Measure H

Costco has moved ahead of H-E-B on a customer retail ranking, according to Supermarket News. The shift means the warehouse club now sits above the Texas-based grocer on a list measuring how customers rate retailers, a notable change given H-E-B's strong reputation for customer loyalty in its home market.

Attention is on the debt-to-assets ratio of Star Sports Medicine Co., Ltd Class H shares, listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under ticker 1609. The measure, which indicates how much of the company's assets are financed by debt, is being tracked as investors assess the sports medicine company's balance sheet strength and financial risk.

A second federal judge has ruled against the Trump administration's $100,000 fee on H-1B skilled-worker visas, blocking its enforcement. The decision follows an earlier court ruling against the same policy, deepening the administration's legal setbacks on immigration measures. Employers and tech companies that rely on foreign workers are watching closely as the cases make their way through the courts.

A SciDev.Net opinion piece argues that early childhood nutrition should be treated as a core indicator of human development, alongside measures like income and education. The authors contend that growth in a child's first years reflects and shapes long-term national progress, and that development indices underweight nutritional status in early life.

German Economy Minister Katherina Reiche said she discussed corruption scandals in Ukraine during talks with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, stressing that Kyiv must show measurable progress on anti-corruption reforms. The meeting comes as Ukraine faces renewed scrutiny over governance issues, with Western partners linking continued support to reform credibility.

Newport Beach voters will consider Measure H in the 2026 election, a ballot measure that would place limits on the city's approved housing element. The housing element is the state-mandated plan outlining how Newport Beach will accommodate its share of regional housing growth, and the measure would constrain what the city has already adopted. The Orange County Register reports the measure is part of the local ballot ahead of the 2026 vote.

A proposed rule would charge employers a $103,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions beginning in 2026. The measure has opened a public comment period, with groups such as the Niskanen Center weighing in. Critics argue the fee would effectively price out most skilled-worker sponsorship and reshape high-skilled immigration, while supporters frame it as a way to prioritize higher-paid roles.