While the administration has set forth numerous policy priorities, it will be interesting to see how it allocates resources to pursue them, including in the False Claims Act context. [23]The submission of false claims to the government can also be prosecuted under other statutes, such as 18 U.S.C. [1] False Claims Act Settlements and Judgments Exceed $6.8B in Fiscal Year 2025, U.S. Dep’t of Just. [5] See, e.g., Importers Agree to Pay $6.8M to Resolve False Claims Act Liability Relating to Voluntary Self-Disclosure of Unpaid Customs Duties, Dep’t. [6] Government Contractor to Pay Over $4 Million to Settle False Claims Act Allegations, U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of New Jersey (Sept. 18, 2025), https://www.justice.gov/usao-nj/pr/government-contractor-pay-over-4-million-settle-false-claims-act-allegations.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're a visual learner. NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: See what I mean? NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal? Today's NYT Strands spangram is vertical. NYT Strands spangram answer todayToday's spangram is Visual Aids.

Wendy’s had a drop in same-restaurant sales in the fourth quarter as weakness in its U.S. business persisted. - Justin Sullivan/Getty ImagesWendy’s had a drop in same-restaurant sales in the fourth quarter as weakness in its U.S. business persisted. Same-restaurant sales fell 10.1%, compared with the 8.5% decline that analysts had expected. This drop was mostly driven by the U.S., where same-restaurant sales fell 11.3%, while they were down 2% internationally. Management anticipates U.S. same-restaurant sales will decrease again in the first quarter, with sequential improvement throughout the year.

Sultan Ahmed Bin Sulayem, former Group Chairman and CEO of DP World, speaks during the 2023 Concordia Annual Summit on September 19, 2023 in New York City. Without naming bin Sulayem, Dubai’s Government Media Office (GMO) announced that DP World had appointed a new chairman and group CEO, positions previously held by bin Sulayem. DP World confirmed the new appointments to CNN. The management shuffle comes after international firms began severing links with DP World in the wake of the latest release of the Epstein files. DP World declined to comment on bin Sulayem’s relationship with Epstein when contacted by CNN before his removal.

he Olympic Women’s tournament nears it’s end as the preliminary stage has finished it’s twists and turns. USA vs. Italy: A lovely story with an almost certain tragic endingSeattle Athletes in this game: USA: Hilary Knight, Hannah Bilka, Alex Carpenter, Cayla BarnesItaly was probably not supposed to be here. They’re fiesty, they’re fun, and they can score highlight reel goals like a great power. Because now they face something far scarier than Barbarians at the gates; they face the unbridled might of the USA Hockey Women’s program. Team USA went undefeated in groups, surrendered a single goal in that entire time, and buried the competition in goals.

Wagner will aim to stop its four-game road losing streak when the Seahawks visit StonehillBy The Associated PressWagner Seahawks (8-15, 3-9 NEC) at Stonehill Skyhawks (9-17, 6-7 NEC)South Easton, Massachusetts; Saturday, 2 p.m. ESTBOTTOM LINE: Wagner will aim to break its four-game road slide when the Seahawks play Stonehill. Stonehill allows 68.6 points and has been outscored by 3.3 points per game. Stonehill's average of 7.3 made 3-pointers per game this season is the same per game average that Wagner gives up. Wagner averages 72.1 points per game, 3.5 more than the 68.6 Stonehill allows to opponents. Seahawks: 2-8, averaging 67.3 points, 30.0 rebounds, 11.5 assists, 5.4 steals and 1.4 blocks per game while shooting 43.3% from the field.

US President Donald Trump via Associated PressMany Europeans now see Donald Trump’s US as a threat to the continent, according to a new poll. Between 11 and 31% of respondents said they see the US as a “major” threat to Europe. This rises to between 34 and 61% if including those who said the States was “major or moderate threat” to the continent. Fewer than half in any country (27 to 44%) believe that even if Europe got its act together it could stand up the States. The Trump administration also warned about Europe becoming less white in a new national security plan in December, while expressing wider fears about “civilisation erasure”.

Kathy Ruemmler will leave the Wall Street bank in the summer as newly released documents detail her past contacts with the disgraced financier. Ruemmler’s departure follows the public release of millions of pages of documents by the US Justice Department and Congress related to Jeffrey Epstein. “My responsibility is to put Goldman Sachs’ interests first,” Ruemmler said in a statement cited by CNBC. The documents released this year detail a relationship between Ruemmler and Epstein that included frequent correspondence and the receipt of gifts while she was in private practice, according to media reports. Ruemmler has said she regrets having known Epstein and has expressed sympathy for the victims of his crimes.

The DHS spokeswoman said Noem moved to the house for increased security and pays rent. The DHS spokeswoman said the plane was used for both deportations and cabinet-level travel. Since taking office, the secretary has also closely monitored how her national profile compared with other administration officials. The DHS spokeswoman said FEMA was now faster at getting funds and assistance to states, communities and survivors. A blanket and a badgeWithin DHS, Noem and Lewandowski have cut employees or put them on administrative leave.

Thor Halvorssen, a Venezuelan activist, called Sargeant “the American supervillain in Venezuela’s regime story” who gives priority to his personal profit above all else. But the American’s plans were upended in 2019 when the Trump administration began a pressure campaign to oust Maduro. In early 2024, he took several American oil executives down to Caracas to explore investments. The Trump administration later reinstated Chevron’s licenses. Sargeant’s influence with the Trump administration remains unclear.

13 Purdue after Bennett Stirtz scored 32 points in Iowa's 77-70 loss to the Maryland Terrapins. Purdue is fourth in the Big Ten scoring 82.8 points per game and is shooting 50.3%. Iowa's average of 8.1 made 3-pointers per game this season is just 0.7 fewer made shots on average than the 8.8 per game Purdue gives up. Purdue averages 9.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 3.3 more made shots on average than the 5.9 per game Iowa allows. Boilermakers: 7-3, averaging 77.9 points, 30.5 rebounds, 18.4 assists, 5.5 steals and 1.7 blocks per game while shooting 49.3% from the field.

Other countries are releasing the Epstein files unredacted. (Threads user @bodycoachderek)Other accounts more specifically claimed France released unredacted files. Have other countries released unredacted Epstein files? Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementA straightforward Google search regarding whether France released unredacted Epstein files failed to reveal pertinent results. (Threads user @bodycoachderek)In sum …There is no evidence countries outside the U.S., such as France, released unredacted Epstein files.

Valentine’s meals made easyI should start with full transparency: I’ve never had a romantic partner. I enjoy making food for people, and I care a lot about meals that feel thoughtful, even when they’re simple. You’re cooking something that requires attention and trust in the process, which is kind of the point of Valentine’s dinner in the first place. Courtesy of nytimes.comFor something more explicitly romantic, steak au poivre from NYT Cooking is a classic choice that leans fully into Valentine’s energy. That shared time, more than any recipe, is what makes a Valentine’s dinner meaningful.

This column was triggered by my lifelong affinity for newspapers and the alarming decline in print journalism, as evidenced by the Feb. 4 massive deconstruction of one of the nation’s greatest newspapers, The Washington Post. I was a paper boy as a teenager, delivering The Washington Post in Annapolis. For the last 25 years, I added The Washington Post. The shattering news of the Feb. 4 bloodbath at The Washington Post has cast a pall over the world of newspapers and sound journalism. Gerald Winegrad represented the greater Annapolis area as a Democrat in the Maryland House of Delegates and Senate for 16 years.

Click here for today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles. Read on for clues and today's Connections answers. Read more: Hints and Strategies to Help You Win at Connections Every TimeHints for today's Connections groupsHere are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group. Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: the Most Popular Letters Used in English WordsWhat are today's Connections answers? The purple words in today's ConnectionsThe theme is homophones of ways to get smaller.