot" when marketing its vehicles, state regulators said Tuesday.
The decision comes after the California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) found in December 2025 that Tesla violated state law by misleadingly marketing its electric vehicles with the terms "autopilot" and "full self-driving."
The regulator said Tuesday that Elon Musk’s electric vehicle company took "corrective action" and had stopped using the term "autopilot," and noted that Tesla already modified its use of the term "full self-driving" by clarifying that driver supervision is required.
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"The DMV is committed to safety throughout all California’s roadways and communities," California DMV Director Steve Gordon said in a statement. "The department is pleased that Tesla took the required action to remain in compliance with the State of California’s consumer protections."
According to the DMV, Tesla's Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) marketing materials beginning in 2021 used the terms "autopilot" and "full self-driving capability," along with the phrase, "The system is designed to be able to conduct short and long-distance trips with no action required by the person in the driver’s seat."
However, the DMV said the vehicles "could not at the time of those advertisements, and cannot now, operate as autonomous vehicles."
The DMV filed accusations against Tesla’s manufacturer and dealer licenses in November 2023, and the automaker Tesla discontinued use of the term "full self-driving capability" after noting that the system required driver supervision.
TESLA ENDS PRODUCTION OF MODEL S AND MODEL X VEHICLES, WILL FOCUS ON ROBOTS IN 2026
Last year, the California Office of Administrative Hearings held a hearing before an administrative law judge, who issued a proposed decision in November finding that the term "autopilot" violated state law.
The DMV had given Tesla 60 days to take corrective action. By complying, Tesla avoided a temporary suspension in California — its largest U.S. market.
According to its website, Tesla's "autopilot" feature allows vehicles to match the speed of traffic and assists with steering within a marked lane.
The "full self-driving (supervision)" feature alerts drivers of stop signs and traffic lights, and can slow the vehicle to a stop while approaching the signal, all with driver supervision.
FOX Business reached out to Tesla for comment.
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Judge dismisses lawsuit over Buffalo Wild Wings’ ‘boneless wings’A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit claiming Buffalo Wild Wings falsely advertised its boneless wings, ruling that reasonable consumers would not be misled by the name.
Buffalo Wild Wings can keep calling its menu item "boneless wings" as such, a federal judge ruled Tuesday, dismissing a lawsuit that claimed the name amounted to false advertising.
U.S. District Judge John Tharp in Illinois issued a 10-page ruling allowing the sports bar chain to continue calling its menu item "boneless wings," after a Chicago man filed a lawsuit accusing the restaurant of false advertising, saying the boneless wings were overpriced because they are essentially chicken nuggets.
While Aimen Halim argued in the lawsuit that Buffalo Wild Wings should call the product something different, like "chicken poppers," Tharp said the argument had no meat on its bones.
"Halim did not 'drum' up enough factual allegations to state a claim," Tharp wrote. "Though he has standing to bring the claim because he plausibly alleged economic injury, he does not plausibly allege that reasonable consumers are fooled by BWW’s use of the term 'boneless wings.'"
DURING SUPER BOWL LIX, FANS WILL EAT A STAGGERING AMOUNT OF CHICKEN WINGS
Halim sued Buffalo Wild Wings shortly after he visited the restaurant in January 2023, claiming he was deceived by the chain's marketing.
Halim alleged that the boneless wings are just "slices of chicken breast meat deep-fried like wings," and that customers would either pay less for the boneless wings or not purchase them at all if they knew what was in the product.
Halim said he later regretted buying the item after learning how it was made, which he claimed caused him to suffer "a financial injury as a result of defendants’ false and deceptive conduct."
In his ruling, Tharp said that while boneless wings are "essentially chicken nuggets," the product concept was not new, noting that Buffalo Wild Wings had sold them since 2003.
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"Boneless wings are not a niche product for which a consumer would need to do extensive research to figure out the truth," he wrote. "Instead, 'boneless wings' is a common term that has existed for over two decades."
Halim accused Buffalo Wild Wings of violating the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act, breach of express warranty, common law fraud and unjust enrichment.
Tharp also cited an Ohio Supreme Court ruling from 2024, where the court ruled that "[a] diner reading ‘boneless wings’ on a menu would no more believe that the restaurant was warranting the absence of bones in the items than believe that the items were made from chicken wings, just as a person eating ‘chicken fingers’ would know that he had not been served fingers."
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Tharp added that a "reasonable consumer" would not think that the food chain's boneless wings were "truly deboned chicken wings, reconstituted into some sort of Franken-wing."
The court is allowing Halim to submit an amended complaint by March 20, although Tharp noted that it "is difficult to imagine" that he can provide additional facts that would demonstrate that Buffalo Wild Wings "is committing a deceptive act."
FOX Business' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-over-buffalo-wild-wings-boneless-wingsMultistate outbreak of highly drug-resistant salmonella linked to trendy 'superfood,' feds warnDrug-resistant Salmonella outbreak linked to moringa powder supplements prompts urgent recall. Seven infected across multiple states, three hospitalized.
Federal regulators warned Friday that a multistate outbreak of a highly drug-resistant salmonella infection has been linked to moringa powder, a nutrient-dense plant supplement that has recently surged in popularity as a trendy "superfood."
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducting a traceback investigation said the outbreak has been linked to certain Rosabella-brand capsules distributed nationwide by Ambrosia Brands LLC.
Moringa powder, used for medicinal and dietary purposes, is made from the dried leaves of the Moringa oleifera tree, which is native to India and often referred to as the "miracle tree."
At least seven people across seven states were infected with the outbreak strain between Nov. 7 and Jan. 8, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Regulators said cases were reported in Washington, Arizona, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Tennessee and Florida.
SALMON SOLD AT BJ’S WHOLESALE CLUB RECALLED OVER POTENTIAL LISTERIA CONTAMINATION
Three people were hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.
The FDA said investigators have interviewed three infected individuals, all of whom reported consuming the capsules.
Regulators emphasized that the salmonella strain linked to the outbreak is resistant to all first-line and alternative antibiotics commonly used to treat salmonella infections.
The FDA also announced that Ambrosia Brands LLC has agreed to recall certain lots of Rosabella-brand moringa powder capsules from the market.
SOME GIFT CARDS SOLD AT COSTCO ARE NOW WORTHLESS
The products were sold nationwide through Ambrosia Brands’ direct-to-consumer website, TikTok Shop and Amazon.
The company emphasized that none of the affected lots were sold by them on Amazon and that it does not have any authorized resellers on the platform.
They added that some unauthorized third-party sales to consumers may have occurred through eBay, Shein or other websites.
The recalled products are 60-count capsule bottles with expiration dates ranging from March 2027 to November 2027.
Lot codes include 5020591, 5020592, 5020593, 5020594, 5020595, 5020596, 5030246, 5030247, 5030248, 5030249, 5030250, 5030251, 5040270, 5040271, 5040272, 5040273, 5040274, 5040275, 5040276, 5040277, 5040278, 5040279, 5050053, 5050054, 5050055, 5050056, 5060069, 5060070, 5060071, 5060072, 5060073, 5060074, 5060075, 5060076, 5060077, 5060078, 5060079, 5060080, 5080084, 5080085, 5080086, 5090107, 5090108, 5090109, 5090113, 5090114, 5090115, 5090116, 5090117, 5090118, 5100039, and 5100048.
MORE THAN 191,000 AROEVE AIR PURIFIERS RECALLED OVER OVERHEATING, FIRE RISK
"We continue to diligently investigate, in collaboration with FDA, this possible link of the salmonella outbreak to Rosebella Moringa Capsule," the company said in a statement. "We have discontinued use and purchase of all raw moringa leaf powder from the raw material supplier of the above referenced lots."
"Ambrosia Brands is conducting this recall voluntarily and takes this matter very seriously," it added. "We apologize for the inconvenience and concern this recall may cause our customers."
The company advised that consumers who purchased the lots should dispose of the product and not consume, sell or distribute it.
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Salmonella is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections within 12 to 72 hours of ingesting in young children, elderly people and those with weakened immune systems.
Healthy people with the infection can often experience fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In more serious and rare circumstances, the organism can get into the bloodstream and produce more severe illnesses such as arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.
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Americans shatter air travel record in 2025 despite surprising shift in when they flyAmericans broke air travel records in 2025 with over 904 million passengers screened at TSA checkpoints, but growth slowed compared to previous years.
Americans set a new record for domestic air travel in 2025 even as travel patterns shifted, a new analysis found.
AAA Northeast examined several years of Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint data and found that over 904 million travelers went through a TSA checkpoint last year, an increase of 2.57 million passengers compared with 2024.
That figure marks a new annual record for domestic air travel, though the year-over-year increase was under 1% growth – much cooler than in prior years.
By comparison, the number of passengers going through TSA checkpoints was up 5.3% in 2024 from 2023, which had a 13% growth from 2022.
FRIDAY FLIGHTS NOW CHEAPEST AS TRADITIONAL TRAVEL BOOKING WISDOM DIES ACCORDING TO NEW DATA
Fewer travelers flew on Mondays and Tuesdays in 2025, with passenger volume declining by 0.39% and 3%, while more travelers caught flights on Thursdays and Sundays with growth of 1.89% and 1.87%, respectively.
AAA's report noted that the data could reflect "softness in business travel early in the workweek and continued strength in leisure travel, which tends to occur closer to weekends."
The data also showed that 2025 had lower passenger volumes in the first part of the year when compared with 2024, with four of the first six months of last year showing declining growth compared with 2024.
TRAVELERS WITHOUT REAL ID ARE ABOUT TO BE HIT WITH A TSA FEE
January 2025 saw passenger volumes rise by 1.75%, though February experienced a 2.97% decline. A 0.17% decline in March and 0.23% gain in April were followed by declines of 1.48% in May and 0.45% in June.
Passenger volumes rebounded around the Fourth of July holiday, with the month of July seeing 1.16% growth, and the momentum carried over through October when volumes were up 3.63% year-over-year.
The holiday travel season was slightly slower in 2025 than in 2024, as volumes were down 0.15% in November and 0.08% in December. AAA suggested the decline could've been due to the effects of the government shutdown, although it added that travel during the actual shutdown was 2.2% higher than the prior year after a 6.2% decline in the final shutdown's final week.
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AAA also noted that there was an uptick in the number of extremely busy days with over 3 million passengers passing through TSA checkpoints.
There were eight such days in 2025, as May 23, June 22, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27, Oct. 10 and Nov. 30 all saw passenger volumes top 3 million. By contrast, there were only two such days in 2024: July 7 and Dec. 1.
TSA also set the record for largest passenger volume twice in 2025: June 22 had 3.09 million passengers screened, while Nov. 30 broke the new record with 3.13 million passengers.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/americans-shatter-air-travel-record-2025-despite-surprising-shift-when-flyMajor Texas university adds Shein to list of banned Chinese companiesUniversity of Texas at Austin bans Shein from campus networks following Gov. Abbott's directive targeting Chinese companies over cybersecurity concerns.
Major fast-fashion retailer Shein has been officially banned from the University of Texas at Austin, one of the nation's largest college campuses.
The move follows Gov. Greg Abbott’s January expansion of a 2022 directive, which now prohibits roughly 50 Chinese-affiliated companies, including Alibaba and Temu, from state devices due to cybersecurity and foreign interference concerns.
The University of Texas at Austin confirmed to FOX Business Tuesday that the state's prohibited technologies list also extends to the campus Wi-Fi networks.
"This policy is intended to ensure compliance with the new regulations as well as enhance awareness of potential security risks and safeguard sensitive state and university data," the school said, according to its website.
The campus ban on Shein — which surged into a multibillion-dollar global fast-fashion powerhouse in recent years by offering trendy clothes at hyper-affordable prices — has since received mixed reactions on social media.
While some expressed frustration over the change, others criticized Shein for its controversial manufacturing ethics and labor practices.
TEXAS THE LATEST STATE WITH A LAW BANNING FOREIGN ADVERSARIES FROM BUYING REAL ESTATE
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced in December that his office is investigating the e-commerce site for "potential violations of Texas law related to unethical labor practices and the sale of unsafe consumer products," while also citing concerns over possible toxic and hazardous materials.
In December 2022, Abbott directed agency leaders to immediately ban employees from using TikTok and other Chinese-owned platforms on government-issued devices, calling them a "threat to Texas’ cybersecurity."
UT Austin later effectively blocked the popular social media app from its campus network in compliance with state regulations.
In January, Governor Abbott added 26 additional companies to the list of prohibited technologies, including artificial intelligence tools, e-commerce sites, and social media apps affiliated with the People’s Republic of China and the Chinese Communist Party.
Among the 54 prohibited sites, the banned companies include social media platform RedNote, AI platform DeepSeek, electronics giant Xiaomi, Alipay, and Baidu, China’s equivalent of Google.
"Rogue actors across the globe who wish harm on Texans should not be allowed to infiltrate our state's network and devices," Abbott said in a statement.
"Hostile adversaries harvest user data through AI and other applications and hardware to exploit, manipulate, and violate users and put them at extreme risk. Today, I am expanding the prohibited technologies list to mitigate that risk and protect the privacy of Texans from the People’s Republic of China, the Chinese Communist Party, and any other hostile foreign actors who may attempt to undermine the safety and security of Texas."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/major-texas-university-adds-shein-list-banned-chinese-companiesEstée Lauder sues Walmart alleging 'despicable' sale of counterfeit beauty productsThe counterfeits were sold by third-party sellers on Walmart's marketplace but Estee Lauder alleged the retailer played an active role facilitating those sales.{}
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Costco issues recall for certain gift cardsRetail giant Costco recalled Synergy restaurant gift cards after the third-party issuer filed for bankruptcy, leaving left cards unredeemable.
Warehouse club Costco is issuing a recall for certain gift cards sold at its locations nationwide.
The retailer said in a letter to members that customers who purchased Synergy restaurant gift cards between Oct. 27, 2025, and Jan. 26, 2026, are eligible for a refund for the remaining card balance.
The recall comes after Synergy World, a gift and loyalty card company, abruptly shut down last month after filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy protection. As a result, its gift cards can no longer be redeemed, leaving some consumers holding unusable balances with little immediate recourse.
SOME GIFT CARDS SOLD AT COSTCO ARE NOW WORTHLESS
Synergy’s gift cards were third-party products. While they were sold at Costco and redeemable at hundreds of participating restaurants nationwide, the cards were issued and managed by Synergy – not Costco or the restaurants themselves.
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Once Synergy shut down, the cards effectively became worthless.
"One of the biggest lessons that people should learn from this is that gift cards should be used sooner rather than later," Matt Schulz, LendingTree's chief consumer finance analyst, told FOX Business. "That's especially true if the company involved is on shaky footing. However, with any gift card, you're better off not letting it gather dust. Otherwise, you risk losing it, forgetting about it or just having it lose value. That's the last thing anyone needs today."
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Synergy initially said gift cards would be honored through early February, but later halted redemptions altogether, citing a surge in demand. The total amount of money tied up in unredeemed cards will not be known until bankruptcy filings are made public.
Schulz suggested that consumers keep the gift card's receipt until it's been used. That way, the refund process is more likely to be more hassle-free.
He also advised registering the gift card, when possible, which can help if the card gets lost. And, Schulz said paying for a gift card with a credit card can be beneficial to the consumer in the event that there is fraudulent activity that needs to be reported.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/costco-issues-recall-certain-gift-cardsLARRY KUDLOW: Will Europe and the rest of the world listen to Marco Rubio?America, he avers, has no interest to operate a global welfare state or atone for the purported sins of past generations.
Trumponomics is booming right now in America and as the president reminds us, we are the hottest economy and the hottest country in the world.
We’re growing by 4 percent or even more. We’ve got booming productivity, vast AI and their data centers. Our advanced chips are the best in the world, we are the dominant energy power.
Our stock markets are making record highs. Private employment is surging. And both the trade and budget deficits are coming down.
That’s a backdrop for Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s superb speech to the Munich Security Conference.
And particularly, when Mr. Rubio says quote "we in America have no interest in being polite and orderly caretakers of the West’s managed decline."
Mr. Rubio made this very clear by saying America has no interest to operate a global welfare state or atone for the purported sins of past generations.
Nor does America have any interest in the cult of climate change, which unfortunately has caused the deindustrialization of Europe, from which their economies have yet to recover.
This was a brilliant speech by our secretary of state.
Using diplomatic language, he nonetheless gave Europe a spanking, especially on unlimited illegal immigration, and the end of sovereignty for their countries.
Enormous welfare states have prevented adequate defense spending in Europe. And globalism is basically a quote "dangerous delusion."
He singled out the United Nations, which has played virtually no role in Gaza, the Ukraine, Iran, Venezuela narco-terrorism. And while the UN was failing, America under President Trump took the lead.
Free and unfettered trade failed because so many nations exercise protectionism, subsidies, closing markets all at the expense of America.
Mr. Trump’s trade reciprocity policy is putting an end to this.
Basically Mr. Rubio told the conference to close their borders, regain sovereignty, start re-energizing technology instead of attacking American tech companies, and end their climate cult.
Now, as our head diplomat, he was gracious in referring to our shared heritage from Italian explorers, to English settlers, to French fur traders, to horses, ranches, rodeos, and cowboys from Spain.
And mindful of the bonds of Western civilization, including as he put it, Christian faith, culture, heritage, and language.
And the speech was well received. A standing ovation.
Mr. Rubio has had a very big impact as a senator and now as our chief diplomat as secretary of state.
Whether he is going to have a big impact on Europe and other areas remains to be seen. Will they listen to his wisdom?
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-europe-rest-world-listen-marco-rubioModerna says FDA refuses to review its application for experimental flu shotModerna said the move is inconsistent with previous feedback from the FDA on the experimental influenza shot, called mRNA-1010.{}
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Texas capital’s household growth surges, far outpacing national rateAustin's population boom spans all ages as NAR data shows young professionals and seniors driving household growth, creating diverse housing demand across the Texas region.
The Austin, Texas, region has seen its population grow rapidly over the last decade, with new data showing it added households at about four-times the pace of the nation as a whole.
Data from the National Association of Realtors showed that the metropolitan area encompassing Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos saw the number of households grow roughly 51% from 2014 to 2024.
The Austin region gained 357,000 households from 2014 to 2024, which brought the number of households in the region from 703,976 to 1,061,155 in that time. Over that same period, the number of households in the U.S. as a whole grew at a rate of about 13%.
NAR's analysis found that household growth in the Austin metro area was driven across younger and older age groups.
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The data showed that the share of households in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos led by those under the age of 25 grew from 5.1% to 5.9% from 2014 to 2024. Among those between the ages of 25 and 34, the proportion rose from 21.1% to 21.7%.
"Households headed by people in their late 20s and 30s grew significantly," wrote NAR senior economist and director of real estate research Nadia Evangelou. "Those are the classic years for household formation. That's when people move for jobs, form families, and step into the housing market for the first time."
She said that growth in those age groups can spur demand for rentals and starter homes, keeping entry-level housing demand very strong and competitive, while eventually boosting demand for move-up properties.
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The youngest age cohort of those under 25 in particular played a role in driving an influx of new apartment buildings, which helped lower rental prices in the area.
Older age groups also saw their share of the Austin area household mix rise, with the share of those led by people aged 65 to 74 rising from 9.5% to 10.7% from 2014 to 2025, while those over the age of 75 rose from 5.6% to 7% in that period.
"The number of households headed by those 65 and older increased significantly over the decade, and their share of total households rose," Evangelou said. "That tells us Austin isn't just attracting younger workers, it's also keeping residents as they age."
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"That kind of growth creates steady demand for different types of housing: single-level homes, properties with less maintenance, and communities that allow people to age in place," she explained.
With the growth in younger and older households, other age cohorts declined slightly. The share of households led by those between 35 and 44 was little changed, dipping slightly from 22.9% to 22.7%. Those between the ages of 45 and 54 fell from 19.2% to 17.7%, while the 55 to 64 age group declined from 16.6% to 14.2%.
The growth seen in Austin, Round Rock and San Marcos across different age groups helped keep demand strong for a variety of housing categories that cater to the needs of the disparate groups.
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"When only one age group drives the market, demand tends to be concentrated in a single segment, demand tends to be concentrated in a single segment. But when young adults, families, and older households are all growing that the same time, housing demand becomes stronger across multiple price points and housing types," Evangelou explained.
"Here is why: Starter homes remain in demand. Move-up homes stay competitive. Downsizing options matter more," she added.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/texas-capitals-household-growth-surges-far-outpacing-national-rateHyatt Hotels Executive Chairman Thomas Pritzker resigns over Epstein ties: 'I deeply regret... my association'Hyatt Hotels Executive Chairman Thomas Pritzker stepped down Monday after DOJ documents revealed his association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell.
Hyatt Hotels Executive Chairman Thomas Pritzker announced Monday that he is stepping down effective immediately after documents released by the Department of Justice (DOJ) revealed his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The executive, 75, told the company’s board that he will not seek re-election at Hyatt’s stockholder meeting in May, ending his 22-year tenure as chairman.
Pritzker acknowledged that he exercised poor judgment by failing to distance himself from the disgraced financier, who died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, as well as Ghislaine Maxwell, who was also convicted of trafficking minors alongside him.
"My job and responsibility is to provide good stewardship," Pritzker said in a statement. "Following discussions with my fellow Board members, I have decided, after serving as Executive Chairman since 2004, and with the company in a strong position, that now is the right time for me to retire from Hyatt."
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"Good stewardship also means protecting Hyatt, particularly in the context of my association with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell which I deeply regret," he added. "I exercised terrible judgment in maintaining contact with them, and there is no excuse for failing to distance myself sooner. I condemn the actions and the harm caused by Epstein and Maxwell and I feel deep sorrow for the pain they inflicted on their victims."
Mark S. Hoplamazian will take on the dual role of chairman and chief executive, the company said.
Pritzker, the billionaire hotel magnate and a cousin of Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, is among the high-profile individuals named in the millions of unredacted documents the DOJ unsealed earlier this year as part of the expanding investigation into the notorious sex trafficker and his ties to numerous prominent business and political figures.
According to the files, Pritzker and Epstein exchanged numerous emails, some of which included attempts to arrange dinner plans and invitations to various events, Fox 32 Chicago reported.
Virginia Giuffre, a prominent Epstein accuser who died in 2025, alleged in a May 2016 deposition that she had one sexual encounter with Pritzker during her abuse. In a January statement to FOX Business, Pritzker’s spokesperson vehemently denied the allegations.
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Pritzker has served as executive chairman since 2004, during which he helped steer the company through its 2009 public offering and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
"Tom’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping Hyatt’s strategy and long-term growth, and we thank him for his service and dedication to Hyatt," Richard Tuttle, chair of the board’s nominating and corporate governance committee, said in a statement.
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"The Board has engaged in thoughtful succession planning, and we are confident that Mark’s deep knowledge of Hyatt’s business, strong relationships with owners and colleagues, and proven track record as CEO of nearly two decades positions him well to serve as Chairman and continue driving Hyatt’s long-term success."
FOX Business’ Eric Revell contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/hyatt-hotels-executive-chairman-thomas-pritzker-resigns-epstein-ties-i-deeply-regret-my-associationScripps launches cost cutting, AI integration in latest effort to generate earnings growthCEO Adam Symson said in an interview with CNBC the changes are intended to alleviate journalists from administrative tasks, but not replace them with AI.{}
Paramount sweetens WBD bid, but stops short of raising its per-share valueParamount has sweetened its offer for Warner Bros. Discovery, adding a so-called ticking fee to signal regulatory confidence among other new elements.{}
Social Security's main trust fund faces depletion in 2032, triggering benefit cutsSocial Security benefits are facing automatic cuts starting in 2032 when a key trust fund is expected to reach insolvency, according to new CBO report.
A critical trust fund that helps finance Social Security benefits is on track to reach insolvency in 2032, when automatic benefit cuts would occur without action from Congress, a new report finds.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released its 10-year budget and economic outlook which projected that Social Security's Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund will be depleted in 2032 as spending outpaces the trust fund's income – with the gap growing over time.
CBO estimates that spending from Social Security's OASI trust fund will rise from $1.5 trillion this fiscal year to more than $2.5 trillion in 2036. After accounting for tax receipts and interest income, the projected deficit for the trust fund rises from $207 billion this year to $525 billion in 2032, when the trust fund is depleted, and continues to rise to $691 billion in 2036, assuming full benefits are paid out.
Social Security benefits are funded by payroll tax receipts along with the OASI trust fund, and once the trust fund is tapped out, the federal government would only be able to pay out in benefits what it receives from payroll taxes under the law – meaning benefits would face cuts without action by Congress.
US DEBT SET TO CRUSH WORLD WAR II RECORD AS ANNUAL DEFICITS EXPLODE TO $3T WITHIN DECADE
The CBO explained that "the government would continue to collect excise and payroll taxes designated for the funds, and the funds would continue to make payments. But because the government would not have the legal authority to make payments in excess of receipts, it would no longer be able to pay the full amounts scheduled or projected under current law."
An illustrative scenario examined by the CBO finds that benefits paid to beneficiaries would be cut by 7% in 2032 and by an average of 28% per year from 2033 to 2036. It also notes that the process for cutting benefits isn't outlined in federal law, and that different ways of cutting Social Security benefits to match incoming tax revenue would have different implications for the economy and budget.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a nonpartisan think tank, previously estimated based on a 24% benefit reduction that a typical couple aged 60 today who retires at the time of insolvency would face an $18,400 cut to their annual benefits.
WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST BUDGET DEFICITS IN US HISTORY?
The threat of insolvency looming over Social Security's key trust fund comes as spending on the entitlement program is surging amid the aging of America's population.
Social Security spending as a share of gross domestic product (GDP) averaged 4.5% from 1976 to 2025. It's projected to rise from 5.2% of GDP this year to 5.9% in 2036. In dollar terms, Social Security spending is estimated at over $1.6 trillion in 2026 and is projected to rise above $2.7 trillion a decade from now.
Mandatory spending programs, including Social Security and Medicare, are key drivers of the rise in federal spending and budget deficits. For the 1976-2025 period, mandatory spending accounted for 11.2% of GDP, but it's projected to reach 14.2% of GDP this year and rise further to 15% by 2036.
NATIONAL DEBT SURPASSES $38 TRILLION MILESTONE FOR FIRST TIME IN US HISTORY AS SPENDING SURGES
Expenses from mandatory programs are projected to total $4.5 trillion in 2026, making up the bulk of the federal government's more than $7.4 trillion in spending this year. A decade from now, mandatory spending is projected to account for over $7 trillion of the $11.4 trillion federal budget.
Discretionary spending, which covers federal agencies through the annual appropriations process in Congress, is expected to total nearly $1.9 trillion in 2026 and rise to $2.2 trillion over the next decade.
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Interest expenses incurred from servicing the national debt are also projected to increase from $1 trillion in 2026 to more than $2.1 trillion in 2036.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/social-securitys-main-trust-fund-faces-depletion-2032-triggering-benefit-cutsTrump touts potential 20% tax refunds from 'Big Beautiful Bill'President Donald Trump said tax refunds could exceed 20% this year thanks to his "One Big Beautiful Bill," eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security and overtime pay.
President Donald Trump said tax refunds this year will be substantially larger than ever before because of his signature "One Big Beautiful Bill," which was passed last year.
Trump took to Truth Social to promote the expected refunds ahead of the 2026 filing season, arguing that some taxpayers could see more than 20% returned.
Taxpayers generally must file their 2025 federal returns by April 15, 2026, and if they file electronically with direct deposit, most refunds are issued within about three weeks after the return is processed, according to the IRS.
SCOTT BESSENT: PRESIDENT TRUMP'S 'BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL' WILL UNLEASH PARALLEL PROSPERITY
"Tax Refunds this year, because of ‘THE GREAT BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL,’ are substantially greater than ever before," Trump wrote. "In some cases, estimates are that over 20% will be returned to the Taxpayer."
He pointed to provisions he said eliminate taxes on tips, social security benefits for seniors and overtime pay, while allowing interest deductions on car loans, among other measures.
"So, when you get your Tax Refund, think about what a wonderful President you have — NO TAX ON TIPS, NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY FOR OUR GREAT SENIORS, NO TAX ON OVERTIME, INTEREST DEDUCTIONS ON CAR LOANS, AND MUCH MORE," Trump continued.
"Don't spend all of this money in one place! President DJT."
TRUMP SPEECH SPARKS OPTIMISM AS 'GANGBUSTER' ECONOMY FORECASTED FOR 2026
The White House has promoted the upcoming filing season as potentially the largest tax refund season in U.S. history, citing provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that affect 2025 tax returns filed in 2026.
A central goal of the bill was to extend and make permanent many tax cuts originally created under the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, many of which were slated to expire at the end of 2025.
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The legislation also included billions for the Pentagon and border security, deep spending cuts and changes to Medicaid.
The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimated the package could add roughly $3.3 trillion to the federal deficit over a decade under current law projections.
On Sunday, White House Senior Counselor for Trade and Manufacturing Peter Navarro touted what he called a "Goldilocks economy" under Trump, while promising Americans the "biggest rebate" in U.S. history.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/trump-touts-potential-20-tax-refunds-ahead-2026-filing-seasonInternational Humanitarian Law is at Breaking Point – but not Beyond Repair
GENEVA, February 17 (IPS) - International humanitarian law is at a breaking point, as rampant impunity for serious violations is enabling even greater abuses against civilians and detainees.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/17/42363 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/What-is-international_-100x100.jpg"}The Global Struggle for Equality for Women and Girls
PORTLAND, USA, February 17 (IPS) - The global struggle for equality for women and girls has been ongoing for centuries, with no single country having achieved full equality. In many countries, women and girls continue to face discrimination, harassment, unequal treatment, injustice, domestic violence, and a lack of security and safety.
Read the full story, “The Global Struggle for Equality for Women and Girls”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/17/42362 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/unpaidlabor-100x100.jpg"}Coca-Cola forecasts modest growth amid demand concernsLike rival PepsiCo, Coke has seen demand for its drinks fall as budget-conscious shoppers try to save more on their grocery bills.{}
CVS tops quarterly estimates, reaffirms profit outlook as turnaround plan takes effectThe results signal steady progress in the health-care giant's aggressive turnaround plan under CEO David Joyner, who stepped into the role in late 2024.{}
Kalshi says Super Bowl trading volume surpassed $1 billionKalshi CEO Tarek Mansour said Tuesday that the platform's Super Bowl trading volume exceeded $1 billion, up 2,700% year-over-year.{}
Target steps up investment in store staffing, cuts about 500 other roles to help fix customer experienceThe big-box retailer is trying to win back shoppers who have complained about sloppier stores, out-of-stock items and longer checkout lines.{}
US home prices are rising — but these fast-growing markets remain affordableAmerica's hottest housing markets shift to affordable communities in the Midwest and South, with Missouri leading at a 20% price growth while coastal cities cool.
America’s hottest housing markets aren’t in flashy coastal cities — they’re in communities across the Midwest and South.
Even as the national market cools, areas in states like Missouri and Kentucky are seeing double-digit price growth while remaining within reach for middle-income buyers.
Recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) ranked the top five single-family metro areas with the highest home price appreciation last quarter.
Missouri’s Cape Girardeau held the top spot with a nearly 20% yearly increase and a $275,000 median home price, followed by Cumberland, Maryland, up 17.1% with a $174,900 median home price; Owensboro, Kentucky, up 15% with a $264,000 median home price; Anniston-Oxford, Alabama, with a 14.9% increase and $175,103 median home price; and Mobile, Alabama, which appreciated 13.7% at a median home price of $216,235.
'WALL STREET TO Y’ALL STREET': WHY AMERICA'S WEALTHY TRADES CITY LUXURY FOR ACRES OF TEXAS FREEDOM
The numbers signal strength in smaller, more affordable pockets of American cities and that housing opportunities remain highest outside expensive urban cores. Migration toward lower-cost regions also continues to shape market dynamics.
In contrast, the bottom five single-family metro areas that had the slowest price appreciation were Elmira, New York; Farmington, New Mexico; Boulder, Colorado; Pueblo, Colorado; and Cleveland, Tennessee, with NAR noting that some overheated markets are correcting and higher-cost Western markets show pressure.
Additionally, America’s national median home prices rose 1.2% year-over-year to $414,900, signaling market resilience despite economic headwinds, while monthly mortgage payments fell 5.7% – to $2,057 – from the previous year.
The housing market has cooled this winter with the annual pace of home price growth easing to levels unseen since the nation was recovering from the Great Recession. While some areas continue to see strong price growth, others, like Hawaii, California, Texas and Florida, have seen notable declines.
As of last week, mortgage affordability was at a four-year high after rates fell in January, with the White House touting President Donald Trump’s economic policies and maintaining his promise to "unlock" the opportunity of homeownership for American families.
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As of Tuesday afternoon, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.09%, down from last week’s 6.11%, Freddie Mac reports. This time last year, the 30-year rate was at 6.87%.
"Joe Biden’s inflation crisis crushed the dream of homeownership for millions of Americans — but President Trump is bringing it back," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt previously told Fox News Digital. "Thanks to the President’s successful economic policies, unnecessary red tape is being cut at a historic pace, borrowing costs are easing, and income growth is outpacing home price gains — finally making housing more affordable again."
FOX Business’ Eric Revell and Brooke Singman contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/real-estate/us-home-prices-rising-fast-growing-markets-remain-affordableFederal fraud is double previous estimates, LexisNexis Risk Solutions CEO saysThe federal government is hemorrhaging about $1 trillion per year due to fraud, CEO of LexisNexis Special Services & LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government Haywood Talcove estimates.
The federal government is hemorrhaging around $1 trillion per year due to fraud, Haywood Talcove, CEO of LexisNexis Special Services & LexisNexis Risk Solutions Government, said while testifying at a congressional hearing last week.
The eyewatering figure dwarfs the Government Accountability Office's numbers.
The GAO reports that the nation's "federal government loses between $233 billion and $521 billion annually to fraud, according to GAO’s government-wide estimates based on data from fiscal years 2018 through 2022."
WALZ PROPOSES $10M BUSINESS RELIEF PACKAGE AS REPUBLICANS CRY ‘NEW AVENUE FOR FRAUD' IN MINNESOTA
During the Senate hearing, Talcove said he places "the number closer to $1 trillion dollars annually, or $115 million every single hour, of which 70% is related to transnational criminals."
Talcove told FOX Business that he is surprised "people don't realize how easy it is to steal from government, and taxpayers aren't more outraged."
He explained that he based his estimate on the GAO's $521 billion figure.
EXCLUSIVE: SENATE BILL TARGETS MINNESOTA-STYLE ‘RUNAWAY FRAUD’ TO FORCE SCAMMERS TO REPAY TAXPAYERS
"What the GAO number didn't include is seven other agencies, including Health and Human Services, which I think is where the greatest amount of fraud is," Talcove noted.
While he pointed out that the $1 trillion figure is only an estimate, he said he considers the figure to be "directionally correct."
TRUMP ADMIN UNCOVERS ‘STAGGERING’ $8.6 BILLION IN SUSPECTED CALIFORNIA SMALL BUSINESS FRAUD
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HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. "released the Medicaid data," Talcove said. "That data has never been seen in public before. And by looking at that, I suspect that trillion dollars that I provided to Congress last week was actually a little bit light," he noted.
FOX Business' Connor Hansen contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/federal-fraud-double-previous-estimates-lexisnexis-risk-solutions-ceo-saysThe Veto May be the Weapon of Elimination in the Election of Next UN Chief
UNITED NATIONS, February 17 (IPS) - As the campaign for the next Secretary-General gathers momentum– at a relatively slow pace– there is widespread speculation that any candidate running for the post of UN chief will have to abide by the dictates of a politically-hostile White House or face a veto in the Security Council.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/17/42361 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/manuel_40___-100x100.jpg"}From Pledges to Proof: UN Biodiversity Meeting Begins First Global Review of Nature Action
ROME & DELHI, February 17 (IPS) - Governments convened in Rome on Monday (February 16) for a critical round of UN biodiversity negotiations, launching the world’s first global review of how countries are acting to protect nature.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/17/42360 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/CBD-SBI6-0004-100x100.jpg"}Friday flights now cheapest as traditional travel booking wisdom dies according to new dataBooking flights six months early no longer saves money, as new data shows Friday is the cheapest day to book and fly, saving up to 8% on total airfare costs.
The days of booking your flights six months in advance to save a buck are officially over.
According to Expedia’s 2026 Air Hacks Report, the early bird is now getting stuck with the bill, while a new wave of Friday flyers is reaping the rewards.
As domestic airfares tick up 3% this year, a massive shift in travel data reveals that Friday has dethroned the weekend as the cheapest day to both book and fly — saving savvy travelers hundreds on everything from quick trips to Las Vegas to international treks to Tokyo.
"Flight trends are constantly evolving and with Friday emerging as both the busiest day for air travel and also the most affordable, this leads us to believe it is a shift in business class behaviors driving this," Expedia told Fox News Digital in a statement. "This opens up a great opportunity for leisure travelers [though] to start their weekend trips a day earlier, with Friday more affordable than Saturday departures."
A NEW WAY OF COMMUTING IS CLOSER TO TAKING OFF IN THE U.S.
The report found that booking a flight on a Friday saves 3% versus booking during the weekend rush. Meanwhile, flying on a Friday versus Sunday can save travelers up to 8%.
August reigns as the most affordable month to fly, saving airline travelers an average of $120 per ticket – 29% cheaper than flying at the same time in December. Flights to Morelia, Mexico, Tokyo, Japan and Honduras are seeing 30%+ year-over-year price declines.
"This is the second year in a row where August has been the most affordable month to fly," Expedia said. "It seems to be here to stay, so that offers American vacationers a great opportunity to take an affordable, big annual vacation during peak season."
Domestic first-class fares have plummeted 27% year-over-year, as the report also signals a "micro-cation" boom with 25% of Gen Z and Millennials skipping hotels entirely and opting for 24-hour extreme day trips.
"Business travelers head home earlier in the week these days, so new opportunities are opening up for leisure travelers to save by choosing smarter travel days, like Friday for the best prices or Tuesday for fewer crowds," Expedia Group Brands public relations head Melanie Fish said in a press release.
"With a year of data from Expedia’s Flight Deals now in – which highlights routes and dates priced at least 20% lower than the norm – July and October are emerging as two of the best months to travel to secure these high-quality fares," she continued.
Additionally, the online travel agency broke down how to time the flying market and when to book as opposed to when to fly. The alleged "Goldilocks" booking window opens for domestic flights 15 to 30 days out and saves $130 compared to booking six months earlier.
If you’re trying to avoid crowds altogether, per Expedia's data, Tuesday is the least busy day of the week to fly — with the slowest travel dates in 2026 predicted to be Feb. 25, March 4 and Nov. 18. On the other hand, the busiest dates to fly this year are predicted to be May 22, July 3 and Aug. 29.
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"September is still the second most affordable month, so we may see 'big vacations' extend into September for those budget-conscious travelers. With December being the most expensive month to fly, that could also lead travelers to shifting their trip types during that month to focus more on domestic stays, road trips or breaks close to home, versus hopping on a plane," Expedia said.
Airports including Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas and Orlando were hailed as the affordability kings for having ticket prices 25% below the national average. At Washington Dulles, San Francisco and New York-JFK, you could break your budget by spending 25% or more than national average prices.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-travel/friday-flights-now-cheapest-traditional-travel-booking-wisdom-dies-according-new-dataCheerios maker says cost of living, housing expenses changing way consumers spendGeneral Mills trimmed its full-year forecast as consumers rethink grocery spending, seek better-for-you foods and slow purchases of traditional packaged brands.
Cheerios maker General Mills cut its annual sales and profit forecasts, citing weak consumer sentiment and a shift toward healthier and lower-cost food options that are pressuring demand for packaged products.
"Weak consumer sentiment, heightened uncertainty, and significant volatility have weighed on category growth and impacted consumer purchase patterns, resulting in a slower pace and higher cost of volume recovery than initially expected," the company said in a statement ahead of its presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) conference on Tuesday morning.
The shifting consumer landscape, driven in part by the growing preference for healthier options and increased adoption of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, is adding further pressure to packaged food demand.
WENDY'S TO CLOSE HUNDREDS OF RESTAURANTS AS COMPANY LOOKS TO FOCUS ON VALUE TO BOOST SALES
General Mills CEO Jeff Harmening said during the company's presentation at CAGNY that the growing competition for protein options is also a factor. General Mills has its own line of protein cereals.
"We expect GLP-1 and other anti-obesity medications to have a lasting influence in the food and nutrition landscape, nudging some consumers toward smaller portions and more nutrient-dense protein and fiber-forward foods," Harmening said.
The chief executive also said the company recognizes that its lower- and middle-income consumers have increasingly focused on value as economic pressures continue to weigh on their budgets.
"Cost of living and housing pressures are reshaping spending patterns and value is a core expectation that is here to stay," Harmening said.
Earlier this month, PepsiCo cut prices on core brands such as Lay's and Doritos by up to 15% following a consumer backlash against earlier price hikes.
Peer Conagra, maker of Slim Jim meat snacks, has maintained its annual sales and profit targets despite reporting a muted second quarter.
General Mills, which left its annual outlook unchanged in December, has been grappling with muted demand as Americans curb discretionary spending and shift to cheaper pantry staples.
General Mills now expects annual sales to decline 1.5% to 2%, compared with its prior range of down 1% to up 1%.
The company also forecast annual adjusted operating profit and adjusted earnings per share will fall 16% to 20% in constant currency, versus its previous outlook for a 10% to 15% decline.
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Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/cheerios-maker-says-cost-living-housing-expenses-changing-way-consumers-spendIRAN: ‘Sustainable Change Will Depend on Domestic Organisational Capacity, Not External Force’
CIVICUS discusses the recent protests in Iran with Sohrab Razaghi, executive director of Volunteer Activists, a Netherlands-based diaspora organisation empowering Iranian civil society.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/16/42353 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/Sohrab-Razaghi-100x100.jpg"}We Must Reject a World Governed by Raw Power
WELLINGTON, New Zealand, February 16 (IPS) - 2026 has begun on a deeply troubling note. International law, long regarded as the backbone of global peace and security, is being challenged in ever more brazen ways. Core principles of sovereignty and restraint are being flagrantly breached.
Read the full story, “We Must Reject a World Governed by Raw Power”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/16/42352 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/Helen-Clark-100x100.jpg"}Red Lobster considering more restaurant closures, CEO saysRed Lobster may close more restaurants as its CEO reviews locations following the chain's 2024 bankruptcy filing that shuttered 130 stores.
Red Lobster is considering closing more locations as it continues to reevaluate its restaurant footprint in the wake of its 2024 bankruptcy.
The seafood chain shuttered roughly 130 restaurants when it went through the bankruptcy process and Red Lobster CEO Damola Adamolekun told The Wall Street Journal in an interview that the company is continuing to review its locations and leases as it considers ways to curb costs.
Adamolekun said in the interview that visits have risen, with sales up about 10% from last year, but they haven't recovered to pre-bankruptcy levels and many of the chain's locations need upgrades.
"There's a lot of positive signs, but we inherited a very damaged brand, so there's still work to do to repair all of that," he told the Journal.
AMERICAN SEAFOOD CHAIN IS BETTING BIG ON NOSTALGIA AND BARGAINS TO WIN BACK DINERS
Red Lobster filed for bankruptcy in May 2024 after it racked up steep losses amid reduced sales and losses generated from an endless shrimp deal that was originally priced at $20.
The company is also dealing with the fallout from a 2014 move that sold off ownership of the chain's real estate and saddled the company with lease payments.
Some of those leases involve multiple restaurants, which Adamolekun said has made it difficult to close some poorly performing locations because their lease is linked with higher performing ones.
RED LOBSTER'S ENDLESS SHRIMP DEAL CREATED 'A LOT OF CHAOS,' NEW CEO DIVULGES ON BANKRUPTCY
The Journal reported that people familiar with the company's discussions said Red Lobster would ideally have dozens fewer restaurants in its portfolio so that it could focus on higher-performing locations.
Adamolekun was hired as CEO by the chain's new ownership in August 2024 after he led a restructuring effort at P.F. Chang's.
The company has cut roughly 10% of its corporate staff in recent months and the Journal's report noted that Red Lobster is negotiating with seafood vendors as tariffs have pushed the costs of imported seafood higher.
EXPERTS SAY RED LOBSTER'S SHRIMP EXCUSE IS 'SMOKE SCREEN' FOR REAL PROBLEMS
Adamolekun told the Journal that once the company has dealt with struggling locations, Red Lobster could look to expand in upstate New York and New England, where it has a limited presence.
He's also considering franchise deals for international locations as well as selling more Red Lobster-branded products, like Cheddar Bay Biscuit mixes, through retail channels.
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FOX Business reached out to Red Lobster for comment.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/red-lobster-considering-more-restaurant-closures-ceo-saysFAA orders airlines to certify merit-based pilot hiring or face investigationThe FAA ordered airlines to certify merit-based hiring practices on Friday as the Trump administration dismantles DEI programs across federal agencies.
The Federal Aviation Administration is ordering airlines to certify their merit-based hiring practices as part of the Trump administration's ongoing campaign against DEI programs.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the new policy on Friday, saying airlines that don't formally commit to merit-based hiring will be subject to FAA investigation. President Donald Trump ordered federal agencies to cancel DEI hiring programs early on in his return to the White House.
"When families board their aircraft, they should fly with confidence knowing the pilot behind the controls is the best of the best. The American people don’t care what their pilot looks like or their gender—they just care that they are most qualified man or woman for the job," Duffy said in a statement.
"Safety drives everything we do, and this commonsense measure will increase transparency between passengers and airlines," he added.
FEDERAL WATCHDOG URGES WHITE MEN TO REPORT POSSIBLE WORKPLACE DISCRIMINATION; VANCE BOOSTS MESSAGE
Trump's FAA mocked the direction the agency had taken under former President Joe Biden, calling the policies "absurd" and saying they "wasted time renaming cockpits to flight decks."
Trump has moved to systematically dismantle DEI programs across the federal government, signing a pair of executive orders in his first days in office that directed agencies to identify and shut down DEI offices, terminate equity-focused grants and contracts, and throw out long-standing affirmative action requirements for federal contractors.
The president targeted DEI at the FAA in particular following a tragic plane crash in the nation's capital last year that saw a passenger plane collide with a U.S. military helicopter over the Potomac River.
"We must have only the highest standards for those who work in our aviation system," Trump said. "Only the highest aptitude — you have to be the highest intellect — and psychologically superior people, were allowed to qualify for air traffic controllers."
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"We have to have our smartest people. It doesn't matter what they look like, how they speak, who they are. What matters is intellect, talent. The word 'talent.' They have to be talented geniuses," he continued. "We can't have regular people doing that job. They won't be able to do it."
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/faa-orders-airlines-certify-merit-based-pilot-hiring-face-investigationRegional Trade in Transition: Digitalization, Servicing and De-risking
BANGKOK, Thailand, February 16 (IPS) - Trade in the Asia-Pacific region has moved into a new strategic reality. The latest Asia-Pacific Trade and Investment Trends (APTIT) highlights that rapid technological change and a strategic reconfiguration of supply chains are reshaping how economies in the region trade and compete.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/16/42350 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/A-female-merchant_160226-100x100.jpg"}Extreme Heat Undermines Decent Work in North Eastern Kenya
GARISSA, Kenya , February 16 (IPS) - By 9 a.m. on a Wednesday, Hawa Hussein Farah is already watching the temperature climb. Awake since 6 a.m., she has prepared her three children for school before walking them to class and heading to Suuq Mugdi, an open-air market in Garissa town, to buy the fruit she will sell.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/16/42351 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/02/Hawa-Hussein-Farah.-Credit-Chemtai-KiruiIPS-100x100.jpg"}Goldman Sachs to drop DEI board standards as Trump's anti-woke campaign spreads across corporate AmericaGoldman Sachs reportedly plans to drop DEI language from board criteria after conservative pressure, marking another corporate retreat from DEI programs.
Goldman Sachs plans to remove DEI hiring standards for its board of directors, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
The company had removed a requirement for board diversity on companies it was taking public last year, but now plans to remove DEI language in the criteria for its own board members this month. The board's governing committee evaluates potential candidates based on four criteria, one of which is a more traditional understanding of diversity, encapsulating viewpoints, background, work and military service.
That section also has "other demographics" tagged on to the end, referring to race, gender identity, ethnicity and sexual orientation, according to the Journal. The board now reportedly plans to remove the reference to "other demographics."
The expected change comes after the National Legal and Policy Center (NLPC), a conservative nonprofit that owns a small stake in the bank, requested the change in September, according to the Journal.
Goldman Sachs struck a deal with the group under which the board would make the change of its own accord and the NLPC would not submit a formal request circulated to shareholders ahead of the company's annual shareholder meeting later this year, people familiar with the matter told the outlet.
The change comes as part of a wider rejection of DEI policies, thanks in large part to President Donald Trump's return to the White House last year.
Trump moved quickly to drop the hammer on DEI, signing an executive order on day one titled "Ending Radical and Wasteful Government DEI Programs and Preferencing," which directed federal agencies to stamp out DEI-style programs across the federal government. The following day, Trump signed a second order aimed at "restoring merit-based opportunity," including changes for federal contracting and related compliance.
CORPORATE AMERICA HAS DECIDED THAT DEI NEEDS TO DIE
"We’ve ended the tyranny of so-called Diversity, Equity and Inclusion policies all across the entire federal government and indeed the private sector and our military. And our country will be woke no longer," Trump said in March.
The administration has also targeted DEI initiatives at America's elite universities, seeking new funding agreements with Columbia University, Harvard and others.
Harvard has been a main target of the Trump administration’s attempt to leverage federal funding in order to crack down on antisemitism and "woke" ideology.
In December, lawyers for the Trump administration appealed a judge’s order to restore $2.7 billion in frozen federal research funding to Harvard University.
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Harvard sued the administration in April over its attempt to freeze the federal funding and argued in court that the actions amounted to an unconstitutional "pressure campaign" to influence and exert control over elite academic institutions.
Fox News' Emma Colton contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/goldman-sachs-drop-dei-board-standards-trumps-anti-woke-campaign-spreads-across-corporate-americaSalmon sold at BJ’s Wholesale Club recalled over potential listeria contaminationThe FDA announced a recall of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon sold at BJ's locations in seven states due to potential listeria contamination.
The Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of one brand of farm-raised Atlantic salmon over potential listeria contamination.
One lot of Wellsley Farms Farm-Raised Atlantic Salmon was recalled last week, according to the FDA. The company, Slade Gorton & Co., initiated a recall of lot 3896.
The salmon was sold in 2-lb bags at BJ's Wholesale Club stores in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia from Jan. 31 through Feb. 7.
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The FDA said Listeria monocytogenes was discovered when the agency collected a random sample.
Slade Gorton & Co. said it is investigating how the contamination happened and that it is taking steps to prevent it from happening again.
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Healthy people with a listeria infection may suffer short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, the FDA said. Pregnant women could also face miscarriages and stillbirths.
The agency urged people with listeria symptoms to contact a health care provider. No illnesses have been reported thus far.
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BJ’s is alerting its members who may have purchased the recalled product.
Anyone who may have purchased the recalled product can contact the store for information on how to obtain a full refund and what to do with the remaining product.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/salmon-sold-bjs-wholesale-club-recalled-over-potential-listeria-contaminationUN forum calls for overhaul of agrifood systems
Rising food prices and declining farm incomes are putting increasing pressure on the global food system, with up to 720 million people facing hunger last year, and billions more struggling to afford healthy diets.
Read the full story, “UN forum calls for overhaul of agrifood systems”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/16/42359 {"url":"https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Production%20Library/16-02-2026-ESCAP-Rice_fields.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg"}In the hands of innovators from the Global South, AI can transform lives
Artificial intelligence is no longer the sole preserve of rich western nations. The applications for the Global South, in areas ranging from health to agriculture and industry, are having a transformative effect on people’s lives.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/02/14/42346 {"url":"https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Production%20Library/13-02-2026-UN-Women-Pakistan-03.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg"}Americans see bigger tax refunds so far this year as filing season begins at a slower paceAmericans are getting bigger tax refunds this year, with average refunds jumping to $2,290 - up 10.9% from last year, according to the latest IRS data.
Americans are receiving larger tax refunds on average in the 2026 filing season than last year, though taxpayers are filing at a slower pace in the first few weeks than they were a year ago.
The latest IRS tax filing data was released by the agency on Friday and showed that as of Feb. 6, the average tax refund amount paid to taxpayers was $2,290.
That represents an increase of 10.9% when compared with the average size of refunds paid at the same stage of the 2025 tax filing season, when the average refund amount was $2,065.
Over 7.4 million refunds have been issued as of Feb. 6, down 8.1% from the same time last year when nearly 8.1 million were disbursed to taxpayers.
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While the number of refunds has declined, the total amount refunded has risen 1.9% from nearly $16.7 billion to almost $17 billion, which helped boost the size of the average refund.
IRS data also showed that the average direct deposit refund rose by a similar amount when compared with this point of last year's tax filing season, as the average direct deposit refund for the current year is $2,388 – up 10.3% from $2,165 at this time a year ago.
While refunds are rising thus far in the 2026 filing season when compared with a year ago, the number of tax returns received and processed has declined relative to last year.
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The IRS reported that it has received nearly 22.4 million returns as of Feb. 6, a decrease of 5.2% from last year when almost 23.6 million returns were received at the same stage of the filing season.
The IRS offers an online "Where's my refund?" tool for taxpayers to check on the status of their tax refund.
The IRS website said that processing a tax refund generally takes up to 21 days for e-filed returns, whereas returns sent by mail can take six weeks or more to reach the taxpayer. Refunds may also take longer if the return is in need of corrections or additional review.
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Taxpayers who are preparing to file their returns should consider setting up direct deposit with the IRS if they wish to receive their refund sooner.
Taxpayers who e-file their returns can typically see their refund status within 24 hours using the "Where's my refund?" tool, which can provide refund information for not only the current year but also the past two years.
If a taxpayer needs to amend their return after filing, it can take longer to receive their tax return. Amended returns can take up to three weeks to appear in the IRS' system and up to 16 weeks to process.
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The IRS also offers a "Where's my amended return?" tool for taxpayers who submitted an amended return and want to track the status of their filing and any related refund.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/americans-see-bigger-tax-refunds-so-far-year-filing-season-begins-slower-paceHow to avoid tax scams this filing seasonTaxpayers can protect themselves from scams with the knowledge that the IRS always contacts taxpayers by mail first, and never demands immediate payment via specific methods.
Tax filing season is underway and scammers are looking to take advantage of unsuspecting taxpayers through a variety of ever-evolving scams seeking money and personal information.
The International Association of Better Business Bureaus warns that tax scams typically originate with a phone call and tend to fall into two categories.
In one, the supposed IRS agent tells the would-be victim that they owe back taxes and attempts to pressure them into paying with a prepaid debit card or wire transfer, threatening an arrest and fines for noncompliance.
The other popular tax scam tactic involves the scammer claiming they're issuing tax refunds and asking for personal information to send the would-be victim their refund. That information may later be used for identity theft, and in the case of college students, they may be targeted with a claim that their "federal student tax" hasn't been paid.
TAX FILING SEASON IS OFFICIALLY HERE: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The BBB report notes that tax scammers may engage in a number of tactics to try to appear legitimate. They may give a fake badge number or name, and the caller ID may indicate that the call is coming from Washington, D.C., or use a serious "robocall" recording that sounds official.
Scammers may also send a follow-up email that uses IRS logos and colors along with language that makes the email appear legitimate.
When con artists attempt to target victims, they may try to push the would-be victim into taking action immediately before they have a chance to ask questions or otherwise process the information the scammer is throwing at them.
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They may also demand payment through methods like wire transfers, prepaid debit cards, or other non-traditional methods because those are harder to reverse or trace. The real IRS will never demand immediate payment, require a specific form of payment, or ask for a credit or debit card number of the phone.
The BBB notes that the IRS will allow taxpayers to ask questions or appeal any amount of back taxes they owe.
Additionally, the IRS always initiates contact by mail – not by phone calls, texts, emails or social media – so taxpayers aware of that can be better prepared to parry a scammer's attempts via phone or email. After the IRS sends a mailed letter to a taxpayer with outstanding debts, they may reach out by phone.
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The IRS has also warned taxpayers about a mailing scam that attempts to trick victims into thinking they have a tax refund.
Taxpayers receive a cardboard envelope with a fake letter that purports to be from the IRS regarding an unclaimed refund, which requests the taxpayer provide personal and financial information.
BBB recommends that taxpayers in doubt about whether phone calls or other outreach are legitimately from the IRS should contact the agency directly to tell them about the claims and request, which should allow them to confirm whether it was actually the IRS reaching out.
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It also suggests filing taxes as early as possible to avoid the threat of identity theft, as a scammer could attempt to use your information to file a fake return.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/how-avoid-tax-scams-filing-season