A privacy breach at the IRS: Taxpayer data wrongly shared with DHS, court filing says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS has erroneously shared the taxpayer information of thousands of people with the Department of Homeland Security, according to a new court filing. It was part of the agencies’ controversial agreement to share information on immigrants for the purpose of identifying and deporting people illegally in the U.S. A declaration filed Wednesday by IRS Chief Risk and Control Officer Dottie Romo stated that the IRS was only able to verify roughly 47,000 of the 1.28 million names requested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For less than 5% of those individuals, the IRS gave ICE additional address information, potentially violating privacy rules created to protect taxpayer data.

CBO: Federal deficits and debt to worsen over next decade

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Congressional Budget Office projects worsening federal deficits and rising debt over the next decade, driven by increased spending on Social Security, Medicare, and debt service payments. The report factors in major developments in the past year, including the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," higher tariffs, and immigration crackdowns. These changes increase the projected 2026 deficit by about $100 billion. Debt held by the public is expected to rise from 101% of GDP to 120%. The CBO notes that higher tariffs partially offset some increases by raising federal revenue by $3 trillion.

US applications for jobless benefits fall to 227,000 last week, remaining at recent healthy levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week, remaining within the historically healthy range of the past few years. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Feb. 7 fell by 5,000 to 227,000 from the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s basically in line with the 226,000 new applications that analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet had forecast. Filings for unemployment benefits are viewed as representative of U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

McDonald's says focus on value is bringing back customers

McDonald’s focus on value is paying off. The fast food giant said Wednesday that its global same-store sales jumped 5.7% in the October-December period. That's better than the 3.9% analysts polled by FactSet were expecting. McDonald’s fourth quarter revenue and earnings also beat analysts’ expectations. McDonald’s cut prices on some U.S. combo meals in September. The Extra Value Meal promotions came on top of discounts that began earlier in 2025 with the introduction of the McValue menu. McDonald's also drove U.S. traffic in the fourth quarter with limited-time promotions, including its Monopoly game and a Grinch-themed meal.

US stocks edge higher following mixed profit reports from big companies

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks are ticking higher and once again flirting with a record following mixed profit reports from big companies. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% in early trading Thursday and was sitting just below its all-time high set late last month. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 179 points, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.3%. McDonald’s rose after reporting a stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. AppLovin and Cisco Systems fell after their reports. Treasury yields edged lower in the bond market after a report said slightly more workers filed for unemployment benefits last week than forecast.

Hong Kong's CK Hutchison warns of legal action over Panama Canal ports

HONG KONG (AP) — Hong Kong's CK Hutchison say it's escalating its fight over the two Panama Canal ports that it operates. The company has warned Danish logistics and ports group Maersk of possible legal action if it takes over the two ports' operations. The announcement on Thursday comes after Panama's Supreme Court ruled in January that CK Hutchison's concession to run the two ports is unconstitutional. Panamanian authorities then tapped Maersk to temporarily take over the two ports until a new concession is awarded. The saga surrounding the Panama ports is part of a broader rivalry between U.S. and China with the Central American nation caught in between.

WhatsApp says Russia has tried to fully block the messaging app

Russia has attempted to fully block WhatsApp as it tightens control of online communication and pushes people toward a state-backed alternative. On Wednesday, WhatsApp says Russian authorities try to fully cut off access. WhatsApp says the goal is to steer users to the MAX messaging app. Critics describe MAX as a surveillance tool. The Kremlin says Meta can restore access if it follows Russian law. Russia has already blocked major platforms like Facebook since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Regulators also are targeting Telegram, but it still mostly works. Many people use virtual private networks, but Russia blocks many of them too.

Paris wine show reflects surging demand for zero- and low-alcohol drinks

PARIS (AP) — Zero- and low-alcohol drinks are gaining ground as people in France and beyond drink less. At a Paris show for the wine and spirits industries, red, white, rosé and sparkling alcohol-free wines from around Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand rubbed shoulders this week with established producers and distillers of all things alcoholic. Women at the show said having alcohol-free adult drinking options is making their lives easier. In the United States, fewer Americans are reporting that they drink alcohol. In other places, a growing no- and low-alcohol industry has also been chipping away at booze’s hegemony.

One Tech Tip: All you need to know about the iPhone's Lockdown Mode

Apple's Lockdown Mode is gaining attention after it blocked U.S. federal authorities from accessing a reporter's iPhone. The FBI couldn't extract data from Washington Post reporter Hannah Natanson's phone, which was in Lockdown Mode. This feature is designed for individuals at risk of sophisticated cyberattacks. It's available on newer Apple operating systems and limits app and website access to protect against spyware. Users must enable it on each device separately. Experts say passcodes are safer than biometrics, as law enforcement can compel biometric access. Lockdown Mode affects app functionality and connectivity.

After deadly explosion at US Steel mill outside Pittsburgh, maintaining safety now falls to Nippon

CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — Last year, an explosion at U.S. Steel's Clairton Coke Works outside Pittsburgh killed two U.S. Steel workers and injured 11 others, including contractors. Six months later, workers remain rattled and community concerns about air pollution from the plant are heightened. The blast comes on top of a string of other accidents at the Clairton plant over time as well as a long history of legal battles between U.S. Steel and Allegheny County regulators. Some current and former workers at Clairton Coke Works say poor management and underinvestment have exacerbated air pollution and undermined workplace safety at the plant where operators already have little margin for error. That's according to reporting from Pittsburgh’s Public Source and The Associated Press.