FDA Pilot Program Eases Rules for Nicotine Pouch Makers 
EU Prepares Antitrust Probe Into Meta’s AI Integration on WhatsApp 
Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly Lower Prices for Weight-Loss Drugs Amid U.S. Agreement 
Trump Administration to Secure Equity Stake in Pat Gelsinger’s XLight Startup 
U.S. Backs Bayer in Supreme Court Battle Over Roundup Cancer Lawsuits 
Visa to Move European Headquarters to London’s Canary Wharf 
Japan’s Nikkei Drops as Markets Await Key U.S. Inflation Data 
Canada Loses Measles-Free Status After Nearly 30 Years Amid Declining Vaccination Rates 
Eli Lilly’s Weight-Loss Pill Nears Fast-Track FDA Approval as Profits Surge on Global Demand 
Citi Sets Bullish 2026 Target for STOXX 600 as Fiscal Support and Monetary Easing Boost Outlook 
Hikvision Challenges FCC Rule Tightening Restrictions on Chinese Telecom Equipment 
Oil Prices Rise as Ukraine Targets Russian Energy Infrastructure 
IKEA Launches First New Zealand Store, Marking Expansion Into Its 64th Global Market 
Dollar Holds Steady as Markets Shift Focus to 2026 Rate Cut Expectations 
YouTube Agrees to Follow Australia’s New Under-16 Social Media Ban 
Asian Markets Mixed as Fed Rate Cut Bets Grow and Japan’s Nikkei Leads Gains 
The US Department of Agriculture announced several eight- and nine-figure funding initiatives to advance policy promises, including the Organic Transition Initiative.
The $300 million investment, described as a way to help farmers and producers of organic products build new and better markets and streams of income, aims to increase the number of organic farmers and make it easier for shoppers to get their hands on organic foods.
Since 2008, the number of non-certified organic farmers seeking to convert to organic status has decreased by nearly 71 percent.
According to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, farmers face challenging technical, cultural, and market shifts while transitioning to organic production, and even during the first years after successful organic certification.
The multi-phased, multi-agency initiative would expand USDA's support of organic farmers to help them with every step of their transition as they work to become certified and secure markets for their products.
The USDA also announced $550 million in funding to help "the next, diverse generation of agricultural professionals" — organic or not.
There is also a $121 million investment in critical infrastructure to fight climate change in vulnerable communities in rural America, and $65 million to improve water quality, roads, trails, and fish habitats nationwide.
