At the Russia-Africa Summit in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin promised African leaders tens of thousands of tons of free grain in an attempt to appease the international community and improve Russia's image in the region. The free grain announcement follows criticism of Russia's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict, which has caused a disruption in the global food supply chain. The summit was attended by 21 African leaders, with notable absentees including the leaders of several large African nations.
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The Supreme Court has granted an emergency request from Mountain Valley Pipeline, allowing construction of the 303.5 mile natural gas pipeline to resume. The project, which will transport natural gas from West Virginia to Virginia, has been entangled in numerous legal challenges from environmental groups, but Congress recently stripped courts of authority to review approval of the pipeline. The project is expected to create thousands of jobs and provide an economic boost to the region, and is now expected to be completed by the end of 2021.
Joe Lewis, the British billionaire and owner of the Tottenham Hotspur soccer team, has been indicted in the U.S. on charges of insider trading. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams alleges that Lewis had schemed for years to abuse his access to corporate boardrooms and provided inside information to his inner circle. The SEC is seeking to recover more than $50 million in illegal profits, plus interest and penalties, and Lewis could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted.
UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement on a five-year contract that includes "overwhelmingly lucrative" raises for workers, including a raise of starting pay for part-timers to $21 an hour. The contract, if ratified, would avert a strike and is seen as a major victory for the union. The agreement is now subject to a ratification vote by the union's members.
Mega Millions has reached a new milestone, with the top prize soaring to an estimated $820 million for the next drawing on Tuesday. This is the fifth largest jackpot in the game's history, and no tickets were sold hitting all the winning numbers for the estimated grand prize of $720 million in the latest drawing. Players must pick five numbers from 1 to 70 and one Mega Ball number from 1 to 25, with the odds of winning the jackpot being 1 in 302,575,350. The next drawing will be held on Tuesday night.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is calling for a review of the state's pension fund holdings in Anheuser-Busch InBev, Bud Light's parent company, after a promotion with transgender influencer Dylan Mulvaney sparked a boycott from some conservatives. DeSantis is concerned that the Florida State Board of Administration may have breached legal duties owed to its shareholders and is considering all options to protect the SBA and retirees, including a possible shareholder action. He is also looking to ensure that the pension funds of Florida's hardworking law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders are managed prudently and not used to subsidize an ideological agenda.
The NFL owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Washington Commanders to a group led by Josh Harris and Magic Johnson for a record-breaking $6.05 billion. Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones expressed his excitement for the new ownership group and the potential for the team to reach new heights. The agreement is set to take effect before the 2023 season begins, and the Washington Commanders are expected to enter a new era of success and growth.
Taco Bell has won a major victory in its quest to make “Taco Tuesday” free of trademark restrictions, with Taco John's formally abandoning its decades-old claim to own the phrase in 49 states. Taco Bell's victory means that the phrase “Taco Tuesday” is now free for all to use, a major win for the company and taco lovers everywhere. However, the dispute is still ongoing in New Jersey, where Gregory’s Restaurant & Bar is still fighting Taco Bell over the exclusive right to hold “Taco Tuesday” promotions.