Refinancing demand has slowed significantly after a brief spike in activity. Despite this, refinancing applications are still up by 39% compared to the same time last year. The interest rate for 30-year Federal Housing Administration-backed loans remained steady at 6.7%, while 15-year FRMs also saw little change. Lenders are now offering more credit to consumers, … Read more
A Chinese woman who escaped from a Panama hotel where hundreds of deported migrants were being held has been recaptured. The woman was found abandoned near a migrant processing facility along the northern border between Panama and Costa Rica, according to Security Minister Frank Abrego. Authorities blame “human traffickers” for her brief escape. Source: https://www.scmp.com/news/world/americas/article/3299367/chinese-woman-escapes-panama-hotel-holding-hundreds-deported-us
European diplomats and officials are grappling with the prospect of a post-NATO world as tensions between Russia and Ukraine remain high. The recent US-Russia diplomatic talks have raised concerns about the future of European security, with many Ukrainians expressing little confidence in direct negotiations with Moscow. At a conference at Cambridge University, Ukrainian politicians and … Read more
Southwest Airlines has agreed to an amended agreement with activist shareholder Elliott Management, allowing the hedge fund to hold a larger stake in the airline. Elliott, backed by investor Paul Singer, can now own up to 19.9% of Southwest’s shares until after its 2026 annual shareholder meeting. The deal marks a further concession by Southwest … Read more
Argentina President Javier Milei is facing a fraud probe after promoting a cryptocurrency that crashed just hours after its launch. The $LIBRA coin, created by KIP Protocol and Hayden Davis, saw its value spike above $4 billion before plummeting amid criticism it could be a scam. Milei initially promoted the project as an entrepreneurial venture … Read more
A remote beach in Australia’s Tasmanian state has become the scene of a devastating mass stranding of false killer whales. Experts have given up hope on rescuing over 150 of the marine mammals, which were found stranded on the exposed surf beach near Arthur River. According to officials, unfavorable ocean and weather conditions prevented a … Read more
Walgreens Boots Alliance shares surged after CNBC’s David Faber upgraded the status of its take-private deal with Sycamore Partners from “mostly dead” to “alive.” The drugstore chain faces increasing competition online, making this development significant. Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-18/walgreens-gains-after-cnbc-says-sycamore-takeout-is-alive
Pharmacy chain Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) shares surged on Tuesday following reports that talks with private equity firm Sycamore Partners may be back on track. The deal, previously considered “mostly dead,” is now reported to be alive by CNBC’s David Faber. In December, the companies first announced plans to explore a potential sale. Since then, … Read more
UFC welterweight champion Belal Muhammad is set on becoming a double champion after the recent defeat of headliner Dricus Du Plessis at UFC 312. Muhammad watched the fight in Sydney and was not impressed, citing it as one of the reasons he’s considering moving up to the 185-pound division. Muhammad previously trained with current lightweight … Read more
French President Emmanuel Macron is struggling to rally European unity on Ukraine amid strong divisions within the continent. Despite hosting a summit at his Parisian palace, Macron faces resistance from key frontline nations like Germany, which rejected proposals for a European-led security force in Ukraine. The United Kingdom and Italy also have differing approaches to … Read more