Business
Grammy Winner, Disney Star and Super Bowl 2026 Performer
Coco Jones, the Grammy-winning R&B singer and actress, continues her meteoric rise in 2026, fresh off a powerful pre-game performance of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” at Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8. The 28-year-old multi-hyphenate, known for her soulful voice, emotive songwriting and commanding screen presence, has transitioned from Disney child star to one of music’s most celebrated breakout artists.

Born Courtney Michaela Ann Jones on Jan. 4, 1998, in Columbia, South Carolina, and raised in Lebanon, Tennessee, Coco drew early inspiration from her family — her mother Javonda Jones, a session vocalist, and father Mike Jones, a former NFL player. She began singing at age 6 and performed “America the Beautiful” at her kindergarten graduation, signaling her destiny in entertainment.
Here are 10 essential facts about Coco Jones as she solidifies her place in R&B and beyond.
- Early Disney Breakthrough Coco rose to fame as a tween on Disney Channel. She appeared on Radio Disney’s “Next Big Thing” in 2010-2011 and starred as Roxanne “Roxie” Andrews in the 2012 Disney Channel Original Movie “Let It Shine” alongside Tyler James Williams and Trevor Jackson. The film showcased her vocal talent in a musical story of young love and hip-hop, earning her a dedicated fanbase. She also guest-starred on shows like “So Random!” and “Good Luck Charlie,” establishing her as a versatile performer early on.
- Grammy-Winning Rise with “ICU” After a period of independent music and acting, Coco signed with High Standardz/Def Jam Recordings in 2022. Her breakthrough came with the EP “What I Didn’t Tell You,” led by the platinum-certified single “ICU.” The emotional ballad peaked at No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B Airplay chart and earned her a Grammy for Best R&B Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards in 2024. She received five nominations that year, including Best New Artist, and swept Best New Artist honors at the BET Awards, Soul Train Awards and NAACP Image Awards.
- Debut Album “Why Not More?” In 2025-2026, Coco released her highly anticipated debut album “Why Not More?,” a collection blending modern R&B with classic influences, introspective lyrics and magnetic melodies. Tracks like “Here We Go (Uh Oh),” “Sweep It Up” and “Most Beautiful Design” (featuring Future) showcase her growth as a songwriter. The album reflects her journey toward empowerment, connection and authenticity, drawing praise for its vulnerability and production quality.
- Starring Role in “Bel-Air” Coco portrayed Hilary Banks in Peacock’s dramatic reimagining of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” from 2022 to 2025. Her nuanced performance as the stylish, ambitious eldest Banks child earned critical acclaim and bridged her Disney roots with mature acting. The role demonstrated her range beyond singing, allowing her to explore complex family dynamics and personal growth in a high-profile series.
- Super Bowl 2026 Pregame Performance On Feb. 8, 2026, Coco delivered a stunning rendition of “Lift Every Voice and Sing” — often called the Black National Anthem — before Super Bowl LX between the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks at Levi’s Stadium. Dressed in a white ensemble with Pan-African flag-inspired accents and a headband evoking Whitney Houston’s 1991 Super Bowl look, she performed with an eight-member orchestra. The soulful delivery honored Houston’s iconic national anthem moment and resonated deeply, drawing widespread acclaim for its power and cultural significance.
- Engagement to NBA Star Donovan Mitchell In July 2025, Coco announced her engagement to Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell Jr. The couple’s relationship, which began in 2023, has been a source of public support and inspiration. Mitchell joined her on the field post-performance at Super Bowl 2026, FaceTiming her mother Javonda for a heartfelt reaction, highlighting their close family ties.
- Height and Athletic Background Standing at 5 feet 10 inches (178 cm), Coco towers over many peers in entertainment. She was a competitive gymnast growing up, noting she was “the tallest gymnast in her city.” The discipline, strength and stage presence from gymnastics translated seamlessly to her performance style, contributing to her commanding presence on stage and screen.
- Advocacy and Role Model Status Coco has spoken openly about protecting young Black women in Hollywood, drawing from her own experiences as a child star. She advocates for mental health, body positivity and representation, using her platform to uplift others. Her journey from Disney to Grammy success serves as inspiration for aspiring artists, particularly Black girls in entertainment.
- Musical Style and Influences Coco’s sound fuses contemporary R&B with soul, pop and gospel roots from her church background. She loves sampling classic R&B, delivering powerful vocals and writing lyrics rooted in personal stories of love, growth and resilience. Her emotive delivery and authenticity have earned comparisons to legends while establishing her unique voice in modern R&B.
- Ongoing Legacy and Future At 28, Coco continues expanding her reach with tours, collaborations and acting opportunities. Her debut album solidifies her as R&B’s rising force, while her Super Bowl moment and engagement mark personal milestones. With a strong foundation in music, acting and advocacy, Coco Jones remains poised for even greater achievements in entertainment.
From Disney beginnings to Grammy glory and Super Bowl spotlight, Coco Jones embodies perseverance, talent and cultural pride, captivating audiences worldwide.
Business
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Business
War Department to partner with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into GenAI.mil platform
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth announced the launch of GenAI.mil, a military-focused AI platform is designed to give personnel direct access to AI tools to help “revolutioniz[e] the way we win.” (Department of War)
EXCLUSIVE – The War Department will partner with OpenAI to integrate the chatbot into GenAI.mil, a tool for military service members.
The move will make OpenAI’s advanced language models “readily available to all 3 million War Department personnel,” the agency said.
“ChatGPT will be made available to enhance mission execution and readiness, delivering reliable capabilities to the joint force,” a War Department news release states.
The agency has committed to becoming an AI-first enterprise, reflected by GenAI.mil, it said.
GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY

GenAI.mil’s rapid growth continues with OpenAI ChatGPT integration. (Nikolas Kokovlis/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
“The platform’s proven reliability, evidenced by its 100% uptime since launch and its robust infrastructure, has established it as the trusted AI platform across the Department,” the agency said.
Its adoption is already “accelerating operational tempo and sharpening the decision superiority of its users,” it said.
War Department personnel are being trained to integrate AI capabilities into their daily workflow, officials said.
In December, the Pentagon announced the launch of GenAI.mil, which is powered by Google Gemini and has surpassed one million unique users in the two months since its deployment.
“The future of American warfare is here, and it’s spelled AI,” War Secretary Pete Hegseth said in a video obtained by FOX Business at the time. “As technologies advance, so do our adversaries. But here at the War Department, we are not sitting idly by.”
The platform puts “the world’s most powerful frontier AI models, starting with Google Gemini, directly into the hands of every American warrior,” he added.

The Pentagon launched a platform powered by Google Gemini called GenAI.mil, giving 3 million military personnel access to advanced AI tools. (Getty Images)
Google CEO Sundar Pichai noted that the company has partnered with government agencies for decades, but emphasized the significance of the new project.
“Through this deployment of Google Cloud’s ‘Gemini for Government’ offering, more than 3 million civilian and military personnel will be able to access the same advanced AI that businesses use every day to drive administrative efficiency and greater business productivity,” said Pichai.
In January, the War Department announced the launch of its Artificial Intelligence Acceleration Strategy, an initiative intended to eliminate legacy bureaucratic blockers, and integrate the leading edge of frontier AI capabilities across every mission area.
The wartime approach is based on the emphasis of three tenets: warfighting, intelligence and enterprise operations.
“Speed defines victory in the AI era, and the War Department will match the velocity of America’s AI industry,” Emil Michael, undersecretary of war for research and engineering, said previously. “We’re pulling in the best talent, the most cutting‑edge technology, and embedding the top frontier AI models into the workforce — all at a rapid wartime pace.”

The Pentagon is launching GenAI.mil – a military-focused AI platform powered by Google Gemini. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
GOOGLE CEO CALLS FOR NATIONAL AI REGULATION TO COMPETE WITH CHINA MORE EFFECTIVELY
The Trump administration has made AI a priority as adversaries such as China continue to develop and experiment with the technology. In December, President Donald Trump announced that he would be reversing a Biden-era restriction on high-end chip exports, permitting Nvidia to export its artificial-intelligence chips to China and other countries.
The H200 chips are high-performance processors made by Nvidia that help run artificial intelligence programs, like chatbots, machine learning and data-center tasks.
FOX Business’ Andrea Margolis and Lorraine Taylor contributed to this report.
Business
Form 144 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC For: 9 February

Form 144 GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC For: 9 February
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Form 144 COREWEAVE For: 9 February

Form 144 COREWEAVE For: 9 February
Business
Cemex Was Helped By FX, But Is Still Positioned For A Demand Upturn
Cemex Was Helped By FX, But Is Still Positioned For A Demand Upturn
Business
UK Tech Firm Takes Ambitious Steps to Capitalise on Opportunities in the Middle East
The School of Coding & AI (SoC) has taken a massive step in its bid to announce itself on the global stage.
The United Kingdom-based artificial intelligence (AI) provider and coding education firm is moving ahead with plans to build a £3 million facility in Dubai. This move is a reflection of the Middle East’s digital ambitions and the international demand for advanced technical skills.
SoC is a respected industry-focused education provider in Britain and will open its first Middle East base in Dubai Media City. Its programmes will prepare people for careers in AI, computer science, and other digital innovation fields.
SoC Forges Ahead with Bold Middle East Plans
Founded in 2017 and headquartered in the Midlands, SoC has grown in stature in the UK, recently opening a Birmingham campus in partnership with the University of Wolverhampton.
That facility has a great blend of traditional academic subjects, such as computer science and business management, with AI-powered learning tools, embedding new technologies in its curriculum.
Expanding into Dubai is a major step for the institution, strategically and geographically. They will upskill 2,000 people through flexible training, giving them a pathway into technical careers and specialised digital industries.
The UK’s Department for Business and Trade is supporting the initiative, providing market insight, trade support and strategic guidance to help the organisation make headway into the UAE’s competitive technology sector.
Chief executive and founder Manny Athwal believes this is an exciting next step in the journey to become a global player in AI and computer science education.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the most aggressive investors in advanced digital infrastructure, having spent over $148 billion on AI development domestically and internationally since 2024.
The country is looking to wean itself off its reliance on hydrocarbons after decades and focus more on digital industries, generating a massive demand for skilled professionals.
Dubai’s reputation as a hub for tech and business has also made it attractive to international training providers. Media City, where the new campus is based, is already home to an ecosystem of media companies, technology firms, start-ups and creative agencies.
The newly regulated UAE iGaming industry will benefit. Operators of the best Arab casinos online require skilled technology staff behind the scenes.
Many of the platforms featured on the https://haz-tayeb.com/en/ comparison platform use AI and other advanced tech for compliance, cybersecurity, customer support and responsible gaming.
AI can be deployed to monitor player behaviour and flag suspicious activities in real time.
The industry needs more data scientists, machine learning engineers, blockchain developers and cybersecurity specialists. Training institutes that can produce professionals with these skill sets will play a key role in the sector’s sustainable expansion.
Tech Opportunities Abound in the Middle East
SoC’s leadership believes the Gulf is a unique environment for developing world-class tech talents. They recently participated in a UK government-led trade mission to the UAE, connecting British education and tech providers with senior stakeholders in Dubai’s economic development and innovation ecosystem.
Athwal also paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, taking part in a parallel education investment initiative that shows the school views the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) as a key long-term growth market.
This calculated foray into Dubai has been in the pipeline for some time. SoC has been expanding gradually. Just last year, it unveiled a £2.5m advanced technology laboratory at its Birmingham campus.
This has facilities for game design, podcast production, in-house research and experimental AI applications, including interactive virtual avatars.
The company also refurbished its Wolverhampton headquarters as it gained national recognition, with Athwal hailed as one of the UK’s most ambitious business leaders.
UK officials view the expansion as an exercise that strengthens the educational and technological ties between Britain and the UAE.
The UK government has turned to international education exports as part of its overarching industrial strategy, pinpointing AI and digital skills as areas ripe for global partnership.
SoC’s Dubai campus reiterates the UK as a destination for top-notch technical education while supporting economic ties. The organisation’s programmes prepare participants with project-focused learning, exposing them to real-world challenges.
Business
SPFF: Chasing The Highest Yields In Preferreds Looks A Bad Idea
SPFF: Chasing The Highest Yields In Preferreds Looks A Bad Idea
Business
9 Costly Mistakes Brands Make
Facebook ads management often sounds easier than it is. Many businesses expect quick wins once ads go live. Pick an audience. Write an ad. Set a budget. Results should follow. After all, Facebook is one of the top three ROI drivers among marketers, according to a 2025 report.
That idea causes trouble fast. Campaigns start strong, then stall. Costs rise. Leads slow down. The problem usually isn’t the platform. It’s how the ads are managed. The mistakes below show up again and again, especially in growing ad accounts.
Treating Facebook Ads as “Set It and Forget It”
Launching a campaign is only the first step. Performance changes once ads hit real users.
Audiences get tired. Competition shifts. Costs move. When campaigns go unchecked, ad spend keeps flowing even after results dip. Small issues turn into bigger ones simply because no one steps in early. Consistent review keeps problems contained before they affect the entire ad account.
Weak Target Audience Definition
Targeting choices shape every part of a campaign. When the audience is off, everything else struggles.
Broad targeting looks safe at first. Reach increases. Clicks follow. Still, the conversion rate stays low. That usually happens when interest-based targeting is used without signals tied to real intent.
Custom Audiences vs. Lookalike Audiences
Custom audiences often perform better because they come from real engagement. Past visitors, email lists, and prior leads already know the brand. Lookalike audiences can scale results, but only when the source audience reflects quality users. Weak source data leads to a weak scale.
Choosing the Wrong Campaign Objectives
Campaign objectives guide how Facebook delivers ads. When the goal is off, delivery follows the wrong path.
Traffic campaigns push clicks. Lead generation campaigns push form fills. Neither guarantees strong outcomes on its own. Many teams choose objectives based on surface-level numbers instead of downstream results. Platform data shows that campaigns optimized for conversions often drive stronger business outcomes, even with fewer clicks.
When this gap shows up, it’s usually because no one is pressure-testing the strategy from end to end. Campaigns are launched, but the structure, goals, and signals don’t line up.
This is often where businesses start looking for outside perspective, especially from teams that focus on fixing setup and performance issues rather than just running ads.
Agencies like Adacted work in this space by helping brands clean up targeting, objectives, and campaign structure before scaling spend.
Focusing on Ad Creative Too Late
Creative problems rarely exist on their own. They usually trace back to planning gaps.
Ads perform better when the creative supports a clear offer from the start. When visuals and copy come last, messaging feels generic. The ad may look fine, but fail to connect with the right audience.
Ad Copy and Visuals That Don’t Match the Offer
Message gaps hurt performance quickly. When ads promise one thing, and the landing page delivers another, users leave. Industry research shows that moving page load time from one second to three seconds raises bounce rates by about 50%. Slow pages paired with mixed messaging make lead generation harder, even with strong targeting.
Ignoring A/B Testing or Doing It Incorrectly
Testing helps teams learn what actually works. Many tests fail because they lack focus.
Facebook supports A/B testing inside Ads Manager. Trouble starts when too many variables change at once. Results become unclear, and decisions turn into guesses.
Common A/B Testing Errors
- Changing multiple variables in one test
- Ending tests before enough data builds
- Judging winners based on clicks alone
Clean tests lead to clean decisions. Poor tests lead to repeated mistakes.
Poor Ad Placement Decisions
Placements influence cost, attention, and intent. Automatic placements can work, but only when reviewed.
Some placements drive views without meaningful action. Others perform better for awareness than lead generation. When placement data goes unchecked, low-value inventory stays active. Manual ad placement often helps when budgets tighten or results vary by device.
Mismanaging the Ad Account Structure
Account structure affects how easily campaigns can scale. Messy accounts slow progress.
Clear campaigns focus on one goal. Each ad set tests one audience or strategy. Mixing multiple goals inside the same campaign blurs performance data and complicates optimization.
Budget Issues at the Ad Set Level
Thin budgets limit delivery. Scaling ad spend too early creates unstable results. Strong ad accounts give winning ad sets room to perform instead of spreading the budget across too many ideas. This is a crucial consideration, considering the fact that Facebook ad costs jump 21% last year.
Sending Traffic to the Wrong Landing Page
Where users land matters as much as the ad itself.
Many campaigns send traffic to a Facebook page or homepage. These destinations rarely support focused actions.Dedicated landing pages convert better because they remove distractions and guide users toward one step.
Industry benchmarks show that the average Facebook ad click-through rate across industries stays at around 1.57%. Each click has a cost, and weak landing pages burn that spend quickly.
Watching the Wrong Performance Metrics
Metrics guide decisions only when they reflect real goals.
Clicks and impressions show activity, not results. Strong Facebook ads management focuses on cost per lead, conversion rate, and lead quality over time. Context matters. A higher cost per lead can still work if close rates improve later.
Fix the Basics Before Scaling
Most Facebook ad problems don’t come from the platform itself. They come from a rushed setup and uneven follow-through. Businesses that treat Facebook ads management as an ongoing process see steadier performance, clearer data, and fewer surprises as campaigns grow.
Business
Unum Group at UBS Conference: Strategic Growth and Challenges

Unum Group at UBS Conference: Strategic Growth and Challenges
Business
Building a Career Through Systems, Art, and Self-Direction
Careers do not always follow a straight line. For Gabriel Bond Kunu, progress came from learning to build systems that leveraged his strengths rather than working against them. Over time, that approach shaped a stable professional life across healthcare services, digital work, and independent creative production.
Today, Gabriel works remotely in healthcare communications while maintaining parallel work in music and digital operations. His career reflects discipline, adaptability, and long-term thinking rather than quick wins.
Early Life and the Role of Structure
Gabriel Bond Kunu was born in Fairfax, Virginia. From an early age, communication did not come easily to him. Social situations were difficult, and school environments were often isolating. Music became his first reliable structure.
“I started playing on my dad’s electric piano when I was around six,” Gabriel says. “I didn’t really talk much, but I could make sounds.”
He was drawn to disco and rhythm-based music for their order and repetition. Those early experiments were not about performance or recognition. They were about control and understanding. Music gave him a system where rules made sense.
School remained challenging. Gabriel experienced bullying and social pressure, but he chose not to change himself to fit in. “I kept my style,” he says. “I stayed true to myself even when it made me stand out.”
That consistency would later translate into his professional approach.
Education and Choosing Practical Skills
Gabriel graduated from PACE West in Gainesville, Virginia. His education path was not traditional, but it was intentional. He attended Northern Virginia Community College to study science before leaving, then later earned a business degree from South Hills State College.
“I realized I needed skills I could actually use in the real world,” Gabriel explains. “Business helped me understand how things operate.”
Instead of focusing on theory, he focused on process, structure, and accountability. That mindset helped him shift from survival mode into long-term planning.
Entering Healthcare and Remote Work
Gabriel currently works remotely as a call representative supporting healthcare providers. His responsibilities include contacting patients, scheduling appointments, and helping with medication reminders.
“I work from home because of social anxiety,” he says. “But that also means I have to be very disciplined.”
Remote work required consistency without supervision. Clear schedules. Reliable output. Strong communication. “You have to manage yourself,” Gabriel adds. “If you don’t show up, nothing moves.”
This environment rewarded dependability rather than personality, which suited him well.
Expanding Into Digital Operations
Alongside healthcare work, Gabriel developed skills in website building and digital advertising. He learned by observing others and testing systems himself.
“I saw people doing it successfully,” he says. “So I broke it down and learned it piece by piece.”
He approaches digital work with the same mindset he brings to music: understand the system, identify its parts, and make it work efficiently. This ability to move between creative and technical spaces allows him to operate across industries without friction.
Music as a Parallel Career Path
Music remains central to Gabriel’s identity, but he treats it with structure rather than pressure. His sound blends goth disco, funk, vaporwave, and ambient elements.
“My music feels like walking through an abandoned mall that’s still open,” he says. “There’s memory in it. There’s space.”
He performs at small venues and art galleries and releases music independently. There is no rush for validation. “I don’t measure success the usual way,” Gabriel says. “My success is internal.”
That philosophy protects both his creative and professional life. It allows steady output without burnout.
Technical Curiosity and Problem Solving
Gabriel is deeply interested in how systems work. He often takes apart synthesizers to study oscillators, resistors, and capacitors.
“If I understand the parts, I trust the whole,” he says.
This curiosity carries into his professional work. Call workflows. Websites. Digital platforms. He approaches each as a system that can be improved.
Creative on the surface, methodical underneath.
Leadership Through Consistency
does not describe himself as a leader, but his actions reflect a sense of responsibility and influence. He has volunteered with food pantries, churches, and recovery programs. He listens closely and remembers people’s stories.
“I’ve learned to ignore chaos and stay true to myself,” he says. “That’s how I move forward.”
In professional settings, he leads by being reliable. In creative spaces, by being present.
Looking Ahead With Intention
Gabriel’s future goals include continuing his business education, learning about plants and medicine, traveling, and documenting people and cultures.
“I work on one goal at a time,” he says. “But I let myself move between them.”
Gabriel Bond Kunu’s career is not built on hype or shortcuts. It is built on systems, patience, and self-trust. In an economy that often rewards noise, his approach stands out for its clarity and resilience.
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