The European Union fined Apple AAPL 2.39%increase; green up pointing triangle and Meta META 4.74%increase; green up pointing triangle Platforms hundreds of millions of dollars and ordered the companies to comply with the bloc’s tech rules in a move that risks ratcheting up tensions with the Trump administration as officials pursue trade talks.  The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, on Wednesday slapped Apple with a 500 million euro...

U.S. stocks opened higher Wednesday after President Donald Trump signaled a softer stance toward the eye-watering tariffs he had set for China, while also stating he would not make an immediate change in leadership at the Federal Reserve. Investors were also cheered by Elon Musk's imminent return to a more full-time focus on Tesla, dialing back his controversial stint as a Trump White House adviser to one to two days a week. The S&P 500 climbed as much as 3.2% in early-morning trading...

On Tuesday, The Free Press had a major scoop: The State Department is launching its biggest shake-up in decades in an effort spearheaded by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The reorganization, done with the help of Elon Musk and DOGE, looks to eliminate 132 agency offices dedicated to efforts like advancing democracy and combating extremism. It will also lead to the State Department eliminating hundreds of positions intended for career officials. Additionally, top...

The Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen launched a missile targeting northern Israel early Wednesday, according to the Israeli military. The attack is rare for the Houthis, who have been enforcing a military blockade of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden in support of the Palestinian people, tens of thousands of whom have been killed in Israel's war against another Iran-proxy militia, Hamas, in Gaza.

Vice President JD Vance says he did not realize how sick Pope Francis was when he met with the pontiff at the Vatican a day before he died. "I've thought a lot about that. I mean, it's pretty crazy, actually," Vance said. "And, obviously, when I saw him, I didn't know that he had less than 24 hours still on this earth. I think it was a great blessing." Vance was one of the last officials to meet with Francis. The vice president, who is Catholic, held formal talks with...

The beginning of the end.

The final straw.

"He was very cool - and a gentleman."

Back to the old stomping grounds.