Venezuela opens arms to world with Miami-Caracas flight

Apple said Thursday it had its best-ever start to the year when it came to earnings, with iPhone demand and digital service sales helping it beat expectations.

The pioneering Silicon Valley company reported profit of $29.6 billion on revenue of $111.2 billion in the recently ended quarter.

"Today Apple is proud to report our best March quarter ever," chief executive Tim Cook said in an earnings call, noting revenue hit a record high for the three-month period.

Apple shares dipped slightly after the release but rose nearly four percent on optimism expressed on the earnings call.

During the quarter, iPhone sales grew by double digits in just about every country where it does business, and its services unit reached an all-time high, according to Cook.

The earnings come as Apple prepares for a changing of the guard, with Cook to step down as chief executive late this year.

The future of Apple is being entrusted to a company veteran said to combine hardware brilliance with "the soul of an innovator."

John Ternus, 50, will take over as Apple chief executive in September, with Cook becoming executive chairman of the iPhone maker's board of directors.

"This is the most exciting time in my 25-year career at Apple," Ternus said on the earnings call, declining to disclose details of the company's roadmap.

"There are so many opportunities before us, and I couldn't be more optimistic about what's to come."

A big question will be whether Ternus has "the appetite for the kind of bold, occasionally uncomfortable decisions" that defining an Apple AI platform will require, said IDC analyst Francisco Jeronimo.

Legendary Apple co-founder Steve Jobs was known for brutal honesty and unyielding perfectionism that led to culture-changing devices.

Apple celebrates its 50th anniversary this year as artificial intelligence challenges the legendary company to prove it can deliver yet another must-have innovation.

The brand's hit products -- the Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch and iPad -- command a cult-like following, long after the company's humble beginnings on April 1, 1976 in Jobs's garage in Cupertino, California.

One concern haunting investors is that Apple appears to be easing into generative AI while rivals Google, Microsoft and OpenAI race ahead.

A promised upgrade to its Siri digital assistant was delayed in what analysts called a rare stumble for the company.

And rather than relying on its own engineers to overhaul Siri, Apple has turned to Google for AI capability.

But whether built in-house or outsourced, Apple's obsession with user privacy and its premium hardware could position it to drive widespread adoption of personalized AI -- and make it profitable, a goal that has proved elusive for much of the AI industry.

Apple delivered a "standout quarter" even though iPhone revenue came in just shy of expectations, according to Emarketer senior tech analyst Jacob Bourne.

"The question is whether incoming CEO John Ternus can translate this momentum into a credible AI strategy," Bourne said.

"Investors will be watching for clues about how Ternus plans to balance Apple's cautious AI posture with the pressure to define the next consumer device for the AI era."

gc/mlm

(The Center Square) – National teachers unions have spent over $1 billion on political activity and advocacy since 2015, according to a new report by Defending Education.

Both reports, shared with The Center Square, found the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association together directed $669 million in federal political spending and an additional $336 million in state and local spending. 

The total includes member dues, political action committee contributions and Committee on Political Education funds. Teachers’ unions collect COPE and PAC dollars separately from their dues and fees.

Defending Education says the funds were directed to political campaigns, nonprofit advocacy groups, school board races and efforts opposing school choice legislation.

Rhyen Staley, research director at Defending Education, told The Center Square in an exclusive interview that the findings raise concerns about how unions allocate their funds and the impact at the state and local levels. 

“When you tie in money coming from the state and local level and the political game plan of teacher unions, it's just one giant political machine that is trying to take control of everything,” Staley told The Center Square. 

According to the findings, unions and affiliated groups spent approximately $7.2 million opposing school choice initiatives in Kentucky, $4.3 million to repeal similar policies in Nebraska and more than $4.2 million to oppose school choice efforts in Maine.

The report also noted that the unions contributed over $1.3 million to a Los Angeles Unified School District school board race.

Staley said the influence of teachers' unions extends beyond traditional labor concerns, particularly at the local level.  

At the state and local level overall, teachers' unions spent more than $135.8 million, the report found.

“These are proxies for the teachers' union,” Staley added. “These unions are taking lots of money, and they're pouring it into these local groups who are having massive impacts at the local level.”

A majority of public school districts do not reimburse union dues. They are paid by members via payroll deduction from taxpayer-funded salaries.

“If the union is taking their cut regardless if they're a member or not and they're getting that money, especially before a teacher even gets their paycheck, that is taxpayer dollars," Staley said.

Staley added that unions take dues and move them into COPE accounts, which are then funneled into political campaigns.

The report also points to union involvement in broader political and social movements, including activities tied to May Day demonstrations, where some groups promoted student participation in protests related to immigration enforcement. 

Staley said students are being used as “propaganda” for unions to show participation in protests, but “they’re not really engaged.” 

“The teachers' unions are very unique because they are teachers who are directly involved with children, and a lot of this is meant to develop their next generation of political allies,” Staley added. 

The National Education Association, the largest teachers union in the country, has also contributed millions to advocacy organizations, according to the report. Midwest Academy has received more than $1.7 million since 2015.

The Center Square reached out to the NEA and AFT by email and phone for comment, but did not receive a response.

FIFA said Thursday it will review its ticketing strategy for the 2030 World Cup following anger over skyrocketing prices for the 2026 finals in Canada, Mexico and the United States.

Speaking to reporters after the conclusion of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, secretary-general Mattias Grafstrom said high ticket prices for this year's tournament reflected "the reality of the market in North America."

"I will always have understanding for fans and their opinions, but I think there are quite a wide array of ticket prices -- some are cheap, some are more expensive," he said.

"But of course, you know, we listen, we take into the account the comments, and of course, as for every World Cup, we will review and see how we do it for the next one," Grafstrom added.

FIFA has faced searing criticism over soaring ticket prices for this year's World Cup, with fan organization Football Supporters Europe (FSE) branding the pricing structure "extortionate" and a "monumental betrayal" of fans.

FSE last month filed a lawsuit with the European Commission targeting FIFA over "excessive ticket prices" for the tournament.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino insists ticket prices are simply a consequence of the huge demand.

"In the US in particular there is this thing called dynamic pricing, meaning the prices will go up or down", depending on the match in question, Infantino has said.

FIFA's own ticket resale exchange this week showed four tickets on offer for the July 19 World Cup final at MetLife Stadium for an eye-watering $2 million apiece, according to reports.

Other resale platforms commonly show tickets for the World Cup final costing tens of thousands of dollars.

Asked on Thursday if he was concerned that anger over ticket prices would harm the legacy of the 2026 World Cup, Grafstrom pointed out that revenues from the World Cup -- estimated to generate up to $13 billion -- would be pumped back into football.

"I think, you know, the legacy is also what we'll be able to do with the money that it generates," Grafstrom said. 

"This is a true legacy through the (FIFA) Forward program and in order to really develop the game of football in our member associations, and this will have a true impact."

rcw/amz

The Milwaukee Bucks have hired Taylor Jenkins as their new head coach after failing to reach the playoffs for the first time since 2016, the NBA team said Thursday. 

The 41-year-old American served as an assistant coach for the Bucks in the 2018-19 season on coach Mike Budenholzer's staff, and more recently spent six seasons as coach of the Memphis Grizzlies.

Jenkins replaces Doc Rivers, who resigned as head coach of the Bucks earlier this month after three seasons at Milwaukee, the final of which concluded with a 32-50 losing record.

Rivers' Bucks had lost twice in the first round of the playoffs before missing the post-season entirely this year.

It is the first time in nine seasons that Milwaukee have not participated in the playoffs.

"Taylor's attention to detail, toughness and communication skills make it clear that he knows how to cultivate a winning culture," Bucks owners Wes Edens, Jimmy and Dee Haslam, and Jamie Dinan said in a statement.

"We are excited to work together toward our collective goal of sustained success and winning championships."

Milwaukee won the NBA championship as recently as 2021, when Greek-Nigerian star Giannis Antetokounmpo earned a second consecutive Most Valuable Player Award.

The move to hire Jenkins comes as the Bucks are trying to convince Antetokounmpo to remain with the club.

Antetokounmpo struggled with injuries and was linked with a mid-season trade before publicly complaining that the team had not allowed him to play. 

amz/bb

Pop star Britney Spears on Thursday was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, prosecutors outside Los Angeles said Thursday -- but she could avoid jail time with a plea deal.

The criminal complaint does not specify which substance the 44-year-old singer was allegedly using when she was arrested in early March. 

Spears is scheduled to be arraigned on Monday in a courtroom in Ventura County, which borders Los Angeles County.

She is not required to attend the hearing because the charge is a misdemeanor, and can be represented by her attorney, prosecutors said in a statement. 

Spears had phenomenal early music success in the late 1990s with hits like "...Baby One More Time" but has largely stepped back from music in recent years. 

Following her arrest, a representative for the singer described the incident as "completely inexcusable" and said Spears would "take the right steps and comply with the law."

Since then, she checked herself into rehab.

Prosecutors said in their statement that Spears could avoid jail time by agreeing to a plea deal -- a typical move in cases with no prior convictions, no injury, a low blood alcohol level and defendants who voluntarily enter a rehab program.

Such a move would likely result in a guilty plea for reckless driving involving drugs and/or alcohol, which would see her placed on probation for 12 months. She would also have to take a court-ordered driver safety class and pay a fine.

"This offer will be extended to Ms Spears on Monday," prosecutors said.

Following a public breakdown in 2007, Spears was placed under the conservatorship of her father Jamie Spears, who controlled her money and her personal life, even as she continued to perform high-profile concerts.

The conservatorship was dissolved by a Los Angeles court in 2021, after a groundswell of public support to "Free Britney."

In her 2023 memoir "The Woman in Me," Spears insisted she never did hard drugs and that she did not have a drinking problem, but she admitted that she was taking Adderall, the ADHD medication.

rfo/sst/msp

A new documentary series based on hours of previously unreleased recordings made by Diana, the late Princess of Wales, is in the works, producers announced Thursday.

"Diana: The Unheard Truth," set for release in 2027 -- 30 years after her death in a Paris car crash -- promises to tell the story of "the people's princess" in her own words.

Using five hours of conversations between Diana and her close confidante, surgeon Dr. James Colthurst, the tapes formed the basis of Andrew Morton's explosive 1992 book "Diana: Her True Story."

"This revelatory three-part docuseries restores authorship of one of the most scrutinized lives in modern history," said a statement released Thursday by Love Monday TV, the production company behind the venture.

It "will change public perception of Diana forever."

"Through the tapes, we come to know a resilient, perceptive, and relatable young woman, finding herself in the brightest of global spotlights, and navigating the challenges with grace, self-awareness, and determination."

Diana's role in Britain's storied monarchy is unparalleled.

The sumptuous 1981 wedding between Diana and the future King Charles III was a global extravaganza of good will.

But what followed quickly degenerated into a tabloid feeding frenzy as cracks appeared in the fairytale, with husband and wife seemingly seeking solace in the arms of others.

Diana's shocking 1997 death in a Paris tunnel in a car speeding away from paparazzi sparked a public backlash in Britain that rocked the monarchy and the media.

The tapes, say producers, are a reminder that things could have turned out differently.

"We hear her infectious humor and twinkling laughter, as she reveals the truth about life inside the most famous family in the world," the statement said.

"But most importantly we hear her dreams for a future that could have been; a new chapter in which Charles goes off into the sunset with (future queen) Camilla, leaving Diana free to carve her own path."

Charles and Camilla, who married in 2005, are wrapping up a state visit to the United States, a visit that is being seen as a chance for London and Washington to move past a difficult few months.

The documentary series will also incorporate the perspectives of Diana's inner circle, including advisers, close friends, her hairdresser, her bodyguard, and one-time royal press secretary Dickie Arbiter.

pr-hg/ksb

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he was removing tariffs on Scottish whisky in honor of Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla as they wrapped up their state visit.

Trump's announcement as the royal couple ended their four-day trip to the United States represents a major trade concession to key ally Britain even as the Iran war strains transatlantic relations.

Shortly after bidding the British royals goodbye at the White House, Trump posted that he was making the gesture "in Honor of the King and Queen of the United Kingdom."

"The King and Queen got me to do something that nobody else was able to do, without hardly even asking!" Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Scotch whisky from the UK has faced a 10-percent tariff during Trump's second presidency. But the rate was on course to jump later this year when the suspension of an earlier 25-percent tariff -- part of a previous trade truce -- expires.

In his post, Trump said he was "removing the tariffs and restrictions" on whisky but added that it related to Scotland's trade with the bourbon-making state of Kentucky, particularly on wooden barrels.

But US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer later appeared to confirm the announcement applied to the alcoholic drink itself.

"The United States will allow preferential duty access for whiskey produced in the United Kingdom," Greer said in a statement.

He added that move was part of a broader trade deal announced by the United States and Britain in an Oval Office appearance by Trump last year.

Almost from the moment that Trump returned to power last year, Britain has been trying to make the case for whisky to be exempted from tariffs.

During Trump's first term, his tariffs in 2019 against the European Union -- which then included Britain -- also targeted the UK's whisky industry.

The United States remains the primary export market for Scotch whisky, accounting for $1.2 billion per year.

But the royal charm offensive by King Charles appeared to have paid off.

Trump hailed Charles as the "greatest king" as he waved him and Camilla off at the White House.

The visit was officially meant to celebrate transatlantic ties as the United States marks its 250th anniversary of independence from Britain, but much of Charles's time has been spent smoothing over tensions over Iran.

Trump has bitterly criticized British Prime Minister Keir Starmer over his opposition to the US-Israeli war on Iran.

dk-bys/msp

(The Center Square) – The U.S. House has adopted a short-term extension of FISA Section 702, buying lawmakers more time to hammer out reforms to the controversial federal surveillance authority.

Despite opposition in both parties, the bill cleared the lower chamber under suspension of the rules in a 261-111 vote Thursday afternoon, just hours after it passed the Senate.

Ninety-four House Democrats and 26 House Republicans opposed the extension Thursday, citing Fourth Amendment concerns.

On paper, FISA Section 702 allows federal intelligence agencies to conduct warrantless electronic surveillance on foreign nationals of suspicion.

But in practice, the electronic data of American citizens – including emails, text messages, and phone calls – are routinely collected as well.

The major controversy lies in the fact that federal intelligence agents will routinely search through that database without obtaining a warrant, which critics view as a violation of Americans’ Fourth Amendment Rights.

“This body ought to be defending the people of the United States against the power of government being used against us,” U.S. Rep. Chip Toy, R-Texas, who voted against the extension, said. “Under no circumstances should we allow technology to breach the wall that the Fourth Amendment created."

Declassified government documents and oversight reports show that federal intelligence agencies have performed millions of these so-called “backdoor searches” since FISA Section 702 was created, including 57,000 in 2023 alone.

House Republicans are particularly disgruntled because they had originally assumed that the Senate would swallow their three-year FISA Section 702 extension. That bill, which included modest accountability and transparency reforms, passed the House Wednesday night.

But Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., announced the bill was “dead on arrival” in the Senate, due to a last-minute amendment the House added that would prohibit the U.S. Treasury from issuing a central bank digital currency.

Ignoring the lower chamber, the Senate passed a clean 45-day extension instead. Now that the House has approved, FISA Section 702 will expire June 1, absent congressional action.

Thune obtained the necessary votes after granting Sen. Ron Wyden’s, D-Ore., demand that Congress request the declassification of a FISA court opinion that documents the federal government’s abuses of Section 702 powers.

Many lawmakers, however, view the extension as merely kicking the can down a dead-end road, given the amount of time they had already spent on Section 702 negotiations.

“The Senate keeps rejecting the House’s legislation, sticking their noses in the air, and skipping town when it matters,” Rep. Keith Self, R-Texas, fumed to reporters Thursday. “The Senate needs to get a grip and get to work. The American people demand it.”

Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF) is cutting funding for the breakaway LIV Golf league after the 2026 season, a spokesperson from the fund told AFP on Thursday.

The announcement came hours after LIV Golf, founded in 2021 as a rival to the PGA Tour, said it was seeking to secure "long-term financial partners". 

It has reportedly cost PIF over $5 billion so far to operate the series after signing many of the world's top players including Major winners Bryson DeChambeau and Spaniard Jon Rahm.  

Saudi's powerful wealth fund, however, said funding for the project would be axed as PIF looked to pare back a string of projects in the kingdom with the war in the Middle East raising fresh speculation about investment priorities moving forward. 

"PIF has made the decision to fund LIV Golf only for the remainder of the 2026 season," a spokesperson for the fund said in a statement provided to AFP. 

"The substantial investment required by LIV Golf over a longer term is no longer consistent with the current phase of PIF's investment strategy."

LIV had said earlier Thursday it was seeking "long-term financial partners to support its transition from a foundational launch phase to a diversified, multi-partner investment model."

There was also no mention of PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan, who co-founded the dissident league, in the LIV statement which simply mentioned two new board members -- Gene Davis and Jon Zinman.

- Uncertain future -

Rumors had circulated for several weeks that the breakaway tour's Saudi financing would be withdrawn.

A collapse of LIV Golf could jeopardise the careers and earnings of its star players.

The likes of DeChambeau defected from the PGA Tour in acrimonious circumstances and may face severe penalties if they try to return.

Brooks Koepka became the first LIV player to return to the PGA fold when the five-time major winner jumped ship last December. 

The 35-year-old American's return was made possible as the PGA created a Returning Member Program for "elite performers who no longer have contractual limitations preventing them from complying with PGA Tour rules and regulations".

Former British Open champion Brian Harman, speaking at the PGA Tour event in Miami on Thursday, said that if more LIV golfers want to return they, too, should face consequences.

"I think there has to be something," he said, saying it would help ease "bad blood and resentment" especially over the anti-trust lawsuit that 11 LIV golfers filed against the PGA Tour challenging their suspensions.

But Harman noted that it was too soon to say just how many golfers might be abandoning LIV.

"I'm not sure that they're closing shop," he said. "The funding's drying up. They could secure funding from somewhere else and keep going. They have got a lot of big name players over there, guys that move the needle.

"Until it's all done, until you've got guys that are actually calling and trying to come back to the tour, it's not really a problem that we're dealing with currently."

LIV Golf postponed its planned June tournament in New Orleans on Tuesday but said it hoped to reschedule.

LIV's next tournament is set for May 7-10 at Trump National in suburban Washington.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday he would love to see top golfers like Masters champion and PGA Tour loyalist Rory McIlroy playing regularly against the likes of Rahm and DeChambeau.

"Now they'll all be accepted by the tour ... they'll all be back on tour and it'll be great," Trump said, but added: "I'm not sure what's happening with LIV, but they are playing at my course in two weeks, on the Potomac," he noted.

Earlier this month, PIF announced its 2026-2030 strategy would reorganise the fund's investments. 

The announcement came as the kingdom and wider Middle East has been upended by the ongoing war in the region. 

The Gulf was hit hard by Iranian barrages on infrastructure, including airports, energy installations and ports following the US and Israeli attack on Iran in late February. 

But even before the war, Saudi Arabia's economic reforms were coming under pressure, with persistently low oil prices in recent years shrinking government revenues and triggering deficit spending. 

bb/amz

Venezuela's acting president Delcy Rodriguez on Thursday hiked the minimum wage package by 26.3 percent, to $240, in an attempt to quell growing discontent over difficult living conditions.

Addressing thousands of government supporters in Caracas on the eve of International Workers' Day, Rodriguez, who succeeded deposed leftist leader Nicolas Maduro, said it was "the most significant increase in recent years."

She did not give a breakdown of the increase, leaving it unclear who would benefit.

Venezuelans have in recent weeks repeatedly demonstrated for an increase to wages so low that many struggle to survive in the face of annual inflation of over 600 percent.

On April 9, police clashed with thousands of protesters who marched towards the presidential palace in Caracas to demand salary and pension increases.

The increase announced Monday by Rodriguez is to the "comprehensive minimum income," a package composed of a very low wage ($0.30 a month) -- roughly 330 times lower than the UN poverty line of $3 a day -- topped with a food bonus of $40 and an "economic war" bonus of $150 for a total of $190.

Rodriguez also announced a $70 increase to the state pension, which she said represented an increase of 40 percent.

She acknowledged that it was still "not enough" and promised a "special plan for our grandfathers and grandmothers."

The announcements were met with applause and cries of joy from the crowd in Caracas.

But the increases still leave most workers far short of the $677 that a family of five needs to cover its basic food needs, according to Venezuelan analysts.

Rodriguez has insisted on the need for "responsible" wage increases that do not cause inflation to further spiral.

Yeisi Romero, a 44-year-old local government worker attending the rally, said the increases fell short of his expectations but that "things are getting better."

pgf/cb/jgc