Stories from United States

General Randy George, the Chief of Staff of the Army, has been ordered to step down or retire as of April 2026. This move comes amid leadership changes under Hegseth. The transition marks a significant shift in senior military personnel within the United States. Under the updated regulations, soldiers may submit requests at least 12 months but no more than 24 months before their preferred retirement date. Army officials stated the change is intended to help the service better predict personnel health requirements. General George was described as one of the most distinguished and decorated officers of his generation. His nomination had previously been reviewed and concurred by the department.

Peter Mandelson has been appointed as the US Ambassador despite significant warnings regarding his security clearance. This appointment comes amid broader discussions regarding foreign affairs and civil servant accountability. Christian Turner has been named as the replacement for Ambassador Manlosson to the United States. Turner reportedly took office in February and recently met with British students in Washington. The appointment was reported by the Financial Times. The appointment follows efforts by the South African government to resolve long-standing relationship difficulties with the U.S. The move comes after several international episodes between the two nations. No fatalities were reported in recent related unrest, though stores were burned and Molotov cocktails were thrown during confrontations with militias.

Apple has released a security update to address a vulnerability in the iPhone that allowed the FBI to extract text messages from notification history. The patch closes a loophole that could have compromised user privacy by exposing sensitive data through the notification system. This update is critical for users maintaining high levels of data security. Apple has patched a vulnerability that previously allowed the FBI to extract deleted Signal messages. The fix follows investigative coverage by 404 Media regarding the security flaw.

Cutter Gauthier recorded two goals and an assist to lead the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-4 victory over the Edmonton Oilers in Game 2 of their playoff series. The win allowed the Ducks to withstand a late comeback attempt by the Oilers. This result shifts the momentum in the current postseason matchup. Several Hoarlers players appeared on the ice with various injuries. The Hoarlers, who reached the last two Tin-Lin Cup finals but lost both in overtime, are currently struggling.

Gold futures in New York dropped by 0.93% to reach $4,710 per ounce during Thursday trading. The decline reflects shifting market sentiment regarding precious metals. Investors are monitoring the downward trend closely. Gold prices had previously been at 4,557 dollars, representing a decrease of approximately 59 dollars. The report noted the price movement occurred ahead of the central bank's announcement.

SpaceX is reportedly preparing to present investment plans to investors as it eyes a potential $1.75 trillion stock market listing this summer. The move comes as the company navigates complex technical developments. Analysts are watching for details on the timing of the IPO. Recent filings suggest the company is officially looking to go public at a valuation of $1.75 trillion. This would represent the largest public offering in history. Upon going public, the company is expected to become one of the most valuable companies in the United States. The move would likely lead to the company being fast-tracked into major indices. The event is described as a major development for Elon Musk. Following the offering, the company is expected to be fast-tracked into index funds and pension funds. This development follows discussions regarding OpenAI's potential IPO later this year.

Microsoft has announced its largest-ever investment of 25 billion Australian dollars to expand digital infrastructure and AI capacity within Australia. The move aims to bolster the nation's technological capabilities and support growing AI demands. This significant capital injection marks a major expansion for the tech giant in the Asia-Pacific region. Microsoft intends to invest approximately 190 billion dollars by the end of the year, primarily for the construction of data centers. CFO Amy Hood stated that growing customer demand for cloud services like Microsoft Azure is expected to continue outstripping supply. The company remains confident that these large-scale investments will yield returns. Recent profits reached nearly 32 billion dollars due to rising demand for storage and computing power. The report also noted that sales for the Xbox gaming console are underperforming.

Apple is expected to redesign Siri during the upcoming WWDC to incorporate advanced conversational AI and a new user interface. Apple has announced a $100 billion investment initiative within the United States. The move follows ongoing relations with US authorities and President Donald Trump. The investment is valued at approximately 551 billion Brazilian reais. The announcement follows previous investment trends noted in 2025. The move is part of the company's ongoing financial strategy in the US market. Apple is planning to insert advertisements into its Maps application, according to sources. Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman reported that these ads could begin appearing on iPhones as early as this summer. The development follows recent discussions regarding the integration of advertising within the mobile ecosystem.

US Treasury Secretary Bessent indicated plans to expand dollar liquidity swap lines to include Gulf allies and Asian economies. This move aims to bolster global dollar liquidity and strengthen financial ties with key regional partners. The expansion could impact international trade stability and currency management in these emerging markets. He noted that the United Arab Emirates and other nations have already requested such agreements.

AI startup Anthropic has achieved a $1 trillion valuation on secondary markets, marking a massive milestone for the artificial intelligence sector. This development occurs alongside reports of growth in major cloud computing sectors. Anthropic is considering a new funding round that would value the AI developer at more than $900 billion. The news comes as the AI trade continues to drive U.S. equity index futures. Bloomberg sources are monitoring the potential valuation increase. AI startup Anthropic is reportedly seeking new anchor investors for its cap table. No specific reason for the capital raise was provided by the company. AI developer Anthropic is reportedly in discussions to raise a new 50 billion USD funding round. The company has received multiple pre-emptive offers at a valuation of 900 billion USD.