In a win for the Trump administration, Panama's Supreme Court on Thursday canceled a crucial Panama Canal ports contract operated by a firm with ties to China's government.
Axios exclusively reported earlier that the White House expected the ruling Thursday evening to cancel the contract.
Why it matters: Removing Chinese influence in the Western Hemisphere is central to President Trump's strategy to reassert unquestioned U.S. dominance from the Straits of Magellan to Greenland.
The newly sworn in chair of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission signaled Thursday that the agency will write new rules governing prediction markets.
Why it matters: Prediction markets are booming, but legal questions are mounting — the move could bring clarity to how event contracts are used to bet on sports, politics, entertainment and news.
Venezuela's commercial airspace is set to reopen and Americans will soon be able to visit the Latin American country, President Trump announced Thursday.
The big picture: Trump in early January ordered the closure of airspace above and around Venezuela after the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Federal Reserve chair Jerome Powell may want to spend his last few months atop the world's most important central bank focused on trying to hand off a strong economy to his successor.
Reality check: The universe has other plans.
Why it matters: The monetary policy outlook appears drama-free. Barring any shocks, interest rates are likely to remain on hold for the time being as the economy and job market stay steady.
America's retreat from vaccines is likely to reduce venture capital investment in vax startups, and also could cut into the valuations of some private equity-backed clinical research organizations, according to investors in the sector.
Why it matters: Many vaccines save lives and future health-care costs. It's a societal self-own.
Tesla robotaxis are consistently cheaper than Uber, Lyft or Waymo in San Francisco, according to a fresh study of the rapidly evolving market.
Why it matters: The economics of ride-hailing are changing quickly as robotaxis hit the road — and over time, their high utilization and lower labor costs could make them the cheapest option.
With AI presenting a looming entry-level job crisis, and more tools available than ever to make a quick buck on your phone, Gen Z is becoming America's "get rich quick" generation.
Why it matters: The American dream is no longer defined by years of hard work paying off with a home andjobsecurity. It's now about hope for a big break after taking bigger risks.
In a stunning warning for the rapidly-aging U.S., poverty rose for seniors in more than 800 counties over the past five years, according to new Census Bureau estimates.
Why it matters: America's post-pandemic rebound didn't flatten inequality — it rearranged it. The winners clustered in educated metro areas and owned homes outright. The losers are increasingly older, renting, rural — or all three.
