McDonald's extended its U.S. sales streak to three quarters — turning in broad-based growth as its value push resonates with price-conscious diners.
Why it matters: The earnings reported Wednesday suggest the fast-food giant is sustaining traffic while navigating the industry's core tension: keeping prices competitive without sacrificing margins.
Winter storms have disrupted USPS mail delivery in several cities, causing days-long delays — and in some neighborhoods, weeklong gaps — even after roads have cleared.
Why it matters: The disruptions have left residents waiting on medications, tax documents and checks — highlighting the challenges of restoring full service after major storms.
Why it matters: The vote signals growing GOP discomfort with Trump's aggressive tariff strategy, and a willingness by some Republicans to buck the president after months of being in lockstep with the White House.
Aurora Innovation says its automated semi-trucks can now drive long distances non-stop, an advantage over human drivers, who are required by law to take rest breaks.
Why it matters: Round-the-clock operation is one of the promised benefits of automated trucks, as logistics companies look to boost efficiency and cope with a shortage of long-haul drivers.
Gallup will stop tracking presidential job approval ratings after more than eight decades of capturing the public's opinion toward the man in the Oval Office.
The big picture: While Gallup will not continue charting presidential approval ratings — as it has throughout the post-WWII era — it says it will remain committed to polling on issues that shape everyday lives.
Uber's CEO says the introduction of robotaxis will be good for its business, not the death knell that some investors fear.
Why it matters: Fifteen years ago, Uber was transportation's Great Disruptor. Now the ride-hailing company itself is in danger of losing ground to competitors like Waymo and Tesla as robotaxis expand across America.
Courier Newsroom, a local and national news group with a progressive perspective, is expanding to nine additional states this year, its publisher Tara McGowan told Axios.
Why it matters: The expansion brings Courier to 20 states total, making it one of the largest local progressive content networks in the country.
Accenture has appointed Rachel Frey to the newly created role of chief communications officer, Axios is the first to report.
Why it matters: Frey and her team will be responsible for convincing investors, policy makers, partners and employees that Accenture is the professional services firm best positioned to navigate the AI era.
Omnicom has consolidated public relations agencies Porter Novelli with FleishmanHillard and Ketchum with Golin following its merger with IPG.
Why it matters: The restructuring underscores the accelerating consolidation across the agency world as it grapples with economic pressures, changing client expectations and AI disruption.
Warner Bros. Discovery is under new pressure this morning to switch horses from Netflix to Paramount, although it still appears to be waiting for a price sweetener.
Driving the news: Activist investor Ancora Partners disclosed around a $200 million stake and argued that the Paramount bid provides more price and regulatory certainty.
Three more Coupang investors on Wednesday joined the lawsuit against South Korea's government, arguing that it acted unlawfully against the e-commerce firm.
Why it matters: This is becoming a flashpoint in U.S.-South Korea relations, and could impact U.S. investment in South Korean companies.
When Rahm Emanuel, a potential Democratic 2028 White House hopeful, was asked about the endangerment finding repeal, his answer went right to prices — not climate change.
A man whom police questioned in connection with the disappearance of Savannah Guthrie's mother, Nancy Guthrie, was released from custody, according to multiplereports.
The latest: The FBI and local law enforcement questioned the man and searched a location some 60 miles south of Tucson and near the U.S. border with Mexico, in connection with the Guthrie case. The "Today" show co-host's 84-year-old mother was reported missing from her home outside of Tucson, Arizona, more than a week ago.
The Milan Cortina games are handing out the priciest Olympic medals in over a century — and athletes are already breaking them.
Why it matters: Athletes typically value medals for prestige, not price, but soaring precious-metal costs have made the sometimes-faulty 2026 medals especially costly.
The reelection of Japan's popular prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, earlier this week pushed the country's long-languishing stock market to new heights.
Why it matters: The Nikkei is just one of the foreign stock indexes beating the major U.S. benchmarks this year — as investors "Sell America" and look to buy elsewhere in the world.
Uber is rolling out a new AI-powered assistant in Uber Eats that builds grocery carts from text or image prompts — automating a traditionally time-consuming task.
A 10-mile ring of airspace centered on El Paso, Texas, is effectively closed to aircraft for the next 10 days after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a surprise restriction late Tuesday night for "special security reasons."
Why it matters: The temporary flight restriction, or TFR, includes the airspace over El Paso International Airport, effectively shutting down the city's main aviation link.
Project Omega exited stealth Wednesdaywith a $12 million seed round under its belt and plans to convert spent nuclear fuel into power sources the military can use for wearables, sensors, drones and more.
The big picture: The ambitions could help solve, in the long run, three major American concerns:
What to do with all the spent fuel laying around
How to keep troops healthy, informed and out of harm's way
How to satiate an energy appetite that's growing, thanks to artificial intelligence and other factors
Valentine's Day shoppers, take note:Champagne and cream-colored diamonds are having a moment.
Why it matters: As lab-grown diamonds make large, bright white stones more accessible, consumers are finding appeal in stones once considered imperfect.
Drones and other tech advances are reshaping how viewers from around the world experience the Winter Olympics.
Why it matters: New camera angles can pull the audience into the athlete's perspective, making the sheer intensity and speed of events like skiing and bobsled easier to grasp.
NBCUniversal's broadcast of Super Bowl LX drew 124.9 million viewers, a 2.2% drop from last year's matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs, according to viewership data from Nielsen.
Why it matters: It marks the first time since 2021 that ratings for the big game, which is always the most-watched television show of the year, have dropped.
