Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu favors a complete military takeover of Gaza, media reported, and was to meet senior security officials on Tuesday to finalize a new strategy in the 22-month war. Mediation between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas has collapsed despite intense international pressure for a ceasefire to...
Palantir Shares Jump as Soaring AI Demand Powers Forecast Upgrade
Palantir Technologies shares surged nearly 9% in early trading on Tuesday, after the company lifted its annual revenue forecast for the second time this year, banking on strong demand for its AI-related services from governments and companies. Investors have been betting big on the data analytics and defense software company's...
US to Initially Impose ‘Small Tariff’ on Pharma Imports, Trump Says
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that the United States would initially place a "small tariff" on pharmaceutical imports before hiking it to 150% within 18 months and eventually to 250% in an effort to boost domestic production. "In one year, one and a half years maximum, it's...
Cruz Criticizes Hochul for Wearing Headscarf at Slain Officer’s Funeral
As New Yorkers mourned the victims of a mass shooting last week in a midtown Manhattan office building, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, inserted himself into the discourse. His comments concerned a photo taken Thursday of Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York, a Democrat, sitting on a folding chair inside a...
Trump Says Banks Discriminate Against His Supporters While White House Prepares Order
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Tuesday said he believes that banks discriminate against him and his supporters, adding that Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase had previously refused to accept his deposits. "They totally discriminate against, I think, me maybe even more, but they discriminate against many conservatives," he...
House Democrats Renew Effort Calling for Palestinian Statehood
More than a dozen House Democrats have signed a draft letter urging the Trump administration to recognize a Palestinian state, and the leader of the effort said Monday that he planned to introduce a resolution to codify the push. “We believe recognizing Palestinian statehood and obligating Palestinian leaders to abide...
US DOJ to Open Grand Jury Probe Into Obama Officials, Source Says
WASHINGTON — U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed federal prosecutors to launch a grand jury probe into allegations that members of Democratic former President Barack Obama's administration manufactured intelligence on Russia's interference in the 2016 elections, a source familiar with the matter said on Monday. The Justice Department said...
State Gives Adventist Health OK for $1B in Bonds. Valley Children’s Gets $11M Grant
California gave Adventist Health the green light in issuing up to $1 billion in bonds to upgrade its record system and refinance debt. At the same time, Valley Children's will get more than $11 million in grant money for new equipment and renovation costs. The California Health Facilities Financing Authority...
Fresno Man Pleads Guilty in $30 Million Fraud Scheme
A Fresno man pleaded guilty Monday to wire fraud in a scheme that defrauded lenders and financial institutions out of more than $30 million, federal prosecutors said. Matthew Dane Billingsley, 39, admitted to fabricating brokerage account statements and misrepresenting loan purposes between June 2018 and February 2023, according to the...
Fresno County Traffic Stop Leads to Prison Sentence for Mexican National in Fentanyl Case
A Mexican national has been sentenced to more than three years in federal prison for trafficking over 200,000 fentanyl pills through Fresno County, authorities said Monday. Miguel Obed Romero Reyes, 26, of Sinaloa, Mexico, was sentenced to three years and five months by U.S. District Judge Kirk Sherriff for possessing...