Business

The New York Federal Reserve reports a sharp jump in student loan delinquencies at the end of 2025 and student loan balances near $1.7 trillion.

Speakers including Geoff Keighley, Phil Spencer, Hideo Kojima and Todd Howard paid tribute to Vince Zampella during a DICE Summit keynote; attendees were invited to leave written tributes on blank Magic: The Gathering cards to be delivered to his family.

Singapore's 2026 Budget announced a package of AI measures, including a national AI council chaired by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, a 'Champions of AI' programme, and expanded Enterprise Innovation Scheme tax deductions for AI spending capped at S$50,000 per year for 2027–28.

RICS reported moderation in declines for new buyer enquiries, agreed sales and short-term price falls in January, indicating early signs of recovery. Regional performance remains uneven and lettings supply is constrained, with rental prices expected to rise.

Nearly all of the 130,000 jobs added in January were in healthcare or related fields, while employers cut jobs in government, finance and information.

The FDA approved Novocure's Optune Pax for certain locally advanced pancreatic cancers after a Phase 3 trial met its primary endpoint; the company's shares rose in after-hours trading.

Federal law allows consumers to file complaints about abusive debt collection practices with the CFPB, state attorneys general or the FTC, and those complaints address the collector's conduct rather than the underlying debt.

Major broadband and mobile providers have signed a government telecoms consumer charter to give clearer pricing at signup and to make social tariffs easier to access, with Ofcom estimating eligible households could save up to £220 a year.

Several wealth management stocks dropped after Altruist unveiled an AI-powered tax-planning tool, and Wall Street analysts cited in the article — including Morgan Stanley and Deutsche Bank — called the pullback overdone and framed AI as a potential opportunity.

A simple soil test, often done with a home kit, can report pH, nutrient levels, and organic matter percentage, helping explain why plants may not be thriving.

Wood ash can raise soil pH and supply small amounts of nutrients, and its abrasive texture and soluble salts are reported to repel slugs and snails.

Toyota unveiled the 2027 Highlander EV, its first three-row electric SUV for the US and the first Toyota EV assembled in America. All-wheel-drive models with the larger 95.8 kWh battery are estimated to achieve up to 320 miles of range.

Italian authorities reported at least a dozen deaths this week tied to avalanches on ungroomed backcountry slopes, and said Olympic venues and managed ski areas remain monitored and are being kept safe.

Australia's trade minister Don Farrell will meet EU trade and agriculture commissioners in Brussels as both sides aim to conclude long-standing negotiations; beef and other agricultural market access remain key sticking points.

Maxim Naumov opened his Olympic short program with a jumbotron tribute to his parents, who died in a January plane crash in Washington, D.C.; he scored 85.65 and advanced to the men's free skate, which is scheduled for Friday.

Christopher Allen Hawkins was sentenced to 16 years and eight months in federal prison after pleading guilty to transporting a minor for sexual activity; he was also ordered to serve ten years of supervised release and to register as a sex offender.

Lenders, nonprofit credit counselors and debt relief firms offer hardship programs, debt management plans and settlement options that can provide faster relief for borrowers facing urgent debt problems.

Jimmy Donaldson (MrBeast) has acquired the financial app Step, which serves teens and young adults; the app will operate under his company Beast Industries and the purchase price was not disclosed.

Family and neighbors are gathering where a car entered a 99 Ranch Market bakery in Westwood, killing a customer and two employees; investigators are examining whether a medical emergency or a mechanical issue caused the crash.

Starbucks rolled out internationally inspired bakery items, a dark roast and two fruit-flavored matcha drinks as part of CEO Brian Niccol's 'Back to Starbucks' turnaround, and the company reported same-store sales rose 4% in the most recent quarter.

The 2026 Social Security COLA was calculated using mid‑2025 inflation data, and the article reports that gold often rises when the dollar weakens and can act as a diversifying hedge.

Climate campaigners warned EU leaders not to weaken green policies ahead of a summit on reviving the bloc's economy, saying deregulation would not address industry pressures; the European Commission has proposed omnibus deregulation measures while a thinktank found many reform recommendations remain unimplemented.

Millions of Americans are set to receive Social Security payments this week, and the SSA will issue payments on Wednesday, Feb. 11 to recipients with birthdays from the 1st through the 10th.

The article reports that imports of Chinese solar equipment to Africa rose 50% in the first 10 months of 2025 as households and small businesses adopt off-grid systems to avoid unreliable national power supplies.

The Philadelphia Fire Department will visit neighborhoods affected by recent fatal fires this week to distribute and install free smoke alarms, and representatives from the department and the American Red Cross will take part.

Coco Jones sang "Lift Every Voice and Sing" before the 2026 Super Bowl; Jones is a Grammy-winning singer who won Best R&B Performance in 2024.

Ahead of Super Bowl LX, Boston Police said they will increase patrols and announced street closures across Brighton, Kenmore Square, Northeastern, Faneuil Hall and North Station for Sunday night into early Monday morning.

An analysis of Google search data by the blog Coffeeness found hard‑boiled eggs were the most searched healthy Super Bowl snack in over half the states, with pico de gallo, pistachios and cowboy caviar leading searches in other states.

Chipotle will publish a 30-second Instagram Reel during the Super Bowl with a text-to-claim code, and the first 100,000 people who text the code can receive a free entrée.

A Hamas source told the Saudi outlet Asharq Al-Awsat that some hostages in Gaza were kept only meters from IDF soldiers and that living captives were regularly moved between hiding places to avoid detection.