Keeping Up With America

Texas man spiked girlfriend’s drink with Plan C to terminate her pregnancy, officials claim: A Texas man was arrested and accused of spiking a romantic partner’s drink with abortion-inducing medication and ending her pregnancy without consent, officials said Wednesday.

Government can’t hold Columbia activist Mahmoud Khalil, federal judge rules: The federal judge presiding over Mahmoud Khalil’s case on Wednesday ruled that the Trump administration, for now, cannot deport or detain the Columbia University activist based on a determination by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

2 men plead not guilty in New York crypto kidnapping and torture case: Two crypto investors pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to charges they kidnapped and tortured an Italian man for his Bitcoin in an upscale Manhattan townhouse.

EPA proposes rollback on rules limiting carbon and air pollution from fossil fuel power plants: The Environmental Protection Agency announced Wednesday that it will seek to revoke a key rule put in place by the Biden administration that set limits on the amount of carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change, emitted from fossil fuel-fired power plants.

Senate Democrats seek answers on Trump’s World Liberty crypto deal ahead of GENIUS Act vote: A war of words is escalating between Senate Democrats and executives at the crypto firm that is partly owned by President Trump’s family, as congressional leaders seek more information about ways in which the first family may be seeking to blend profit with official government action, CBS News has learned.

Around the World

Rioters attack police and torch houses for a second night in Northern Ireland: Hundreds of masked rioters attacked police and set homes and cars on fire in the Northern Irish town of Ballymena on Tuesday, in the second successive night of disorder that followed a protest over an alleged sexual assault in the town.

Argentina’s top court upholds 6-year prison sentence for ex-President Fernández over corruption: Argentina’s highest court upheld a six-year prison sentence for former President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in a ruling Tuesday that permanently banned her from public office over the corruption conviction that found she had directed state contracts to a friend while she was the first lady and president.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Zara owner Inditex flags slowing summer sales as tariff uncertainty weighs

Chime’s IPO will test public market appetite for fintech as companies line up to exit

Mortgage demand rises to the highest level in over a month, after holiday adjustment

Richer, Wiser, Happier

Best gold IRA companies and investing advice to know now: In today’s economy — where inflation and market volatility are the new norm — many retirement savers are looking for ways to protect their nest eggs. And, one time-tested option they have are gold individual retirement accounts (IRAs), which are self-directed retirement accounts that allow you to hold physical gold and other precious metals as tax-advantaged investments. There are multiple benefits to these types of accounts, but one of the main ones is that they can add valuable diversification to your portfolio and serve as a hedge against inflation and stock market downturns.

How to Give Millions of Dollars Tax-Free in 2025 — Before the Window Closes | Jake FitzGerald, Fool. Thanks to a temporary expansion in the gift and estate tax exemption, individuals can give away up to $13.61 million tax-free. For married couples, that jumps to $27.22 million. But this window won’t stay open much longer. If Congress doesn’t act, the limit drops by half at the end of 2025, giving you about seven months to take advantage before the IRS takes a much bigger bite out of your nest egg.

The pros and cons of a $1,000 baby bonus in ‘Trump Accounts,’ according to experts: Republicans’ tax and spending bill includes a new savings account for children that comes with a $1,000 deposit from the federal government. Earnings in “Trump Accounts” grow tax-deferred, and qualified withdrawals are taxed at the long-term capital-gains rate. Experts weigh in on how the measure stacks up against other tax-advantaged savings plans.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

McCutchen moves past Clemente for third on Pirates’ HR list | Deion Sanders looks forward to return after camp absence

‘Blue Bloods’ Spinoff ‘Boston Blue’ Casts ‘Black-ish’ Star Marcus Scribner (EXCLUSIVE) | ‘Amy Schumer on Her Tribeca Doc ‘Room to Move’: ‘We Want To Destigmatize Autism’

Tarek El Moussa cited for battery after Las Vegas altercation | Harvey Weinstein convicted on sex-crimes charge and acquitted on another in retrial

Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

7 Fruits That Are Cheaper To Grow Than Buy—And Taste Better

GONE: The BRAIN FOG you’ve struggled with for years

Why You Should Never Grow Mint in Your Garden—and Which Herbs to Plant Instead

Apples, Tea, and Even Chocolate Can Help You Live Longer, According to Major 10-Year Study of 120,000 People