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Washington Business Bank

President Donald Trump announced on Monday he has directed Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to cease penny production, following recent criticism of the coin&#8217;s costly manufacturing process.
What Happened: &#8220;For far too long the United States has minted pennies which literally cost us more than 2 cents,&#8221; Trump posted on social media. &#8220;This is so wasteful! I have instructed my Secretary of the US Treasury to stop producing new pennies. Let&#8217;s rip the waste out of our great nations budget, even if it&#8217;s a penny at a time.&#8221;
<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img decoding="async" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/10012729/Screenshot-2025-02-10-at-11.55.45%E2%80%AFAM-1024x414.png" alt="" class="wp-image-773756" style="width:760px;height:auto" /></figure>
The decision comes after Elon Musk&#8216;s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) highlighted the economic inefficiency of penny production last month. According to DOGE, the U.S. Mint <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43152917/elon-musk-led-doge-targets-us-penny-over-179m-annual-production-cost">spent $179 million in taxpayer funds</a> during the fiscal year 2023 to produce 4.5 billion pennies, with each coin costing 3.07 cents to manufacture – more than triple its face value.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/equities/25/02/43583982/mcdonalds-dishes-first-female-athlete-meal-ahead-of-q4-numbers-and-it-comes-with-a-bold-new-bbq-sauce">McDonald&#8217;s Dishes First Female Athlete Meal Ahead Of Q4 Numbers And It Comes With A Bold New BBQ Sauce</a>
Why It Matters: The penny&#8217;s composition of 97.5% zinc and 2.5% copper plating contributes to its high production costs, with parts and labor accounting for 88% of manufacturing expenses across four U.S. Mint facilities. The coin represents approximately 40% of total coin <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/01/43152917/elon-musk-led-doge-targets-us-penny-over-179m-annual-production-cost">circulation in the United States</a>.
The move aligns with actions taken by other nations, including Canada and the United Kingdom, which have already eliminated their lowest-denomination coins. If implemented, the nickel would become America&#8217;s lowest-value coin in circulation.
This latest development adds momentum to a long-running debate about the penny&#8217;s future. In 2013, the Brookings Institution advocated for discontinuing both penny and nickel production, <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/articles/lets-drop-pennies-and-nickels-too-while-were-at-it/">suggesting</a> broader reform of U.S. coinage.
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43582928/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-as-investors-prepare-for-crucial-cpi-ppi-data-top-analyst-anticipates-a-strong-week-for-crypto">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Investors Prepare For Crucial Inflation Data: Top Analyst Says This Week Comparable To Any &#8216;Crisis&#8217; Period But You Should Be Bullish</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Government

News

Trump Orders Scott Bessent To 'Rip The Waste Out,' Ends Penny Production After Elon Musk's DOGE Report

Hank Azaria, the iconic voice behind some of "The Simpsons" most beloved characters, put artificial intelligence to the test to see if it could accurately replicate his voice—and the results left much to be desired.
What Happened: In an experiment with the New York Times, Azaria recorded samples of his voice, which were then fed into an AI system to generate artificial versions of his signature characters, including Moe Szyslak, the bartender.
The AI-generated voices, however, failed to capture the depth, nuance, and soul of his performances. "It felt like what it was, which was just a vocal version of printed text," Azaria noted after hearing an AI-generated imitation of himself.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583558/kendrick-lamars-super-bowl-halftime-show-teases-diss-track-not-like-us-before-delivering-the-ultimate-mic-drop-momentsamuel-l-jackson-serena-williams-and-sza-join-the-spectacle">Kendrick Lamar&#8217;s Super Bowl Halftime Show Teases Diss Track &#8216;Not Like Us&#8217; Before Delivering The Ultimate Mic Drop Moment—Samuel L. Jackson, Serena Williams, And SZA Join The Spectacle</a>
When tested with Moe the bartender's voice, the AI&#8217;s attempt was even further off the mark. "It doesn't have enough gravel in it," Azaria explained. "And it's missing a lot of sounds that Moe should make."
Azaria also demonstrated how voice acting is more than just vocal delivery—it's a full-body performance. To prove his point, he acted out running dialogue while physically moving, showing how breath control and motion affect the realism of a character's voice.
Subscribe to the&nbsp;<a href="https://bztechtrends.beehiiv.com/subscribe" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter</a>&nbsp;to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<iframe loading="lazy" title="Can A.I. Voice &#039;The Simpsons&#039;? We Found Out. &#x7C; NYT Opinion" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1Hz19kpCse4?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
</figure>
Why It&#8217;s Important: The exploration of AI in voice acting by Azaria comes amid growing interest in AI&#8217;s ability to mimic celebrity voices.
Last year, Meta Platforms Inc. unveiled plans to enable its AI chatbot to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/09/40996713/metas-ai-chatbot-to-mimic-voices-of-celebrities-like-judi-dench-and-john-cena-heres-what-mark-zucker">replicate the voices</a> of celebrities like Judi Dench and John Cena.
However, the use of AI-generated voices has sparked controversy. Technology reviewer Marques Brownlee previously accused a company of using AI to clone his <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/24/10/41383093/marques-brownlee-accuses-scummy-shady-company-of-using-ai-to-copy-his-voice-with-no-repercussions">voice without permission</a>.
Azaria acknowledged that AI is improving, but he remains skeptical that it can ever fully replace human creativity. He also noted that audience preferences will ultimately dictate the future of AI in entertainment.&nbsp;
&#8220;Right now, what AI generates by itself as Moe the bartender or anything else isn't going to cut it. But if it does start to cut it, people are going to listen to it, and they're going to be grateful that it's so readily available,&#8221; the voice actor stated.
Photo Courtesy: Ekaterina_Minaeva on Shutterstock.com
Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/consumer-tech" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link</a>.
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Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Tech

Will The Simpsons Be Voiced By AI One Day? Hank Azaria Checks To See If His Job Is Safe

<ul>
<li>In conjunction with the royalty financing deal with HealthCare Royalty (HCRx) announced on January 30, 2025, GENFIT will request the consent of the holders of 2025 OCEANEs and proposes:
<ul>
<li>&nbsp;to repurchase the 2025 OCEANEs at EUR 32.00 per bond from interested bondholders, or alternatively</li>
<li>to pay a consent fee of EUR 0.60 per bond still outstanding after the upcoming bondholder meeting and cancellation of the repurchased 2025 OCEANEs</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>Both proposals are subject to approval of the royalty financing by the 2025 OCEANEs bondholders at the upcoming bondholders meeting and closing of the royalty financing</li>
</ul>

GNFT

GENFIT Finalizes 2025 OCEANEs Proposal: Repurchase At EUR 32.00 Per Bond, Alternative EUR 0.60 Consent Fee For Remaining Holder

ASE Technology Holding Co., Ltd.&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ASX#NYSE">ASX</a>, IEX:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/3711#IEX">3711</a>, ", ASEH", or the ", Company", ))), announces its unaudited consolidated net revenues for January 2025.
CONSOLIDATED NET REVENUES (UNAUDITED)
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Dec</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sequential</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">YoY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(NT$ Million)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2025</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Revenues</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">49,444</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">52,905</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">47,390</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-6.5&nbsp;%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">+4.3&nbsp;%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Dec</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sequential</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">YoY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(US$ Million)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2025</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Revenues</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1,506</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1,632</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">1,525</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-7.7&nbsp;%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-1.3&nbsp;%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>
Net revenues for ATM assembly, testing and material business are as follows:
ATM NET REVENUES (UNAUDITED)
<figure class="table"> 
<table>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Dec</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sequential</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">YoY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(NT$ Million)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2025</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Revenues</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">28,137</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">29,858</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">24,894</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-5.8&nbsp;%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">+13.0&nbsp;%</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Dec</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Jan</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Sequential</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">YoY</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">(US$ Million)</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2025</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">2024</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Change</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">Net Revenues</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">857</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">921</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">801</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">-6.9&nbsp;%</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1"> &nbsp;</td>
<td colspan="1" rowspan="1">+7.0&nbsp;%</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</figure>

Earnings

ASE Technology Holding Reported January 2025 Revenue Of $1.51B, Down By 1.3% YoY, ATM Revenue Of $857M In January 2025, Up By 7% YoY

<a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&amp;url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kosmosenergy.com%2F&amp;esheet=54202629&amp;newsitemid=20250209720700&amp;lan=en-US&amp;anchor=Kosmos+Energy&amp;index=1&amp;md5=0c87d2ce32e3afeda89b17a3cc6baee7">Kosmos Energy</a> (NYSE/LSE: KOS) today announces that first liquified natural gas (LNG) production has been achieved at the bp-operated Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) LNG project, offshore Mauritania &amp; Senegal.
On December 31, 2024, gas from the first phase of GTA started to flow from wells to the floating production storage and offloading (FPSO) vessel as part of the commissioning process. At the FPSO, gas is being processed to remove any condensate, water and impurities ahead of delivery to the floating LNG vessel for liquefaction.
Gas has now been delivered to the floating LNG vessel and liquefaction has commenced. The liquefaction of gas into LNG is when Kosmos starts to recognize gas entitlement production from the project in its quarterly statements. In addition, bp has given notice to the offtaker (bp gas marketing ltd.) for an LNG carrier to arrive later this quarter to export the first LNG cargo. Lifting of the first LNG cargo is when Kosmos starts to recognize revenue and generate cash flow from the project.
Commenting on first LNG production at GTA, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew G. Inglis said: "First LNG is another major milestone for Kosmos, the GTA partnership and the governments of Mauritania and Senegal. We are looking forward to the accelerated ramp-up of LNG production and the first LNG cargo lifting during the first quarter."

Kosmos Energy Achieves First LNG Production at Greater Tortue Ahmeyim, Eyes Cash Flow Growth

Nokia announces a leadership transition – Justin Hotard appointed as successor to Pekka Lundmar

Management

Nokia Announces CEO Transition: Justin Hotard To Succeed Pekka Lundmark As CEO Effective April 1, 2025

WKEY

WISeKey Introduces New WISeID Features, Ensuring Privacy And Security In An Increasingly Centralized Internet

<ul>
<li>The shipment demonstrates steady progress of the Faraday (FX) strategy.</li>
<li>FF plans to unveil further updates on the FX 6 series and the latest FX strategy in March.</li>
</ul>

FFIE

Faraday Future Ships First FX 6 Prototype Mules To U.S., Advancing Product Development And Testing Phase

MATW

Reported Friday, Matthews International Rejects ISS Endorsement Of Barington's Nominees, Highlights Strategic Actions Driving Shareholder Value

ONCY

Reported Friday, Oncolytics Biotech CEO And Co-Founder Matt Coffey To Step Down; Wayne Pisano To Continue As Interim CEO During Successor Search

Mr Charles Yan, Chief Financial Officer of ICG, said: "The AE BOX enables us to introduce the promising world of ALEO's zero-knowledge proofing technology to our users. The world of crypto rapidly evolves, and the launch of the AE BOX aims to place our users at the forefront of such developments. Leveraging ALEO's groundbreaking technology, the AE BOX empowers our users to achieve new levels of efficiency and privacy in their mining operations while providing a safe and secure platform to scale their crypto efforts."

Reported Saturday, Intchains Group's Goldshell Introduces AE BOX: A Cutting-Edge ALEO Miner Prioritizing Security and Decentralization

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/real-estate/24/11/41804177/inside-a-88m-florida-mansion-with-a-secret-tunnel-to-the-beach-is-this-the-most-exclusive-estate-on">Florida</a> Gov. Ron DeSantis last week proposed a $115.6 billion budget for the next fiscal year, focusing on maintaining the state's strong economic performance.&nbsp;
In a statement from his office, DeSantis highlighted Florida's healthy revenue and low unemployment as signs of success under his administration, and his budget aims to keep that momentum going.
A major highlight is the proposed $2.2 billion in tax cuts, including a two-year suspension of the business rent tax, which could ease the financial strain on businesses, especially small ones. Another key piece is a "Second Amendment" tax break on firearms and ammunition sales.
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<li>They call it the &#8216;Biggest Disruption To IP Since Disney&#8217; and their funding window is closing. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/elf-labs-1">Less than 2 days for investors to claim shares at just $2/share with $980 minimum.</a></li>
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The budget also allocates significant funding for public sector employees, with a $118 million raise proposed for 4,700 state law enforcement officers and more than 700 firefighters. Teachers are also a priority, with $246.7 million aimed at increasing their salaries.
The proposal also raises per-student funding by $222, bringing the total to $9,205. However, as noted by the Florida Education Association, even with these increases, Florida still lags behind many states in teacher pay and education funding.
DeSantis described his budget as focusing on fiscal responsibility, and it cuts $3 billion from the current year's budget.&nbsp;
Trending: ‘Scrolling To UBI' — Deloitte's #1 fastest-growing software company allows users to earn money on their phones. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/mode-mobile-2">You can invest today for just $0.26/share with a $1000 minimum.</a>
According to state financial reports, his goal is to reduce Florida's debt by 50% by 2027-28, while maintaining a reserve of $14.6 billion, or about 12.5% of the total budget. Since he took office, Florida's rainy-day fund has grown from $1.5 billion to nearly $5 billion.
Not everyone is on board with the proposal, though. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell, speaking to The New York Post, argued that Florida is becoming too expensive for many residents, with costs for things like insurance, groceries, and healthcare outpacing wage growth.
A significant portion of the proposed budget goes toward immigration enforcement. According to his office, DeSantis is proposing $505 million for the Division of Emergency Management to assist federal immigration efforts.&nbsp;
See Also: According to Juniper Research, the total value of B2B cross-border payments stored on the blockchain is projected to exceed $4.4 trillion — <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-future-of-enterprise-transactions">Join the first company to bring blockchain payments to Salesforce early with just $100.</a>
The Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would receive $4.4 million to create a special immigration enforcement unit, and $1.7 million is earmarked for a new Office of Secure Florida at the Department of Commerce to enforce E-Verify compliance.
The final budget will be decided by the state legislature during its 60-day session starting March 4. Already, lawmakers have put forward their own immigration-related budget, which includes $515 million for law enforcement, Central Florida Public Media reported.&nbsp;
Besides <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/startups/24/10/41291635/are-trumps-proposed-corporate-tax-cuts-the-key-to-unleashing-a-stock-market-boom-heres-what-history">tax cuts</a> and public sector investments, the governor&#8217;s budget proposal includes several tax breaks, like a $296 million temporary tax holiday for consumers and $170 million in savings for first-time homebuyers. The plan also continues funding for the popular My Safe Florida Homes renovation program.
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<li>Built on the trusted network of Fortune 500 companies, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/web3-enabler-the-most-boring-blockchain-company-partners-with-salesforce">this blockchain company partners with Salesforce to uproot lengthy and expensive B2B transactions, and you can invest with just $100.</a></li>
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Image from Shutterstock

Ron DeSantis Unveils $115.6 Billion Budget With $2.2 Billion in Tax Breaks—But Critics Say It Leaves 'Florida's Families Behind'

<ul>
<li>3E10 vg/eye achieved an 83% reduction in injection burden vs. projected on-label aflibercept 2 mg Q8W, 70% required 0-1 supplemental injection, and 57% were injection-free through 52 weeks</li>
<li>In the recently diagnosed subgroup, which most resembles the Phase 3 4FRONT-1 and 4FRONT-2 patient populations, 87% required 0-1 supplemental injection and 80% were injection-free through 52 weeks</li>
<li>Durable and stable aflibercept expression demonstrated across all 3E10 vg/eye PRISM cohorts, with up to two years of follow-up</li>
<li>4D-150 continues to be well tolerated, with up to three years of follow-up</li>
<li>4FRONT-1 and 4FRONT-2 are on target to initiate in Q1 and Q3 2025, respectively</li>
<li>Company to host webcast on Monday, February 10, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. ET</li>
</ul>

FDMT

Reported Saturday, 4DMT Shares 52-Week Findings From Phase 2b PRISM Wet AMD Study And Long-Term Durability Data Supporting 4D-150 4FRONT Global Registration Program

James Howells, who is pursuing a legal battle to retrieve his $775 million Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) fortune, now wants to buy the landfill site where the stash has been allegedly dumped.
What happened: Howells said the option is "very much on the table," <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj3eg3n11gvo">according </a>to a BBC report on Sunday.&nbsp;
&#8220;I would be potentially interested in purchasing the landfill site,&#8221; he was quoted as saying, a day after reports emerged that Newport City Council was planning to close the site.
Howells sought permission from the authorities to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41308908/man-who-accidentally-threw-hard-drive-containing-8-000-bitcoins-worth-half-a-billion-dolla">excavate the site</a> to recover a discarded hard drive containing 8,000 BTC, but the court denied the plea, citing environmental concerns with excavation.
The Wales-based software engineer was surprised by the decision to close the site soon after arguing against its excavation.
The Newport City Council didn't immediately return Benzinga's request for comment on this matter.
See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/24/12/42735744/pharma-bro-martin-shkreli-predicts-doom-for-michael-saylors-microstrategy-as-stock-dips-below-300-in-after-hours-trading"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43454192/microstrategys-convertible-bonds-a-better-choice-than-spot-bitcoin-for-inclusion-in-sovereign-wealth-fund-says-analyst">Trump-Announced Wealth Fund Should Choose MicroStrategy Bonds Over Bitcoin, Analyst Says</a>
Why It Matters: The unfortunate incident <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/11/42232028/remember-james-howells-who-lost-his-hard-drive-with-8000-bitcoins-now-worth-760m-his-ex-girlfriend-reveals-it-was-she-who-threw-it-away">dates back to 2013</a>, when Howells' ex-girlfriend unintentionally put a hard drive containing 8,000 BTC in the trash.
When he lost the legal bid to excavate the site, Howells even turned toward Donald Trump <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43019699/man-who-accidentally-threw-away-bitcoin-worth-800-million-looks-to-trump-for-help-i-am-appealing-to-him">for help</a>, possibly influenced by the U.S. president's pro-cryptocurrency stance.
The 8,000 Bitcoins would be worth $872.91 million at the all-time high price of $109.114 and $775.84 million at the prevailing market price of $96,980.84.
Read Next:&nbsp;
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/02/43581896/analyst-who-nailed-2021-crypto-collapse-now-says-worst-of-bitcoin-could-come-in-next-few-weeks">Analyst Who Nailed 2021 Crypto Collapse Now Says Worst Of Bitcoin Could Come In Next Few Weeks</a></li>
</ul>

Coverage of Bitcoin, Etherum, Ripple and all the latest digital currencies.

Cryptocurrency

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$BTC

Man Whose $775 Million Bitcoin Fortune Lies Buried In A Landfill Now Wants To Buy The Trash Heap

REGN

Reported Saturday, Regeneron's EYLEA HD 8 mg Shares Phase 3 Results In Retinal Vein Occlusion, Significantly Reducing Injection Frequency

The mission was the fourth mission in a five-launch deal with Kinéis to deploy the French company's entire internet-of-things constellation

RKLB

Reported Saturday, Rocket Lab Launches Another Batch For Kinéis, Advancing Global IoT Coverage

McDonald&#8217;s Corp (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MCD#NYSE">MCD</a>) is set to debut its first-ever meal collaboration with a female athlete on Monday, featuring basketball champion Angel Reese, just as the company prepares to release its <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/general/restaurants/25/02/43567615/mcdonalds-chart-is-smiling-ahead-of-q4-earnings-is-this-the-big-mac-moment">fourth-quarter earnings report</a> on Monday.
What Happened: The Angel Reese Special, which includes a BBQ Bacon Quarter Pounder with new Bold BBQ Sauce, World Famous Fries, and a choice of drink, marks a strategic expansion of McDonald&#8217;s sports-focused marketing initiatives. 
The collaboration was announced by Jennifer Healan, McDonald&#8217;s Vice President of Marketing, Brand, Content &amp; Culture, who emphasized the company&#8217;s commitment to strengthening its connection with basketball fans.
&#8220;McDonald&#8217;s has always been a big part of my life, from grabbing a McChicken Sandwich as a kid to being named a McDonald&#8217;s All-American in 2020,&#8221; Reese stated in the announcement. 
The meal will be available through McDonald&#8217;s mobile app, in restaurants, and drive-thrus at participating U.S. locations.
See Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43582928/bitcoin-ethereum-dogecoin-as-investors-prepare-for-crucial-cpi-ppi-data-top-analyst-anticipates-a-strong-week-for-crypto">Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin Flat As Investors Prepare For Crucial Inflation Data: Top Analyst Says This Week Comparable To Any &#8216;Crisis&#8217; Period But You Should Be Bullish</a>
Why It Matters: The launch represents a significant marketing shift for McDonald&#8217;s, building upon its 40-year history with basketball through the McDonald&#8217;s All-American Games. The timing coincides with the company&#8217;s efforts to maintain momentum in 2025, following a modest year-to-date stock performance of +0.61% as of Friday.
Investors will be watching Monday&#8217;s earnings report closely to assess how such marketing initiatives, alongside other strategic moves, may impact the company&#8217;s financial performance. 
Price Action: McDonald&#8217;s shares closed at $294.30 on Friday, showing a slight decline of 0.02% for the day but maintaining a 1.68% gain over the past year, according to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/pro/">data from Benzinga Pro</a>.
Read Next: 
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43583058/super-bowl-ads-go-all-in-on-ai-stars-and-8m-price-tags-elon-musk-shared-this-advert-with-his-followers">Super Bowl Ads Go All-In on AI, Stars, and $8M Price Tags: Elon Musk Shared This Advert With His Followers</a></li>
</ul>
Image Via Shutterstock 
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Equities

McDonald's Dishes First Female Athlete Meal Ahead Of Q4 Numbers And It Comes With A Bold New BBQ Sauce

T-Mobile Starlink is solving wireless' biggest pain point — mobile dead zones
T-Mobile Starlink is the first and only space-based mobile network in the U.S. that automatically connects to your phone in areas no cellular network reaches
The beta is now open for absolutely everyone — yes, even Verizon and AT&amp;T customers — to register for free access until July

TMUS

Reported Earlier, T-Mobile's Starlink Beta Rolls Out Nationwide, Connecting Users In Remote And Dead Zone Areas

A Cybertruck reportedly crashed into a curb and a light post while Tesla Inc.&#8217;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/TSLA#NASDAQ">TSLA</a>) full self-driving (FSD) driver assistance technology was deployed.
What Happened: The accident was flagged by Jonathan Challinger, a Florida-based software engineer.
&#8220;Soooooo my Tesla Cybertruck crashed into a curb and then a light post on v13.2.4,&#8221; Challinger wrote on social media platform X on Sunday while terming FSD &#8220;the best passive safety in the world.&#8221;
The software engineer alleged that the vehicle did not attempt to slow down or turn off the lane until it hit the curb.
&#8220;Big fail on my part, obviously. Don&#8217;t make the same mistake I did. Pay attention. It can happen. I follow Tesla and FSD pretty closely and haven&#8217;t heard of any accident on V13 at all before this happened. It is easy to get complacent now &#8211; don&#8217;t,&#8221; Challinger said while adding that he only was looking to inform Tesla of the occurrence and has dashcam footage of the accident.
<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"> 
<div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Soooooo my <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/cybertruck?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@cybertruck</a> crashed into a curb and then a light post on v13.2.4. Thank you <a href="https://twitter.com/Tesla?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tesla</a> for engineering the best passive safety in the world. I walked away without a scratch. It failed to merge out of a lane that was ending (there was no one on my left) and made… <a href="https://t.co/vpT4AGz8jZ">pic.twitter.com/vpT4AGz8jZ</a>
&mdash; Jonathan Challinger (@MrChallinger) <a href="https://twitter.com/MrChallinger/status/1888546351572726230?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 9, 2025</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
</figure>
Why It Matters: U.S. auto safety regulator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) flagged concerns about <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/regulations/24/11/41867551/tesla-faces-nhtsa-scrutiny-over-social-media-promotion-of-fsd-technology-that-shows-disengaged-driver-behavior">Tesla&#8217;s projection of FSD</a> on social media platform X in a letter to the EV giant last year.
Tesla's FSD technology is a driver assistance technology that requires active driver supervision. While vehicle owner manuals and YouTube videos clarify that the technology does not make the vehicle autonomous, Tesla's X account has reported or endorsed postings that "exhibit disengaged driver behavior," the auto safety regulator wrote in a letter to Tesla.
"We believe that Tesla&#8217;s postings conflict with its stated messaging that the driver is to maintain continued control over the dynamic driving task. We similarly observe that these postings may encourage viewers to see FSD-Supervised as a Chauffer or &#8220;Robotaxi&#8221; rather than a partial automation / driver assist system that requires persistent attention and intermittent intervention by the driver," the regulator said while requesting the EV giant to revisit its communications.
In October, the NHTSA also opened an investigation into<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/10/41398764/nhtsa-opens-probe-into-2-4m-tesla-vehicles-after-reports-of-4-crashes-with-fsd-involved" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> 2.4 million Tesla vehicles</a> following reports of four crashes in which FSD was engaged.
The regulator then said that it had identified four crash reports in which a Tesla experienced a crash after entering an area of &#8220;reduced roadway visibility&#8221; with FSD engaged.&nbsp;The reduced visibility, the regulator said, was caused by sun glare, fog, or airborne dust.
In one of the crashes, the vehicle struck and killed a pedestrian, the regulator added.
Check out more of Benzinga&#8217;s Future Of Mobility coverage by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/topic/mobility" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">following this link.</a>
Read Next:
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<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/02/43552235/tesla-hikes-model-x-price-by-5000-making-it-more-expensive-than-cybertruck" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Tesla Hikes Model X Price By $5000, Making It More Expensive Than Cybertruck</a></li>
</ul>
Photo courtesy: Tesla

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