Americans stream more rock, gospel music in 2025
The global music industry logged an estimated 5.1 trillion streams in 2025 as listeners worldwide continued to turn to digital platforms for music consumption.
The global music industry logged an estimated 5.1 trillion streams in 2025 as listeners worldwide continued to turn to digital platforms for music consumption.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has presented former U.S. President Donald Trump with a symbolic Nobel Peace Prize medallion, officials say. The unofficial medallion, not issued by the Norwegian Nobel Committee, was described as a gesture recognizing Trump’s stance on Venezuela and support for opposition efforts against President Nicolás Maduro. The private meeting and presentation highlight Machado’s ongoing push for international backing in her campaign for political change in Venezuela, as observers track how symbolic acts shape foreign engagement with the country’s crisis.
The United States approved a $1.5 billion foreign military sale to Peru to expand and modernize the Callao naval base near Lima’s international airport. The State Department said the package includes engineering, construction, equipment, training, and logistics support and will bring up to 20 US government and contractor personnel to Peru for up to 10 years. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the deal, which aims to strengthen Peru’s maritime security and defense capabilities. The announcement follows the inauguration of a separate Chinese-funded mega-port in Peru, though US officials did not formally link the two projects.
Travis County residents near Pflugerville report concerns about the deteriorating condition of Hodde Lane as traffic and development increase in northeast Travis County. Community members cite safety and vehicle damage risks and request repairs and long-term upgrades from county officials. Authorities say they will review the roadway and consider resident feedback as they prioritize maintenance and improvement projects across rapidly growing unincorporated areas.
Minneapolis officials reported a new shooting linked to a federal immigration operation, prompting protests and clashes with federal officers on Wednesday night. Smoke filled streets near the scene as demonstrators gathered, while authorities closed roads and launched a joint local and federal investigation. The mayor said the city faces an impossible situation as it addresses public safety concerns and ongoing immigration enforcement. Investigators are reviewing evidence, coordinating across agencies and preparing to brief the public as more verified information emerges about the shooting and the protest response.
Growing interest in the U.S. EB-1A “extraordinary ability” visa is driving a market for vanity awards, ghostwritten research papers and profile-building services. USCIS is reviewing petitions more closely and investigating possible fraud linked to purchased credentials. This report explains how the credential marketplace operates around EB-1A applications, the types of services being sold to prospective immigrants and how U.S. immigration authorities are responding with increased scrutiny and enforcement measures.
The United States Postal Service will issue a Muhammad Ali commemorative Forever stamp in 2026, honoring the boxing champion’s historical and cultural impact. The stamp, developed with input from the Ali estate, will debut at a formal dedication ceremony and be sold nationwide and online. It will function as regular First-Class postage and as a collectible item for philatelists and sports history enthusiasts. USPS will announce the final design, release date, and location of the first-day ceremony closer to the issue year.
A client called me this week worried about the new mandatory biometric checks for all non‑U.S. citizens, including green‑card holders. He’s planning…
The Pentagon plans to adopt Elon Musk’s Grok AI chatbot for internal use, according to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, days after the system faced global backlash over the generation of highly sexualized deepfake images. The decision places the U.S. defense establishment at the center of ongoing debates over AI safety, misuse of synthetic media, and security risks linked to advanced chatbots. Officials have not disclosed deployment details, safeguards, or oversight measures for Grok. Privacy advocates, legal experts, and digital rights groups continue to call for stronger regulation and accountability mechanisms for AI tools used by governments and military agencies worldwide.
President Donald Trump received a classified briefing on new U.S. military strike options against Iran, according to a source familiar with the discussions. The review of potential responses came as tensions with Tehran remained high and U.S. officials monitored Iran’s internal security actions and regional activities. On Friday, Trump publicly stated that if the Iranian government resumed “killing people like they have in the past,” the United States “would get involved,” signaling a possible red line tied to large-scale violence against civilians. Officials did not confirm any decision to carry out strikes.