CDC says there are no U.S. hantavirus cases currently, 41 people being monitoredThe CDC said the risk to the general public from hantavirus remains low.{}
These three artworks could sell for $100 million each next week as May auctions beginThe wild card for the May auctions is the Middle East, with the Iran war clouding buyer expectations.{}
Hantavirus outbreak isn't another Covid pandemic – but experts say it's testing U.S. readinessFor some experts, the outbreak is raising broader concerns about how equipped the U.S. is to respond to future infectious disease threats.{}
Biogen advances Alzheimer's drug to late-stage trial despite disappointing dataBiogen said signals suggest the treatment decreases levels of tau and slows cognitive decline, particularly at the lowest dose.{}
Wealthy donors stand to win double tax benefit if Trump Accounts allow stock donationsPermitting stock contributions to Trump Accounts would allow donors to offload appreciated shares without paying capital gains tax.{}
Beer demand stumbles as gas prices surge, data showsU.S. beer sales slump as higher gas prices squeeze consumers, with convenience stores and high-fuel-cost states with higher-cost fuel seeing the sharpest declines.{}
Allegiant CEO makes case for low-cost airline model as Sun Country acquisition closesAllegiant CEO Greg Anderson said leisure travel demand is still strong despite higher fuel prices.{}
Companies start getting tariff refunds after Supreme Court decisionAfter the Supreme Court ruled some of President Trump's tariffs unconstitutional, the first wave of tariff refunds have begun flowing in.{}
One type of property is quietly saving Americans thousands of dollarsBuyers of newly built homes could save thousands over time on energy and repairs compared to older properties, according to a Realtor.com report.
A newly built home may cost more upfront, but buyers could come out ahead over time as newer properties require less maintenance and use less energy, according to a new Realtor.com report.
The report suggests buyers should look beyond listing prices and consider the long-term cost of homeownership when comparing new and existing homes.
The findings arrive as housing affordability continues to dominate economic concerns for many Americans ahead of the midterm elections.
THIS MIDWESTERN STATE LEADS THE NATION IN HOME FORECLOSURES AS US FILINGS JUMP BY 26%
Realtor.com found buyers of new-construction homes save an average of $25,335 during the first 10 years of ownership compared with buyers of 20-year-old homes. The savings stem largely from lower utility bills and reduced spending on major repairs and replacements, including HVAC systems, roofs and water heaters.
The study compared homes built in 2025 with homes built in 2005, using a standard home size of 1,750 square feet. Researchers found newer homes benefit from updated building codes, improved insulation and more energy-efficient systems.
WHITE HOUSE TEASES MAJOR HOUSING AFFORDABILITY PLAN AS PRICES SQUEEZE AMERICANS
Savings varied widely by region, with New England states seeing the biggest long-term savings. Massachusetts led the nation at nearly $39,000 over 10 years, which researchers attributed to colder climates and stricter energy codes.
Southern states, including Arkansas, South Carolina, Kentucky, Florida and Texas, saw smaller savings despite lower upfront new-construction costs. Realtor.com said milder winters reduce potential energy savings.
The report identified 16 metro areas where long-term savings offset the upfront premium for new construction, including San Diego, Salt Lake City, Seaford, Delaware, Salem, Oregon, and Madison, Wisconsin.
AMERICANS KEEP MOVING TO TEXAS AND FLORIDA — BUT ONE OTHER RED STATE IS GROWING EVEN FASTER
Researchers also noted that builder incentives, including price cuts, cash credits and mortgage-rate buydowns, could further improve affordability.
Realtor.com estimates new-home buyers currently pay mortgage rates roughly one percentage point lower than buyers of existing homes, potentially saving more than $30,000 over 10 years.
The findings underscore how operating costs and financing incentives are becoming a larger part of the affordability equation for homebuyers.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/one-type-property-quietly-saving-americans-thousands-dollarsKool-Aid to launch electrolyte packets with no artificial dyes as part of Kraft Heinz makeoverParent company Kraft Heinz is trying to reverse slumping sales by modernizing many of its legacy brands.{}
Laid-off GM employees tell of ominous email, severance and role of AIGeneral Motors employees who were laid off Monday described their job terminations to CNBC.{}
Long Island Rail Road strike halts service for 300,000 commuters ahead of Memorial DayThousands of Long Island Rail Road workers walked off the job after failed labor negotiations, suspending commuter rail service across the New York region.
Thousands of Long Island Rail Road workers are officially on strike as of midnight Saturday, effectively shutting down the nation’s busiest commuter railroad in its first strike in more than three decades and threatening major economic disruption across the New York region ahead of Memorial Day travel.
The strike halted service for roughly 300,000 daily riders after last-minute contract negotiations between the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and a coalition of five rail unions failed to produce a wage agreement.
The MTA confirmed Saturday that all LIRR service was suspended and warned there is "no substitute" for the railroad, urging commuters to work remotely if possible as officials brace for severe congestion and delays throughout the metropolitan region.
New York State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office estimated the strike could cost the regional economy up to $61 million per day in lost economic activity, as commuters scramble for alternatives and businesses prepare for disruptions.
GEN Z IS SINGLE-HANDEDLY BRINGING AMERICA'S SHOPPING MALLS BACK TO LIFE
The labor action marks the first Long Island Rail Road strike since 1994. Union leaders said workers involved in the coalition have gone more than three years without raises while negotiating a new labor agreement.
"This strike would not have happened if the MTA and LIRR offered our members the reasonable terms the government recommended multiple times. But management refused," Mark Wallace, president of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen and the Teamsters Rail Conference, said in a statement.
NYC REAL ESTATE TITAN COMPARES ‘TAX THE RICH’ SLOGAN TO ‘DISGUSTING RACIAL SLURS’ AMID MAMDANI CLASH
"We hope LIRR gets serious soon to avoid further unnecessary disruptions for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers. They know where to find us when they’re ready: on the streets."
MTA officials defended their bargaining position, arguing the unions were demanding wage increases that could ultimately drive up fares and strain the transit system’s finances.
MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber said the agency "cannot responsibly make a deal that implodes MTA’s budget" and warned taxpayers and riders could ultimately bear the cost of larger wage increases.
Lieber also accused union leaders of planning to strike regardless of the MTA’s offers, saying the latest proposal gave workers "everything they said they wanted in terms of pay."
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul criticized the strike as "reckless," warning it could hurt commuters, businesses and the broader regional economy. Hochul, who is seeking reelection later this year, said the unions’ demands could force fare hikes and higher taxes for Long Islanders.
President Donald Trump also weighed in on the dispute, blaming Hochul for allowing the strike to occur.
"If you can’t solve it, let me know, and I’ll show you how to properly get things done," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The standoff underscores growing pressure facing public transit systems nationwide as labor unions push for higher wages while transit agencies continue grappling with post-pandemic budget pressures and shifting commuting patterns.
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Transit officials have not indicated when negotiations could resume or how long the strike may continue as commuters across the New York area seek alternative transportation options.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/long-island-rail-road-strike-halts-service-300000-commuters-ahead-memorial-dayBlackstone seasoning blend recalled over possible salmonella contaminationBlackstone Products is recalling select lots of its Parmesan Ranch seasoning after a supplier-issued milk powder recall raised concerns about possible salmonella contamination.
A Blackstone seasoning blend has been recalled due to a potential risk of salmonella contamination, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Blackstone Products of Providence, Utah, announced it was voluntarily recalling certain lots of its Parmesan Ranch seasoning products following the discovery that California Dairies, Inc. recalled dry milk powder due to potential salmonella contamination.
The affected milk powder was supplied to a third-party manufacturer and used in the seasoning product, according to the FDA.
The affected products were sold nationwide exclusively through Walmart stores and the Blackstone Products website.
CHECK YOUR FREEZER: ORGANIC ICE CREAM RECALLED IN 17 STATES OVER POSSIBLE METAL FRAGMENTS
The recalled products are labeled as Blackstone Parmesan Ranch 7.3 oz seasoning products with item number #4106. The lot code and best-by dates are located on the bottom of the product packaging, according to the FDA.
The recall specifically impacts lot numbers 2025-43282, 2025-46172 and 2026-54751 with "best by" dates of July 2, 2027, Aug. 5, 2027, and Aug. 12, 2027, respectively.
No illnesses have been reported from the affected seasoning products, but the FDA warns salmonella can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems.
Salmonella is an organism that can cause fever, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain in otherwise healthy people, according to the FDA. In rare cases, the infection can enter the bloodstream and cause more severe illnesses, including arterial infections, endocarditis and arthritis.
MORE THAN 125,000 CHILDREN’S TOWER STOOLS RECALLED NATIONWIDE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEADLY DEFECT
A representative for Blackstone did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
Consumers are urged not to use the recalled seasoning and should dispose of the product immediately.
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The FDA said consumers who purchased the affected products should not consume the seasoning and should throw it away immediately.
Customers who purchased the affected products may contact Blackstone Products at 1-888-879-4610 to receive a replacement product or ask additional questions.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/blackstone-seasoning-blend-recalled-over-possible-salmonella-contaminationMarty Makary resigns as FDA commissioner following industry and White House backlashMakary's tenure was marked by internal dysfunction at the FDA, leadership turmoil and mounting backlash from drugmakers and physicians on regulatory decisions.{}
United Airlines flight attendants ratify new contract with 31% raises this summerUnited Airlines flight attendants ratify labor deal that would provide first raises in nearly six years.{}
Gen Z shoppers helping revive America’s malls with push for in-person experiencesMalls are redesigning spaces with social media-friendly features and experiences like rock climbing to attract Gen Z shoppers and their spending.
Gen Z shoppers are helping fuel a new chapter for America’s malls as younger consumers increasingly favor in-person shopping experiences over simply filling online carts. Their spending habits are becoming a major focus for retailers and mall operators looking to adapt to changing consumer behavior.
FOX Business’ Madison Alworth joined FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on "Varney & Co." to report on how malls are redesigning spaces and adding new experiences aimed at younger shoppers, from social media-friendly dressing rooms to activities like indoor rock climbing walls.
BURLINGTON TO OPEN OVER TWO DOZEN NEW STORES ACROSS COUNTRY IN MAY
According to data firm NielsenIQ, Gen Z retail spending is expected to surpass $12 trillion globally by 2030, with growth outpacing every other generation. Data from Circana also found shoppers between 18 and 24 years old made 62% of their general merchandise purchases in physical stores last year, compared to 52% among consumers 25 and older.
Those trends come as broader retail spending has remained resilient despite ongoing economic uncertainty. U.S. retail sales rose 0.5% in April from the previous month and climbed 4.9% year over year, according to Commerce Department data released Thursday, showing consumers are still spending even as higher interest rates continue pressuring household budgets.
Macerich Executive Vice President of Asset Management Cory Scott said younger shoppers are increasingly prioritizing experiences alongside purchases.
WALMART CUTTING OR RELOCATING ABOUT 1,000 CORPORATE JOBS
"They value experiences almost more than they value material things. So it's as much about the journey as the shopping and the things that they're taking home with them," Scott said.
Some Gen Z shoppers told FOX Business malls offer a social connection that online shopping cannot fully replace.
One shopper said, "We grew up during like quarantine… Getting out and hanging out with people was a very big thing we didn't appreciate during that time… As we grow older, we see that we need to be doing these things and it's kind of fun."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/gen-z-shoppers-helping-revive-americas-malls-with-push-in-person-experiencesAmazon accused of keeping hundreds of millions in tariff costs to curry favor with Trump administrationAmazon faces a class action lawsuit accusing the company of retaining unlawful tariff costs instead of refunding consumers who paid higher prices.
Amazon is facing a new class action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to refund tariff-related costs it passed on to consumers through higher prices in order to appease the Trump administration.
Consumers allege in a proposed lawsuit filed in Seattle that the tech giant collected hundreds of millions of dollars in unlawful tariff costs by raising prices on imported goods before the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in February that President Donald Trump lacked authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) to impose certain tariffs.
While thousands of companies have sought billions of dollars in refunds from the government following the ruling, Amazon has failed to do so, the complaint states, "not because it lacks a legal basis to do so, but because it seeks to curry favor with Trump by allowing the federal government to retain the funds."
"Amazon’s decision to forgo recovery serves its own political and commercial interests at the direct expense of the consumers who bore the tariff costs in the first place," the lawsuit alleges.
AMAZON’S 30-MINUTE DELIVERY PUSH RAISES STAKES IN RACE FOR SPEED
"The problem is that the funds Amazon is using to stay in the President’s good graces do not belong to Amazon," the complaint continues. "These funds were wrongfully taken from consumers to cover IEEPA tariffs that have since been invalidated. Those funds belong to the consumers who paid them."
The lawsuit also alleges Amazon "has no intention" of returning the costs passed on to consumers.
"It has, in short, generated and retained a windfall from unlawful government action, and consumers — not Amazon — are the ones left paying for it," the filing states.
The complaint accuses Amazon of unjust enrichment and violating Washington state’s consumer-protection law.
MORE THAN 125,000 CHILDREN’S TOWER STOOLS RECALLED NATIONWIDE DUE TO POSSIBLE DEADLY DEFECT
The legal clash comes after consumers filed similar lawsuits against companies, including Nike and Costco, over claims they failed to pass tariff-related refunds on to customers.
The lawsuit against Amazon also alleges the company faced White House pushback in April 2025 after reports surfaced that it was considering displaying how much of a product’s cost stemmed from IEEPA tariffs.
Amazon denied the report, saying it never considered listing tariff-related prices on its main retail site. However, the lawsuit alleges the report prompted Trump to call Amazon Executive Chairman Jeff Bezos to complain.
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More than 2,000 companies have filed suits in the U.S. Court of International Trade seeking to recover tariffs paid on imported goods.
FOX Business has reached out to Amazon and the White House for comment.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/amazon-accused-keeping-hundreds-millions-tariff-costs-curry-favor-trump-administrationThe summer box office is off to a hot start as weekend ticket sales top $160 millionThe summer box office is off to a sizzling start, thanks in part to strong week-after-week performance from returning titles.{}
At TV upfronts, AI is in and corporate shuffles are reshaping the lineupAdvertisers will be hearing about the slate of live events in the coming year — and how AI is being integrated. Plus, media consolidation reshapes the lineup.{}
NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani says he's tried to meet with billionaire CEO after 'Tax the Rich' video backlashMayor Zohran Mamdani says he reached out to Citadel CEO Ken Griffin for a meeting after the billionaire criticized his viral tax-the-rich video.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Friday he has attempted to meet with billionaire Citadel CEO Ken Griffin after the hedge fund executive blasted the mayor’s viral "Tax the Rich" video targeting him.
Mamdani said a member of his team reached out to Griffin but had not received a response.
"We reached out to set up a meeting," Mamdani said Friday. "We're still waiting to hear."
"That continues to be an open invitation, and it’s part of invitations that I’ve made to a number of business leaders across the city," he continued. "I’m there to listen and there to have a conversation that goes beyond places of agreement, but perhaps places of disagreement to hear honest reflection and critique, without putting any precondition on the nature of that conversation."
The outreach comes after Mamdani posted a video on April 15 highlighting Griffin’s property while promoting a new pied-à-terre tax proposal.
In the video, the mayor — who has pledged to raise taxes on wealthy New Yorkers — stood outside Griffin’s 24,000-square-foot penthouse, which Griffin purchased in 2019 for $238 million, the most expensive residential sale in U.S. history.
Griffin later criticized the video, calling it a "creepy and weird" political advertisement.
A spokesperson for Griffin did not say whether he plans to meet with the mayor.
MAMDANI TAX BREAK PROPOSAL SPARKS FEARS AS BUSINESS LEADERS WARN OF ‘FRAGILE’ NYC ECONOMY
"Ken cares deeply about New York City and welcomes thoughtful, serious conversations about the policies that can grow the city’s economy and create more opportunity for all New Yorkers," the spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business. "Reckless political theater serves no purpose and undermines the future of one of the world’s most important cities."
In the April video promoting higher taxes on wealthy New Yorkers and a pied-à-terre tax on second homes, Mamdani singled out Griffin’s penthouse as an example of what he called a "fundamentally unfair system."
"This is an annual fee on luxury properties worth more than $5 million whose owners do not live full-time in the city—like this penthouse, which hedge fund CEO Ken Griffin bought for $238 million," Mamdani said in the video.
Speaking at the Milken Conference in Los Angeles earlier this month, Griffin said Mamdani’s "frightening" video reaffirmed his decision to "double down" on business in Miami.
MAMDANI THANKS SAME BILLIONAIRE HE TARGETED IN TAX VIDEO FOR NYPD MONEY
"Mamdani has made it very clear—New York does not welcome success," Griffin said during the panel.
Citadel is currently building a new headquarters in Miami, and Griffin reiterated plans to expand the company’s presence in Florida, citing the state’s pro-business policies.
The mayor’s office previously told Fox News Digital that Mamdani "wants all New Yorkers to succeed," including Griffin, whom it described as a major employer in the city.
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"That does not negate the fact, however, that our tax system is fundamentally broken," the statement continued. "It rewards extreme wealth while working people are pushed to the brink."
"The status quo is unsustainable and unjust," it added. "If we want this city to become a place that working people can afford, we need meaningful tax reform that includes the wealthiest New Yorkers contributing their fair share."
FOX Business' Nikolas Lanum and Alexandra Koch contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/nyc-mayor-zohran-mamdani-says-hes-tried-meet-billionaire-ceo-after-tax-rich-video-backlashCheck your freezer: Organic ice cream recalled in 17 states over possible metal fragmentsStraus Family Creamery issued a voluntary recall for select organic ice cream flavors distributed across 17 states after discovering the possible presence of metal fragments.
An organic ice cream brand has recalled select flavors over the potential presence of metal fragments, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Straus Family Creamery, based in Northern California, voluntarily recalled a limited number of production runs of its Organic Super Premium Ice Cream on Wednesday after the company discovered the potential presence of foreign metal material, according to an FDA report published Friday.
The recall impacts select pint and quart containers of vanilla bean, strawberry, cookie dough, Dutch chocolate and mint chip ice cream distributed to retailers in 17 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, New Jersey, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.
Not all Straus Family Creamery ice cream products are affected by the recall. The company said the recall applies only to certain production runs identified by "best by" dates ranging from Dec. 23, 2026, through Dec. 30, 2026.
DOZENS OF ICE CREAM PRODUCTS RECALLED OVER UNDECLARED ALLERGENS POSING 'LIFE-THREATENING' RISK
The affected products began appearing on store shelves on May 4. Consumers can identify recalled products by the "best by" date printed in black on the outside bottom of the container.
According to the FDA, no injuries or illnesses have been reported in connection with the recalled products.
In its recall notice published by the FDA, Straus Family Creamery said it is "working with retailers to remove the potentially affected products from shelves."
Consumers are urged not to eat the recalled ice cream and should discard the product rather than return it to stores.
ICE CREAM SOLD AT WALMARTS ACROSS 16 STATES RECALLED DUE TO UNDECLARED ALLERGEN
Customers seeking a voucher for a replacement product can visit the company’s recall website.
Consumers with questions can contact Straus Family Creamery at support@strausmilk.com or 1-707-776-2887 Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT.
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Last month, California-based Loard’s Ice Cream recalled dozens of products sold in Northern California over undeclared allergens including milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts and soy, according to the FDA. No illnesses were reported in that recall.
A representative for Straus Family Creamery did not immediately respond to FOX Business’ request for comment.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/check-freezer-organic-ice-cream-recalled-17-states-over-possible-metal-fragmentsGM cutting hundreds of salaried IT workers as it trims costs, evaluates needsGeneral Motors is laying off hundreds of salaried employees in its information technology operations.{}
April home sales disappoint as higher mortgage rates weigh on buyersHome sales barely moved in April, as mortgage rates shot higher the month before and uncertainty over the war with Iran weighed on consumers.{}
Honda posts first-ever annual loss in nearly 70 years as electric vehicle bet backfiresHonda posts its first-ever annual loss since 1957 as its electric vehicle bet leads to $9 billion in restructuring costs amid Trump's policies.
Honda Motor posted its first-ever annual loss this week since it was first listed on the stock market in 1957.
The Japanese car company’s bet on electric vehicle sales left it with $9 billion in restructuring costs due to low demand and President Donald Trump’s "Made in America" policies.
"EV demand has declined considerably, due to the rollback of environmental regulations in the U.S. and other factors," Honda said in a statement.
CEO Toshihiro Mibe said on Thursday that the company, which suffered a $2.7 billion loss, would also abandon its target to make electric vehicle sales 20% of profits by 2030.
TRUMP ESCALATES BATTLE WITH NEWSOM, SHUTTING DOWN GOVERNOR'S LEFT-WING RULES ROCKING CAR INDUSTRY
The company had also previously set a goal to fully move to electric or fuel-cell vehicles by 2024.
Losses related to its electric vehicle operations are expected to reach $16 billion, the company said.
The Trump administration has moved away from electric vehicle incentive programs, including blocking California’s stringent electric vehicle mandates and removing former President Joe Biden's EV tax credit.
MASSIVE HONDA RECALLIMPACTS 440K VEHICLES OVER AIRBAGS POTENTIALLY DEPLOYING 'UNEXPECTEDLY'
Honda, however, stemmed the bleeding through an increase in motorcycle sales – 20 million more than last year, which translated to a half a percent increase or $138 billion for the fiscal year through March.
Honda, which makes the Accord sedan and Super Cub motorcycles, sold 3.4 million vehicles around the world in the fiscal year through March, down from 3.7 million the previous year.
The company is the main motorcycle seller in some markets, including India.
Despite the loss, Honda is still forecasting a $1.7 billion profit for the fiscal year through March 2027.
"We will continue our research to develop future technologies including electric vehicle batteries," Mibe said. "We will get back on a growth track," adding that the company will continue a goal of carbon neutrality while acknowledging the need to work on hybrids and regular gasoline-engine models as well.
Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/honda-posts-first-ever-annual-loss-nearly-70-years-electric-vehicle-bet-backfiresCoca-Cola shutting down California facility after more than a centuryAfter more than a century in the community, the Ventura Coca-Cola distribution center is slated to shut down this summer following a May 8 WARN notice.
A large Coca-Cola bottling plant in Southern California will shut down permanently this summer, ending a longstanding relationship between the company and the city.
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling made the announcement in a May 8 WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice – a legally required 60-day "heads-up" that employers must give to workers before a major layoff or office closure.
"We regularly assess our locations, products, and services to ensure we can continue driving sustainable growth and innovation across our business," a spokesperson for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling wrote to SFGATE. "As such, we have announced the closure of our Ventura Distribution Center and the transfer of operations to our other Southern California facilities."
COCA-COLA'S SUGARCANE SHIFT: STATES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THE BEVERAGE GIANT'S LATEST MOVE
The closure of the Ventura plant will impact 85 employees, the company said.
"Most (78) will be reassigned to other RCCB facilities," the spokesperson said. "Additionally, affected employees have the option of applying for any open roles for which they are qualified within RCCB and our sister companies."
The last day of operations will be July 10, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling said. The roles slated for elimination include drivers, fleet mechanics, merchandisers and customer growth representatives.
The facility was most recently used as a distribution center. The closure will end Ventura's long relationship with Coca-Cola, which spanned more than a century, according to local reports.
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FOX Business has reached out to Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling and the city of Ventura for further comment.
A Coca-Cola plant in American Canyon, California, closed last year, laying off 135 employees in August 2025. That same month, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling closed its Salinas plant after more than seven decades, SFGATE reported.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/coca-cola-shutting-down-california-facility-after-more-than-centuryJPMorgan Chase-led bank group reins in credit line to troubled KKR private credit fund as losses mountThe KKR fund, often referred to by its ticker, FSK, has become one of the most visible fault lines in the private credit story.{}
The wealthy keep buying Manhattan real estate despite potential pied-à-terre taxReal estate sales in Manhattan worth $4 million or more increased in the past month, according to Olshan Realty.{}
Coca-Cola shutting down California facility after more than a centuryAfter more than a century in the community, the Ventura Coca-Cola distribution center is slated to shut down this summer following a May 8 WARN notice.
A large Coca-Cola bottling plant in Southern California will shut down permanently this summer, ending a longstanding relationship between the company and the city.
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling made the announcement in a May 8 WARN (Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification) notice – a legally required 60-day "heads-up" that employers must give to workers before a major layoff or office closure.
"We regularly assess our locations, products, and services to ensure we can continue driving sustainable growth and innovation across our business," a spokesperson for Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling wrote to SFGATE. "As such, we have announced the closure of our Ventura Distribution Center and the transfer of operations to our other Southern California facilities."
COCA-COLA'S SUGARCANE SHIFT: STATES THAT COULD BENEFIT FROM THE BEVERAGE GIANT'S LATEST MOVE
The closure of the Ventura plant will impact 85 employees, the company said.
"Most (78) will be reassigned to other RCCB facilities," the spokesperson said. "Additionally, affected employees have the option of applying for any open roles for which they are qualified within RCCB and our sister companies."
The last day of operations will be July 10, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling said. The roles slated for elimination include drivers, fleet mechanics, merchandisers and customer growth representatives.
The facility was most recently used as a distribution center. The closure will end Ventura's long relationship with Coca-Cola, which spanned more than a century, according to local reports.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
FOX Business has reached out to Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling and the city of Ventura for further comment.
A Coca-Cola plant in American Canyon, California, closed last year, laying off 135 employees in August 2025. That same month, Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling closed its Salinas plant after more than seven decades, SFGATE reported.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/retail/coca-cola-shutting-down-california-facility-after-more-than-centuryHigh gas prices are hurting restaurant sales — but not all chainsRestaurant traffic fell 2.3% in March compared with the year-ago period, according to Black Box Intelligence.{}
Meet the YouTube whisperers, a booming class of advisors behind MrBeast and other million-dollar channelsA burgeoning group of YouTube strategists are charging big money to YouTubers who want to expand their popularity.{}
Target is trying to win back busy families from Walmart, starting with the baby aisleTarget is refreshing its baby category as part of a broader effort to offer better products and more convenience to compete with Walmart and Amazon.{}
Why one of the nation's largest auto lenders isn't worried about high vehicle prices or 'forever loans'While median car payments have jumped from $390 to $525 since 2019, data provided by Capital One suggests stability in vehicle cost compared to income.{}
Media As Bedrock for Developing Russian-African Relations
MOSCOW, May 18 (IPS) - Under the auspices of the Faculty of Journalism of Lomonosov Moscow State University, the Russian-African Club, in late April, held its IV International Forum of Journalists from Russia and Africa, which marked another historical milestone. According to an established annual tradition, discussions were focused on aspects of the media, its structure, current performance, information contents, and challenges as well as future perspectives.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/18/43057 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/rmda_-100x100.jpg"}Africa’s Golden Future
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 18 (IPS) - It is very appropriate that this Africa Forward Summit is being held in Kenya. Two weeks ago, a Kenyan marathon runner, Sabastian Sawe, did what had been considered impossible: by running a marathon in under two hours! What we have set ourselves here is also a marathon—and we must show the same resilience and perseverance that Mr. Sawe did.
Read the full story, “Africa’s Golden Future”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/18/43056 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/afs_180526_-100x100.jpg"}Trump vindicated as OPEC faces collapse following UAE departureThe UAE's departure from OPEC could trigger a domino effect, experts say, potentially leading to lower gasoline prices within the next year or so.
The price of gasoline is set to drop as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) appears poised to collapse, experts predict. OPEC has long kept crude oil prices higher than they would otherwise be. If this pans out, it will be a major victory for the Trump administration, which is resetting global energy markets.
The news of a probable end of the oil cartel also vindicates President Donald Trump, who has previously said OPEC is "ripping off the rest of the world." For a long time, the president has led a pressure campaign against OPEC, which has vast crude oil reserves that could easily be pumped. But the organization restricts the number of barrels of oil that each country may pump each day. That keeps gasoline prices elevated across the U.S. and much of the rest of the world.
Phil Flynn, senior market analyst at The PRICE Futures Group and a FOX Business contributor said, "Over time, the breakup of the cartel should cause gas prices to fall. With more player pricing, oil only being contained by market forces should lead to an ounce of supply and lower prices. Competition is good as it lowers prices and collusion by producers raises prices."
WHAT A UAE EXIT FROM OPEC MEANS AND WHY IT MATTERS
The poster child for the possible beginning of the end of OPEC came in late April when the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced it would quit OPEC and OPEC+ on May 1.
Flynn linked the U.S.-Israel war with Iran as a historic marker. "I think that is a real possibility and more OPEC countries want to control their own destiny. In fact, when we look back at one of the strategic victories from Operation Epic Fury, it is that it has changed the face of the OPEC cartel forever and shifted energy dominance from the cartel back into our hemisphere. The UAE was getting tired of playing second fiddle to Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the cartel. The UEA wants to assert its leadership and has a competitive goal to not only increase oil production in the long term, but it wants to assert itself as the leader of the region."
The simple act of the UAE quitting the cartel led immediately to OPEC losing out in a big way.
"[The UAE’s] departure removes both production weight and institutional credibility, and that's got to be a concern to Saudi Arabia and others who remain," says Elaine Dezenski, head of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' (FDD) center on economic and financial power. "I think we're now seeing one of the final nails in the coffin for OPEC. We're seeing alignment from the UAE towards the U.S., which is, I think, part of a broader economic statecraft."
Some analysts say there is also a high likelihood that the UAE’s decision to leave OPEC could trigger a domino effect. Other OPEC countries will have seen the news that the UAE will be able to increase their daily production from slightly more than three million barrels a day to five million next year. That gain in production could easily prompt countries such as Iraq to jump ship, as they would then be free to pump as much oil as they can and need rather than be constrained by OPEC quotas.
HOW VENEZUELA WENT FROM SOUTH AMERICA'S RICHEST TO POOREST ECONOMY DESPITE MASSIVE OIL RESERVES
Not everyone sees the cartel's end.
"OPEC+ is not built around noise. It is built around capacity, credibility, and coordination," Salman Al-Ansari, a Saudi geopolitical analyst, told FOX Business. "On these fronts, the UAE is not among the most decisive players in the group. Politically, this appears less like a major economic rupture and more like a symbolic move to signal leverage and independence. But symbolism does not always translate into influence."
Al-Ansari doesn't foresee a collapse of OPEC. "I believe OPEC+ can continue to function and thrive," he said. "The institution has managed internal differences before, and its strength ultimately depends on disciplined coordination rather than political signaling."
But there’s an additional aspect to OPEC's potential downfall.
"Cartels have a long history of working efficiently for a while and then collapsing," Pete Earle, director of economics and economic freedom at the American Institute for Economic Research, told FOX Business. The reason for that is that members of oil cartels have an incentive to produce more fuel than their OPEC production quota. And, the cheating can ultimately lead to a breakdown of the organization, he said.
There are some things that will be different if OPEC disappears. "I don't know whether American energy producers, oil producers, will feel happy about a lower oil price," said Bernard Haykel, a senior fellow at FDD.
That said, major American energy companies are highly innovative at adapting to economic changes. They have done so for many decades, so lower prices might not pose a significant challenge.
Earle also said that while oil prices will come down without OPEC, they will be more volatile, making for a roller-coaster ride for anyone buying gasoline. However, there are ways for energy companies to use sophisticated financial derivatives to smooth some of the volatility.
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Earle said some countries rely heavily on oil revenues, and falling prices might lead to unintended consequences. "Lower, less stable prices that would possibly translate into domestic instability." He continued, "Iraq and Nigeria would probably be impacted by instability."
Whatever happens to OPEC, there is some good news on the horizon.
"We're likely to see lower prices in the future. I'm not talking now or in six months, but let's say a year from now, once things get back to normal, you'll see a much lower price because of this UAE decision," Haykel said.
Flynn, a FOX Business contributor, said, "OPEC is not only on life support, it is dead in the traditional sense. This is no longer your daddy’s OPEC and oil politics have changed forever because of what has happened since Operation Epic Fury. Still, as long as Saudi and Russia, their non-OPEC competitor, stay together, they are still a force that cannot be ignored.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/energy/trump-vindicated-opec-faces-collapse-following-uae-departureStarbucks to cut 300 US jobs, close some regional support officesStarbucks said on Friday that it is slashing 300 U.S. support roles and closing some regional offices as part of its Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy.
Coffee giant Starbucks is slashing about 300 U.S. support roles and closing some regional support offices.
"We are taking further action under the Back to Starbucks strategy, building on our strong business momentum and working to return the company to durable, profitable growth," a Starbucks spokesperson said in a statement to FOX Business.
"Leaders have taken a hard look at their respective functions to further sharpen focus, prioritize work, reduce complexity, and lower costs. As a result, we’re eliminating approximately 300 U.S. support roles," the spokesperson said.
STARBUCKS CUTS JOBS IN SEATTLE AS FORMER CEO HOWARD SCHULTZ BLASTS ‘SOCIALIST’ MAYOR
"We are also reviewing our international support organization as we focus on being a world-class licensor and expect additional role impacts outside the U.S.," the spokesperson noted.
The company is also closing some regional support offices.
WHY STARBUCKS PICKED NASHVILLE OVER SEATTLE FOR EXPANSION, ACCORDING TO LOCAL BUSINESS REPORTER
FORMER STARBUCKS CEO HOWARD SCHULTZ MOVES TO FLORIDA FROM WASHINGTON STATE
"We are streamlining our real estate footprint including consolidating U.S. regional support office space and taking several other steps with leases and lease commitments," the spokesperson noted.
Costs have mounted at Starbucks in recent quarters as CEO Brian Niccol pursues the Back to Starbucks turnaround strategy focused on the coffeehouse floor, and which has entailed hefty investments in additional barista staffing. Executives last month touted what they called a milestone in the turnaround as the company posted its strongest sales growth in more than two years, although operating profit margins have fallen by nearly half since the turnaround began in late 2024.
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The company said it expects to pay out about $120 million in severance benefits to terminated employees. It also said it is reducing by $280 million the book value of some real estate, primarily related to its reserve and roastery locations, as well as some non-retail support facilities.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/starbucks-cut-300-us-jobs-close-some-regional-support-offices-turnaround-strategy1.1 billion people live in slums. Can they be housed in dignity?
Ministers, mayors, international organisations, urban planners and experts are in Baku, Azerbaijan, to tackle one of the world’s fastest-growing challenges: the global housing crisis, which, according to the United Nations, affects nearly 2.8 billion people worldwide.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/17/43054 {"url":"https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Libraries/Production%20Library/23-10-2024-UNICEF-Lebanon.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg"}World Urban Forum opens in Baku as housing crisis and climate shocks intensify
Soaring housing costs, climate shocks and conflicts are leaving millions without adequate shelter – but what can be done? As the 13th UN World Urban Forum opens on Sunday in Baku, Azerbaijan, participants will grapple with solutions to a deepening global housing crisis.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/16/43051 {"url":"https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Production%20Library/12-05-2026_Azerbaijan_Forum.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg"}Trump announces China will buy 200 Boeing jets after Xi talks: 'A lot of jobs'Trump said Xi Jinping agreed to order 200 Boeing aircraft during their Beijing meeting, which he said surpassed the number Boeing 'wanted' from China.
President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to order 200 Boeing jets during their high-level meeting in Beijing.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity, Trump described his talks with the Chinese leader as "very good" and said the aircraft commitment exceeded Boeing’s expectations.
"One thing [Xi] agreed to today: he's going to order 200 jets. That's a big thing. Boeing — 200 big ones. That's a lot of jobs. It's a lot. Boeing wanted 150, he got 200," Trump said.
Terms of the agreement, including delivery timelines and aircraft models, were not immediately disclosed.
TRUMP READIES FOR BEIJING SUMMIT WITH XI AS AI CHIP SALES, FARM GOODS TOP AGENDA
Trump arrived in China Wednesday alongside a delegation of top American business leaders for meetings with Chinese officials and executives. The visit marks Trump’s first trip to the country since 2017 and comes amid mounting tensions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan and the fallout from the war with Iran.
Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg was among those executives and recently said the trip represented "a meaningful opportunity" for the aerospace giant.
While Ortberg declined to specify the number of aircraft under discussion during a recent analyst call, he said he was "highly confident" that if Trump reached an agreement with Xi, the deal would "include some aircraft orders."
BOEING PURSUES MASSIVE CHINA JET DEAL AS CEO JOINS TRUMP'S DELEGATION TO BEIJING
Bloomberg previously reported that China was considering purchasing roughly 500 Boeing 737 Max aircraft to meet growing airline demand.
Boeing shares fell more than 4% in Thursday trading after the reported order total fell short of analysts’ expectations, according to Reuters.
China last announced a major Boeing purchase during Trump’s 2017 visit to Beijing, agreeing to buy 300 aircraft from the U.S. manufacturer, the outlet reported.
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Boeing and European rival Airbus have aggressively competed for aircraft sales in China, one of the world’s largest aviation markets.
Other executives traveling with the U.S. delegation included Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, Apple CEO Tim Cook, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, Citi CEO Jane Fraser, and Cargill CEO Brian Sikes.
Reuters, Fox News Digital's Jasmine Baehr and Efrat Lachter, as well as FOX Business' Eric Revell contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-world/trump-announces-china-buy-200-boeing-jets-after-xi-talks-a-lot-jobsTrump’s former economic advisor Stephen Miran steps down from Fed board, supports Kevin Warsh as new chairFederal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran submits resignation, celebrating conservative regulatory victories and the removal of reputational risk guidelines.
Federal Reserve Governor Stephen Miran officially submitted his resignation Thursday, which will take effect upon or shortly before his successor, Chairman-designate Kevin Warsh, is sworn in.
The former chair of President Donald J. Trump's Council of Economic Advisors (CEA), who began his term in September 2025, Miran resigned from his role as CEA chair in February, following through on a commitment to the Senate to fill the Federal Reserve seat vacated by Governor Adriana Kugler, whose term ended Jan. 31.
In his resignation letter to the president, he touted significant conservative regulatory victories, specifically highlighting his fight against political overreach in the banking sector.
Miran emphasized his support for the removal of "reputational risk" guidelines, a mechanism he argued was previously used by regulators and examiners to force their own political preferences regarding "firearms, climate or any other matter" onto the customers of American banks.
WARSH FACES FIRST BIG TEST ON CAPITOL HILL AS TRUMP’S FED VISION COMES INTO FOCUS
He also celebrated his work alongside Vice Chairwoman Michelle Bowman to slash "accumulated excess regulation," an effort that successfully freed up over $100 billion in capital.
The deregulation reduced leverage constraints, allowing banks to more freely extend credit to U.S. households and businesses without being penalized for holding safe assets like U.S. Treasuries.
On monetary policy, Miran warned that the Federal Reserve risks fighting "fake rather than real inflation" if it fails to account for current economic biases.
THE FED’S FOOLISH INTEREST RATE POLICY IS STOPPING AMERICA’S ECONOMY FROM BOOMING
He argued that reduced immigration and increased supply-side deregulation are "powerfully disinflationary" forces and cautioned that inflation metrics are currently skewed by unavoidable biases, such as those found in portfolio management fees and AI-driven software.
Failing to adjust for the measurement errors, he said, could force the Fed to unnecessarily drive up unemployment.
Miran said he was excited that Chairman-designate Warsh will return the Federal Reserve to its "narrow mandate and out of hot-button political and cultural issues," while continuing the crucial work of shrinking the central bank's balance sheet and overall footprint in the U.S. financial system.
Warsh, 56, was confirmed by the Senate on Wednesday as the next Federal Reserve chair, taking over for Jerome Powell, whose term will expire Friday.
The Federal Reserve Board of Governors did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trumps-former-economic-advisor-stephen-miran-steps-down-fed-board-supports-kevin-warsh-new-chairDIGITAL RIGHTS: ‘The Priority Should Be Holding Tech Companies Accountable, Not Banning Children from the Digital World’
CIVICUS discusses the rising trend of social media bans for children with Marie-Ève Nadeau, Head of International Affairs of the 5Rights Foundation, an organisation that promotes children’s rights in the digital environment.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/15/43040 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/Marie-Eve-Nadeau-100x100.jpg"}Building Resilient Food Systems in an Age of Disruption
UTTAR PRADESH, India, May 15 (IPS) - The latest shock to global food systems, triggered by conflict in the Middle East and disruptions around the Strait of Hormuz, has once again exposed a fragile truth: the world’s food systems remain highly vulnerable to external shocks.
Read the full story, “Building Resilient Food Systems in an Age of Disruption”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/15/43034 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/Farmers-in-Bangladesh_-100x100.jpg"}LARRY KUDLOW: Xi’s saber-rattling is no match for America’s Trumpian economic boomWhile China Beijing invests in a strong military, their economy is malfunctioning and their political standing in the world is slipping badly
According to reports, President Xi Jinping did a little saber-rattling over the Republic of China on Taiwan with President Trump. More or less, he seemed to be saying if America doesn’t handle Taiwan properly, the two countries will clash — and put the relationship in great jeopardy.
No one really knows what that means, forever and ever we’ve had a policy of strategic ambiguity, which amounts to an American defense of Taiwan’s autonomy and independence. I don’t think any of that is going to change. Nor do I think Mr. Trump wants it to change; it’s not really negotiable. And Taiwan, and especially the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, or TSMC, may well be at the center of the world’s A.I. competition. That’s a Taiwanese company that has just opened a substantial operation at Phoenix, Arizona. As well as other places in America. I doubt very strongly that Mr. Trump wants any of that changed. Or worse, give it up. Mr. Xi is bluffing.
In recent weeks he has watched America end his influence in Venezuela, the Panama Canal, soon it will be Cuba, and of course Iran. I mean Communist China’s buying 90 percent of Iran’s oil and gas exports. But with Mr. Trump’s air-tight blockade of Iranian ports, China is starving for energy. They might make a deal with us, but that too remains to be seen if it comes under Treasury Man Scott Bessent’s investment board idea.
Meanwhile Mr. Trump has elbowed China out of the Middle East and out of the Western Hemisphere. And on top of all that, China’s economy has never recovered from the real estate property crash of a couple years ago. They used to post GDP growth rates of 15 percent or more. Now that’s down to 5 percent or even less, which is essentially for them a recession. And if they have bad economic statistics cropping up, they have decided not to publish them at all.
Remember, China is Communist China, the CCP. Way back in the 1980s and 1990s, they flirted with some free market reforms that actually improved their economy, and generated a functioning private sector. Yet in the 21st century under subsequent dictators, most notably Mr. Xi, the economy has been turned back into a tightly-run statist enterprise, with enormous corruption and repeated economic failure.
In world trade, they are highly protectionist and rarely keep their promises to open up markets. As someone who worked on Mr. Trump’s first term Phase One trade deal, I can tell you a lot about their broken promises. My point here is that while China has invested substantially in a strong military, their economy is malfunctioning and their political standing in the world is slipping badly.
All this reminds me of President Reagan and Gorbachev. The American economy was booming in the Reagan 1980s. The Soviet economy was collapsing. Gorbachev desperately wanted Reagan to drop what was then known as Star Wars, which has now become the Golden Dome defense of America. And of course Mr. Trump’s Space Force. Anyway, Reagan refused to negotiate Star Wars away. He bluntly told Gorbachev that the strong American economy was producing the resources to support space defense, but that the Soviet economy couldn’t possibly match us.
I think the same is true today with Messrs. Trump and Xi. Here’s my favorite statistic: on a per capita basis, American GDP is well over $90,000 per person. And China? On a per person basis their GDP is just shy of $14,000. That gives America a nearly seven-fold economic advantage over China. So Mr. Xi may saber-rattle all he wants, but Mr. Trump has the goods to keep America first.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/larry-kudlow-xis-saber-rattling-no-match-americas-trumpian-economic-boomMore than 125,000 children’s tower stools recalled nationwide due to possible deadly defectMore than 125,000 Cosyland children's tower stools sold on Amazon are being recalled due to tip-over and collapse risks that pose serious injury and death hazards.
More than 125,000 children’s tower stools sold on Amazon are being recalled because they can tip over or collapse, creating a "risk of serious injury and death."
The recall covers Cosyland-branded children’s tower stools, models CS0003 and CS0092-4. The stools, sold in natural bamboo and gray finishes, stand about 35 inches tall and were sold on Amazon.com from April 2021 through November 2025 for about $70, according to a notice issued Thursday by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
"The recalled tower stools can collapse or tip over while in use, and a child’s torso can fit through the openings on the front and back sides, posing a risk of serious injury and death due to tip over, fall and entrapment hazards," CPSC said.
INSTANT NOODLE RECALL ISSUED NATIONWIDE OVER POSSIBLE PEANUT CONTAMINATION
Cosyland has received 25 reports involving stability issues and falls, including eight injuries.
Injuries ranged from minor cuts and bruises to a fractured arm, according to CPSC.
Consumers are urged to stop using the stools immediately and keep them away from children until they are repaired.
PET FOOD SOLD NATIONWIDE RECALLED OVER POTENTIAL SALMONELLA RISK
"Contact Cosyland Official for repair parts, which include protective nets, stabilizing feet, and installation instructions. The firm will mail the repair parts directly to consumers free of charge," CPSC said.
The recalled products were imported by China-based Cosyland Official.
BABY FORMULA RECALLED AFTER TOXIN DETECTED AS OFFICIALS WARN PARENTS
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The recall follows a similar action last month when nearly 13,000 toddler towers across three other brands were recalled after dozens of incidents and 21 injuries were reported due to the stools collapsing or tipping, according to CPSC.
Cosyland did not immediately respond to FOX Business' request for comment.
FOX Business' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/more-than-125000-childrens-tower-stools-recalled-nationwide-due-possible-deadly-defectGlobal energy and trade disruption pushing millions towards poverty
Disruptions to global energy supplies and trade corridors are driving up the cost of food, transport and essential goods worldwide, slowing economic growth and increasing pressure on vulnerable households and debt-strapped developing countries.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/15/43049 {"url":"https://global.unitednations.entermediadb.net/assets/mediadb/services/module/asset/downloads/preset/Collections/Production%20Library/15-05-2026-UNICEF-Myanmar.jpg/image100x100cropped.jpg"}Field-Based Research Is a Lifeline for Zimbabwe’s Food Security
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, May 15 (IPS) - Agriculture sustains millions of people in Zimbabwe, serving as a vital source of both food and income. But climate-related pressures affecting land, crops, rainfall patterns, and increasing pest outbreaks are threatening smallholder farmers’ harvests, leaving them food insecure.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/15/43033 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/Melody-Kamudyariwa-smallholder-farmer-holding-a-maize-plant-in-a-trial-field-in-Madziva.-Credit-IPS_Farai-Shawn-Matiashe-100x100.jpg"}Americans rethink Social Security timing as longer lifespans and insolvency fears raise the stakesAmericans are rethinking retirement timing as longer lifespans stretch savings and fears grow that Social Security could face automatic cuts within the next decade.
Americans are rethinking when to retire and claim Social Security as longer lifespans collide with uncertainty over the program’s future.
Social Security could reach insolvency by late 2032 or early 2033, potentially triggering automatic benefit cuts if Congress fails to act. At the same time, Americans are living longer, stretching retirement from roughly 15 years to closer to three decades in some cases, according to Realtor.com.
More than 68 million Americans rely on Social Security benefits as of April 2026, according to the Social Security Administration.
Waiting until age 70 to start collecting Social Security locks in the highest monthly payment, but claiming earlier may help protect against possible cuts.
TRUMP SIGNS ORDER AIMING TO HELP EXPAND ACCESS TO RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS
"Social Security certainly has a funding problem," said Evan Mills, a financial analyst at Scholar Advising. "If you claim now, you're basically making a bet that Congress does nothing about the underfunding problem."
But delaying benefits carries its own risks.
"You're also making a bet that you're not going to live long enough to regret taking a smaller check if Congress does step in and fix the funding problem, which they have plenty of levers to pull," he added.
Rising costs are adding pressure. Inflation, higher property taxes, insurance and healthcare expenses are also squeezing retirees, particularly those on fixed incomes, Realtor.com reported.
"Many retirees built plans assuming Social Security would cover a larger percentage of their living expenses than it realistically will," said Elias Friedman, certified financial planner and founder at Kadima Wealth.
WORK MORE, LOSE LESS? NEW BILL AIMS TO END SOCIAL SECURITY PENALTY
Taxes can further complicate the decision. Claiming benefits early while withdrawing from retirement accounts can trigger so-called "tax torpedoes," leading to a sudden increase in tax liability.
"It takes a bigger bite out of your Social Security benefits than you would expect," George Dimov, CPA and founder of Dimov Tax, told Realtor.com.
Regardless, experts say not to make decisions based on fear.
"I advise clients to be careful about making major Social Security decisions based purely on scary headlines," Friedman said. "I still believe delaying benefits can make a lot of sense for healthy retirees who expect longevity, especially married couples where maximizing the higher earner’s benefit can help protect the surviving spouse down the road."
NEARLY HALF OF GEN X WORKERS ARE DELAYING RETIREMENT AS RISING COSTS, STAGNANT WAGES DRAIN SAVINGS
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With so many unknowns, experts also say that flexibility is key, whether that means working longer, cutting costs, downsizing or adjusting spending.
"Living longer means finding a place to live in for longer," Realtor.com Senior Economist Joel Berner told FOX Business in an email. "As we're seeing, monthly budgets based on social security income may not be as certain as they used to be, so finding a low-cost housing option is essential to planning out a long and happy retirement."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/americans-rethink-social-security-timing-longer-lifespans-insolvency-fears-raise-stakesFrom Cameras to Intelligence: How AI Is Reshaping Enterprise SecurityAI-powered surveillance is transforming from a passive security tool into a proactive business asset. By delivering real-time insights, improving safety, and enhancing operational efficiency, modern video systems are helping organizations move from reacting to incidents to preventing them altogether.
What if your security system didn’t just record problems, but prevented them?
A delivery arrives and blocks an emergency exit. Instead of going unnoticed until it becomes a compliance issue, an AI-enabled camera flags the problem immediately, alerting staff before it escalates. When an unfamiliar vehicle pulls into the parking lot, AI cameras trained to recognize license plates, make, model and color of authorized vehicles can tag anything that doesn't belong.
These aren’t potential scenarios; they’re real examples of organizations using surveillance technology today to do more than just monitor and protect.
For many organizations still viewing video surveillance as a tactical cost center, this shift represents a significant change in how the technology can be leveraged. As artificial intelligence, connectivity and advanced data analytics reshape how businesses operate, surveillance is evolving from a passive recordkeeping function into something far more dynamic. It's becoming a source of real-time business intelligence that can support safety, efficiency, resilience and smarter business decision-making.
While many organizations are still exploring practical applications for AI, the surveillance industry has been quicker to adopt it at scale, with AI-based analytics increasingly becoming a standard feature in modern video systems, said Lloyd Taylor, SVP of North America Sales at Hanwha Vision.
"In the past, security was largely reactive," Taylor said. "Teams would review footage after an incident to understand what happened."
Today, video is a proactive tool that helps businesses spot issues early, respond quickly and work more efficiently in real time. "What’s changed is the ability to continuously analyze what’s happening," Taylor said. "That allows organizations to move from looking back at incidents to responding in the moment or even acting preemptively."
Even with these advances, many businesses still see security as just a cost to manage. That mindset can lead companies to evaluate security too narrowly, focusing on hardware while overlooking the software, analytics and cyber layers that turn those systems into a more integrated, intelligence-driven resource.
AI-enabled video is already enhancing day-to-day operations. It can detect when checkout lines are building and alert staff to respond. In warehouses, it can identify unsafe conditions, such as loitering in restricted areas, before an incident occurs.
In more complex environments, those same capabilities are being applied at a larger scale. Urban planners are using predictive analytics to design safer, more efficient transportation systems, while hospitals can monitor patients continuously, giving staff and families greater peace of mind when medical teams aren’t physically present.
Across settings, the underlying benefit is the same: better visibility. Organizations can understand how space is actually being used, adjust staffing levels, reduce energy costs by identifying when to turn off air conditioning or heating and even make higher-level decisions about where to expand or scale back operations.
This data becomes even more useful when it connects with other parts of the business. Companies are bringing video analytics into their business intelligence tools, pairing it with data like sales, attendance and weather to build a clearer, real-time picture of their total operations.
"The technology is flexible enough to be applied across different industries and use cases," Taylor said. "The key is aligning it to specific operational priorities, where it can deliver the most measurable business impact."
For large organizations, these capabilities become more valuable as they grow. But growth also introduces more complexity. Some companies still operate across fragmented systems on legacy platforms, which leads to uneven coverage from one site to another.
One of the biggest challenges for multi-site organizations is keeping everything up to date and on a single platform, especially during acquisitions and organizational changes, Taylor said. That's why centralization, cloud-based management and systems that work together matter. Instead of handling each site separately, companies are moving to systems that give a single, unified view across all locations.
As surveillance systems become more connected, they are also becoming part of an organization’s larger IT setup. Today’s cameras are network devices, often using the same systems as printers and other wireless tools. This means cybersecurity needs to be a consideration from the outset, not just something you try to patch later.
"The cybersecurity of your platform is only as strong as its weakest link," Taylor said. "If your video surveillance or any of your security devices is that weak link," they can give bad actors access to your greater network.
The solution is to pick systems designed with security in mind from the start and keep them updated with the latest firmware.
"Your surveillance system is not just another office device," Taylor said. "It is there to protect your assets, create an ROI for your business and protect you from potential breaches."
Ultimately, smarter video is part of a bigger move toward resilience. The most effective systems are advanced but also resilient by design, able to support uptime, adapt to changing needs and serve as a dependable layer of visibility across the organization. For business leaders, this means moving from reacting to proactive prevention, so everything keeps running smoothly.
"Before we were reporting on incidents that had occurred," Taylor said. "Now we're actually putting together systems that really solve, and even prevent, some of these instances."
This calls for a balance between new technology and reliability. The best systems are both advanced and dependable. They're built to give AI-enabled insights and work well in real-world situations.
Across industries from retail and logistics to transportation and infrastructure, businesses are moving toward more connected, data-driven ways of working. Video is at the heart of this change, turning daily activity into real-time insights.
The question now is if your surveillance system is delivering meaningful value or just costing you money. Is it helping your teams respond faster, lower risks and make better decisions? If not, it might be time for an upgrade.
In the age of AI, video isn’t just for seeing what happened. It’s about knowing what’s happening now and taking action right away.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/business-leaders/from-cameras-intelligence-how-ai-reshaping-enterprise-securityField-Based Research Is a Lifeline for Zimbabwe’s Food Security
BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe, May 15 (IPS) - Agriculture sustains millions of people in Zimbabwe, serving as a vital source of both food and income. But climate-related pressures affecting land, crops, rainfall patterns, and increasing pest outbreaks are threatening smallholder farmers’ harvests, leaving them food insecure.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/15/43033 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/Melody-Kamudyariwa-smallholder-farmer-holding-a-maize-plant-in-a-trial-field-in-Madziva.-Credit-IPS_Farai-Shawn-Matiashe-100x100.jpg"}How much do you need to retire? A state-by-state breakdownRetirees on fixed incomes face affordability challenges depending on where they live. A study ranks states by the monthly savings needed to retire comfortably.
Americans of all ages are facing affordability concerns, with retirees on fixed incomes in particular feeling the strain – though where they choose to live in their golden years has a big impact on their ability to live comfortably.
A study by MoneyLion analyzed the monthly savings needed to retire comfortably across states after accounting for the national average expenses for retired households, as well as whether the retiree would have Social Security income and when the retiree began saving for retirement.
The report found that the state with the highest annual cost of living for retirees was Hawaii, with an annual cost of $90,752 for necessities and $181,505 for a comfortable cost of living based on the analysis. After accounting for Social Security income, MoneyLion estimated the annual cost of living as a retiree in Hawaii was $156,610.
To save enough money to afford that cost of living in retirement, a person would have to save $5,800 a month over 45 years at age 20 before retiring at age 65, or $7,458 a month if they saved for 35 years starting at age 30, with Social Security income. Those figures rise to $6,722 and $8,643 a month, respectively, without Social Security.
RETIREMENT 'MAGIC NUMBER' JUMPS AS AMERICANS GROW ANXIOUS ABOUT THEIR FINANCIAL FUTURES
California had the second-highest annual cost of living, which MoneyLion estimated at $73,387 for necessities or $121,879 for the comfortable cost of living metric that accounts for Social Security income. The monthly savings would be $4,514 when starting at age 20 or $5,804 starting at age 30 with Social Security, while those would rise to $5,436 and $6,989 without Social Security.
"Two of the biggest expenses a retiree needs to look into are the state income taxes and real estate property taxes that will factor into your budget. It's also why so many people are moving out of places like California and New York, because, beyond the cost of living, it's very expensive from a taxation perspective," Ted Jenkin, managing partner at Exit Wealth Advisors, told FOX Business.
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The lowest cost state analyzed in the report was West Virginia, which had an annual necessities cost of living of $29,059 with the comfortable cost of living at $58,117 per year, or $33,223 after accounting for Social Security income. The monthly savings target for West Virginia would start at $1,230 for those age 20 or $1,582 at age 30 with Social Security income, and those would rise to $2,152 and $2,767, respectively.
Other states that have been popular relocation destinations were the middle ground of the analysis in terms of cost of living.
Florida's was $44,170 for necessities or $88,339 for the comfortable cost of living, declining to $63,445 with Social Security income in the mix. Savings targets were $2,350 starting at 20 or $3,021 at 30, with Social Security to supplement those savings.
Tennessee and Texas were each slightly above the $38,300 mark for their necessities cost of living, with the comfortable cost of living just over $76,000 or more than $51,300 with Social Security.
"There's a reason beyond the weather for why retirees are moving from high-tax states," Thomas Aiello, National Taxpayers Union vice president of federal affairs, told FOX Business. "Places like Florida, Texas, and Tennessee offer no state income tax, no estate ("death") tax, relatively low property taxes, and a policy environment generally more favorable to taxpayers. That can result in thousands of dollars in annual tax savings compared to New York, California or Illinois."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/personal-finance/how-much-do-you-need-retire-state-by-state-breakdownThe GEF, Leads Global Drive to Tackle Shipping Threat to Oceans
MAFIA ISLAND, Tanzania , May 14 (IPS) - Under the warm waters off Tanzania’s Mafia Island, marine scientist Asha Mgeni hovers above a coral reef she has studied for years. Small fish dart through the currents. To most divers, the reef appears pristine. But Mgeni notices something unusual.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/14/43028 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/aaron-smulktis-wjVbMOGkfOA-unsplash-scaled-100x100.jpg"}Million-dollar island home up for grabs for free — but there’s a 180-day catchA classic Nantucket home is being given away for free, but the new owner must relocate the 1,736-square-foot colonial within 180 days of claiming it.
A million-dollar Nantucket home is being offered for free, but the new owner must be prepared to move it off the property within 180 days.
The 1,736-square-foot colonial at 140 Surfside Road on Nantucket, an upscale island off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, is available through the island’s Demolition Delay Bylaw program.
The initiative encourages homeowners to relocate older houses rather than send them to the landfill, according to Realtor.com.
The three-bedroom, two-bath home sits on just over an acre and last sold for $3 million in December 2025 through an LLC linked to Dean Lampe, who has bought and sold multiple properties on the island, the outlet reported.
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It’s not entirely clear why the house is being removed, but local real estate agent Shelly Lockwood noted that on Nantucket, the land can often be more valuable than the home itself.
"Because the value of the land is so high — because there's none left on the island, really — people will buy a house they don't want just to get the land," Lockwood, of Pepper Frazier Real Estate, said.
Unlike some Nantucket homes threatened by erosion, this property is located far enough away from shore and is not in danger of falling into the ocean, according to Realtor.com.
Anyone interested in claiming the home must submit a letter of intent to both the town's building commissioner and the owner.
Whoever claims it then has 180 days to move the house and must be prepared to cover the cost of moving it — which can range anywhere from roughly $150,000 to $500,000, Realtor.com reported.
With Nantucket’s median home price around $4.4 million and vacant land starting near $1.65 million, relocating a free house can still be a good deal, according to Lockwood.
"When they come up, they are very hot commodities," Lockwood said. "Who wouldn't want a house for $150,000 or so moving costs? You grab them if you can; it's a hell of a value."
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She added that buyers priced out of the island’s high-end market often purchase land and wait for an opportunity like this.
"They know one will come up," she said.
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Last year, former New England Patriots coach turned University of North Carolina head football coach Bill Belichick saw his $4 million Nantucket beach cottage sell within days of hitting the market.
FOX Business' Daniella Genovese contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/real-estate/million-dollar-island-home-grabs-free-theres-180-day-catchNorway’s Funding Cutoff Is a Wake-Up Call for the Plastics Treaty Negotiations
GENEVA, May 14 (IPS) - Norway’s reported decision to review and place on hold aspects of its funding to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) should be understood as more than a budgetary matter. It is a political signal. It is also a warning that the global plastics treaty negotiations may now be approaching the point at which governments must decide whether the present UNEP process can still deliver the treaty they promised, or whether a different pathway is required.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/05/14/43024 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/05/Opening-plenary-session_-100x100.jpg"}Walmart cutting or relocating about 1,000 corporate jobsWalmart is reportedly cutting or relocating 1,000 corporate jobs as it simplifies its operating structure and pursues a tech-focused growth strategy.
Walmart is cutting or relocating jobs as the world's largest retailer undertakes an effort to simplify its operating structure.
The Wall Street Journal on Tuesday reported that Walmart is laying off or relocating roughly 1,000 corporate workers, according to people familiar with the situation.
"We've made changes to simplify how the work is organized, make ownership clearer, and better align roles to the work and skills we need going forward," Walmart head of global technology Suresh Kumar and head of global AI acceleration Daniel Danker said in a memo to employees reviewed by FOX Business.
Kumar and Danker said in the memo that the company is shifting from organizing separately for Walmart U.S., Sam's Clubs and its international markets to building its strategy on a unified, shared platform.
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The executives said that in some cases they've had "different teams working on similar problems," and that staff who've been affected by the changes are able to apply for open roles within the company.
According to a Wall Street Journal report, many of the affected staff have been asked to relocate to Walmart's Bentonville, Arkansas, or Northern California offices.
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The company has regularly pared back some of its corporate staff in recent years, consolidating business units and centralizing operations at some of its regional hubs and its headquarters in Arkansas.
Walmart's new CEO, John Furner, is pursuing a tech-focused strategy to attract more higher-income shoppers and also build its marketplace and delivery businesses.
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The company is the largest private employer in the U.S. with about 1.6 million employees, of whom about 92% are hourly workers. It has about 2.1 million workers worldwide, according to a filing as of Jan. 31.
Walmart became the first retailer to ever reach $1 trillion in market value in February and has been focusing on a digital transformation to better compete with rivals like Amazon and Costco.
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Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/walmart-cutting-relocating-roughly-1000-corporate-jobs