February 2025
March 2025
Dutch Municipalities Face Financial Crisis, Government Hesitates on Aid
Facing a .3 billion euro cut to their fund, Dutch municipalities are projected to run a multi-billion euro deficit in 2026, with the government's coalition showing reluctance to offer aid despite warnings of legal action and unfulfilled policy goals.
Dutch Municipalities Face Financial Crisis, Government Hesitates on Aid
Facing a .3 billion euro cut to their fund, Dutch municipalities are projected to run a multi-billion euro deficit in 2026, with the government's coalition showing reluctance to offer aid despite warnings of legal action and unfulfilled policy goals.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Mixed Q4 Earnings: Strong Results Offset by Reduced Forecasts
As of Thursday morning, 77.9% of S&P 500 companies beat fourth-quarter earnings expectations, exceeding the 10-year average, with 17% year-over-year growth; however, two-thirds lowered first-quarter forecasts by 4%, revealing a more nuanced reality than initially presented.
Mixed Q4 Earnings: Strong Results Offset by Reduced Forecasts
As of Thursday morning, 77.9% of S&P 500 companies beat fourth-quarter earnings expectations, exceeding the 10-year average, with 17% year-over-year growth; however, two-thirds lowered first-quarter forecasts by 4%, revealing a more nuanced reality than initially presented.
Progress
48% Bias Score
Seattle Housing Measure Faces Voter Scrutiny Amidst Prior Funding Failures
Seattle voters will decide on a ballot measure to fund a new Public Development Authority with \$52 million annually (or \$10 million under an alternate plan) to address housing issues, despite previous investments totaling nearly \$4 billion showing limited effect.
Seattle Housing Measure Faces Voter Scrutiny Amidst Prior Funding Failures
Seattle voters will decide on a ballot measure to fund a new Public Development Authority with \$52 million annually (or \$10 million under an alternate plan) to address housing issues, despite previous investments totaling nearly \$4 billion showing limited effect.
Progress
56% Bias Score
Kenya's Safari Industry Transforms: Unique Experiences and Sustainable Tourism
Africa's safari industry is evolving as travelers seek unique, personalized experiences; Northern Kenya offers cultural safaris and conservation-focused tourism in locations like Samburuland and Laikipia; Zambia is gaining popularity due to affordability and accessibility.
Kenya's Safari Industry Transforms: Unique Experiences and Sustainable Tourism
Africa's safari industry is evolving as travelers seek unique, personalized experiences; Northern Kenya offers cultural safaris and conservation-focused tourism in locations like Samburuland and Laikipia; Zambia is gaining popularity due to affordability and accessibility.
Progress
32% Bias Score
Yum Brands Beats Q4 Estimates on Strong International KFC and Taco Bell Sales
Yum Brands' Q4 earnings and revenue surpassed expectations, primarily due to strong international KFC sales and Taco Bell's domestic success, leading to a 7% stock increase; however, KFC's US sales declined while Pizza Hut struggled.
Yum Brands Beats Q4 Estimates on Strong International KFC and Taco Bell Sales
Yum Brands' Q4 earnings and revenue surpassed expectations, primarily due to strong international KFC sales and Taco Bell's domestic success, leading to a 7% stock increase; however, KFC's US sales declined while Pizza Hut struggled.
Progress
44% Bias Score
ESS Tech Sees Surge in Demand for Iron Flow Batteries
ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH) is experiencing a surge in demand for its iron redox flow batteries due to the expanding AI data center sector and grid modernization needs; a Honeywell partnership and Q4 2024 delivery of six large battery modules resulted in projected 2024 revenues of approximately $10 m...
ESS Tech Sees Surge in Demand for Iron Flow Batteries
ESS Tech, Inc. (NYSE: GWH) is experiencing a surge in demand for its iron redox flow batteries due to the expanding AI data center sector and grid modernization needs; a Honeywell partnership and Q4 2024 delivery of six large battery modules resulted in projected 2024 revenues of approximately $10 m...
Progress
44% Bias Score
Murder of Former Samara Mayor and Family Connections to Organized Crime"
Former Samara mayor Viktor Tarkhov and his wife were murdered on February 5, 2025; their granddaughter, Ekaterina Belskaya, is suspected, adding to a family history marked by connections to organized crime and prior assassination attempts against Tarkhov during his career in the oil industry.
Murder of Former Samara Mayor and Family Connections to Organized Crime"
Former Samara mayor Viktor Tarkhov and his wife were murdered on February 5, 2025; their granddaughter, Ekaterina Belskaya, is suspected, adding to a family history marked by connections to organized crime and prior assassination attempts against Tarkhov during his career in the oil industry.
Progress
64% Bias Score
Norway and the Sámi: Reconciliation and Ongoing Challenges
Norway's indigenous Sámi people, traditionally reindeer herders, are experiencing renewed cultural recognition despite past assimilation policies; however, land rights disputes with modern industries persist, impacting their way of life.
Norway and the Sámi: Reconciliation and Ongoing Challenges
Norway's indigenous Sámi people, traditionally reindeer herders, are experiencing renewed cultural recognition despite past assimilation policies; however, land rights disputes with modern industries persist, impacting their way of life.
Progress
20% Bias Score
Winter Storm Freya Causes Hundreds of Flight Cancellations and Delays Across US
Winter Storm Freya is causing major flight disruptions across the US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with 486 cancellations and 1,147 delays as of 8:20 a.m. ET Thursday, due to snow, sleet, and freezing rain, potentially leading to power outages and hazardous conditions.
Winter Storm Freya Causes Hundreds of Flight Cancellations and Delays Across US
Winter Storm Freya is causing major flight disruptions across the US Northeast and Mid-Atlantic, with 486 cancellations and 1,147 delays as of 8:20 a.m. ET Thursday, due to snow, sleet, and freezing rain, potentially leading to power outages and hazardous conditions.
Progress
16% Bias Score
Trump Administration Shifts Focus to Treasury Yields to Lower Interest Rates
The Trump administration aims to keep 10-year Treasury yields low by using fiscal policy instead of pressuring the Federal Reserve, a shift from past tactics; the 10-year Treasury yield is currently at 4.45%, down from 4.8% in mid-January.
Trump Administration Shifts Focus to Treasury Yields to Lower Interest Rates
The Trump administration aims to keep 10-year Treasury yields low by using fiscal policy instead of pressuring the Federal Reserve, a shift from past tactics; the 10-year Treasury yield is currently at 4.45%, down from 4.8% in mid-January.
Progress
40% Bias Score
Roblox Stock Plunges 26% on Lower-Than-Expected Bookings Forecast
Roblox's lower-than-expected 2025 bookings forecast of $5.20-$5.30 billion (below estimates of $5.27 billion) caused a 26% premarket share drop, highlighting industry-wide slowdowns despite Roblox's 20% annual growth and new strategies.
Roblox Stock Plunges 26% on Lower-Than-Expected Bookings Forecast
Roblox's lower-than-expected 2025 bookings forecast of $5.20-$5.30 billion (below estimates of $5.27 billion) caused a 26% premarket share drop, highlighting industry-wide slowdowns despite Roblox's 20% annual growth and new strategies.
Progress
44% Bias Score
California Wildfires Prompt Debate Over Excessive Building Regulations
California Governor Gavin Newsom suspended building regulations to expedite post-wildfire rebuilding, prompting Marc Dunkelman to argue that excessive progressive regulations hinder progress on large projects, leading to higher housing costs and energy limitations.
California Wildfires Prompt Debate Over Excessive Building Regulations
California Governor Gavin Newsom suspended building regulations to expedite post-wildfire rebuilding, prompting Marc Dunkelman to argue that excessive progressive regulations hinder progress on large projects, leading to higher housing costs and energy limitations.
Progress
48% Bias Score