Latest News
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Wafa reports that a Palestinian teenager was killed in an Israeli raid on the West Bank.
Wafa, the official Palestinian news agency, reported that a?Palestinian teenager was killed?during a military raid by Israel in?the West 'Bank?occupied on Wednesday. The Palestinian Health Ministry said that the teenager is 16 years old. The Israeli military confirmed that it was investigating the report. Wafa reported that the boy was 'killed by soldiers' gunfire during a raid in the Palestinian city Hebron. The Israeli military had earlier claimed that two Palestinians had attacked and injured?two soldiers near Ramallah, in the area of Silwad. The soldiers opened up fire and killed one of the attackers, while apprehending the second. Was not able to confirm the details of any incident immediately. Palestinian officials reported that an Israeli strike killed a medic in?northern Gaza. The Israeli military did not comment immediately. The Israeli military?said that its forces shot down a militant later on Wednesday in southern Gaza. Reporting by Ali Sawafta from ramallah, and Nidal Al-Mughrabi from Cairo. Editing by David Gregorio.
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The US FDA has concluded that domestic infant formula is safe.
The United States Food and Drug Administration confirmed on Wednesday that infant formula samples tested in the U.S. contained very low levels contaminants. This confirms the safety of the supply. The agency tested over 300 samples of 16 infant formulas sold across the country, looking for heavy metals like arsenic and cadmium as well as synthetic chemicals, pesticides and phthalates. The agency reported that the majority of samples had very low or undetectable levels of contaminants. The FDA used the drinking water limits set by the Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate infant formula because unlike the EU, it does not have heavy metal standards. The amount of contamination was so small that it is encouraging for families and physicians to know that infant formulas seem very safe, said Valeria COHRAN, professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg Medical School. TESTING IS CONTINUING Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health Secretary of the United States, has been promoting the reduction of food chemicals. He also launched an infant formula nutrition review in 2013. Kennedy will host an industry roundtable in May. The FDA stated that although overall contamination levels were low, some samples required additional testing. The FDA tested powders as well as liquids that are ready to feed and concentrated liquids. The agency intends to continue testing. Katarzyna?Kordas, associate professor, epidemiology and environment health at the University at Buffalo, said that the U.S. diet guidelines do not take into account the risk of exposure to contaminants. This highlights the need for more research. Mercury, lead and pesticides were not detectable in 95% samples. Lead was detected in only 20% of samples. The majority of PFAS compounds also were not detected. The agency also tested some?of human?milk?samples and found that the majority contained at least one detectable contamination, while only 15% did not. Even small amounts of contaminants may be present in food, such as infant formula and breast milk. They can also enter the production process through exposure to environmental factors. Abbott, maker of Similac said on Wednesday that producing infant formula in the U.S. at scale is a matter for national security. These results confirm the safety of the domestic supply. Laura Modi is the CEO of Bobbie baby formula. She also stated that Bobbie will work with FDA to set federal standards on heavy metals found in infant formula. (Reporting and editing by Maju Samuel in Bengaluru, Sahal Muhammed and Sneha S. K.)
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Gold continues to fall after US Fed maintains rate unchanged
Gold extended its losses on Wednesday, falling?to?a?one-month low as the U.S. Federal Reserve left rates unchanged as anticipated and traders were worried about inflation resulting from the Middle East war. By 2:14 pm EDT (1814 GMT), spot gold had fallen 1.4% to $4,528.17 an ounce, its lowest price since late March. U.S. Gold Futures?Settled 1% Lower at $4,561.50. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged, but its most divided decision in over 20 years?noted growing concerns about inflation? in a statement of policy that attracted three dissenting officials who did not?feel? the U.S. Central Bank should communicate an emphasis on lowering borrowing costs. Tai Wong, an independent metals trader, said that the three dissenters who wanted to remove the easing bias from the statement put gold under pressure. After the announcement, traders stuck with their bets that the Fed would not reduce interest rates in this year or for a long time to come. After the decision, traders remained steadfast in their bets that the?Fed would not cut interest rates this year or well into next. "Only Trump or Iran can save the markets. But, both sides aren't getting closer to a agreement - and oil is reflecting this." Fawad Rasaqzada is a market analyst for City Index and FOREX.com. He said that the outlook for gold does not look so good right now. Donald Trump and U.S. oil companies discussed ways to minimize the impact of an upcoming months-long 'U.S. A White House official revealed on Wednesday that U.S. Oil companies were discussing a possible blockade of the?Iran ports, while President Trump urged Tehran sign a deal. Tehran has warned that it will take "unprecedented" military action against the continued U.S. blocking. The 'World Gold Council' said that global gold demand grew 2% on an annual basis in the first quarter 2026, as the surge in gold bar and coin purchases, as well as the 3% increase in central bank buying, more than offset a 23% drop in jewellery demand. Silver spot fell by 2.7% at $71.08, while platinum dropped 3% at $1,881.21 and palladium fell 0.4% to $1,454.52. (Reporting and editing by Ronojoy Mazumdar in Bengaluru, Aurora Ellis, Sahal Muhammed).
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Entergy's capital expenditure plan increases by 33% for expanded Meta data center
Entergy, a U.S.-based electric utility, has increased its capital spending plan for the next four years by 33%, to $57 billion. This increase is largely due to the expansion of the energy infrastructure needed to service Meta data centers, according to the company. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the U.S. power demand will reach record levels this year as data centers are rapidly built. Some of these data centers use as much energy as a city. Entergy has been one of the utilities to increase capital expenditures in the past two years. This is partly for the construction and upgrading of transmission lines, as well as power plants. Entergy announced last month that it has entered into an agreement with Meta data centers to provide electricity. The deal will require the construction of seven new combined-cycle natural gas power plants totaling?more than 5.2 gigawatts. One gigawatt can power 750,000 homes. Entergy also plans to build multiple gas-fired plants in Louisiana as part of a separate 2024 agreement for a massive Meta data center campus. On Wednesday, during a conference call for investors to discuss its earnings, Entergy said that it has 7 to 12 gigawatts worth of potential new data centers interested in connecting to the system. Data centers are becoming more common, and this has led to concerns that the average home or business will be stuck with at least a portion of the cost of building a massive energy infrastructure for Big Tech. Entergy claims that the new Meta deal will lower the power bills of the rest its customers. The agreement is also part of a new regulatory framework which requires data centers to pay more for power needs. Entergy reported on Wednesday a 6.7% increase in its first-quarter profits. The company supplies electricity to approximately 3 million customers throughout Arkansas, Louisiana?, Mississippi and Texas. The company reported that its weather-adjusted sales increased?6% over last year. This was boosted by an increase in industrial sales, as data centers, metal manufacturers, and transportation customers all saw sales rise. The New Orleans utility's industrial revenue for the quarter increased by nearly 15%, to 15,895 gigawatt hours. As of March 31, the company's debt level had risen 10% to $34.18 Billion. Entergy's operating costs also increased by nearly 22%, to $2.61 Billion for the period January-March. The company reported a 'net income' of $384.92 millions, or $83 per share, up from $360.76million, or $82 per share, a year earlier. According to LSEG data, Entergy adjusted profit per share reached 86 cents, which is in line with the average analyst estimate.
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Hegseth, Pentagon's Hegseth, defends Iran War and says it is not a Quagmire
Hegseth, the U.S. Defense Secretary, made fiery remarks to Congress on Wednesday. He defended the Iran War by saying it was not a "quagmire" and called Democratic lawmakers "feckless," for criticizing this unpopular conflict. Hegseth testified before Congress for first time after the U.S. launched a war on Iran in February. Trump's popularity is down since the conflict started. The /Ipsos survey found that only?34% Americans approve of the U.S. conflict against?Iran. This is down from 36% at mid-April, and 38% at mid-March. Democrats bombarded Hegseth's office with questions regarding the ongoing conflict. Rep. John Garamendi, of California, called it a "quagmire," and a "political disaster on every level." Hegseth replied angrily. "You call ?it a quagmire, handing propaganda to our ?enemies? Hegseth responded to Garamendi by saying, "Shame 'on you. You made a foolish statement." He also criticized the "reckless feckless and defeatist" Congressional Democrats. "Don't say: 'I'm in support of the troops, but a two-month military mission is a quagmire. ' Whom are you cheering here? "Who are you rooting for?" Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Al, editing by Michelle Nikil
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Pentagon official: U.S. War in Iran cost 25 billion dollars so far
A senior Pentagon official said that the United States war against Iran had 'cost' $25 billion to date. This was the first estimate of the cost for the military. Democrats have been able to gain a strong lead in opinion polls in the six months before mid-term elections, when Trump's Republicans will likely face a tough battle to maintain their House majority. They are also attempting to link affordability with the unpopular Iran War. Jules Hurst who is the comptroller told the House Armed Services Committee members that the majority of this money was "for munitions". Hurst didn't specify what was included in that estimate, or whether it took into account the projected costs for rebuilding and repairing the base infrastructure damaged by the conflict in the Middle East. Rep. Adam 'Smith, the top Democrat in the House Armed Services Committee responded to?Hurst by saying: "I am glad that you answered that?"question. We've asked for a very long time and nobody has given us a number. The United States began to conduct strikes against Iran in February. Both sides maintain a fragile truce. Pentagon has sent tens and thousands of additional forces to the Middle East. Three aircraft carriers are also stationed in the area. Thirteen U.S. soldiers have died in the conflict and hundreds of others were injured. The disruptions in oil and gas shipments since the start of the war have caused a rise in the price of gasoline and agricultural products like fertilizers in the United States, in addition to the list of other high prices for consumers. Trump's popularity is down since U.S. and Israel started a war on Iran in February, which led to an increase in gas prices. A recent Ipsos survey found that only?34% Americans approve of the U.S. war with Iran. This is down from 36% at mid-April, and 38% at mid-March.
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Thyssenkrupp to receive $4 billion in Kone-TK Elevator Deal
Analysts estimate that Thyssenkrupp's share of the proceeds from Kone's proposed purchase of liftmaker TK Elevator is nearly two thirds of its current market capitalisation. According to Jefferies and JPMorgan estimates, the windfall for the German company if the deal is completed could be as high as 3.4 billion euro ($4 billion). This would be a huge financial boost to the German firm that's undergoing a major restructuring in order to become a holding corporation. Thyssenkrupp's shares, which were up 7.5% by 1437 GMT, didn't comment on the financial implications of the deal. They only said they were reviewing the proposal. Under the plan, Kone would be the world’s largest lift manufacturer. In December, the company stated that its 16.2% share in TKE retained after a landmark division sale to a consortium headed by Advent and Cinven, in 2020, has a book value of approximately 2 billion euros. Jefferies analysts called it "clearly positive" for Thyssenkrupp. It delivered long-awaited value crystallisation from a non core asset, and improved transparency materially. According to the terms of the deal, TKE shareholders will receive 5 Billion Euros, which is equivalent to 810 Million Euros for Thyssenkrupp, based on Thyssenkrupp's TKE stake. According to the terms, Thyssenkrupp will also receive up to 2,46 billion euros worth of newly issued 'Kone shares. This would give it a stake of 5.5% in the combined Kone/TKE entity.
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The most diverse corals of the South Atlantic, Brazil's Abrolhos, are declining as the climate warms
Researchers in Rio de Janeiro reported that the coral cover on Brazil's Abrolhos reefs, which is the most biodiverse ecosystem of the South Atlantic, had fallen by around 15% in 18 years due to climate changes and human activity. The climate change-linked heatwaves have intensified the so-called "bleaching events" where corals expulse the algae they call home. This permanently undermines the coral health. Corals are dying because their health is compromised by the increased frequency of heatwaves. They may even regain color with this increase, but will develop diseases and necrosis. Coral reefs sustain about 25% of marine life around the globe, but are in a state of almost irreversible death. Scientists have called this the "tipping point" for climate-driven ecosystem collapse. Scientists say that in order for reefs to recover, the world must drastically increase climate action and bring temperatures to just 1 degree Celsius below the preindustrial norm. According to U.N. data and EU science agencies, global temperatures are already 1.3-1.4 degrees Celsius (2-3 degrees Fahrenheit above preindustrial levels) warmer than the average. Brazilian researchers studied the Abrolhos Reefs from 2006 to 2023. The Royal Society Proceedings B journal published the results of this study. The findings show "insidious shifts in coral assemblages including the collapse branching corals." The study found that while larger branching corals provide reef structure, they are being replaced with species that grow faster and offer fewer "ecological" benefits. Moura stated that human activity is responsible for the worsening of the damage. The sediment created by the dredging of a nearby shipping channel in the Port of Caravelas damages the water quality and kills corals. The report stated that local marine protected areas had not 'halted the corals decline. This indicates that, while they are fundamental in protecting biodiversity, it is 'not enough to face a global climate emergency. Ricardo Gomes is a biologist from the Instituto Mar Urbano. He said that reefs are vital for fishing, tourism, coastal livelihoods and jobs. Gomes stated that "putting Abrolhos in danger means putting all of the biodiversity along the Brazilian coast in peril." (Reporting by Sergio Queiroz in Rio de Janeiro; Writing by Oliver Griffin; Editing by Aurora Ellis)
Fake news about the Myanmar earthquake: Making money from a disaster
Misinformation floods social media after disasters
Viral posts bring in ad revenue for platforms and creators alike
The 'Wild West" has very few safeguards to prevent fake news
By Lin Taylor
Be it viral images or fake rescue stories, these schemes take advantage of the increased fear and desire for news following any disaster or war.
People should assume that there are a lot false reports out there. Darrell West is a senior technology research at Brookings Institution.
According to the state media, the death toll in Myanmar's earthquake of March 28 has reached more than 3,600. Another 5,000 people were injured, and hundreds are still missing.
The earthquake was the latest blow to the impoverished Southeast Asian nation of 53 million people, after a coup in 2021 that brought the military back to power and destroyed its economy following a decade of growth and tentative democracy.
Digital Insight Lab is a grassroots group that runs Facebook pages to counter misinformation and hate speeches in Myanmar. It said it has seen viral posts that claimed to show the destruction of the disaster, even though they were either shot in Syria or Malaysia, and/or created by artificial intelligence.
"Many reports reuse photos and videos taken from incidents that are unrelated, while others use AI-generated content in order to create false narratives," explained Windy, a research officer who went by a pseudonym.
Digital experts report that misinformation and disinformation is common on social networks following disasters. This includes false videos, fake images or false narratives regarding rescue efforts.
When you are misinformed, it can cause panic and delay evacuation. It can undermine your trust in emergency services. "It can be very distracting," says Jeanette Elsworth. She is the head of communications for the U.N. Office for Disaster Risk Reduction.
False rumours were spread after Hurricane Helene devastated parts of the United States in the past year. The government was accused of funneling federal disaster funds illegal migrants.
Fraudsters uploaded videos of tsunamis from Japan and Greenland to claim that they were real-time footage taken in the disaster zone.
MISSINFORMATION PAYS
According to the tech policy group What To Fix, more than $20 billion will be made by 2024 from advertising revenue shared between social platforms (including YouTube) and content creators.
According to founder Victoire RIO, who also spent time in Myanmar researching misinformation, content creators are using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Tik Tok for a portion of the revenue generated by ads that appear with their posts.
She said that the model encourages creators to create viral posts even if the content is false or generated by AI, as the more views they get and the more money they earn, the better.
Rio stated that fraudsters were able to earn up to tens thousands of dollars in previous crises, such as the coup of 2021 in Myanmar.
According to a 2021 study conducted by the fact-checking company NewsGuard and the analytics firm Comscore, misinformation websites earn $2.6 billion in digital advertising every year.
According to What To fix, Meta, the company that owns Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, controls more than 60% the market for social advertising. In 2024 it had over 3.1 millions creator accounts, an increase of 55% from the previous year.
Rio stated that "in the current context of Myanmar, the vast majority of disinformation being circulated is motivated by financial gain."
Meta has said that they remove posts which violate their policies. They work with partners to debunk any false claims, and then move the content further down in the feed so "fewer people will see it".
Meta ceased its fact-checking programs in the U.S. and began managing political content.
TikTok has said that it does not allow misleading or false content to be posted on its platform. It also removed incorrect posts as soon as the Myanmar earthquake occurred, and directed users to reliable sources.
The company said that it had trained moderators, fact-checking partners and other staff in more than 50 languages.
Rio stated that the internet shutdowns in Myanmar, which prevented information from reaching the public, also fueled misinformation.
"You've got a large community of people who are using Facebook to search for information from outside Myanmar." Rio explained that these people are especially vulnerable to misinformation, as they desperately seek information.
Htaike Htaike, the director of the Myanmar Internet Project which tracks the country’s internet blackouts said that the situation put lives at risk.
Aung said that fake posts are frequently at the top of newsfeeds due to their clickbaity and the way social media algorithms work. This makes it more difficult for people to access quality information.
It's a major hindrance to many aid efforts. At this moment, access to information is vital.
Reduce Risks
Eliska Pirkova is a senior policy analyst with digital rights group Access Now. She said that platforms should do more than rely on community groups for false content to be reported after it has been broadcast.
"Information is always vital, but especially in times of crisis." She said that (platforms have) very high due diligence obligations.
Local civil society organizations often take on the responsibility of flagging or escalating cases. They are already stretched thin because they have to deal with crises on the ground.
The government has also been encouraged to take action.
The United States is accelerating its dominance on the global market by removing some protective barriers.
Elsworth of UNDRR said that it would take more than Big Tech or the government to combat fake news. He urged local media, religious leaders and civil society to all play a part.
(source: Reuters)