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New report warns NATO’s data vulnerabilities could cost lives without US fix

4 Mins Read

A new report warns that NATO is unprepared for modern digital warfare. Without stronger leadership, especially from the U.S., the alliance could face serious security risks.

The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) released a study showing that many NATO members are failing to modernize their military data systems.

Although NATO leaders talk about the importance of secure and shared cloud infrastructure, most countries still store critical military information in local servers that are vulnerable to cyberattacks.

The report calls data the ‘currency of warfare’ and urges NATO to improve how it stores and shares military information.

At the moment, most NATO countries are building separate national cloud systems. France uses Thales, Germany uses Arvato, and Italy is working with Leonardo to develop sovereign defense cloud services, according to the CEPA report Defend in the Cloud: Boost NATO Data Resilience.

The U.S. has its own approach, using Amazon, Google, Microsoft and Oracle to build a sovereign cloud for the Department of Defense, as noted in the same CEPA report.

This fragmented setup is creating major problems. The CEPA report explains that many of these national systems are not interoperable, which makes it difficult for NATO allies to share intelligence or respond rapidly in times of crisis.

Although 22 NATO members have pledged to build shared cloud capabilities, progress has been slow. CEPA describes a gap between what leaders promise and what is actually getting done, and the process remains slow and overly bureaucratic.

Some of the hesitation stems from political tensions. 

Since returning to office, President Donald Trump has reinforced his long-standing position that NATO members must meet their defense spending commitments. 

In early 2025, Trump proposed raising the target above the current 2% benchmark and stated publicly that the U.S. would only defend NATO allies who meet what he considers their ‘fair share’ of the burden.

At the same time, Trump has taken credit for strengthening the alliance by pushing European governments to boost their defense budgets. 

In March, he pointed to what he called ‘hundreds of billions of dollars’ in new allied defense spending as proof that his pressure was effective. His administration continues to engage in high-level NATO meetings and has publicly affirmed support for the alliance’s core mission.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has worked to reassure European partners. During an April meeting with NATO foreign ministers in Brussels, he stated that the U.S. is ‘as active in NATO as it has ever been,’ pushing back on claims that the administration is disengaging.

According to statements published by the State Department and reported by Reuters, Rubio emphasized that Trump is not opposed to NATO itself, but to an alliance that is under-prepared or underfunded.

Rubio is also playing a central role in U.S. efforts to broker peace in Ukraine. In early 2025, he led direct talks with Russian officials in Saudi Arabia and presented Trump’s terms for a possible ceasefire, according to official State Department readouts and contemporaneous reporting by Reuters and other outlets.

Rubio has emphasized that Ukraine and European allies will remain closely involved in the process. After a pause in U.S. aid earlier this year, he announced that military support would resume once Kyiv signaled agreement with the proposed framework for peace.

Meanwhile, NATO continues to provide assistance to Ukraine through a trust fund valued at nearly $1 billion. This figure is based on NATO’s own reporting on its Comprehensive Assistance Package, as cited in CEPA’s April report.

The alliance is also coordinating training and equipment donations, but the CEPA report makes it clear that efforts are being slowed by a lack of secure data sharing.

The report points to Estonia as a model for digital resilience. Estonia backs up its government data in Luxembourg through a ‘data embassy’ system, ensuring it remains protected even if local systems are attacked. NATO, according to CEPA, should encourage similar strategies across the alliance.

According to CEPA, the U.S. is best positioned to lead the way, with Trump and Rubio already taking the necessary steps to push NATO in the right direction.

The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

CEPA’s report can be reviewed here.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Shell Q1 profit falls 28% but tops analyst expectations

4 Mins Read

Shell PLC disclosed on Friday that its net profit for the first quarter experienced a substantial 28% year-over-year decrease, settling at $5.58 billion. 

Despite this considerable decline, the reported profit figure surpassed the anticipations of financial analysts, indicating a stronger-than-expected underlying performance, according to a Reuters report. 

Share repurchase program to continue

The energy giant also announced its decision to maintain the current rate of its share repurchase program, signaling confidence in its financial standing and future prospects.

The optimism comes even in the face of a challenging market environment characterised by declining crude oil prices and diminished profitability in refining operations compared to the previous year. 

This strategic move to continue rewarding shareholders through buybacks underscores Shell’s commitment to delivering value amidst volatile market conditions.

Shell announced a continuation of its shareholder return program, stating its intention to repurchase $3.5 billion of its own shares over the subsequent three-month period. 

This buyback represents the fourteenth consecutive quarter in which the energy giant has committed to returning at least $3 billion to its shareholders through share repurchases. 

The ongoing buyback program reduces the total number of outstanding shares, which can lead to an increase in earnings per share and potentially boost the company’s stock price. 

Investors often view such programs favorably as a sign of financial strength and disciplined capital management.

Source: Reuters

Buyback program differs from rival BP

Shell’s continued share buyback program presents a notable divergence from its competitor BP, which has significantly reduced its own buyback initiatives in the current year. 

BP’s decision to curtail buybacks stems from a strategic imperative to strengthen its balance sheet. 

In contrast, Shell maintains a more robust financial position, evidenced by its lower gearing ratio of 18.7% compared to BP’s higher ratio of 25.7%. 

Gearing, a key financial metric, represents the proportion of a company’s financing that comes from debt relative to equity. 

Shell’s lower gearing suggests a lesser reliance on debt financing and a stronger equity base, potentially affording it greater flexibility in pursuing shareholder returns through buybacks while maintaining financial stability. 

Shell’s adjusted earnings, which the company defines as net profit, were $5.58 billion in the first quarter.

This figure exceeded the average analyst forecast of $4.96 billion from a company-provided poll but fell short of the $7.73 billion reported in the same period last year.

In a March strategy update, Shell announced plans to increase shareholder returns through higher liquefied natural gas sales, primarily via share repurchases. 

The company also stated it would reduce investments through 2028 and consider selling or shutting down certain chemicals operations.

Shell confirmed on Friday its previously announced decreased annual investment budget for the current year, which is set at $20-$22 billion.

Refining margin falls

The indicative refining margin was $6.2 per barrel.

This represents a decrease from $12 per barrel in the previous year but an increase from $5.5 per barrel at the close of the prior year.

During the first quarter of the year (January-March), the average global benchmark price for Brent crude oil was approximately $75 per barrel. 

This is a decrease from the corresponding period last year, when the average price was about $87 a barrel.

Oil prices were pressured by lower demand and concerns over a significant oversupply this year. 

The ongoing trade tensions between the US and China have also cast a shadow over fuel demand from the Asian giant, the biggest importer of crude oil. 

Despite the negative impact of expiring hedging contracts, Shell reported its gas trading performance was consistent with the prior quarter. 

This contrasts with BP, which cited a poor gas trading outcome as a factor that negatively affected its first-quarter earnings.

The post Shell Q1 profit falls 28% but tops analyst expectations appeared first on Invezz

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In World news

Top 5 Manganese Reserves by Country

5 Mins Read

Manganese, a key ingredient for the steel market, is also seeing growth in demand from the electric vehicle battery sector, particularly when it comes to high-purity manganese chemical products.

Manganese investors are often interested to hear which countries produce the most of the metal. After all, if a nation is producing a lot of manganese, many companies are likely operating there, and investment opportunities may thus be available.

However, what investors sometimes fail to consider is manganese reserves, or how much economically mineable manganese a country holds, and which companies are working to bring those reserves into production.

Here’s an overview of the five countries with the highest manganese reserves. Data for this list of manganese reserves by country comes from the US Geological Survey’s 2025 report on manganese.

1. South Africa

Manganese reserves: 560 million metric tons

At 560 million metric tons, South Africa holds the highest manganese reserves in the world by a long shot. The nation is also the world’s top producer of the metal, with 2024 output of 7.4 million metric tons.

South32 (ASX:S32,LSE:S32,OTC Pink:SHTLF) is a major presence in the South African manganese space. Its South Africa Manganese operation is located in the manganese-rich Kalahari Basin and consists of the open-pit Mamatwan mine, the underground Wessels mine and the Metalloys manganese alloy smelter.

Another ASX-listed manganese miner, Jupiter Mines (ASX:JMS,OTC Pink:JMXXF) is also operating in the area at its Tshipi Borwa mine, considered the largest manganese mine in country and one of the largest in the world.

2. China

Manganese reserves: 280 million metric tons

The country with the next highest manganese reserves is China at 280 million metric tons of manganese. The Asian nation is also the sixth largest producer of manganese ore, the largest producer of refined manganese and the largest consumer of the metal. Unsurprisingly, China’s economy and government regulations have an outsized impact on the global manganese market.

There have been several significant manganese discoveries in China over the last decade. In late 2023, new manganese deposits were discovered in the southeast province of Jiangxi during government-led exploration work, and manganese deposits were discovered in the southwest province of Guizhou in 2017. More recently, in March 2025, Chinese government geologists confirmed an inferred resource estimate of 6.07 million tons of manganese ore in the Maowanli manganese project in the Sichuan province.

Looking further down the value added chain, Australian miner Firebird Metals (ASX:FRB,OTC Pink:FRBMF) has partnered with a subsidiary of China National Chemical Engineering Co. (SHA:601117) to build a high-purity manganese sulphate plant in China, which has entered pilot production. Firebird has an ore supply agreement in place with Eramet (EPA:ERA) for manganese ore to feed the plant, and it could potentially be supplied by Firebird’s Oakover manganese project in Australia in the future.

3. Brazil

Manganese reserves: 270 million metric tons

Brazil hosts a total of 270 million metric tons of manganese reserves as of 2024. The country produced 590,000 metric tons of the metal in 2024, making it the seventh-largest manganese-producing country.

Buritirama Mining, a subsidiary of Grupo Buritipar, is Brazil’s leading producer of the metal. The company invested US$200 million in 2023 to expand operations at its Para state mine.

Major miner Vale (NYSE:VALE), previously the largest manganese miner in the country, offloaded its Brazilian manganese and iron ore assets to J&F Investimentos in 2022. Going forward, J&F has said it plans to invest more than US$1 billion in increasing the iron ore and manganese output from the mines it purchased from Vale.

4. Australia

Manganese reserves: 110 million metric tons

At 110 million metric tons, Australia holds the fourth highest manganese reserves in the world. The nation is also the world’s third largest producer of the metal. In 2024, Australia’s manganese output came in at 2.8 million metric tons.

Australia’s largest manganese ore producer is Groote Eylandt, a 60/40 joint venture between South32 and Anglo American (LSE:AAL,OTCQX:AAUKF), in the nation’s Northern Territory. In mid-March 2024, operations at Groote Eylandt were negatively impacted by Tropical Cyclone Meghan — the second strongest cyclone to hit the area in the past two decades.

The storm damaged critical infrastructure at the site, including a haulage bridge between the mine and processing facilities, as well as the wharf from which manganese ore is shipped. South32 is currently conducting engineering studies to determine a schedule and capital costs to make the repairs needed to restore operations at Groote Eylandt.

As of mid-April 2025, South32 had completed construction at the wharf and expected to start export sales again in May.

5. Gabon

Manganese reserves: 61 million metric tons

Gabon hosts the fifth largest manganese reserves in the world at 61 million metric tons; however, the Central African nation is the second largest producer of the metal with an output of 4.6 million metric tons in 2024.

Gabon is also the largest source of US manganese imports at 63 percent in 2024 compared to 23 percent from South Africa.

Eramet’s Moanda mine is a centerstone of the country’s manganese mining sector and it is based on one of the world’s richest manganese deposits. Eramet is the world’s second largest miner of high-grade manganese ore and operates the mine through its subsidiary COMILOG. In response to an oversupplied market, Eramet temporarily paused production at Moanda in the fourth quarter of 2024, but it has since recommenced.

Securities Disclosure: I, Melissa Pistilli, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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In Business

Tesla denies report that the EV maker is looking to replace Elon Musk

2 Mins Read

Shares of Tesla were flat in premarket trading Thursday after the EV maker denied a Wall Street Journal report that its board was searching for a replacement for chief executive Elon Musk.

The report, citing comments from sources familiar with the discussions, said that Tesla’s board members reached out to several executive search firms to work on a formal process for finding the company’s next CEO. Shares of Tesla fell as much as 3% in overnight trading on trading platform Robinhood following the news, before paring losses.

Tesla chair Robyn Denholm wrote on the social media platform X that the report was “absolutely false.”

“Earlier today, there was a media report erroneously claiming that the Tesla Board had contacted recruitment firms to initiate a CEO search at the company,” she wrote.

Elon Musk during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday.Evan Vucci / AP

“This is absolutely false (and this was communicated to the media before the report was published). The CEO of Tesla is Elon Musk and the Board is highly confident in his ability to continue executing on the exciting growth plan ahead.”It comes after a sharp drop in the electric vehicle giant’s sales and profits, with its top and bottom lines missing estimates in the first quarter. Musk has admitted that his involvement with the Trump administration could be hurting the automaker’s stock price.

The mega-billionaire said on a Tesla earnings call last week that he plans to spend just a “day or two per week” running the so-called Department of Government Efficiency beginning in May.Tesla’s total revenue slipped 9% year-on-year to hit $19.34 billion in the January-March quarter. This falls short of the $21.11 billion forecast by analysts, LSEG data shows.

Revenue from its automotive segment declined 20% year-on-year to $14 billion, as the company needed to update lines at its four vehicle factories to start making a refreshed version of its popular Model Y SUV. Tesla also attributed the decline to lower average selling prices and sales incentives as a drag on revenue and profit.

Its net income plunged 71% to $409 million, or 12 cents a share, from $1.39 billion or 41 cents a year ago.

Since the start of the year, its shares have plunged over 30%.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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In Politics

DOJ sues four blue states over ‘unconstitutional’ climate laws threatening US energy security

2 Mins Read

The Justice Department (DOJ) has filed lawsuits against four Democrat-led states: Hawaii, Michigan, New York and Vermont, over what it calls unconstitutional climate policies that threaten U.S. energy independence and national security.

The move follows President Donald Trump’s Executive Order 14260, Protecting American Energy from State Overreach, directing federal action against state laws that burden domestic energy development.

‘These burdensome and ideologically motivated laws and lawsuits threaten American energy independence and our country’s economic and national security,’ said Attorney General Pam Bondi.

‘The Department of Justice is working to ‘Unleash American Energy’ by stopping these illegitimate impediments to the production of affordable, reliable energy that Americans deserve.’

The DOJ filed complaints Tuesday against New York and Vermont over newly passed ‘climate superfund’ laws, which would impose strict liability on fossil fuel companies for alleged contributions to climate change.

New York’s law alone seeks $75 billion in damages from energy firms. According to the DOJ, these laws are preempted by the federal Clean Air Act, violate the Constitution, and infringe on federal foreign affairs powers.

‘These state laws assess penalties on businesses for global activities that Congress has not authorized states to regulate,’ the DOJ argued in its filings.

Separate lawsuits were filed Monday against Hawaii and Michigan to block those states from suing fossil fuel companies in state court over past climate harms. The DOJ argues that those states’ litigation would place unconstitutional burdens on energy producers.

‘When states seek to regulate energy beyond their constitutional or statutory authority, they harm the country’s ability to produce energy and they aid our adversaries,’ said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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In Stocks

Europe markets open: FTSE 100 poised higher; focus on UK amid European closures

3 Mins Read

London’s FTSE 100 index is expected to open higher on Thursday, looking to extend an impressive winning streak, while most other major European stock exchanges remain closed for the May 1 public holiday.

Trading activity across the region will consequently be subdued, placing the UK market firmly in the spotlight.

Despite the closure of markets in Germany, France, and Italy, early indications point to a positive start for the UK benchmark.

The FTSE 100 finished Wednesday’s session with a 0.37% gain, marking its thirteenth consecutive positive closing day – the longest such run for the index since a period spanning late 2016 into early 2017.

This resilience comes even as broader European markets navigate mixed economic signals and ongoing corporate earnings reports.

Europe’s regional Stoxx 600 index managed to end Wednesday in positive territory, absorbing the impact of news that the US economy unexpectedly contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter.

Navigating economic crosscurrents and tariff fog

Sentiment in the region received some support from better-than-expected domestic data earlier in the week, showing the Eurozone economy grew by 0.4% in the first quarter, surpassing forecasts and providing a welcome contrast to the US GDP figures.

However, the broader picture for European stocks in the recently concluded month of April was less rosy.

Lingering concerns over the impact of US tariff policies weighed on sentiment, causing the Stoxx 600 to lose 1.2% over the month, although this was an improvement from a steeper 4.2% decline witnessed in March.

Earnings season: banks shine, caution prevails

The ongoing first-quarter earnings season has been a key focus for investors this week, offering insights into corporate health amidst the uncertain environment.

A distinct theme has emerged: while many companies across various sectors have flagged significant uncertainty and potential price pressures linked to US tariffs in their outlooks, several major banks, including UBS, Deutsche Bank, and Barclays, reported results that beat analyst expectations, particularly driven by strong investment banking performance.

Strategist view: defensive positioning favored

This divergence between cautious industrial outlooks and resilient banking performance informs current market strategy.

Max Kettner, chief multi-asset strategist at HSBC, suggested that banks globally still appear relatively well-positioned.

Speaking to CNBC’s ‘Europe Early Edition’ on Thursday, he noted, “…those growth risks that’s we’re facing now that are centered around the US, that should be helping European financials.”

However, Kettner advised a generally defensive posture given the prevailing uncertainties.

“Overall it is still time to play defense, particularly in the US, the likes of small caps, consumer cyclicals are the ones you really want to avoid, go more toward the defensives, your staples, your health-care, your utilities,” he recommended.

Positive lead from US tech earnings

Providing a supportive overnight cue for the London open, US stock futures ticked higher early Thursday.

This followed well-received earnings reports from technology giants Meta Platforms and Microsoft after the US market closed Wednesday, suggesting continued strength in the crucial Big Tech sector despite broader economic concerns.

With most of continental Europe offline for the holiday, trading volumes are expected to be light, potentially leading to more pronounced moves in the active UK market as it digests domestic news and the residual impact of global developments.

The post Europe markets open: FTSE 100 poised higher; focus on UK amid European closures appeared first on Invezz

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In World news

Crypto Market Recap: Grayscale Debuts New Bitcoin Product, Tether Announces US Expansion

6 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (April 30) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$93,992.22 as markets closed for the day, down 1.3 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$93,333.62 and a high of US$94,464.34.

Bitcoin performance, April 30, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Cryptocurrencies have fallen slightly after the US Department of Commerce revealed that US gross domestic product declined by 0.3 percent in Q1, in contrast to economists’ expectations for a 0.4 percent gain.

Wednesday’s reading marks the first decline since Q1 2022. “Multiple indicators are now showing a recession to be the base case expectation in 2025,” according to the Kobeissi Letter.

Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$1,782.75, a 1.9 percent decrease over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,750.28 and reached its daily high as the markets wrapped.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) ended the day valued at US$145.18, down 2.5 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$141.31 and peaked at $145.61.
  • XRP traded at US$2.19, reflecting a 4.3 percent decrease over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.15 and reached its highest point at US$2.20.
  • Sui (SUI) was priced at US$3.41, showing a decreaseof four percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.32 and a high of US$3.46.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.6808, down 3.6 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Wednesday was US$0.6711, with a high of US$0.6862.

Today’s crypto news to know

Grayscale launches Bitcoin Adopters ETF

On Wednesday, Grayscale announced the launch of the Grayscale Bitcoin Adopters ETF on the NYSE Arca under the ticker symbol BCOR. The fund is based on the Indxx Bitcoin Adopters Index.

The launch of this exchange-traded fund (ETF) represents the growing interest in Bitcoin among corporations. According to Rahul Sen Sharma, president and Co-CEO at Indxx, public companies’ Bitcoin holdings increased by 16.1 percent in the year’s first quarter, valued at approximately US$57 billion. Roughly 3 percent of Bitcoin’s total supply is now held by companies globally, indicating a major shift in corporate treasury management.

Tether announces plans for US dollar stablecoin

Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino announced in a CNBC interview on Wednesday afternoon that his company plans to launch a US dollar stablecoin in the US as early as the end of this year or in early 2026.

Tether’s existing USDT stablecoin is the leading US dollar exporter with a market cap of nearly US$150 billion; however, it is overshadowed in the US by Circle’s rival product, USDC.

Ardoino told CNBC that USDT was created for smaller, developing economies, and that its new product will be designed with features that cater specifically to the US market.

SEC postpones decisions on XRP and DOGE ETFs

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended its review period for two proposed spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to XRP and Dogecoin, delaying any decision until mid-June.

The agency cited a need for more time to evaluate the filings, specifically the Bitwise DOGE ETF and the Franklin XRP Fund, and the legal issues they raise.

Under federal securities law, the SEC is allowed up to 90 days from the initial publication to make a decision, and this delay appears to fall within that window. Analysts speculated that the delay was anticipated and aligns with broader expectations that most final rulings will land in the fall.

While DOGE and XRP prices saw little immediate movement, the delay signals the SEC’s continued caution around expanding ETF offerings beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Kraken launches ‘Embed’ service to let banks offer crypto trading

Crypto exchange Kraken is opening a new front in institutional crypto adoption with the launch of “Embed,” a plug-and-play crypto trading service for fintechs, neobanks, and traditional financial institutions.

Announced on Wednesday, the service enables companies to integrate crypto trading directly into their apps and websites using Kraken’s APIs, bypassing the need to build costly infrastructure or secure their own licenses.

Amsterdam-based digital bank Bunq is the first to roll out the new service, debuting ‘Bunq Crypto’ to let European users trade digital assets within its existing app.

According to Kraken’s head of payments, Brett McLain, the goal is to offer access to a wide range of tokens and fast asset listings, which he says sets Kraken apart from other white-label providers like Bitpanda.

Embed customers will pay variable service fees and share a portion of trading revenues with Kraken.

KuCoin pledges US$2 billion to Trust project

KuCoin announced a bold US$2 billion investment into what it’s calling the “Trust Project,” a sweeping initiative to restore user confidence and improve transparency across its platform.

The announcement was made during the TOKEN2049 conference in Dubai, where KuCoin executives laid out a roadmap focused on regulatory alignment, user protection, and responsible innovation.

A major component of the project involves giving the exchange’s native token, KCS, a larger role in governance, risk mitigation, and user reward structures. CEO BC Wong said the investment is aimed at securing the “long-term health” of the digital asset ecosystem by strengthening accountability and neutralizing systemic risks.

The initiative arrives as global regulators intensify their scrutiny of centralized exchanges and demand higher standards for custody, disclosures, and user safeguards.

Nasdaq files to list 21Shares Dogecoin ETF

In a fresh bid to tap into retail enthusiasm for meme coins, the Nasdaq has submitted a formal application with the SEC to list the 21Shares Dogecoin ETF, according to a 19b-4 filing released Tuesday.

The ETF is designed to track Dogecoin’s market performance via the CF DOGE-Dollar Settlement Price Index and will hold the token directly, without using leverage or derivatives.

Coinbase Custody Trust has been named as the fund’s official custodian, offering added legitimacy and security to the proposed vehicle. The filing comes in the wake of 21Shares’ S-1 registration and its partnership with the House of Doge — a corporate arm of the Dogecoin Foundation — to promote the fund.

Although the SEC recently delayed a decision on Bitwise’s similar DOGE ETF, Nasdaq’s move signals sustained momentum behind bringing more meme coin exposure to regulated markets.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

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JetBlue to partner with another U.S. airline in the coming weeks

2 Mins Read

JetBlue Airways is getting ready to announce a partnership with another U.S. airline with a larger network in the coming weeks, the carrier’s president said Tuesday. One possibility: United Airlines.

JetBlue’s leaders have repeatedly said they need a partnership to better compete against larger airlines like Delta Air Lines and United.

JetBlue’s planned acquisition of Spirit Airlines was blocked by the Justice Department last year, while its partnership in the Northeast with American Airlines unraveled after the carriers lost an antitrust lawsuit in 2023.

The New York airline has been in talks with several carriers this year about a partnership. JetBlue’s president, Marty St. George, said on an earnings call on Tuesday that the company expects to make an announcement this quarter. He emphasized that the partner’s bigger network would allow customers to earn and burn loyalty points on JetBlue.

“If you are a customer in the Northeast and you love JetBlue for leisure, but twice a year you have to go to Omaha or Boise, these are places that you can’t earn TrueBlue points on now and when this partnership goes forward, you will be able to,” St. George said.

United Airlines could possibly get a foothold (again) into JetBlue’s home hub of John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York through the partnership. “We don’t engage in industry speculation,” a United Airlines spokeswoman said.

An Alaska Airlines spokeswoman said the carrier doesn’t have plans to partner with JetBlue and is focused on its recent merger with Hawaiian Airlines.

Southwest Airlines declined to comment. A Delta Air Lines spokesman said there was no pending announcement from the carrier about a partnership with another airline.

JetBlue declined to comment further.

American had been in talks to revive a different version of its partnership with JetBlue, but those failed and American said Monday that it sued JetBlue.

“Ultimately, we were unable to agree on a construct that preserved the benefits of the partnership we envisioned, made sense operationally or financially,” American Airlines Vice Chair Steve Johnson said in a letter to employees on Monday.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

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President Trump reveals what he told Zelenskyy during viral meeting at the Vatican

2 Mins Read

President Donald Trump revealed Tuesday evening what he and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed during their viral meeting at the Vatican when both were in attendance for the late Pope Francis’ funeral. 

‘I was telling him that it’s a very good thing if we can produce a deal, that you sign it, because Russia is much bigger and much stronger,’ Trump said Tuesday evening during a town hall hosted by NewsNation, which he participated in by phone.

The pair met face-to-face for the first time since their contentious Oval Office meeting in February, while both attended the papal funeral. Neither White House or Ukrainian officials gave many details on the nature or content of the talk, other than that it was ‘productive’ and ‘symbolic.’

‘We discussed a lot one on one,’ Zelenskyy posted on X following the viral meeting. ‘Hoping for results on everything we covered. Protecting lives of our people. Full and unconditional ceasefire. Reliable and lasting peace that will prevent another war from breaking out. Very symbolic meeting that has potential to become historic, if we achieve joint results.’

Despite few details being released about the meeting, Trump did tell reporters over the weekend that part of the pair’s discussion revolved around the U.S. sending more weapons to Ukraine. 

‘He told me that he needs more weapons, but he’s been saying that for three years,’ Trump said. ‘We’re going to see what happens – I want to see what happens with respect to Russia. Because Russia, I’ve been surprised and disappointed – very disappointed – that they did the bombing of those places after discussions.’ 

While Trump did not divulge any further details about the meeting to reporters, the president did add that he thinks Zelenskyy will be willing to give up Crimea in order to secure a peace deal. Russia’s annexation of the current Ukrainian territory has been a major sticking point amid negotiations between the two warring nations, with Zelenskyy indicating he would not be willing to sign a deal that includes giving up the territory. 

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

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Italy flags risks in $2.75T crypto rally tied to Trump-era stablecoin boom

4 Mins Read

Italy’s central bank has raised concerns about potential financial instability as the global cryptocurrency market cap surged past $2.75 trillion in March 2025, led by Bitcoin’s dominance and fresh political momentum from President Donald Trump.

The warning comes amid a sharp revival in digital asset valuations following Trump’s return to office and his administration’s perceived support for the crypto industry.

Bitcoin alone now makes up more than 60% of the entire market, with prices nearing their all-time high.

The renewed rally has been accompanied by a surge in stablecoin adoption, especially USDT and USDC, which are widely used as trading pairs on crypto exchanges.

Italian regulators fear this stablecoin growth could strain the global financial system, especially during times of market stress.

Trump fuels crypto resurgence with policy and media moves

The current bull run in crypto markets is closely tied to political developments in the United States.

Since re-entering office in January 2025, President Trump has promoted a more accommodative stance on digital assets.

The Trump Media & Technology Group, a company affiliated with the president, announced the upcoming launch of a utility token and integrated digital wallet to support its Truth+ streaming platform.

This announcement followed months of speculation about a Trump-linked token initiative, and coincided with the broader rally in digital assets.

Analysts suggest that the perception of a crypto-friendly administration is helping to attract institutional and retail capital back into the market.

At the same time, Trump’s appointment of pro-crypto regulators and the disbandment of a Department of Justice task force on crypto fraud have raised questions about the level of oversight in the world’s largest economy.

These developments are fuelling optimism among investors, while also drawing criticism from watchdogs and financial regulators globally.

Italy and the EU fear stablecoin spillover effects

Italy’s central bank has highlighted the growing risk that dollar-pegged stablecoins pose to international financial stability.

These digital tokens are largely backed by US.

Treasury securities, and officials warn that any mass redemption or sudden liquidity crisis could create ripple effects across sovereign bond markets.

A recent statement from the Italian authorities noted that stablecoins, while useful for liquidity and payments, represent a “channel of contagion” that could link crypto markets directly to the traditional financial system.

In particular, concerns are growing that the euro could lose relevance if stablecoin use continues to expand in Europe.

Despite the EU introducing the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA), which aims to harmonise digital asset rules across member states, some policymakers feel that the current legal framework lacks the scope to address fast-moving developments in decentralised finance and cross-border token flows.

ECB President Christine Lagarde has previously stressed the need for coordinated global regulation, warning that “fragmented oversight” will not be sufficient to contain the systemic risks posed by digital currencies and private stablecoin issuers.

US regulation under Trump faces criticism

The US regulatory environment is also shifting under Trump’s leadership.

The president’s recent decisions, including removing certain crypto enforcement initiatives and backing a more lenient approach to stablecoins, have sparked controversy within the financial community.

A new legislative effort, the GENIUS Act, is also under review in Congress.

The bill proposes to create a national framework for stablecoin issuance and circulation but has been criticised by some lawmakers and economists for reducing the ability of federal agencies to respond to emerging risks.

Meanwhile, members of the Trump family have expressed public support for a new stablecoin venture.

This move has intensified scrutiny over potential conflicts of interest, as well as concerns over how closely politics and digital assets are becoming intertwined in the United States.

As crypto markets gain traction once again, European regulators are urging global coordination to prevent another potential crisis.

With digital assets now embedded in both political strategies and financial products, the call for robust international oversight is growing louder.

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