Autonomous trucking company Aurora looks to accelerate toward profitabilityAurora's founder and CEO told CNBC the company is targeting positive free cash flow by 2028, driven by a substantial increase in the number autonomous trucks.{}
Peloton is revamping its treadmills with new features in the next phase of its turnaroundWith its new treadmills, Peloton aims to appeal to customers from casual workers to more serious athletes.{}
DoorDash customer picks up order from driver at crash scene: 'I think that's my food right there'A Maryland man's viral video shows him wrestling with guilt as he retrieves his DoorDash order from the scene of his delivery driver's crash. The driver later launched a GoFundMe after his car was totaled and he lost his job.
A man went viral on social media after filming himself picking up a DoorDash order at the scene of a crash involving his delivery driver.
Glenn Ndibnu began recording as he arrived at the wreck on Church Road in Bowie, Maryland, where multiple ambulances were present.
"I DoorDashed some food, and my DoorDasher told me he got in a car accident, and he was like, ‘I can come meet him and get the food from him,'" he explained in the video.
He then expressed guilt over crossing the road to go pick up his food after what happened to his driver.
"I think that's my food right there. Is it f---ed up for me to walk across and pick it up?" Ndibnu said. "I look so f---ed up right now about to go get this food."
Ndibnu ultimately got his food and apologized to the driver, William Koroma, who later launched a GoFundMe campaign to help replace the car that was totaled in the crash.
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In subsequent posts on Instagram, Ndibnu linked to the online fundraiser.
"My vehicle experienced brake failure, and I was involved in a major accident," Koroma wrote on the GoFundMe page. "My car was totaled, and I am deeply grateful that I survived and that no one else was seriously injured."
He added: "Since the accident, I have been facing several challenges at once. Losing my vehicle has left me without reliable transportation, and I have also lost my job."
Koroma did not elaborate on his injuries, but said he has also been hit with medical bills.
The GoFundMe has raised nearly $14,000 as of Tuesday morning.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-us/doordash-customer-picks-up-order-from-driver-crash-scene-i-think-thats-my-food-right-thereAutonomous trucking company Aurora looks to accelerate toward profitabilityAurora's founder and CEO told CNBC the company is targeting positive free cash flow by 2028, driven by a substantial increase in the number autonomous trucks.{}
Peloton is revamping its treadmills with new features in the next phase of its turnaroundWith its new treadmills, Peloton aims to appeal to customers from casual workers to more serious athletes.{}
McDonald's is hosting an investor day as its U.S. business struggles. Here are 4 things to expectThe presentation comes as McDonald's U.S. business disappointed in its most recent quarter.{}
Florida Chamber gives JB Pritzker 'runner-up' for 'Economic Developer of the Year' award on Chicago billboardsFlorida Chamber of Commerce billboards along Chicago's Stevenson Expressway dub Gov. JB Pritzker the runner-up "Florida Economic Developer of the Year."
EXCLUSIVE: Whether heading into Chicago or leaving it behind on the Stevenson Expressway, commuters are driving past a new billboard campaign from Florida's top business lobby.
Expanding its multimillion-dollar recruitment campaign into the Midwest, the Florida Chamber of Commerce is launching its next "Free Enterprise" billboard campaign targeting Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker as the Chamber says data shows billions of dollars in income moving from Illinois to Florida.
"The billboards will look very much like the billboard we did in New York, but we'll have two of them in Chicago and we'll be naming Governor Pritzker the runner-up ‘Florida Economic Developer of the Year,’" Florida Chamber President and CEO Mark Wilson exclusively told Fox News Digital.
"This isn't personal, right? This is about policy. And the person responsible for all of Illinois's policies is the governor there, just like our governor in Florida has top responsibility for what we do here," he added. "When we look at how unsafe Chicago is, when we look at the extraordinarily high taxes that we have in Chicago — I'm from there, by the way, and so I have firsthand knowledge on what's happening in Illinois and what's happening in Chicago… And all of Illinois is losing people, more businesses are leaving Illinois than are moving to Illinois, and Illinois is losing billions of taxable income. And so the whole state is in a death spiral."
An image of Pritzker shrugging can be seen on billboards facing traffic in both directions along I-55, with the ads naming him runner-up and thanking him for jobs moving to Florida. Their launch comes just over one month after the Chamber named New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani Florida's "Economic Developer of the Year" as part of a Times Square campaign. The Chamber says the campaigns are intended to argue that progressive tax and economic policies encourage wealth, businesses and families to move to Florida.
"Everything we do is scorecard driven, and we follow the data," Wilson said when asked why Chicago was the next stop on the campaign. "New York earned the number one spot, and if you look at the data, Illinois earns the number two spot… Florida's grown by about 1.9 million residents and Illinois's lost [75,000] or 100,000 residents over the same period of time… When we look at taxable income that's moved from Illinois to Florida, it's over $2 billion that has left Illinois and relocated to Florida."
Wilson also pointed to high-profile corporate exits from Chicago — most notably billionaire Ken Griffin moving hedge fund giant Citadel to Miami — as evidence for his argument that crime and tax burdens can drive employers out of the state.
"When bullet holes emerged in the Citadel building in Chicago, that was sort of one of the straws, right? You can't decriminalize things and then tell everybody you have a safer community... people don't buy that and it's not true," the CEO noted.
"They're raising taxes on the very people that are investing in manufacturing, they're investing in the community. And in fact, people like Ken Griffin are investing hundreds of millions of dollars and philanthropy into public education into making our communities safer," he continued. "This is about: bad policy in Illinois is moving Illinois in the wrong direction. It's made Illinois less safe, it's made it less competitive and it's made it a more expensive place to be."
The campaign isn't just targeting hedge funds and billionaires — Wilson said the Chamber is directly courting Illinois' advanced manufacturing, aviation and tech startup sectors.
"Advanced manufacturing, for example, is one of our top priorities in Florida. We're one of the only states with a chief manufacturing officer," Wilson explained. "Florida is currently the No. 1 state in the country for new business startups. So as people are coming up with good ideas in Illinois only to have their government policies quash them, we want them to know that they're more than welcome here in the Sunshine State."
According to Wilson, the initial Times Square campaign pushed the Chamber’s overall earned-media valuation to more than $100 million. While he declined to disclose how much the Chamber is spending on the billboards, he said, "it takes millions of dollars a year to do what the Florida Chamber of Commerce does."
"In Illinois, what we're hoping is that the governor's office reflects on the data," Wilson said. "Illinois has half as many people as Florida, but their budget and their debt is significantly larger than Florida… And what we hope to hear is that Illinois wants to take us up on our offer to join forces and introduce free enterprise into every aspect of Illinois. The people of Illinois deserve that. The businesses of Illinois deserve that."
Gov. Pritzker did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Looking ahead, Wilson acknowledged that Florida's rapid economic boom brings a heavy responsibility for state and business leaders to avoid the very pitfalls currently plaguing northern hubs.
"The biggest risk to the Florida model is that we allow to happen in Florida, what leaders in Illinois, New York, and California allowed to happen there," Wilson warned. "If you go back a few decades, California was a national leader. Everybody wanted to be like California... and they let it go."
Wilson said Florida's growth brings a responsibility for state and business leaders to avoid problems he sees in states including Illinois, New York and California.
"I often hear a refrain of, ‘Hey, at least we're not Illinois or California or New York.’ And the challenge is we need to compare ourselves to Florida's potential, right? Florida versus Florida."
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Though the Chicago billboards will remain active along I-55 for just one week, Wilson said the Free Enterprise Florida campaign will continue, with additional states potentially targeted.
"Our goal in all of this is to give a wake-up call to the residents of these states," Wilson said. "We want America to win. And if you want to look at the future of what America can look like, you look no further than what Florida has done."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/florida-chamber-slaps-jb-pritzker-runner-up-economic-developer-of-the-year-award-chicago-billboardsDemocratic lawmakers urge Trump to preserve ban on Chinese automakers as he prepares to meet XiPresident Donald Trump faces pressure from 27 Democratic lawmakers to maintain the ban on Chinese cars ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
More than two dozen Democratic lawmakers are calling on President Donald Trump to maintain existing restrictions that effectively keep Chinese automakers and keep them out of the U.S. market ahead of his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Trump is scheduled to meet with Xi on Thursday in Washington, where they are expected to discuss their trade agreement, AI, the conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East and other key geopolitical issues.
Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., is leading a group of 27 lawmakers in pressuring Trump to preserve the U.S. restrictions on Chinese cars and vehicle technology.
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"We urge you to maintain strong protections against Chinese automobiles and connected vehicle technologies and ensure that China does not gain access to our market through direct imports, local production, and other avenues of circumvention," the lawmakers wrote.
Dingell also issued a video message on social media on Monday in which she said she is working to protect U.S. auto manufacturing and ensure Trump cannot "make any deal that allows China into our country where they're categorically not competing on a level playing field."
"The communist Chinese government subsidizes its production by more than 50% of the cost," she said. "They manipulate their currency, they use slave labor and now they want a foot in the door of our domestic auto industry, and they will try to destroy it. This year already China has exported more than 6.2 million passenger vehicles from China. That exceeds their total passenger vehicle exports for all of 2025, and now they're coming for North America. Our workers are the best workers in the world, and they can compete with anyone when the game isn't rigged and the risks extend far beyond just economic competition."
"Today's vehicles are supercomputers that are moving and collecting and transmitting all kinds of data. You don't even think about it when you're an autonomous vehicle. They're getting all the data that's in your personal iPhones, your computers and they drive by military installations or other companies and they are collecting data. That's a national security threat," the lawmaker continued.
Dingell said she introduced bipartisan legislation that has the support of a hundred of her congressional colleagues to ban China from "destroying our auto industry."
"That's why I reacted so viscerally when I heard the president say he would let China manufacture vehicles in the United States," she said.
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"Let me be very clear: it's not okay. American workers need our protection from anyone who will use unfair practices, wants to destroy our jobs and raise costs for everyone. I will always stand with the American worker and the manufacturing industry in these countries to protect jobs, our economy and our national security," Dingell said.
The congresswoman appeared to be referring to Trump telling Fox News earlier this month that he would accept Chinese auto companies building cars in the U.S.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/democratic-lawmakers-urge-trump-preserve-ban-chinese-automakers-he-prepares-meet-xiFormer United executive explains how New Jersey fiber cut disrupted Northeast flightsFormer United Airlines chief security officer Rich Davis explains how a severed fiber-optic line in New Jersey disrupted air travel across the Northeast.
A severed fiber-optic cable in New Jersey disrupted air travel across parts of the Northeast on Monday, showing how a single infrastructure problem can quickly ripple through the nation's airline system.
Rich Davis, senior security advisor at International SOS and former chief security officer at United Airlines, told FOX Business that even a localized outage can quickly disrupt flights far beyond where it begins because airline networks are tightly interconnected.
"It's like a spider web of activity that's happening and everybody is impacted, especially connecting passengers versus nonstop," Davis said. "… Something that is only happening in that Northeast corridor, it still impacts all of the connecting hubs."
Passengers with connecting itineraries often feel the biggest impact because disruptions at one major hub can quickly spread throughout the airline network, Davis said.
FAA GROUNDS FLIGHTS AT MAJOR NORTHEAST AIRPORTS AFTER FIBER LINE CUT
The disruption began around 9:45 a.m. after a fiber-optic line in New Jersey was accidentally cut, causing a telecommunications outage and prompting ground stops at major airports in New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia, according to Reuters.
By Monday evening, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the telecommunications lines had been repaired and airport operations across the Northeast were resuming, though travelers should continue to expect delays.
The outage contributed to roughly 7,000 flight delays and cancellations, including about 1,400 at New York City's three major airports, Reuters reported, citing FlightAware.
Davis said airlines classify events like Monday's outage as "irregular operations" — unexpected disruptions such as severe weather or equipment failures that can quickly throw carefully coordinated flight schedules off balance.
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Even after the original problem is fixed, airlines must reposition aircraft, pilots, flight attendants and passengers throughout their networks, creating a cascade of additional delays.
"There's always a downhill trickle of subsequent delays, diversions, cancelations," Davis said. "It's basically a fact of life."
Even so, Davis noted that airlines and airports have extensive experience managing these disruptions.
"Having said all of that, the airlines and the airports are so experienced in handling irregular operations, they do their best within their controls to minimize the effect on passengers," Davis said.
Despite the widespread disruptions, Davis stressed that airlines never compromise safety in an effort to restore schedules.
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"The number one priority every time, all of the time, is the safety of the passengers and the airline employees themselves," he said. "That's [the] number one priority. No shortcuts, no risks — follow the playbooks. Safety is more important than anything."
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/former-united-executive-explains-how-new-jersey-fiber-cut-disrupted-northeast-flightsHard Mountain Dew offers $1M bounty to anyone who can prove Bigfoot is realThe beverage brand's "Bigfoot Bounty" campaign offers adults 21 and older the chance to win $1 million by submitting verified evidence of the legendary creature.
Hard Mountain Dew is offering a $1 million prize to anyone who can provide proof that Bigfoot exists, as the alcoholic beverage brand launches a fall marketing campaign built around the legendary creature.
The "Bigfoot Bounty" promotion opened Wednesday and runs through Nov. 30, giving adults 21 and older the chance to submit what the company describes as "verified evidence" of Bigfoot's existence.
"Hard Mountain Dew has always been about chasing bold experiences, and Bigfoot Bounty takes that mindset to the next level," Erica Taylor, senior brand director for Hard Mountain Dew, said in a statement.
According to Hard Mountain Dew, entries will be evaluated using standards developed with Bigfoot researcher Bryce Johnson, who has appeared in and produced a docuseries exploring reports of the creature.
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In order to be considered for the $1 million grand prize, participants must submit compelling evidence that meets the contest's verification requirements, including at least four types of supporting material.
Examples listed by the company include alleged Bigfoot footprints, handprints, thermal imaging, hair samples, audio recordings, environmental evidence and photographs purportedly showing the creature.
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Even if no one claims the grand prize, the company said 100 entrants will receive the equivalent of a free 12-pack of Hard Mountain Dew in the form of cash.
"Every fall, someone's got a story of a shape in the trees or a sound they can't explain. Whether you catch Bigfoot or just catch a good story trying, there's nothing better than an ice-cold Hard Mountain Dew at the end of the hunt," Taylor added.
Legends of Bigfoot have circulated for centuries, particularly across the Pacific Northwest, where stories describe a large, hairy, human-like creature roaming forests, according to the Washington State Military Department.
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The creature has long been the subject of reported sightings, footprint discoveries and blurry photos and videos.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/hard-mountain-dew-offers-1m-bounty-anyone-who-can-prove-bigfoot-realApple settlement could mean a payout for some iPhone ownersApple's $250 million class action settlement over iPhone 16 and Siri AI advertising delays could pay eligible customers up to $95 per device.
Apple customers may be able to collect up to $95 from a class action settlement that stems from a lawsuit alleging the tech giant put out false advertisements about the AI capabilities on devices which didn't have the tech fully integrated.
This spring, Apple reached a $250 million agreement to settle the class action lawsuit related to delays in the integration of AI and Siri capabilities in new devices.
The September 2024 release of the iPhone 16 created a "clear and reasonable consumer expectation" that AI features would be added to the devices. While the company did release Apple Intelligence features that year, the integration of ChatGPT with Siri and an emoji tool fell short of those expectations, according to the lawsuit.
Under the terms of the settlement, members of the class who submit valid claims would receive a cash payment of $25 per device, which may be adjusted up or down to a maximum payment of $95 per device depending on the total number of valid claims submitted.
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To be eligible to receive compensation from the class action settlement, a customer must be a resident of the U.S. and have purchased an iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.
Eligible customers must also acknowledge that they "expected at the time of purchase to receive certain Siri Apple Intelligence features on your device, which you did not."
To receive a payment, eligible customers must complete and submit a valid claim form by Dec. 21, 2026. They may submit a claim for each eligible device.
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The claimant must be the original purchaser of the device covered by the class action settlement, and may not have purchased it on a resale basis. Businesses are also eligible to submit claims for devices they bought.
Claims will be rejected if the submission is incomplete, contains false information, or isn't submitted by deadline, according to the settlement website.
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Claim forms must include current contact information and confirm that the class member purchased an eligible device that they expected to have Siri Apple Intelligence features within the timeframe of June 10, 2024, to March 29, 2025. They must also include information to confirm the purchase and ownership of an eligible device.
Eligible claims will be paid via physical or digital check after the final approval of the settlement. Payment may be delayed by any appeals to the settlement, though payments would be processed promptly if there aren't any subsequent appeals, according to the settlement website, which will provide further updates.
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A final approval hearing for the settlement is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2027, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Jose.
The hearing will give the court the opportunity to determine if the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate, while also considering any objections.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/apple-settlement-could-mean-payout-some-iphone-ownersSocial Security recipients may get bigger benefit boost in 2027The 2027 Social Security COLA estimates range from 3.4% to 3.6%, topping the 2.8% increase for 2026, with September CPI inflation data still to come.
Social Security beneficiaries are expected to see a larger cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) in 2027 than they received for this year, according to new estimates that follow the release of August inflation data.
By law, the annual Social Security COLA is calculated using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' consumer price index (CPI) inflation data for the months of July, August and September based on a variant of the dataset known as CPI-W. The COLA boosts beneficiaries' payments to account for a rise in the cost of living, and the COLA for 2026 amounted to a 2.8% increase.
The BLS released the August CPI inflation data that showed consumer prices were up 3.4% from a year ago, while the CPI-W was up 3.5% over the last year.
Several groups have released estimates for the 2027 COLA based on the data from the last two months and estimates for September's data, which have the COLA landing in a range from 3.4% to 3.6%.
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The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) estimated that based on the latest data, the 2027 COLA will be 3.4%.
AARP projected that the 2027 COLA will be 3.6%, based on its analysis of recent inflation readings and projections for the coming weeks.
Rich Johnson, vice president of financial security at the AARP Public Policy Institute, noted that many older adults rely on Social Security for the bulk of their income and that the group's forecast aims to help them plan based on how the COLA may affect their finances.
"Family budgets have been under increasing pressure because of rising prices. The sooner that we can give them reliable information as to how much their benefits might [increase next year], the sooner they can start planning," Johnson said.
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Johnson said that the AARP's estimate incorporates the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland's inflation projections for September and that while those figures aren't "set in stone," the data helps compile the estimate.
"With only one month of inflation data to go until the 2027 COLA is finalized, there's less uncertainty about what that increase will be," he added. "Unless prices change dramatically in September, we're confident that the COLA will be in the mid-3% range."
The Senior Citizens League predicted the 2027 COLA will be 3.5% following the release of the August CPI inflation data, down slightly from its estimate of 3.6% the prior month. A 3.5% COLA would increase average benefit checks by $67.90 and would boost the monthly benefit from $1,940.08 to $2,007.98, TSCL reported.
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"The biggest thing we're watching with the COLA announcement coming are short-term shocks to the economy that push inflation way up or down in the next 30 days," said TSCL executive director Shannon Benton.
"No matter if the COLA announcement comes in slightly higher or slightly lower than our prediction, seniors will probably end up disappointed in the long run. The reality is that older Americans allocate their budgets differently than people still in the workforce, so inflation hits them differently. The CPI-W captures the experience of urban wage earners, which doesn't represent the average senior's budget," Benton added.
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The final piece of data for the 2027 COLA will be released on Oct. 14, when the BLS releases the September CPI inflation data.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/social-security-recipients-may-get-bigger-benefit-boost-2027Hundreds of flights into Newark, New York, Philadelphia disrupted after Verizon fiber line cutAn FAA equipment problem snarled air travel at Newark Liberty International Airport and Philadelphia International Airport Monday.{}
Tesla reopens Roadster reservations – but you'll need $50KTesla reopens reservations for its next-generation Roadster, requiring a $50,000 deposit before CEO Elon Musk unveils the redesigned vehicle at an event in Texas.
Tesla has reopened reservations for its long-delayed next-generation Roadster, asking customers to put down $50,000 weeks before the company unveils a redesigned version of the vehicle.
According to Tesla’s reservation portal, securing a spot requires an initial, fully refundable $5,000 credit card payment. Customers must then make a $45,000 wire transfer within 10 days to complete the reservation.
The renewed push for reservations comes nearly nine years after CEO Elon Musk first unveiled a prototype of the next-generation Roadster in 2017. Following years of delays, Tesla is preparing to unveil the redesigned vehicle on Oct. 1 at an event in Texas.
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"New Tesla Roadster Unveil 10.01," Musk recently wrote on social media platform X after Tesla posted a "Go for launch" teaser for the event. Musk has also said the presentation will be a "banger" and said during a recent appearance at the All-In Summit that the company needs a live audience to vouch that what they see "is not AI."
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The event could include a demonstration of a limited-edition Roadster equipped with cold-gas thrusters developed in collaboration with SpaceX, according to recent reporting. Tesla's teaser imagery appears to lean into that possibility, showing the vehicle against a launch-themed backdrop.
The Roadster program has reportedly evolved significantly from its earlier design. Tesla abandoned one approach based on Model S Plaid components in favor of developing an all-new carbon-fiber hypercar, according to The Information.
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Tesla originally unveiled the next-generation Roadster in November 2017 and said deliveries would begin in 2020. At the time, the company advertised a $200,000 base price, acceleration from zero to 60 mph in 1.9 seconds and a 620-mile range. Tesla also took $250,000 payments for a limited "Founders Series" version.
The vehicle never entered production as planned and has faced repeated delays in the years since.
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It remains unclear what Tesla will charge for the redesigned Roadster or how the company will handle customers who placed reservations years ago. Tesla did not immediately respond to a request for comment about reservation priority or updated vehicle specifications.
Reuters contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/fox-news-tech/tesla-reopens-roadster-reservations-youll-need-50kNortheast airport operations resume after telecom outage disrupts flightsTransportation Secretary Sean Duffy said telecommunications lines have been repaired, but travelers should continue to expect delays as airlines work to restore normal operations.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Monday evening that telecommunications lines have been repaired and airport operations across the Northeast are resuming, though travelers should continue to expect delays.
"The telecom lines have been repaired, and all airport operations in the Northeast are resuming. It will take some time to clear all existing delays, so please check with your airline for the latest information," Duffy wrote on X.
Earlier Monday, Duffy said a severed fiber-optic line in New Jersey triggered a telecommunications outage that forced the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause flights across parts of the Northeast.
"An Amtrak construction crew accidentally cut into a fiber line in New Jersey which caused a telecom outage and forced FAA to pause flights in the Northeast," Duffy wrote earlier in the day.
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"This incident underscores the need for additional funding to modernize aging infrastructure and prevent disruptions like this in the future," he added.
As of about 6:40 p.m. ET, Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) was reporting average delays of 306 minutes because of the equipment outage, according to the FAA. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) was reporting average delays of 212 minutes.
Teterboro Airport (TEB) was reporting average delays of 159 minutes, while John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and LaGuardia Airport (LGA) were reporting average delays of 72 minutes and 67 minutes, respectively.
Earlier Monday, the FAA told Fox News it had paused flights into PHL, TEB and EWR due to "issues with some frequencies at Philadelphia TRACON."
MAJOR AIRLINES CUT FLIGHTS AS HIGHER JET FUEL PRICES HIT CARRIERS
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said Philadelphia TRACON lost its primary communications circuit. When controllers switched to a backup system, they discovered a broken fiber-optic cable.
Speaking to reporters earlier Monday, Duffy said "these are issues that aren't new to us."
"We know these problems can happen. We know these cuts can happen," Duffy said, adding that the department has been working to upgrade FAA equipment and its telecom architecture.
"As we work through all the new equipment, all the new architecture of our telecom, which is fans, it all takes money. That's why we have a holistic view of everything, including how we rework our telecom," Duffy said.
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Duffy said the work is being done before the department has secured all the necessary money, adding that "when we get the cash" the department will be able to hasten progress.
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"But this is not shocking," Duffy said of the equipment outage.
Amtrak later disputed Duffy's description of what caused the disruption, telling FOX Business that the fiber cut did not involve one of its crews.
"This incident occurred on New Jersey Transit property and involved a New Jersey Transit contractor. Questions regarding the outage and related work should be directed to New Jersey Transit," a spokesperson said.
The FAA and New Jersey Transit did not immediately respond to FOX Business' requests for comment.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/northeast-airport-operations-resume-telecom-outage-disrupts-flightsParamount and state AGs settle lawsuit, allowing Warner Bros. merger to proceedThe antitrust lawsuit threatened to delay Paramount's acquisition until mid-2027 and to cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars in fees.{}
Eli Lilly CEO says 700,000 new seniors have started GLP-1s after Medicare coverage, and 70% are on Lilly drugsThey're the latest metrics on how much the new Medicare coverage is expanding access to GLP-1 medicines since it launched in July.{}
Nvidia's Jensen Huang rejects AI doomsday fears: '2030 is not going to be the end of the world'Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang called AI doomsday predictions "irresponsible" and not grounded in science, urging existing laws over new AI regulation.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said in an interview on Friday that he disagrees with doomsday warnings that artificial intelligence (AI) may contribute to the extinction of humanity within a decade.
Huang told CBS News that "2030 is not going to be the end of the world. There is 0% chance that's going to be the end of the world."
"Scaring people is unnecessary. It is irresponsible," Huang added, saying that predictions like those made by former OpenAI and Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon are "not grounded in science."
"Our company's success is directly connected to the safe deployment of products and services. If we don't continue to do that, our value would be diminished," Huang said.
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Huang said that existing legal frameworks for liability around cybersecurity and damages caused by businesses should be the primary guardrails for the industry, rather than there being a need for new regulations.
"Apply that first – don't let this doomsday narrative allow someone to relieve them of the laws that currently exist," Huang said.
President Donald Trump has expressed a similar sentiment in opposing new regulatory frameworks for AI, arguing that it would give China an edge in the AI race.
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Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social platform last week that "We already have tremendous CRIMINAL and REGULATORY power over these companies! There is a SICK conspiracy going on against AI and Data Centers, and the only one that is happy about it is China. WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS!"
The president added in a follow-up post that "President Xi, of China, just announced that China will be doing absolutely nothing to stand in the way of AI, or its future."
Trump also dismissed concerns about AI wiping out humanity as a hoax, writing that "I am the Hoax Buster, and I'm right now breaking another Hoax – That AI is going to take over, consume, and destroy the World, and that Robots will be marching into our Cities, and getting rid of us all!"
SAM ALTMAN IDENTIFIES TWO BIGGEST RISKS FACING AI'S FUTURE
Huang is among the tech leaders who are expected to attend a state dinner Trump will host for Chinese President Xi Jinping this week, with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook also expected to be on hand.
The Nvidia CEO has pushed back on Washington's restrictions on China's ability to purchase specialized chips used to train AI models from U.S. companies like Nvidia, arguing that China is able to access "all the chips they need" despite the restrictions.
Huang told CBS that "Every single chip company should go and serve the world, compete for the world," adding that it's "all about competing. America is about competing."
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He also told the outlet that he wants to discuss global standards for AI development with Xi, noting that Chinese leaders "want China to have the benefit of AI" and "want China to prosper, just as we want America to prosper."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/nvidias-jensen-huang-rejects-ai-doomsday-fears-2030-not-going-end-worldParamount reaches settlement with states suing to block Warner Bros Discovery takeoverParamount Skydance Corp. has reached a settlement with the states seeking to block its proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc.
Paramount Skydance Corp. reached a settlement with the states seeking to block its proposed takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery Inc., clearing the way for a historic Hollywood merger.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta led a group of state attorneys general who filed a lawsuit challenging the massive $111 billion deal that was initially expected to close during the third quarter of this year. On Monday, Paramount announced that a deal had been reached.
"Our shared aim was an outcome that best serves consumers, workers and — most importantly — the creative community so vital to the art of visual storytelling. We're confident this agreement does exactly that, memorializing a series of commitments that include 30+ films annually and expanded U.S. film production to help revitalize our industry here at home," Paramount CEO David Ellison said in a statement.
PARAMOUNT-WBD MERGER ON HOLD AFTER JUDGE GRANTS TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER
"Our goal has always been to build a stronger Hollywood — one with more stories told, greater choice for consumers and stronger competition. That vision was validated by unanimous approval from competition authorities in nearly 70 jurisdictions worldwide, who agreed this deal is pro-competitive, pro-consumer and pro-worker," Ellison continued. "Having now addressed the State AGs' and WGA's concerns, we have complete clearance for this merger and look forward to putting these commitments into action. Bringing Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery together will build that stronger Hollywood, creating expanded opportunity for our people and even more great entertainment for audiences around the world."
Bonta also confirmed the deal during a Monday press conference.
"This settlement is not a vote of support for this merger; it is not a blessing of the broader merger," Bonta said.
"I am always willing to come to the table for honest, good-faith negotiations, and when we can find a strong solution that protects competition and consumers, I’d rather resolve the case, the issue, in the boardroom instead of the courtroom," Bonta added. "That’s what happened here."
Bonta said Paramount has made an "enforceable commitment to significantly increase domestic production," producing at least 30 movies in each of the first two years of the deal, followed by 32 movies per year in the following three years. Each year, at least four of those titles must be independent and at least 20% must be blockbusters. Bonta said this will result in Paramount spending $1.5 billion "at minimum" over five years on domestic movies.
WARNER BROS DISCOVERY SHAREHOLDERS APPROVE PARAMOUNT SKYDANCE DEAL
If Congress passes the federal film tax credit, Paramount has agreed that 20% of all film production must be in the U.S. for the first two years and then 30% for the following three years. Paramount will also establish a news editorial independence board to support CBS News and CNN.
Bonta said a trustee will be selected to monitor Paramount’s compliance with these terms.
"I want to stress what this settlement means; more production here at home and more means more work here in California," Bonta said.
The Justice Department (DOJ) announced earlier this year that it has closed its antitrust investigation into Paramount Skydance's proposed acquisition of WBD, concluding the transaction is not likely to harm competition or American consumers.
The Antitrust Division said its eight-month review examined more than 2 million documents and found the deal could strengthen competition across the media and entertainment industry, including in streaming video, traditional television and theatrical film distribution. However, state attorneys general retain independent authority under antitrust laws.
Ellison, the son of billionaire Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, took control of Paramount last year when Skydance Media and Paramount Global completed an $8 billion merger. Adding WBD to his portfolio would make the younger Ellison one of Hollywood’s most powerful people.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/media/paramount-warner-bros-discovery-takeover-states-suing-block-settlementAfrica Has the Technology to Achieve Food Security—Now It Needs Coordinated Deployment
KIGALI, Rwanda, September 22 (IPS) - Africa is emerging as the world’s fastest-growing technology market, with its innovation ecosystem attracting increasing global investment. The European Investment Bank’s recent €40 million commitment to the sector underscores this growing confidence.
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/22/44105 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/Solar-energy-panels-installed_-100x100.jpg"}Family Law Reforms Are Needed to Advance Gender Equality
UNITED NATIONS, September 22 (IPS) - On September 16, at the lead-up to the 81st UN General Assembly, Equality in Family Law (GCEFL), Equality Now, TrustLaw, and the World Bank Group convened in New York City for the event titled The Gender Equality Dividend: Investing in Women’s Economic Prosperity Through Family Law Reform. Hosted by APCO, the event introduced new data on barriers to family law reform and highlighted strategies to help the international community maximize women’s economic participation.
Read the full story, “Family Law Reforms Are Needed to Advance Gender Equality”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/22/44104 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/Julia-Braunmiller_-100x100.jpg"}Eli Lilly CEO tells CNBC one-third of new GLP-1 pill patients are taking Foundayo, as drugmaker ramps up productionEli Lilly is trying to catch up in the GLP-1 pill market to Novo, which got a head start in the space.{}
Nissan eyes increasing U.S. production as new Rogue hybrid launchesNissan has two production shifts at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and adding another could mean hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs.{}
Trump to decide whether to green light US-China artificial intelligence 'hotline' agreement: sourcesU.S. President Donald Trump will reportedly decide whether to green light a possible America-China AI "hotline" agreement, sources indicate.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will present President Donald Trump with a U.S.-China artificial intelligence-related agreement, two sources told Fox Business Network White House correspondent Edward Lawrence.
The agreement will open a "hotline" for direct communication on AI, similar to the direct line of communication the military has, enabling either side to have a direct line if any AI-related problems arise, such as hacking, national security concerns, rogue AIs or other issues.
President Trump will make a thumbs up or thumbs down decision on the deal this week before his meeting with President Xi, the sources noted.
MIT PROFESSOR SAYS AI RISKS ARE UNITING BERNIE SANDERS, STEVE BANNON AND LAWMAKERS ON CAPITOL HILL
President Donald Trump has been an outspoken advocate of AI, as the cutting-edge technology proliferates and rapidly advances both in the U.S. and abroad.
"AI is the next Industrial Revolution, or Internet, but will be even larger and more impactful, possibly as much as 25% of our Country’s GDP. We are leading China, and the rest of the World, and I intend to keep it that way!" the president declared in part in a Saturday Truth Social post.
While the U.S. and China are economically connected through trade, the two nations are generally viewed as rival economic and military powers on the world stage.
In part of a Sept. 14 Truth Social post, Trump declared, "WHOEVER WINS AI, WINS! We are leading China, and all others, and will continue to do so."
TECH POWER PLAYERS LAND SEAT AT TABLE FOR HIGH-STAKES DINNER WITH TRUMP, XI
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Trump is slated to greet his Chinese counterpart on Wednesday at Joint Base Andrews, and spend time with Xi on Thursday and Friday as well, according to the White House.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/trump-decide-whether-green-light-us-china-artificial-intelligence-hotline-agreement-sourcesMajor Wendy's franchisee files for bankruptcyMeritage Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to block Wendy's corporate from terminating its franchise agreements.
Meritage Hospitality Group, one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the U.S., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a high-stakes dispute with the fast-food chain's corporate parent.
The bankruptcy filing comes amid severe financial pressures at the franchisee, which has struggled with soaring beef costs and weak customer traffic, while Meritage has also blamed aggressive promotional discounting for squeezing margins.
The Michigan-based operator runs 314 Wendy's locations across 15 states. The company filed its voluntary petition Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, according to court documents.
THE FAST-FOOD CHAIN WHERE MANAGERS AVERAGE MORE THAN $200K A YEAR
The bankruptcy filing came one day after Wendy's franchising unit delivered a Sept. 16 notice seeking to terminate Meritage's franchise rights and lease occupancy "effective immediately," according to court documents. Meritage filed for Chapter 11 the following day, putting the termination effort on hold while the case proceeds. Meritage disputes Wendy's attempt to terminate the agreements and says its franchise rights remain intact.
In a recent report to investors, Meritage CEO Bob Schermer Jr. said store-level earnings declined 48% in 2025. Court filings separately show the company reported a $31.5 million net loss that year, compared with net income of $8 million in 2024, while revenue fell 7.6% to $617.7 million.
In an effort to stem the losses, the franchisee began closing approximately 60 underperforming Wendy's locations in late 2025 and has eliminated or altered breakfast service at numerous locations. The company said those measures are expected to provide approximately $11.2 million in combined annual EBITDA benefits.
Court records show Meritage had approximately $725.9 million in assets and $651.2 million in total liabilities as of summer 2026. The Wendy's franchising unit is asserting claims totaling $146.9 million against the company, including $27.4 million in past-due royalties and fees and $119.5 million in Continuous Operations Fees. Meritage also had approximately $137 million outstanding under its primary credit facility as of the bankruptcy filing.
In a press release, Meritage's board of directors said the court-supervised restructuring was the "most effective and proactive path to strengthen Meritage’s finances, address these headwinds directly, and protect the long-term interests of its stakeholders, team members, guests, and communities."
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Despite the bankruptcy, Meritage said it intends to keep its dining rooms open and maintain normal restaurant operations. The company has asked the court for permission to continue paying its roughly 9,000 employees without disruption. Court filings put its workforce at approximately 8,850 employees as of the bankruptcy filing.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/major-wendys-franchisee-files-bankruptcyMajor Wendy's franchisee files for bankruptcyMeritage Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to block Wendy's corporate from terminating its franchise agreements.
Meritage Hospitality Group, one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the U.S., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a high-stakes dispute with the fast-food chain's corporate parent.
The bankruptcy filing comes amid severe financial pressures at the franchisee, which has struggled with soaring beef costs and weak customer traffic, while Meritage has also blamed aggressive promotional discounting for squeezing margins.
The Michigan-based operator runs 314 Wendy's locations across 15 states. The company filed its voluntary petition Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, according to court documents.
THE FAST-FOOD CHAIN WHERE MANAGERS AVERAGE MORE THAN $200K A YEAR
The bankruptcy filing came one day after Wendy's franchising unit delivered a Sept. 16 notice seeking to terminate Meritage's franchise rights and lease occupancy "effective immediately," according to court documents. Meritage filed for Chapter 11 the following day, putting the termination effort on hold while the case proceeds. Meritage disputes Wendy's attempt to terminate the agreements and says its franchise rights remain intact.
In a recent report to investors, Meritage CEO Bob Schermer Jr. said store-level earnings declined 48% in 2025. Court filings separately show the company reported a $31.5 million net loss that year, compared with net income of $8 million in 2024, while revenue fell 7.6% to $617.7 million.
In an effort to stem the losses, the franchisee began closing approximately 60 underperforming Wendy's locations in late 2025 and has eliminated or altered breakfast service at numerous locations. The company said those measures are expected to provide approximately $11.2 million in combined annual EBITDA benefits.
Court records show Meritage had approximately $725.9 million in assets and $651.2 million in total liabilities as of summer 2026. The Wendy's franchising unit is asserting claims totaling $146.9 million against the company, including $27.4 million in past-due royalties and fees and $119.5 million in Continuous Operations Fees. Meritage also had approximately $137 million outstanding under its primary credit facility as of the bankruptcy filing.
In a press release, Meritage's board of directors said the court-supervised restructuring was the "most effective and proactive path to strengthen Meritage’s finances, address these headwinds directly, and protect the long-term interests of its stakeholders, team members, guests, and communities."
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Despite the bankruptcy, Meritage said it intends to keep its dining rooms open and maintain normal restaurant operations. The company has asked the court for permission to continue paying its roughly 9,000 employees without disruption. Court filings put its workforce at approximately 8,850 employees as of the bankruptcy filing.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/major-wendys-franchisee-files-bankruptcyMajor Wendy's franchisee files for bankruptcyMeritage Hospitality Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection to block Wendy's corporate from terminating its franchise agreements.
Meritage Hospitality Group, one of the largest Wendy’s franchisees in the U.S., has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection following a high-stakes dispute with the fast-food chain's corporate parent.
The bankruptcy filing comes amid severe financial pressures at the franchisee, which has struggled with soaring beef costs and weak customer traffic, while Meritage has also blamed aggressive promotional discounting for squeezing margins.
The Michigan-based operator runs 314 Wendy's locations across 15 states. The company filed its voluntary petition Thursday with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Michigan, according to court documents.
THE FAST-FOOD CHAIN WHERE MANAGERS AVERAGE MORE THAN $200K A YEAR
The bankruptcy filing came one day after Wendy's franchising unit delivered a Sept. 16 notice seeking to terminate Meritage's franchise rights and lease occupancy "effective immediately," according to court documents. Meritage filed for Chapter 11 the following day, putting the termination effort on hold while the case proceeds. Meritage disputes Wendy's attempt to terminate the agreements and says its franchise rights remain intact.
In a recent report to investors, Meritage CEO Bob Schermer Jr. said store-level earnings declined 48% in 2025. Court filings separately show the company reported a $31.5 million net loss that year, compared with net income of $8 million in 2024, while revenue fell 7.6% to $617.7 million.
In an effort to stem the losses, the franchisee began closing approximately 60 underperforming Wendy's locations in late 2025 and has eliminated or altered breakfast service at numerous locations. The company said those measures are expected to provide approximately $11.2 million in combined annual EBITDA benefits.
Court records show Meritage had approximately $725.9 million in assets and $651.2 million in total liabilities as of summer 2026. The Wendy's franchising unit is asserting claims totaling $146.9 million against the company, including $27.4 million in past-due royalties and fees and $119.5 million in Continuous Operations Fees. Meritage also had approximately $137 million outstanding under its primary credit facility as of the bankruptcy filing.
In a press release, Meritage's board of directors said the court-supervised restructuring was the "most effective and proactive path to strengthen Meritage’s finances, address these headwinds directly, and protect the long-term interests of its stakeholders, team members, guests, and communities."
CLICK HERE TO GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO
Despite the bankruptcy, Meritage said it intends to keep its dining rooms open and maintain normal restaurant operations. The company has asked the court for permission to continue paying its roughly 9,000 employees without disruption. Court filings put its workforce at approximately 8,850 employees as of the bankruptcy filing.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/major-wendys-franchisee-files-bankruptcy‘It's awful’: How tariffs, soaring fuel costs and higher interest rates are squeezing American companiesTariffs, fuel prices and interest rates are squeezing American companies, particularly manufacturers, auto suppliers, retailers and transportation businesses.{}
Nissan eyes increasing U.S. production as new Rogue hybrid launchesNissan has two production shifts at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and adding another could mean hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs.{}
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell talks growth opportunities, possible international expansionCEO Steve O’Donnell said NASCAR's media strategy and the upcoming film "Days of Thunder 2" will help raise brand awareness and broaden its fan base.{}
Nissan eyes increasing U.S. production as new Rogue hybrid launchesNissan has two production shifts at its assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, and adding another could mean hundreds, if not thousands, of new jobs.{}
United Nations Least Developed Country Category – Curse or Boon?
SYDNEY, September 21 (IPS) - The UN General Assembly will soon vote – most likely favourably – on Bangladesh’s request to postpone the country’s graduation from the UN’s Least Developed Country (LDC) category, currently scheduled for November this year. The request for a 3-year extension was endorsed by the ECOSOC following the recommendation of the UN’s Committee for Development Policy (CDP). It is highly likely that the extension will also be justifiably granted to Nepal and Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao, PDR) – the two other countries scheduled to graduate with Bangladesh, given the fast deteriorating global economic situation and recent natural disaster in Nepal. In fact, the same argument for an extension may be admissible to all prospective graduating countries, such as Solomon Islands (2027), Cambodia (2029) and Senegal (2029).
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/21/44095 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2019/08/Anis-Chowdhury_180-100x100.jpg"}Volkswagen recalls 208,000 SUVs over bolts that could cause steering lossVolkswagen is recalling more than 208,000 vehicles due to a faulty steering rack bolt that could break and cause a loss of steering control.
Volkswagen Group of America is recalling more than 208,000 vehicles in the U.S. over a steering rack mounting bolt that can corrode and break, potentially causing a loss of steering control.
The recall affects a total of 208,724 SUVs, including certain 2018 Tiguan, 2018-2019 Atlas and 2019-2021 Audi Q3 vehicles, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced.
The affected Tiguan vehicles were manufactured from March 22, 2017, through June 18, 2018, the affected Atlas vehicles were manufactured from Nov. 30, 2016, through Sept. 22, 2018, and the affected Audi Q3 vehicles were manufactured from May 21, 2019, through July 16, 2021.
FORD RECALLS MORE THAN 223,000 VEHICLES OVER FUEL TANK ISSUE
The recalled vehicles were manufactured with a specific steering rack, so vehicles with a different steering rack are unaffected by the recall.
According to the notice, the right-side mounting bolt on the steering rack can corrode after moisture enters the surrounding area. If the bolt head fractures, the steering rack could remain attached to the vehicle’s subframe at only one mounting point.
CHRYSLER RECALLS NEARLY 75K SUVS OVER PARTS THAT COULD DETACH WHILE DRIVING
According to NHTSA, continued loading could cause the steering rack housing to fracture, potentially leading to a loss of steering capability, potentially leading to a loss of steering capability.
"A broken steering rack housing can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash," the NHTSA said in its notice.
Volkswagen and Audi said they are not aware of any crashes, fires, injuries or deaths linked to the defect.
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Dealers will replace the right steering rack mounting bolt with a bolt featuring a highly corrosion-resistant polymer coating at no cost. The new bolt is designed to offer greater protection against corrosion.
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed out on Nov. 10.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/volkswagen-recalls-208000-suvs-over-bolts-could-cause-steering-lossSudan: Blood on Foreign Powers’ Hands
LONDON, September 21 (IPS) - Sudan’s civil war grinds on. It’s close to three and a half years since the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia began their battle for supremacy, and the two forces and their allies continue to slaughter civilians with impunity. As a recent UN report makes clear, the killing is enabled by numerous foreign powers that continue to supply weapons, personnel and logistical support. They have made a civil conflict their proxy war, and their self-interest is sustaining the killing.
Read the full story, “Sudan: Blood on Foreign Powers’ Hands”, on globalissues.org →
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/21/44096 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/A-group-of-armed_-100x100.jpg"}US Visas for Ruthless Autocrats to Address UN– but not for Palestinian Leaders
UNITED NATIONS, September 21 (IPS) - When Yasser Arafat was denied a US visa for his second visit to New York to address the United Nations back in 1988, the General Assembly defied the United States by temporarily moving the UN’s highest policy making body to Geneva– perhaps for the first time in UN history– providing a less-hostile political environment and a platform, for the leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO).
https://www.globalissues.org/news/2026/09/21/44097 {"url":"https://static.globalissues.org/ips/2026/09/President-Mahmoud-Abbas_-100x100.jpg"}Merriam-Webster welcomes ‘looksmaxxing,’ ‘vibe coding’ and ‘cuffing season’ to new word listMerriam-Webster added 1,400 new words including vibe coding, looksmaxxing, parasocial, rickroll and meme coin in a sweeping internet-age update.
From "vibe coding" to "trash panda," the internet has officially talked its way into the dictionary.
Merriam-Webster has added 1,400 new words and definitions to its online catalog, giving a digital-age "glow-up" to the language and official recognition to an internet-fueled mix that also includes "looksmaxxing," "parasocial" and "Rickroll."
The publisher said the new entries reflect terms and meanings that have demonstrated widespread use over time, offering what it called "a window into the world today."
Merriam-Webster pointed to social media culture as a driving force behind a number of the additions. "Looksmaxxing," a term tied to efforts to improve one’s physical appearance, made the cut alongside "parasocial," which commonly describes a one-sided connection someone feels toward a public figure or media personality.
Merriam-Webster also welcomed "meme coin," "promposal" and "Rickroll," the internet prank that redirects an unsuspecting user to Rick Astley’s 1987 music video for "Never Gonna Give You Up."
NEW YORK MAKES HISTORY WITH FIRST-OF-ITS-KIND LAW REGULATING AI-POWERED COMMERCIALS
Artificial intelligence left a major imprint on the update, with "vibe coding," "AGI" and a new noun form of "compute" joining the dictionary.
The publisher also added "uncanny valley," the unsettling feeling sparked by something artificial that appears nearly human, but not quite.
The additions stretch well beyond screens and Silicon Valley.
Food-related newcomers include "superfood," "cake pop," "shishito," "bao" and "chili crisp." The relationship term "cuffing season" also earned a spot, defined as a time when single people seek short-term romantic partners for the colder months.
VIRAL RACCOON JIMOTHY GETS HIS OWN MLB THEME NIGHT AS SEATTLE MARINERS EMBRACE THE TREND
Other entries capture the mood of modern life, including "Sunday scaries," "crashout," "copium," "California sober" and "yacht rock." "Shapewear" and "neckbeard" were also added, while "letterboxing" received a new digital meaning.
The list even includes the "Mandela Effect," a term for a shared false memory, and "trash panda," a playful name for a raccoon.
Merriam-Webster said words are not added simply because they suddenly go viral. Its editors look for sustained, widespread use before an entry is granted a place in the dictionary.
The sweeping update comes just months before Merriam-Webster is expected to announce its 2026 Word of the Year.
THE AI YOU USE EVERY DAY IS BIASED — AND IT’S QUIETLY SHAPING YOUR WORLDVIEW, NEW REPORT SAYS
In 2025, the publisher selected "slop," defining it as "digital content of low quality that is produced usually in quantity by means of artificial intelligence."
"The flood of slop in 2025 included absurd videos, off-kilter advertising images, cheesy propaganda, fake news that looks pretty real, junky AI-written books, ‘workslop’ reports that waste coworkers’ time … and lots of talking cats," Merriam-Webster said at the time. "People found it annoying, and people ate it up."
Other terms highlighted by the publisher in 2025 included "gerrymander," "touch grass," "performative," "tariff," "six seven" and "conclave."
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/merriam-webster-welcomes-looksmaxxing-vibe-coding-cuffing-season-new-word-listFast-food chains are chasing the specialty drink boom. Inside Sonic's strategySonic says its long-standing drink customization platform gives the chain an advantage as fast-food rivals invest in specialty beverages and personalized drinks.
As restaurant chains increasingly turn to specialty beverages to attract customers beyond the traditional meal, Sonic Drive-In believes a business model built around drink customization gives it a head start.
Marion Campbell, Sonic's vice president of integrated marketing and communications, told FOX Business that the quick-service restaurant industry is still figuring out how to make specialty beverages a bigger part of its business, while Sonic has spent years building customization into its operations.
"I think that the market is just getting started. And QSR in particular is just figuring out a way to serve these types of beverages to their guests and make it a pivotal part of their DNA. It's already a part of our DNA," Campbell said.
The competition for beverage customers comes as restaurant brands experiment with specialty drinks, customization and limited-time flavors to give consumers additional reasons to visit. Rival fast-food chains McDonald's, Taco Bell and Jack in the Box each offer their own versions of dirty sodas.
The nonalcoholic beverage market generated $264.1 billion in consumer spending at U.S. foodservice establishments in 2025, accounting for 23% of industry-wide sales, according to data from Technomic. The data also showed that cold beverage spending in 2025 climbed 3.4%, compared with a 1.2% rise for hot beverages, with Technomic saying that "innovation and consumer preference are driving cold beverages to the forefront of market growth."
KRAFT HEINZ UNVEILS NEW PHILADELPHIA CREAM CHEESE FLAVORS TO WIN BACK SHOPPERS
For Sonic – which operates more than 3,400 restaurants and generates $5.2 billion in annual system sales – drinks can bring customers through its drive-ins even when they aren't looking for a burger, hot dog or other full meal.
"A beverage-only guest is a very frequent guest. So beverage is always going to play a pivotal role because of the frequency it drives for the business versus just a check driver," Campbell said.
She added that beverages can also increase how much a customer purchases when paired with food.
The company's customization infrastructure has also allowed the chain to capitalize on the popularity of dirty sodas, which typically combine soda with additions such as cream and flavored syrups.
The dirty soda trend has exploded over the past two years, with case volume at quick-service restaurants jumping 318% during that time, according to data from market research firm Circana.
MAJOR BURGER CHAIN IN-N-OUT CHANGES TWO KEY INGREDIENTS, SENDING FANS INTO A FRENZY
"I think dirty sodas is a place we've actually played long before they were really deemed dirty sodas," Campbell said.
Campbell said Sonic was positioned to capitalize on the trend because customers were already accustomed to customizing drinks at its restaurants.
The chain is now using that platform to experiment with new flavors and seasonal products, including its recently launched fall-inspired lineup and banana-flavored offerings.
CHECKERS & RALLY’S CEO SAYS AMERICANS’ DEMAND FOR FAST-FOOD VALUE IS 'INTENSIFYING'
The strategy comes as consumers remain sensitive to restaurant prices, forcing chains to balance novelty and indulgence with value.
Campbell said beverage pricing can vary widely, from an everyday carbonated soft drink to more elaborate specialty offerings, and argued that consumers can be willing to spend more for an experience they consider distinctive.
Sonic's latest seasonal marketing push also illustrates how the company is trying to translate beverage experimentation into customer traffic.
DUNKIN' OPENED ITS FIRST-EVER DOG DRIVE-THRU WITH TREATS AND TOYS FOR PUPS ON NATIONAL DOG DAY
The chain created a campaign around "Hotumn," its name for the period when consumers begin embracing fall flavors and clothing even as temperatures remain hot, particularly in Sonic's core Southern markets. The campaign is scheduled to run for about four weeks.
Looking further ahead, Campbell expects customers' appetite for personalization to continue shaping the beverage business.
"Again, customization's not going anywhere. It's been here forever. People like to be in control of the flavors they consume. They like to feel like they're the creator, and they have that ability," Campbell said.
She also pointed to flavored water as an area with room for additional experimentation as consumers look for customizable beverages beyond traditional soft drinks.
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Sonic has more beverage concepts in development, according to Campbell, although she declined to disclose what the company plans to introduce next.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/fast-food-chains-chasing-specialty-drink-boom-inside-sonics-strategy‘It's awful’: How tariffs, soaring fuel costs and higher interest rates are squeezing American companiesTariffs, fuel prices and interest rates are squeezing American companies, particularly manufacturers, auto suppliers, retailers and transportation businesses.{}
Budget airline king Bill Franke warms to first-class seats and premium upgradesSerial airline investor Bill Franke is embracing more upmarket changes like first-class seats.{}
‘It's awful’: How tariffs, soaring fuel costs and higher interest rates are squeezing American companiesTariffs, soaring fuel prices and higher interest rates are squeezing American companies, particularly manufacturers, auto suppliers, retailers and transportation businesses.{}
‘It's awful’: How tariffs, soaring fuel costs and higher interest rates are squeezing American companiesTariffs, soaring fuel prices and higher interest rates are squeezing American companies, particularly manufacturers, auto suppliers, retailers and transportation businesses.{}
Mark Ruffalo urges California AG Rob Bonta not to 'cave' in Paramount-Warner Bros. merger fightMark Ruffalo urged California Attorney General Rob Bonta not to cave on settlement talks over the $110 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger.
Actor Mark Ruffalo is ramping up pressure on California Attorney General Rob Bonta amid reports of settlement talks over the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger, warning the Democrat not to "cave" and urging supporters to rally outside his Oakland office.
"Don’t you dare @AGRobBonta, do not cave," Ruffalo wrote Saturday on X.
Ruffalo's lobbying comes as the massive transaction remains on hold under a court agreement and Paramount CEO David Ellison clashes with Bonta and 11 other state attorneys general over the company's proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
In July, the states sued to block the deal, arguing it would reduce competition and give the combined company excessive market power in film distribution and basic cable programming.
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As the megadeal remains on hold, Ellison has reportedly threatened to move Paramount to Texas, Tennessee or Georgia if the dispute is not resolved by Oct. 1. The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in March if a settlement is not reached.
Settlement negotiations remain ongoing.
Ruffalo strongly urged Bonta to reject any settlement that would allow the transaction to move forward. He cited thousands of filmmakers and tens of thousands of petition signatures opposing the merger.
"You work for the people — the very people who will be hurt if you let this lousy deal filled with empty promises go forward," Ruffalo wrote. "Please sign to send a message to the AG’s and Paramount. Reject the deal. The people don’t want it!"
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In a follow-up post, Ruffalo called on Bay Area opponents of the merger to gather outside Bonta's Oakland office.
"To my friends in the Bay Area: I'm hearing Rob Bonta is about to cave and hand Warner Bros over to the Ellisons. We can't let him do that. Can you show up outside his AG office in Oakland tomorrow at 5pm to reject this backroom deal?" Ruffalo wrote.
The Block the Merger Coalition, which says more than 75,000 people have joined its campaign opposing concessions, argued that a settlement based on unenforceable promises would not adequately address its concerns.
"The rumored ‘deal’ to usher the Paramount-Warner Bros. merger forward is an insult to everyone who has stood up against this harmful transaction and to the hundreds of thousands of workers, journalists, and consumers who will be hurt if it goes forward," the organization said in a statement.
"Let’s be very clear: an agreement based only on unenforceable concessions is a win only for David Ellison. It is an L for everyone else."
The Hollywood fight isn't entirely one-sided. Spencer Pratt, who ran for governor of California, criticized Ruffalo's position, arguing that blocking the transaction could hurt rank-and-file film workers.
Bonta's office previously addressed reports that Paramount has raised the possibility of moving operations out of California.
"It's no secret that Paramount has been making this threat despite its alleged commitment to California and Hollywood," Bonta's office told FOX Business.
"What Paramount decides to do is Paramount's choice alone," his office added.
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FOX Business has reached out to Bonta's office for comment.
FOX Business' Stepheny Price and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/entertainment/mark-ruffalo-urges-california-ag-rob-bonta-not-cave-paramount-warner-bros-merger-fightMIT professor says AI risks are uniting Bernie Sanders, Steve Bannon and lawmakers on Capitol HillMIT physicist and AI researcher Max Tegmark says concern over AI is finally breaking through in Washington, after a bipartisan Senate briefing and a conference featuring far-right media host Steve Bannon and independent Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Max Tegmark, an MIT physics professor and machine learning researcher, says he has warned about the danger of artificial intelligence (AI) potentially overtaking human beings for over a decade.
Tegmark argues that without sufficient guardrails, AI systems will recursively improve themselves until they achieve superintelligence, allowing them to "call the shots" on Earth.
This week, Tegmark traveled from Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Washington, D.C., for a closed-door meeting with a bipartisan group of senators about the threat AI poses. And for the first time, he said he feels his message has broken through.
"I came away feeling quite encouraged," Tegmark told Fox News Digital. "The senators were just taking this so seriously. A lot of them looked really, really concerned."
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"They were asking a lot of questions about concrete solutions as well," he added, describing the Wednesday meeting. "There's been more of a shift in political will in America in the last three months than in the previous decade. It's really inspiring to see."
Tegmark also made the trip to host Tuesday's Pro-Human Assembly, where two figures who rarely agree on anything — far-right media executive Steve Bannon and Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. — shared the same stage to warn about AI.
"It just really blew my mind…when I got to introduce both Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon to speak on that stage in D.C. back to back, and they were both saying the same thing. We want to keep humans in charge here," Tegmark said.
The event also brought together faith leaders, labor representatives and mothers whose children died by suicide after extensive interactions with AI chatbots.
"The basic conversation that went down there was simply saying we are all pro-human. Doesn't matter if you're MAGA or a Democrat, we're humans first," Tegmark said. "We want a good future for humans, not for the machines."
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Part of securing that "good future," Tegmark said, is preventing the nightmare scenario that has kept him up at night for years.
Incidents similar to the Hugging Face hack, where 700 OpenAI agents sent each other human-like messages before coordinating cyberattacks, will begin happening with more frequency in the next six months to year if no meaningful action is taken, Tegmark said.
Tegmark believes that if AI reaches superintelligence and is eventually embodied in millions or even billions of robots, it will become a new species that is superior to the human race.
"These agents that, for example, hacked out of OpenAI and committed crimes online, they are not your grandma's ChatGPT from two years ago," he said. "They have goals. They're actively pursuing them and being incredibly creative about getting things done."
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He also worries that AI minds put inside robotic bodies may eventually have motives that conflict with our own, leading to outcomes most would find disastrous.
"Why would they do us any harm? I mean, we are nice to cats, and we pet them, and we don't try to eliminate them," Tegmark said. "Well, maybe [AI will] find us annoying and a nuisance."
"If these AIs decide to cover all of America with data centers and get rid of all the houses, a lot of people are going to be pissed, right? And now [the AIs will] view us as some annoying insects. We're trying to sabotage their little construction project, and they'll feel, 'Oh, it's just self-defense. Got to get rid of these human pests,'" Tegmark said.
But Tegmark insists that this hypothetical future isn't inevitable. He argues that AI can still be steered toward beneficial uses — such as curing diseases and increasing overall productivity — if governments establish safety standards before increasingly powerful systems are widely deployed.
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He pitched what he called an "FDA for AI," modeled on the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) oversight of drugs, medical devices and treatments.
Under such a system, companies using AI to develop new medicines or productivity tools could still profit while preventing many of the perceived harms.
As an example, Tegmark pointed to AI chatbots that some children have been using as a stand-in for real, human connection.
"The next time some company wants to release an AI girlfriend for 8-year-olds, they would be asked, 'Hey dude, where's your clinical trial?'" Tegmark said. "If they say, 'We haven't checked yet, but we feel really good about this,' then the person from the FDA for AI will be like, 'OK, buddy, come back when you've done your clinical trial.'"
Politicians have begun responding to the country's shifting mood, with 79% of Americans saying the government should prioritize AI safety regulations even if doing so slows AI development, according to a recent Gallup poll.
For one, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed an executive order Friday that calls for new laws that require AI companies to include a "kill switch" to prevent out-of-control models from going rogue.
Tegmark said reining in AI is possible, but emphasized that action needs to be taken quickly.
"We've done a lot of remarkable things here in the U.S. before that other people thought were impossible. And I think we can do this also," he said.
https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/mit-professor-says-ai-risks-uniting-bernie-sanders-steve-bannon-lawmakers-capitol-hill