• 2 Million Casualties in Russia's war on Ukraine
  • It's One Storm After Another For Much of US
  • The EU is Seeking New Trade Partnerships
  • Federal Reserve May Keep Rates Unchanged For Months
  • President Trump: The Latest Updates
US stocks hold near their all-time high

NEW YORK (AP) - Few ripples washed through Wall Street Wednesday after the Federal Reserve decided to hold its main interest rate steady, just like investors expected. The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged and inched down by less than 0.1% from its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 12 points, or less than 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.2%.

Rubio Defends Trump on Venezuela While Allaying Fears About NATO

WASHINGTON (AP) – Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave a full-throated defense Wednesday of President Donald Trump’s military operation to oust and arrest then-Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while also using his wide-ranging congressional testimony to touch on Greenland, NATO, Iran and China.

Middle East Worries Over Possible US Strike on Iran

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) – Iranian officials reached out to the wider Middle East on Wednesday over the threat of a possible U.S. military strike on the country, while the value of Iran’s currency reached a new low a month since the start of protests that soon spread nationwide and sparked a bloody crackdown.

Tesla made smallest annual profit since the pandemic

NEW YORK (AP) – Tesla’s annual profit plunged to its lowest level since the pandemic five years ago as it lost the title of the world’s biggest electric vehicle maker to a Chinese rival and boycotts hammered sales.

Meta posts stronger-than-expected Q4 results though costs continue to soar

Meta’s fourth-quarter results jumped past Wall Street’s expectations thanks to solid advertising revenue, sending shares sharply higher in after-hours trading Wednesday.  The company earned $22.77 billion, or $8.88 per share, in the October-December quarter. That’s up 9% from $20.84 billion, or $8.02 per share, in the same period a year earlier.

Microsoft beats Wall Street expectations with $81.3B revenue

REDMOND, Wash. (AP) – Microsoft said Wednesday that its revenue for the October-December quarter was $81.3 billion, up 17% from the same time last year as it furthers its goal to expand global adoption of its artificial intelligence tools.

The EU is Seeking New Trade Partnerships. Here's Why

BRUSSELS (AP) – The ambitious free trade agreement between the European Union and India underscores the EU’s efforts to ink new global partnerships at a time when the Trump administration has rattled a continent deeply tied to Washington on trade, defense and diplomacy.

Trump Wants 'Honest' Investigation Into 'Very Sad' Killing

President Donald Trump said Tuesday a “big investigation” was underway into the killing of protester and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. “I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” the president said as he left the White House.

Federal Reserve May Keep Rates Unchanged For Months

WASHINGTON (AP) – Federal Reserve officials are expected to keep their short-term interest rate unchanged Wednesday after three cuts last year, ignoring huge pressure for lower borrowing costs from the White House in favor of waiting to see how the economy evolves.

President Donald Trump said Tuesday a “big investigation” was underway into the killing of protester and ICU nurse Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis. “I want to see the investigation. I’m going to be watching over it, and I want a very honorable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself,” the president said as he left the White House.